Marriage Seduction Addiction

Chapter 489 Taking Responsibility for a Lifetime
This is certainly something Jiang Muchen is capable of doing.

A person like him, who was arrogant and willful to the point of being reckless, would not be surprising to Tang Xu for doing anything.

But just because it's not strange doesn't mean there aren't other emotions.

Just like this very moment.

After all, this matter involves far more than just Jiang Muchen.

Tang Xu returned to the chat software once again and looked at her communication interface with Ji Yan.

Ever since they sat down and had a drink together in Los Angeles, she started shamelessly messaging Ji Yan. After reuniting with Yan Shiyu, she sent Ji Yan even more and more messages.

But Ji Yan didn't reply to a single message.

Therefore, the chat box only contained her own sent messages filled with green text, and no matter how much she scrolled through it, she couldn't find a single word of response from Ji Yan.

Did she know or not that Jiang Muchen had done this? If she knew, did she approve of Jiang Muchen's actions to provoke Yan Shiyu? Or did she not know at all, and that Jiang Muchen had made the decision on his own?

If it's the latter, what would her reaction be right now?
And what will Yan Shiyu's reaction be after seeing this news?
This news sparked widespread discussion on social media.

Scandals involving wealthy families are always a source of public interest, especially news about illegitimate daughters.

On the one hand, the public is paying attention to the identity of this illegitimate daughter of the Jiang family, and on the other hand, they are speculating about Jiang Muchen's intention in suddenly announcing this news.

It's well known that among news stories about wealthy families, besides gossip and scandals, the most attention-grabbing topic is the battle for inheritance.

It was common knowledge that Jiang Beiheng was in poor health. Originally, he only had one son, Jiang Muchen, and the family business was destined to be passed on to Jiang Muchen. However, under these circumstances, an illegitimate daughter suddenly appeared, and Jiang Muchen himself announced the news, which immediately made the matter somewhat confusing.

Could it be that Jiang Muchen is giving up his exclusive inheritance rights to promote someone else to compete with him for his huge fortune?
There was much discussion about this, and as someone in the know, Tang Xu was all too clear about Jiang Muchen's intentions.

Even if Ji Yan returned to the Jiang family, she wouldn't be able to compete with him for any property. Even if Ji Yan really wanted to take half of the Jiang family's assets, Jiang Muchen wouldn't hesitate to do it.

He was such a proud man, and at the same time, he acted impulsively to the extreme.

He hated Yan Shiyu so much that he would probably give up everything he had to hurt or torment Yan Shiyu.

Tang Xu was in a state of utter confusion. Just as she was about to call Yan Shiyu, she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

She was sitting in her office when she heard a knock and instinctively said "Come in." Only when the person sat down in the chair opposite her did she come back to her senses and look up to listen to what was going on. But she was shocked to find that the person sitting in front of her was Jiang Beiheng.

Seeing that she finally raised her head, Jiang Beiheng smiled slightly, just like before, with a kind and gentle expression.

Tang Xu froze completely.

She could give Jiang Muchen many different reactions, but when those reactions were combined, she didn't know how to react.

He used to be her father-in-law, treating her like his own daughter, while she saw him as a father figure. Although she didn't dare to completely rely on him because of Jiang Muchen, she absolutely trusted him.

Later, after learning about the past entanglements between Yan Shiyu and him, she experienced countless moments of inner turmoil. In her understanding, Jiang Beiheng wasn't that kind of person. Although he personally admitted to his past with Ji Sushang, Tang Xu believed that Jiang Beiheng was mostly unaware of the reasons why Ji Sushang went through those things. However, she couldn't persuade Yan Shiyu to let go with those words—he was the one who personally experienced that pain, and to him, it made no difference whether Jiang Beiheng or other members of the Jiang family did it.

Although Yan Shiyu did not interfere with her relationship with Jiang Beiheng, and she had tried her best to remain neutral between the two, as her feelings for Yan Shiyu deepened, Tang Xu gradually realized that life is not so easy to have both sides - how could a person so easily move between completely opposite ends without any resentment? At least she could not do it.

At this point, she had no choice but to make a decision, so she ultimately sided with Yan Shiyu without making a sound.

Later, when Yan Shiyu chose to make her forget everything related to him and let him make a clean break with Jiang Beiheng, Tang Xu was actually filled with fear and unease. If she really forgot everything, then of course she could stand directly on Jiang Beiheng's side and spare no effort to save him.

