The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Mostly pleasant memories

“Miss Liu, please send that recording to me,” Ming Jin said flatly. “Ah-Yan, let’s go.”

She had no intention of dealing with the matter on the spot. Childish actions like hitting someone a couple of times for catharsis were beneath CEO Ming.

However, the more passive she was, the uglier Chu Niaoniao’s face became. She desperately rushed forward and blocked the wheelchair: “CEO Ming…”

Ming Jin simply glanced at Han Yingying, who instantly understood. With a light wave of her hand, someone quickly restrained Chu Niaoniao.

“CEO Ming, CEO Ming, I truly didn’t mean it…”

“CEO Ming, I was wrong.”

“CEO Ming, it was all that lowlife who argued with me.”

Han Yingying couldn’t help but sigh softly. This Miss Chu really couldn’t grasp the situation, still calling Song Xiangwan a “lowlife.”

Given the relationship between Song Xiangwan and Ming Jin, it was unclear why Ming Jin was truly angry—was it because she was insulted, or because Song Xiangwan was insulted?

Xu Zhiyan pushed the wheelchair and subtly tugged at Song Xiangwan. Song Xiangwan realized what she needed to do and quickly followed.

Han Yingying saw Ming Jin off to the car, repeatedly saying, “I apologize, CEO Ming. You came all this way to attend my birthday banquet, and this is what happened.”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Ming Jin naturally understood right from wrong. She looked back at Song Xiangwan, who was standing docilely beside her, and said softly, “Let’s go. I’ll take you back to Clear Water Bay.”

“CEO Han, please arrange a car to take Xiao Yu back,” she added to Han Yingying.

Yin Yu remained standing where she was, watching the Rolls-Royce disappear from sight. She slightly pursed her lips, and her expression slowly darkened.

She had seen the reference photo of the eye makeup Xu Zhiyan gave her. Of course, she immediately recognized that Song Xiangwan was Ming Jin’s ex-girlfriend.

She was truly beautiful, so beautiful that she seemed to be on a different plane from everyone else around her.

So beautiful that she completely paled in comparison.

“Miss Yin, this way, please.” Han Yingying didn’t show any disrespect toward Yin Yu either.

She was unlike Chu Niaoniao and those other second-generation types. Self-made entrepreneurs were astute and wouldn’t gratuitously look down on people or create enemies.

The car arranged for her was a Maybach, with a low-key ash-gray interior and the solid feel of leather seats. Yin Yu held her clutch bag, watching the car pull away from the lavish and intoxicating banquet. She felt like the day’s experience was all a dream.

She had briefly been CEO Ming’s companion, and briefly witnessed the glamour that didn’t belong to her social stratum.

The gentle and charming CEO Ming, like a goddess who briefly crossed her path.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Xu Zhiyan: Ms. Xu, I will return the clothes and jewelry tomorrow.

Xu Zhiyan replied: No need. This is your compensation. Thank you.

A considerable sum, equivalent to two years of her salary, was transferred to her account just like that.

Xu Zhiyan never cared much for money. After replying, she carefully assessed the atmosphere in the car.

The car was quiet, so quiet that only the breathing of the few people inside could be heard.

And Song Xiangwan, is she going to let this opportunity slip away?

She was sitting in the passenger seat and couldn’t look back directly. She lightly cleared her throat, giving a subtle cough as a hint.

Before Song Xiangwan could react, Ming Jin’s voice, slightly lacking in vitality, came: “Ah-Yan, do you have a cold?”

“No, no…” Xu Zhiyan quickly replied.

“Ask Dr. Lin to take a look,” Ming Jin was still worried. “You’ve been busy lately. Your immunity might be low. You must be careful.”

“I don’t want to look for her…” Xu Zhiyan couldn’t help but mumble softly. That woman was like a psychopath, not normal.

“Her medical skills are impeccable,” Ming Jin said slowly. “If you dislike her, you can reduce your personal interaction with her in the future.”

“It’s not exactly that…” Xu Zhiyan began, then realized how the conversation had drifted to her own problems.

The most important thing now was the relationship between Ming Jin and Song Xiangwan.

Before she could assist again, she heard Song Xiangwan’s pitiful voice: “Ah-Jin, there’s a room for me at the Ming residence too. Can I stay the night?”

