Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Ji Qingyu's drowsiness vanished, startled away by the photo Ma Yu sent. In the picture, Ruan Jing was buying essentials at a convenience store, captured by Ma Yu the moment she removed her mask.

She didn’t seem to be doing well, dressed in an oversized trench coat. Ma Yu’s messages kept flooding in.

“She went to a small hotel nearby.”

“She looks very cautious, as if afraid someone might find her.”

“I’ll send you the address.”

“Got it. I’ll go check it out tomorrow.” He gripped his phone tightly in the darkness. Tonight, sleep would be impossible.

The next morning, just as Ji Qingyu was about to leave, several posts were shared in the stage play work chat group.

Messages in the group kept piling up, quickly surpassing ninety-nine unread.

Ji Qingyu clicked on the links—it turned out the interview from yesterday had gone viral, and Ji Ran’s past was once again brought to light.

In the video, Ji Qingyu wore simple cashmere clothing, looking gentle and homely, his aura like the lingering rain of April, tinged with a subtle melancholy. His hair was tied up in a small bun.

What angle was this taken from? Ji Qingyu wondered. How did they manage to make him look so good? Netizens were raving in the comments section.

Ji Qingyu didn’t have any public social media accounts, so people flocked to the official account of the Fu Corporation instead.

“Please ask your CEO’s wife to share more songs! Photos would be fine too.”

“He’s so good-looking—does Chairman Fu need glasses? Why would he like Ji Ran?”

“Speaking of which, the reason people started shipping Fu Han and Ji Ran was because of that famous video of Fu Han attending several of Ji Ran’s concerts, right? Maybe he was actually there to listen to Ji Qingyu’s songs…”

“Now that you mention it…”

The official account joined the hype, reposting Ji Qingyu’s interview video. The sharp questions had been edited out, and the live stream clips were suppressed, preventing any major stir.

Ji Qingyu stared at the comments for a while until the thirty-minute interview video finished playing. Then, suddenly snapping back to reality, he put away his phone and prepared to go out.

The hotel was located on a shabby, dilapidated old street. Ji Qingyu walked along the narrow alley and saw the run-down small hotel. Wedged between residential buildings, its sign was made of red paper tape, and the walls were stained with mold.

Ji Qingyu realized he was underdressed today. His thin jacket offered little protection, and he felt cold.

As he entered, he noticed a furtive figure. Ma Yu was already waiting downstairs and waved urgently for him to come over.

Ji Qingyu wore a scarf around his neck and a face mask. It was his first time doing something like confronting someone, and he wasn’t very good at it. They waited on the first floor of the hotel, and surprisingly, things went smoothly—before long, they bumped into Ruan Jing, who was just heading out.

She still looked worn-out, wearing sunglasses. She screamed in fright at the sight of Ji Qingyu and Ma Yu.

Ruan Jing tried to escape, rushing toward the second floor. Ji Qingyu and Ma Yu exchanged a glance and hurried after her. Eventually, Ma Yu managed to grab her. Ruan Jing struggled desperately, clearly terrified. Ji Qingyu tried to calm her: “Don’t be afraid, we’re not here to hurt you. We just want to clarify what happened back then.”

Knowing she couldn’t escape, Ruan Jing covered her face and wept bitterly. She refused to meet Ji Qingyu’s eyes, muttering under her breath: “I had no choice… I’m sorry… My family are ordinary people. We couldn’t afford to offend Ji Ran. He paid me off to leave and never come back.”

“If Ji Ran told you not to return, why are you here now?” Ji Qingyu handed her a bottle of water. He was still puzzled but said, “Don’t worry, I’ve thought about what happened back then. I don’t blame you.”

“My family has too many debts… I had nowhere else to go. I had to come back and find Ji Ran. I need him to help me pay them off, or I’ll expose everything. I’ll tell Fu Han. Anyway, my life is already ruined—if I go down, I’m taking Ji Ran with me…” Ruan Jing cried uncontrollably, her hair disheveled, completely broken and in pain. The small hotel was shabbily decorated, yet still pricey for being in the capital. “I’m sorry, Ji Qingyu… You have no idea how much I’ve suffered all these years. I always think about what happened back then… I have nightmares constantly. I’m sorry.”

Ji Qingyu’s fingers curled slightly, trembling at the tips. He felt a twinge of sadness. The cold wind cut through his clothes, and he shivered twice.

How could he not resent Ruan Jing? But more than anything, he pitied her. If he were in her position, could he have resisted the threats and manipulation? He didn’t know.

He fell silent for a moment, his thoughts in turmoil. Finally, he sighed inwardly.

“Aren’t you afraid of going to Ji Ran directly? Wouldn’t it be dangerous?” Ji Qingyu said. “Let me go talk to him. You should move to a better hotel first. As long as I’m still useful to him, he won’t do anything to me.”

Ruan Jing’s eyes were red and puffy, her hair a mess. She opened her mouth as if to say something but ended up clutching his hand and asking, “After what happened… have you been okay?”

