After saying that, she turned and walked out. I followed her, and the two of us, one after the other, suddenly froze.
Amei stood at the top of the stairs, staring at us in disbelief with a strange expression. Clearly, she had witnessed the passionate and intense kiss that Qiaoqiao and I had shared right outside my bedroom door.
"This... um..." Amei suddenly exclaimed, "It's nothing, it's nothing... I'm going out..."
I originally wanted to hold Qiaoqiao back, but now that we've been seen, I felt embarrassed and had no choice but to leave with her.
Caught in by Amei, Qiaoqiao and I looked a little embarrassed. I didn't say much, just greeted everyone and went out to see Yang Wei. What I didn't know was that after I left, the group had another conversation in the room…
"Qiaoqiao, you just kissed Chen Yang, didn't you?" Mu Tou asked.
Qiao Qiao's eyes widened: "What...did you say?"
"I can tell from your expressions, you all look so lovestruck."
Qiao Qiao, bold and decisive, put her hands on her hips and said, "That's right! I kissed him, so what? Humph!" Then she laughed smugly, "Isn't he going to see that woman Yang Wei? Humph! That kiss just now, I used all my skills! This passionate kiss is enough for him to savor for hours, to make him infatuated! Even when he meets Yang Wei, he won't forget me!"
Qiaoqiao was very proud.
Wood sighed and looked at Qiaoqiao with pity: "Do you think this method is clever?"
"……Well……"
"Yang Wei likes Chen Yang a lot, and Chen Yang likes Yang Wei too, right?"
"……right……"
"I believe your kissing skills are excellent. So your kiss just now was enough to make Chen Yang burn with desire right now, right?"
"……Um……"
Wood sighed: "Yeah, you kiss a man until he's burning with desire, and then you let him go out to meet that super hot girl he's been having an affair with... and at the same time you think you've done something really smug... right?"
"..." Qiao Qiao's eyes and mouth simultaneously turned into an "O" shape.
"Sigh..." Mu Tou chuckled. "Let me look forward to what will happen when Chen Yang, whose desires have been aroused, meets Yang Wei..."
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter Seventy: Wine Doesn't Intoxicate, People Intoxicate Themselves
The service at this club was top-notch. As soon as I stepped out, someone led me to see Yang Wei. I was a little uneasy along the way, partly because I had just been teased by Qiao Qiao, and partly because I was wondering what Yang Wei wanted to see me about.
I'm not naive enough to think Yang Wei suddenly had a change of heart and wanted to meet me secretly. A woman like Yang Wei, once she makes a decision, won't easily go back on her word. She won't let her feelings change like a child's.
I wasn't exactly nervous, but I was somewhat bewildered. I got into a car from the clubhouse and drove for a full five minutes before arriving at a detached villa.
This must be where Yang Wei is staying. After a day, I've become quite familiar with the general layout of the area. Yang Wei's place is considered one of the more secluded spots in the club. Is it that Yang Wei simply prefers quiet, or did she deliberately choose a location furthest from me?
I got out of the car with a wry smile, then walked to the door and saw Hansen coming out. He glanced at me and said, "Go in, the young lady is waiting for you."
Pushing open the door, one couldn't help but sigh; the place Yang Wei had chosen was indeed extremely elegant. Inside was a small, man-made pond, surrounded by pebbles. A few lotus leaves floated in the water, suggesting a flowing water source. Ripples could be seen on the surface.
There are many houses in the clubhouse, but Yang Wei's is completely Chinese in style. There is a water corridor across the pond, at the end of which is a small pavilion. In the distance, a bamboo grove is planted by the pond, lush and green.
Yang Wei was sitting in the center of the pavilion, and what puzzled me was that there was another woman opposite her, with her back to me.
I walked over and saw that the two women were already having dinner. Several delicate dishes, with a Jiangnan flavor, were beautifully prepared, and there was a white porcelain wine bottle beside them. Only Yang Wei had a wine glass in front of her, drinking alone.
I walked over, and Yang Wei just looked up at me and said, "You've come."
At this moment, the woman sitting opposite Yang Wei, who had her back to me, turned around and looked at me. She paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Brother Wu."
