The Person I Love Who Has Been Missing For Three Years - Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Issuing a Letter of Understanding Means No Prosecution…

On the way back, Song Xiangwan’s hand was tightly clasped by Ming Jin’s.

Her grip was heavy, and her palm was hot, even slightly sweaty, but she held on firmly, as if she wanted to press Song Xiangwan’s hand into her bones and blood.

It wasn’t until Song Xiangwan winced in pain and drew a quick breath that Ming Jin released her hand as if she had received an electric shock: “I hurt you, didn’t I?”

“No,” Song Xiangwan shook her head. It wasn’t the squeezing; it was the fabric rubbing against the scrapes on her wrist, which burned intensely.

It looked scary, but the police officer had disinfected it at the police station. The wounds were not deep, just numerous and fine.

Ming Jin took a deep breath, looking at Song Xiangwan, her eyes seeming to hold a faint shimmer: “How is it that you keep getting hurt when you’re with me?”

She wanted to protect the person well, but things always went against her wishes.

This gave her a strong sense of powerlessness.

“No, I haven’t…” Song Xiangwan’s tone was casual. “Bumps and scrapes are minor. I’m an actress; it’s normal to get bruised from falls.”

“My fault…” Ming Jin’s lips moved slightly, only saying those two words faintly.

“It’s not. It’s not,” Song Xiangwan held Ming Jin’s hand, placed it against her cheek, touched it lightly, and kissed her fingertips. “It’s thanks to you.”

“Without you, I wouldn’t know where I’d be now.”

“Whether I could afford the surgery for Teacher Zhou…”

“Whether I would yield to the unwritten rules of the industry, smiling to accommodate people I don’t like…”

“Like Zhou Xintong and Chen Mengyi, being pressured to get plastic surgery, used and then discarded, becoming a pawn…”

“Floating and sinking, drifting like duckweed, unable to control myself, unable to control my fate…”

These were Song Xiangwan’s heartfelt words. Compared to her peers, she seemed like a lucky one, achieving recognition without having seen too much of the darkness.

Fortunately, she met Ming Jin.

How could there be such a sponsor? One who was willing to indulge her bad temper for a lifetime, and who would always arrange her affairs perfectly, no matter what.

The temperature of Ming Jin’s hand was slightly abnormal, still feeling faintly hot. This made Song Xiangwan worry. She remembered that this person was still sick and should be in the hospital.

In these twelve hours of her disappearance, she, too, must have gotten no rest.

Song Xiangwan reached out to touch Ming Jin’s waist, whispering: “Has your fever not gone down yet? Does your back ache?”

Before she could touch it, her wrist was seized, her hand was pulled back, and then gently put down: “You have wounds on your hand. Don’t move around.”

She picked up her phone and answered: “Hello, Mayor Zheng.”

Holding the phone with one hand, she lightly pressed down on Song Xiangwan’s hand with the other, stopping her attempt to massage her back.

She couldn’t bear to have this bloodied hand work for her.

Song Xiangwan tried twice, but was pressed back each time. Meeting the warning look in those clear, light brown eyes, she blinked and made no further rash moves.

“It’s late. I didn’t expect this matter to disturb Mayor Zheng’s rest.”

“Thank you for your concern. The person has escaped and is currently safe.”

“If Mayor Zheng is calling to intercede for CEO Lin…”

“No? If not, is Mayor Zheng’s call merely to greet me?”

“Apologize? It seems you are still focused on the conflict between her and me last time. Now, even if Lin Shan kneels before me to apologize, this matter cannot be settled amicably.”

“Why can’t she be sent to prison? Is she some privileged class or nobility?”

“The subsidiary matter is non-negotiable, and this case is also non-negotiable. There will be no letter of understanding, and no room for negotiation.”

“This is my final stance. Between the Ming Corporation and the Lin Corporation, Mayor Zheng can only choose one. If you still intend to play both sides, it’s already impossible.”