Ji Qingyu smiled faintly. “I’ve been fine.”

He looked at Ruan Jing—around the same age as him, yet she looked so worn down. Cause and effect, retribution—it spares no one.

He didn’t speak. Ruan Jing sobbed, her voice trembling as she said, “Let me tell you something… something no one else knows…”

“I saw…” Ruan Jing’s eyes widened, as if she were about to reveal a long-hidden secret—a secret so deeply buried it had taken years to surface. “Back then, I saw Ji Ran embracing an adult. Later, I saw on TV that the person was…”

The capital in autumn was bitterly cold. The small hotel was run-down, the corridor sofa torn in several places, the carpet frayed and ragged. When Ji Qingyu heard the name, it felt like a sledgehammer had hit his head.

He took several deep breaths. His breath formed mist in the air as he exhaled. A ringing sound echoed in his ears while Ruan Jing wept, her face streaked with tears.

“Are… are you sure?” Ji Qingyu found it hard to believe. How could it be?

“I’m sure. There’s no mistake.” Getting the secret off her chest seemed to relieve Ruan Jing slightly. “I couldn’t believe it either, but it’s true… It’s real…”

Ji Qingyu’s wrist began to ache again. He suddenly felt weak, his breathing uneven for a long time.

He found it completely ridiculous—almost enough to laugh aloud.

So that’s what it was. That’s what it meant. The doubt that had plagued him for years was finally answered. Ji Qingyu felt like laughing, but more than anything, he felt a profound sense of loss.

“Brother Ma, I’ll leave her to you. Please take her away from here.” Ji Qingyu pressed some money into Ruan Jing's hand and urged her to leave. He rarely initiated contact with Ji Ran, but now he felt compelled to dial that number. “I need to talk to Ji Ran,” he murmured.

Ma Yu didn’t understand the full context but looked at Ji Qingyu with concern. “Be careful. Contact me if anything happens. Qingyu, I know you’re under a lot of pressure right now, but remember—even if you lose everything, you can always come work on the farm with me. I’ve got a big orchard, and I’m short-handed.”

“I know,” Ji Qingyu said. “Don’t worry.”

It wasn’t the first time he’d faced having nothing. He could handle it.

After Ma Yu left with the still-distraught Ruan Jing, Ji Qingyu went to a convenience store and bought the cheapest pack of cigarettes. Inexperienced, he clumsily lit one with a lighter, smoke curling upward.

It took him a long time to calm down, pushing down the turmoil inside. He took several deep breaths before finally dialing the number. The ringtone echoed in his ears.

“Well, well, look who it is,” Ji Ran answered, chuckling. “What’s up?”

“We need to meet,” Ji Qingyu said, his voice tight. “When are you free?”

“Anytime. I’ve postponed all my recent work—thanks to you,” Ji Ran said cheerfully. “Let’s meet at the café this afternoon.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, Ji Qingyu continued smoking. He’d deliberately bought harsh cigarettes. The first inhale was harsh and pungent, making him cough several times, tears welling in his eyes. He gripped the railing outside the convenience store.

On the way to the café by taxi, Ji Qingyu still struggled to believe what he’d heard. Though he knew Ji Ran often did unpredictable things, he never imagined he could go this far.

The café was nearly empty. Sunlight streamed in softly, illuminating the wooden seats arranged closely together. Embroidered cushions and delicate tableware were neatly arranged. Ji Ran had ordered a table full of desserts.

It was the usual spot. The aroma of coffee carried a hint of bitterness. Ji Ran had arrived early and seemed somewhat downcast. He was slumped over the table, playing a match-three game on his phone.

He was dressed casually, a loose denim jacket covering his hands, revealing only his fingertips. He still carried the air of a superstar—wearing sunglasses, his features handsome and delicate, like a refined doll. A glass of lemon soda sat in front of him, ice cubes nearly overflowing, bubbles fizzing and popping one by one.

Ji Qingyu watched Ji Ran, still feeling like he couldn’t understand him. Ji Ran seemed so elevated, as if living in a different world—a world shrouded in illusion.

Ji Ran propped his cheek on his hand, finally beating another level before lifting his eyes to Ji Qingyu with a faint smile. "You're here?"

The mobile game's music blared loudly; Ji Ran hadn't worn headphones nor did he bother to turn it off. He picked up a straw and bit down on it a couple times, the ice cubes clinking as they collided.

Ji Ran raised an eyebrow. "What are you staring at? Sit down. Pretty rare for you to be the one asking to meet—what's up? Any progress on the documents you were supposed to photograph?"

Ji Qingyu didn’t answer, taking a seat across from him without any pleasantries. His hands were clasped tightly together under the table, the sight of the person before him making him sick. He stared straight into Ji Ran’s eyes and cut straight to the point: "Are you involved with Fu Yunsheng?"

Ji Ran froze in place, remaining silent for several seconds. Then, propping his chin with one hand, he leisurely forked a piece of cake. Finally, he turned off the game, rested his elbows on the table, and gave him a cold look.