Chapter 67, Second Playthrough Completed
I turned around and leaped.
End of second playthrough
"Dad... what are you whispering to Mom about?" Jiang Shan quietly came to our side at some point, holding her teddy bear in her arms, and looked at us with a puzzled expression.
Yu Xu smiled and said, "Shan'er, it's been a long time since Daddy and Mommy went out to play alone. How about I take you to Auntie's this afternoon? You'll have other children to play with, and when you're tired, Auntie will make you a lava cake."
He didn't like to lie to his daughter, and he would always tell Jiang Shan honestly what he was doing. Thanks to his upbringing, Jiang Shan was also a child who spoke her mind.
Jiang Shan nodded understandingly, "Then, you two need to come back tonight. I'd like to watch a children's movie with you both."
"Okay, what gift do you want? Dad will buy it for you."
"No need, Mom had a nightmare. You need to cheer her up." Jiang Shan came over obediently and snuggled into my arms. "Mom, are you feeling better?"
I gently hugged her tighter. "I had heatstroke yesterday and felt really dizzy. Did I scare you?"
"Yes, Mom has been very scared. I don't know how to protect you." Jiang Shan let out a soft sob.
I was afraid that if she kept talking, Yu Xu would worry about me even more, so I comforted her for a while before she slowly stopped crying and snuggled into my and Yu Xu's arms again.
Before going out in the afternoon, I specially chose a beautiful dress. The purple color was as intense as an oil painting, but it also complemented my skin tone. My hair was naturally curly. I put on a headband in front of the mirror, and applied a light blush to the corners of my eyes, the tip of my nose, and my chin. I also used a very pure and innocent lipstick color.
Stepping out of the house, I saw that Yu Xu had clearly tidied himself up, dressed in a very fashionable casual outfit, quite different from his usual plaid shirts or white T-shirts. I slowly walked towards him and was surprised to find that he smelled wonderful.
"Are you wearing perfume?" I asked, extremely curious.
"How does it smell?" he asked me. I smiled. Yu Xu took my hand and led me to the garage. It was a pure white Tesla. He mysteriously opened the trunk, which was full of pink lychees and pink snow roses. Jiang Shan was standing next to the car, holding a bouquet of roses for me.
"Mom, this is for you!" Jiang Shan hugged me tightly, and I felt as if I was surrounded by the sweet fragrance of roses. I hesitated and looked at Yu Xu.
Yu Xu was a little embarrassed: "I spent a long time choosing, and now I smell this on myself. Do you like it?"
"Hmm..." My eyes reddened. I cherish this hard-won life, and I feel that last night's dream is not a good omen. I leaned on Yu Xu's shoulder, and after my emotions calmed down a bit, I took Jiang Shan to the aunt's house nearby with him.
The aunt is a retired high school teacher whose child is studying at a nearby private university. She loves children, and young parents like me and Yu Xu in this community often send their children to her for care.
When we arrived, Yu Xu had prepared a large bag of xylitol snacks to share with the other children, and a can of her favorite black tea for the aunt.
After doing all this, I hugged Jiang Shan tightly with reluctance, telling her not to run around in the yard and to get along well with the other children. We would only play on the beach outside for a while and would pick her up from school soon.
I sat in the passenger seat. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I felt nervous again. My gaze slowly drifted to the white villa in the distance. At that moment, the black Maybach, like a lurking wild beast, slowly drove towards us.
The car windows were tightly closed, the black glass serving as the best privacy protection. The car slowly drove past us, the cicadas chirping loudly, mixed with the suffocating heat of summer. In this kind of weather, I inexplicably felt a chill.
"Xiao Fu?" Yu Xu suddenly called out to me.
I took two deep breaths. The Maybach had already moved away from my sight until it disappeared. I gripped Yu Xu's hand tightly. "It's nothing. That car just felt a little unfamiliar. I've never seen it before."
