The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Tasting a Bit of Bitterness

Her shout wasn’t very loud, but the lobby wasn’t noisy, so almost everyone nearby heard it, including Ming Jin.

The smile on Ming Jin’s face faltered slightly. She looked up and saw Song Xiangwan.

Song Xiangwan wore a simple white T-shirt, light blue jeans, and white sneakers. Her baseball cap and mask covered almost her entire face.

But Ming Jin recognized Song Xiangwan instantly.

That was the person she had cherished for five years; she would recognize her no matter what.

Song Xiangwan stood blocking the elevator, but she couldn’t say a single word. She felt cold sweat breaking out in layers on her back, black spots flashing across her vision, and she was swaying, the pain in her stomach almost making her faint.

She was standing right there, she opened her mouth, but she didn’t know what to say. Where should she start the conversation?

She couldn’t possibly ask, Ming Jin, did you abandon me?

That would make Song Xiangwan look incredibly spineless.

The bodyguards next to Ming Jin also saw Song Xiangwan and were preparing to step forward to block this uninvited guest blocking the way.

“Wait.” A calm voice rang out. The person in the wheelchair raised her hand slightly, and the bodyguards all stopped.

Ming Jin lowered her gaze, the light in her eyes obscure, and said to the girl behind her: “Ayan, push me forward.”

The girl behind her looked somewhat displeased and conflicted, but she ultimately did not dare disobey Ming Jin and reluctantly pushed her forward.

The wheelchair stopped in front of Song Xiangwan. She clearly saw Ming Jin’s appearance; she seemed to have lost weight, but her eyes still held that noble and imposing pressure.

She opened her mouth to say something, but saw those eyes sweep over her blandly, as if looking at a stranger: “Miss Song, please move aside.”

Song Xiangwan instantly lost all strength. Ming Jin called her Miss Song?

When they were intimate in bed, she would call her Wanwan, A’wan. Sometimes, when she couldn’t control herself, she would call her ‘good girl’ or ‘baby.’ Even when extremely angry, she only used her full name: Song Xiangwan.

Song Xiangwan didn’t know how she managed to move her feet. She felt that she must look utterly defeated. She had come over so aggressively, only to look like a stray dog.

One figure after another passed in front of her and entered the elevator. The elevator doors closed, seemingly separating her and Ming Jin into two different worlds.

“Xiangwan, what’s wrong?” Cao Xin quickly stepped forward to support her. “Do you know that person just now?”

“No, I don’t,” Song Xiangwan let go of her strength, her stomach pain making her unable to stand up straight, leaning entirely on Cao Xin for support.

Cao Xin was startled: “Xiangwan, Xiangwan, are you alright? The car is outside. We are going to the hospital immediately.”

Inside the elevator, Ming Jin watched the numbers jump on the display, her expression calm and composed, yet her fingertips resting on the armrest couldn’t help but tighten slightly.

“Why was she here today?” Ming Jin asked.

“Who?” The girl behind her seemed not to recognize who Song Xiangwan was.

“Song Xiangwan,” Ming Jin enunciated the three words, feeling them coil in her heart. It had been a long time since she had spoken that name.

“I don’t know…” The girl behind her mumbled, looking toward the secretary beside them.

The secretary was well-trained. He flipped through the booklet in his hand, glanced at it, and said: “S.N’s new product launch is being held here. Song Xiangwan is the Asia-Pacific Spokesperson.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” The girl glared at the secretary reproachfully. “If I had known that, we wouldn’t have come today.”

“This…” The secretary paused, not continuing to speak. He didn’t know the situation at hand, but if the boss was blaming someone, it was his fault.

Ming Jin continued to ask: “Has her agent changed? Why don’t I know?”

The person next to Song Xiangwan was a stranger. Rongxing was small, and Ming Jin knew almost everyone, but she didn’t recognize that face.

“Yes, she changed two years ago,” the girl said. “Sis, can you stop worrying about these things? They are small matters. Getting your health back is the most important thing.”

