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墨書 Inktalez
The sunlight in Los Angeles was blindingly harsh.
Su Yao squinted as she descended the boarding stairs, the fatigue from a sleepless night etched across her face. She opened her phone, and the screen was instantly bombarded with missed calls and WeChat messages from Lu Chen. After a moment of hesitation, she chose not to reply. Instead, she sent a message to Su Yuyan to reassure her: "Mom, I’ve arrived in America. Everything is fine, don’t worry."
Her phone vibrated immediately as Su Yuyan's barrage of messages came through: "America? Who did you go with? When did you decide this? Why didn’t you tell me in advance?"
Su Yao sighed and replied, feeling guilty, "I’m visiting a friend. I’ll be back in a few days."
Seeing her daughter still being evasive, Su Yuyan felt restless but helpless. In the end, she only insisted that Su Yao must call every day to check in.
"How sweet," Zhang Zihao's voice came from behind her as he leaned over to look at her phone screen.
Su Yao quickly locked her screen, a flicker of disdain crossing her eyes. "Please have some respect."
A few steps away, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom was parked at the exit of the private airport. The door opened, and a slender figure dressed in a powder pink Chanel suit stepped out.
Jiang Rou.
"Just as I thought." Su Yao tightened her grip on her phone, a cold smirk forming in her mind as she instantly understood the whole situation.
Jiang Rou approached with a smile, her makeup exquisite like a work of art. The Eugene jewelry dangling from her earlobes sparkled under the sunlight, worth a fortune.
"Miss Su," she said, her voice like honey-coated blades. "You must be exhausted from the long flight," though her gaze held an air of scrutiny.
A chill ran down Su Yao's spine.
She had never formally spoken to Jiang Rou before, but Jiang Rou struck her as an elegant and proud cat—seemingly gentle and charming on the surface, yet inherently dangerous and aggressive beneath.
But since she was already here, Su Yao decided to meet whatever challenge Jiang Rou posed and see what she truly wanted.
Forcing herself to smile, she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Jiang."
"Don’t rush off to the hotel," Jiang Rou said lightly as she brushed a strand of hair back. "Let’s talk first, shall we?"
That wasn’t a question; it was an order.
Su Yao glanced at Zhang Zihao, who raised an eyebrow and gave her a reassuring look that said "don’t worry."
In her heart, Su Yao chanted: "For Lin Yue, for Lin Yue."
"Alright," she nodded, hiding all her unease.
Su Yao and Zhang Zihao got into a car from Zhang Group while Jiang Rou returned to hers. On the way, Zhang Zihao hurriedly explained: “Su Yao, I didn’t mean to hide this from you; it’s Jiang Rou’s condition. If you want to see Lin Yue, you need to meet with her first.”
Su Yao simply hummed in response, thinking that as long as she could see Lin Yue, she wouldn’t hesitate to meet anyone now.
Jiang Rou took them to a private club near the airport.
This is one of the Jiang family's properties in Los Angeles, elegantly and luxuriously decorated, with European classical furniture paired with modern art, showcasing the owner's taste and wealth.
As Su Yao was about to get out of the car, Zhang Zihao suddenly grabbed her arm and said seriously, "I'll wait for you in the car. If anything happens, just call me. I will protect you."
Without looking back, Su Yao simply replied, "Thank you," and got out of the car.
They settled into a suite on the top floor. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire room with a bright and warm glow. Jiang Rou dismissed the attendants and elegantly sat on a white leather sofa.
"Tea or coffee?" she asked, lifting the teapot with a demeanor befitting a lady of high society.
"No, thank you," Su Yao said, staring directly at her. "Miss Jiang, let's get straight to the point."
The perfect social smile on Jiang Rou's face vanished, replaced by a straightforward and bare examination. She lifted her teacup and took a small sip. "I know about your relationship with Lin Yue." Her voice suddenly turned cold and hard, no longer concealing her intentions.
Su Yao showed no signs of panic; she calmly met Jiang Rou's gaze, waiting for her to continue.
"You know that Lin Yue and I grew up together, right?" Jiang Rou set down her teacup, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "When we were five years old, Lin Yue, Lu Chen, and I were kidnapped. Lin Yue diverted the kidnappers to save us but was taken away by them." Jiang Rou's eyes grew distant as she recalled the memory. "After that, Lin Yue developed depression. I vowed to protect her for life, cherish her, and love her."
