The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: I Am Your Property

July 14th was the date for the third public performance of the “Dance Convention.”

The shouts and the drumbeats were not unified. The stage belonging to Song Xiangwan and Su Chenxing’s group had long whetted the appetite of all the spectators.

Rivals grouped together—a foreseeable storm of controversy.

Who will take the C position? I’m so excited.

Su Chenxing has the highest popularity, first place in the online vote, so of course it’s her.

Although Su Chenxing is popular, her ability is lacking. Her previous performances have been mediocre. It’s just because of her looks.

Even by seniority, it should be Song Xiangwan, right? And her previous stages were truly stunning.

The stage suddenly went dark, and then, Dong! The music began. Dazzling lights fell, and the camera zoomed in on the face of the person in the center.

A vibrant, confident smile, a pair of seductive phoenix eyes. The vermillion-red mole at the corner of her eye was dotted with glitter, but it couldn’t overshadow the brilliance in those phoenix eyes.

The upward-tilting, captivating eyeliner, the delicate and thick eyelashes, fluttered softly. The corner of her lips curved into an arrogant arc, breathtakingly beautiful.

The C position: Song Xiangwan.

The music turned fierce and fast-paced. The big screen cut to a wide shot: a white bandeau top, a white mini-skirt. The screen was filled with beautiful waists and legs.

It was a completely different style of dance from before: intense, passionate, and bold.

The shouts were deafening. The drumbeats pounded, hitting the heart one after another, igniting passion, but also making people feel a little anxious in their hearts.

On the side of the stage, Ming Jin couldn’t help but raise her hand and press it against her chest. She let out a long, slow breath.

The assistant behind her was tense and quickly lowered his voice to ask: “CEO Ming, are you unwell?”

“I’m fine.” Her tone was faint. Her gaze was fixed tightly on the central figure on the stage.

The spotlight shone on her. Every strand of hair was dancing, bright and beautiful. Every wave hit the beat of the music, striking a chord in people’s hearts.

Her heartbeat was fast, getting faster and faster. She didn’t know if it was because of the overly noisy music or something else.

The music ended. A slender arm lifted, gently tapping the air, then pressed to her lips, softly kissing her fingertips. Her phoenix eyes blinked.

After intense exercise, she was slightly out of breath. Her collarbone rose and fell softly, her neck delicate and fair. She was intoxicatingly seductive.

The roar of the crowd was incessant. The performers on stage bowed in unison.

She wore a white V-neck shirt and loose-fitting white trousers, portraying the image of a chic and elegant intellectual woman.

The spotlight fell on her. The performing contestants walked over for the post-performance interview segment.

She was substituting today. The original host, Lulu, was sick, and the production team had urgently called in Jiang Lin for help.

Jiang Lin was known for her exceptional professionalism and handled the large setting with ease.

She followed the script: “The voting countdown has ten seconds left. Audience members who enjoyed their performance, please quickly press your voting buttons.”

“Voting is over. Now we can chat.” She smiled at the people on the stage.

The microphone was naturally handed to Song Xiangwan.

“What made you decide to bring a performance that completely overturns your previous stage style, Xiangwan?” she asked.

“Since I’m here, I wanted to try more things,” Song Xiangwan replied.

“This attempt truly lit up the stage for us,” Jiang Lin’s voice held undisguised admiration. “Actually, today is also a special day.”

“What is it?” She shouted this question to the audience below the stage.

“Thank you, everyone, thank you, everyone.” Song Xiangwan quickly expressed her gratitude, bowing repeatedly.

Standing beside her, Su Chenxing had a brilliant smile on her face, her eyes full of ‘blessings,’ but secretly, she was clenching her hands so hard they were almost breaking.

Song Xiangwan was taking all the attention.

This host was also awful, only asking questions centered around Song Xiangwan.

“Actually, regarding this performance…” Song Xiangwan began. When the cheers subsided, she continued, “I also want to thank my teammates.”

“They were all hardworking, diligent, and united, which is why we were able to complete this performance.”

