The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Which Living Ancestor Did I Provoke…

The clear tea in the cup swirled. Wreaths of incense smoke drifted from the Boshan censer. Red-stamped official documents lay on the mahogany tea table.

Lin Shan sat in the guest seat, picked up the teacup, and drank it in one go. The diamond brilliance reflected from the watch on her wrist. Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, her eyes were sharp.

The person sitting opposite her put down his phone, having just finished a call.

He poured Lin Shan another cup of tea and said slowly: “CEO Lin keeps asking for my support, and as you can see, I’m under a lot of pressure, and it’s difficult for me.”

“The subsidiary matter was confirmed by me personally and will definitely be implemented in the future,” Lin Shan said flatly. “Even when the Lin Group’s cash flow was tightest a few days ago, I did not move the funds for this project and have consistently pushed for the procedure’s finalization here. My sincerity should be sufficient.”

“Mayor Zheng, the Lin Group’s subsidiary opening in Haicheng will create many jobs. You should know what a favorable political achievement that will be.”

“Of course, I know that,” Mayor Zheng said mildly. “But right now… you heard the call just now…”

“For this matter, Ming Jin has suspended many public welfare projects. Now, I’m swamped.”

“I naturally want to stand with CEO Lin, and I certainly want to realize my political achievements, but you must allow me to free up my hands.”

Lin Shan’s eyes were thoughtful. She looked at the person opposite her, seeing only Mayor Zheng’s smiling face, his gentle demeanor, and sincere tone, treating her like an insider…

An old fox.

Simply put, the Ming family had applied pressure. He had to find someone to bear the brunt of the investment cuts made by the Ming family’s withdrawal of support for public good projects.

Coming out from Mayor Zheng’s office, the expression on Lin Shan’s face was not good. She threw the red-stamped document she held directly onto the back seat of the car.

“Old fox,” she snorted, recalling the total sum of money attached to those documents, a substantial amount for her right now.

“CEO Lin, shall we return to the hotel now?” The driver sensed her bad mood and spoke in a quieter tone.

“To the hospital,” Lin Shan said coldly. Then, recalling something, she asked: “Did you buy today’s flowers?”

“Yes, yes, I bought them,” the secretary quickly replied. “Tulips. They’re bought every day and have been delivered to the hospital.”

“Good,” Lin Shan nodded, leaning back in her seat, taking off her glasses, and gently rubbing her temples.

She had been a formidable figure in the business world her entire life and had encountered many rivals, but Ming Jin was definitely one of the strongest.

This woman was ruthless, daring to strike at the root. To apply pressure by cutting support for public welfare projects like this, she didn’t fear disrupting political relations. Her actions were decisive.

However… she opened her eyes and scrolled through the photos on her phone.

She had accumulated quite a few photos recently, the focus being the beautiful female celebrity. Trips to the Ming Group, going home… she had been very predictable lately, making it hard to find any fault.

She let out a long breath, her fingers tightening around the phone. The screen darkened, reflecting her face, with its sharp features.

No rush. She still had time.

When she arrived at the hospital, it was exactly dinner time. Lin Shan checked the food the assistant brought before taking the container into the room.

The person in the room had her back to Lin Shan, seemingly reading under the lamp. Hearing the door, she didn’t look up.

“Are you feeling better these past two days?” Lin Shan walked over, taking the book from her hands. “It’s time to eat. Stop reading.”

“You’ve been reading too much these past two days. It’s bad for your eyes. Starting tomorrow, I need to limit your reading time.”

“Also, you’ve been sleeping too late. Early to bed, early to rise. I’ll have Xiaochun take you downstairs for a walk every morning. How does that sound?”

She walked to the bedside, her movements utterly natural. She reached down, felt around the headboard, and in the space between the bed and the wall. Finally, she picked up the pillow and shook it out.

A black phone dropped out from the pillow. She pressed the screen to light it up, looked at it briefly, and casually put it in her pocket.

“You’re still unwell. I’ll confiscate this for now, Mommy will keep it,” Lin Shan’s tone was matter-of-fact.

“Give it back to me.” Lin Rong finally reacted, reaching out to grab the phone, but Lin Shan firmly grasped her wrist.

Behind the rimless glasses, her eyes were sharp as knives, and her tone was icy: “Lin Rong, don’t provoke me.”

“You know exactly what you’ve been doing these past two years.”

“Mommy won’t pursue it. This is the last line. If you continue to cause trouble…”

“Then sever our relationship.” Under her delicately arched eyebrows, Lin Rong’s eyes held a bitter panic and resolution. “Sever our relationship, then!”

“I lived well without you for the past two years. I don’t need you. I don’t need you, do you hear me?”

