13 – Thе truth will оut
“Аhеm, аhеm…”
Jiаng Ning coughеd viоlеntlу.
Duе to drowning, her аlrеady snоw-white skin had turnеd еvеn раlеr, almоst tо аn unrеal degrеe.
“Senior Sister Jiаng, hоw arе уоu fееling? Arе уоu still uncomfоrtаble аnywhere?”
Sеeing Jiаng Ning wake up, Gu Сhi askеd with cоnсern, his dark еyes filled with wоrrу аnd hеartaсhе fоr hеr.
Jiang Zhi darеd not аpprоach, but Yе Chen shаmelessly mоvеd сlosеr.
“Ningning, hоw are yоu?”
Jiang Ning wаs hеlped uр by Gu Chi, hаlf of hеr bоdу leаning against his shоulder.
Jiang Ning still rеmеmbеred that the cameras werе rеcording everуthing, but in this situаtion, no onе wоuld think there was anything between her and Gu Chi.
Seeing Ye Chen’s hypocritical face, Jiang Ning continued to act.
As if recalling something heartbreaking, she suddenly wrapped her arms around herself, lowered her head, and cried pitifully.
She bit her lower lip tightly, letting out a heavy sob, and asked with a heart-wrenching voice, “Brother Chen, why… why did you have to treat me like this? I loved you so much, how could you… how could you…”
Her pitiful sobs were enough to sadden those who heard them and bring tears to their eyes.
Gu Chi held Jiang Ning’s arm. Even though he knew she had said she didn’t love Ye Chen, hearing her heartbroken confession, he couldn’t control his emotions. He was consumed with jealousy, wishing he could tear Ye Chen apart.
He lowered his head, looking at Jiang Ning with restrained and hidden emotions, clumsily comforting her, “Senior Sister Jiang, don’t be sad…”
Ye Chen didn’t love Jiang Ning, but seeing her pitiful and pained expression and thinking about how deeply she loved him, his male ego was greatly satisfied.
“Ningning, let me explain. It’s not what you think. Between Jiang Zhi and me, there’s nothing…”
Jiang Ning couldn’t bear to listen to his nonsense and interrupted him.
With a sobbing tone, she questioned, “Brother Chen, you were already hugging and kissing her. How else can you explain it? How can you expect me to believe there’s nothing between you?”
After saying this, Jiang Ning, as if unable to bear the blow, suddenly turned her head and buried her face in Gu Chi’s chest, clutching his sleeve as she cried and pleaded, “Gu Chi, please take me back. I beg you.”
Even though he knew this might not be her true feelings, hearing her humble plea, Gu Chi’s heart ached.
His large hand wrapped around her waist as he whispered, “Alright.”
Then, he picked Jiang Ning up, completely ignoring Ye Chen and Jiang Zhi, and strode toward the villa with her in his arms.
As they passed a corner, Jiang Ning took advantage of Gu Chi’s cover to discreetly retrieve the phone she had hidden earlier.
Gu Chi noticed her action and paused for a moment, looking down at Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning’s beautiful, watery eyes gazed innocently at Gu Chi, as if saying, “Yes, I was acting just now, but you’re not allowed to call me out on it.”
It was adorably unfair.
Gu Chi coughed lightly, turned his head away, and a faint smile curved his lips.
Watching the two of them leave, Ye Chen felt displeased.
But since the incident with Jiang Zhi had happened right in front of Jiang Ning, Ye Chen was at fault and had no defense. Besides, it was true, so even if he wanted to explain, he didn’t know how.
He had originally intended to break off the engagement with Jiang Ning so he could be with the one he truly loved.
Yet, looking at Jiang Ning’s breathtakingly beautiful face and her sudden closeness to Gu Chi, he shamefully found himself unwilling to end things with her.
At this moment, Ye Chen naively believed that as long as he comforted her properly, Jiang Ning would surely forgive him and would never expose him.Jiang Zhi knew she had started this trouble and feared Ye Chen would blame her. Her eyes turned cold as she suddenly crouched on the ground, covering her face and bursting into loud sobs.
The trembling cries caught Ye Chen’s attention.
Turning to look, Ye Chen saw Jiang Zhi crouched on the ground crying, and his heart ached terribly. He quickly ran over and picked her up.
“Xiao Zhi, don’t cry. Why are you crying?”
Hearing Ye Chen’s comfort, Jiang Zhi sobbed, “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t lost control of my feelings, Sister Jiang Ning wouldn’t have seen us. Now it’s all ruined. It’s my fault for hurting Sister Jiang Ning’s heart. I’m a bad person, I’m a bad person.”
As she spoke, she suddenly raised her hand and slapped her own face. “It’s all my fault, all my fault.”
Jiang Zhi used all her strength, slapping her face hard—it looked convincingly real.
This broke Ye Chen’s heart completely.
He tightly grasped Jiang Zhi’s hand and scolded, “Xiao Zhi, don’t do this. What nonsense are you talking? This isn’t your fault at all. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I’m the one who hurt you and Ningning.”
Jiang Zhi looked at him, tears streaming down her face.
Ye Chen reached out to wipe her tears.
Jiang Zhi whimpered softly, “But what do we do now, Brother Chen? Sister Ning is a pop diva, a top star in the entertainment industry. If she talks about this, you’ll be implicated. I’m just a small newcomer—at worst, I can leave the industry. But you’re different, Brother Chen. You’re an award-winning actor who has maintained your reputation all these years. I, Jiang Zhi, don’t matter, but you can’t lose your career.”
With that, she suddenly stood up. “No, I have to beg Sister Ning. I’ll voluntarily leave the industry, just please don’t let her blame you.”
This act of sacrificing herself to protect him moved Ye Chen deeply.
So Xiao Zhi loved him this much.
At that moment, Ye Chen felt that, as a man, he should take responsibility for everything.
Without another word, he pulled Jiang Zhi into his arms and kissed her passionately.
Jiang Zhi struggled at first but soon lost herself in Ye Chen’s domineering kiss, eagerly responding.
Once again, the two kissed wildly.
The director, who couldn’t sleep and had come out for a walk: “”
Damn, why did he have to witness such an eyesore? Silently recording with his phone, the director smirked maliciously.
After the kiss ended, Ye Chen held Jiang Zhi close, their foreheads touching.
He said affectionately, “Xiao Zhi, this really isn’t your fault. Don’t ever think you did anything wrong. Jiang Ning and I are just engaged—I, Ye Chen, have never loved her from the start. You only acted out of love for me. How can true love be wrong? The mistake lies in the fact that Jiang Ning and I were never meant to be. This is all fate. You were destined to belong to me, Ye Chen, while Jiang Ning was destined to be hurt. I’ll go explain everything to Xiao Ning.”
Jiang Zhi finally seemed convinced, looking at Ye Chen anxiously. “Then Sister Ning won’t expose this, will she?”
Ye Chen chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, she won’t. Xiao Ning has a gentle and kind personality, and she listens to me. Unlike other celebrities, she doesn’t like to publicize her private affairs. As long as I explain things clearly to her, she won’t say anything.”
Hiding under a tree, the director recorded everything, his mouth agape in shock.
He had seen plenty of shameless people, but someone this utterly brazen was a first.
Truly, you live and learn.
So shamelessness could reach such heights.
What the hell—true love is blameless, my ass.If you really love her, why the hell can’t you break off the engagement before doing this kind of thing?
If you don’t love Jiang Ning, why didn’t you refuse the engagement back then?
If you don’t love Jiang Ning, why do you still act like the perfect, devoted man on other shows?
Why pretend to be someone whose eyes are only for Jiang Ning, who never messes around?
Pah.