Her tone was calm, as if she wasn’t experiencing any excessive emotional fluctuations while speaking, like a bottomless abyss without a single ripple.

Her fingertip lightly rubbed Song Xiangwan’s hand, her tone low and cold: “I can risk everything I own for this matter.”

“However, Mayor Zheng is still young, and your political career is wide open. I believe you wouldn’t want a major fluctuation in Haicheng’s economy during your term.”

She was issuing a threat. Song Xiangwan was slightly dumbfounded as she listened.

While there are intertwined relationships between the political and business sectors, in their interactions, the political sector often holds the initiative and is the one to be appeased.

Unless, there is someone willing to burn the bridges, regardless of the consequences or cost.

Ming Jin seemed to give the other party little time to think before hanging up the phone. She leaned back in her seat and gently closed her eyes, letting out a sigh.

In her blurry profile, the light and shadows from outside the car window flickered across her face. Her expression was faint, yet seemed marked by an undeniable fatigue.

“Ah Jin…” Song Xiangwan spoke softly.

“Don’t worry, I will commission someone to set up a trust fund overseas in the next two days,” Ming Jin gently patted the back of Song Xiangwan’s hand. “This fund will sever all ties with the Ming Corporation. Even if the Ming Corporation falls, the fund can still pay you dividends annually.”

Burning the bridges. She could burn the bridges, but Song Xiangwan could not. She still had to ensure Song Xiangwan’s comfortable life for the rest of her life.

“I wasn’t talking about that,” Song Xiangwan was a little anxious. How could this person…

Ming Jin turned her head and said softly: “It’s not what you asked for; it’s what I want to give you.”

“You’ve been with me for five or six years, so many years of youth, and you’ve endured a lot of grievances. Leaving aside everything else, this kidnapping was an undeserved disaster.”

“I feel I haven’t given you enough, but I have brought you plenty of trouble. I don’t have anything else, just some money left in my hand…”

“What are you saying?” Song Xiangwan’s voice rose slightly, somewhat angry. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“I…” Ming Jin began to speak.

Before the words were out, Song Xiangwan unbuckled her seatbelt. Her hand pressed on the seat, and she leaned over, her face instantly blocking Ming Jin’s view.

A deep kiss landed on Ming Jin’s lips. The little cat seemed angry, biting her lip, and her tongue fiercely swept inside, thoroughly exploring.

The kiss broke apart, but Song Xiangwan was still annoyed. She leaned in and bit her lip again: “I really have to punish you…”

“Not breaking up…” Ming Jin’s voice, accompanied by a slight rise and fall of her breath, said softly, “Wanwan, we’re not breaking up…”

“Mhm, not breaking up.” Song Xiangwan’s hand pressed against Ming Jin’s jaw, and she kissed her again.

A kiss where she completely took the initiative and the upper hand. Ming Jin was pressed into the seat, trapped in Song Xiangwan’s embrace, her jaw lifted.

The fingertips on her jaw lightly rubbed during the kiss, moving along her cheek, falling onto her neck, pressing down on the back of Ming Jin’s neck, gently stroking and pressing. The kiss instantly grew tighter.

“Go back… sit properly…” Ming Jin’s breathing was unsteady from the kiss. Her lips had messy red marks, softened with moisture.

“Be obedient,” Ming Jin repeated. “The road isn’t safe. Don’t make me worry.”

Since her own car accident, Ming Jin was extremely wary of such things. She was anxious and worried that another accident might occur.

Song Xiangwan didn’t press her luck further. She went back and sat properly, buckling her seatbelt.

“Wanwan… Regardless, I will still set up the trust fund,” Ming Jin stated.

Song Xiangwan was truly defeated. She bit her molars and kept her lips tight, saying nothing.

She knew that even now, in the eyes of outsiders, she was merely pursuing Ming Jin’s wealth…

Even if Ming Jin acknowledged their love, she wouldn’t think that Song Xiangwan genuinely didn’t care about the money at all.

