Her Imperfection for Wifehood - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

In a flash, several days passed. On the day Liang Xu led his troops into the An family residence, Kahn also appeared at the An house, leaning on a cane: “Well, Lieutenant General Liang, is this An residence grand enough to be your base of operations in Shanghai?”

“It seems the An family was sensible enough to flee for their lives before I started a massacre.” Liang Xu was very satisfied with the place.

“We had an agreement. I’ll leave the An Corporation’s factories in the old town to your trouble.”

“No problem, no problem, hahaha…”

The trap Kahn set at the hospital was originally intended to capture An Xi and offer him as a welcoming gift to Liang Xu, but the Lu Gang had ruined his plan.

He also used a large bounty as bait for Jin Baolu of the Sea Gang, ordering them to capture An Jing alive. With An Jing in his hands, he wasn’t afraid that An Xi wouldn’t be caught.

But Jin Baolu was a piece of trash.

If he had known it would be letting the tiger back into the mountains, he shouldn’t have been so complacent and let them go at the Wei house.

This was probably the decision he regretted the most so far.

Kahn’s false smile never faded as he came and went. But after he left, the expression on Liang Xu’s face inside the house was entirely different from Kahn’s.

In his years of military campaigns, he had burned more than just one or two bridges after crossing them. Although he belonged to the pro-foreign faction, he favored the power of the entire Municipal Council, not just one person.

Kahn’s self-congratulation and constant demands infuriated him. While it was true that he was ruthless and profit-driven, he would not tolerate a foreigner stepping on his head.

How could he let Kahn benefit from the easily acquired An Corporation, this juicy piece of meat? He could endure hardship, but he hated being exploited.

“Men.”

“What are your orders, Lieutenant General?”

“Have you found An Xi?”

“Not yet.”

“A bunch of useless people, can’t even catch an injured man! Go, bring me all the people in charge and the shareholders of the An Corporation.” He wanted to coerce them, seizing the An Corporation to provide financial support for his rear.

“Yes.”

“Also, warn the police chief of the concession police station, and the people we arranged to protect Kahn, to just go through the motions. Bullets don’t have eyes.”

The An residence was occupied, the An siblings were missing, and the An Corporation was on its last breath, becoming a tool for national traitors to accumulate wealth.

The word spreading throughout Shanghai was: internal strife has begun, and the enemy is rampant.

Frightened citizens in the Chinese concession scrambled to the concession and also rushed to flee Shanghai by land and sea.

In the Wei family study.

Wei Zhengqing placed a letter with an address on the table and said to Wei Yinxia: “Recently, Kahn’s attention has been focused on the An Corporation. I will send people to take you away. You only have one night for yourself and them to disappear.”

“One night is enough.”

She had waited for this day for too long, so long that her heart had become numb. “I only ask Boss Wei to keep your word. During this one night, do not go back on your promise. I and the Wei family, they and the Wei family, are now completely separate, with no further connection. The Wei family no longer has a daughter named Wei Yinxia.”

“The situation is volatile, and Kahn is also a hidden danger. Take this money for your travel expenses. Flee if you can, and don’t let him find you.” Wei Zhengqing finally let her go, even giving her an extra one thousand yuan in small change. “Take care of yourself.”

“I will not thank you.”

“Go.”

The next day, Wei Zhengqing placed an announcement in the newspaper, severing his paternal relationship with his daughter Wei Yinxia because her actions were immoral and scorned by the public.

In short, Wei Yinxia was kicked out of the Wei family.

Without any trace of An Xi, no matter how much Xu Weiqiang tried to persuade her, both gently and forcefully, An Jing refused to leave Shanghai.

To prevent Xu Weiqiang from knocking her out and taking her away, she even preemptively issued a warning, cautioning Xu Weiqiang that if he dared to use dirty tricks, she would no longer consider him a friend. If he could take her out of Shanghai, she could return to Shanghai.

Since An Jing wouldn’t leave, Xu Weiqiang naturally wouldn’t leave. If Xu Weiqiang didn’t leave, Bai Yang and the loyal brothers of the Lu Gang wouldn’t leave either.

For four days, to recover from her injuries, An Jing hadn’t stepped out of the basement.

Her heart was like stagnant water.

