Chapter 43: Direct Confrontation

When Jin Yuan received a call from Liu Minghe, he was quite surprised.

“She fainted?”

“Yes, come over,” came the affirmative reply.

Jin Yuan glanced at his watch as he held the phone. Well, it was half past eleven.

Liu Minghe had expected that Ruiying would have a strong reaction, but seeing her like this now filled him with guilt and made him regret telling her the truth. Still, this was a choice he had made himself.

He stood in the hospital corridor, bustling even in the deep of night, gazing at the quiet room.

Ruiying had fainted from emotional upheaval. She had been rushed in for emergency treatment and then sent back to the ward.

He had stayed by her side, watching her pale face, feeling a deep ache in his heart.

Only after her condition stabilized did he call Jin Yuan. After explaining Ruiying’s situation, he suddenly said, “I want to pursue her—earnestly and officially.”

Sometimes, the heart is moved by a glance, a gesture, even a fleeting moment.

At that instant, Liu Minghe realized he would suffer because of Ruiying’s pain.

It was obvious Jin Yuan was heading out, as the electronic beep of a car door sounded over the phone. Liu Minghe was about to compliment him on his loyalty, but Jin Yuan unexpectedly quipped, “Oh? You haven’t started pursuing her yet?”

Jin Yuan sent a message to Rachel Liu before leaving. Rachel replied that she was home alone and wanted to come along. Since it was the holidays and nothing urgent was happening, Jin Yuan decided to pick her up.

Rachel slipped into the car and exchanged a kiss with him as naturally as breathing. Neither could remember who started the habit, but it had become a tacit understanding—a simple meeting of lips, devoid of desire, just a greeting or a token of joy.

“It really seems like Mom isn’t coming back. Canrong called me too, said Uncle Yin isn’t home either,” Rachel said as she fastened her seatbelt, a touch of wonder in her voice. “Aren’t they worried that their romance might set a bad example for us?”

Jin Yuan chuckled and countered, “Why would I want to lead you astray? So you’d move in with me?”

Rachel’s cheeks flushed. “Of course not! Are you saying you want to live with me?” She was shy, but couldn’t help retorting, “I get it, you must think about me day and night.”

Jin Yuan ruffled her hair. “Silly girl.”

By the time they reached the hospital, it was past midnight. Liu Minghe was touched to see Rachel too—it was late, and the girl’s rest had been delayed.

“Minghe, how’s Ruiying?” Rachel asked. On the way, Jin Yuan had briefed her on Ruiying’s family situation, and she found it almost unbelievable. The melodrama she’d once scoffed at was nothing compared to this.

“She fell asleep after taking the medicine,” Liu Minghe replied.

Though her sleep was far from restful—her brow remained furrowed throughout.

“By the way, is Jieun at your place?” Liu Minghe asked. “She knows Ruiying’s mother. Could you have her call and let her know she’s safe?”

Han Jieun… had long been whisked away by Lee Youngjae, likely honeymooning on Jeju Island by now.

“I’ll do it,” Rachel said.

Rachel called Shim Soo-jin, telling her that they’d been having so much fun they lost track of time, and that Ruiying was staying over and would return the next day. Shim Soo-jin was not suspicious, having heard Ruiying mention Rachel before, and Ruiying had never lied to her. She only reminded them to rest early.

After hanging up, Rachel walked over to Jin Yuan and Liu Minghe, just as the two men were discussing what to do next.

Liu Minghe’s plan was to take Ruiying home once she woke, and to handle Yaliying himself. He wanted to protect Ruiying and was willing to offer Yaliying whatever terms were needed.

It was a heavy wager—Liu Minghe had money, but he didn’t have absolute power. He would have to rely on his own resources and connections to help Ruiying.

“I’m afraid Yaliying won’t agree so easily,” Jin Yuan said.

Liu Minghe knew that. They had found Yaliying’s brother’s death certificate. Her mother was blind—no one knew why—but seeing how Yaliying had survived all these years, it was clear she was one of those resilient saplings, not dazzling but tenacious, destined to become a towering tree.

“Stay with her—let me handle Yaliying,” Jin Yuan decided.

·

When Ruiying awoke, only Liu Minghe was there.

The man who usually looked every bit the suave, wealthy gentleman was now slumped over her bedside.

It was already daylight—she had slept so long. Ruiying panicked, and the events of the previous night flooded her mind. She tried to sit up, but the lingering effects of the medication left her weak.

Sensing her movement, Liu Minghe woke.

“You’re awake. How do you feel?”

He propped Ruiying up against the pillows with natural ease. She wanted to say something, but when she met his concerned gaze, she turned away.

Since meeting Liu Minghe, she had brought him nothing but trouble. She felt guilty, resented her own cowardice and timidity, and even began to loathe her existence.

Ruiying was never good at hiding her emotions. Liu Minghe could see the deep self-disgust in her face.

“That’s your parents’ fault. It has nothing to do with you,” he said gently.