“Thank you, Xia Qiao. Thank you, Zhou Xintong. Thank you, Li Weiwei. Thank you, Lu Lan…”

“And of course, thank you to our band and dance instructors.”

Am I deaf? Did she just not mention Su Chenxing?

I’m dying of laughter. She thanked everyone, and Su Chenxing, standing right there, became invisible.

Only you, Song Xiangwan!

Clear about grudges, seeking revenge for the smallest thing. A truly alive person in the inner entertainment circle. I’m laughing so hard.

Su Chenxing must be furious. She still has to force a smile. It’s meme-worthy, hahahahaha.

If this had happened before Su Chenxing’s scandals were exposed, there would definitely be a huge online fight. But the tables had turned. Su Chenxing’s side was busy with fans leaving and attacking her, so they couldn’t start a fight. The support was entirely one-sided for Song Xiangwan.

Ming Jin also noticed this detail. The corner of her lips couldn’t help but curve slightly. The petty cat was so adorable.

Love is blind. Even if Song Xiangwan went crazy and slapped someone on stage right now, Ming Jin would still find her adorable.

The segment ended. Ming Jin raised her hand, and the assistant behind her walked forward.

“Let’s go, back to the lounge.” She wasn’t interested in the rest of the performances. She would wait for Song Xiangwan in the dressing room.

It was still the director’s lounge. When Ming Jin arrived, the director very consciously vacated it and squeezed in with other staff members.

The wheelchair rolled down the backstage corridor. Due to poor soundproofing, they could hear the noisy chatter from various workspaces.

“Should we release Song Xiangwan’s fancam this time?”

“Who knows? Let’s edit it first and see what the higher-ups say.”

“She really has talent. She latched onto a powerful backer and completely regained popularity with this show.”

“I heard her connections are solid. Jiang Lin coming in last minute today was also for her sake.”

“For her sake?”

“Yeah, for a host of Jiang Lin’s caliber, taking a last-minute substitute job is basically out of the question.”

“When I contacted her, she asked one thing: ‘Is Song Xiangwan still in this round? Does she have a performance tonight?'”

“I said yes, and without another word, she agreed, without even asking the price.”

“CEO Ming…” The assistant behind her felt the air pressure around Ming Jin subtly change. He quickly lowered his voice: “I’ll go check who is in that room.”

“No need. Let’s go,” Ming Jin’s tone was faint, seemingly emotionless.

Jiang Lin… she had heard that name more than once.

Their last major argument three years ago was because of Jiang Lin’s drinking party. The time Song Xiangwan got a stomach hemorrhage from drinking was also at a party hosted by Jiang Lin.

Over the past few days, she had been secretly investigating Song Xiangwan’s social circle over the last three years.

Song Xiangwan hadn’t lied. She hadn’t dated, and she didn’t have a new girlfriend. However, she was very, very close to this Jiang Lin.

Superficially just ordinary friends… would an ordinary friend lower their status to take on this show for Song Xiangwan? Ming Jin felt a surge of waves crashing over her heart.

Should I stop it…?

Last time, they had a huge fight over this kind of social freedom.

Ming Jin’s breathing tightened. She gently closed her eyes, leaning back in the wheelchair, trying to calm her difficult-to-control emotions.

The performances on the main stage were still continuing. Wave after wave of roaring cheers came from the audience.

It was as if the sound was flowing past her ears through a pane of glass. Ming Jin closed her eyes, trying to process the emotions she could no longer suppress.

When Song Xiangwan pushed the door open, she saw Ming Jin’s somewhat pale face. She moved closer, burying her head in Ming Jin’s embrace and rubbing: “Ah-Jin…”

“Hmm,” Ming Jin replied, without opening her eyes. With the assistant guarding the outside, only Song Xiangwan could enter.

“Was it good?” Song Xiangwan asked. “Was my dance good?”

“It was beautiful.” Ming Jin raised her hand, pressing her thumb against Song Xiangwan’s neck. She didn’t use force, but a faint red mark was already emerging.

