Ling Yiran quickly fastened her seat belt and watched with some wonder as Yi Jinli pulled the car away from Yi Residence. He drove in the direction where Bai Tingxin was said to be at.Was he taking her there?However, his face was livid right now. His thin lips were tightly pressed together, and his eyes seemed dark and hazy, signifying his displeasure.Ling Yiran opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but she was afraid that if she said anything now, she would annoy him even more. That would be bad.In the end, nothing was said.Now, the most important thing was to see Lianyi and find out what was going on.'Then I shall wait for Yi Jinli's anger to subside before... thanking him,' Ling Yiran thought to herself.When their car got to Crescent Bay, security stopped them."Tell Bai Tingxin that Yi Jinli wants to see him. Ask him whether he's going to meet us," Yi Jinli said, straight to the point.A few security guards heard this and their eyes flashed with surprise. Af
Nonsense! Of course, she was anxious, especially now that she did not know exactly when this fellow would let her go."I don't want my friends and parents to worry," she said.Her words seemed to trigger him. His eyes turned cold as he sneered. "You're afraid they’ll worry, but did you ever think that I’ll worry too?"Qin Lianyi choked. A hint of guilt flashed across her face. "I... I had an emergency...""Emergency?" He snorted. “Your emergency is to come back and help your friend with her case? You didn't even give me a heads up... Did you only take me as a fling from the very beginning?"Qin Lianyi knew it was her fault. She was traveling abroad to visit the school she was going to study in the future when she had met him by chance.At the time, she had no idea what was going to happen between them. They just made a natural connection. It was like getting acquainted with a compatriot in a foreign country.He would take her to the local scenic spots and eat some local specialt
The thought of that night filled her with yet another pang of guilt. She had to blame it on her high spirits that day. She did not know how much she could drink and thought it would be all right to drink more fruit wine. In the end, drinking too much indeed caused trouble.She had woken up and started to recall what happened when she was drunk—her pinning him down on the bed, her forcing herself upon him, and all the sweet talk that escaped her lips.Whilst recalling this, Qin Lianyi felt that they were so similar to those spoken by men to women on TV dramas! A few lines, in particular, were copied from the TV series she used to watch back then.She could only come to the conclusion that it was not good to watch too many romantic dramas. When one was drunk, one would just spill sweet talk like it was free.In the end... she had succeeded! She succeeded at having her way with a handsome man she could only appreciate and not disrespect!Sometimes when Qin Lianyi recalled this, she w
"... No," Qin Lianyi said, but she could guess why Yi Jinli came to her. It was probably because of Yiran."If not, why did he come looking for you so late at night?" Bai Tingxin said coolly. "What woman in Shen City can make him do that? Or was it because of him that you didn't come looking for me all these years?"There was a faint hint of jealousy in his voice.Qin Lianyi was speechless. Come on, if only she was up to Yi Jinli's standards! Yi Jinli was after Yiran, all right?"It has nothing to do with him. I just never looked for you," Qin Lianyi said. Too many things had happened since she came back. How could she have time to think of anything else?Besides, she only regarded it as a foreign encounter and their night as an accident. She planned to keep this secret for the rest of her life. She did not even tell her parents and Yiran.He looked angrier than ever. He glared at her fiercely while he pressed his thin lips together, and at last, all he said was, "You have a way
"You're Ling Yiran." What Bai Tingxin said was not a question, but an affirmation. After he happened to see Qin Lianyi in the street that day, he began to scout out everything about Qin Lianyi.Of course, among the materials he found was this Ling Yiran.She was Qin Lianyi's best friend. It was also because Qin Lianyi had to help Ling Yiran with her lawsuit that Qin Lianyi suddenly took the earliest flight back home from abroad. She went to great lengths to help Ling Yiran find lawyers and all kinds of evidence.In other words, it was also because of Ling Yiran that Qin Lianyi left him so quickly.Bai Tingxin's heart was strangely uncomfortable when he thought of this.If Ling Yiran was not a woman, Bai Tingxin might have treated her as a rival."Yes, I am," Ling Yiran said, raising her chin."You have no right to meddle in the affairs between Qin Lianyi and me. You'd better not overrate yourself in some matters. I show no mercy to women," Bai Tingxin said coldly.Qin Lianyi wa
Bai Tingxin then took out a crumpled yellow piece of paper from his chest pocket.Written on it were the words, 'I'm sorry. I have to leave first'.It was the piece of paper she had left back then. He had been carrying it with him all these years.Several times, in anger, he crumpled up the paper and threw it into the trash can. However, he would go through the trash can and retrieve it.This piece of paper was like a thorn in his heart. He could not pull it out and was reluctant to do so.It was the only thing she had left for him. If he did not have that, then he would not have anything of hers.However, now... Now, he had found her!"Lianyi... Qin Lianyi..." He muttered her name over and over, and his thin lips kissed the paper in his hand. He looked so attached to it....Qin Lianyi followed Ling Yiran into Yi Jinli's car and said to them, "Thank you."Yi Jinli lightly said, "I'll take you back first. Where do you live?"Qin Lianyi hastened to tell him her address. Ling