“It’s late tonight, and you don’t need to travel back and forth.”

“It’s no trouble,” Ming Jin’s voice was flat, seemingly without emotional fluctuation, giving Song Xiangwan a cold, hard response.

“But I’ll be staying alone. There’s no one at home, and no medicine cabinet…” Song Xiangwan had plenty of excuses.

She extended her arm for Ming Jin to see: “Look, such a long blood mark. What if it gets infected?”

The corner of Xu Zhiyan’s mouth couldn’t help but curve up. She mentally gave Song Xiangwan a thumbs-up.

Only Song Xiangwan dared to go against Ming Jin’s wishes, and she had a whole set of reasons for it.

The driver even gently eased up on the accelerator, waiting for CEO Ming’s command to turn the car around and head straight back to the Ming residence.

With phoenix eyes tinged with crimson, looking like tears were about to fall, she gazed over with watering eyes, the tip of her nose slightly red.

Feigning pity. Ming Jin immediately realized her motive, but still couldn’t resist looking at the scratch.

It wasn’t very deep, but it was long, a mark left by Chu Niaoniao.

It wasn’t bleeding anymore, but it was inflamed and red. Now, it was even more exaggeratedly red, standing out painfully against her fair skin.

A dark color surged in Ming Jin’s eyes. She should have slapped Chu Niaoniao twice just now.

But the thought brought a sense of sadness. In the past, she could have simply protected the person she cared about; slapping someone would have been effortless. But now…

After sitting in the wheelchair for several hours, the soreness in her lower back felt like it would explode. The cold seemed to permeate her bones, and her entire back was numb. Even a simple action like raising her hand was likely impossible.

Song Xiangwan had mentally replayed their past interactions. Ming Jin had always softened under these circumstances.

But not this time. She showed no sign of relenting, merely saying flatly, “Ah-Yan, call Cao Xin to come to Clear Water Bay.”

This was… refusing to let her stay, cutting off all her retreat options…

“I won’t go back. I’m not getting out of the car,” Song Xiangwan said petulantly. “It hurts so much. You don’t care about me at all.”

“Ah-Jin, I’ll only stay one night. I’ll leave tomorrow…” Tomorrow’s business can wait until tomorrow.

As long as she got inside this time, she wouldn’t leave. She didn’t believe the butlers and servants would actually physically drag her out and throw her away.

The tone was heavily flirtatious. She knew well how to manipulate Ming Jin.

A few years ago, if she had held Ming Jin’s hand and acted spoiled like this, Ming Jin would have rushed to give her jewelry, luxury cars, mansions, and film resources.

Ming Jin’s eyes fluttered slightly, but her tone remained calm: “If you don’t get out, then wait at Clear Water Bay until you are willing to get out.”

She closed her eyes and leaned against the seat, showing Song Xiangwan only a faint profile, indicating she didn’t want to communicate.

It was no use. Her spoiled antics were completely ineffective this time.

“Sister, I just contacted Cao Xin. I couldn’t reach her. The company said she flew to Yuncheng and is still on the plane,” Xu Zhiyan said cautiously, tentatively.

“What about the assistant?” Ming Jin asked slowly.

“I don’t have her contact information…” Xu Zhiyan lied.

She was still nervous lying to Ming Jin, but thankfully, she was in the passenger seat and didn’t have to face her directly.

She had already coordinated with Cao Xin. As long as Cao Xin was unreachable, Ming Jin wouldn’t be able to contact Cheng Cheng either.

Ming Jin certainly wouldn’t trust anyone else to care for her beloved cat.

As for Song Xiangwan, she wasn’t stupid. She immediately added: “Cheng Cheng’s mother was hospitalized with a tumor. I gave her time off. Anyway, she can’t come.”

Ming Jin frowned slightly. She felt that something wasn’t quite right.

But she was truly exhausted and couldn’t process so many details, nor could she realize that the two people who were just moments ago ready to scratch each other’s eyes out were now working together in silent agreement.

The car rounded a corner. The slight sway caused the occupants to shift, Ming Jin’s lips turned white, and her fingers suddenly pressed against her lower back.

“What’s wrong?” Song Xiangwan’s heart instantly tightened. She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over.

