His Sunday Substitute - Chapter 19

His eyes were filled with sorrow…

“Yesterday, Old Master Qin hosted my family at the Chaoyang Mountain estate, bringing Qin Cangye along and inviting several influential figures from Beiguang City. He publicly announced the dissolution of the engagement. At first, I was quite happy because Qin Cangye had promised me that canceling the engagement wouldn’t involve withdrawing investments or harming our Li family’s interests. But I forgot, his promise was conditional on maintaining a weekly meeting with you.”

Li Jinmiao pulled Su Yinuo to sit on a small stool behind the food cart, her face clouded with worry as she recounted the events of the previous night.

“Old Master Qin blamed the broken engagement entirely on my lack of virtue, using my role in Qin Cangye’s hospitalization as justification. It was humiliating for my family, but that wasn’t the worst part. The real issue is that Old Master Qin also announced he would withdraw investments from the Li Group next quarter and cut off funding for my Feiyue Gaming. Although they’ll compensate us slightly per the engagement agreement, it won’t even begin to cover our financial shortfall. With this engagement broken, my family is truly finished.”

Li Jinmiao’s eyes reddened as she spoke. Su Yinuo hugged her, gently patting her back in comfort. She didn’t interrupt, knowing Li Jinmiao hadn’t yet revealed the real reason for seeking her out today.

“My parents begged Old Master Qin not to withdraw the investments, but he remained unmoved. I wanted to plead with Qin Cangye, but he acted as if it had nothing to do with him, he wouldn’t even look at us. However, when we left the Qin estate, Qin Cangye left with us. He took me aside by the lake and told me that if he could just see you one more time, he would rally the board to overturn Old Master Qin’s decision to pull the investments.”

Tears welled in Li Jinmiao’s eyes as she looked at Su Yinuo. “Nuonuo, I’m so sorry. I even advised you to stay away from Qin Cangye and the Qin family, and now I’m using you like this. But I’m out of options, can you help me just this once? Don’t worry, you won’t have to meet him alone. There’s a gathering tonight…”

“I agree!” Su Yinuo blurted out before Li Jinmiao could finish. Her tone was urgent, and after speaking, she gave an awkward half-smile. “Miaomiao, I’ll help. Don’t blame yourself. Actually…”

Actually, she wanted to see Qin Cangye too.

She wanted to check on him, to see if his injuries had healed, if there were any scars left behind. She wanted to ask why he had lost control that day, to ask how he had been these past weeks.

For over a month, every night, her mind had been haunted by the image of Qin Cangye covered in blood, his hollow eyes devoid of life, and that desperate kiss, as if he had been clinging to her like a lifeline.

Li Jinmiao had warned her to stay away from the Qin family. Her mother had urged caution. Her own rationality had screamed at her to keep her distance from Qin Cangye. Yet the moment Li Jinmiao asked her to see him again, all her resolve crumbled. Before even hearing the explanation, her heart had already said yes.

She wanted to see Qin Cangye.

“Miaomiao, don’t blame yourself. I want to see him too.” Su Yinuo’s tears fell before Li Jinmiao’s.

“Nuonuo!” Li Jinmiao threw her arms around Su Yinuo and burst into loud sobs.

That afternoon, Su Yinuo closed her stall early and accompanied Li Jinmiao to the Jinlan Lakeside Club on the eastern shore of Mingzhu Lake in Xihu District.

This was an exclusive, high-end members-only club, the favored gathering spot for the wealthy young elite of Beiguang City. The club offered upscale dining, board games, private cinemas, art exhibitions, private concerts, and more. Membership was highly exclusive, and non-members were strictly prohibited from entering without an accompanying member.

Tonight’s dinner had been organized by Wang Zhengcheng, an artist from Chaoyang Mountain who had lived abroad for years. The attendees were mostly the sons and daughters of Chaoyang Mountain’s wealthy and influential families. Originally, Wang Zhengcheng had framed the event as a celebration of Li Jinmiao and Qin Cangye’s engagement, only to receive news the very next day that the Qin family had called off the marriage.