She didn’t ask where Kahn was, dead or alive. She didn’t ask if Wei Yinxia was safe, nor did she ask about the rise and fall of the An Corporation. She only asked every day—”Has An Xi been found?”

She was too afraid.

Afraid that An Xi would also precede her, like Lu Cheng, without any warning.

The young brothers Xu Weiqiang sent out to inquire about An Xi’s whereabouts risked danger and worked tirelessly for days, scouring the old town and the concession, but found nothing.

Bai Yang brought back a newspaper: “Boss Qiang, look at this.”

The front-page headline was the news of Wei Yinxia being expelled from the Wei family.

Xu Weiqiang spat on the ground, threw the newspaper onto the sofa, and sneered: “Karma has arrived. This woman, after ruining your reputation and being used by her father, was then discarded like a worn-out donkey after its job was done, and he cut off their paternal ties.”

An Jing lay half-reclining on the sofa like a puppet, her eyes vacant. It was unclear if she had heard his words.

Xu Weiqiang was infuriated. He stubbed out his cigarette, cursed under his breath, grabbed An Jing by the collar, pulling her up, and then held the newspaper up to her eyes: “Wei Yinxia, the woman who deserves it. Won’t you take a look to vent your hatred?”

He felt it was unfair to An Jing. Her good reputation was ruined because of a fickle woman, and she was burdened with eternal condemnations such as immorality, disregard for ethics, and disgusting perversion.

He couldn’t understand why An Jing, who so detested the Wei family, would become entangled with the Wei family’s daughter. And the woman her own brother wanted to marry, no less.

An Jing impatiently pushed Xu Weiqiang away: “She merely loved someone she shouldn’t have. What crime has she committed?”

“Love?” Xu Weiqiang looked at her incredulously. “I think you are simply incorrigible! Her approach to An Xi first, and then to you, was calculated from the very beginning. She harmed you so badly, yet you still naively think she loves you?”

“I don’t just think so.” An Jing had never doubted Wei Yinxia’s sincerity toward her. At least before the photos were exposed, she truly believed Wei Yinxia loved her and was willing to spend her life with her.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I am very sober. Xu Weiqiang, have Bai Yang help me inquire about Wei Yinxia’s whereabouts.”

Before today, she had tried hard not to worry about Wei Yinxia, thinking that in the Wei family, in the concession, she at least had a certain degree of safety.

Kahn was either dead or injured. Even if he survived, there were people everywhere who wanted to kill him. He was busy hiding and shouldn’t have the leisure to harass Wei Yinxia for a while.

But Wei Zhengqing chose this moment to publicly kick Wei Yinxia out of the house. Wasn’t that clearly pushing her toward a dead end?

Without the Wei family’s protection, how could a weak woman survive in this chaotic world?

If she was targeted by malicious individuals, if she accidentally entered the territory of the enemy or national traitors, or if, heaven forbid, she was captured by Kahn… the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Xu Weiqiang, help me find her. I need to see her!” An Jing’s voice was much more determined and urgent.

The An Jing that Xu Weiqiang knew was an extremely stubborn person. When it came to matters and people she believed in, she wouldn’t easily give up unless the person personally stabbed her heart, unless she was severely wounded and in extreme pain.

He had met many women and had played along with many, but An Jing was the only woman he had ever unconditionally indulged in this life, because An Jing was irreplaceable to him.

Therefore, he always granted An Jing’s requests: “Last time.”

“Thank you.”

After saying thank you, she rushed to the washroom to hastily clean up. Looking at herself in the mirror—sunken eyes and messy hair—she felt extreme self-loathing.

In her life, no, since she entered the An family, she had never been so desperate and dishevelled.

She had kept some of the money from the safe.

But what could money do? No amount of money could buy back Lu Cheng’s life.

The following evening, Bai Yang returned from outside: “Found her. Boss Qiang, Boss Jing, Wei Yinxia is at, at Zhengqing Department Store, going around with Kahn as a pair.”

The reason he used the phrase “going around as a pair” was to subtly inform An Jing that Wei Yinxia didn’t look unwilling.

An Jing’s expression hardened: “Give me the gun. I’m going out.”

“What are you planning to do?” Xu Weiqiang took the gun away, determined not to let her act impulsively.

“What I’m planning to do, don’t you know?” An Jing’s gaze was fierce. “Xu Weiqiang, I am very grateful for what you and the Lu Gang brothers have done for me. Today, just let me go and settle things with him.”