"Don't be afraid." Yu Xu naturally knew what I was thinking. He lowered his eyes slightly. "Did you dream about them last night too?"
"Hmm... but it's okay. I'm probably just under too much psychological pressure. I'm afraid to get close to strange men now, no matter who they are. I'm worried that I'll be taken back." I looked at Yu Xu, whose eyes were full of concern for me. He pulled me into his arms.
I calmed myself down a bit, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him. "Aren't you leaving yet? If you come back late, Shan'er will start complaining that we didn't keep our promise and that we'll buy her toys."
Yu Xu slightly curled his lips.
He drove me to a restaurant by the sea. We had reserved a table near the floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant had a first-class ambiance; we could even hear the waves while we ate.
This is also the best spot to enjoy the sunset over the sea. The orange glow of the sunset makes the sea look golden, as enchanting as a fairyland.
The seafood was delicious and beautifully presented. The light at dusk was not as harsh and intense as usual, but rather had a soft feel. I turned my head to look at the sparkling sea and saw Yu Xu taking pictures of me with his phone through the glass window.
I looked at him and smiled. Yu Xu lowered his eyes and chuckled, "Xiao Fu, even though we've been married for so long, I still find it incredible."
"Why?"
"I never thought we could be this happy." Yu Xu's lips curved into a gentle smile. He had a refined appearance, and his features were not sharp or aggressive, but rather exuded a gentle charm.
He gently took my hand, and I laughed. In the evening, we took a walk along the shore before returning to the car. Yu Xu and I sat in the back, and he gently laid me down. Yu Xu knew what I liked; my fingers gripped the seat, trembling with excitement. After I felt fully comfortable, he breathed heavily and looked at me.
"Are you comfortable, Xiao Fu?"
Without much hesitation, I reached out and hugged him tightly, sitting down next to him. The car started to sway slightly, but luckily there weren't many people in the parking lot. My high heels had slipped off at some point and were wobbling, gently caught by my toes.
Just as things were getting heated, Yu Xu's phone rang. Holding my dress, I saw his hesitation and urged him to answer it quickly. The caller was in a hurry, and I vaguely recognized him as a colleague from his company, so I didn't dare to delay him any longer.
I couldn't quite hear what they were saying over there, but Yu Xu's expression grew increasingly serious.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Fu, it seems there's been a problem with the testing," Yu Xu said apologetically. "I have to go back."
Yu Xu is a very responsible person. Although I can clearly sense that Qingyu is being slowly aroused, subtly and gradually, yet not fully satisfied, which makes me feel somewhat uncomfortable, I do not want to stop him at this time.
I nodded to him. Yu Xu left the car with me and took a taxi to the company. I tidied myself up in the car, regaining my dignified and gentle demeanor, before driving home to pick up Jiang Shan.
When I arrived at my aunt's house, I knocked on the door. The door opened slowly, but there was no noisy sound of children as I had imagined. My heart suddenly started pounding, and I inexplicably felt a sense of danger.
My aunt was surprised to see me. "Xiao Fu, what brings you here?"
"Where's Shan'er?" I asked, my eyes wide.
"Don't worry, Shan'er wasn't feeling well in the evening, so I took her home. She said the key was under the flowerpot outside the door. I watched her take her medicine and then told her to stay home obediently."
I didn't dare delay, thanked the aunt, and quickly drove home. I opened the door and rushed straight to the children's room on the second floor, but the room was empty, with Jiang Shan's little schoolbag still on the bed. I couldn't help but gasp.
Hesitantly, I walked to the table and saw a sticky note on the tablet. When I saw the handwriting, my whole body began to tremble violently, filled with a dense, overwhelming fear. I knelt down and futilely bit my lip.
After a long while, I was panting, my body was very hot, but my fingers were frighteningly cold. I slowly left home and got into the car.
In less than half an hour, I arrived at the most prestigious and luxurious affluent community in Southern California. I drove along the winding road into the hilltop estate, surrounded by lush greenery and even an infinity pool.