But she hadn't forgotten anything.

And it was he who did it.

The adage "it's impossible to have it all" was vividly demonstrated at this moment.

So, after Jiang Beiheng was released and sent to the hospital, even though she had arrived downstairs at the Los Angeles hospital and felt an indescribable sense of guilt and worry, she still didn't go up to see him even once.

Because she had already made her choice.

Since I've chosen Yan Shiyu, I can only treat him as a stranger.

Tang Xu had almost resigned herself to never having anything to do with him again, but Jiang Beiheng appeared before her once more, with the same kind and smiling face as before.

After a moment of stunned silence, a flood of emotions rushed into Tang Xu's mind. Caught off guard, her eyes welled up with tears in an instant. She managed to keep a calm expression as she faced the person she once respected and loved, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you come here?"

Jiang Beiheng observed her various reactions, but simply smiled and said, "Since you refuse to come see me, then I'll have to come see you."

The moment those words were spoken, Tang Xu's guilt and shame surged forth. She could no longer maintain her composure, and before she could even react, tears welled up in her eyes.

Tang Xu turned her face away and raised her hand to cover her eyes.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Beiheng simply sighed softly and waited quietly.

After a long while, Tang Xu slowly lowered her hand. She didn't look at Jiang Beiheng, but stared blankly at the desk in front of her, and said softly, "You shouldn't have come. We... really shouldn't meet again."

Jiang Beiheng smiled faintly and then said, "Whether it was right or wrong, the sky didn't fall down just because we met, did it?"

“No,” Tang Xu replied.

Jiang Beiheng asked with slight confusion, "Hmm?"

“The sky outside hasn’t collapsed, but my sky… a huge part of it has collapsed.” Tang Xu finally turned to look at him. “I originally had no face to see you again, but you insisted on showing up, which really made me ashamed to face you.”

Jiang Beiheng lowered his eyes slightly, not bothering to offer any words of comfort. After a moment of silence, he simply said, "There's no need to talk about the past. Don't you have any questions for me about recent events?"

Tang Xu's chaotic thoughts were instantly brought back to normal by his actions, and she simply looked at him.

At that moment, she knew all too well what Jiang Beiheng meant.

She indeed had many questions about his relationship with Ji Yan, and about Jiang Beiheng's sudden revelation of Ji Yan's identity today.

But looking at his thin face, Tang Xu still couldn't open his mouth.

Now that Jiang Beiheng was here, how could he not understand her inner turmoil? He let out a soft breath before saying, "I only saw the news Mu Chen posted today on my way here. Before that, we had no idea he would do such a thing. I feel helpless about it."

He brought up the matter on his own initiative, and Tang Xu knew it was because he was afraid she wouldn't know where to begin.

Tang Xu pursed her lips gently, and when she spoke again, she only whispered three words: "I'm sorry..."

Jiang Beiheng sighed again, "I've already said there's no need to talk about the past. I understand all the choices and decisions you've made, and I have no right to blame you. Of course, I don't mean to blame you... Besides, if it weren't for you, I might not have been able to come back from Los Angeles, right?"

Tang Xu lowered her eyes. "Your words only make me feel more guilty."

Jiang Beiheng said, "In this matter, if anyone should apologize, it should be me and their mothers, but... there's no chance anymore. Although he hated me, captured me, and once wanted to kill me, he didn't in the end... If I had died at his hands back then, perhaps I would still have some resentment, but now I'm alive and well, so what is there to resent? I have no reason to blame him, let alone you?"

Tang Xu listened and remained silent for a moment, offering no reply.

Jiang Beiheng continued, "Because of me, the mother and her two children suffered those misfortunes and pains. He hates me to the bone, yet he is still willing to let me go... So in my opinion, this matter may not be so difficult to resolve, right? If I make amends in the future, perhaps there will be other opportunities, isn't there?"

After a long while, Tang Xu finally spoke again: "You should make it up to Ji Yan even more."

"I definitely will," Jiang Beiheng said.

Tang Xu paused for a moment before asking, "How is she? Have you... reunited?"

A bitter smile crept onto Jiang Beiheng's lips. "It's not that easy."

“I thought that since she came back with you, we must have reached some kind of consensus,” Tang Xu said.

