Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-Three

After a deep breath, Tong Yiwen put down her knitting needles and yarn and gazed into the distance. “In first year of high school… my PE teacher tricked me into the equipment room. He said he needed me to count all the sports gear. I didn’t think twice—but… I nearly got raped.”

“What?!” Bai Ziling exploded in fury. “How could such a vile teacher exist? Didn’t you expose his disgusting behavior?”

“No.” Tong Yiwen blamed herself.

“He’ll likely target another innocent girl. By staying silent, you’re enabling him—that’s wrong!”

“I know it’s wrong, but I was more afraid he’d turn it around on me. After all, only the two of us were there—it would’ve become a he-said-she-said mess with no truth to be found.” Tong Yiwen knew it had been ten years, but the wound still hadn’t healed.

“That’s too easy for him!”

“Ziling, I was only in high school. I had no idea what to do—I was completely shattered.”

“You told no one?”

“Not a single person.”

“You carried all this alone—”

“Humiliation, fear, filth, helplessness…” Tong Yiwen nodded. “Yes! I carried all those emotions by myself. I was one step away from breaking down, from not being able to go on.”

“So that’s why you came up the mountain?!”

“In high school I studied early childhood care. After I accidentally got into university, I decided I’d open a small kindergarten somewhere far from the noise—not to make money, not to raise future leaders of the nation, but just to give children the right foundation when they first begin learning.” Tong Yiwen had never spoken these thoughts aloud before.

“Cousin…” Bai Ziling was moved to silence.

“What about you?”

“I…” She pointed to herself. “Compared to your reasons, mine are utterly shameful!”

“Romantic trouble?”

“No trouble, just someone who won’t let go.” Bai Ziling bitterly mocked herself. “People always realize what they’ve done—or what they’ve lost—only after the damage is done.”

“But running away won’t solve anything,” Tong Yiwen shook her head disapprovingly.

“I’m not running away.”

“Then how long do you plan to hide here?”

Bai Ziling had no answer. She didn’t know if the trouble would still be waiting if she returned to her old life—would Jiang Jie understand that her heart was dead, that she had no desire whatsoever to be tied to him again?

“Ziling, I’m used to this life. I have a purpose. But you? How long can you keep this up?” Tong Yiwen asked with concern.

“One day at a time.”

“What if he comes looking for you?”

“Here?!” Bai Ziling was startled.

“Do you think this place is some mystical ‘forbidden zone’? As long as there’s a car and an address, anyone can get here.” Tong Yiwen picked up her yarn and needles again. “You can run for a while, but not forever.”

Bai Ziling’s expression turned grim. How much longer could she hide? If Jiang Jie truly wanted to find her, he would. And then…

Di Zhiwei burst into Jiang Jie’s office without even knocking, regardless of what his cousin was doing.

The department heads who had just been standing outside Jiang Jie’s office, enduring his scolding, now breathed a sigh of relief—sure enough, Jiang Jie waved them away with a gesture.

Di Zhiwei knew his limits. Once all the heads had left and he slammed the door behind him, he finally lost control.

“Bai Ziling is gone.”

Jiang Jie showed no reaction.

“Jiang Jie, I said your wife is missing! I went to her café several times—she wasn’t there!” Di Zhiwei roared in anger.

“Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.”

“How did you treat her?”

“Di Zhiwei, do I need to report or explain how I treat my wife to you?” The two cousins were on the verge of coming to blows.

“Did you… sleep with her?” Di Zhiwei demanded confirmation.

“Even this is your business?!” Jiang Jie’s face darkened.

“Why did you sleep with her?” Di Zhiwei demanded.

Jiang Jie said nothing. He stood up from his chair, walked to the window, and took out a cigarette and lighter—but he only played with them, not lighting them. His gaze fixed on the vast white clouds outside. He too wondered where Bai Ziling had gone.

From Bai Ziling’s three friends, Jiang Jie learned nothing—they truly didn’t know her whereabouts. Where could she have gone?

Di Zhiwei now stormed up to him, grabbing his shirt, looking ready to fight.

“You know I wanted to court her!”

“You couldn’t win her.”

“How do you know?!” Di Zhiwei shot back, furious. “I had a chance. I have a heart.”

Jiang Jie’s eyes changed. He set the cigarette and lighter aside, then yanked Di Zhiwei’s hand off his shirt, his expression clear: if you want to fight, I’ll fight you. He was in the mood to beat someone senseless.

“Zhiwei, give up this idea.”

“Cousin, if you don’t want her, why can’t I have her?”

“Who said I don’t want her?”

“You hate women! You never wanted to marry or settle down—you only married her for Grandfather’s inheritance, to raise the bid deposit. Now that you’ve won the American contract, you should let her go!” Di Zhiwei snarled.

“People change…” Jiang Jie didn’t elaborate.

“You’re deliberately opposing me!”

“Zhiwei, grow up!”

“Cousin, I could’ve given her happiness. Why did you sleep with her?” Di Zhiwei couldn’t accept this. “You could have any woman—why ruin her?”

“She volunteered!” Jiang Jie shouted at his cousin.

“You must’ve threatened her.”

“Di Zhiwei, shut your mouth.”

“But I don’t care.” Di Zhiwei showed the dignity and grace expected of a man. “Cousin, I don’t care that she slept with you. I don’t care who else she’s been with—as long as… as long as I’m her last man.”

Jiang Jie froze, stunned rigid.

“I like her. I don’t care how many men she’s been with—even if one of them is my own cousin!” Di Zhiwei’s desperate obsession made him seem less like a playboy and more like a devoted romantic.

“You really don’t care?!”

“I don’t care about things I can’t possibly care about.”

“Do you really love her?”

“I said I like her.”

“Like isn’t love.” His words gave Jiang Jie an opening to strike. “You’re a playboy…”

“Jiang Jie, you just said people change.”

“Sorry. Bai Ziling is still mine.”

“I… I’m going to tell Uncle there was never a pregnancy.” Di Zhiwei had lost all reason.

“You faked the marriage! You had no sincerity at all. If Grandfather knew, he’d rise from his grave to curse you—you dare deceive the dead!”

“I can return the five hundred million to Uncle first thing tomorrow.” Jiang Jie didn’t care. “I’ll even add an extra hundred million in interest. Are you satisfied?”

“Are you relying on your money?” If Di Zhiwei hadn’t known he couldn’t beat his cousin, he’d have struck already.

“Zhiwei, I just want you to give up this idea.”

“You don’t love her.”

“You have no idea what I’m thinking.”

“Then what are you thinking?”

Jiang Jie wouldn’t say. He only knew that slap might have shattered the bond between him and Bai Ziling—but she had pushed him beyond endurance. Compared to the pain Yu Siqi had caused him, Bai Ziling had wounded him to the core. He was so deeply hurt he didn’t know if he’d ever heal.

“Speak! Jiang Jie, you have nothing to say?!” Di Zhiwei sneered. “Bai Ziling will never forgive you.”