The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Her only fear was that Ming Jin wouldn’t see her…

When Xu Zhiyan found Song Xiangwan, she was still at Jiang Lin’s event.

Song Xiangwan had quite a bit to drink. A slight flush was on her face, and her lips, moistened by the alcohol, looked somewhat glossy under the neon lights.

Feeling dizzy, Song Xiangwan leaned back against a planter near the sidewalk. The short skirt she wore fluttered in the breeze, revealing her long, fair legs casually crossed.

A gust of night wind blew past, carrying the scent of alcohol mixed with various perfumes from Song Xiangwan. Xu Zhiyan couldn’t help but frown.

Anger was brewing inside her, similar to the year Song Xiangwan insisted on breaking the contract.

At a time like this, how could she still be so carefree, drinking and dancing here?

Xu Zhiyan didn’t want to talk much. She just pulled an invitation from her clutch and handed it to Song Xiangwan: “The banquet tomorrow night. I invite you to attend.”

“The Ming family’s banquet?” Song Xiangwan hazily opened it, unable to clearly make out the words.

“No. You don’t need to worry about that. Just come.” Xu Zhiyan’s tone was slightly cold, carrying some of Ming Jin’s unquestionable authority.

A normal person would be intimidated by this, but Song Xiangwan was not.

“I can’t. I’m busy.” Song Xiangwan stuffed the invitation back.

“You have to come, even if you can’t.” Xu Zhiyan insisted, slapping the invitation down beside Song Xiangwan.

Song Xiangwan watched her and smiled lightly. Her drunken eyes were hazy, but her chin was slightly raised, maintaining a proud arch. The neon lights cast shadows on her profile.

She was dazzlingly beautiful, like crushed Túmí flowers, exuding a decadent fragrance, captivating and bright.

Her lips moved slightly, her tone still flat: “I’m not going.”

“You…” Xu Zhiyan was slightly infuriated by her unyielding attitude.

“I said I’m busy,” Song Xiangwan frowned, sounding a little impatient.

“What could be so important? I asked Cao Xin. You have no work tomorrow.” Xu Zhiyan felt a headache coming on from the frustration.

“That’s none of CEO Xu’s business,” Song Xiangwan stood up, oriented herself, and turned to walk back into the bar.

“Wait.” Xu Zhiyan quickly stepped forward and grabbed her arm.

Song Xiangwan stopped, her body swaying. She turned back and nearly bumped her head into Xu Zhiyan’s chest—she was indeed quite drunk.

Xu Zhiyan said coldly: “Don’t forget, your management contract is still with me. I’m essentially your boss.”

“So what?” Song Xiangwan struggled slightly, shaking off Xu Zhiyan’s hand.

Drunk and slightly unsteady on her feet, her tone was still the bold Song Xiangwan: “It’s well known that I have a bad temper and I don’t like threats.”

When she decided something, eight oxen couldn’t drag her back.

During this time, Xu Zhiyan had learned this person’s nature—a completely spoiled diva.

Her sister had indulged her, and now there was nothing she could do.

Their eyes met. The fire in Xu Zhiyan slowly faded, like residual snow meeting the scorching sun. The cold anger in her eyes gradually dissipated.

CEO Xu, who had never lowered her head, spoke with a hint of plea: “Song Xiangwan, just consider this me begging you.”

“You can name any request. Money, resources, shares—anything. Just name your price.”

“No,” Song Xiangwan didn’t even look at Xu Zhiyan and turned to leave.

It was a truly important matter, and she absolutely could not miss it.

Although the alcohol made her dizzy, this conviction was crystal clear in her mind.

Jiang Lin was also quite drunk, leaning hazily on the sofa, chatting about who knows what with the person in front of her.

A clean-cut young man sat beside her, dutifully massaging her shoulders, a brilliant and attentive smile on his face.

“Alright,” Jiang Lin turned and looked at him, rubbing the top of his head. “Go have fun. I need to talk to CEO Han.”

“Then, Sister Lin, tonight…” The young man hesitated slightly.

He had fought to get this spot. As soon as he lifted his butt, countless people would flock over—it was a highly coveted position.

“I’ll find you later,” Jiang Lin smiled, assuring him, “I’ll take you home later.”

“Okay, Sister Lin.” Reassured, the young man stood up.

Just then, Song Xiangwan arrived. Jiang Lin beckoned, and Song Xiangwan came over, sitting down close to her.

“Where did you go?” Jiang Lin handed a glass of wine to Song Xiangwan.

“I went out to meet a friend,” Song Xiangwan vaguely replied, cradling the glass in her hands. The cool touch helped her regain some consciousness.

“This is CEO Han,” Jiang Lin announced. Only then did Song Xiangwan realize a few people who hadn’t been there before had joined the gathering.