Awkwardly, Wang Zhengcheng changed the theme in the group chat: “Come tonight, everyone! Let’s toast to the happiness of our beloved Miss Li and Mr. Qin, now gloriously single!!”

Li Jinmiao intended for Su Yinuo and Qin Cangye to meet at the dinner. First, the gathering would serve as cover for their interaction, preventing Qin Weishu from catching wind of it. Second, with so many people around, there was little risk of Qin Cangye trying anything untoward with Su Yinuo.

Li Jinmiao strode into the club in a chic, semi-formal ensemble, a slip dress paired with a blazer, while Su Yinuo opted for a relaxed look: a gray sweater and white wide-leg trousers. The designer outfits, handbag, and accessories had all been provided by Li Jinmiao, who had also applied light makeup to Su Yinuo, transforming her into the image of a low-key, pampered princess from some reclusive billionaire family.

They arrived neither early nor late. By the time they approached the private room, most of the guests were already seated inside.

The atmosphere in the room was tense and awkward. The second-generation socialites who had come for the spectacle knew Wang Zhengcheng had the clout to invite someone as formidable as Qin Cangye, but they hadn’t expected him to arrive so early, nor had they anticipated someone daring enough to challenge him outright.

Before even Wang Zhengcheng, the host, had shown up, Qin Cangye was already seated in the private room. As guests trickled in afterward, each one froze under his icy gaze the moment they stepped inside, forcing out awkward greetings like, “Ah, Young Master Qin, looking well!” before scurrying to seats as far from him as possible.

Only after Wang Zhengcheng’s arrival did the mood lighten slightly.

“Well, well! Long time no see, Young Master Qin, radiant as ever! Handsome as always. Nothing like the soil of Beiguang City to nurture such fine specimens. Look at what those foreign lands have done to me!” Wang Zhengcheng patted his round belly and laughed heartily as he approached Qin Cangye.

Qin Cangye softened his frosty demeanor slightly, giving Wang Zhengcheng a slight nod. His expression remained impassive as he replied, “If Young Master Wang wishes to return, properties in Tianque Huating, Yujing No. 1 Courtyard, or Rhine Lake Estate are yours to choose from.”

“Such generosity, Young Master Qin!” Wang Zhengcheng exclaimed with admiration, waving a hand dismissively. “Hundred-million-yuan mansions, far too extravagant for my humble tastes!”

After greeting Qin Cangye, Wang Zhengcheng went on to greet others, appearing to get along with everyone effortlessly. Soon, two more people entered through the main door. Wang Zhengcheng keenly noticed that as soon as they stepped in, the gaze of one of them clashed fiercely with Qin Cangye’s, sparking an intense confrontation.

The newcomers were Ji Chengan, the eldest son of the Ji family, a prominent medical dynasty from Chaoyang Mountain, and an unfamiliar young man. It was this stranger who stood his ground, locking eyes with Qin Cangye without backing down. Wang Zhengcheng, burning with curiosity, quickly walked over to shake hands with Ji Chengan. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he turned to the unfamiliar young man, who wore an unpleasant expression, and asked, “And this is…?”

“Oh, my cousin Ji Wenjun. He’s not from Beiguang City, so you wouldn’t have met him before, Young Master Wang. I brought him out for some fun today, hope you don’t mind?” Ji Chengan replied with a smile.

“Of course not! All within the four seas are friends.” While Wang Zhengcheng was still making polite conversation, Ji Wenjun had already stepped past him and walked straight toward Qin Cangye.

Wang Zhengcheng immediately stopped laughing and turned to watch the somewhat reckless young man.

Ji Wenjun was in an awful mood. By his count, this was the third time Su Yinuo had rejected him today.

