Chapter 417 Just Playing Around
When Nanwan woke up, she was lying on the soft bed in the Tang family home.
Looking out through the carved window, I saw a crescent moon, its light cool and clear.
She had a very, very long dream.
In her dream, it was nine years ago, when she and Lu Qinglin had just gotten together.
Fuzhou didn't have so many high-rise buildings yet, and the air was filled with the smell of grass and soil.
Lu Qinglin led her through the long sycamore-lined path.
He said he would take her to see the sunrise from the mountaintop.
The second half of the mountain road was too steep, so he squatted down and patted his broad back.
"Get on, I'll carry you."
His back was warm and strong; as she lay on it, she could smell the faint scent of soapberry on his neck.
He would also take her to art exhibitions, and he could explain the paintings she couldn't understand in great detail.
Then, he would take out a small sketchbook from his pocket and sketch her profile in a few strokes.
"Shishi, you are more beautiful than any painting."
He tied her hair, his fingers clumsily threading through her strands, making a crooked and messy knot. She stomped her feet in frustration, but he laughed heartily.
He would cross half of Fuzhou just to buy chestnut cake from that old shop, just because she said she wanted to eat it.
When he handed her the cake, his forehead was still covered in fine beads of sweat, but the smile in his eyes was brighter than starlight.
Everything was so clear, so real.
Eight years later, the two unexpectedly reunited.
They loved and hated each other; they tormented each other.
But he is still deeply engraved in her heart and has never left.
With a "bang".
Nan Wan suddenly sat up in bed.
Her memories returned.
The piercing alarm in the ICU, the busy figures of the doctors, and that... white sheet covering his head.
Lu Qinglin.
Lu Qinglin!
The door was pushed open, and Tang Ling walked in carrying a tray with light porridge and side dishes.
"Auntie!" Nan Wan threw off the covers, not even bothering to put on her shoes, and rushed out barefoot. "Where's Lu Qinglin? Where is he? I need to see him!"
"Wanwan!" Tang Ling reacted quickly, putting down the tray and grabbing her tightly.
"Child, calm down! He's... gone!"
Tang Ling's voice carried an unyielding force.
"Mr. Huo sent you back because he didn't want you to be traumatized again."
Nan Wan shook her head vigorously, tears rolling down her cheeks unexpectedly and landing on the back of her hand, burning hot.
"No."
Her voice was trembling.
"He won't die, he can't die."
She grabbed Tang Ling's arm, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
"Auntie, how could he die?"
"He hasn't finished paying off his debts to the Tang family, how could he... just die like this?"
Nan Wan collapsed, feeling utterly agonizing.
Tang Ling reached out and hugged her trembling body tightly.
"You can't be too sad right now, okay?"
Nanwan buried her face in her aunt's shoulder and let out a suppressed and desperate wail.
"Auntie, how could he die... if..."
If she had known that Kita-Island would be their final farewell, she would never have let him onto the ship.
But it was too late.
"Auntie, tell me, he... is not dead."
Tang Ling gently patted her back, her own eyes reddening.
Since that year, when Nan Wan seized power from the Nan Gang amidst bloodshed, she has never shed a single tear.
At that moment, looking at the girl in her arms crying her heart out, she felt a tightness in her chest.
No matter how harshly this child speaks, he still can't let go of him in his heart.
It was such a hard-won encounter, but fate always seems to play tricks on us.
On the other side, upon hearing the news of Lu Qinglin's death, the old lady of the Lu family fell ill from excessive grief, while Madam Lu secretly revealed a smile she couldn't suppress.
She quickly calculated in her mind that the 10 billion yuan inheritance of Tiannan Group was enough to revive the Lu family and even take it to the next level.
The next morning, Nan Wan went to the hospital again.
But the ICU ward was empty and cleaned up, and Lu Qinglin's body was nowhere to be found.
She searched the entire hospital frantically, and finally Fu Beichen sent a message through someone.