“An Jing, are you insane!”

Xu Weiqiang clearly disapproved of her plan. “Not only does he have the Municipal Council as a shield, but he also colluded with Liang Xu to occupy the An Corporation’s assets. The dark forces behind him are immensely powerful. The fact that he is so brazen today, daring to openly enter crowded places like the department store, means he is definitely prepared.”

“So what if he’s prepared? So what if I go and don’t return?” An Jing screamed, “Xu Weiqiang, I’ve hidden enough and endured enough. Lu Cheng is dead, the An family is scattered, An Xi is missing. Every day spent hiding here is torture. Their insults are right. I am a pervert. I am morally corrupt. So what if I like Wei Yinxia! That swine Kahn, who should have died long ago, is parading around with the woman I love. How can you expect me to sit still? I don’t care what you think. Yinyin is my woman. I believe she must have been coerced by Kahn. Otherwise, she would never… never be with a cold-blooded devil like Kahn.”

Xu Weiqiang’s hand, which was blocking An Jing, slowly lowered. He had never seen An Jing so distraught.

Bai Yang looked at Xu Weiqiang hesitantly. Seeing him nod, he handed over the pistol from his waist: “Boss Jing, here.”

An Jing didn’t check the bullets in the chamber. If Bai Yang gave it to her, it was certainly fully loaded.

She skillfully tucked the gun into the back of her waistband, tying her hair while saying: “This is my own business. No one follow me.”

The cloth she used to tie her hair was a silk handkerchief, embroidered with a red plum blossom on the edge, which she had once received from Hongying. She had two of them; she carried one with her when she left the An house. The other one, she had given to Tang Yunqing.

The department store was connected to a restaurant and a hotel, allowing for shopping, dining, and renting a room all at once.

During dinner, Kahn intentionally or unintentionally encouraged Wei Yinxia to drink a lot of alcohol, and Wei Yinxia accepted every drink without resistance.

She knew that only with the courage fueled by alcohol could she endure what she had to do next. This was the only thing she could do for An Jing.

She didn’t want to stain A-Jing’s hands, and she definitely couldn’t soil her own.

Kahn was still surrounded by several foreign bodyguards. Midway through, another Chinese man in plain clothes, disguised as a waiter, delivered a message: “The distinguished guest has arrived.”

Hearing this, he was overjoyed. He walked to the opposite side, wrapped his arm around Wei Yinxia’s waist, and stood up. He whispered in her ear: “Miss Yinxia, you’ve shopped and eaten, and you’re happy. Tonight, it’s time for you to give me what I want, isn’t it?”

Wei Yinxia feigned a shy smile: “Yinxia is penniless. When I was desperate and had nowhere to go, I relied entirely on Mr. Kahn to take me in without holding a grudge. Whatever you want, as long as I have it…”

“What I want, you have always had.” Kahn kissed Wei Yinxia’s temple ambiguously. “Later, you have to be… more proactive.”

“No, don’t do this.” Wei Yinxia suppressed the nausea in her stomach, pretending to resist while encouraging him: “Mr. Kahn, let’s go back to the room, back to the room. Will you do as you wish there?”

“Good, back to the room. Haha, back to the room.”

The two walked arm-in-arm to the room on the second floor of the hotel. Bodyguards stood guard outside the door.

In the early winter, the sky darkened early.

Kahn turned on the light after entering the room, then opened the window, deliberately leaning out to look outside.

He then satisfactorily drew the curtains partially closed, leaving a hand-span-wide gap for the light from the streetlamp to seep in. He then walked back to the door and turned off the brightest ceiling light in the room.

A dimly lit yellow table lamp was still on by the bedside.

Wei Yinxia stood by the wall on the right side after entering, using it to support herself. She was terrified.

She secretly bit her lip and forcefully dug her nails into her palm to keep herself calm.

She hung her handbag on the wooden rack. Her fingers nervously touched the coiled button at her collar, and the protrusion hidden beneath the fabric at her collarbone, then reached up to touch the wooden hairpin in her bun.

The two gifts A-Jing gave her, she wore close to her body. She and they had no future, but her A-Jing still did. For A-Jing’s future, Kahn must die.

This was also the only way for her to atone.

She could not back down.