Sitting beside Jiang Lin was a young woman, seemingly only in her thirties, wearing a black strapless top paired with loose, wide-leg jeans.

Between strands of dark hair, a gemstone necklace on her neck was visible, dazzling and brilliant under the neon lights.

She had a slightly heroic face, distinct and sharp features, and was wearing refined makeup. She exuded the aura of a high-ranking authority figure.

She had been drinking for days, and finally, she had managed to meet this person.

Song Xiangwan’s fingers tightly dug into the area between her thumb and index finger, forcing herself to maintain a thread of sobriety amidst the alcoholic haze.

Song Xiangwan raised her glass: “CEO Han, my name is Song Xiangwan. A toast to you.”

Song Xiangwan didn’t know how much she drank that day. By the time Cao Xin came to pick her up, she was woozy and couldn’t walk straight.

Helping her into the car and fastening her seatbelt, Cao Xin casually tried to move Song Xiangwan’s clutch bag, but felt a great, unyielding force.

Song Xiangwan was clutching it very tightly, her arm tense, hugging the bag tightly to her chest.

Cao Xin: “…” She had never seen her be so vigilant against thieves before.

Forget it. Cao Xin didn’t argue with her, quickly got into the car, and started driving towards Clear Water Bay.

Carrying her on her arm, Cao Xin stumbled open the apartment door, tossed her onto the sofa, and took a deep breath.

She thought she was on her way to fame and fortune, but now she was doing heavy labor every day.

If this diva somehow managed to kill herself, her career at Ronin Entertainment would probably be over—no, all her future career prospects would be over.

Cheng Cheng stayed up all last night. Although she handed the responsibility over to the two new assistants, Cao Xin wasn’t at ease, so it seemed she’d have to keep watch herself tonight.

Cao Xin crouched down to take off Song Xiangwan’s high heels. Just as she unclasped the buckle, the person lying on the sofa suddenly rolled over.

She grabbed the trash can, half-propped herself on the sofa, and threw up violently.

Cao Xin quickly rushed over to pat her back. Hearing the sounds of her retching, she worried. This diva already had a sensitive stomach.

The strong smell of alcohol, the wine she drank, and the bit of fruit she ate were all completely expelled. By the end, she was practically spitting up bile.

Yet, waves of nausea kept rolling up from her stomach—an completely uncontrollable urge to vomit.

Song Xiangwan felt her entire stomach churning. She was so weak from throwing up, and her eyes were blurry.

Cao Xin quickly fetched water and offered it to Song Xiangwan: “Rinse your mouth. Don’t rush. Take your time.”

She gently patted Song Xiangwan’s back, her face full of concern.

Song Xiangwan lay slumped for a while, all strength drained from her body. She felt like she had fallen into an ice cave. A cramping pain twisted her entire stomach.

Perhaps because the alcohol was expelled, she felt slightly clearer now. She shook her head: “I’m fine.”

Then, the next instant, her eyes suddenly narrowed. She immediately sat up and frantically looked around: “Where is my bag?”

“Here, here…” Cao Xin found the bag tucked under a cushion. “What’s in there that makes you so worried?”

Song Xiangwan didn’t answer her. She swiftly opened the bag and rummaged through it, pulling out an invitation, which she tightly gripped. She let out a long sigh of relief.

“An invitation?” Cao Xin said, reaching for it.

But Song Xiangwan dodged her, hugging the invitation tightly to her chest, glaring at Cao Xin with caution.

“Would I steal your things?” Cao Xin was exasperated. Why was this drunk person so childish?

Seeing Song Xiangwan remain unmoved, Cao Xin pleaded earnestly: “Alright, alright, whatever the event is, I won’t stop you.”

“But you at least have to let me know your schedule so I can arrange your upcoming activities, right?”

The birthday banquet for Han Yingying, CEO of Meiyu Cosmetics, was tomorrow night.

Song Xiangwan took the invitation, examined it carefully, and then neatly placed it back into her clutch, hugging it to her chest.

Cao Xin: “…” What was all this about?

Song Xiangwan slept vaguely for half the night, awakened by a sharp, cramping pain in her stomach.

Her fingers tightly pressed against her abdomen, pressing deeply. Her whole body curled up, but she still couldn’t ignore the pain in her stomach.

The majority of the alcohol had worn off. She pressed her stomach, got out of bed, and without calling Cao Xin, poured herself a glass of water, found stomach medicine in the first-aid box, and swallowed it.

She couldn’t sleep anymore. She took out the invitation from her clutch again and read it carefully from beginning to end.

But why did it feel somewhat familiar…? Had she seen one besides this one?

Her foggy mind couldn’t figure it out. Forget it. All invitations looked more or less the same.

