Zong Yanxi scoffed. “He regrets it? What if I had died? Would he still regret it?”
Jiang Youqian struggled to find an answer to her question. “B-but you loved each other…”
Zong Yanxi sighed in exasperation. Which part of what I just said did you not understand?
“Are you dumb, or are you just trying to guilt trip me? Yes, I did love him, but he didn’t love me back. I’ve since lost all love for him, so we have no feelings for each other whatsoever. Is that clear?” she said, trying her best to keep her temper in check.
Jiang Youqian understood her stance, but he had his own goal to achieve as well.
His brother’s actions were unforgivable from her point of view, but he was sure that his brother was willing to change for the better.
He’s willing to turn over a new leaf, so why can’t you just give him another chance?
“He’s injured, Yanxi,” Jiang Youqian said. “He misses you dearly. Can’t you go back and visit him for once?”
“No!” Zong Yanxi said firmly. “Go home.”
“Can’t you at least do it for my sake?” Jiang Youqian pleaded.
There’ll be hope as long as she agrees to visit him!
“No. Now leave,” she spat before turning around again.
“Wait!” Jiang Youqian yelled after her. “Can’t you just forgive him?”
“No!” she yelled, running out of patience. “His regret won’t heal my wounds and bring my child back! Now leave before I call the police!”
As they bickered, Tawan watched from a distance, and he rushed forward immediately when he saw Jiang Youqian tugging at her.
“Please leave,” he told Jiang Youqian, who studied him from head to toe with a frown.
“Who are you and why do you know Yanxi?” Jiang Youqian asked, jabbing a finger into Tawan’s face. “She’s my brother’s wife, so you’d better stay away from her!”
Tawan froze. Oh…so he’s her ex-brother-in-law, not her ex-husband!
He heaved a huge sigh of relief. I can’t imagine how difficult the situation would become if her ex-husband had been here…
“Go home first. I’ll deal with him,” Tawan whispered to Zong Yanxi.
She glanced at Jiang Youqian. “I have nothing to do with Jiang Mohan, so I hope you’ll leave me alone from now on.”
With that, she turned around and walked into the mansion.
“Wait! Yanxi!” Jiang Youqian yelled, trying to run after her.
Tawan stopped him before he could get close to her. “Please leave before I call for backup.”
“Hmph! Are you Yanxi’s lover or something? Why did you interrupt our conversation?” Jiang Youqian huffed. “You wouldn’t barge in if you didn’t have feelings for her, would you?”
“Ms. Zong is single now, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Tawan retorted.
“You…you jerk!” Jiang Youqian snapped. “Don’t you dare! You’d better stay away from her, or else!”
Yanxi belongs to my brother and only my brother!
Tawan stared at him with an uncanny calmness. “You’d better stay away from her too, or else I’ll end you on the spot,” he threatened.
Jiang Youqian shivered in silence.
He looked at the mansion behind Tawan and realized that both he and his brother were no match for the man standing in front of him.
He could tell that Tawan was a capable man just like Jiang Mohan, and he decided to switch gears. “Um, my brother and Yanxi got a divorce, but they used to love each other to the moon and back…”
“And what has that got to do with me?” Tawan asked, cutting him off. “I know about her divorce, and we’re both single. I don’t see anything wrong with establishing a romantic relationship. Besides, I would like to remind you that not every sin committed deserves to be forgiven. Tell you brother to leave her alone if he’s not going to treasure her.”
After that, he turned around and walked into the mansion. A maid standing near him closed the door behind him, leaving Jiang Youqian standing alone in the darkness.
“H-Hey! Wait!” he yelled.
Tawan did not turn around, and he simply quickened his footsteps.
Jiang Youqian panicked. “I don’t care if you have a crush on her. She used to be my brother’s wife! They slept on the same bed for three years and even had a child together! What makes you think you deserve her?”
His anger mounted as he spoke. “She’s a divorced woman! Do you want to be a scrap picker?”
His words sounded harsher than he had imagined, and it irritated Tawan.
Tawan turned around and glared at him coldly. “Say that again, and you won’t see the light of day ever again.”
Jiang Youqian fell silent immediately, intimidated by his menacing gaze.
As Tawan walked into the mansion, he noticed Zong Yanxi standing at the top and staring at him. Did she hear what that man said just now?
“Don’t listen to him,” he said, trying to comfort her.
He racked his brains for a better way to phrase it, but his mind was blank.
Zong Yanxi did not seem to care. “He’s right.”
She had gone through a lot, and despite her attempts to move on, those memories refused to disappear from her mind.
She glanced at Tawan. “I’ve bought the plane tickets. I’m glad that I’ve been of help to you, and it’s been nice talking to you and Sorn.”
It was already long past Sorn’s bedtime.
As for Tawan, he could not help but feel empty on the inside when he heard those words.
His fists clenched by his sides.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his words exposing his anxiety.
“Of course. I’ve bought the tickets and all,” Zong Yanxi said with a smile. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
Tawan pursed his lips as he wondered what he should say next.
There isn’t anything I can do to make her stay…
“What time is your flight? I’ll send you there,” Tawan said.
“Four in the afternoon,” she answered. “Oh, by the way, I need to return this to you…”
She reached to unclasp the necklace from her neck, and Tawan stopped her before she could do so.
“It’s a gift,” he said.
Zong Yanxi removed it anyway. “It’s too precious. I can’t afford to keep it.”
She returned to her room to put the accessories back into the box.
Meanwhile, Jiang Youqian was still standing outside the gates, and he was getting impatient.
He’s going to snatch Yanxi away from my brother! He has to do something!
He dialed Jiang Mohan’s number, and the latter noticed it almost immediately.
The ringing of his phone had woken him, and he could not fall back asleep no matter how hard he tried. He walked to the balcony and sat down on the chair.
His phone screen continued to flash, but he made no move to pick up the phone.
Jiang Youqian began to panic, but he did not give up.
After a few more attempts, Jiang Mohan finally picked up.
“Are you awake?” Jiang Youqian asked.
It was late at night, and he would not have called if not for the urgency of the situation.
“What’s the issue?” Jiang Mohan asked.
“I’m going to tell you something shocking, so I need to you stay calm,” Jiang Youqian said.
