Chapter 109: The Decision
After Situ Jingyi left, Qing Tian walked back alone through the park, pondering Situ Jingyi’s words. She felt uncertain about what to do. Should she agree or not? What about Xia Yang? How could she be so selfish for her own happiness?
Qing Tian sadly squatted on the ground, hugging her legs and crying helplessly. If she could, she would rather be the one arrested, she would rather it be herself!
Situ Jingyi’s last sentence echoed in her ears: “Xia Yang’s fate is in your hands. Will he continue to live his life as an illegitimate child and murderer, or will he live with a new identity? It’s all up to your decision.”
Qing Tian felt powerless, her whole being in turmoil. One part of her said, “Leave, you and Ji Xiangyu ultimately have no future together.” Another voice said, “After finally confirming a relationship with Ji Xiangyu, can you really bear to leave like this?”
She couldn’t bear it, but as long as she was alive, there was still hope, wasn’t there?
Heaven was forcing her to make a choice, and she had to make one.
Qing Tian stood up, her gaze cold. At this moment, she had to confirm one thing.
She ran to the roadside, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the police station!
This time, no one obstructed her. Police Uncle led her to the room where Xia Yang was being held.
It was so dark inside that she couldn’t see anyone. Qing Tian reached out to find the light switch, but Xia Yang’s hoarse voice stopped her, “Qing Tian, don’t turn on the light, please!”
Qing Tian’s heart ached, and she lowered her hand. In the darkness, looking at Xia Yang’s gaunt silhouette, she sensed a faint aura of sadness!
Qing Tian asked softly, “Xia Yang, is it really that serious? Are you scared?”
Xia Yang snorted coldly, “Scared? There’s no such word as ‘scared’ in my world. I was born with a lowly life, and I have no attachments in this world. Dying would be enough! It’s just that my greatest worry is you, Qing Tian. If anything happens to me, you must live well. Seeing you happy from heaven will be enough!”
Qing Tian stopped him, “No, you’ll be fine! You’ll definitely be fine, you’ll get out! You’ll definitely…”
She couldn’t finish the rest of her words, choked with sobs. Qing Tian held back her tears and stood silently by. She couldn’t break down now; she had to be strong!
Xia Yang took a deep breath, walked to Qing Tian’s side, hugged her tightly, patting her back and comforting her, “It’s okay, it’s good to have you here!!!”
At that moment, Qing Tian’s tears finally couldn’t be held back. She had something more important than love to protect – a lifetime of family affection!
Xia Yang told Qing Tian, “Don’t worry, things will work themselves out. Go back. Get a good night’s sleep. You look so haggard right now, really ugly!”
Qing Tian wanted to laugh but couldn’t. She felt so sad, especially seeing Xia Yang still looking so relaxed. Her heart ached even more. She knew he was just pretending; he was probably the one suffering the most.
She entered the police station, but no one could bail him out. Her parents’ concerned inquiries and worries made her truly understand the taste of loneliness. Thinking this, Qing Tian’s nose twitched, and she buried her face in Xia Yang’s embrace.
Xia Yang couldn’t bear to see Qing Tian like this. He looked up at the ceiling with a pained expression, patting Qing Tian’s back, and silently said to himself, “I’m sorry, Qing Tian, I lied to you! I’m sorry~~~~”
On this sad autumn night, in the dark detention center, two people with similar fates embraced each other.
Outside the open door stood a handsome man, Ji Xiangyu. He watched the woman he loved and his half-brother pouring out their hearts and embracing in the dim detention room.
He didn’t know what his mood was at that moment. His burning heart felt as if it were pierced by tens of thousands of silver needles, a pain he couldn’t pinpoint. An unprecedented torment – was this the taste of love? Was this the taste of jealousy? Was it because he cared too much, or because he couldn’t have her?
Ji Xiangyu stumbled out of the police station and drove his car to a bar!
The bar was already buzzing with activity. An Hu saw his good brother arrive and immediately brought him the best wine, saying, “A rare visitor, here twice in a month, quite unusual. What troubles bring you this time?”
Ji Xiangyu leaned weakly on the sofa and said, “Give me a bottle of whiskey. That will make me feel better!”
An Hu sighed, “Since ancient times, it’s not the wine that intoxicates people, but themselves. You’re already drunk without a drop. Tonight, you won’t stop until you’re completely wasted, will you!”
Ji Xiangyu wiggled his finger in front of An Hu and said, “Too smart, you’re practically my other half. But tonight, I want to drink alone!”
An Hu raised an eyebrow, then got up to ask the bartender for a bottle of whiskey for Ji Xiangyu. As he handed it over, he asked, “Are you sure you can handle a whole bottle?”
Ji Xiangyu poured himself a drink and then took a large gulp before saying, “One bottle isn’t enough, at least a case!”
An Hu left, “Then you drink yourself sober. I won’t disturb you. Call me if you need anything!”
Ji Xiangyu gave an okay sign and continued drinking!
After an unknown amount of time, the bottle was finished. He signaled for someone to bring two more bottles. As he was pouring, a slender, fair hand grasped his. He looked up and saw Situ Jingyi. How could she be here? How did she know he was here?
