0177 Inescapable
In the following days, Jiang Jifan treated Tantai Qing with indifference, as if they had returned to the time before they reconciled.
Just as Tantai Qing was struggling with how to break the deadlock between the two, Jiang Jifan reached out his hand to him first.
That night, just before going to bed, Jiang Jifan suddenly told him that he wanted to drink and asked him to keep him company.
Tantai Qing was initially surprised. She had been angry about that matter for the past few days and had not wanted to talk to him. Today, her sudden invitation made him feel flattered.
Although he felt something was off, he didn't want to speculate too much about her and simply agreed happily.
Tantai Qing specially went to the wine cabinet and took out the most expensive bottle of wine. But just as he opened the red wine and was about to pour it, Tan Jiming called him. He had no choice but to put down the bottle and turn around to answer it.
When she returned, there were two glasses of red wine on the coffee table, and Jiang Jifan was wiping her hands with a tissue with her eyes down, clearly she had poured the wine.
Tantai Qing was quite pleased and sat down beside her with a smile.
Jiang Jifan threw away the tissue in his hand and groped for the wine glass to personally hand to him.
"I can do it myself." Tantai Qing said this on the surface, but he was very pleased in his heart. He took a sip of red wine and kissed her hand, his eyebrows and eyes full of smiles.
Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he said he was drinking with her, but he ended up drinking more than she did.
Ten minutes later, Tantai Qing suddenly put down his wine glass, frowned, and held his head, saying that he felt a little dizzy.
Jiang Jifan remained silent, sitting quietly to the side.
“Ji Fan…” Suddenly, she appeared before him in countless forms. Tantai Qing panicked and tried to reach out to grab her, but his head sank and he finally collapsed onto the sofa.
"Taiqing?"
After hearing the noise, Jiang Jifan called his name a few times, and when there was no response, she slowly put the half-empty wine glass in her hand on the coffee table, moved over and touched his face.
The man beneath her had striking features, and memories of their past together flooded her mind. She couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat, and a single, glistening tear fell onto his cheek.
Jiang Jifan was filled with reluctance. He lowered his head and kissed those familiar lips deeply. When he looked up again, his gaze was firm.
She loved him, but loved freedom even more.
The next day, when Tantai woke up, he had a splitting headache. When he opened his eyes, he saw that it was already bright outside and he was all alone in the living room.
His memory was still stuck on that scene from last night. Recalling Jiang Jifan's expression at the time, for some reason, Tantai Qing had a bad feeling. He stood up despite his headache and searched for her in the house.
“Ji Fan”.
"Ji Fan?"
"Ji Fan!"
After searching every possible hiding place in the house, Tantai Qing still couldn't find any trace of her, and she completely panicked.
Xiang Nannan was sleeping in Song Yuchang's arms when she received the call. She found it strange after receiving the call from Tantai Qing and asked him what was wrong in a daze.
When she heard him say that Jiang Jifan was missing, she was so frightened that she jumped out of Song Yuchang's arms and immediately got up to go look for him.
Inside the airport.
"Sister Jifan, have some water."
Jiang Jifan said thank you, then took the paper cup and took a small sip.
She couldn't drink too much water to avoid causing any inconvenience. Although the flight attendants would help her on the plane, she didn't want to trouble them too much.
She had originally booked the earliest flight, but due to weather issues, the flight was delayed for a full three hours. During those three hours, she could have chosen other modes of transportation, but that wouldn't have been safe enough for someone unfamiliar with the routes.
Therefore, Jiang Jifan had no choice but to take another gamble.
Xu Zhengyan sat down beside her and asked cautiously, "Sister Ji Fan, when you go back this time..."
Will you return to City B in the future?
Jiang Jifan paused for a moment, placed the paper cup filled with warm water on his lap, and said in a low voice with an undeniable firmness: "No."
She never looks back once she's made a decision, just like before...
Jiang Jifan lowered her eyes to hide her emotions, and squeezed the paper cup, which was as fragile as her self-esteem.
Xu Zhengyan felt heartbroken looking at her.
He had no idea what she had gone through in the past six months, how a sudden car accident could have turned her from a vibrant and beautiful girl into the tired and haggard woman she was today.
Xu Zhengyan guessed that she must have suffered a lot of "injuries" during these long six months, which would force her to leave the city where she had lived for more than ten years in such a decisive way.
