Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
With her keen women’s intuition, Ji Nuan felt that Shi Niange most likely had a history with Qin Siting.
Mo Jingshen spoke up, coldly and indifferently, “What were you thinking? Bringing her here?”
“I’ve previously interacted with Miss Shi in America; we’re old friends. It’s my birthday, and she wanted to give me a cake. Although I understand that she didn’t come with only the intention to celebrate my birthday, I couldn’t possibly reject her.” Nan Heng blew out a mouthful of smoke, chuckling coldly. “She’s the one who refuses to give up. She’s even more familiar with Old Qin’s temper than us. She should have known the consequences she would face when she came today.”
Nan Heng glanced at Shi Niange who stood there silently. “You were the one who provoked him back then. You were also the one who left without looking back. Now that you’re back, you insist on coming even though you know the attitude he will hold. Now, you’ve seen it? He won’t even offer you a single glance.”
Shi Niange did not speak. When Ji Nuan held her hand in concern, she only curved her lips slightly. Her eyes were hidden by the shadows in the private room, concealing her emotions.
Outside the private room, the sounds of loud shouting gradually approached. It also seemed to be accompanied by the wails and screams of a woman. There were also some footsteps approaching…
Qin Siting had just stepped out of the private room. He did not stop when he heard the noise of the people gathering and the crying sounds. However, as that crowd passed by him, he abruptly heard the sound of the woman in the middle being slapped. Several men then shouted rowdily at her. He turned expressionlessly toward the crowd to take a look.
He abruptly caught an eye of the disheveled woman lying on the ground. His eyes instinctively narrowed as he pushed aside the people blocking him.
The movements outside were loud. Several people from various private rooms came out to look. When Shi Niange pushed open the private room’s door, she discovered Qin Siting standing afar.
Ji Nuan noticed the crowd and subconsciously approached with Shi Niange.
Regardless of how strictly Zi Jing Cheng Club was regulated, this place was still part of the night scene. It was not safe for two women to head out alone.
Mo Jingshen stood up to head over, and Nan Heng extinguished his cigarette, raising his eyes as he went to check on the situation.
Within the crowd, a young woman was laying on the floor. She had just been slapped twice. Her clothing was somewhat messy, revealing half her shoulders as though she was almost forced upon earlier. Her hair was also abnormally messy, blocking half her face. However, it still showed her frightened pale expression, and her eyes reddened with tears.
As Shi Niange entered the crowd, she noticed the woman lying on the ground, and her initially calm expression changed slightly. She subconsciously raised her eyes to look toward Qin Siting who stood not far away with a cold, composed expression.
Ji Nuan paused in her footsteps. When Mo Jingshen approached, she turned back and moved close to him to ask, “What on earth happened tonight? I don’t quite understand.”
Mo Jingshen had already seen the situation in the crowd. He gripped her hand and did not allow her to continue approaching, calmly saying, “It’s Qin Siting’s own issues. You don’t need to bother about it.”
Ji Nuan: “…”
Which woman did not have a burning passion for gossip, ah?
Ji Nuan could only turn back for a look.
Nan Heng stood by the side, crossing his arms over his chest as he coldly and softly said, “What a surprising coincidence. Both of Qin Siting’s ex-lovers are here today.”
Ex-lover?
Two of them?
Ji Nuan glanced suspiciously toward Shi Niange who stood in front, before shifting her gaze to the disheveled young woman laying on the floor while being surrounded by the crowd.
Ji Nuan’s gossiping eyes then shifted toward Nan Heng.
Nan Heng sneered coldly. “If we were to talk about the only person Old Qin has ever loved, there is only one Shi Niange. But it’s not clear if there’s still love. There’s definitely hate.”
Nan Heng’s gaze coldly moved to the woman lying on the floor. “This is Ling Xuaner. Around four or five years ago, she was engaged to Qin Siting. The engagement contract was arranged by the Qin family but was rejected by Qin Siting. It was dissolved a long time ago. This Ling Xuaner has always been infatuated with Qin Siting. She was young and accomplished in causing chaos. After being rejected, she could be described as, ‘First, cry. Second, cause a disturbance. Third, attempt to suicide.’ But Old Qin never gave her a second glance. Since then, the relationship between the Ling and Qin family gradually worsened, and they never interacted again.”
When Nan Heng spoke, Shi Niange stood right by the side and could hear most of what he said. However, she did not move and continued fixing her eyes in Qin Siting’s direction.
Nan Heng appeared to be enjoying the chaos. “Miss Ji, regardless of how little attention you pay to outside matters, you should at least be aware of this. Early this year, Hai Cheng’s largest electronic corporation, Ling Electronics Group, announced their bankruptcy and closed down. Several board members from Ling Group made serious mistakes and caused their business to collapse. Not only did they go bankrupt and close, they even gained a lot of debt. No one knows how this Ling Xuaner came to be sold here, but looking at this situation, those by the side must be the people who bought her. She must have just escaped.”
Ji Nuan’s hands suddenly turned cold.
She once had such an experience as well. She knew better than anyone how frightening and helpless it was. The world was such a materialistic place. A large corporation had countless eyes watching it, but the moment it collapsed, no one would expect a helping hand to appear. They could only pray that no one would worsen things for them.
Noticing that Ji Nuan was suddenly quiet, Mo Jingshen held her hand. “This is unrelated to you. Don’t think too much.”
Ling Xuaner was forced backward by those men. She laid on the ground, carefully and continuously shifting back. Her eyes were filled with fear and despair. Ji Nuan felt like she was seeing a vision of herself in her previous life.
Mo Jingshen’s gaze was fixed on her face the whole time. Noticing that she was gradually turning pale, he asked softly, “Not feeling well?”
Ji Nuan composed herself. “Maybe it’s because there are too many people here. It’s slightly stuffy. I’m fine.”
“Don’t look anymore. Let’s go back.” Mo Jingshen gripped her hand to bring her away.
At that moment, Ling Xuaner, who was on the ground, suddenly let out a frightened and pained shout. One of the men had hauled her back by several feet and then pressed her leg under his feet.
Ji Nuan turned back to see that drunk and fierce man cursing. “Disgusting whore, acting like a chaste woman after taking my money? Spending eighty-thousand yuan on your first night was already giving your Ling family some face. Otherwise, just based on you alone, no one would want your first night even if it’s only for eight thousand yuan! Since you’ve already been sold and your clothes have already been changed, why are you still acting?”
Ling Xuaner laid on the ground, crying and shaking her head nonstop. “I’m not for sale… I’m not the person who received the money… please let go of me… I beg you… ah!”
The last shout was because the man harshly stepped on her calf with force once more.
“No matter who received the money, the person who was sold is you!” The man abruptly hauled the disheveled woman up, ripping off her clothing. No matter how she shouted or struggled, it was useless. Her hand was gripped tightly, and she appeared an extremely sorry figure.