Jiang Beiheng said, "I was actually surprised that she was willing to come back with me. But she always stays silent. Perhaps only she knows what she's thinking."

Tang Xu sensed something and couldn't help but ask, "So, there's been absolutely no progress?"

"Wouldn't living under the same roof count as progress?" Jiang Beiheng said. "At least now I can see her every day, and occasionally we can even have a meal together."

Tang Xu paused for a moment, then said, "She didn't communicate with you, but what about Jiang Muchen? Could today's events be a consensus reached between them?"

“I can’t give you a definite answer on that right now,” Jiang Beiheng said. “But if you’re asking me, I think it’s not true.”

"Aren't you afraid of her reaction when she finds out?" Tang Xu said. "If you knew this news, you should go back to her immediately and let her know your attitude, instead of coming here to me."

“I swore I would protect her and ensure her happiness and well-being for the rest of her life,” Jiang Beiheng said slowly. “But I also had to come here.”

Upon hearing his words, Tang Xu once again lost his composure.

After a brief silence, Jiang Beiheng spoke up again: "She just returned to the country and hasn't adjusted to the time difference yet, so she won't be up this early today. Yingjie is also looking after her at home, so she probably doesn't know about this news yet."

Tang Xu slowly raised her eyes, "But what will happen after she finds out? How will she react? Do you have any ideas on how to deal with it?"

Jiang Beiheng recalled his time in Los Angeles and sighed softly, "This child's temperament is really hard to fathom. I have no way of predicting how she will react. As for how to deal with it, I can only take it one step at a time."

Tang Xu fell silent once again.

Indeed, only Ji Yan herself knows what she is thinking right now.

As for those who were excluded from her world, how could they possibly have any chance of glimpsing even a fraction of her thoughts?

Jiang Beiheng suddenly looked at her again, "What kind of reaction do you expect from her?"

Tang Xu was taken aback. "What?"

"Regarding this matter, what kind of reaction do you expect her to have?" Jiang Beiheng repeated his question word by word, his gaze fixed on Tang Xu's face, waiting for her response.

Tang Xu opened her mouth, but didn't know how to answer the question.

Jiang Muchen's decision to reveal Ji Yan's identity to the world was undoubtedly reckless; his main purpose was probably to provoke Yan Shiyu.

He probably doesn't care much about what Ji Yan thinks.

Given his personality, he would never care about this younger sister, let alone consider her thoughts and feelings.

The more this caused a great uproar and the more upset Yan Shiyu became, the happier he felt.

But those who care about Ji Yan have to consider this.

Especially since she cared about both Yan Shiyu and Ji Yan at the same time.

She was worried that Yan Shiyu would fall back into a vortex of pain and conflict because of this news, and she was also afraid that Ji Yan would do something extreme because of this.

But what if Ji Yan didn't struggle or suffer because of this, but instead calmly accepted it?

This is also a disturbing outcome.

Despite all that Yan Shiyu has given, she has never accepted this brother, always harboring resentment and refusing to accept their sibling relationship with a calm mind. If she were to accept the Jiang family's identity so easily, what would all of Yan Shiyu's efforts and sacrifices amount to?
Is it an absurd joke to the extreme?

Therefore, Tang Xu could not answer this question.

Because she realized that no matter what expectations she had, they seemed to be wrong.

Ultimately, someone will suffer because of this.

Ultimately, it's impossible to have both.

"How could you ask me such a question?" Tang Xu lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "This is too cruel."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Beiheng remained silent for a moment before saying, "I just hope things can develop in a better direction. I really hope... that none of you will be trapped in the past."

“I understand what you mean.” After a long pause, Tang Xu finally spoke again, “But in this matter, I will only respect him and always stand by his side. I’m sorry.”

After a moment of silence, Jiang Beiheng slowly nodded and said, "I expected this answer, but I also want you to know my attitude so that you won't feel uneasy. Or, if there's an opportunity, you can convey it to him."

After saying this, Jiang Beiheng stood up and said, "The timing isn't quite right today, so I won't stay any longer. If you have time, come home and visit. You must really want to see her too, right?"

Tang Xu did not answer his question, but simply stood up and silently saw him out.