"Xiao Xuan?" I was stunned, then glanced at Yang Wei, and then at Xiao Xuan: "What are you doing here?"
"Miss Yang sent someone to find..." Xiao Xuan only got halfway through her sentence before Yang Wei interrupted her calmly: "Sit down and talk."
Looking at Yang Wei's calm demeanor, I sighed inwardly.
Yang Wei, she really is Yang Wei! I couldn't get in touch with Xiao Xuan and was sending someone to look for her, but Yang Wei quietly brought her here for me. It seems she's always there to fill in the gaps for me. She quietly takes care of things I haven't thought of or haven't done well.
"Chen Yang, you were too careless." Yang Wei glanced at me and said slowly, "Yesterday I heard that this young lady saved you. I felt it was inappropriate for you to leave her there. Because you're now taking the blame, if the news accidentally leaks out, this young lady will be in great danger. Moreover, the current situation is very special, and no one knows what might happen!"
Yang Wei's last sentence was said very subtly, but I understood its meaning.
Yang Wei's meaning was clear: Xiao Xuan was originally the second-in-command's woman, and after Shen Shan and the second-in-command died, Xiao Xuan was practically the organization's "sister-in-law." At this time, with the change of leadership, or if someone wanted to cause trouble, or if Ye Huan was up to something, it would be easy for someone to seize Xiao Xuan and use her identity against her.
Moreover, Ye Huan's people might kill her to silence her.
"It was my mistake." I didn't argue with Yang Wei. Actually, I wanted Xiao Xuan to come with me, but she just wouldn't allow it.
Yang Wei glanced at me: "I went out to look for her this morning. You know what? If I had arrived any later, this young lady would probably be dead."
"What's going on?" I turned to look at Xiaoxuan.
As it was getting darker, I looked at Xiaoxuan more closely and noticed some faint marks on her face, especially under her left eye, where there were two finger marks, indicating that she had been beaten.
Xiao Xuan seemed to smile, but her smile was helpless. She whispered, "Yesterday, the girl who helped you distract people..."
"Yes, I remember her."
Xiao Xuan's face was somewhat mocking: "She was a young lady under my management. I treated her like a younger sister. When she had nowhere to live, I paid for renting a place for her. I paid for her younger brother's tuition back home, I paid for her father's surgery, and I even introduced her brother to a job in Shanghai..." There was a trace of sadness in her eyes, and then she smiled bitterly: "Unfortunately, today, she sold me out."
I was furious when I heard that: "Bastard!"
"It's not her fault," Xiao Xuan sneered. "Don't you understand this industry, Brother Wu? It's all about people eating people. Men eat women, women eat men, it's strange who eats whom. She probably thinks that by selling me out, she's done a good deed and can easily take my place at that nightclub. Humph..."
I sighed and remained silent. Having come from a background in such entertainment venues, I naturally knew what was going on. The power struggles in these places were fierce. Back when I worked at a nightclub, the madams of different groups would openly and secretly fight each other, vying for the top female performers and clients, sometimes even resorting to physical violence and backstabbing.
"This young lady was captured by Shen Shan's men," Yang Wei said slowly. "Fortunately, they wanted to interrogate her about your whereabouts and didn't kill her. However, she was still quite frightened. This afternoon, Mr. Ouyang already spread the word, but that only makes it more dangerous. After all, everyone thinks you killed Shen Shan. Although Mr. Ouyang has spread the word and explained the truth, and told people not to cause you any trouble in the future, not everyone will believe him. Some of Shen Shan's loyal men are convinced that you are the murderer. Although they dare not cause you any more trouble because of Mr. Ouyang's orders, no one can stop them from taking their anger out on this woman. After all, Mr. Ouyang didn't say that this woman was forbidden."
I sighed, then stood up solemnly, bowed deeply to Xiaoxuan, and said solemnly, "Xiaoxuan, thank you so much for what happened this time! You've suffered so much! Normally, great kindness doesn't need words of thanks, and I shouldn't be saying these nonsense things, but..."