Lu Qinglin had given instructions before his death that he wanted to be buried in a very quiet place, a place not in Fuzhou.
He wouldn't even let her see him one last time.
He was sent away just like that.
Nan Wan left the hospital looking lost and dejected, like a soulless puppet.
As if possessed, she went to that small building again.
The roar of the bulldozers has long since ceased, leaving only ruins.
That rose-covered cottage he built for her has been razed to the ground.
The garden, once full of roses, is now reduced to bare, withered branches, shivering in the cold wind; not a single one has survived.
This is the sea of roses he built for her; it's gone.
He promised her a home, but that's gone now.
Nan Wan squatted down and reached out to touch a dry branch with tiny thorns that pricked her palm painfully.
But how can this little pain compare to even a fraction of the pain in my heart?
She went to the gallery alone and stood in front of the paintings for the entire afternoon.
She went to a cake shop in the south of the city alone and bought a chestnut cake.
She sat on a bench by the street, eating with a small spoon, taking tiny bites at a time.
The cake was sickeningly sweet.
She said softly, "Lu Qinglin, this cake is still so sweet, why aren't you eating it?"
No one answered her.
Only the wind howled through the empty streets.
She sat there from dawn till dusk, her tears drying and then wetting again, wetting and then drying again.
Yang Yi followed at a distance, not daring to disturb them.
The next day, she left only a few people to guard the Tang residence, and then took Tang Ling with her and boarded a private plane back to Qingcheng.
She acted as if she had never been back to Rongcheng.
Lu Qinglin didn't die either; he's still managing his Tiannan Group well, diligently fighting the lawsuit to win the land for her. Once the land is won, he's just waiting for her to return.
She told herself that nothing had happened.
It was all just a nightmare she had.
Back in Qingcheng, she locked herself in her room for three whole days before venturing out.
As she stepped out of the room, she reverted to her cold and terrifying persona.
Half a month has passed.
She handles the gang's affairs every day.
They wouldn't allow themselves any free time to overthink.
Her waist was slender, and at this time, her fourteen-week belly was already showing slightly.
That day, she received a phone call.
It was Tang Xiaoya. She said she was in Qingcheng and invited her to the awards ceremony.
Nan Wan's status in Qingcheng was too conspicuous, and fearing it would bring her unnecessary trouble, she didn't go.
She asked Yang Yi to give Tang Xiaoya a gift, a diamond watch.
Tang Xiaoya's new movie was released and achieved both box office and critical success. With her hard work, talent, and top-notch resources, she has finally achieved a breakthrough.
That evening, a grand awards ceremony was held at the Fanxing Hotel in Qingcheng, where Tang Xiaoya won the Golden Phoenix Award for Best Supporting Actress, the most prestigious award in the film industry.
Under the spotlight, on the red carpet.
She was dressed in the latest haute couture, her appearance was stunning, and she dealt with the media with grace and poise, clearly a rising star.
The awards ceremony has ended.
When Tang Xiaoya walked out of the hotel, Yan Jin's car was unexpectedly parked on the side of the road waiting for her.
They hadn't seen each other for half a month, and Tang Xiaoya thought their relationship was over.
He was busy spending time with his new girlfriend, but unexpectedly, he managed to find time to come and be with her.
He took Tang Xiaoya directly back to a luxurious villa.
The moment the door opened, Tang Xiaoya was completely stunned.
The main light in the living room wasn't on; instead, it was filled with candlelight, and the air was filled with the rich scent of roses.
The floor was covered with flower petals, which stretched all the way to the center of the living room.
There, a giant heart was made of rose petals, and in the center of the heart stood a velvet jewelry box.
"This is..." Tang Xiaoya looked at Yan Jin in surprise.
Yan Jin hugged her from behind, his expression full of affection. "Congratulations on my Best Supporting Actress."
He led her to the center of the heart, picked up the jewelry box, and opened it.
Inside is an extremely exquisite necklace, with a rare Paraiba tourmaline as the main stone.