The soft, smooth touch was irresistible, like silk, making one want to forcefully clench one’s hand and hold onto it.

But she didn’t. Ming Jin couldn’t bear to hurt her even slightly.

“Why are you here now?” Ming Jin asked faintly, her tone betraying no emotion. “The live broadcast isn’t over.”

“There aren’t many shots in the audience area anyway. Can I stay here?” Song Xiangwan asked, her slender fingers pressing against Ming Jin’s waist, stroking her.

It felt less stiff, thankfully. Ming Jin was always forcing herself, making Song Xiangwan unable to relax.

Ming Jin didn’t refuse, effectively granting her permission to stay here.

Song Xiangwan gently played with Ming Jin’s fingers, watching her with a smile: “Will people say I’m acting like a diva?”

“No,” Ming Jin didn’t struggle, allowing Song Xiangwan to play with her hand.

Song Xiangwan had little screen time, and there was no negative risk online. Everyone felt sorry for her, thinking she was being manipulated by capital despite her professional skills.

With Ming Jin as her backer, Song Xiangwan could always be bold and unrestrained.

“You wouldn’t believe how awful Su Chenxing’s face was just now. I almost burst out laughing on stage,” Song Xiangwan happily shared with her.

She did it on purpose. She deliberately didn’t mention Su Chenxing’s name.

They had already fallen out anyway. Song Xiangwan was not a kind person and didn’t need to maintain any persona.

“Do you want me to make her disappear from the show?” Ming Jin asked, her tone flat, not very serious.

But coming from Ming Jin’s mouth, that mild tone carried significant weight.

She could control Su Chenxing’s fate with a single word. Su Chenxing was nothing more than a moderately popular female star. Ming Jin had a million ways to crush her casually.

Not just disappear from the show, but she could make her infamous and vanish from the entire entertainment industry.

“Forget it…” Song Xiangwan pondered for a moment. “She’s just pulling small tricks. It’s not worth going for the kill.”

Having been in the industry for a long time, she knew that Su Chenxing’s actions were nothing. She was just a fool, not truly malicious.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you,” Ming Jin nodded, not taking such a small matter to heart.

“Are you going to take me out for my birthday later?” Her phoenix eyes sparkled as she looked at Ming Jin, her face full of anticipation and reliance.

She was so compliant. Ming Jin’s fingers moved slightly, and she said softly: “Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s go home,” Song Xiangwan blinked and said. “I want to celebrate with you at home, just the two of us.”

Going out to a restaurant would involve traveling, and she didn’t want Ming Jin to be tired.

“I’m sorry to make you settle…” Ming Jin’s eyes held distress.

In the past, Song Xiangwan’s birthdays were always elaborate and grand. But with the surgery approaching, Ming Jin couldn’t exert herself. She didn’t have the energy to prepare as before and felt she was disappointing the cat.

“Not at all. When you weren’t here, no one celebrated my birthday for me anyway.” Song Xiangwan wasn’t particularly bothered. Usually, a call from her mother and a Weibo post marked the end of her birthday.

But being with Ming Jin always brought anticipation.

“You’ve prepared a birthday gift for me, haven’t you?” Song Xiangwan held out her hand. “Show me what it is quickly.”

“You’ll see it when we get home,” Ming Jin said.

“I saw you bring it in. I want to see it now,” Song Xiangwan was acting quite spoiled.

One couldn’t help but be a little childish in front of the person they loved.

When asking failed, she continued to demand, like a kitten asking for freeze-dried treats, rubbing against its owner’s leg, Meow, meow, meow.

“Give it to me, I can’t wait.” She leaned in, kissed Ming Jin softly on the lips, and hugged her waist, refusing to let go, a very clingy cat.

“You can’t wait already?” Ming Jin spoke, her voice softening slightly.

The hostility that had accumulated in Ming Jin’s heart all night was instantly washed away, dissolving into this softness, turning into a subtle warmth.

