Chapter 138: A Foregone Conclusion

Jenna said as she pressed the gift box into Jiang Yao’s arms, “I specially picked this from his collection of antiques. Even I don’t get treated this well.”

Jiang Yao didn’t want to accept the gift from Old Master Jin.

But the gift wasn’t just for her; it was also a matter of face for the Cheng family. After some thought, she decided to accept it.

Finally, after standing at the door to greet the guests, the ceremony had yet to begin.

Jiang Yao slipped away to a quiet corner and found a chair to rest her feet.

She slipped off her high heels, crossed one ankle over the other leg, and massaged her aching ankle.

High heels were truly beautiful instruments of torture.

If it weren’t for the special occasion today, she would never have worn them.

“You don’t understand. He doesn’t pay attention either,” a man’s voice suddenly sounded beside her.

Jiang Yao was startled and turned to look.

He Yunqing had already taken off his navy blue suit jacket, wearing only a simple white shirt with the top buttons undone. He held a wine glass, the champagne inside gently swirling.

“Don’t understand what?”

As if by magic, He Yunqing produced a pair of flats from behind him and casually placed them in front of Jiang Yao.

“At a time like this, how can you wear high heels?”

“At a time like this?” Jiang Yao glanced at the flats. Their style was simple yet elegant, and they looked comfortable. “It’s precisely at times like this that I want to wear them. Normally, I wouldn’t bother with these shoes.”

He Yunqing pursed his lips, set down his wine glass, and slowly bent down to pick up the flats.

Seeing Jiang Yao’s ankles reddened and sore from the heels, he carefully lifted her ankle and gently helped her slip on the flats.

“Don’t you know pregnant women shouldn’t wear high heels? Or do you just not care about yourself?”

“Of course I know pregnant women shouldn’t wear heels,” Jiang Yao mumbled, then suddenly realized something was off. “Wait, what did you say? Pregnant? Who’s pregnant?”

He Yunqing straightened up and looked down at her with an intense gaze. “If not you, then who?”

Jiang Yao opened her mouth but could only laugh and cry at once. “Who told you I was pregnant?”

“The pregnancy test report.”

“Report?” Jiang Yao frowned, recalling the report Ye Yiyi had left in her hands, He Yunqing’s strange gaze, and a series of odd words he had said...

“Come on, I’m not the one who’s pregnant,” Jiang Yao glanced around, lowering her voice. “That report belongs to Ye Yiyi.”

“You’re not pregnant?”

“Of course not. So you thought I was pregnant, which is why you kept warning me and bought me all those supplements?” Jiang Yao spread her hands. “How could I be pregnant? I haven’t even... with Cheng Yanchi...”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Because He Yunqing’s heavy, burning gaze pinned her down, making it hard to breathe.

“Haven’t what?”

He pressed, digging for the truth.

“You said I haven’t what?” Jiang Yao gritted her teeth. “He Yunqing, is there any point in dwelling on this now?”

Is there any point?

Today was Jiang Yao and Cheng Yanchi’s engagement ceremony.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” He Yunqing seemed to be asking her, or perhaps himself.

“You didn’t ask sooner either. Besides, what difference does it make when it’s said? If I told you earlier, could you have stopped me from marrying Cheng Yanchi? You couldn’t, just like now, you can’t take me away from this engagement ceremony.” Jiang Yao’s eyes reddened.

He Yunqing’s gaze burned into her.

He had never imagined what he might have done if he had known she wasn’t pregnant.

But there was one thing he wanted to do now.

He stretched out a strong hand and grabbed Jiang Yao’s arm, pulling her as if to leave.

“Come with me.”

“What are you doing, He Yunqing? Let go of me!” Jiang Yao struggled but dared not shout, afraid of drawing attention to their tussle.

After a struggle, she managed to shake off his hand.

They stared at each other in silence.

After a long moment, Jiang Yao slowly spoke, “I won’t go with you. Even without this engagement ceremony, our fate was already sealed.”

Whether or not this engagement happened, she was destined to die.

“Miss Jiang? Miss Jiang? The ceremony is about to start,” someone called from afar.

Jiang Yao came back to herself, acknowledged with a nod, glanced at He Yunqing, and hurried away.

He Yunqing watched her retreating figure, silently clenching his fist...

“Yunqing.”

Jenna appeared behind him without his noticing.

He Yunqing turned around.

“I heard everything,” Jenna said as she came beside him, looking at him with some sympathy. “It’s time to let go. Don’t torture yourself like this anymore.”

“You don’t understand.”

When it came to matters between men and women, He Yunqing never discussed much with Jenna.

In his eyes, she was still a little sister who didn’t understand anything.

Although, in reality, she wasn’t much younger than him.

“How could I not understand?” Jenna looked at him stubbornly, tears shimmering. “Don’t always treat me like a child. I’m already old enough to love and marry. I have someone I like too, and I…”

He Yunqing looked at the girl who had grown up by his side and suddenly understood something.

“Nana…”

“I thought you knew,” Jenna choked up. “Yunqing, you’re not the only person in your life. Sometimes, you should also pay attention to those around you.”

She no longer called him “Brother Yunqing,” but used his given name instead.

“Nana, you’re not the only person in your life either,” He Yunqing said淡淡地, keeping the proper grace but maintaining a cold distance.

It was a rejection.

Meanwhile, the ceremony began.

Jiang Yao and Cheng Yanchi ascended the stage under everyone’s watchful eyes to receive their blessings.

Cheng’s mother personally handed a very ancient and exquisite box to Jiang Yao. “This has been passed down through generations in the Cheng family. Now, I entrust it to you.”

This was an acknowledgment that Jiang Yao was now part of the Cheng family.

Jiang Yao accepted the box gracefully and slowly opened it.

The moment she saw what was inside, her smile vanished, replaced by a startled cry. “Ah!”

Seeing Jiang Yao’s shock, Cheng’s mother and Cheng Yanchi also looked inside the box.

It was no heirloom.

Inside lay a doll stained with fresh blood. A knife was stabbed into the doll’s body.

The sickening stench of blood wafted out, making everyone feel nauseous.

Jiang Yao calmed herself, clenched her fists, and swiftly tore off the doll’s clothes.

On the doll’s chest was a large, capital letter “Z” revealed for all to see...