“It is not a small matter,” Ming Jin interrupted her flatly. “Call her agent back. I want to see her now.”

Finally, she added: “Do not let Song Xiangwan know.”

“Can’t you just let it go?” Xu Zhiyan said quietly. “Sis, you just came back from overseas and have been tired all day. Please rest, okay?”

“Xu Zhiyan, what kind of trick have you been playing on me?” Ming Jin looked up, the light brown in her eyes carrying deep coldness.

“Sis…” Xu Zhiyan whispered, not daring to say anything else.

“Do you think I’m so sick that I’m about to die, and you can hide anything from me?” Ming Jin’s tone was flat.

“Sis, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t be angry.” Xu Zhiyan quickly crouched down, softly comforting her sister. Seeing her sister so angry that her face turned pale, she felt her heart pounding like a drum. If she had known it would make her this angry, she wouldn’t have pulled this stunt.

The car accident three years ago ruined Ming Jin’s life. She was forced to rely on a wheelchair, and she suffered chronic heart and lung problems that wouldn’t heal. After three years of recuperation abroad, her health metrics had finally stabilized to a somewhat normal level. If she were to become this angry and relapse, the guilt would be enormous.

Ming Jin stared at Xu Zhiyan and continued: “I personally reviewed Rongxing’s financial reports over the past two years.”

“According to the accounts, so much money was spent, and she doesn’t even have an assistant?” Ming Jin said. “Xu Zhiyan, do you take me for an idiot?”

According to the expenditures on the accounts, Song Xiangwan should have at least ten assistants. Three years ago, when she was still in the country, Song Xiangwan was the center of attention wherever she went, always surrounded by people. Now? She clearly saw that Song Xiangwan was only with one person, without even an assistant to carry things.

“Who taught you to make fake accounts for me to see?” Every word Ming Jin spoke slammed into Xu Zhiyan’s heart.

Xu Zhiyan hadn’t expected that her sister could deduce so much just from one glance.

“Tell me the truth.” Ming Jin rested her hand on the wheelchair, her fingers gently pressed against her brow bone, and slowly closed her eyes.

She was truly experiencing the deterioration of her body. Just a few angry words, and now black spots were clouding her vision, and the sound of her heart beating was like a drum in her ears.

She couldn’t help but think of that radiant girl—bright and sunny, gorgeous like a rose, thorny, yet so beautiful that even when pricked all over, one couldn’t bear to let go.

She knew that in her current broken state, she was no longer worthy of that dazzling girl.

That was why she chose to leave her world, return her freedom, let her do what she wanted, and stop bothering her.

Seeing the situation, Xu Zhiyan didn’t dare hide anything and whispered, “She terminated her contract with Rongxing two years ago…”

Rongxing was originally founded for Song Xiangwan. Without Song Xiangwan, it was an empty shell, and almost all the staff had been laid off over the years. Every year’s accounts and reports were faked by Xu Zhiyan and sent to Ming Jin. Since Ming Jin was overseas, she thought she could easily get away with it.

Xu Zhiyan was also angry. She knew how good Ming Jin was to Song Xiangwan, and she was furious that Song Xiangwan caused a scene and demanded to terminate the contract the moment Ming Jin was barely out of the ICU. She acted rashly, thinking that a termination was fine; it meant one less thing to worry about.

Now, having angered her sister, Xu Zhiyan felt very nervous and whispered, “If you want, I’ll sign her back.” It wasn’t worth making her sister angry over Rongxing; the Ming family could certainly afford it.

But right after Xu Zhiyan finished speaking, she heard an unexpected reply. Ming Jin said, “Forget it. No need.”

“Don’t hide things from me in the future, and there’s no need to make fake accounts. Just dissolve Rongxing,” she said with her eyes closed, not speaking further.

Xu Zhiyan didn’t dare say a word, pushing the wheelchair forward. With more than ten people following them, not even a cough could be heard.