Besides, if a man like him could get in danger, it did not matter whether she kneeled or not.Even if she were to break her legs kneeling, it would not do him any good.Her silence darkened his eyes. Without another word, he started the car and drove away.Just then, Ling Yiran felt nothing but silence and repression in the car....Ling Yiran went to Qin Lianyi the next day, and the two found a table at a restaurant near Qin Lianyi's house. Looking at her best friend's obvious dark eye circles, Ling Yiran reckoned she did not sleep well last night."What happened after you got home yesterday?" Ling Yiran asked."Don't go there. My parents were preparing a ransom and almost made me kneel on the washboard when I got home," Qin Lianyi said.Ling Yiran's face was full of surprise. "Why? You didn't tell them about Bai Tingxin?""Uh, I told them that a friend I hadn't seen for a long time played a little joke on me, but I forgot to tell them. It was all a false alarm," Qin Lianyi s
"If you can't settle it by then, just let me know and I'll..."Ling Yiran was interrupted by Qin Lianyi."You've helped me a lot yesterday, Yiran. If it weren't for you, I don’t think Yi Jinli would’ve have saved me. I started all this mess with Bai Tingxin. I'll let him let it out on me."Qin Lianyi put it mildly, but Ling Yiran was still worried. Could it be that simple?"Hey, don't worry. Although I left Bai Tingxin without saying goodbye, I didn't kill someone or set fire to him, nor do I have a grudge against him. It was just a... one-night stand. I don't think he'll be too hard on me." Qin Lianyi reassured her best friend.After all, it was already hard enough for her best friend to deal with Yi Jinli. She did not want her best friend to worry about her."However, if you have any trouble, do let me know!" Ling Yiran continued. "Even if I'm in no position to help, I can ask Yi Jinli. Maybe he'll help."Ling Yiran was visibly embarrassed when she mentioned asking Yi Jinli for
He clenched his jaw and felt his teeth ache. 'Yeah, she’s broken up with me. She has every right to find a new boyfriend, but... the thought of her smiling at another man, and kissing and hugging him makes me uncomfortable.’ Gu Lichen could not help feeling irritated."You can't find one! Do you think you can find another man like me to love when you love me so much?" he said.Zhong Keke retorted with a slightly red face, "You... You're too confident. Who are you to say I can't find one? I love you now, but I can slowly get over you. Besides, I don't need to find a man like you in the future. I just need to find an ordinary man with a good personality who treats me well! I’ll give him all my heart, and he’ll do the same!"It was more like she was telling herself that.'Yes, I can move on from him. I can do it!'However, her words seemed to have provoked him as he turned the steering wheel sharply, slammed on the brakes, and pulled over at the roadside.She was thrown forward and
The fact Zhong Keke accepted was that she feared she would love him more and more!When Yi Jinli and Gu Lichen returned to the ward, Ling Yiran was still chatting with Zhong Keke about the children, not only the new baby but also the triplets."Alright, Lichen and I are going home first. Yiran, have a good rest. I'll visit you and the baby again next time," Zhong Keke said and got up after seeing the exhaustion on Ling Yiran's face.Ling Yiran replied, "Okay. I'll let you meet my triplets next time.""Sure."After Zhong Keke and Gu Lichen left, Yi Jinli lay on Ling Yiran's bed and said, "If you're sleepy, sleep first. The doctor said you need more rest."Ling Yiran said, "I'm a little sleepy, but I had a nice chat with Keke today. Jin, you know what? I think it's great that Lichen has fallen in love with Keke. Keke's a wonderful woman, and Lichen has finally found his happily ever after."She said as she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.Looking at his wife's sleeping fac
"Thank you! It's a good painting, and I like it very much. I didn't expect you to draw my daughter like that.""I saw the baby when I came to the hospital that day, so I remembered," said Zhong Keke."I heard from Jin that you and Lichen both came to the hospital that day. I didn't scare you, did I?" said Ling Yiran.Zhong Keke smiled softly, "All that matters is that you're safe. Being alive is better than anything."The two women chatted while the two men looked at each other. Then, Yi Jinli said, "Lichen, let's go get some air."The two men got up and walked out of the ward.Zhong Keke looked uneasily at the ward door.Ling Yiran said, "They’ll be back soon. Don't worry. My Jin won't kidnap Lichen."Zhong Keke smiled, knowing that Yi Jinli probably had not told Ling Yiran about what happened that day."By the way, how are you and Lichen's relationship? Does he treat you well?" Ling Yiran asked."He treats me well." It was true. He treated her well. He would give her everyt