Xiao Xuan interrupted me, her eyes flickering, and slowly said, "Brother Xiao Wu, I know you're a good person. Back then, I was framed by A-Qiang and Xiao Feng, which led me to this line of work. I knew I had no chance to turn back. My only wish was to get revenge on that despicable couple. But then you helped me teach A-Qiang a lesson, and I thought that no matter what, I had to find a chance to repay you. This time, it was my own choice."
I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of excitement. I couldn't help but reach for the white porcelain wine bottle on the table, tilted my head back, and gulped it down. After finishing the small bottle in one go, I wiped my mouth forcefully and shouted, "From now on, your affairs are my affairs! Xiaoxuan, tell me if you have any wishes, and I, Chen Yang, will definitely help you fulfill them!" After a pause, I added, "Now that you're here, you don't need to leave anymore. As I told you yesterday, I'll arrange for you to go abroad, leave this place, and live in Canada. Nobody knows you there, you can start a new life and live happily for the rest of your days."
Xiao Xuan shook her head: "Going abroad isn't urgent... Brother Xiao Wu, I want to ask you for one more thing."
"you say!"
Xiao Xuan's eyes flickered, a strange look in them. She whispered, "I... my life is ruined. The two people who plotted against me back then, one was A-Qiang, who you already taught a lesson to. I heard he had his leg broken and was kicked out of Nanjing; he's probably living a life worse than death now... But there was another person, Xiao Feng, the madam of our brothel! When I went to work as a waitress, she repeatedly tried to persuade me to become a prostitute. I refused several times, and that's why she conspired with A-Qiang to frame me. I was originally just a female student working to earn money, but..." At this point, Xiao Xuan's eyes filled with tears, her gaze turning icy.
I understand. Back then, she was a pretty, innocent girl who simply went to a place like ours to work as a waitress to supplement her living expenses, only to encounter such a tragic situation… I can imagine that a girl who was originally innocent was drugged by several thugs that night and then taken away. That entire night must have been a nightmare. Later, after experiencing such terrible things, her boyfriend didn't understand and abandoned her. The contempt she received from others was unbearable, and in the end, she gave up on herself and simply chose this path.
It can be said that she originally had a bright future ahead of her, but it was ruined just like that.
“Ah Qiang’s matter is settled. But the mastermind behind my death back then was Xiao Feng!” Xiao Xuan said through gritted teeth, “I later went with Miss Cang Yu, and I’ve always wanted revenge, but Xiao Feng has also left Nanjing, and I can’t find her…”
I looked at her and fell silent.
Xiao Feng...
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth: "Xiao Feng... I do know where she is..." Xiao Xuan's eyes lit up and she stared at me. I slowly said, "She is dead. Moreover, I watched her die with my own eyes, and I personally sank her body into the sea."
I then quickly recounted what happened when I tried to smuggle myself into the country.
As I spoke, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine!
I helped Xiaoxuan get revenge back then, and now Xiaoxuan has saved me!
Back then, Xiao Feng plotted to harm Xiao Xuan. He hired some thugs to get her drunk and then took her out to rape her for a night!
But later, on that smuggling boat, Xiao Feng was also dragged out and humiliated by the smuggling pirates for a whole night!
Xiao Feng committed numerous evil deeds, engaging in illegal pyramid schemes that ruined countless families. In the end, she herself met a tragic end, her body sinking to the bottom of the sea.
Could it be that fate truly holds sway? Is the cycle of cause and effect, good and evil, truly inescapable? Looking closely at each event, one can't help but feel a chill!
After I said those words, Xiaoxuan froze on the spot. Her expression immediately turned ashen, and her eyes seemed to lose their light. After a long while, she suddenly laughed: "She's dead! She's dead! She's actually dead!!"
Yang Wei and I exchanged a glance, and we couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Xiao Xuan suddenly stood up, laughed twice, then shook her head, turned around and ran away quickly. She stumbled as she ran, and almost fell down the steps. Just as I was about to chase after her, Yang Wei sighed behind me: "Let her go. Right now, she's in a mess. All she wants is to find a quiet corner and have a good cry."
