The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Like a series of confessions

Han Yingying led Song Xiangwan over to Yin Yu.

Everyone knew that Yin Yu was Ming Jin’s companion, and Han Yingying probably would have introduced her as such.

“Miss Song, this is…” Han Yingying began, but unexpectedly, Xu Zhiyan rushed over in two quick strides, finally catching up, and interjected, “This is Yin Yu, my friend.”

The fake had failed; now they could only rely on the original.

But the original was a temperamental diva, and Xu Zhiyan was genuinely afraid that Han Yingying’s words might anger Song Xiangwan into leaving.

“CEO Xu,” Song Xiangwan nodded in greeting to Xu Zhiyan, polite and warm, with a radiant smile.

Han Yingying was a shrewd operator and seemed to understand something immediately, quickly muddling the waters: “Right, Miss Yin is CEO Xu’s friend. Do Miss Song and CEO Xu know each other?”

“Yes, we know each other,” Song Xiangwan nodded. “And we’re quite close.”

“That’s good then. Everyone here today is an acquaintance, all my good friends,” Han Yingying said. “I apologize to CEO Xu for the slight delay. I still need to introduce Miss Song to everyone.”

Most of the attendees here were celebrities from the business and political sectors, major figures hidden behind the scenes. Song Xiangwan didn’t know many of them.

And Han Yingying could likely guess the meaning behind a female celebrity like Song Xiangwan actively seeking to join this gathering.

She didn’t expose anything, merely bringing the person in. In any case, having one more eye-pleasing flower at the event was a bonus.

As for who would pluck this flower, she didn’t care.

Whoever succeeded would owe her, the host, a favor.

Song Xiangwan followed Han Yingying, meeting the guests, which inevitably meant several more glasses of champagne went down.

Song Xiangwan could hold her liquor well and didn’t feel drunk, but the icy liquid hitting her stomach brought on a tumultuous, agonizing cramp.

With Song Xiangwan’s usual temperament, she would never be here smiling and drinking alongside others. If she wasn’t happy, she would just turn and leave.

But now she couldn’t… she had to be a person with a good temper…

Feeling a vague, overwhelming sense of nausea, Song Xiangwan asked a nearby servant for the location and hurried toward the restroom.

She threw up the wine she had just drunk until she felt dizzy, barely able to stand.

Song Xiangwan flushed the toilet but didn’t leave. She sat down, hugging herself tightly, slowly catching her breath.

Only after regaining her composure could she go out and continue socializing.

But the sharp, wrenching pain in her stomach was utterly impossible to ignore.

Just then, she heard two people outside laughing and talking.

“Tell me, why would CEO Han invite a small celebrity? Is she even worthy of attending a banquet with us?”

“I think CEO Han doesn’t see her as a friend, just as entertainment.”

“I guess so. Aren’t those small celebrities just there for amusement?”

“It’s telling that she rushed over. Business must be bad, so she’s here to find a sugar daddy?”

“Right, she’s so dressed up for someone else’s birthday. Her intentions are practically written all over her face.”

“Don’t lie, that face is truly beautiful. Didn’t you see how creepily CEO Liu was staring at her just now?”

“It’s just for looks. There are plenty of people in our circle who keep mistresses. Someone who genuinely marries an actress is just a fool.”

“But, did you notice the ruby necklace on her neck?”

“A ruby necklace? Is it rare? You don’t lack jewelry. I remember you have a whole drawer full of ruby jewelry.”

“Yes, I like rubies, so I’ve studied them. That one looks like the Heart of the Rose…”

“The Heart of the Rose?” This girl wasn’t very knowledgeable about rubies.

“It’s the one I told you about a few years ago. The Heart of the Rose had been missing for three hundred years and appeared for the first time in a non-public auction.”

“I originally wanted to bid, but I overspent my allowance that month. It was eventually bought by a mystery buyer, and the final price was astonishingly high.”

“Even you thought it was expensive?” The girl was slightly shocked, as the person she was talking to was Chu Niaoniao, the daughter of Haicheng’s biggest jeweler, Chu Tian.

