Chapter 187: Chapter 184: Little Mo, Let’s Start Over 2
Ying Jingyao frowned tightly, looking at Jin Jumo, and nodded slowly.
It was almost four in the afternoon when Gu Yan hurried into the hospital room, his usual playful face unusually serious, whispering something into Rong Mochen’s ear.
Rong Mochen’s stern face suddenly tightened, his black eyes deep and cold, fixating on Jin Jumo in the hospital bed.
Gu Yan tugged at his hand and said, "Boss Rong, there’s no time to delay. If we’re any later, it might be too late."
Rong Mochen’s jaw tightened, and he looked down slowly at Xixi, who was sitting on his lap, curiously gazing at him.
"Boss Rong..."
"You stay here!" Rong Mochen stood up, placing Xixi into Gu Yan’s arms.
Gu Yan caught her, "Boss Rong..."
Rong Mochen stroked Xixi’s little face with his thumb, frowned deeply as he took one last look at Jin Jumo, then turned around, his long legs swiftly moving like a gust of wind, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Ying Jingyao watched the direction Rong Mochen left and his eyes flickered slightly.
"Uncle..."
Xixi stared blankly at the doorway for a long time, then turned her head to look at Gu Yan and said softly, "Gone."
Gu Yan’s throat moved slightly, and he patted Xixi’s little head, speaking gently, "Uncle will be back soon."
Xixi wasn’t very fond of Gu Yan, but at this moment, being held in his arms, she didn’t struggle. Hearing his words, Xixi replied softly, "When Xiao Xiao is better, will Uncle come back?"
Gu Yan glanced at Jin Jumo, "Mm."
Ying Jingyao heard this and frowned slightly.
Because of Jin Jumo’s sudden high fever, she stayed in the hospital for half a month instead of being discharged after just a week.
The initial pain from the broken spine had subsided significantly. The doctor said that Jin Jumo’s injury was healing well, and as long as she continued to take her medication and rested properly after being discharged, she would recover quickly and regain full mobility.
The Yu Yang Apartment was Jian Liangtong’s small home set up in S City, a small two-bedroom apartment that Mr. and Mrs. Jian had bought for her three years ago, where she lived with Jian Chenghao.
After being discharged, Jian Liangtong insisted on bringing Jin Jumo and the two kids to her home. According to her, Jin Jumo was still a convalescent and needed special care, and living at her home made it easier for her to look after her.
Jin Jumo figured that something might come up in the UK, which could cause Jian Liangtong to leave with Jian Chenghao. Given that the crew had started touring and she wasn’t needed much there, she thought it might be nice to spend this time with the children and Jian Liangtong, so she agreed.
That day, Jin Jumo and Jian Liangtong went out to a nearby supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner, returning to the Yu Yang Apartment with their groceries.
Jian Liangtong took out her key to unlock the door, and as Jin Jumo stepped a foot inside, she heard the soft voice of Xixi floating over, "But, doesn’t brother say that the old man with the surname Rong is our real dad?"
Jin Jumo’s leg trembled as she stepped inside, her whole body freezing on the spot.
Ye Yihan, sharp-eared, heard the door open, slightly furrowing his fair eyebrows but not responding to Xixi’s words. He looked towards the leg hesitantly stepping through the doorway.
Xixi was still waiting for Hanhan’s reply and didn’t notice the doorway.
Jian Chenghao’s bright black eyes shifted from the TV screen to the doorway, and he squinted slightly, "Aunt, you’re back?"
Jian Liangtong saw the shock in Jin Jumo’s eyes and sighed inwardly. She stepped around her and entered, speaking to Hanhan, who was looking in her direction, "Hanhan, how about we have hot pot tonight?"
Ye Yihan nodded at the suggestion, his dark eyes fixed on Jin Jumo, who walked in calmly.
Jin Jumo placed the homemade hot pot ingredients she had in the kitchen into the refrigerator along the wall.
"Mommy, this auntie has the same face as you." Xixi’s crisp voice echoed through the apartment.
Jin Jumo paused as she was putting things in the fridge, frowning lightly and turning her head to look.
"It really looks like her..." Jian Liangtong followed Xixi’s pointing finger to the TV screen and saw a face strikingly similar to Jin Jumo’s, muttering in amazement.
Jin Jumo glanced at the TV screen, her eyes skimming briefly over the woman’s face before landing on the man standing next to her, his figure tall and expression solemn.
"President Rong, we heard that Miss Gu is still a student. Are you getting engaged to her now to early award her the title of the Rong Family’s wife, extinguishing the hopes of other young admirers of Miss Gu?"
The luxurious Royal Underground Palace’s interior was opulently grand, its crystal chandeliers reflecting the magnificence of the underground palace, reminiscent of the medieval British Royal Palace.
Beside the tall, handsome man stood an adorable woman, sweetly entwining her arm around his, looking like a perfect couple.
A cluster of reporters aimed their cameras at the two, expressions of envy or excitement on everyone’s faces as they gazed at the pair.
After a female reporter asked her question, Rong Mochen remained silent, coldly pressing his lips together without speaking.
Instead, the woman gracefully tightened her grip on Rong Mochen’s arm and responded to the reporter with a clear, sweet voice, "That’s not it. I just want all the women who adore Brother Mo Chen to give up." Saying this, she playfully stuck her tongue out at Rong Mochen, "Brother Mo Chen can only belong to me."