Looking at the grim-faced Wei Yinxia, Kahn grinned and took off his coat, moving slowly to avoid straining the wound on his abdomen that hadn’t fully healed.

That shot from Chen Dong had made him limp for over ten days, and that shot from Chen Kang had sent him on a trip to the gates of hell.

He was recording all these vendettas and adding them to the An siblings’ tally.

The road to the underworld was narrow. An Jing, An Xi, and their other accomplices, he had to send them through one by one.

Wei Yinxia was still lost in thought, still mentally preparing herself, when Kahn suddenly embraced her, staggering a few steps until she was pressed against the window wall: “Have you been waiting long, darling?”

“Mr. Kahn…” Wei Yinxia exclaimed, pressing her hands against Kahn’s chest.

“Shhh. Miss Yinxia, you came to throw yourself into my arms. I need to confirm you aren’t carrying any weapons, don’t I?”

“The door, Mr. Kahn, the door is still open…”

“No need to close it. My bodyguards are very discreet. They won’t peek. If Miss Yinxia is truly shy, you’ll have to keep your moans a little quieter later.”

Kahn removed Wei Yinxia’s cashmere trench coat. Beneath it was a dark, small-floral patterned qipao. It was the one she wore when she first met An Jing on the street as Wei Yinxia.

Kahn’s hand, through the qipao, slowly moved downward from Wei Yinxia’s cheek and shoulder.

“Tsk tsk, Miss Yinxia is truly a celestial beauty, a gem among mortals. Did the An siblings ever touch you like this?”

Wei Yinxia bit her lip tightly, enduring the humiliation: “Never.”

Someone was outside the window.

That person had already drawn their gun, prepared to fight to the death, but upon hearing Wei Yinxia’s “Never,” was thrown into disarray.

“Never? They truly weren’t moved by your beauty? They could remain composed with a beauty right in front of them?” Kahn laughed loudly and ostentatiously, his hand roaming back and forth around Wei Yinxia’s waist. “Then tonight is our wedding night, isn’t it?”

“Mr. Kahn,” Wei Yinxia took the offensive by pulling Kahn into an embrace around his neck. “The An Corporation is a thing of the past. Let’s not talk about the past. Let’s talk about the present and the future, shall we?”

“It’s a pity for such a beautiful woman. The An siblings were not blessed to enjoy you.” Kahn deliberately changed the subject, lowering his head to inhale deeply at Wei Yinxia’s neck.

“Miss Yinxia is not only beautiful but also a superb actress. You killed two birds with one stone, successfully deceiving the trust and affection of those two fools, the An siblings. I have to say, you were the most crucial link in the plan between Boss Wei and me.”

“I also didn’t expect you to successfully seduce a woman so easily, and even get two for the price of one. You drove the older sister to distraction, making her neglect her company, and drove the younger brother to spend his entire fortune just to propose marriage. Thanks to you, Boss Wei and I got our chance… Tsk tsk, look at this slender waist, look at this perky bosom…”

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, shattering the table lamp by the bedside.

Two more shots followed immediately.

But Kahn’s position was exactly in the blind spot.

Four bodyguards rushed in, firing several shots out the window, while others fortified the door.

Wei Yinxia was terrified. She hastily tucked the hairpin she had just pulled out back into her bun, shrinking into Kahn’s embrace: “Mr. Kahn…”

The ceiling light had been switched on by the bodyguards.

The room was brightly lit, and Wei Yinxia buried herself even deeper. She had almost stabbed him. She had almost been discovered.

Kahn waved the bodyguards away: “No need to chase. Just let her live a few more days and properly savor the taste of life being more painful than death. Two of you go downstairs and patrol with the police from the station. Don’t ruin my night of passion with Miss Yinxia again.”

Her?

Only then did a light bulb go on for Wei Yinxia. She used all her strength to push Kahn away: “You knew she was outside the window all along?”

Kahn’s scheme had succeeded. He reached out to hook Wei Yinxia’s chin: “Did you actually fall in love with her? How can a woman give you happiness?”

Wei Yinxia held her head high, fighting back tears. A cryptic smile played at the corner of her lips: “Yes, she really couldn’t give me happiness. Then, Mr. Kahn, how long can you make me happy? Can you marry me? Can you promise me a lifetime of wealth and glory?”

“That depends on your… performance in bed tonight…”

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