Indeed… their relationship started with money…

Song Xiangwan was still enjoying everything that money brought her. This was an undeniable fact.

Grumble~ An untimely sound.

“Hungry?” Ming Jin chuckled lightly.

She hadn’t eaten lunch or dinner, and she had been running for her life. She hadn’t noticed while she was tense, but now that she was relaxed, she realized she was famished.

Returning to Haicheng Hospital, the first order of business wasn’t showering or changing clothes. She just quickly washed her hands and started eating.

She didn’t usually notice it, but how could the food be so delicious? Even the plain rice was fragrant.

Considering the intense energy spent during her escape, Song Xiangwan didn’t hold back and, for the first time, ate a whole bowl of rice.

After eating her fill, Song Xiangwan had to address her personal hygiene. Her clothes were covered in mud and bloodstains, a complete mess.

She didn’t have any spare clothes at Haicheng Hospital, so she naturally selected a set from Ming Jin’s wardrobe and took it into the bathroom.

Before entering the bathroom, she held up the clothes, shaking them at Ming Jin, looking completely entitled.

Ming Jin: “…” She was getting too comfortable wearing her clothes.

When the steam hit the scrapes on her wrist, it burned intensely. The red marks from where the ropes had bound her were also swollen. They definitely wouldn’t disappear for two or three days.

Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but wince, making a mental note against Lin Shan.

But before coming out, she controlled her expression. She didn’t want Ming Jin to notice anything unusual, and she even tugged at the clothes she was wearing to cover the red marks as much as possible.

She prepared herself and came out, only to find the person leaning on the sofa had fallen asleep.

The laptop screen in front of her was still bright, her fingertips resting on the keyboard, but her head was tilted, her hair slightly messy.

“Ah Jin…” She leaned in and called softly.

“Mhm?” Ming Jin frowned slightly, her eyes drowsy and confused, showing extreme fatigue.

Song Xiangwan closed the laptop in front of her, then lifted her in a princess carry and gently placed her on the hospital bed. She kissed her brow: “Sleep.”

As she stood up, the hem of her clothes was lightly grabbed. Ming Jin’s voice was faint: “Don’t… don’t go…”

She seemed to lack a sense of security.

“Okay, I won’t go. I’ll stay with you,” Song Xiangwan got onto the bed, held Ming Jin in her arms, and said softly, “I won’t go. I won’t go anywhere.”

The breathing near her ear gradually became steady. Song Xiangwan remained completely still. Ming Jin was a light sleeper, and she was afraid of waking her up.

But maintaining the posture for too long made her arms and legs numb. She carefully tried to pull her arm out.

As soon as she moved, Ming Jin frowned anxiously, shifted slightly, and murmured: “Wanwan…”

“Mhm?” Song Xiangwan thought she was awake and responded, waiting for the rest of her words, but none came.

She was still asleep, just anxiously calling her name in her dream.

Song Xiangwan gently pulled out her hand, flexed it twice, and in the dim light, looked at Ming Jin’s face.

The sleeping person lacked the imposing pressure she had when awake. Her slightly tired face showed a gentle vulnerability. Her eyelashes drooped softly, creating a peaceful and mild look. Leaning lightly against her, she had a faint sense of obedience.

Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but smile slightly. She closed her eyes but hadn’t fallen asleep when she suddenly felt Ming Jin stir.

“Wanwan…” Thinking it was Ming Jin’s sleep talking again, she heard her call out again, “Wanwan…”

Song Xiangwan opened her eyes, meeting Ming Jin’s gaze. She leaned closer, gently kissed her nose, and whispered: “What’s wrong?”

“Is there something I haven’t said yet…” Ming Jin frowned lightly, her eyes seeming a little dazed.

“Mhm?” Song Xiangwan was puzzled. “What is it?”

This person was meticulous, having even arranged the trust fund. What else was left unsaid?

“Wanwan,” Ming Jin’s voice was unspeakably soft. She raised her hand and gently stroked Song Xiangwan’s cheek. “I love you to death, truly.”