After the woman answered, a wave of gasps arose from the assembled reporters.
Another voice chimed in, "Miss Gu is the only daughter of the real estate tycoon Director Gu, while President Rong is a magnate in the business world. The union of President Rong and Miss Gu could be said to be a match made in heaven, well-matched in social and economic status. Do President Rong and Miss Gu have plans for when the wedding will take place?"
Gu Lingyi gave a sweet smile, "I’ll listen to Brother Mo Chen."
"Miss Gu is charming and lovely, President Rong probably hopes it will be sooner rather than later." Someone in the group of reporters suddenly chimed in, prompting ambiguous smiles from the reporters.
Gu Lingyi’s pretty face turned scarlet as her bright eyes shyly glanced at Rong Mochen, yet boldly asked, "Brother Mochen, is that so?"
Before Rong Mochen could answer, the television screen suddenly went black.
Jin Jumo’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked at Jian Liangtong, who had tossed the remote onto the sofa.
Jian Liangtong pursed her lips, "Today’s news is really getting more and more pointless, no need to watch it."
Xixi blinked her eyes, lowered her head, and bit her chubby finger, unclear about what she was thinking.
Hanhan half-squinted at the black television screen, her little face slightly cold.
Upon hearing Jian Liangtong’s words, Jin Jumo said nothing, just turned her head and continued placing the ingredients into the fridge one by one.
At night, Jin Jumo and Jian Liangtong watched the three little ones serenely close their eyes and fall asleep in front of them, before quietly returning to their room.
In the bathroom, Jin Jumo stood at the sink washing her face, while Jian Liangtong, separated by a curtain, spoke as she showered, "Juzi, have you ever thought about giving up life here and going to the UK with me to make a living?"
Jin Jumo cupped water in her hands, washing away the foam from the cleanser on her face, "Never thought about it."
Jian Liangtong suddenly pulled back a corner of the curtain, peeking out at Jin Jumo, "Why?"
Jin Jumo picked up a dry towel and wiped her face, looking at Jian Liangtong through the mirror, "Language barrier; if I go to the UK, they won’t understand what I say, and I won’t understand them either, isn’t that uncomfortable?"
"Enough with that!" Jian Liangtong abruptly pulled up the curtain, saying no more.
In her heart, she knew there was only one reason Jin Jumo refused to go with her to the UK.
Over the years, there was a hurdle in her heart she couldn’t get past.
She knew that in recent years she frequently dreamt of Jin Jiancheng.
In the dream, Jin Jiancheng always faced away from her, ignoring her no matter what she said, never turning to look at her even once.
Now, she was in S City. One day if she mustered the courage to return to Z City, she wouldn’t have to travel far; a flight would only take one and a half hours to reach Z City.
Although she lacked the courage to go back now, at least she was closer to him.
If she went abroad, she’d be truly worlds apart from Z City; she feared then, Jin Jiancheng wouldn’t even visit her dreams, not even sparing her a glimpse of his back!
After freshening up, they lay down in bed, all lights in the room extinguished.
Jian Liangtong turned sideways, watching Jin Jumo’s face in the dark, hesitated several times, then softly said, "Juzi, I’ve always wanted to ask you a question."
Jin Jumo, unable to freely turn due to the wound on her back, lightly shifted and focused in the direction of Jian Liangtong, "What question?"
"Do you have feelings for the big boss... I mean that person?" Jian Liangtong took a breath and asked.
Jin Jumo hesitated, her voice softened a few degrees, "When are you referring to?"
Jian Liangtong, hearing her answer, understood.
Jin Jumo did like Rong Mochen, at least four years ago she liked him.
But now... perhaps even she no longer knew the answer.
Jian Liangtong didn’t ask further, falling silent.
Jin Jumo fluttered her lashes, looking at Jian Liangtong, "Liang Tong, I also have a question for you."
"What could you possibly want to ask?" Jian Liangtong asked in surprise.
"Don’t pretend anymore." Jin Jumo whispered.
Jian Liangtong raised her eyebrows slightly, her lips curled into a mocking smile in the darkness, "Juzi, I know what you want to ask, but I really don’t have the courage to say it. The truth is too ugly; sometimes I wish I’d suddenly lose my memory and forget everything."
As she spoke, Jian Liangtong laughed faintly, the laughter melancholy, "You tell me, why is it so easy for the protagonists in TV shows to lose their memory?"
Jin Jumo reached out to hold her hand; her palm felt the trembling of her fingertips, causing her heartache, as she softly said, "I won’t ask anymore, never again."
Jian Liangtong’s throat was choked, her voice hoarse, "Juzi, the person I least want to hide from in this world is you. Yet I... can’t say it."
"I know." Jin Jumo was silent for a long time, eventually said, "... Let’s sleep."
Jian Liangtong stared at the pitch-black ceiling, her eyes filled with crimson liquid, her little face pallid like a ghost.
In Z City, the high-profile and lavish engagement ceremony of Rong Mochen, an aristocratic celebrity, became the most sensational news domestically and internationally. For a week straight, the Rong Family’s engagement banquet remained as the top trending topic, with millions of search volumes and over a million comments daily.
Almost every day upon opening the news, there were reports about Rong Mochen and Gu Lingyi’s engagement.
Even the entertainment magazines in the café had covers featuring Rong Mochen and Gu Lingyi.
Jin Jumo merely glanced at the magazine, then never looked at it again, instead facing Ying Jingyao, "Still black coffee?"