Chu Tian’s daughter, Chu Niaoniao, grew up rolling around in piles of jewels. If even she thought it was expensive, it must have been in the seven-figure range.

Chu Niaoniao frowned and thought for a moment: “However, I looked closely just now and thought something was off. It might be fake.”

“If you say so, it must be fake. Your eye for jewelry is never wrong,” the other girl teased, laughing.

“Right, it can only be fake. Non-public auctions are invitation-only. I don’t see how a female celebrity would ever be invited.”

The restroom stall door opened, and Song Xiangwan calmly walked out, seemingly oblivious to their discussion, and went to the sink to touch up her makeup.

She could have stayed inside until the two of them left, but that would have been too cowardly.

Though Song Xiangwan had tempered her personality, her straight spine had not bent.

The two girls froze for a moment, exchanging glances, but there was no panic in their eyes, only slight disdain.

Chu Niaoniao gave the girl next to her a look, then spoke up first: “Oh, you heard us?”

Song Xiangwan dabbed some lipstick on her lips, her expression calm, showing neither pleasure nor anger: “Yes, I heard.”

Chu Niaoniao raised an eyebrow, a slightly haughty look on her face: “Don’t go around spreading nonsense outside. Even if you try to slander us, no one will believe you.”

Song Xiangwan ignored her. Chu Niaoniao frowned and said coldly: “Speak up. Don’t pretend to be deaf and mute.”

Song Xiangwan capped her lipstick, casually tossed it into her clutch, and glanced over with her phoenix eyes. Under the light, her flawless face was stunning.

The corners of her eyes curved slightly upward, giving her phoenix eyes an air of arrogance and boldness.

“Are you suggesting that gossiping behind people’s backs makes you feel less confident?” Song Xiangwan’s tone was flat. Even though she had restrained her sharp tongue, it was still enough to make Chu Niaoniao’s expression change.

“Let’s stop here. I don’t like these childish tattling games.”

“Also, failing to distinguish between genuine and fake jewelry, Miss Chu, is really embarrassing your father.”

Song Xiangwan walked past them, her stiletto heels clicking sharply on the floor. Her posture and stride were elegant, carrying a faint floral scent, and the hem of her dress curved with graceful composure.

She managed to turn the restroom tiles into the stage of a major fashion show, walking with an air of superiority.

These were not people she couldn’t afford to offend, just second-generation rich kids with money.

There was no need to provoke them, but there was also no need to be afraid.

Truth be told, given Song Xiangwan’s nature, those few words were already restrained.

“She…” Chu Niaoniao felt a surge of anger, not just from Song Xiangwan’s words, but also from her dismissive attitude.

“Alright, Niaoniao, she said she won’t spread rumors, so let it go,” Liu Bingyan quickly intervened.

“What the heck is she?” Chu Niaoniao snorted coldly. “I just can’t stand these female celebrities, always vying for attention and climbing the social ladder, destroying families.”

Liu Bingyan sighed and quickly said: “Calm down, calm down. I advise you to just turn a blind eye.”

“As long as he doesn’t produce an illegitimate child to fight you for the family assets, you and your dad will have fewer arguments.”

“It’s not uncommon for people in our circle to keep a few mistresses. At least your dad isn’t like CEO Ming, flaunting his mistress in public.”

Liu Bingyan’s words made sense, but Chu Niaoniao couldn’t swallow her anger. She snorted and said: “He wouldn’t dare? If he dared to flaunt one in public, my mom would divorce him immediately.”

Chu Niaoniao’s maternal grandfather was an influential figure in the political sphere, making Chu Tian absolutely terrified of divorce.

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Just touch up your makeup and let’s go out,” Liu Bingyan changed the subject.

While fixing her hair in the mirror, Chu Niaoniao said: “Do you think that CEO Ming’s canary is interesting? They said she’s just a sales assistant?”

“She’s not even that pretty. Maybe she hasn’t even been to college. I wonder if that’s her type?”