Song Xiangwan couldn’t help but laugh, rubbing against Ming Jin’s shoulder: “Alright, alright, I know all about it. Go back to sleep.”

She had asked Ming Jin to say those words many times before.

Each time, Ming Jin would tease her like a pet and absolutely refuse to say it.

She hugged Ming Jin, feeling settled and safe. She responded softly: “Mhm, I love you too. I can’t live without you.”

She thought the night would pass peacefully, but Song Xiangwan woke up just before dawn.

She realized the temperature in her arms was wrong.

When they returned last night, the nurse had checked her temperature and said it was a slight fever, needing observation.

But now… she was alarmingly hot…

Song Xiangwan couldn’t wait and called out repeatedly: “Ah Jin, Ah Jin, wake up…”

Normally, Ming Jin would have already woken up with such calls—she was a very light sleeper—but Song Xiangwan called several times, and there was no response.

Song Xiangwan’s heart sank. She quickly got up, not even pausing to put on a coat, and frantically hit the call bell by the bedside.

While pressing the button, she kept shouting: “Ah Jin, Ah Jin, wake up…”

In the early morning, only one nurse came in. After checking her temperature and connecting her to the cardiac monitor, the nurse’s face instantly went pale.

Her oxygen saturation was alarmingly low, hovering around 80.

In less than five minutes, the entire ward was filled with medical staff, and Song Xiangwan was asked to leave the corridor.

Song Xiangwan’s mind went blank. Watching people rush in and out, listening to the hurried voices of the medical staff, she felt her strength fade, almost collapsing.

She leaned on the wall to barely steady herself, then slid down the wall and slumped onto the floor.

The doctor came out and helped Song Xiangwan up, saying something urgently and quickly.

Song Xiangwan only caught a few keywords: left heart failure, acute pulmonary edema, condition unstable, needs to be transferred to the ICU for observation.

Another critical illness notice. Song Xiangwan hated such things deeply.

“Sign…” Song Xiangwan took the pen, her hand trembling. “I’ll sign it.”

Waiting in the corridor, Song Xiangwan felt dizzy and light-headed, struggling to contain her emotions.

She pushed open the door to the nearby fire escape and stepped inside, leaning on the railing and panting a few times. She sat down on the steps, wrapping her arms around herself.

People occasionally passed by in the fire escape, their footsteps hurrying by.

She lowered her head, buried her face, her mind blank, tears just streaming down her face, unstoppable.

Looking up, she saw a middle-aged woman. Her expression was somewhat weary and haggard, but her smile was open. She sat down beside Song Xiangwan: “What’s wrong? Is a family member sick?”

“Everyone who comes to the hospital is here for something like this.”

“You get used to it.”

Song Xiangwan numbly reached out to take a cigarette, her hand trembling slightly, but she withdrew it when the woman offered to light it for her.

“I don’t smoke, thank you.” The cigarette was clenched in her hand and bent. She stood up.

Ming Jin didn’t like the smell of smoke on her.

She walked out of the fire escape.

When day broke, Sister Qiu rushed over, softening her tone as she approached Song Xiangwan: “Miss Song…”

“I’m fine. You came to bring food, right?” Song Xiangwan looked up as if waking from a dream and rattled off instructions: “I’ve asked the assistants to take turns keeping watch.”

“The hospital food isn’t good. Sister Qiu, remember to bring meals for them too.”

“Can you bring me a few changes of clothes from home?”

Sister Qiu looked at her composed appearance, feeling somewhat bewildered: “Are you really okay?”

“No, I’m perfectly fine,” Song Xiangwan stood up, swayed slightly, and quickly steadied herself. “Please watch here for me. I need to go see the lawyer.”

“Call me if anything happens.”

“My phone is missing, and I haven’t had time to buy a new one. I have Ah Jin’s phone, so remember to call her number.”

Sister Qiu only nodded: “Okay.” She had expected to comfort Song Xiangwan, but it seemed she was very strong.