She immediately wrapped her arms around Ming Jin’s waist, firmly supporting her, speaking quickly and urgently: “Does it hurt? Do you want to lean over more? Please tell me, don’t hold it in…”

The lipstick on Ming Jin’s lips had faded by three-quarters. Her now pale lips made Song Xiangwan’s heart ache as if it were being squeezed.

“Sit back,” Ming Jin’s voice was cold.

Song Xiangwan didn’t speak, not intending to obey, but then heard a voice tinged with faint anger: “I said, sit back.”

“Song Xiangwan, I’ll only say it one more time. Sit back and fasten your seatbelt.”

Ming Jin had snapped at her. It was rare, that angry tone.

Even when she insisted on taking messy, inappropriate work in the past, her voice was only slightly cold, never this furious.

Song Xiangwan was intimidated. She let go and sat back meekly, but her eyes never left Ming Jin.

“Fasten your seatbelt.” The voice was slightly cold now, no longer angry, but still causing a chill in the heart.

“Okay…” Song Xiangwan was timid.

Xu Zhiyan pursed her lips. As expected of my sister, she can even scare this restless canary into submission.

Song Xiangwan securely fastened her seatbelt and quickly said: “I’m buckled up.”

“Don’t mess around in the car in the future,” Ming Jin’s voice was flat and distant. “It’s very dangerous…”

“I remember…” Due to the incident, Song Xiangwan was also slightly frightened and didn’t dare to revert to her usual reckless nature.

The car drove into the underground garage of Clear Water Bay. Song Xiangwan remained seated, showing no intention of getting out.

“Aren’t you going home?” Ming Jin was tired, and she gently massaged her temples.

Song Xiangwan’s heart couldn’t help but race. She asked softly: “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” She didn’t say much, not wanting Song Xiangwan to worry too much.

“I’ll have someone buy medicine and send it over later. Remember to apply it…” Ming Jin said.

“I’m not leaving. I’m going back with you,” Song Xiangwan was stubborn.

She had to be stubborn. Last time she wasn’t so persistent and left, only to find herself unable to locate Ming Jin anywhere afterward. It was difficult even to meet her once.

After a standoff of about five minutes, Ming Jin sighed softly: “Ah-Yan, go to the pharmacy at the entrance and buy some iodine and cotton swabs, then come up to the 23rd floor.”

“Okay.” Xu Zhiyan was always obedient and immediately got out of the car.

Ming Jin turned to Song Xiangwan: “Let’s go. I’ll go up with you.”

When this cat was stubborn, eight oxen couldn’t drag her away. If she didn’t compromise, she probably wouldn’t be able to leave tonight.

Besides, she was genuinely worried about the scratch on Song Xiangwan’s hand. She wanted to help her sterilize it before leaving.

If unnecessary, Ming Jin didn’t want to go up.

Clear Water Bay held too many memories for the two of them. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to control her emotions, and even more worried about the painful memories it would trigger.

Song Xiangwan got out of the car and watched Ming Jin’s assistant take the wheelchair from the trunk, unfold it, and place it near the rear seat.

Taking advantage of this pause, Song Xiangwan quickly moved to the front and reached out her hand: “Be careful. Lean on me.”

She didn’t dare to directly hug her. The last time she carried Ming Jin, Ming Jin’s condition was truly poor. Now, she definitely wouldn’t want it.

Ming Jin didn’t like people getting too close. Usually, when getting in and out, she either relied entirely on herself or used Xu Zhiyan’s help…

Now, those phoenix eyes were staring at her eagerly, her hand outstretched, waiting obediently by the car.

Ming Jin’s eyes deepened, then deepened again. Finally, she didn’t take Song Xiangwan’s hand. Instead, she leaned over, pulled the wheelchair closer, and leveraged herself to move over, bracing her hand on the car.

Normally, she could land smoothly like this.

But today, perhaps because she had been sitting for too long, a pulling force caused a tearing pain to suddenly explode from her lower spine.

She failed to move over this time. Her arm trembled slightly, and she fell heavily back onto the seat.

Ming Jin held her breath, feeling a sharp dizziness and a sense of everything blurring before her eyes.