“Jingyi, why are you here?” Ji Xiangyu, slightly drunk, stared at Situ Jingyi.
Situ Jingyi sat beside him, poured herself a glass of wine, and looked at Ji Xiangyu helplessly. One woman could make him so distraught; it was obvious how much Qing Tian meant to Ji Xiangyu, no need to guess.
But she, Situ Jingyi, refused to believe it. She didn’t believe Ji Xiangyu only loved Qing Tian. In terms of family background and looks, how could she be inferior to Qing Tian?
“Yu, why are you drinking alone tonight? It’s so boring by yourself. How about we drink until we’re drunk together?!”
Ji Xiangyu held his forehead, smiled, raised his glass, and said lazily, “Cheers!!!”
Situ Jingyi raised her glass and echoed, “Cheers!”
After another unknown amount of time, Ji Xiangyu, slightly drunk, looked at Situ Jingyi. For a moment, he thought she was Qing Tian. But upon closer inspection, he realized it was still Situ Jingyi. That familiar smile, that radiant smile – Qing Tian hadn’t given him that yet!
Seeing that Ji Xiangyu was drunk, Situ Jingyi advised, “Yu, let me take you home. You’re drunk!”
Ji Xiangyu pushed her away, “I’m not drunk, let’s keep drinking!”
Situ Jingyi knew she couldn’t win against Ji Xiangyu, so she let him continue drinking until past midnight!
After Situ Jingyi got Ji Xiangyu back to her place and saw him lying there completely drunk, she sighed. Was that woman Qing Tian really that important?
As Situ Jingyi was grumbling, Ji Xiangyu suddenly felt sick and vomited all over the floor. Seeing the dirty and messy floor, Situ Jingyi felt she shouldn’t have brought him back.
She struggled to help Ji Xiangyu take off his dirty clothes and got him onto the bed. Ji Xiangyu kept murmuring, “Qing Tian, Qing Tian, I want to be with you. Don’t leave…”
The more Ji Xiangyu acted like this, the harder Situ Jingyi’s heart became. The harder it became, the more she wanted to end this love quadrangle quickly!
After everything was tidied up, she picked up her phone and sent Qing Tian a text message, then went to take a shower!
When she came out of the bathroom, Ji Xiangyu was fast asleep on the bed.
The doorbell rang. She walked over and opened the door, seeing Qing Tian. A smile played on her lips as she said, “You’re here?”
Qing Tian recognized the owner of the t-shirt Situ Jingyi was wearing. As the door opened slightly, she could see Ji Xiangyu sleeping on the bed. Her heart instantly felt like a heavy stone had been dropped into it, making it hard to breathe.
How could they, how could they be sleeping together? But it wasn’t like this, was it? Qing Tian wanted to go in and ask Ji Xiangyu for an explanation, but Situ Jingyi stopped her. Situ Jingyi walked outside the door, closed it, and said, “Yu is tired and resting. We can talk tomorrow.”
Seeing Situ Jingyi acting like the mistress of the house, Qing Tian felt even more bitter and helpless. Yes, men couldn’t resist temptation, could they?
But she still asked, “You guys, how did this happen?”
Situ Jingyi fiddled with her clothes and said, “Just as you see, we slept together!”
Qing Tian wanted to slap her, but Situ Jingyi blocked it. Qing Tian gritted her teeth and said, “You’re shameless! You know I’m with Ji Xiangyu, how could you, how could you…”
Situ Jingyi flung Qing Tian’s hand away, her tone exceptionally proud, “You’re together? Are you engaged? Has the Ji family agreed? Qing Tian, take a good look at yourself. Do you think you’re a match for Yu? Not to mention how outstanding he is, do you think you, the daughter of a fraudster, can enter the Ji family? Save it, stop dreaming!”
Qing Tian’s heart ached, making it hard to breathe. She knew she truly wasn’t good enough, but…
There were no ‘buts’.
Situ Jingyi wanted to see Qing Tian in pain and struggling.
Only then would she feel that she was right, and only then would she feel that she could definitely have Ji Xiangyu.
Qing Tian suppressed her emotions, her face regaining a cold expression, her tone terrifyingly icy. “Since it has come to this, I agree to Xia Yang’s matter, but Ji Xiangyu must never know. Our destination cannot be revealed to anyone other than you. This is my final condition!”
Situ Jingyi didn’t expect Qing Tian to agree so quickly and felt a surge of joy.
Qing Tian, however, left the heartbreaking place dejectedly!
Everything seemed to be happening so naturally. She was about to leave. Could she bear to part with this place where she was born and raised? What about her grandfather? What about her uncle and aunt? What about Shishi? What about Ji Xiangyu?
Qing Tian walked along the road. The sky seemed to know her sorrow and began to rain heavily. She walked alone in the pouring rain, tears mixing with the raindrops and flowing onto the ground.
Then she took out her phone and typed: “Tomorrow afternoon at three, meet me in the back garden of the school!”
After contemplating, she finally pressed send. It was truly time for everything to come to an end.
【 Li Mei also felt that the previous name sounded better, but the editor said the name was too unpopular, so it was changed!!! 】
