BDB Chapter 64

Li Jueyan ultimately accepted the “two items of apology” that Jiang Dongcheng had brought him.

Along with these items, Jiang Tang’s various entry and exit documents and the admission certificate from the medical facility in Country M were also delivered.

Jiang Dongcheng’s sole request was for Li Group to spare his small Jiang family.

His small enterprise couldn’t withstand such upheaval.

The recent series of mishaps had left everyone within Jiang’s company on edge. If the incidents continued, his good times might soon come to an end.

Seeing that the man behind the desk appeared slightly more relaxed, Jiang Dongcheng sighed with relief.

Now that the important matters had been addressed, and remembering the unpredictable nature of the person he had dealt with for so long, Jiang Dongcheng feared making any further mistakes. He decided it was time to leave.

However, as he reached the door, he heard someone call his name, “Dongcheng.”

The woman’s voice, no longer brash, revealed the weariness of her age. “Don’t leave me here. I’m your wife. I’m scared, Dongcheng.”

Jiang Dongcheng turned around, glancing nervously at the man behind the desk before responding impatiently, “What does your fear have to do with me? You’re an adult. You made this mess, and now you expect me to clean it up? Are you trying to drag the Jiang family down with you? If you want to leave with me now, we’ll get a divorce when we return!”

Bai Yurou’s lips trembled, and after a moment, she met the man’s eyes and said, “Everything I did was for you. It’s because I love you, because you…”

A look of alarm crossed Jiang Dongcheng’s eyes. He quickly interrupted her, “Stop talking nonsense. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have done something so foolish and harmful. Did I ask you to do this? As a grown man, how could I come up with such a dirty trick? If you had told me beforehand, would I have agreed to ruin Tangtang’s reputation and make such a self-destructive move? At home, you promised me—apologize to President Li, and you’d still be the respectable Madam Jiang. Now you’re going back on your word?”

Bai Yurou’s gaze wavered.

Although he hadn’t instructed her to do these things, he had repeatedly praised the land in the west of the city and criticized Li family’s kid for not remembering their old relationship, taking the land from him at the bidding meeting.

He had also said that Li Group was on the decline, and once his business stabilized, he would surely find a better son-in-law than Li Jueyan.

She was his woman, so she believed what he said.

Yet, despite his claim that Li Group was declining, when she devised a plan for revenge and saw initial success in bringing down Li Group within two to three days, he came home, physically attacked her, and threatened that if she didn’t apologize to Li Group, he would find another woman to replace her as the Jiang family’s Madam.

Some people never consider the consequences of their actions, and Bai Yurou was one of those people.

She didn’t just realize then that the Li Group was someone she couldn’t afford to provoke. Rather, it was the fact that not only did he show her no respect by divorcing Tangtang immediately after her return to the country; but on that same day, he also intimidated both her and her child, leaving her with one of the most humiliating and disgraceful memories of her forty-eight years of life.

The memory frequently resurfaced, and the joy of seeing Li Group being brought down had clouded her judgment.

But she only remembered the humiliation of that day and forgot that she had almost lost her life.

Seeing her cease her nonsensical talk, Jiang Dongcheng breathed a sigh of relief. “If you truly loved me, you would sincerely apologize to President Li here and seek his forgiveness. Your impulsive actions are not love. True love involves making choices and actions that are genuinely for my good.”

After saying this, he dared not stay any longer. With an apologetic and obsequious smile toward the man behind the desk, he quickly stepped out the door.

The moment Jiang Dongcheng exited, Bai Yurou could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes. Overflowing tears streamed down her face, and as soon as the office door was shut from the outside, she began to sob uncontrollably.

Li Jueyan’s gaze had been fixed on Bai Yurou since Jiang Dongcheng left.

Jiang Dongcheng might have thought that the woman was merely reluctant to give up the position of Madam Jiang that he could provide. However, Li Jueyan knew that she might truly love this man.

If she insisted on leaving, she would only lose the luxurious life she once enjoyed.

But if she stayed, considering his protection of Jiang Rao, she might face a tragic end. Even if she survived, leaving this place would certainly leave her battered.

But so what?

Adults had to pay for the consequences of their decisions.

He felt pity for her for having been blinded and choosing such a man, but he didn’t feel sorry for her.

If his power weren’t so great, if Li Group didn’t intimidate others so much, her plan might have succeeded.

He didn’t care about the insults directed at him, but unlike Jiang Dongcheng, he would never allow his woman to suffer harm.

At this moment, the head of the bodyguard team entered the office. “President Li, how should we deal with the two of them?”