Jiang Jifan contacted him two days ago. On the phone, she only said she needed his help with something. After learning about her situation and plans, Xu Zhengyan didn't care whether she was using him or not; he only had one thought in his mind—
He was willing to give his life for her.
Finally, as we were getting ready to board and packing our things, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Ms. Jiang Jifan, whose ID number ends in xxxx, you have left your ID card at the airport. Please go to the broadcasting room to retrieve it..."
The announcer repeated the announcement several times in both Chinese and English until he stopped.
Jiang Jifan immediately searched for his ID card and found that it was indeed missing.
It's like when it rains, it pours; there's only half an hour left before boarding.
Xu Zhengyan offered to go and retrieve it for her, but she replied, "Never mind, I'll go with you."
Fearing that something might go wrong along the way, she felt it would be more reassuring to retrieve it herself.
"Hello, we're here to collect our ID cards..."
While questioning the staff in the broadcasting room, Jiang Jifan suddenly heard hurried footsteps and slightly familiar voices outside. The vigilant Jiang Jifan immediately noticed something was amiss, his expression turning angry. He couldn't help but whisper angrily, "You're lying to me!"
After she finished speaking, she turned to leave, but the next second someone pushed the door open and shouted at her, "Don't go!"
Tantai Qing rushed in, stopping in front of her breathlessly. He grabbed her shoulders tightly, looked down at her bitterly, and said, "Jifan, you lied to me too..."
Xu Zhengyan immediately stepped forward, pushed his hand away, stood in front of her, and scolded, "Don't touch her!"
Tantai Qing's thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as he stared at him. After secretly adjusting his breathing, he said rationally, "Get out of the way. This is between her and me. It has nothing to do with you."
He hasn't even had a chance to settle accounts with him yet.
After being warned, seeing that he remained unmoved, Tantai Qing's expression darkened.
It seems we have no choice but to take a hard line.
So he immediately ordered his bodyguards in a cold voice, "Take him away!"
Jiang Jifan was afraid that they would cause Xu Zhengyan any real harm, so he quickly advised, "Zhengyan, you should go back first."
“Sister Ji Fan…” Xu Zhengyan turned to look at her, looking incredulous.
Their back-and-forth was extremely irritating to Tantai Qing. He stared at her hand on Xu Zhengyan's arm, his anger growing stronger, his face ashen as if it had been soaked in ink.
"Thank you. He won't hurt me. You can go now." Jiang Jifan's face was as calm as death.
Xu Zhengyan glanced at the aggressive and determined man in front of him and couldn't help but feel annoyed by his own weakness and extremely powerless.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and had no choice but to listen to her advice and leave.
"Come home with me." After Xu Zhengyan left, Tantai Qing pulled her in front of him and said solemnly.
Jiang Jifan stood motionless with a stern face and said coldly, "That's your home, not mine."
She tried to pull her hand away, but found that he tightened his grip even more.
Tantai Qing didn't want outsiders to see them make a fool of themselves, so he forcibly carried her away.
Li Yan had been waiting outside the airport for a long time. When he saw them come out, he immediately ran up and opened the car door.
Tantai Qing swiftly shoved her into the car, and Jiang Jifan began to struggle violently as soon as she touched the leather seat in the back.
"Let me out! I want to go home! I don't want to go back with you!" she shouted loudly, kicking the car door angrily.
Tantai Qing hadn't expected her to be so unruly even though she was blind. He could only step forward and forcefully pull her into his arms, threatening in a low voice, "Don't force me to drug you too!"
He learned that she had drugged him last night. Jiang Jifan paused slightly, then sneered and said defiantly, "If you're so capable, try drugging me too!"
The car fell silent.
Tantai Qing gritted his teeth and said in her ear, "Don't provoke me, Ji Fan."
Jiang Jifan turned his face away and scoffed coldly, saying disdainfully, "So what if I anger you?"
Tantai Qing's eyes were deep and dark, containing unfathomable pain and anger. He pursed his lips and remained silent, ignoring her provocation, holding her tightly in his arms, and called out to Li Yan to hurry up.
The frail Jiang Jifan was no match for him. He was completely powerless to fight back in his arms. No matter how hard he tried, he could not break free from his hold. He could only grit his teeth and curse angrily.
Li Yan had never seen Tantai Qing so furious. Hearing Jiang Jifan's string of curses, he felt a cold sweat break out. He dared not look at their actions in the back seat, and respectfully agreed, carefully increasing the car's speed.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
