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"Alright, since everyone is here, let's settle this matter today!" Jin Zhongshu was quite pleased with the gathering. With everyone present, he was determined to resolve his son's issues; otherwise, people would say he couldn't even manage his own son.
Jin Chengyan remained silent, still kneeling on the ground without even a cushion, his knees pressed directly against the wooden floor.
Jono chose to look away, believing that out of sight meant out of mind.
Unexpectedly, her gaze met Ruan Shengyu's.
When they had briefly crossed paths at Jin Mansion, Ruan Shengyu had immediately felt wary of Jono. Later, their brief exchange in the hotel restroom only deepened her aversion.
What right did Jono have to meddle in her life?
However, what shocked her the most was that just when she thought she had finally been accepted by Jin Zhongshu and could step into Jin Family Mansion, she received the news that Jono was married to Jin Chengyan!
It turned out that Jin Zhongshu had sent for her just to humiliate her once more.
"Jin Chengyan, since you and Miss Qiao have already registered your marriage, we cannot treat her poorly in our Jin Family. I've already chosen a date; you both prepare for the wedding!" Jin Zhongshu didn't even glance at Ruan Shengyu. If it weren't for this matter needing resolution, someone like Ruan Shengyu would never set foot in the Jin Family's door.
Jono was bewildered by how things had escalated. She looked at Jin Chengyan's back; he said nothing and simply knelt there with a straight back. It was unclear whether he was sulking at Jin Zhongshu or at her.
"Old Jin, why didn't you discuss this with me?" Melancholy looked at her husband with some dissatisfaction, feeling left out of the decision-making process.
Jin Zhongshu glanced at the upright figure of Jin Chengyan and snorted lightly before speaking kindly to his wife. "This matter is fundamentally our son's fault; how can we let down the girl?"
"But you do realize that the Qiao Family just went bankrupt? Jono's father..." Melancholy whispered, avoiding mentioning Jono's painful situation.
Jin Zhongshu suddenly recalled this detail he had overlooked.
"True, given what the Qiao Family has just gone through, it's indeed not suitable for a wedding celebration. However, since Jono is now our daughter-in-law, we cannot let her suffer. We should announce it to the entire family and include her name in the family register."
The whole family listened to the conversation between Jin Zhongshu and his wife. It was clear they had accepted Jono despite her being a bankrupt heiress and having a background vastly different from the Jin Family's. When it came to choosing among actors, they would undoubtedly choose Jono.
Yet through it all, Jono felt she had no place to speak up.
She had a contract with Jin Chengyan, and how to handle this matter depended on him. He mentioned holding a wedding, and it seemed she had no reason to refuse.
If he said no wedding, she couldn't cry and demand that Jin Chengyan give her one.
His ultimate goal was merely to make Ruan Shengyu confront her feelings.
Now that the parties involved were present, Jono could see that Ruan Shengyu's expression was filled with sadness and regret upon learning about Jin Chengyan's marriage.
“Dad, I’ve said it before: marriage is my own affair. Whether Jono and I hold a wedding or not, whether I’m with Ruan Shengyu or Jono is my choice. If you truly want to impose your will on me, then I’m willing to relinquish my status as the heir of the Jin Family.” For the first time in years, Jin Chengyan spoke to Jin Zhongshu like this.
Six years ago, he lacked such resolve and could only let his father dictate his life. Six years later, Jin Chengyan had grown strong enough that even without the title of heir, it wouldn’t affect him at all.
However, he didn’t expect that when these words came out, the angriest person wouldn’t be his father but her mother.
Without warning, Melancholy rushed in front of Jin Chengyan and slapped him hard across the face in front of everyone.
The force was considerable enough to turn Jin Chengyan’s head aside.
“Jin Chengyan, are you really willing to give up the entire Jin Family for a woman? Is this what the Jin Family has taught you all these years? You’ve disappointed me greatly!” Melancholy was heartbroken as she turned to look at Ruan Shengyu.
She knew very well that this matter was ultimately for Ruan Shengyu.
“Ruan Shengyu, my son is willing to give up his status as the heir of the Jin Family for you. As a woman, don’t you feel particularly proud? But let me tell you, as long as Jin Chengyan walks out of this house today, you will have no place in Qin Cheng!” The matriarch of the Jin Family was not only gentle but also ruthless. “Jin Chengyan, I mean what I say! You better take care of yourself!”
Ruan Shengyu turned pale. She had always been the target of criticism from the Jin Family, but she never expected that Jin Chengyan would be willing to give up his identity as heir for her.
In fact, what stood between her and Jin Chengyan was not a lack of feelings but the disparity between their families.