He and Song Qingyao were not even friends."You don't have to explain this to me," said Zhong Keke. They had broken up, and she did not need these explanations.Besides, she knew better than anyone that he had always been in love with Yiran.Thinking of Yiran, Zhong Keke said, "I want to go to the hospital to see Yiran. Can I?" The last time she visited Yiran, Yiran was still unconscious, so she wanted to check on her.Hesitation flashed across Gu Lichen's face."Don't worry. I won't say anything to trigger Yiran. I’ll still pretend to be your girlfriend in front of Yiran. If Yiran asks you, you can say we're doing quite well. When Yiran has recovered, I can make an excuse to say we've broken up. Of course, I can take all the blame. For example, I thought being with you attracted too much attention, or I couldn’t get used to being with you, or I had fallen for someone else—"Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly pulled into a wide embrace.His hands held her tightly
Zhou Xinmian: [I said you were living with Gu Lichen now. Then they said nothing and left readily.]"..."Zhou Xinmian: [Did you block their phone numbers? They said you're not answering your phone.]Zhong Keke: [Yeah.]She should have blocked her uncle's family's phone numbers long ago. Even blocking them now was considered late!Zhou Xinmian: [Well done! But didn’t they try calling you using another phone number?]Zhong Keke: [They did. But as soon as they spoke and I heard their voices, I hung up and blocked their phone numbers.]In other words, she did not give them a chance to talk.She did not want to listen to what they had to say anyway. They had worn out the last of her affection.Zhou Xinmian: [Have you made up your mind this time?]Zhong Keke: [I’ll just consider that my grandparents only gave birth to my father!]In other words, she no longer considered her uncle and his family her family!Zhou Xinmian: [You should have done that long ago! They told me Gu Lichen
It was why he had said such things at the time to keep the woman from leaving!"Maybe I've liked you since then." It probably started earlier than he thought.Zhong Keke's eyes watered as tears were about to pour out. She raised her hands and covered her eyes, "Gu Lichen, stop telling me such things!"Such things would only make her waver when her resolution was hard-won. Did he know how much determination and perseverance it took her to ask for a break-up and keep her distance from him to stop loving him when she loved him so much?Though her hands shielded her eyes, they could not stop the tears.His fingers pulled her hands away. "Alright, I'll stop. I'll stop talking. Don't cry."Her tears had always left him flustered.He hugged her and coaxed her. The indifference in his phoenix eyes had become affection.Zhong Keke finally stopped crying, but she still sniffled occasionally.Holding a tissue, Gu Lichen carefully wiped the tears from her face. After a moment, he said,
"Do you care about me?" She smiled bitterly. "That word isn’t only something you say but..." She did not continue speaking after a pause.However, he already knew what she was going to say.Gu Lichen turned pale. He knew that the incident at the comic fiesta was something that bothered her.He was the one who caused it!"Also, I think we'd better talk about the possibility of me getting pregnant!" she said."Okay, go ahead," he said as he asked the others in the living room to leave."Will you insist that I have the baby if I get pregnant?" she asked, looking at him."If you’re pregnant, I don't want to lose the baby," he said. He had never longed for children even though his parents had always wanted grandchildren, even if it was out of wedlock.However, such ideas had never occurred to him.Now, he wanted to have the baby because they would be... his baby with Keke!"Even if I don't want the baby, are you still going to stop me from having an abortion?" she asked.He was s
Even though he did not love her, she still thought she was a better candidate than Zhong Keke.However, to her disappointment, the way Gu Lichen looked at her was still icy."I'm not interested in you. The Song family you're so proud of will no longer exist in Shen City a year later. Perhaps the Song family can keep some things if you start planning now. Otherwise, you'll have nothing left."With that said, Gu Lichen left the ward, leaving Song Qingyao standing where she was in a daze.Other than reluctance, resentment, and jealousy, there was more shock and fear on her face.'Does Lichen intend to eradicate the Song family within a year? Is... Is he going that far for Zhong Keke? He doesn't love Zhong Keke, right? Why is he doing it? Why?' Unfortunately, no one could give her the answer.Gu Lichen walked out of the hospital and got into the car. He slowly closed his eyes as Song Qingyao's last words flashed through his mind.'It doesn't matter... even if I don't love her?'Kek
Song Qingyao's heart sank. Sure enough, he could find out anything he wanted to."Why did you do it?" Gu Lichen said coldly.Song Qingyao suddenly laughed. "You're asking me why? Gu Lichen, I’ve loved you for so many years. What do you think?""I wouldn't love you even if Zhong Keke didn't exist. If I wanted to fall for you, I would have done so from the beginning," said Gu Lichen.Song Qingyao's mouth was full of bitterness. She knew that!However, knowing was one thing. Her being reluctant and unwilling to accept it was a different matter!She shouted, "Why did you choose Zhong Keke? You love Ling Yiran because Ling Yiran saved your life when you were a child. What about Zhong Keke? Why her?"She accepted losing to Ling Yiran because she had never saved Lichen's life.However, how could she accept losing to Zhong Keke? "Because she's the one who saved me from the messy relationship," replied Gu Lichen."What do you mean?" Song Qingyao was puzzled.Instead of explaining, he