It has a clear and beautiful blue-green color like lake water, and is surrounded by dazzling white diamonds, which shimmer and sparkle under candlelight.
It's breathtakingly beautiful.
"Although tonight, you are only the best supporting actress."
As Yan Jin spoke, he took out the necklace and put it on her. He then turned her body so that she was facing him.
"But to me, you will always be my leading lady."
Tang Xiaoya's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She mustered her courage and said, "Yan Jin, I don't want to be a third party."
"What third party? I'm not married." Yan Jin chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I've been a bit busy lately and haven't been able to visit you, so you're starting to overthink things?"
She added, "Can you guarantee that there won't be other women when you're with me?"
"Of course, do you think just anyone can get into my bed?"
After saying that, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply until Tang Xiaoya's legs went weak.
Then, he picked her up and carried her to the living room carpet...
The candlelight flickered, illuminating two entangled figures.
"Tell me, whose woman are you?"
Yan Jin pressed her for answers, but her actions were seductive.
Tang Xiaoya succumbed to his tenderness and strength, sobbing as she replied, "Yours... I am yours..."
In her confusion and infatuation, she clung tightly to Yan Jin.
"Good girl, come on, come up..."
It had been a long time since she had done this; tonight, Yan Jin was spoiling her in all sorts of ways.
After their intense lovemaking, Yan Jin held Tang Xiaoya, who was limp in his arms, with a languid tone.
"Next year, I'll make sure you stand on the Best Actress award stage."
Tang Xiaoya nodded in agreement and accepted all the gifts.
But deep down, I'm becoming increasingly aware that this isn't love, it's just domestication.
The next day, Nan Wan invited Tang Xiaoya to the Quan Tang Club for drinks to celebrate her success. Of course, she didn't drink any herself, only fruit juice.
Tang Xiaoya was very surprised; Sister Nan was pregnant.
Then, I told her that my next role would be as a single mother.
The two chatted for a while, then Tang Xiaoya went outside to answer a phone call.
Unexpectedly, I saw Yan Jin walk into a VIP room.
As I passed by their half-open private room, I heard them talking and laughing inside.
"Brother Jin, are you serious about that little starlet? You're spoiling her rotten," one of his friends joked.
Yan Jin took a sip of wine and said indifferently, "Just playing around."
"The novelty hasn't worn off yet. Once I get tired of it, I'll naturally let it go."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaoya's face turned pale.
The phone I was holding almost slipped from my hand.
She seemed frozen in place, listening to the mocking voices continuing to come from inside.
"Yeah, these kinds of child actors are just something new to look at. But they seem pretty well-behaved."
"Good girl?" Yan Jin chuckled softly. "This little girl is not easy to coax."
Another man spoke up, "She won't cling to you and try to marry you, will she?"
"Someone of her status can't get into the Yan family," Yan Jin said casually. "When I don't want it anymore, I'll just give her some money to get rid of her."
"You didn't fall for that blind date, did you?" the man asked again.
"A bit pretentious, not as good as my little white rabbit," Yan Jin smiled.
...
Tang Xiaoya practically fled from there.
Back in the private room, she chatted with Nan Wan for a while before leaving.
Late at night, Yan Jin returned to the villa, reeking of alcohol and radiating a chilling aura.
The man's suit accentuated his ascetic figure, yet the loose buttons at his collar hinted at a dangerous elegance.
A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high, straight nose made him appear even more aloof and refined.
He walked into the bedroom, took Tang Xiaoya's snow-white ankles and dragged them to the bedside, then lifted her nightgown.
Tang Xiaoya pushed him away. "Yan Jin, I don't want to tonight."
Yan Jin laughed, as if she had heard a joke.
"But I want to do it."
After saying that, he began to undress her, somewhat roughly.
"Yan Jin, let's end this." She looked at him earnestly.
Yan Jin's eyes darkened, and he reached out and forcefully pinched her chin.
"Tang Xiaoya, you want to dump me? Can you afford the price?"
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