Her heart was already unsettled, and his words opened the floodgates. “She’s my mother!” Ruiying broke down. “The mother I always thought was gentle and loving with my father, but she destroyed another family. What am I supposed to do?”

It was precisely because it was someone so close that the pain was unbearable. She couldn’t stand to see Shim Soo-jin now, afraid she’d lose control. That mixture of love, hate, pain, and revulsion was suffocating.

Ruiying didn’t realize she was crying. She felt her mind drifting, all sensation growing faint and distant, until it was gone.

With a sigh, Liu Minghe finally gathered her into his arms.

Ruiying clung to his shirt, burying herself in his embrace, trembling.

He stroked her back gently, soothing her with his tenderness. “It’s all right. It will get better.”

He held her until she calmed down.

“If you’re tired, would you rest here in my arms?” Liu Minghe asked, his voice soft. It wasn’t taking advantage—he simply wanted to give her a shoulder to lean on, so she wouldn’t feel so alone.

Yet Ruiying hesitated. She felt unworthy of him.

“It’s all right,” he said quickly, fearing she’d reject him. “Take your time. I won’t pressure you.”

·

Yaliying hadn’t expected Jin Yuan to request a meeting, but when she got the call, she wasn’t surprised.

She had guessed as much—it was only the negotiator who had changed.

Yaliying entered, and Jin Yuan saw her at once. She was indeed striking: a beautiful face, elegant figure, the refined grace of maturity mingled with a subtle allure and gentleness.

“Hello,” she greeted him with remarkable composure, though Jin Yuan knew she was far from calm within.

“Ruiying is in the hospital,” he said.

Sure enough, a flicker of surprise crossed Yaliying’s face.

“She knows everything—because of you.”

A flash of anger lit her eyes, but the man before her had an intimidating presence.

“You’ve violated my privacy,” she said, setting her cup down, her gaze cold and unyielding.

“You’ve chosen the wrong target for your revenge.” Jin Yuan massaged his temples—he was tired from the late night. “Well, perhaps not the wrong target, but Ruiying just happens to be the woman my friend cares for.”

Some people are simply that fortunate, and Yaliying had to admit it.

“I’ll keep this short,” Jin Yuan said. “Name your terms.”

Yaliying hated people like him, believing everything could be solved with money. Yet she knew that, at this point, money was the only thing left to offer.

“I’ve said it before. If my mother regains her sight, I’ll let go of everything and live in peace.”

Her brother’s tragedy couldn’t be blamed entirely on Yin Zhengkui—they had been negligent too—but her mother’s suffering was something she could never forgive.

“I can arrange for a doctor,” Jin Yuan said, “but since your mother’s been blind for so long, the chances are slim.”

Yaliying knew that. She was really just sending Jin Yuan a message: she would not back down.

·

News of Jin Yuan’s meeting with Yaliying soon reached Ruiying and Liu Minghe.

By then, Ruiying had regained her composure. Hearing Yaliying’s demand left her pained.

But any goodwill she’d once had for Lee Juwang was gone. She didn’t even want Yaliying to end up with him—because any woman who could so easily abandon her fiancée could just as easily abandon her husband.

Still, Ruiying couldn’t bring herself to meet Yaliying—she felt guilty, as though she had wronged her.

But this was never her responsibility, and she loathed her mother’s entanglements all the more.

That afternoon, Liu Minghe brought Ruiying home, reminding her not to let her emotions get the best of her.

But she couldn’t help herself. When she got home, she gave her parents the cold shoulder. She just couldn’t bear it; remembering what Liu Minghe had said about Han Jinghui losing her sight and Yaliying’s brother dying sent chills through her.

Shim Soo-jin tried to ask what was wrong but found her daughter had locked the door. She called Zhao Yingchun, who responded with schadenfreude and urged her to confess quickly, which only left Shim Soo-jin fuming.

Days passed like this before Yin Zhengkui noticed something was wrong with Ruiying. He assumed it was still about Lee Juwang, so he arranged to meet Yaliying.

It had been a long time since he’d last seen her. Whatever guilt he once felt had vanished in the face of Ruiying’s suffering.

Yaliying hadn’t wanted to see Yin Zhengkui, but she came anyway. Perhaps, deep down, she still harbored a sliver of guilt.

But she was bitterly disappointed—Yin Zhengkui accused her of seducing Lee Juwang and tried to drag her down with him.

She no longer remembered when their rift began, but Yin Zhengkui grabbed her hair and tried to drown her. In that moment, she had only one thought—she could not die; her mother still needed her. If she died, what would happen to her mother?

Just as despair was about to consume her, she heard Ruiying’s desperate scream, “Let her go, or I’ll kill myself!”

She shouted so loudly her voice broke, and her face was ashen with terror.

Yin Zhengkui suddenly released Yaliying and slumped to the ground, utterly lost, not knowing what he was doing anymore.

Author’s note: Sorry for not updating yesterday, I was stuck on the chapter. Kisses to my dear angels! I’m going out to dinner tonight, so if possible, there might be a double update. I’m really exhausted lately, feeling a bit out of it. QAQ