“Yes! You’ve been so secretive these past few days. I couldn’t find out anything,” Song Xiangwan’s eyes were cunning. Her upward-tilting eyeliner made her look particularly seductive.

But before Ming Jin could speak, there was a soft knock on the door outside.

Ming Jin frowned. She heard a voice from outside: “Sister Wan, it’s me.”

It was Cheng Cheng’s voice.

Song Xiangwan got up to open the door, spoke a few words to Cheng Cheng, and then brought something in, casually placing it on the table.

It was a bouquet of flowers—Oriental lilies—in a gift bag. A “Happy Birthday” card was tucked into the center, and a jewelry box was also placed there.

Song Xiangwan didn’t open it. She just set it down and walked back.

Ming Jin, however, asked softly: “What is it?”

“A birthday gift from Sister Lin,” Song Xiangwan answered carelessly.

She didn’t take it seriously and didn’t notice the flash of darkness in Ming Jin’s eyes.

The Oriental lilies were a thoughtful gift. The bouquet was also interspersed with a few stems of Song Xiangwan’s favorite Blue Enchantress roses.

The cat continued to plead: “Give me the gift. Right now.”

“Are you sure?” Ming Jin asked.

“Mhm, mhm, mhm,” Song Xiangwan nodded, staring intently at Ming Jin.

The red velvet box opened. Song Xiangwan was curious. She reached out and lifted the object inside: a silver chain, with a silver ring attached to the end. The ring was inlaid with a gemstone, but it was hard to tell what it was.

“What is this…” Song Xiangwan held it up, looking closely.

Ming Jin reached out, took the object from her hand, and said: “Lift your foot.”

Song Xiangwan’s ankle was very slender, small enough to be circled by one hand, white as jade. A cool touch. The clasp of the metal ring opened with a click, circled her ankle, and then locked with another click.

Song Xiangwan felt a chill on her ankle, then heard Ming Jin say: “The other one.”

Her other ankle was also cuffed. A thin chain connected the two silver rings. It wasn’t completely over yet. The chain was long. Her wrist was also pulled over, then softly cuffed… Finally, the metal ring landed on her neck. The icy chain brushed against her delicate collarbone.

She was kneeling in front of Ming Jin, completely chained, like prey trapped in a snare.

The hand gripping the silver ring on her neck tightened, pulling Song Xiangwan towards her completely, and kissing her lips fiercely.

Fingers squeezed into the gap between the silver ring and her neck, pressing so hard that her neck flushed red. The feeling of slight difficulty breathing forced a hint of redness into those phoenix eyes.

Song Xiangwan gasped violently, like a captured beast whose life source was locked. She knelt there, embodying a sense of brokenness with tearful eyes.

So beautiful… Her light brown eyes held a slight haze of confusion.

The obsession in her heart was completely overwhelming. She had always wanted to chain this person by her side.

Cheng Cheng’s voice: “Sister Wan, Sister Lin is off the stage now.”

Song Xiangwan tried to get up, but the chains around her body suddenly tightened, yanked fiercely by those pale, lean fingers, cutting into her skin instantly.

She didn’t struggle. She simply knelt obediently in front of Ming Jin, feeling the force that suddenly bound her limbs.

“What are you going to do?” Ming Jin’s voice sounded suppressed, deeply muffled.

“She gave me a gift. I’m going to thank her,” Song Xiangwan whispered. She felt that with every word she spoke, the grip on her body tightened a little more.

Ming Jin twisted her wrist. The extra length of the chain wrapped around her fingers, tightening around her hand, coil after coil.

“Ah-Jin…” The sound that came out was slightly broken, accompanied by soft gasps.

“Be good…” Ming Jin’s voice was faint, but the fingers pressing on the silver ring tightened further as she watched the person in front of her slump into her embrace.

Song Xiangwan collapsed into Ming Jin’s arms, panting softly. The delicate bones on her back trembled slightly. Her flushed neck was stunningly beautiful.

“Be a good girl…” Ming Jin seemed to be talking to her, yet also muttering to herself.