“You’ve been contacting that girl again, haven’t you?” Lin Shan’s grip was strong, restricting the blood flow to Lin Rong’s wrist, making it turn pale.

Lin Rong pursed her lips, saying nothing.

She had indeed been trying to contact Xu Zhiyan, but all her messages were like stones sinking into the sea. She couldn’t find Xu Zhiyan. She couldn’t…

This realization was like a dull knife, constantly slicing her flesh.

She was confined to this small hospital room. Even a walk outside was followed by someone. She truly felt like she was going crazy.

“My Rongrong would never talk to me like this,” Lin Shan’s voice held a slight tremor that she herself hadn’t noticed.

“Someone must have led you astray…” She repeated these words countless times, seemingly to reinforce her own belief.

“No matter what, no matter what illness you have, Mommy still loves you. Mommy won’t blame you. This wasn’t your intention; someone else led you astray.”

“I’ve booked tickets. Next week, I’m taking you away from Haicheng. We’re going home.”

“Can you please listen to what I’m saying?” Lin Rong felt despair. “Mommy, I’m begging you…”

Perhaps that single word “Mommy” struck the softest spot in her heart. Lin Shan loosened her grip, nodding: “Alright, you speak. Mommy is listening.”

“No one led me astray.”

“You can’t always see me through the eyes of my childhood.”

“It’s normal for a child to be dependent on you, and it’s normal for a child not to have a sense of self, but I’m grown up now.”

“You have no right to know everything about me.”

“I am an independent person. I have things I like, and I have my own life…”

Lin Shan’s chest heaved with suppressed anger. Her gaze toward Lin Rong was infused with a cold intensity: “How can you speak to me like that?”

“How can I have no right to know everything about you? I gave birth to you. Everything you have, I gave you. Everything about you is mine.”

“Mommy wants you to live well. I want you not to follow the detours I took when I was young. I want you to have a happy marriage, a happy family, and a lifetime of happiness.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“The reason I haven’t remarried all these years, haven’t involved myself in any romantic relationships, wasn’t it all for you? Wasn’t it all to protect you from hardship?”

“What right do you have to speak to me like this now?”

It was a dead end. There was no reasoning with her… Lin Rong felt like her head was going to explode. Every time the conversation reached this point, it was like hitting a wall.

Lin Shan firmly believed that her daughter was her property, and everything about her should follow the path she planned.

It always boiled down to the same conclusion: It’s all for your own good.

I gave birth to you, so everything about you must follow my wishes. Everything about you is mine, and it’s all for your own good.

Lin Rong used the last of her strength to push her away, then violently locked the door. Thud! She leaned against the door, sliding down to sit on the floor.

Lin Shan seemed genuinely anxious and softened her tone: “Rongrong, Mommy was wrong. Mommy shouldn’t have hit you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Will you let Mommy in, please?”

“I’ve been so busy these past two days. I only have time tonight to see you. Will you let me in, please?”

“Did I hurt you? I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

“Rongrong, remember to eat. The food is on the table. You must remember to eat. Don’t starve yourself, do you hear me?”

Lin Rong covered her ears, curling into a ball. She couldn’t stop trembling slightly. Her whole body was tense, feeling like she was suffocating.

During her psychological treatment, Lin Rong once asked Wu Qingyi about Lin Shan…

Wu Qingyi said she didn’t know the specifics, but based on these events, Lin Shan exhibited a pathological need for control.

This was related to her personality, being strong-willed and self-centered, and, after losing her husband young and having no other relatives, she focused all her need for control onto her daughter.

From a doctor’s perspective, she recommended that both Lin Shan and Lin Rong undergo psychological treatment.

But this was impossible. Lin Shan couldn’t even accept that her daughter had a mental illness, let alone accept that she herself might have one.

Outside the door, Lin Shan knocked for a while. Receiving no response from inside, she took a half-step back, beckoning. The secretary waiting nearby approached.

Upon hearing what Lin Shan said, the secretary was slightly surprised and dared to ask: “Break down the door? Isn’t that a bit much…”

“It’s just a door. Can’t I afford to replace it?” Lin Shan said coldly. “What if I smashed the whole hospital?”

“CEO Lin, that’s not what I meant…” The secretary was sweating cold.

These past few days, she had become increasingly aware of Lin Shan’s behavior. Miss Lin was also… surviving to this point was a testament to her strong psychological fortitude.

The secretary said gently: “It’s possible Miss is right behind the door. If we smash the door, she might get hurt.”

“Please calm down. Give each other some time to cool off.”

“Miss is a good girl. She will definitely understand your good intentions.”

The secretary wasn’t agreeing with her intentions; she just knew how to say something moderate to salvage the situation.