Watching Jiang Beiheng get into his car and leave, Tang Xu turned and went back to her office. As soon as she entered, her phone started ringing incessantly. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly went over to pick it up. Only when she saw Lu Xingyan's name did her heart calm down a little.

On the other end of the phone, Lu Xingyan was clearly furious: "What is Jiang Muchen doing? Why did he suddenly announce this to the world? How is she supposed to handle this? What is she doing? What is her reaction?"

Tang Xu was bombarded with his series of questions, making her already chaotic mind even more troubled. After a while, she finally let out a breath and said, "I just found out about this news through social media. What do you expect me to say?"

Lu Xingyan was too emotional to listen to Tang Xu's answer and just kept venting until Tang Xu asked, "So, are you coming back?"

Tang Xu had already asked Ji Yan this question the day he learned that Ji Yan would be returning to Huai City with the Jiang family.

At that time, he was probably somewhat disheartened and only said that he couldn't leave for the time being.

At this very moment, when he was so excited, Tang Xu asked this question, and he remained silent.

Tang Xu keenly sensed something.

Given Lu Xingyan's stubborn nature, he hadn't let go all these years. Now that she had finally returned, he couldn't possibly just stand by and watch them separated by thousands of miles without caring about her.

"Has something happened?" Tang Xu couldn't help but ask softly.

After a long pause, a bitter laugh came from the other end of the phone. "What good would it do if I came back? Someone as hypocritical and selfish as me would only annoy and disgust her... Why bother?"

No one would evaluate themselves like that, especially not someone as privileged as Lu Xingyan.

The only possibility is that these words were spoken to him by Ji Yan.

Indeed, it's not without its harmful effects.

Tang Xu didn't ask any further questions, only saying, "You know her situation perfectly well, so why bother arguing about it?"

"I know, I know all too well," Lu Xingyan said. "They're already annoying enough, why should I show up again, pester them, and only increase their disgust?"

After saying that, he suddenly gave a bitter laugh and said, "Forget it, just pretend I didn't make this call today. Anyway, I can't help with this kind of thing, so why bother with these things?"

After saying that, he hung up the phone immediately.

Tang Xu held her phone, recalling the outpouring of emotion he had when the call first connected, and sighed softly in her heart.

If he could truly be indifferent, then why would he know about this news so quickly, and become so angry and furious, from across the ocean thousands of miles away?
Can the people and feelings that I haven't let go of over the years really just fade away silently?

Coming to her senses, Tang Xu quickly made another call to Gao Yan.

Despite everything that has happened and their relationship being public knowledge, Tang Xu still instinctively calls Gao Yan first when she needs to find Yan Shiyu.

Yan Shiyu was originally going back to the Yan family today to handle some matters.

After the series of upheavals involving the board of directors and shareholders, the Yan Group has been in decline. However, such a large group is still operating. Although Yan Shiyu has made many arrangements, he still goes back to visit when he is in Huai City.

Unexpectedly, when Gao Yan answered the phone, he said that he was at Yan's and had also seen the news, but Yan Shiyu, who was supposed to be at Yan's, did not appear.

Upon hearing this, Tang Xu could no longer sit still. She got up, left the office, and drove straight to Guiyu. When she opened the door to her house, before she even saw anyone, she heard noises coming from the balcony. Turning her head, she saw Yan Shiyu squatting on the balcony... planting flowers?
This morning, when she left home, he had already changed into a suit and was ready to go out. But now, he had changed into loose, plain-colored casual clothes, with the cuffs casually rolled up to his forearms, his fingertips covered in soil, quietly tending to the few potted plants in front of him.

Hearing the door open and close, he stopped what he was doing, turned around and saw Tang Xu. His expression was calm, and he didn't seem too surprised. "You're back so early?"

Heaven knows what images were on Tang Xu's mind before she pushed open the door. At this moment, Yan Shiyu's reaction and state were completely different from what she had imagined.

The more this happened, the more uneasy she felt. She slowly walked to the balcony, watched him continue washing his hands, and couldn't help but ask, "Where did these flowers come from?"

"I saw some on a truck on the way here, they were so beautiful, and I thought you would like them, so I picked out a few pots to bring back. I was originally planning to plant them as a surprise for you, but who knew you would come back so soon," Yan Shiyu replied while continuing to plant the flowers.

Only after he buried the last bit of soil in the flowerpot and placed the blooming flower in the right spot did he turn to look at her and ask, "Does it look good?"