Liu Bingyan chuckled: “What kind of person she likes, does it concern you?”

“I heard your dad even took your profile to her a few years ago, and she didn’t choose you. Are you jealous?”

It was a jest, and Chu Niaoniao didn’t get angry. She replied in a teasing tone: “What are you talking about? It was acceptable to say that a few years ago, but how could I possibly like a cripple?”

“A few years ago, I really thought about compromising and being with a woman. It would be nice to rely on her influence and live comfortably.”

“But now, no matter how great her conditions are, she’s just a cripple now, and who knows how many years she has left. Why would I rush to become a widow?”

“It’s actually quite funny, a cripple keeping a mistress. What can she even do…”

“What did you say?” A cold voice abruptly cut off Chu Niaoniao’s words.

The person who had left and returned, in her red dress, approached step by step. The clicking sound of her heels seemed to press against their hearts, and the intense coldness in her eyes felt overwhelmingly oppressive.

Chu Niaoniao nearly took a step back before realizing she had been intimidated by the gaze of an actress.

Song Xiangwan stood in front of her. At 1.72 meters tall, wearing high heels, she towered over Chu Niaoniao by a head, giving her a superior stance.

Chu Niaoniao frowned, refusing to retreat a single step: “Don’t try to push your luck, Song Xiangwan. Know your place.”

Song Xiangwan hadn’t taken the earlier comments about herself to heart.

She had prepared herself for the kind of looks she would receive before coming here.

However, the things they said afterward truly infuriated Song Xiangwan.

What did she mean by compromising to be with Ming Jin? What did she mean by calling her a cripple who wouldn’t live long?

Song Xiangwan’s fingers hanging by her side couldn’t help but clench slightly: “Chu Niaoniao, I’m giving you a chance right now to take back what you just said.”

Chu Niaoniao’s eyes showed impatience. Liu Bingyan quickly grabbed her arm: “Alright, alright, we take it back.”

“You didn’t come here to latch onto a sugar daddy, is that enough?” Although she said she took it back, there was little sincerity in her tone.

“Not that part,” Song Xiangwan interrupted them.

“What? Are you really pushing your luck?” Chu Niaoniao couldn’t hold back, she shook off Liu Bingyan’s hand and stepped forward.

“Which part? The comments about CEO Ming?” Chu Niaoniao sneered, “So, you came here today to latch onto CEO Ming. Don’t you look in the mirror? Do you think CEO Ming would like someone like you? If you can ascend to the top and become a phoenix, then I, Chu Niaoniao, will change my last name.”

“I’m not taking it back. I said it, she is a cripple, and you are a shameless slut…”

Liu Bingyan rubbed her nose and didn’t intervene, instead, the corner of her lips curled into a slight smile.

Taking advantage of the argument, she secretly sent a message to someone, then feigned the role of peacemaker: “Alright, Niaoniao.”

“Don’t stop me. I’ve never been so humiliated,” Chu Niaoniao was furious. She despised female celebrities, and now she was being interrogated by one.

There seemed to be some disturbance at the banquet. The crowd was growing noisy and surging in one direction.

Ming Jin was feeling tired. That figure hadn’t appeared in her sight for about ten minutes. She slightly closed her eyes, trying to conserve energy.

But just then, the phone by her side gently vibrated, though she didn’t notice it.

Outside the door, hurried, quick footsteps sounded. A light knock on the door, and before Ming Jin could even respond, the door was opened from the outside.

Xu Zhiyan’s voice was tight: “Sister, something happened…”

Han Yingying looked at the chaos and felt a headache coming on.

“Alright, alright, for my sake, let’s just let this go today.” She tried to mediate between the two sides.

“Let it go? Sister Yingying, she slapped me. You want to just let this go?” Chu Niaoniao clutched her face. A clear red mark was visible on her fair skin.

Her eyes were filled with tears, full of grievance and resentment as she glared at Song Xiangwan.

She never thought that a female celebrity would actually dare to slap her.

