Chapter 857: Love That Begins After a Breakup 46

But ultimately it's not something they can interfere with; even if they want to help, they are willing but unable.

They can only sigh to themselves, then hope Qiao Xu can quickly get out of the bad news.

"Ah Chen, let's go back."

Shen Qing hooked her arm around Huo Chen's, speaking gently, which greatly eased his worry.

But the doubts in his heart were not eliminated at all.

"I have something to ask you," Huo Chen said in a slightly cold tone, only asking after leading him out of the Jin Family Banquet Hall.

"How did you know about today's matter in advance?"

Actually, it's not just today.

Since confirming his relationship with Shen Qing, Huo Chen has felt that she is overly scheming.

She can foresee everything in advance, whether it's the antidote for Qiao Xu or today's banquet.

A coincidence once is just chance, but many coincidences mean it was deliberate.

"You know, I'm close friends with Jin Chen; if you want to scheme against him or me, what are you hoping to gain…"

Huo Chen didn't want to guess the most absurd thought in his heart: "I won't allow it."

As soon as he said that, Shen Qing was a little taken aback, the sorrow in her brow impossible to stop.

"I… I never thought of using you."

As for others, they don't matter at all.

He stepped forward, took Huo Chen's hand, a faint sorrow showing at the corners of his eyes, lifted his gaze to stare steadily at the man before him, his eye sockets slightly red.

"Yes, I admit that Shen Ling's actions were all within my plan… but that doesn't mean I condoned them."

"I returned to the country not for any big scheme, and never intended to scheme against you."

Huo Chen's voice was hoarse; he still hadn't pulled his hand back, just continuing to ask, "That day at the club, you deliberately approached me, right?"

"Yes."

Shen Qing didn't hide it, the corners of her mouth curving: "I came back to the country for you; reclaiming my inheritance is just a side matter."

Huo Chen:?

The last hint of doubt and unhappiness vanished because of those words.

"What the heck! What does it mean returning to the country for him? We clearly didn't know each other before!"

But having to say it, Huo Chen was still placated by those words, he grabbed Shen Qing's hand and pulled her into his arms, a tsundere warning lacking any real threat.

"You're a little liar; we didn't know each other before."

Shen Qing blinked slightly, leaning on his shoulder to gaze at the night sky, stars twinkling.

"You're the idiot."

He thought, obviously we've known each other for so long.

The two drove home; Shen Qing was very satisfied with tonight's scene, although she felt a bit sorry toward Qiao Xu, this new friend.

He would make it up to her.

He sent a message to the black avatar on his phone.

"—Send the antitoxin serum we bought to Jin Chen, and remember not to be discovered."

"—Okay, boss."

——

Jin Chen brought the person back to Nan Yuan, already close to midnight.

Qiao Xu's emotions still hadn't eased; the whole person was immersed in great sorrow, her expression blank.

This state is terrible; it would be better to cry it out.

"Xiao Xu…"

Jin Chen called out softly again and again, his lips brushing hers in a tender, heart‑aching kiss.

Finally letting Qiao Xu gradually respond, then she began to cry again.

Unconsciously, a sob filled with grief and helplessness.

"Why is it like this?"

"Why does it have to be Jin Chen's father?"

"Why does it have to be tonight that he finds out?"

"I thought we had already gone through hardship and sweetness with Jin Chen."

Qiao Xu clung tightly to Jin Chen's neck, sobbing softly and brokenly, the corners of her eyes reddened beyond normal, her body trembling slightly.

"Brother… can we still be together? Mom, what should we do?"

"I feel so terrible, I miss Mom."

Her voice was full of helplessness and grievance.

Jin Chen hugged tightly, suppressing the sour pity in his heart, and spoke with a hint of bitterness: "Of course we should stay together… Xiao Xu, don't you want me anymore?"

"If you mind, I can sever ties with the Jin family, give up the status of Young Master of the Jin family, coax you for a long time, but I cannot not have you."

Qiao Xu cried even more sorrowfully.

He wanted to say it wouldn't happen, and he didn't want Jin Chen to abandon everything.

But at this moment he couldn't say anything.

A thought gradually surfaced in his mind.

Qiao Xu, still sobbing, lifted her head and kissed Jin Chen's lips.

An active, passionate kiss.

But only when tears traced the corners of her mouth did she realize how bitter it was.

"Brother," Qiao Xu's eyes were misty, but her tone was firm, the tip of her nose lightly rubbing against Jin Chen, her hand gripping the back of his clothes tightened, "I miss you, hug me, okay?"

At least, let him not be so sad tonight.

His voice grew softer and softer, but Jin Chen could hear it clearly.

His brow furrowed imperceptibly, vaguely guessing something.

In the end, still nothing was said, he held the person and went to the bedroom.

Tonight Qiao Xu was especially proactive, clinging desperately.

The surging, tumultuous entanglement.

In the early hours, he used hunger as an excuse, telling Jin Chen to go to the kitchen and get something to eat.

Then he quietly opened the bedside drawer.

——

Because he had been keeping something in mind all night, Qiao Xu didn't sleep well.

When the sky was just light, he propped himself up on his waist and sat up, his shoulders and collarbones covered in kiss marks.

He lowered his gaze, looking at Jin Chen still fast asleep.

This sleeping pill has always been effective, with no side effects, and Qiao Xu has been using it all along.

Last night he increased the dosage a bit, so at least before he left, Jin Chen wouldn't wake up.

That's enough.

Thinking of this, Qiao Xu couldn't help but wrinkle her sore, stuffy nose.

He leaned into Jin Chen's embrace again for a while, silently comforting himself.

He got dressed and took nothing with him.

Except for the ring Jin Chen had previously given him to coax him.

When leaving, he also didn't contact Qiao Yushu.

Qiao Xu wanted to go to a city with beautiful scenery, completely unfamiliar, to clear his mind.

To let himself walk out of this tragedy.

He still couldn't accept the grudge of his mother's murder by the Jin family.

Half a minute after he left, Jin Chen opened his eyes, an unspeakable bitterness surging in his heart, choking his throat.

Jin Chen sat up, gazing out the window for a long time, letting out a bitter sigh.

【Hey, what the heck is all this.】

0731 endless feelings, 【Host, do you want to go after him?】

【Of course.】

Jin Chen glanced at his phone and spoke the words aloud.

"Of course."

Two hours after leaving Nan Yuan, Qiao Xu completed all procedures and headed to the airport with his luggage.

But lately he really felt that everything was going wrong for him.

For example, now.

Even when everything was fine, he could still be tailed.

Qiao Xu felt uneasy, not knowing who these followers were or what they wanted.

The best outcome would be that they were only after money.

That was obviously not the case.

These people didn't even give him a chance to pull out his card.

Qiao Xu's martial arts skills were useless; after just a few moves he was subdued.

These people's strength actually surpassed that of the enforcers in the Gu family's casino.

At the moment he was bound and taken away, Qiao Xu was still thinking, not knowing whether disappearance or running away from home would make Jin Chen more anxious.