The car drove along the light gray driveway until it reached the semi-open mansion.
The villa was eerily quiet. I walked past the expensive, shimmering white building and climbed the white stairs. The light from the artistic chandelier overhead was dazzling, yet strangely unsettling.
"Xiao Fu, you're here?"
On the right side of the second floor, hidden linear light strips faintly emitted light. It was a casual bar, decorated in a very simple and beautiful style. A man appeared from there calling my name, his voice gentle and seductive.
I looked at the man. Five years had not made him depressed or decadent. On the contrary, he looked more and more handsome. His well-defined features were perfect and impeccable. His fixed diet and disciplined fitness over the years had also made him tall and beautiful.
Seeing that I refused to speak, Jiang Mingzhuo stopped smiling, and the coldness and condescension in his eyes could not be concealed by even the gentlest smile.
I lowered my eyes. "I'm taking my daughter home."
"You mean Shan'er? I like her very much, and my brother likes her very much too. She's having a lot of fun inside. Why do you want to take her away?" Jiang Mingzhuo's voice was so elegant and pleasant that those who didn't know her would only feel a gentle breeze.
But I felt cold all over.
"Let her go." I looked at him. "What do you really want?"
"Have you had dinner yet, Xiao Fu?" Jiang Mingzhuo didn't answer my question at all; instead, he spoke to me with the tenderness of a lover.
Yu Guangzhong, I saw him getting closer and closer to me.
Jiang Mingzhuo brushed aside my long hair, and naturally, he saw the light pink mark left on my neck. His tone was gentle, but clearly arrogant. "How is Yu Xu? He borrowed six million to buy a house. If we fire him now, the bank will take the house away soon, and your family will be homeless. I like Shan'er and I'm worried about her, so I want to bring her to live with me."
“You… what right do you have…” I clenched my fists tightly. “What exactly do you want? Jiang Mingzhuo, you can come at me, just leave my daughter and my husband alone.”
"Shh." Jiang Mingzhuo's sharp eyes carried an innate indifference. He lifted my chin, pretending to be gentle as he reminded me, "Shan'er is still inside. My brother finally managed to get her to sleep. Are you going to wake her up?"
I was stunned for a moment.
Jiang Mingzhuo's hand, like a venomous snake, was extremely cold and ruthless, and it wrapped around me. His strength carried the domineering and oppressive nature unique to those in a superior position, forcing me to raise my head.
"Shan'er is my child." Jiang Mingzhuo looked at me with a smile on his lips.
"...She's Yu Xu's child." I laughed. "Jiang Mingzhuo, we've been together for so long, don't you know whether we have a child or not? I'll never get pregnant with you in this lifetime. I hate you, I won't have your child..."
His fingers suddenly tightened! I felt as if he was about to crush my jaw, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged out from the excessive force.
I coughed several times and turned my head with difficulty.
Jiang Zhao stood not far away, his face as indifferent and calm as ever. His dark, deep eyes, just like when he appeared in my house last night, were filled with a strong, excited, predatory desire. My eyelashes drooped limply; I knew I couldn't escape.
“Take the child back to the Imperial State, and you’ll come back with us.” Jiang Zhao’s gaze swept across my face. He approached, his imposing aura impossible to ignore. I was sandwiched between the two of them. Jiang Zhao’s thin lips curled slightly. “I’ll let Yu Xu go. In exchange, you can go see Xie Yong when I allow it.”
"Haha, hahaha..." I couldn't help but laugh.
I saw the two brothers exchange a silent glance, which made me even more intrigued. "Xie Yong? He's also involved in your deal? Or is he willing to be a mistress for the rest of his life?"
"Jiang Mingzhuo, Jiang Zhao, don't talk like you're doing me a favor." I turned around and looked at the luxurious and beautiful artwork on the entire wall of the second floor. The price of that painting was enough to buy several houses in my neighborhood. I also knew that this mansion contained countless collections.
