In their senior year, Zhao Qingran invited Ying Zenan to meet. He eagerly accepted the invitation, unaware that he was walking into a trap.
It was in a hotel room, and they hadn't exchanged many words.
Her mother burst in, and Zhao Qingran started crying and accusing Ying Zenan of trying to force himself on her while she removed her clothes.
When Ying Haiyun found out about this, he was furious. That night, he made him kneel in the courtyard and beat him half to death, while he was drenched in the rain all night.
The next day, he was sent abroad.
Zhao Qingran's mother received 2 million from the Ying Family.
Uncle Zhao was a good person and had done favors for the Ying Family.
Zhao Qingran was truly a good child.
No one believed his explanation.
After that incident, the relationship between the two families cooled significantly, until recently, about six months ago. Zhao's father returned from working out of town, learned the truth about the whole incident, and personally apologized, even planning to return the two million.
But the money was almost lost by Zhao Qingran's mother.
Ying Zenan was not involved or informed about how it was ultimately resolved.
Until Ying Haiyun called him asking if Zhao Qingran could stay over for a few days. He coldly asked his father over the phone, "Now that you know the truth, aren't you afraid of history repeating itself by letting her stay with me?"
"Dad knows you were wronged by that incident. If you really like the Zhao girl, Dad won't stop you. I'll take care of her mother for you. Besides, your Uncle Zhao is already planning to divorce her."
At that moment, Ying Zenan stood in front of the office floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down on the entire city beneath him.
"What makes you think I'd want a woman who plotted against me? I'll decide my own marriage. In the future, don't stand in my way about who I want."
Even when Ying Zenan later learned that Zhao Qingran had been coerced by her mother under the threat of her own life to trap him.
Her mother originally wanted her to truly sleep with Ying Zenan, so that Ying Zenan would have to take responsibility. Once inside the Ying Family, what wouldn't she have; it was best if she could give birth to a son and take half the family fortune.
Fortunately, Zhao Qingran still had feelings for Ying Zenan and didn't take things to the point of no return.
But she had also caused Ying Zenan enough trouble.
By the time she wanted to explain herself to Ying Zenan, he was already abroad.
When he returned six months later, she wanted to find him, but he never gave her the opportunity to meet him again.
That's why, even if she blocked his car now, Ying Zenan didn't feel a thing.
Love was real, but so was the lack of love.
"Zhao Qingran, you will not be a good match for me, truly."
True to his nature, Ying Zenan was the clear-headed one living in reality.
He drove around her, and Zhao Qingran bit her lip, watching him pass by.
His eyes would never look her way again.
Ying Zenan felt irritated and immediately invited a few friends in Hu City out for drinks.
Xu Yi was the first to arrive, followed by Jiang Cheng.
"Where's Wen Yue? Haven't seen him around lately." Wen Yue used to be the life of the party.
After the last gathering, Jiang Cheng left the country. He just finished work and came immediately after receiving his good friend's call.
Xu Yi poured himself a glass of wine.
"You've been away, so you don't know. Wen Fucheng kicked Wen Yue out of the Wen Family. Without money, who knows where that kid is working part-time now."
"What, Wen Fucheng used to spoil that nephew the most. It doesn't seem possible. Last time, he was fine."
Wen Yue was having a tough time lately. When Xu Yi tried to help him, he got yelled at.
Wen Yue claimed he could support himself with his own earnings.
Xu Yi smiled without saying anything.
It really wasn't enough.
The young master, used to lavish spending, would find it hard to adjust to thrift so suddenly.
"Wen Fucheng not being interested in Yan Shuang is normal. From my years of experience, that girl is definitely not simple, only Wen Yue is blind."
"People in love are all like that. By the way, Zenan, how is Ying Xiaojing lately? Still tagging along with Lu Zishu?" Jiang Cheng wasn't planning to ask about Ying Jing. Someone asked him to find out.
Mentioning Ying Jing brightened Ying Zenan's mood a bit.
He continued downing drink after drink.
"Her? She's not easy to deal with either, but she recently stopped liking Lu Zishu." Moved on to someone even more challenging.
Yet his friends were still happy for him.
"Isn't that great? Lu Zishu isn't from the same world as us. If Jing Bao were tricked by him, it wouldn't be fun anymore. You can be more at ease in the future."
Ying Zenan thought to himself, I damn sure can't be at ease.
She's chasing after Wen Fucheng.
Worried she might someday knock him unconscious and carry him home.
Just imagining Wen Fucheng calling him brother was enough to give him goosebumps.
"I actually hope she continues going after Lu Zishu." At least it was somewhat normal.
He downed another drink.
His friends could see he was feeling down, so they kept him company, drinking until the middle of the night.
That night, Ying Zenan had his assistant pack his belongings and went to stay at the office.
As long as Zhao Qingran was there, he wasn't planning to go home.
Three days later, Zhao Qingran faced reality and used the excuse of familiarizing herself with the school environment to leave the villa with her luggage.
Ying Jing only found out about these things later.
Wen Fucheng had business back in Imperial City, so she became like the rock waiting for her husband.
Every day, she'd sit on the balcony with a cup of tea, waiting for her husband to return home.
The tea leaves were taken from Wen Fucheng's tea canister.
When Wen Fucheng returned and saw a significant portion of his tea canister gone, he gently reminded Ying Jing, who was brewing in the kitchen.
"Tea shouldn't be consumed in large amounts."
So he put away the tea canister.
Seeing this, Ying Jing pouted, wondering if he was afraid she would finish drinking it all.
The tea protector.
Wen Fucheng, knowing her thoughts, laughed in exasperation.
Tea and she were incomparable; one was life, the other was life-sustaining.
He loved Ying Jing more.
"How long are you planning to stay this time?"
Ying Jing knew he couldn't always stay in Hu City. The Imperial City was where his company, family, and friends were, where his home was.
This place was merely a stopover for him.
"A month."
Wen Fucheng picked up the tea Ying Jing had brewed before his return.
The girl was about to remind him that it was her cup, but his mention of a whole month left her speechless.
He set down the cup, hinting ambiguously.
"Reciprocation."
After he went inside, Ying Jing held the cup and pondered.
What did he mean by reciprocation?
She was deeply absorbed in thought when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ying Jing was curious about who would come at this hour.
When she opened the door and met eyes with the person outside.
"What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?"
She and Wen Yue said the same words.
"I live here."
"I'm looking for my uncle."
The pieces made sense individually, but together, Wen Yue was a bit confused.
He quietly stepped back, opened his chat history, and checked the message from Wen Fucheng again.
No mistake, this was the place.
Ying Jing already had clean slippers ready for him.
"Here, if you're looking for your uncle, he's inside."
Wen Yue entered the house, momentarily forgetting about finding Wen Fucheng, his eyes fixated on Ying Jing.
"You and my uncle..." His hesitant expression was intriguing.
Ying Jing blinked, her words innocent and naive.
"If I say I want to be your aunt, as his nephew, you shouldn't have any objections, right!"
Even if you have, hold it in.