Before Li Jueyan could speak, Bai Yurou, as if awakening from a dream, scrambled towards him. Although she was restrained by the bodyguard team leader’s rough handling, her pleas didn’t stop. “Please spare Tangtang. Tangtang was coerced by me. I, as her mother, made a mistake. It’s all my fault. As long as you spare Tangtang, I’ll repay you in the next life by working like a cow or a horse, no matter how you punish me.”

Jiang Tang’s mouth curved into a sneer, mixed with an expression of surprise that she couldn’t conceal.

She had always obeyed her mother’s commands growing up, but her mother never cared about her feelings, only pushing her to compete, to fight, to obey.

She thought her mother had never seen her as a child but only as a tool for advancement, a trophy to show off, a golden goose.

But now, her mother…

Unfortunately, it was all too late. The man she was begging was not someone who would easily show mercy.

As Jiang Tang pondered these thoughts, she heard the man say, “Lock them up for half a month without food or water. If they survive after fifteen days, release them. If not, inform Jiang Dongcheng to collect the bodies.”

Madam Bai, though often not clear-headed, was sharp enough to understand. She was incredulous at first but quickly responded, “Thank you, President Li. Thank you. Thank you, President Li…”

Fifteen days without food or water would not result in death. With their wealth, they could receive a week of nutritional injections upon release, potentially ending up healthier than they were now.

The punishment sounded severe, but the outcome Li Jueyan offered was a chance to survive.

This meant he didn’t wish for their deaths.

Though Li Jueyan didn’t want her life, he also didn’t want to see the mother and daughter again.

He took a suit jacket from the hanger and was about to leave when he heard Jiang Tang, who had been silent since entering the office, ask, “Why are you sparing us?”

“Tangtang!” Bai Yurou exclaimed urgently.

Li Jueyan’s right hand, which had been hanging by his side, tightened for a moment.

“I have a friend, much like your mother, who loves in all the wrong ways,” he said casually, yet for some reason, his heart raced uncontrollably. “I hope that the person he loves can show him some mercy after discovering the mistakes he’s made. Even if she chooses to be harsh, I still wish that God will, like I do, grant him another chance, considering how genuinely he loves her.”

Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned, then lowered her eyes and fell into deep thought.

…

The evidence that Li Jueyan posted on Weibo was quickly spread widely.

When the clarification post reached its peak in terms of popularity and the real-time retweet count nearly hit the day’s Weibo big data summit, Li Jueyan finally returned to the ancient castle.

In the almost four days he had been away, he had only seen her in blurry surveillance footage.

When he saw her again, she was standing in the kitchen, wearing an apron and cutting onions. He appeared at the kitchen door, watching her back, a picture of calm and beauty.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, she suddenly turned around. After a moment of surprise at seeing him, she smiled and said, “You’re back.”

Everything was just as he had hoped.

He couldn’t help but smile in return.

Wasn’t it perfect like this? If there really was a God, he hoped that, considering he had even given up being a villain for her, he might be granted another chance.

Jiang Rao made tomato meat sauce pasta, though she seemed to have squeezed a bit too much lemon juice, making the dish so sour it was almost painful to eat. Yet, Li Jueyan ate it as if it were the most delicious meal in the world, finishing every last bit.

After the meal, she intended to wash the dishes, but Li Jueyan took over the task.

He wasn’t out of touch with the mundane world; the years when his parents neglected him had taught him many life skills. Unexpectedly, while washing dishes at the sink, he heard her ask from behind, “Li Jueyan, isn’t your birthday coming up soon?”

He thought for a moment and softly replied, “Yes.” Then he asked, “How did you know? Did you remember because your memory was a bit loose?”

He continued washing the dishes, though his gaze was fixed on her behind him.

She shook her head, her voice flat and even, “No, I found last year’s calendar while cooking. The eighth day of the sixth lunar month was marked with a red circle each year. I thought it must be an important date, and I didn’t want to miss it, so I wanted to ask you.”

After saying this, Jiang Rao asked, “With only two days left until your birthday, what birthday gifts have I given you in the past years? What do you want for your birthday this year?”

Li Jueyan smiled, “Let me think.”

There was only one dirty plate left. He quickly rinsed it and dried it, then removed his rubber gloves.

Turning to her, he embraced her tightly and said, “You know, the only gift I ever want is you. I want you—” I want you to marry me.

But before he could finish his sentence, he felt her body tremble slightly in his arms.

A shadow of darkness quickly crossed his eyes.

This darkness was fleeting, and he held her even closer. “Whatever you give me, I will love it. Just don’t be so cruel.”

He wished for her not to be so cruel.

He wished that God wouldn’t be so cruel either.

——