"It looks good." Tang Xu only replied with this one sentence, then took two steps forward, threw herself into his arms, and hugged him.

Yan Shiyu tilted his head slightly, kissed her temple, and then said, "I'm covered in dirt, and I haven't washed my hands yet."

Tang Xu hugged him even tighter and said, "It's good to be a little dirty, it's more real to be a little dirty."

Upon hearing this, Yan Shiyu remained silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly. Tang Xu then heard him say in a low voice, "Yaoyao, I'm fine."

Tang Xu froze for a moment before slowly raising her head to look at him.

He lowered his eyes slightly to meet her gaze, his eyes calm and gentle, as if nothing was wrong.

But if there was really nothing wrong, why would he suddenly buy a few potted plants on his way to the company, neglecting his work and instead burying himself in planting flowers?

Tang Xu stared at him quietly for a moment, then slowly said, "But I'm very angry, what should I do?"

"Why are you angry?" Yan Shiyu asked.

"Why aren't you angry?" Tang Xu said. "Isn't Jiang Muchen doing this to make us angry and furious? He's really good at this. Whether in the past or now, he's always good at using this method to torment people's hearts."

“So why let him suffer?” Yan Shiyu said.

Tang Xu bit her lip and just looked at him.

Yan Shiyu gently released her, walked to the sink, turned on the tap, and began to wash the mud off her hands.

“This matter is a fact, not something deliberately fabricated. Besides, we all know his purpose. I wouldn’t go so far as to follow his wishes and let him have his way over something like this.”

After he said that, Tang Xu didn't reply for a moment.

Yan Shiyu turned her head and saw that she was just looking at her, and the worry between her brows could not be hidden.

He turned on the tap, returned to her, and looked down at her. "What's wrong?"

“You said you wouldn’t hide anything from me anymore,” Tang Xu said.

Yan Shiyu nodded.

"So you're not hiding anything from me now, are you?" Tang Xu said. "You're not hiding your emotions, you're not pretending to be calm, you genuinely feel that this matter won't affect you, right?"

Yan Shiyu took her hand, kissed it lightly, and answered frankly, "Yes."

Tang Xu's gaze fell on the flowers and plants behind her. "Then why don't you go to the Yan family? Why do you come back home to grow flowers instead?"

Yan Shiyu seemed slightly taken aback before saying, "Didn't I just say it was because I thought you would like it? You don't like it?"

Now it was Tang Xu's turn to be stunned.

He did say that, but she felt he was just putting on an act, so she subconsciously ignored it.

But if that's really what he thinks...

Tang Xu looked at him, and Yan Shiyu continued to kiss her hand. He seemed to understand her thoughts and smiled gently before saying, "Maybe I was just lucky. When I saw that news and my mind went blank, I looked up and saw a truck full of flowers... I thought you would like them, so I would like them too, so I stopped the truck and bought some... Thinking like that, all the other things didn't seem so important."

The other matters refer to the Yan family's affairs, as well as the exposure of Ji Yan's true identity.

Tang Xu was shaken and heartbroken, but she couldn't help but throw herself into his arms again and hug him tightly once more.

“How could she not be important?” Tang Xu said. “She’s important to you and to me. We don’t need to lie to ourselves. Only by stopping lying to ourselves can we make her believe it too…”

Yan Shiyu reached out and gently stroked her back. After a while, he whispered, "Yes, she is very important to us, but she herself is also very important. What kind of family does she want? What kind of life does she want to live? Since she has made her choice, I respect her choice... As long as she is well, that's enough, isn't it?"

Tang Xu suddenly looked up at him. "This is not her choice, this is definitely not her choice! Even if one day she really wants to reunite with the Jiang family, the person she is closest to will always be you, it will always be you."

Yan Shiyu looked at her eyes, which were slightly red from anxiety, and couldn't help but reach out and stroke them. Then he said, "If it is, that's great. If not, there's no need to force it. So why get angry or upset about it?"

Tang Xu looked at him, and only now could she finally confirm that his calmness was not feigned.

He seemed to have truly come to terms with things and understood them.

Those obsessions that had lingered in my heart for years had long since dissipated like the wind.

She desperately wanted to see him like this, and she should have been happy for him, but at this moment, she still felt an indescribable heartache.

It shouldn't be like this...