Her stomach hurt terribly. Song Xiangwan tightly wrapped herself in the blanket, her fingers pressing against the edge of the invitation, tightening slightly.

Will I be able to see you?

Ah-Jin…

She had gone to the Ming residence and the Ming Corporation, but she was always turned away. This time, Ming Jin was truly done with her, cutting ties completely.

But she still wanted to. She still wanted to start over.

Last time, Ming Jin was the one who initiated it, forcing them together.

This time, she wanted to win Ming Jin back.

However, she was just a small celebrity. It was too difficult to meet Ming Jin. She had to find a way to squeeze into any event where Ming Jin might appear.

The Ming Corporation was a major shareholder in Meiyu. Han Yingying’s 36th birthday banquet was going to be grand. Perhaps…

Song Xiangwan knew the chance was small. Ming Jin was practically living in seclusion now. Even if someone attended, it was more likely to be Xu Zhiyan.

But, having the invitation tucked under her pillow gave her an inexplicable sense of security.

She fell into a hazy sleep, despite being covered in cold sweat from the pain.

Song Xiangwan woke up at noon the next day. The consequence of the hangover was a completely sluggish head.

But the first thing she did upon opening her eyes was to reach for the invitation under her pillow.

It was still there. She let out a sigh of relief.

Her stomach was still throbbing with dull pain, like a soft knife cutting flesh. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was relentless and impossible to ignore.

She figured the medicine from last night hadn’t worked. She put on a mask and went to the pharmacy by the door to buy stomach medicine.

While walking, she opened WeChat. There were many unread messages, but the red dot on her pinned chat made Song Xiangwan’s eyes light up.

Ming Jin was actively messaging her.

Song Xiangwan replied: Good morning. How did you rest today?

Little Ice Micro Sugar: Very well. I had a good sleep.

Little Ice Micro Sugar: And you?

Song Xiangwan: I was thinking about the milk tea recipe you mentioned. I tossed and turned all night, with pearl milk tea in my head.

Song Xiangwan: But I need to lose weight, so I can’t drink it.

Little Ice Micro Sugar: You’re not fat.

Little Ice Micro Sugar: Health is the most important thing.

Song Xiangwan didn’t expose her identity. This was the only way she could communicate with Ming Jin now.

If she exposed her, she feared even this small connection would be lost.

When she returned, Cheng Cheng was already there. Cheng Cheng had just walked in, still holding the takeout food.

She was startled when the door behind her opened right after she changed her shoes. She relaxed when she saw Song Xiangwan: “Sister Wan, you’re up?”

“Mm,” Song Xiangwan nodded, taking off her mask.

“Did you go out to buy something?” Cheng Cheng noticed the plastic bag in her hand.

Song Xiangwan subtly hid it behind her back and said flatly: “Just bought some daily necessities. Go set up the food. I’m going to wash my hands.”

“Okay.” Cheng Cheng, a simple girl, didn’t think too much of it. She put the food on the table. “Sister Wan, next time you need anything, tell me in advance, and I’ll bring it over for you.”

Song Xiangwan didn’t respond. She went back to the bedroom, opened the medicine box, and swallowed the pills with the water from her bedside table last night.

Taking medicine on an empty stomach wasn’t ideal, but she didn’t want Cheng Cheng to see.

Otherwise, the young girl would make a fuss again, dragging her to the hospital, and then she wouldn’t be able to attend tonight’s banquet.

She put the remaining medicine packets in the plastic bag, slid them into the bottom drawer of her bedside table, and hid them.

She came out to eat with a normal expression, but Cheng Cheng noticed her poor complexion: “Sister Wan, you don’t look good. Did you drink too much last night?”

“Mm, a bit too much,” Song Xiangwan quickly said. “I’m fine. I’ll lie down again later. I just need some rest.”

But she didn’t fall asleep. Normally, when her stomach hurt, a little medicine and a nap would mostly resolve it.

But today, the persistent pain felt like a net tightly wrapping around her. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was impossible to ignore.

It seemed different from usual…

After lying down, she opened WeChat, stared at the “Little Ice Micro Sugar” avatar for a while, and then tucked her phone under her pillow.

It had only been two hours. If she proactively started chatting, it would be too abrupt and might expose something.

Just endure it for now. If she was lucky, she would see Ming Jin tonight.

After only two hours of lying down, Cheng Cheng knocked on the door. The hair and makeup for the banquet had to be elaborate and took a long time.

Among the dozen outfits brought in, Song Xiangwan immediately spotted the satin red dress, like a red butterfly under the scorching sun, impossible to look away from.

“This one,” she designated immediately.

Cao Xin had arrived as well. She hesitated for a moment and then said: “For a birthday banquet, shouldn’t you avoid being too vibrant?”

She didn’t care about being too flamboyant.

Her only fear was that Ming Jin wouldn’t see her.