Ming Jin slowly let out a breath. Song Xiangwan probably wouldn’t like that. Rongxing, to her, was just a chain. Since she had already decided to grant her freedom, why forge shackles and try to confine her again?

The way things were now was actually quite good.

Song Xiangwan was still dazed when she arrived at the hospital. Doctors and nurses moved in and out, performing checks and starting an IV drip. She let them manipulate her like a puppet.

Cao Xin stayed with her while she was on the drip, but perhaps due to exhaustion, she eventually drifted off to sleep while sitting beside her.

When Cheng Cheng walked in, she slowed her footsteps and approached the bedside, but was startled: “Sister Wan, why are you crying?”

There were clearly two distinct tear tracks on her face, but she quickly wiped them away with her hand and said softly, “No, you saw wrong.”

She looked at Cheng Cheng, changing the subject: “Didn’t I give you a long vacation? Why are you here?”

“My mother is in this hospital. I heard from Sister Cao, so I came to see you.” Cheng Cheng sat beside her, her face full of worry. “Does it hurt very much? You were crying. Should I call the doctor to check?”

Her worry was justified. She had been Song Xiangwan’s assistant for two years, and aside from acting roles where she could cry on command, she had never seen Song Xiangwan shed a tear. Even with stomach pain, she would usually endure it, smile, and move on.

“It’s nothing. The pain is gone since the IV started,” Song Xiangwan said. “Don’t waste too much time here. Spend more time with your mom.”

“My mom’s surgery was very successful, and I have to thank Sister Wan for lending me the money. She’s asleep now and doesn’t need me, so I’ll keep you company for a bit.”

“Alright then, thank you.” Song Xiangwan felt fortunate. Even though Changning didn’t value her, the assistant and agent assigned to her were both excellent.

“Sister Wan, I saw a fun post today!” Cheng Cheng smiled and started telling a story.

“There was an infertile man who fell in love with a divorced woman who was heavily pregnant. He brought her home, but insisted that his mother take care of the newborn.”

“Something like that happened?” Song Xiangwan’s attention was immediately diverted.

“Yes, yes, I’ll show you.” Cheng Cheng said, opening her short video app.

Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “I thought it was some explosive gossip, but it’s just that.”

“There’s more…” Cheng Cheng continued to chat and laugh, telling Song Xiangwan more stories.

As the two talked and laughed softly, Song Xiangwan’s mood genuinely improved a bit.

Song Xiangwan checked her own phone; no messages. They were looking at Cheng Cheng’s phone, so there were no messages there either.

It must be Cao Xin’s phone. Cao Xin had woken up and groggily answered the call: “Hello?”

Then, in the next instant, she suddenly sobered up: “What? What did you say?”

“What’s wrong, Sister Cao?” Cheng Cheng asked.

Song Xiangwan also looked over. Cao Xin was usually quite steady, but this reaction suggested something major was happening.

Cao Xin seemed to hesitate, her eyes fixed on Song Xiangwan’s face, and then she said, “Um, Xiangwan, don’t get upset after I tell you.”

“What is it?” Song Xiangwan asked. “It’s fine, take your time.”

She had survived Ming Jin calling her Miss Song; what else could she not face?

“Qīng Chéng just officially announced the cast list. The lead actress is Su Chenxing.” Cao Xin clicked her tongue. “What the heck? Were they just playing me?”

Although she was angry, she didn’t forget to comfort Song Xiangwan: “If you lose this role, there will be others. There will definitely be better ones.”

“It’s fine. I’m really not angry,” Song Xiangwan said flatly.

She recalled Su Chenxing’s provocative smile from earlier that day; so, she was smiling like that because she was so confident. And that host, who brought up the topic of $Qīng Chéng the moment they met, leading the conversation in that direction.

The result? She had just been cued to be the lead of $Qīng Chéng, only to be contradicted. The internet must be a lively place now.

That host and Su Chenxing were in cahoots, intending to see Song Xiangwan lose face.