Fortunately, fortunately... this is not the final outcome.

They still have unfinished business, and they still have a chance to get the answers and endings they want.

Thinking of this, Tang Xu couldn't help but bury herself in his arms once again.

Yan Shiyu lowered his head and kissed her, gently leading her back into the house.

The two of them cuddled on the living room sofa for a while, remaining calm. Their phones rang twice, but no one paid any attention until the room fell into complete silence. Tang Xu gradually recovered from her heartache and, remembering what had happened that day, finally took the initiative to tell him, "Mr. Jiang came to see me today."

Yan Shiyu kissed her while gently stroking her hair. Hearing this, she didn't react at all, only giving a soft "hmm".

Tang Xu looked up at him again, "Aren't you angry?"

Yan Shiyu gently shook her head.

"Why?" Tang Xu felt a little uneasy again. "You never wanted me to see him much before."

Yan Shiyu looked at her and spoke very seriously: "When he fell into my hands, you didn't want me to lay a hand on him, did you? But you didn't say a word to persuade me. You let me do what I want to do, but I ask you to live according to my wishes. Isn't that too unfair? Yaoyao, you and Yan Yan are both free. You can have the life you want to choose. Don't make me a shackle and a burden to you."

Upon hearing the last two words, Tang Xu involuntarily sat up slightly, staring at him seriously for a long time before suddenly saying, "But I've already told him that no matter what, I will stand by your side."

Yan Shiyu paused slightly.

Tang Xu stared at him and said, word by word, "So, you're not a burden at all. You have a great responsibility; you'll be responsible for my side for the rest of your life."

After gazing at each other for a long time, Yan Shiyu reached out and held the back of her head, pulling her back into his arms and kissing her deeply.

How fortunate we are.

To be able to make such a firm choice time and time again.

At this point in her life, no matter how much resentment she felt, it seemed that she could smooth it all over.

……

The Jiang family mansion.

Ji Yan didn't wake up until 2 p.m.

She opened her eyes, looked at the unfamiliar room in front of her, and breathed in the unfamiliar air. Her mind went blank. It took her a long time to finally remember where she was.

Even though I remembered, I was still completely lost at this moment. It took me a long time to calm down, but I couldn't fill my empty heart with anything. I sat on the bed for a long time, unable to remember to get up.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the doorway. Ji Yan slowly raised her eyes and saw the door being carefully pushed open. Then, Jiang's maid, Sister Ying, poked her head in.

Seeing that she hadn't expected to make eye contact with her, Sister Ying was taken aback for a moment, then laughed awkwardly and said, "Miss, you're finally awake. You haven't gotten up so late, and you haven't eaten breakfast or lunch. It's not good for your health... I'll go prepare something for you. What would you like to eat?"

Ji Yan frowned slightly and said only, "No need. Close the door for me."

"How can that be?" Sister Ying said quickly. "You haven't eaten anything since last night. It's been so long! You can't go without food. Even if you don't have an appetite, you have to eat something. Your leg injury hasn't fully healed yet; it will be even worse if you don't eat—"

Before she could finish speaking, Ji Yan had already lost her patience. "I said I'm not eating! Close the door and don't talk to me again!"

Yingjie was stunned by her tone.

She had lived in this house for many years, and even someone as bad-tempered as Jiang Muchen was relatively gentle with her. Faced with Ji Yan's sudden outburst, she was stunned for a moment, then laughed awkwardly again, and said, "Then tell me when you want to eat it."

After saying that, Sister Ying retreated and closed the door behind her.

Ji Yan didn't expect to suddenly explode. She felt a little uncomfortable, but she couldn't control her emotions at the moment. She couldn't help but reach out and press her forehead. Before she could catch her breath, there was another knock on the door.

Ji Yan sat stiffly for a moment before speaking in a cold, hard voice: "Come in."

The door was pushed open again, and it was Sister Ying again.

She held up an envelope, forced a smile at Ji Yan, and said, "The postman delivered it this morning; I forgot to give it to you earlier."

After she finished speaking, she came in and carefully placed the letter on the bedside table.

Ji Yan stared at the familiar envelope for a long time without saying a word.

It wasn't until Yingjie turned and walked to the door that she heard Yingjie's somewhat muffled voice behind her: "Thank you. Just now... I'm sorry, I just woke up and didn't have an appetite."