She didn’t make a sound, but she was instantly caught and firmly held in a hug. A voice filled with urgency whispered in her ear: “Ah-Jin, Ah-Jin…”

“I’m… I’m fine…” She bit out the words, almost grinding her teeth.

The vulnerability she refused to show Song Xiangwan had been revealed time and time again.

She took two slight breaths and pushed Song Xiangwan’s hands away: “I can do it myself.”

Her tone was firm, without any hint of weakness.

Song Xiangwan watched from the side and didn’t move forward again. Her eyes were slightly red, but she suppressed the bitterness.

The awkwardness she felt when they first reunited was completely gone now.

She seemed to realize why Ming Jin pushed her away again and again…

How had the past few years gone for Ming Jin? How could someone so proud allow herself to be like this?

Song Xiangwan was ready to rush forward and support her at any moment, but this time, Ming Jin succeeded.

Ming Jin used her own strength to move onto the wheelchair. She leaned against the backrest and tentatively tried to exert some force. The fingers resting on the armrests were pale and bony, but they lacked strength.

Song Xiangwan didn’t speak. She just reached into the car and retrieved a thin blanket, covering Ming Jin’s legs.

Her unused legs looked excessively thin. This was likely why she always kept them covered, unwilling to reveal them in public.

“You wait downstairs,” Ming Jin told the people accompanying them, then looked at Song Xiangwan, “Let’s go.”

The elevator numbers climbed floor by floor. Ming Jin lowered her gaze and remained silent, a mix of complex emotions in her heart.

The last time she left…

They had an argument.

Not a pleasant memory.

But here, there were mostly pleasant memories.

Song Xiangwan was very clingy. When they came back from outside, Ming Jin would carry Song Xiangwan’s bag, and Song Xiangwan would hook her arm around Ming Jin, leaning against her.

Even in the brief time in the elevator, Song Xiangwan had to lean on her.

Then, when Ming Jin wasn’t paying attention, Song Xiangwan would turn her head and kiss her lips, a brief, light peck, her phoenix eyes filled with a triumphant smile.

“There are surveillance cameras,” Ming Jin would say, but the corners of her lips curved into a helpless, doting smile.

“I don’t care. Pretend it’s not there.” Song Xiangwan would lean in and kiss her again, staring defiantly at the surveillance camera.

“You’re mine. What’s wrong with me kissing you?” She would look at Ming Jin righteously. “To be fair, you have to kiss me now too.”

“No,” Ming Jin would chuckle softly, just looking up at the elevator numbers.

Song Xiangwan would stubbornly move opposite her, hooking her arms around Ming Jin’s neck, looking at her with an unhappy expression.

“No way, no way. I’m willing to kiss you in public, but you won’t? You don’t like me.”

Her warm breath would fan Ming Jin’s neck, carrying the scent of Song Xiangwan’s perfume—that bright, intense fragrance of a summer flower garden, filling her embrace.

After a few seconds of deadlock, Song Xiangwan would softly threaten: “You said no. Don’t expect anything tonight…”

Ming Jin’s kiss wasn’t a shallow, childish peck.

The hand pressing on Song Xiangwan’s waist would tighten, pulling Song Xiangwan completely into her embrace. Her lips would suck on Song Xiangwan’s, and the tip of her tongue would initiate a strong, invasive conquest.

But it never lasted long because the elevator would arrive quickly.

With Ming Jin present, Song Xiangwan never worried about the surveillance footage being leaked. She was completely relaxed, enjoying the passionate kiss.

As Ming Jin reminisced, Song Xiangwan was thinking the exact same thing. This elevator held too many beautiful memories.

Time was truly a mysterious thing.

The last time and now were merging and overlapping, making it hard to distinguish between reality and memory.

She entered the code, opened the lock, and changed her shoes. Song Xiangwan’s movements stiffened slightly as she stood up.

The faint cramping pain in her stomach hadn’t disappeared. It had returned. It had been hurting for two days, and she rationally felt something was wrong.

The furnishings in the room hadn’t changed much. A game console was connected to the TV cabinet in the living room; even its position hadn’t moved.

The curtains, sofa, dining table… they were all chosen together back then. Even after all these years, Song Xiangwan hadn’t changed them.