Song Xiangwan went home and changed her clothes. When she returned, the lawyer was already waiting in the reception room.

It was a lawyer from the Ming Corporation’s legal team. She stood up cautiously: “Miss Song.”

“Please sit. Thank you for coming,” Song Xiangwan sat opposite her. Despite not having slept much, her mind was exceptionally clear. “You basically know what happened last night, right?”

“Yes,” the lawyer nodded. “CEO Ming called to say you were kidnapped, but I’m not clear on the details.”

“It’s like this…” Song Xiangwan explained clearly and logically.

She started with the conflict between the Ming and Lin Corporations, then talked about her kidnapping at the hospital yesterday, and the things Lin Shan had said to her.

The lawyer diligently typed notes and asked supplementary questions. The whole process lasted about two hours.

Song Xiangwan drank a sip of tea to moisten her throat, waiting for the lawyer to organize the information.

“Miss Song, based on your account, the entire process is actually not complicated.”

“The abandoned warehouse has been secured by the police, where they will certainly find supporting physical evidence. And here at the hospital, when you went missing yesterday, CEO Ming had already pulled the hospital surveillance footage and identified the vehicle that took you away.”

“Coupled with your testimony…”

“This is not a very complex case. The other party’s methods were not sophisticated either.”

“I can guarantee that we can solidify the entire chain of evidence and send the other party to prison.”

“According to the law, the sentence for illegal confinement and kidnapping is…”

“Wait,” Song Xiangwan interrupted her, her eyes pausing, then slowly saying, “I want to ask, if I issue a letter of understanding, can we choose not to prosecute?”

“Not prosecute?” The lawyer was clearly taken aback.

But given her professional experience, she quickly answered Song Xiangwan’s question: “This case isn’t considered extremely malicious in nature…”

“If we choose not to pursue charges, and you issue a letter of understanding, plus the other party has means, it’s highly possible that they won’t be prosecuted.”

“Good. Please draft a letter of understanding for me and send it to the police,” Song Xiangwan said.

The lawyer hesitated but finally spoke: “Miss Song, I still want to know what your thoughts are…”

Last night, Ming Jin called her late at night, and the meaning was clear: to tenaciously pursue the other party, regardless of the cost, to make them pay.

And today, this…

“I don’t want her to go to prison. How long can she be sentenced for illegal confinement?” Song Xiangwan lightly rubbed her fingertip on the rim of the cup, a deep storm brewing in her eyes.

The lawyer froze for a moment, seemingly understanding Song Xiangwan’s intention.

Normally, she should object, but hearing Song Xiangwan’s tone, it seemed there was no stopping her.

“Pick it up,” Song Xiangwan said flatly.

She looked at the curling mist rising from the teacup, reflecting her own face, her phoenix eyes growing colder.

Illegal confinement, how long could she be sentenced?

Lin Shan also had excellent lawyers, and Mayor Zheng was clearly playing both sides. It was entirely possible that she wouldn’t even receive the maximum sentence.

If she went to prison, would the matter be over?

Putting her in prison would actually be protecting Lin Shan.

No, she had to keep Lin Shan out.

If anything happened to Ming Jin, she would make Lin Shan pay with her life.

All her properties, shares, and savings combined—she didn’t want any of it. She wanted to buy Lin Shan’s life.

She knew her thoughts were somewhat extreme.

But she didn’t want money. She didn’t want cold, hard cash. She wanted Ming Jin to live well.

Yesterday, if not for this kidnapping, the ensuing chaos that lasted for most of the night… how could Ming Jin’s condition have worsened?

The lawyer opposite her had already hung up the phone: “Miss Song, I have some news, which I don’t know if you’ll consider good.”

“The police just told me that the other party has provided a psychiatric evaluation report.”

“If you don’t wish to prosecute, you don’t even need to issue a letter of understanding now…”

“The person has already been picked up by her family. They are currently processing release on bail for medical treatment, stating that the patient needs to be sent to a hospital for therapy.”