"It's alright." Yingjie's smile instantly brightened. "Then you can rest for a while longer. Come down and eat when you feel like it. We have everything at home. Just tell us what you want to eat."

After Yingjie finished speaking, she smiled and closed the door behind her before leaving.

Ji Yan remained seated on the bed, her gaze lingering on the envelope on the bedside table for a long time before finally reaching out to pick it up. She then opened the bedside drawer and tossed the envelope inside.

Inside the drawer, there were several identical envelopes, all unopened, lying quietly in the darkness as the drawer closed again.

Much later, Ji Yan finally got up, went into the bathroom, tied up her hair, and began to wash up.

She was brushing her teeth when she opened her phone. She just wanted to browse around casually, but as soon as she opened a social media app, her own photos suddenly flooded in.

Ji Yan's mind went blank for a moment, her pupils constricted, and she quickly began to browse through the relevant information.

When she finally understood what was going on, a surge of anger welled up inside her uncontrollably.

She spat out the foam from her mouth, turned around, and limped out of the bathroom, opening the door to go downstairs.

However, she suddenly stopped in her tracks just as she reached the top of the stairs.

At this time, Jiang Muchen would definitely not be at home, and if she rushed downstairs like this, she could only find Jiang Beiheng.

But what good would finding Jiang Beiheng do?

She could almost perfectly imagine what Jiang Beiheng would look like when facing her—just like in the past, no matter what her attitude was, no matter how arrogant or nasty she was, he would always be gentle and kind, tolerating all her sharpness and temper.

She was an extremely wicked hedgehog, but when faced with a field of cotton, all her quills were ultimately useless.

Thinking of this, Ji Yan closed her eyes, forcibly suppressing the anger in her heart, turned around and went back to her room to continue washing up.

Hot water flowed from the tap, and the rising steam blurred the mirror. She looked up at her blurry reflection and, after a long while, finally reached out and gently wiped away the layer of steam.

The person in the mirror had a cold and pale face, even the color of their lips was extremely pale, and between their brows was a struggle and embarrassment that even they themselves felt unfamiliar with.

She seemed not to recognize the person in the mirror.

She didn't recognize herself in the mirror either.

Who is she? What did she experience in the past? What is she experiencing now? What will she experience in the future? She seems to know nothing about any of it.

So many people have come and gone around her, each with a clear past and a definite place to belong. She seems to know them, yet they also seem to be complete strangers.

She can't hold onto anyone, can't keep anything, and doesn't even know what she wants.

It's like a soulless walking corpse.

So what does it matter?

Even if the sky were to fall, it would probably be of no consequence to her.

As she was thinking this, she suddenly grinned at herself in the mirror, a pale, almost ghostly smile.

Just then, my phone suddenly rang.

She picked up her phone and saw a familiar profile picture.

Tang Xu's profile picture.

The reason they became familiar with each other was that Tang Xu would send her many messages every day during this period, such as reporting on her and Yan Shiyu's schedule, telling her about some daily life related to Yan Shiyu, or recommending all kinds of delicious food and fun things to her.

Ji Yan didn't reply to any of those messages.

Today, Tang Xu posted—

"If you'd like to talk, feel free to contact me anytime."

Ji Yan did not reply either.

The Jiang family had a constant stream of guests that day, making it a lively and bustling place.

The purpose of these people coming to her door was twofold: first, to verify the message released by Jiang Muchen, and second, to meet this suddenly appearing Miss Jiang.

But Ji Yan never went downstairs from beginning to end.

It wasn't until evening that Yingjie, carrying a tray full of food, knocked on Ji Yan's door again.

“Miss, you haven’t eaten all day, that won’t do. I didn’t know what you wanted to eat, so I picked out some appetizing and easy-to-digest foods. Please pick some to eat.”

Yingjie carefully placed the food in front of Ji Yan.

Ji Yan remained nestled in the sofa chair, motionless, not even glancing at the food she had placed down. She simply looked up and asked, "Has Jiang Muchen returned?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a car headlight flashed past the window.

Sister Ying had lived in this house for many years and immediately recognized that it was Jiang Muchen's car.

She paused for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Isn't that why I'm back?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan slowly stood up, stretched her stiff legs, and said to Sister Ying, "Could you please take the food down for me? I'll eat at the table."