Seeing Lin Shan’s anger slowly subside, the secretary breathed a sigh of relief, then heard Lin Shan say: “Book the tickets for the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes,” the secretary nodded.

“Rongrong will travel with us. Book everything for her as well.”

“…” The secretary paused for a moment, then, enduring the cold gaze, quickly nodded: “Yes.”

After all, her job was just to book the tickets. Whether Lin Rong actually left was no longer her concern.

She looked at the door with some sympathy.

Lin Rong sat for a while. The person outside surprisingly didn’t break down the door. She was a little surprised. It was silent, as if peace had returned.

She stood up, picked up the food on the table, and threw it in the trash can. Then she noticed the bouquet of tulips placed next to the food.

She didn’t like tulips. She only liked them once as a child when she saw someone growing them in water. It seemed interesting, and she planted them with Lin Shan, which created a fond memory.

She picked up the bouquet, ready to throw it away, when a greeting card fluttered out.

The profile picture was Xu Zhiyan’s profile picture.

If you are smart, do not confirm your mental illness. Your mother is your only guardian.

Lin Rong held the card, a chill instantly crawling up her back. Her mind instantly cleared as if she’d been shocked by electricity.

She had been preoccupied with fighting and neglected this. If she confirmed she had a mental illness, she truly would never escape.

She was lost in the moment. She had almost ruined herself. Fortunately, Ming Jin reminded her.

But did Ming Jin remind her at Xu Zhiyan’s request?

Of course not. Ming Jin had previously claimed not to be a feudal patriarch, but she had failed spectacularly now. Until the Lin Shan situation was resolved, she could not approve of any level of closeness between Xu Zhiyan and Lin Rong.

The blowback had come swiftly and suddenly.

Ming Jin had previously investigated and only found out about the discord between Lin Shan and Lin Rong and Lin Rong running away from home. She hadn’t expected it to be this bizarre.

Her reminder wasn’t goodwill. She just wanted Lin Rong to cause trouble for Lin Shan, keeping Lin Shan preoccupied.

Listening to Ming Jin speak, Song Xiangwan played with Ming Jin’s fingers and asked: “Are you sure Lin Rong will see that card?”

“What if Lin Shan sees it?”

“If she sees it, she sees it,” Ming Jin said flatly. “If she sees it, will she confirm her own daughter has a mental illness? She won’t.”

“At most, her hatred for me will increase by one point.”

“We are already past the point of reconciliation. Whether it increases or decreases, I’m not afraid of her.”

“Bad woman…” Song Xiangwan muttered, sticking out her tongue to lick the fingertip she had bitten red. “Why are you so calculating?”

“Is this the first day you’ve met me?” Ming Jin curled her lips. “I hope I’m not some pure, innocent flower in Wanwan’s eyes, am I?”

“Pure, innocent flower? You?” Song Xiangwan scoffed as if she heard something ridiculous. “More like a man-eating flower who plunders others’ lives, right?”

Ming Jin chuckled softly, reaching out to pinch Song Xiangwan’s face. The tender white cheek reddened easily when pinched, soft as tofu.

“Alright, the man-eating flower needs to go to a meeting. You can let me go now.”

Ming Jin struggled to reach the key in her right pocket with her left hand because her right hand was cuffed to someone’s left hand.

Someone seemed to have acquired a taste for this. Ever since Ming Jin said the words “not to leave my line of sight,” Song Xiangwan had a valid reason to cling to her.

Clinging wasn’t enough; she frequently cuffed them together, calling it “If you lock me up, I won’t run off.”

She couldn’t run off, and Ming Jin couldn’t run off either.

“No.” Song Xiangwan reached out and grabbed the cuff, holding the keyhole with her hand. She leaned closer, kissing Ming Jin’s lips: “Just like this.”

Her bright phoenix eyes were filled with layers of laughter, sweet like a ripe peach. Her eyelashes fluttered, a hint of a plea: “Just like this, please…”

“I like you locking me up. I like you being crazy. I like you loving me to death.”

“…” Ming Jin paused, then slowly said, “I never said I loved you to death.”

“You didn’t?” Her phoenix eyes rolled, seemingly catching something, and she stared: “Oh, you didn’t.”

She sat up, staring straight at Ming Jin, leaning closer, her nose pressing against Ming Jin’s nose: “Then say it now. Hurry, hurry, I’m listening.”

The kitten blinked, full of anticipation. The tiny mole at the corner of her eye seemed vibrant.

Ming Jin didn’t speak. Dissatisfied, Song Xiangwan leaned in and bit Ming Jin’s nose: “Say it, say it…”

“You’ve already done it; all that’s left is to say it.”