“You are not allowed to go,” Ming Jin leaned over. Disregarding the pain in her back, her lips pressed against Song Xiangwan’s ear. Her voice was dark and possessive: “You are not allowed to go. Do you hear me?”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm…” Song Xiangwan nodded, wrapping her arms around Ming Jin’s waist, burying herself completely in Ming Jin’s embrace, trembling slightly. “I won’t go. I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay right here, here with you.”

The tension on the chain eased. However, she was too weak to stand up and simply lay in Ming Jin’s arms, taking small, short breaths.

Ming Jin’s cool fingertips pressed against the red marks on Song Xiangwan’s wrist, gently rubbing them, and she said slowly: “Tell your little assistant that you won’t go…”

Her voice was laced with a ruthlessness and madness she didn’t even know she possessed.

“Cheng Cheng, just help me say thank you.” Song Xiangwan spoke, looking up pleasingly and gently rubbing Ming Jin’s jaw. “Ah-Jin, I’m not going. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here, right here with you.”

Ming Jin’s hand gently stroked her hair. She didn’t speak. Time passed slowly.

The darkness in her eyes was gradually suppressed layer by layer. Finally, she spoke slowly: “I’m sorry… I…”

“Don’t be sorry.” Song Xiangwan looked up, her captivating eyes blinking softly, as obedient as a cat. “I understand. I worried you.”

“You…” Ming Jin was taken aback. She had assumed Song Xiangwan would argue with her this time.

But she didn’t.

Song Xiangwan simply rested her head on Ming Jin’s lap and whispered her explanation: “Jiang Lin and I are just ordinary friends.”

“I only went to her drinking party last time to get an invitation to the gala to see you.”

“She likes the feeling of being surrounded by admirers, both men and women, accepting anything. But I have always kept my distance from her. There was nothing between us.”

Ming Jin’s thumb pressed against the silver ring and she said softly: “I know. Take them off.”

“No,” Song Xiangwan stopped her.

She looked up at Ming Jin, lifting her chin to expose her slender neck. She straightened her body, her graceful curves sliding against Ming Jin’s body. She pressed her neck against Ming Jin’s lips and whispered: “Am I beautiful? Ah-Jin, am I very beautiful?”

Breathtakingly beautiful. Ming Jin’s kiss gently landed on her neck. Smelling her fragrance, her heart pounded wildly.

The red marks weren’t deep and were slowly fading now, but she was still stunningly beautiful.

Her hand wrapped around the soft, slender waist. She parted her lips and teeth, gently grinding them on the delicate neck. Song Xiangwan was soft like a piece of silk, wrapping itself around Ming Jin’s heart.

Her hand slid down, slipping past the short skirt’s waistband. The firmness in her palm was softer now, like soft clouds, like marshmallows with a delectable sweetness.

Song Xiangwan hugged Ming Jin’s waist. The chains on her wrists tightly clasped around Ming Jin’s waist, pressing wrinkles into her shirt.

It was as if they were both locked together by the chain. A strong pull would lock them tightly together.

“Go…” Ming Jin spoke, her voice harboring an undeniable passion, a heavy, deep gasp. “You have to go on stage. Take the chains off.”

There was a final group appearance segment.

“No,” Song Xiangwan pecked Ming Jin on the lips and whispered, “Can I wear this when I go up?”

“Let everyone know…”

“I am your property.”

“I am yours, Ah-Jin. I am yours…”

Her words were seductive, blurring Ming Jin’s mind slightly.

She wants that… Of course, she wants that… But she couldn’t. Song Xiangwan was a glamorous celebrity, an independent person, not a pet she kept.

But Song Xiangwan refused to unlock them. In the end, only the connecting chains and the silver ring on her neck were removed. The rings on her wrists and ankles remained. She changed into loose, long clothes to cover the silver rings and walked onto the stage.

From the monitoring screen, nothing looked unusual. A proper smile was on her face, and she followed the program’s flow.

Only she could feel the cool touch of the silver rings on her wrists and ankles rubbing against her skin with every step and every movement.