Even the mistresses her father kept, the A-list actresses and singers, would bow and scrape before her, their faces full of flattery.

“No, we can’t let this go. Why did she hit her? We should call the police,” Liu Bingyan’s voice was also fiercely demanding.

“No…” Chu Niaoniao quickly stopped her.

Wouldn’t calling the police blow things up? If the reason for the argument came out, and the Ming family learned those few mocking words about Ming Jin…

The Ming and Chu families were intricately linked in the upstream and downstream supply of jewelry.

But she absolutely couldn’t admit she was scared. She quickly found an excuse: “Today is Sister Yingying’s good day. We can’t make such a scene.”

“Sister Yingying, I know where to draw the line. There’s no need to call the police. I’ll just bear this humiliation.”

“Niaoniao is sensible,” Han Yingying also breathed a sigh of relief. If things escalated, she, the host, would look the worst.

“However…” Chu Niaoniao’s tone suddenly shifted, “I can’t just swallow this humiliation.”

“Sister Yingying, she’s your guest, right? You have to give me an explanation. Otherwise, the whole of Haicheng will think I, Chu Niaoniao, am a soft target that anyone can squeeze.”

“Of course, of course,” Han Yingying said. “Niaoniao, name your price. I’ll pay for it. Consider it my fault for poor hospitality today.”

“I don’t want money. I’m not short on money,” Chu Niaoniao’s eyes glared venomously at Song Xiangwan. “Let her stand there and let me slap her ten times. Then we’ll call it even.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned, exchanging uneasy glances.

Ten slaps were quite vicious, but Chu Niaoniao had always had an unreasonable reputation in the circle, so her demand wasn’t entirely surprising.

No one spoke. Everyone was merely watching the spectacle.

She was just a female celebrity. In their eyes, she was a plaything. No one would stand up for Song Xiangwan.

Despite Chu Niaoniao’s fierce glare, Song Xiangwan showed no fear, returning the stare with sharp phoenix eyes: “You think you can just demand whatever you want? Who do you think you are?”

“Everyone here knows who is feeling guilty.”

“I was swearing at people when you were still nursing in your mother’s womb.”

“I’m telling you, I recorded the entire conversation. If you’re not scared, I’ll play the recording now.”

“What recording? Why don’t you play it and let us hear the whole story?” A calm voice suddenly silenced the surrounding clamor.

Everyone involuntarily turned back and quickly made way for the person in the wheelchair.

Ming Jin sat with her back straight. Although seated, her light brown eyes lifted, sharp and piercing. A quiet, oppressive aura emanated from her, making people ignore the slight pallor of her face, seeing only an imposing presence that commanded respect without needing anger.

Today’s banquet was trendy and lively, inviting the younger generation of Haicheng. When Ming Jin was building her empire, they were just junior figures.

Now, as soon as Ming Jin spoke, she immediately subdued the younger crowd.

Xu Zhiyan glanced at Song Xiangwan, a barely suppressed smile on her lips, and subtly winked at Song Xiangwan.

She had previously found Song Xiangwan’s antics annoying. Now, she only wished Song Xiangwan would cause more trouble to thoroughly provoke Ming Jin.

Unfortunately, Song Xiangwan didn’t even look at her.

She was staring blankly at Ming Jin, and then her eyes suddenly welled up. The person who had just been so fierce now looked as wronged as a stray kitten.

Her complexion looked better than it had recently, but still lacked color, emanating a cold chill. There was a deep tiredness etched between her brows.

This person… looked like a fragile, easily breakable sheet of paper, yet she insisted on keeping her back straight in public, unwilling to lose face.

Does it hurt to sit like that?

Is this very tiring?

A flood of words choked Song Xiangwan’s throat, but none came out. Instead, tears simply streamed down her face.

She took a few steps forward and knelt down by the wheelchair, reaching out to grasp Ming Jin’s fingers. They were cold, sending a slight shiver through her heart.

Ming Jin looked down, but didn’t withdraw her hand. Instead, she frowned gently.