I am no different from these collectibles.
Ultimately, in their eyes, I'm only suited to be a pretty, delicate "mistress" decorating a villa. I don't need to think at all, nor do I need to go out and be independent. It's enough for me to stay obediently and glamorously in this gilded cage.
"Do you want me dead?" I said, walking to the bar. Behind me, in the pure white liquor cabinet, were many luxury and niche wines.
Jiang Zhao frowned. "You've been traumatized."
Jiang Mingzhuo sensed something was amiss.
I took out one of the bottles and smashed it hard on the table. I picked up a piece of glass, and Jiang Mingzhuo grabbed it with lightning speed, but his face was cut by the glass, leaving a long bloody mark. His hands were covered in blood, but he didn't notice. He hugged me tightly and said, "Xiao Fu, you see, if you stay with Yu Xu, you will always be living in fear."
Jiang Mingzhuo and I locked eyes. My gaze slowly moved to his palm; dark red blood stained the front of Jiang Mingzhuo's shirt, making him look disheveled. Blood was also dripping from his face, creating a terrifying and eerie atmosphere.
His Adam's apple bobbed, his eyes grew darker and deeper, yet a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"It's alright, Xiaofu, I don't blame you. You still have your daughter, you won't give her up so easily..."
Seeing that I was not moving in his arms, Jiang Mingzhuo kissed my cheek.
Jiang Zhao watched silently, and I seemed to quiet down as well. I stopped screaming that I wanted to see Jiang Shan and silently followed them into the bedroom.
late at night.
I got out of the big bed. There were psychiatric drugs scattered on the floor. I must have been given something while I was asleep to fall asleep. I calmed down and found that Jiang Shan had been brought to my side at some point and was sleeping peacefully. I tucked her in and stroked her cheek.
This was all a trap set for me.
From my attempt to "escape" to the smooth process of getting into college in Southern California... Although there were no chains around my neck, I felt as if I were already firmly bound. My eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. I got out of bed and walked silently down the hallway until I reached the third-floor terrace.
Is it possible to go back? Perhaps I should just jump and try...
I think I have to go back to December 21st, five years ago, no matter what, to seize more initiative.
I leaned against the fence.
I looked up and saw Jiang Zhao. His thin lips were pressed into a line. I had never seen such a helpless expression in his eyes before. He tried to reach out to me, "...Come here."
Quiet.
No one spoke, but the terrifying atmosphere grew stronger. I clung tightly to the fence, and Jiang Zhao didn't dare approach me. He was as tall and handsome as ever, sharp and radiating a chilling aura. I wish I hadn't met them. They were the ones who kept bothering me, trying to lock me up and prevent me from seeing anyone.
“Are you scared?” I laughed. “Jiang Zhao, are you scared?”
"Jiang Fu, come here."
"You're just missing one of your family's favorite collectibles, are you really that upset?" I asked him with a smile.
"Come here first, and I can let you take Yu Xu home too." This was the first time I saw Jiang Zhao "humbly" discussing things with me, his tone no longer so high and mighty, arrogant and domineering.
"I will never let you control Yu Xu or my daughter again." I turned around, took a leap, and jumped from the third floor.
Facing the howling wind, I saw panic replace the usual coldness in Jiang Zhao's eyes, and I even felt a sense of vengeful pleasure.
I closed my eyes just before I fell.
[Author's Note]
In the third playthrough of the next chapter, Xiao Fu has completely lost her memory; the entire playthrough will be a nightmare.
The remaining sequence won't disappear, but it will appear in another form, with more of Xu Ya's storyline in the third playthrough.
Currently, I'm writing one side story featuring Jiang Mingzhuo and another featuring Xie Yong and Jiang Zhao. I might also write some side stories set in parallel universes at different times, which I will release as bonus side stories after the main text ends.
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