Song Nuan pressed further, "Who was that?"

"It wasn't him, but he indirectly facilitated the whole thing. The information was leaked by Song's competitor. As for why your competitor knew about it, that's thanks to A-Jing."

"..."

So, should she still thank Li Jingchen?

He thanked her for not telling Zhong Qingya directly, but for using such a roundabout method.

Ouyang Zhoujing continued, "There's one more thing."

"Speak." Her voice was cold; she would accept whatever Ouyang Zhoujing said.

Li Jingchen has already done enough outrageous things, one more won't make a difference.

He said, "I suspect that A-Jing was aware of Zhong Qingya's actions all along. At the time, you were hiding your whereabouts, so he probably did this just to force you to show yourself through the Song family crisis."

She closed her eyes wearily.

"I understand, Zhou Jing. Thank you for telling me this."

He hummed in agreement and said gently, "Feel free to ask me for help anytime."

"good."

The two didn't say much. Ouyang Zhoujing said he had work to do and hung up the phone.

With her phone tossed aside, Song Nuan slumped onto the table.

Was Li Jingchen only trying to force her to show herself? Probably not.

Song Nuan knew him well. When she suggested that they separate for a while, she went to see her uncle, and Li Jingchen agreed very readily—he rarely agreed so readily. At the time, she only felt strange and did not take it to heart.

In retrospect, he may have agreed verbally, but he had already been planning to keep her by his side all along.

The method was to target the Song family.

Just like now, this way, the Song family is both in danger and not actually in peril.

It's like having your neck choked, but you're always on the verge of death, without actually dying from lack of oxygen.

That's ridiculous.

He first broke his vow to marry another woman, and then refused to let her go.

Song Nuan had really had enough.

She was prepared to have a big fight with him, but Li Jingchen did not return to the Song family that night.

Xu Yiran sent a message: 'Song Nuan, I saw Zhong Qingya. She went to the hotel with Li Jingchen, and there was another man too, I couldn't see his face, there were three of them.'

She zoomed in on her phone, trying hard to see clearly.

'That bastard Li Jingchen is still holding her, so intimately.'

It's them again.

Song Nuan turned off her phone in frustration.

At the hotel entrance, Xu Yiran waited in vain for Song Nuan's reply, so she called her directly, only to be told that her phone was off.

She gritted her teeth and followed him inside.

The hotel's top floor houses Liangcheng's largest banquet hall, where the weddings of the Zhong and Li families are scheduled to be held.

Lin Xuan ripped off Zhong Qingya's coat. Her hands were tied behind her back, and two wads of cotton were stuffed into her mouth. Her cheeks were slightly bulging, but you couldn't tell unless you looked closely.

After putting down the clothes, Lin Xuan removed the cotton from her mouth.

Released, the woman screamed at him like a madwoman: "Li Jingchen, what the hell do you want to do?!"

Before she could speak, Lin Xuan had already set up his camera to film her. He reminded her, "Miss Zhong, watch your words. If this video gets out, it will damage your reputation."

"To hell with your damn reputation!"

Zhong Qingya was going crazy. Despite her exquisite makeup and hair, the madness in her eyes was obvious.

Li Jingchen smiled faintly: "These videos will be sent to your father. You've been playing the good daughter for over twenty years. If you don't want to ruin everything at this point, you'd better tone it down."

It would have been better if Zhong Guan hadn't been mentioned, but as soon as he was, all the emotions that Zhong Qingya had suppressed for more than 20 years surged up.

She glared fiercely at Li Jingchen, wishing she could tear him to pieces.

She was under house arrest for more than half a month, without a cell phone or any messages. The curtains were sealed shut and made of extremely dark material, so she lived in darkness almost every day.

Even though there were lights indoors, the prolonged exposure to incandescent bulbs made her feel depressed.

The incandescent light couldn't dispel the darkness in her heart.

But Li Jingchen's methods of torturing people are not limited to these.

She would suddenly hear footsteps, dripping water, and knocking on the door while she was sound asleep at night. Wanhua Garden is a high-end villa, how could there be outdated facilities?

Moreover, there are bodyguards watching over the villa, so who would knock on the door?

After figuring this out, Zhong Qingya quickly realized that Li Jingchen had deliberately arranged for these things to be done.

They just wouldn't let her sleep well.

He did indeed do it.

The torment of nearly half a month left Zhong Qingya physically and mentally exhausted, even suffering from neurasthenia, and she had completely developed a state of high tension every night.

Even if I sleep a lot during the day, I still feel lethargic—and diet plays a part in this.

Zhong Qingya couldn't eat well at all.

The bodyguards deliver meals at fixed times: 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM.

If the food is not served within five minutes, the bodyguard will take it away and will not bring new food and water until the next scheduled time.

She sleeps most of the day.

Being able to eat a meal is considered good; most of the time, she eats only once every two days.

She speaks weakly now.

"Li Jingchen, you don't need to threaten me with these things. If my dad knew what you did to me, he would never let you off the hook. Anyone who went through what I did would have killed you! What's wrong with me just scolding you a few times?"

Li Jingchen smiled and crossed his long legs.

"Lin Xuan".

Lin Xuan nodded, took out the USB drive, and plugged it into the computer.

With the wedding date approaching, the hall has been almost completely decorated. Except for some areas that need flowers, which are still empty, everything else is ready and waiting for the wedding day.

The computer is connected to a large screen.

Li Jingchen sat in the first row, while Zhong Qingya had no seat and stood in the middle of the aisle.

Click the mouse, and a photo appears on the screen instantly.

Zhong Qingya's pupils dilated instantly, her face turned pale, but she quickly regained her composure and smiled at Li Jingchen: "It's just a kissing photo. It's normal to have been in a relationship."

She scoffed, "If you're just trying to use this to threaten me, you're being naive."

Lin Xuan listened while silently shaking his head in his heart.

Li Jingchen: "You still have a chance to regret it, but once you walk out this door, you won't have a chance to say 'no' anymore."

"Zhong Qingya, think it through."

"Even if these photos are exposed at the wedding, it won't matter? Or even if you're under house arrest after the wedding, you still won't care?"

She curled her lips in disdain.

The torment she's been suffering lately is only because she was careless and didn't have any backup plans, which is why she's been controlled by that bastard Li Jingchen.

After the marriage, she brought her influence in Kyoto with her. What can Li Jingchen do to her?

Zhong Qingya is very confident in herself, and even more confident in Zhong Guan.

Zhong Guan values ​​his reputation more than anyone else. He would never allow himself to remain childless after several years of marriage. Even if it's just for his own pride, Zhong Guan would do everything in his power to force Jing Chen to submit.

What does she have to worry about?

"Break off the engagement? Impossible! I'm definitely going to get married!"

Li Jingchen smiled coldly upon hearing this. He stood up and looked at her coldly, "Zhong Qingya, you said those words. Don't regret it in a few days."

He left after saying that.

Lin Xuan shook his head, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at her.