Chapter 43.2

Hearing his words, Wen Xin felt her heart turn completely cold. She stared at him in shock. Though she was a person from the real world, she had always been a well-behaved, obedient girl—like a little lamb. When had she ever encountered such ruthless tactics directed at herself? If he actually followed through with what he said, he would completely destroy her chances of going to university.

“Do you want the Wen family to come and take you away, or will you come back with me?” His voice was as cold as ice, chilling to the bone. “Two household registrations—one will have to be revoked. Which one do you think it will be? Wen Xin or Wei Xin? If you insist on staying here, those two private business owners will also be implicated. Think carefully.”

Yan Zeyang’s words were merciless, his tone as ominous as a god’s decree—or rather, like the whisper of a devil. He was determined to take this woman away from here. There was no way he would allow her to stay in a place where she was the subject of men’s gossip and matchmaking.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Wen Xin’s hair practically stood on end in fury.

Yan Zeyang pressed her into the cold corner of the wall and let out a low chuckle. “It’s not a matter of whether I dare. It’s a matter of whether I want to. If I want to do it, then I will.”

Wen Xin’s eyes turned red with anger, her heart aching with frustration. She had always heard about how ruthless his methods were—her father had even warned her once. But she had never actually witnessed it firsthand. The worst she had ever experienced from him was when he handed her a bag of hazelnuts and asked her to shell them. Only now did she realize that was simply because he had never used those ruthless methods against her before.

Though she appeared gentle on the surface, Wen Xin was strong-willed. How could she possibly give in? The more he tried to pressure her like this, the less likely she was to go back with him. Furious, she shot back, “Go ahead, then! Even if you do it, I won’t return to the Wen family. Worst case, I’ll sneak off to the harbor and stow away to Hong Kong. I can get married there, or even enter a beauty pageant! I’ll become Miss Hong Kong, or an actress. If you have the guts, come to the harbor and drag me back yourself!”

At that time, the Hong Kong entertainment industry was booming. Though she was only speaking in anger, the possibility was real.

Usually, she wasn’t this bold. But now, those soft red lips of hers opened and closed, spouting off infuriating words one after another, making the tall and burly man in front of her so enraged that his fists clenched tight, veins bulging on his arms.

“You dare talk about stowing away?” He was livid. “Do you have any idea what happens if you’re caught? You’ll be executed by firing squad! Do you know what happens to a woman who sneaks into Hong Kong? You think you’ll become Miss Hong Kong? More likely, you’ll be thrown into the filthiest brothel imaginable!”

The last two words were spat out through gritted teeth, almost unintelligible from the sheer force of his anger.

He was so close to her that Wen Xin could hear the furious pounding of his heart in his chest. His blazing eyes locked onto her, burning with rage.

Of course, Wen Xin knew how dangerous stowing away was. She had only said it in the heat of the moment. She had no intention of actually going to Hong Kong. But the way he threatened her left her with no choice but to retaliate. She had fought so hard for this new identity, and now he was using it against her. Her scalp tingled with fury.

She blinked, and tears fell. Then she gritted her teeth and spoke her final, harsh words.

“Fine, go ahead. Even if I lose my place in university, even if I end up without an identity, sleeping on the streets or marrying a fool, I will never go back with you! From now on, you walk your wide road, and I’ll cross my narrow bridge. We’ll go our separate ways, marry different people, and never see each other again!”

With that, Wen Xin shoved him. “Let go of me! I want to leave! You’re a soldier—stop acting like a thug!”

Seeing her cry, Yan Zeyang was momentarily stunned. Then, panic flickered across his face, and he instinctively loosened his grip. But he still refused to let her go entirely. Instead, he pulled her into his arms, his voice tense yet soft. “Come back with me. If you do, nothing bad will happen. Please, don’t cry…”

Wen Xin struggled against him, nearly exploding with frustration. She yanked off the watch from her wrist and flung it onto the ground with all her strength. “Here’s your engagement gift—take it back!”

Yan Zeyang stood frozen, staring at the watch lying on the ground. The golden watch face now bore scratches from the impact. He picked it up, but for a long while, he simply stood there motionless.

At the door, Gu Qingtong watched as this proud and dignified man stood there, red-eyed, for a long time. Eventually, with his spirit completely shattered, he turned around and walked toward the exit like a lost soul.

Even the strongest of men have their pride. And when that pride is shattered, no matter how much pain they’re in, they won’t look back.

“Mr. Yan,” Gu Qingtong called out.

Yan Zeyang turned back. Standing on the stone-paved road, his reddened eyes carried an aloof and indifferent air.

Gu Qingtong’s gaze fell on the watch in his hand, and she smiled. “That watch looks familiar. Is it Wei Xin’s?”

Yan Zeyang had no interest in making small talk. He turned and prepared to leave.

“She told me about it once,” Gu Qingtong continued. “She said that watch was given to her by the person she loved the most. She wore it every day and treasured it dearly. If she lost it, she’d be heartbroken.”

She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Give it to me. I’ll return it to her. A gift from someone she loves—she wouldn’t throw it away twice.”

Proud people always need a way to save face. Gu Qingtong had just given him an out.

As expected, Yan Zeyang stopped in his tracks. He remained still for a long time before finally speaking. His voice was hoarse, as if burned raw by fire. “If she doesn’t want it… then let her throw it away.”

Gu Qingtong chuckled and took the watch from him. “Yes, this is definitely hers. Look how well she took care of it—she even took it off whenever she washed her hands. Mr. Yan, it’s too cold outside. Come in. Your friend is still inside—aren’t you going to join him?”

…

Zhao Yan had been waiting inside for a long time before Yan Zeyang finally returned. He had barely eaten a few bites when he abruptly stood up to leave.

A whole table of roast duck and braised dishes—barely touched, just left there. Zhao Yan felt a pang of regret. This really was the great Young Master Yan—so wealthy that he could toss aside a feast without a second thought. Ordinary people wouldn’t get to eat a meal like this even once or twice a year.

That evening, as night fell, the sky quickly darkened.

Zhao Yan accompanied Yan Zeyang to the best guesthouse in Longcheng. Ordinary guesthouses usually only had a single bed and a rickety table—if there was even a table at all. The conditions were beyond shabby.

The best accommodations still weren’t that great. The bedsheets were at least clean, and there was a sofa, a coffee table, and a small television—this was already the best setup available in the guesthouse.

After making arrangements with the staff, Zhao Yan entered the room and saw Yan Zeyang standing by the open window, frowning as he smoked in the night air. The ashtray on the windowsill already held three cigarette butts.

“Zeyang, you’re smoking quite a lot. What’s wrong? Something bothering you?”

Yan Zeyang took a long moment before turning his head to glance at him. “It’s late. You should head back—don’t keep your wife waiting.” He paused, then casually handed Zhao Yan a box. “Your wedding gift, making up for it now.”

Zhao Yan had been married just last year and had a three-month-old daughter. Every day, he couldn’t wait to rush home. “Ah, you didn’t have to.” But he knew being overly polite would just make things awkward, so he accepted it. “Alright then. You should get some rest. If anything comes up, give me a call—you know my work number.”

Yan Zeyang nodded.

Outside the room, Zhao Yan opened the box for a quick look—foreign goods from the harbor. This gift was expensive.