At first, he had assumed that Su Yinuo’s claim of having a boyfriend who was “taller, handsomer, and richer” than him was just an excuse to turn him down. But after being blocked, and then witnessing Su Yinuo and Qin Cangye being intimate together, his spirits had plummeted to rock bottom, and he had nearly given up.

Later, however, he saw Qin Cangye confront Li Jinmiao and learned that Qin Cangye was Li Jinmiao’s fiancé and the vice chairman of Ronghua Capital. This made him suspicious about Qin Cangye’s relationship with Su Yinuo. When he discovered Su Yinuo’s true identity, his suspicion turned into conviction: Qin Cangye couldn’t possibly be Su Yinuo’s boyfriend! There must be some hidden, improper relationship between them!

Ji Wenjun’s passion for pursuing Su Yinuo reignited. He appeared by her side every day, never spotting any other man around her. Just as his confidence was soaring, Su Yinuo’s cold rejection poured ice water over his hopes.

Feeling dejected, he stayed home, analyzing who the man Su Yinuo longed for day and night could be. After much thought, the only possible candidate was Qin Cangye.

So now, the moment he laid eyes on Qin Cangye, fury flared in his heart. He knew Qin Cangye wasn’t someone to be trifled with, and that everyone in his cousin’s social circle was the same. But fresh from heartbreak, he couldn’t care less. Striding up to Qin Cangye, he extended his hand with visible anger and declared loudly, “Young Master Qin, let me introduce myself, I’m Ji Wenjun. We’ve met once before. I’m an employee of President Li and a friend of Nuonuo!”

Ji Wenjun deliberately emphasized the name “Nuonuo.” If not for the shred of rationality left in his mind, he might have even boasted about being Nuonuo’s boyfriend.

Naturally, no one around them knew who “Nuonuo” was. As they all wondered why this brash young man was provoking Qin Cangye, Qin Cangye suddenly seized Ji Wenjun’s wrist and slammed it violently onto the dining table.

Without even looking up, ignoring Ji Wenjun’s pained groan and struggles, Qin Cangye said coldly, “You’re from the Ji family, right? I assume even if I tear off one of your hands, your family could still patch you back together?”

Everyone around was so shocked their eyes widened in disbelief. Someone even dropped their glass, which shattered on the floor with a crisp sound.

The noise snapped Wang Zhengcheng out of his daze. “Oh no!” he exclaimed, quickly rushing forward, sweating profusely as he pulled the two apart. “Save some face, save some face, Young Master Qin. The kid doesn’t know any better.”

He shoved Ji Wenjun toward Ji Cheng, who had nervously followed, then hurriedly sat beside Qin Cangye to calm him down. Truth be told, Wang Zhengcheng hadn’t understood why Qin Cangye had suddenly lashed out either. Though Qin Cangye was known for his cold, unapproachable demeanor, Wang Zhengcheng knew he wasn’t the type of spoiled heir who would bully ordinary people just because of his prestigious family background.

After a moment of deep thought, the shrewd Wang Zhengcheng figured it out, it must have something to do with that inexplicably mentioned name, “Nuonuo.”

Just who was this Nuonuo? Someone capable of making Qin Cangye lose control like this? He’d never even heard of her before!

Ji Cheng led Ji Wenjun to a seat far from Qin Cangye, whispering if he wanted to leave and get his wrist checked at the hospital. Ji Wenjun flexed his slightly swollen wrist, his expression stubborn as he gritted his teeth and shook his head firmly.

No one in the private room dared to speak freely anymore. People huddled in small groups, murmuring among themselves, some even creating private chat groups on their phones to vent about Qin Cangye’s outburst.

The atmosphere in the room sank into an eerie, awkward silence.

Before long, the sound of high heels echoed outside the door. Then, it swung open, revealing Li Jinmiao and Su Yinuo standing before the crowd.

Qin Cangye’s head snapped up, his gaze trembling as if it had traversed mountains and rivers, countless hardships, before finally landing on Su Yinuo. His eyes were no longer cold, they brimmed with sorrow…