After a pause, Yang Wei added, "Don't worry, my people will keep an eye on her. They won't let her do anything foolish."
A bitter taste filled my mouth: "Thank you, Wei... Yang Wei."
Yang Wei raised an eyebrow, then sat down again, picked up the bottle on the table, and shook it. She smiled wryly, "It's a pity you drank all the wine."
After saying that, Yang Wei picked up the wine bottle, slowly walked to the edge of the pond, then bent down and submerged the porcelain bottle in the water, filling it halfway with water before sitting down again. He poured himself a drink and, after drinking two cups of water, suddenly smiled and said, "Good wine."
“You’re drinking water.” I said, looking at her.
"Haven't you heard the saying?" Yang Wei seemed to smile, but there was a bitter taste in her eyes: "It's not the wine that intoxicates, it's the person who gets drunk."
I nodded, looking into Yang Wei's eyes. Suddenly, we understood each other perfectly, and I smiled and said, "That's right. If a person wants to get drunk, even drinking water can numb them."
I walked up to her, snatched the bottle from her hand, tilted my head back and downed it in one gulp, then wiped my mouth and said, "Not bad. You're absolutely right, it really is good wine!"
We smiled as we met, but our hearts were filled with bitterness.
"How long has it been since we sat down together for a drink like this?" I asked with a laugh.
"I don't know, I can't remember... and I don't want to remember." Yang Wei shook her head: "Anyway, it's all in the past, there's no point in thinking about it, and the past can't be changed."
“That’s right, that makes sense.” I nodded. “What you say always makes so much sense.”
Yang smiled and picked up the bottle. He shook it, and seeing it was empty, he went to the pool to fill it with water and returned.
"Yang Wei, I want to ask you a question." I suddenly looked up at her, my eyes burning with passion.
Yang Wei seemed to avoid my gaze, turning her head away: "What's the problem?"
I stared at her, then said in a deep voice, "...Why?"
Yang Weidi's shoulders seemed to tremble slightly, and she lowered her head and thought for a long time. I didn't say anything, just quietly watched her.
We just sat there, one looking, the other with her head down, and I don't know how much time passed. Everything was quiet around us; the courtyard was empty except for the two of us…
"Chen Yang..." After a long, long time, Yang Wei finally raised her head. This time, she no longer avoided my gaze, but looked straight at me: "You know what? I actually envy Qiao Qiao a lot."
“Jo...JoJo?” I was stunned.
“Yes, I envy Qiaoqiao… I envy her so much.” Yang Wei sighed, calmly taking a sip of wine… oh, it should be water, then sighed again before smiling bitterly, “Actually, let’s be frank. Among the women around you, the only one who has consistently held your heart is Yan Di. Not because she’s the prettiest, the smartest, or even scheming… but because she’s willing to dedicate her entire life to you; her life has practically melted into yours. Therefore, none of us can compare to her. So, when you decided to marry her, I, Yang Wei, was willing to step aside and not compete with her.”
I:"……?"
"But I love you very much too." Suddenly, Yang Wei said this in an almost calm and indifferent tone, which made my heart tremble. She looked at me with a serene expression, but a trace of tenderness flashed in her eyes and disappeared in an instant: "I really love you. From the beginning until now, you, Chen Yang, are the only man I, Yang Wei, have ever loved in my life."
I had thought Yang Wei would become indifferent to me from then on, but at this moment she suddenly admitted her feelings. I was a little confused and didn't know whether to be happy or puzzled.
"Of all the women around you, I admire Yan Di the most... but the one I envy the most is Qiao Qiao." Yang Wei smiled wryly, "Because she lives a much more carefree life than I do!"
I didn't speak, listening to Yang Wei continue: "You have a wife, you have Yan Di. Under these circumstances, Qiao Qiao can not care, because she is the most open-minded one. She doesn't care that you have a family and a wife. She is even willing to fool around with you, even willing to be your lover, willing to play with you, and to go crazy with you. Because it's her nature, or perhaps she is originally a free and unrestrained person. She can live freely and unrestrainedly, she can ignore other people's opinions, ignore other people's scorn... But most importantly, she can reject all the burdens on her body!"