Song Xiangwan refused to go back to the Ming residence and wouldn’t stay in the office. After their first intimate encounter, they always met in hotels.

Song Xiangwan eventually grew unhappy, saying it felt like a monarch granting an audience, where she would be dismissed afterward.

After many arguments back and forth, Song Xiangwan finally saved enough money to buy this property, but the interior design was a careful collaboration between the two of them.

That day, they spent a long time at the furniture store. The car couldn’t drive inside, and by the time they left, Song Xiangwan couldn’t walk anymore.

She was wearing thin high heels, and her ankles were rubbed raw.

Ming Jin resigned herself to kneeling in front of people. With a light leap, Song Xiangwan landed on Ming Jin’s back and was held securely.

“Don’t wear high heels when we go out in the future,” Ming Jin carried her slowly, speaking gently.

“But I’m a female celebrity! I have to look beautiful in public. What if I get photographed?” Song Xiangwan rested on Ming Jin’s back, lightly swinging her calves.

“They wouldn’t dare to photograph you,” Ming Jin said flatly.

“But shouldn’t I dress up beautifully when I go on a date?” Song Xiangwan replied with a smile.

“Yes, dress up beautifully, only to end up on my back,” Ming Jin said, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curve up slightly.

Song Xiangwan was light, only 100 jin (50 kg) at 1.72 meters tall. Ming Jin had no trouble carrying her. She walked slowly, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of Song Xiangwan depending on her.

“So, you don’t want to?” Song Xiangwan gently pinched Ming Jin’s ear. “Does carrying someone make CEO Ming lose face?”

“I can’t help it. My life is hard,” Ming Jin joked, but her grip on Song Xiangwan was steady.

A light shone in her light brown eyes that was never present when she was in the office.

She didn’t particularly enjoy physical labor, but if she was carrying the person she loved, she was willing to keep going forward.

“If you feel your life is hard, you can let go of your hands,” Song Xiangwan pinched her ear, smiling.

“Alright, stop messing around. You’ll fall,” Ming Jin was tickled by the pinch and lightly pinched Song Xiangwan’s thigh.

“Hey, hey, hey, CEO Ming, what are you doing in public?” Song Xiangwan kicked her leg, protesting.

Ming Jin replied flatly: “Doing nothing. Do you have any evidence?”

“Be good, don’t move around,” her tone was helpless.

At first, Song Xiangwan wouldn’t dare to leap onto her back, and would even seem anxious when she saw her.

Now, she was truly spoiled.

Only a spoiled cat would dare to bare its claws.

But Ming Jin didn’t see anything wrong with that.

This was good. Her cat was allowed to have a temper, be glamorous and arrogant, proving that it was raised with love.

“Ah-Jin, I suddenly feel like I have a home,” Song Xiangwan whispered softly.

“Mm,” Ming Jin nodded. “Our home.”

Song Xiangwan smiled but didn’t speak.

If they ignored the disparity in their social status, it was like having a home, sharing three meals a day through the four seasons, passing the time slowly.

But the things that separated them could not be ignored.

The furniture store was crowded with people and noisy. They just walked slowly forward like that.

At this moment, they seemed to forget the unpleasant beginning of their exchange based on money and favors, finding only warm happiness.

There were two mugs on the small dining table. Song Xiangwan’s had a kitten with a yellow scarf, and Ming Jin’s had a puppy with a gray scarf.

Song Xiangwan had deliberately chosen that mug, wanting to test Ming Jin’s reaction.

But Ming Jin didn’t react. She merely picked it up, took a small sip, and put it down.

The window was open. The night breeze swept in, bringing a subtle coolness on a late spring evening.

Ming Jin put down the cup, pressing her knuckles against her lips as she gave two muffled coughs.

Song Xiangwan quickly got up and ran to the balcony to close the window.

With her back to Ming Jin, she didn’t see Ming Jin’s hand rest on the puppy’s head on the mug, gently stroking it.

There was an identical one in her bedroom at the Ming residence.

But only an identical one. Now, she was finally touching the original.

She had once playfully argued with Song Xiangwan, “Why do I have the puppy? This puppy looks so ugly.”

Later, this mug became her favorite. Ugly is ugly, she thought, but it happens to be the matching set with the cute kitten.