Su Yao stared at Jiang Rou's meticulously manicured nails—blood-red and unnervingly perfect.
"I know Lin Yue has depression," she said calmly, "but I didn't know why."
"Of course she wouldn't tell you," Jiang Rou chuckled lightly. "She never lets outsiders see her vulnerability."
"Outsiders?" Su Yao repeated the word in her mind.
"Our families have had an engagement for a long time. Every time she suffers from depression, I'm there by her side. Every time she wants to end her life, I pull her back from the brink of death."
A pang of pain shot through Su Yao's heart, but she maintained her calm exterior, only revealing a slight tremor in her fingers.
"I'm not bragging or trying to force you out," Jiang Rou suddenly shifted back to a sugary tone. "I'm just telling you that even without me, you and Lin Yue could never be together."
Su Yao's pupils contracted as an invisible hand tightened around her heart.
"Do you know what kind of family the Lin family is?" Jiang Rou's gaze sharpened.
"The Lin family controls trillions in assets; they are the most powerful among the three major families," Jiang Rou scoffed. "Lin Yue bears the responsibilities of her family and the expectations of the three families. And you," she looked Su Yao up and down with pity in her eyes, "what can you offer her? Besides controversy, pressure, and pain, you have nothing."
Su Yao's fingers dug into her palm, leaving crescent-shaped marks on her skin.
"I can give her true love and understanding," she replied firmly.
"You can't be there for her forever," Jiang Rou's tone suddenly softened. "If Lin Yue gives up everything for you, how will she face her parents? How will she confront those who have loved her since childhood?"
Jiang Rou's eyes filled with tears: "When she experiences depression, can you understand that darkness? Can you endure the torment of her repeatedly attempting to take her own life?"
"You will ultimately torment each other until one of you breaks. If you choose your family, Lin Yue will also spend her life in pain." Jiang Rou's tears fell as she continued, "I just hope you make the right choice and don’t regret it after hurting her."
Su Yao remained silent. She was indeed worried that she wasn't strong enough, but she couldn't deny her desire to protect Lin Yue and spend her life with her.
"Su Yao, what she needs is not a passionate love, but long-lasting companionship and understanding. You are not from the same world; this is just a wrong encounter."
After their conversation, Su Yao returned to the car.
"How did it go?" Zhang Zihao asked curiously.
"Let's go to the hospital," Su Yao replied, not answering his question.
"Should we stop at the hotel for a bit?" Zhang Zihao looked at her pale face with concern. "You look really tired."
"No need, just go straight to the hospital," Su Yao's voice was as cold as ice. "I want to see Lin Yue."
On the way to the hospital, Su Yao gazed out of the window, her thoughts racing. Jiang Rou's words did not waver her love for Lin Yue; instead, they strengthened her resolve to protect and care for Lin Yue. She would not let Lin Yue be troubled by depression again, nor would she allow any thoughts of suicide to arise.
No matter how many difficulties lay ahead or how much opposition and doubt she faced, she would guard this love because she knew Lin Yue was worth it; their love was worth it.
Zhang Zihao watched Su Yao's stubborn profile and suddenly realized that he might truly be hopelessly in love with this woman.
The driver extended his gloved hand respectfully to open the car door for Su Yao.
"Should I accompany you inside?" Zhang Zihao grasped Su Yao's arm again, his tone earnest. "What if you run into someone from the Jiang family who gives you trouble…"
"No need," Su Yao pulled her arm away.
"I can go by myself; you’re tired too. Just go back to the hotel and rest."
She understood that letting Lin Yue see her with Zhang Zihao at this moment would only add more misunderstandings and complications.
Zhang Zihao seemed like he wanted to say something but ultimately raised an eyebrow and forced a smile. "Alright then, call me if you need anything."
As the car door closed, Zhang Zihao rolled down the window again. "The driver will wait nearby; he can pick you up anytime."
Su Yao didn't look back; she simply nodded gently and walked toward the hospital entrance, her fingers tightening and loosening on her bag strap.
The main building of the Jiang family’s private hospital resembled a crystal palace, with sunlight pouring in through the all-glass facade.
As soon as Su Yao stepped into the lobby, a rush of cool air greeted her, accompanied by a faint scent of roses.
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