The cat was in a state of distress again. Her hair was slightly messy, and there was a long, red scratch on her arm, seemingly from someone having grabbed her.

Her eyes were red, pathetic teardrops clinging to her eyelashes. Like a cat that fought outside, coming back to its owner with a tearful, wronged look.

It was truly pitiful. Before she arrived, everyone in the room had likely been on Chu Niaoniao’s side.

“CEO Ming…” Chu Niaoniao’s heart sank when she saw their intimacy.

“Since there’s a recording, play it. Let us hear the cause and effect,” Ming Jin interrupted Chu Niaoniao calmly.

She trusted that Song Xiangwan wouldn’t make trouble without reason, and she wanted to know the full story of why Song Xiangwan was being bullied.

Song Xiangwan’s lips seemed to tighten, and her eyelashes fluttered. She avoided Ming Jin’s gaze and whispered: “There’s no… no recording…”

She didn’t want to play it. How much pain would those words cause Ming Jin?

“CEO Ming, I have it,” a voice quickly spoke up.

It was Liu Bingyan, stepping forward, holding up her phone.

Chu Niaoniao’s pupils contracted: “Liu Bingyan, what are you doing?”

Liu Bingyan completely ignored her, walking straight up to Ming Jin. The corner of her lips lifted: “CEO Ming, my name is Liu Bingyan. My father is Liu Heng.”

The Liu family was also in the jewelry business, but had always been overshadowed by the Chu family in Haicheng.

She had always been Chu Niaoniao’s silent follower, agreeing with her and helping her do bad things.

Chu Niaoniao never imagined that Liu Bingyan, who was always flattering and meek by her side, would betray her like this.

Liu Bingyan had turned up the volume on her phone and played the recording of the earlier conversation.

“So, you came here today to latch onto CEO Ming. Don’t you look in the mirror? Do you think CEO Ming would like someone like you? If you can ascend to the top and become a phoenix, then I, Chu Niaoniao, will change my last name.”

“I’m not taking it back. I said it, she is a cripple, and you are a shameless slut…”

The hall fell into silence. No one dared to look directly at Ming Jin, but they secretly observed her expression from the corner of their eyes.

She must be furious.

CEO Ming, who usually kept her emotions hidden, now had deep, profound eyes, filled with a heavy coldness. Her fingers clenched on the wheelchair, and her face was dark like a thick cloud.

“CEO Ming… CEO Ming, I was wrong…” Chu Niaoniao immediately knelt before Ming Jin, her expression panicked.

“I was just arguing with that lowlife and lost my temper. I said those reckless things in a fit of rage.”

“CEO Ming, please hit me a few times. I won’t dare to do it again. Never again.”

“Please, don’t tell my father. I beg you.”

The recording had finished playing. Liu Bingyan stood quietly, looking at Chu Niaoniao, the corner of her lips curling up slightly, looking rather triumphant.

Song Xiangwan didn’t care about anything Chu Niaoniao had just said. Her mind was entirely focused on worry, afraid of angering Ming Jin. Her body…

She regretted not keeping quiet earlier and just swallowing the incident.

“Don’t be angry. She’s wrong. No one thinks that way. You are CEO Ming. No one would dare to think that about you.”

“You will always be the best in my heart, the very best person.”

“No matter what, you are the person I love most.”

“Ah-Jin, really, these are my sincere feelings.”

Song Xiangwan spoke quickly, unsure how to comfort her, her words coming out frantically.

They were like a series of confessions.

The word “cripple” was truly painful. She was genuinely afraid Ming Jin’s heart couldn’t handle it.

The warmth of her palm passed through their clasped hands. She was full of panic, unsure how to handle it.

Then, the cold fingers in her palm seemed to struggle faintly, then turned and gently wrapped around Song Xiangwan’s hand.

A soft, comforting voice: “I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’m alright.”

Even though the color had instantly drained from her face, and her breathing was tight due to her racing heart, her first instinct was still to comfort her cat.