“Hurry up, hurry up. Say you love me to death.”

The clinging cat. Ming Jin couldn’t resist her rubbing and turned her head slightly, the corner of her lips curving: “Alright, alright, I’ll say it.”

Under the cat’s expectant gaze, Ming Jin said: “You love me to death.”

“Wrong.” Song Xiangwan turned Ming Jin’s head to look into her eyes, correcting her: “It’s you. You love me to death.”

“Yes, you love me to death.”

Like a tail being stepped on, her momentum was fierce, condescending, and full of threat.

Ming Jin laughed, chuckling out loud, even briefly gasping for air. She turned her head, coughing lightly, unable to stop, her entire shoulder trembling slightly.

The fiercely imposing person instantly deflated, anxiously patting Ming Jin’s back: “Are you okay? Be careful, don’t rush, don’t rush. I won’t make you say it, is that better?”

She was terrified, feeling that Ming Jin was like fragile paper, likely to break with a gentle touch.

“I’m fine.” Ming Jin pressed her knuckles to her lips, catching her breath. Her eyes were moist and gentle as they met Song Xiangwan’s.

She hooked her finger, and the kitten obediently leaned in, stretching her neck toward her.

Ming Jin’s slightly cool lips pressed against Song Xiangwan’s lips. Her thumb pressed the back of Song Xiangwan’s head, deepening the kiss instantly, their teeth and tongues intertwining.

Song Xiangwan was aroused by the kiss. Her supporting arms felt weak, and she tumbled into Ming Jin’s embrace, rubbing her lips against Ming Jin’s neck.

“Hmph, bad woman…”

“If I die outside tomorrow, and you remember you didn’t say those words to me, you’ll regret it for a lifetime… Mmm…”

Her mouth was blocked. Her entire chin was pinched, lifted, forcing her to look Ming Jin in the eyes. Her firmly restrained mouth couldn’t utter a single syllable.

Ming Jin’s eyes were deep. All the amusement was gone. Her tone was serious: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Mmm, mmm…” Song Xiangwan nodded pitifully, indicating she understood.

Only then did Ming Jin let go, reaching out to pinch Song Xiangwan’s face as a punishment: “Don’t say such inauspicious things.”

She wrapped her arm around Song Xiangwan’s waist, reached back, lifted her hand, and brought it down lightly: Pat!

It wasn’t very hard, but Song Xiangwan immediately made a pitiful face.

Ming Jin didn’t soften: “I’m very serious.”

“The next time I hear it, I won’t let you off so easily.”

“Then… how won’t you let me off easily…” Song Xiangwan admitted her mistake, but also pushed her luck. She never learned her lesson.

She smiled and leaned close to Ming Jin’s ear, whispering: “Do you want me to cry and beg for mercy? I’m so excited.”

“Wanwan, if you keep provoking me like this, something will happen,” Ming Jin reached out and pinched her ear, not too hard, rubbing it in her palm.

The ear grew hot, along with her entire cheek and neck, all turning red.

“Mommy, are you going to go crazy?” She was incredibly bold, leaning close to Ming Jin’s ear, whispering.

“I’m impatient. I’m waiting for you to teach me a good lesson, to make me cry and beg for mercy.”

“Ah Jin, hurry up and get well. I’m dying thinking about you.”

The kitten rubbed against her neck, fanning the flames. Just as Ming Jin turned to kiss her, the kitten pulled back, looking at her with a grin: “No, no.”

“Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. No, no,” she said self-righteously.

Ming Jin was so angry her teeth were itching.

She really felt she had adopted a cat.

This cat would roll at your feet, meow at you, then roll over and expose its belly, looking seductive.

But when you reached out your hand, it would quickly scramble up and walk away with an arrogant look.

Ming Jin had an upcoming international video conference, which she could attend from home.

Ming Jin glanced at the time: “Okay, I know.”

She got up, taking the key to unlock the cuff between them, but the cat snatched her hand.

“No, no… just like this… your hand won’t be on camera anyway. I’ll just keep you company beside you…”

“Does the Ming Group have secrets I can’t hear?” Her reasoning was baseless but forceful, completely lawless.

“No,” Ming Jin said, hardening her resolve this time. She reached out to unlock the cuff, and Song Xiangwan also reached for the key.

As the two struggled, Ming Jin’s hand loosened, and the key slipped.

“Damn it,” she quickly lifted the cushion nearby, saw the gap in the sofa, and reached down. Clink! The sound suggested the key had fallen inside.

Song Xiangwan blinked and whispered: “Well, now it can’t be opened.”

Her face was triumphant and sly.

Ming Jin: “…” Which living ancestor did I provoke?