Silence filled the living room for a long time.
Standing still, Jono finally saw clearly through this family drama.
At the same time, she realized just how much Jin Chengyan cared for Ruan Shengyu, willing to go against his entire family just to be with her.
"Ruan Shengyu, how lucky you are!"
"I have already married Jono. Please do not involve Ruan Shengyu in anything; she is just a friend to me. If I can't even qualify as a friend, what difference is there between me and a walking corpse?" Jin Chengyan said in his characteristic deep voice.
Once again, he used Jono as a shield.
Jono had always known her role—she was merely a tool for Jin Chengyan, a catalyst for his relationship with Ruan Shengyu. But when she truly realized this, it still hurt, especially when she discovered that her feelings for him were no longer as pure as they once were.
Jin Zhongshu felt his temples throb with anger at Jin Chengyan's words. He looked up at Jono.
Among them all, he felt the most innocent was Jono.
"Jono, it is indeed unfair to you that you married Jin Chengyan." Apologizing for his son made Jin Zhongshu feel utterly embarrassed. "If you have any requests, please feel free to bring them up."
Now, all eyes were on Jono, except for Jin Chengyan, who remained upright and knelt there without a hint of remorse.
And what could Jono possibly ask for?
However, since Jin Chengyan insisted that they were husband and wife, as the one who signed the contract, Jono could only comply with him.
"I don't feel wronged; everything he does is with my consent. I also believe that he has no relationship with Miss Ruan anymore. If he truly loved Miss Ruan and married me, then such a man is better off without." Whether this statement was more truth than lie, Jono did not know.
But she clearly saw Jin Chengyan's body shift slightly.
She also noticed Ruan Shengyu take an unsteady step back upon hearing her words, grabbing onto something to avoid embarrassment.
Jin Zhongshu was surprised by Jono's response; even with his son's behavior, Jono still spoke up for him.
However, this was good; it could completely sever the feelings between Jin Chengyan and Ruan Shengyu.
"Yes, if Jin Chengyan is really playing both sides, then he is not a man of our Jin Family!" Jin Zhongshu's words pointed directly at Ruan Shengyu.
Today, Ruan Shengyu was facing an unprecedented blow.
She recalled how she had once insisted that Jin Chengyan come to her even after falling down the stairs. At that time, she had told Xu Lin that she had nothing left but Jin Chengyan.
But now it seemed that she didn't even have Jin Chengyan anymore.
She had thought that Jin Chengyan would always wait for her, believing that no matter how far she went, as long as she said she was tired, Jin Chengyan would open his arms to embrace her.
"I think... you all must be misunderstanding!" Ruan Shengyu's desolate voice emerged, causing Jono to feel a bit uneasy.
The protagonist of this drama had shifted to another person.
"Why are you blaming me? I haven't done anything these years. I never asked Jin Shao to make me famous, I never obstructed him from being with other women, and I never demanded that he stay by my side! All of this... was his choice. May I ask Mr. Jin and Mrs. Jin, one of you invited me here while the other said you wouldn't let me go in the future—what exactly did I do wrong? Is it my fault for being good-looking and catching your son's attention?"
Everyone: "!"
Ruan Shengyu's ability to say such things truly made people see her in a new light.
"Furthermore, the Jin Family Young Mistress you acknowledge isn't exactly clever either! You think finding two people to tarnish my reputation will ruin me? Mrs. Jin!" Ruan Shengyu faced Jono directly, splashing a bucket of dirty water onto her!
No one expected Ruan Shengyu to bring this up at this moment, not even Jin Chengyan.
The scene seemed to grow even more chaotic.
"I didn't!" Jono denied vehemently. "I have no grudge against you; why would I hire someone to violate you?"
This was something Jono still couldn't comprehend.
"Hah," Ruan Shengyu let out a light laugh filled with sarcasm. "Because the one you love doesn't love you back; his heart isn't with you!"
As soon as those words were spoken, it seemed that everyone understood. Jono, consumed by love and hatred, had targeted Ruan Shengyu. As long as she tarnished her reputation, Jin Chengyan would no longer be with her.
It seemed reasonable enough.
Moreover, Jono's earlier words indicated that she truly loved this man!
Thus, it was not surprising that she would do such a thing for the man she loved.
In an instant, Jono felt trapped in a dilemma.
Jin Chengyan, however, had no intention of helping her explain.
Jono felt isolated and helpless; looking at those unfamiliar gazes, she wished she could disappear right then and there!
"Jono, is that true?" Jin Zhongshu asked. Although he was dissatisfied with Ruan Shengyu, he did not want a person of such despicable character to become his daughter-in-law.
- End of Chapter -
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