Chapter 117: She Is Mine

The Name Language Cafe in Yangjiang City is situated by the lake, serving as a trendy spot for couples of this era to frequent.

At a table by the window sat a young man and woman. The woman stared out at the view, a faint trace of sorrow etched between her brows.

The man gently stirred his coffee with a spoon, his voice dripping with feigned tenderness. "Ziqing, have you agreed?"

This was Gao Jie. To anyone unaware of his true nature, he would surely appear to be a man deeply in love with the beautiful woman across from him.

Seeing that Yu Ziqing remained silent, Gao Jie continued, "Ziqing, I truly like you. I didn't mean to use your sister's illness to coerce you, but you know how much I’ve suffered these past few days ever since you misunderstood me and stopped talking to me..."

Gao Jie’s words were highly persuasive, yet Yu Ziqing had long since seen through his character. She remained unmoved; the more affectionate Gao Jie acted, the more disgusted she felt.

After a long while, Yu Ziqing still did not speak. Gao Jie began to lose patience, his voice rising slightly. "Ziqing, say something..."

"Hmph!" Yu Ziqing cast a look of disdain at Gao Jie and said coldly, "Gao Jie, put away that hypocritical mask. Isn't it just that you want to sleep with me?"

"Uh..." Gao Jie froze for half a second, clearly embarrassed. "Ziqing, how can you be so crude? I want to marry you; I’m being sincere..."

"Gao Jie!" Yu Ziqing glared at him fiercely, then lowered her gaze, gritting her teeth. "I... I will sleep with you, just once. You must save my sister. No one has ever touched me before..."

"What?!" Gao Jie was stunned by this response. He stared blankly for a long moment before letting out a dry chuckle. "Ziqing, since you’ve put it on the table, I won't beat around the bush. One hundred thousand is enough for me to sleep with several innocent girls. But you’re different; you’ve been the hardest one for me to win over, so a higher price is understandable. But one hundred thousand for just once? That’s too much. For one hundred thousand, as your father suggested, you should be mine for a lifetime!"

"Hypocrite!" Yu Ziqing’s oval face flushed with anger. "Marriage? I fear I’d be dumped before I even stepped foot in your house!"

"Haha..." Gao Jie nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't hang myself on one tree. My point is, for one hundred thousand, you should at least stay with me for a month so I can save some face in front of my friends."

"Get lost!" Yu Ziqing snapped indignantly. "I said just once!"

"Don't be angry, Ziqing." Gao Jie had discarded his mask, so he no longer cared about appearances. Seeing Yu Ziqing’s current state, he crossed his legs, looking utterly roguish. "How about this: we meet three times in a month. I'll set the times, and the money will be paid out over the course of that month. Delaying your sister's surgery by another month shouldn't be a problem, right?"

His face turned cold as he added, "If you still refuse, then forgive me for being unable to help. Your sister’s life is entirely in your hands."

"You are shameless!" Yu Ziqing shouted. There were few customers around; a few waiters in the distance turned to look, but quickly went back to their work. They were accustomed to such scenes—usually just young couples quarreling.

Gao Jie didn't speak, returning to his smirk as he watched Yu Ziqing. He pulled a pack of Soft China cigarettes from his pocket, lit one with a lighter, and puffed on it leisurely.

Yu Ziqing was clearly unaccustomed to the smoke. She quickly turned her head away, her brow furrowing even tighter.

Seeing this, Gao Jie laughed. "Ziqing, you look quite beautiful when you frown. Since you don't like me smoking, I won't. I’ve always respected beautiful women like you." With that, he crushed the half-smoked cigarette into an ashtray filled with coffee grounds.

Scum! The more Yu Ziqing thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and tears began to well up in her eyes. Gao Jie wasn't in a hurry; he just sat there waiting. After a few minutes, Yu Ziqing made up her mind. She turned her head and said, word by word, "Fine! I... I agree..."

"That’s more like it. Come, come, Ziqing..." Gao Jie stood up from his sofa chair, moved to sit beside her, and reached out to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

Yu Ziqing instinctively dodged and stood up immediately.

"Hmm?" Gao Jie said, annoyed. "I told you, don't play the part of the coy maiden. Sit down!"

"And what if I don't?" Before Yu Ziqing could speak, a nonchalant male voice drifted into their ears.

Gao Jie turned his head, his annoyance turning to rage. "Jiang Xiwen, why the hell are you always lurking around like a ghost, ruining my business? What is Yu Ziqing to you? You're just a kid, and you're already trying to pick up girls?"

"Xiwen, why are you here?" Upon seeing Jiang Xiwen, Yu Ziqing was both startled and embarrassed. Thinking that he might have heard their conversation, she felt deeply uneasy.

Hearing Gao Jie’s remarks, she blushed and snapped, "Gao Jie, shut your filthy mouth! Xiwen is still a child. If you bully him, I... I..."

"What will you do? You’re my woman now, and you’re looking for a wild boy? You two really have bizarre tastes—robbing the cradle?" Gao Jie stood up abruptly, facing Jiang Xiwen, trying to use his height to intimidate him.

However, when compared, he was only a few centimeters taller than Jiang Xiwen. Recalling their last meeting, when the boy was only 1.70 meters tall, he felt a flicker of surprise at how much the boy had grown in just over two months.

"So what if she's my woman? I like older women, what's it to you?" Jiang Xiwen sneered. His right hand shot out like lightning, clamping firmly onto Gao Jie's throat. With a slight squeeze, he forced a wheezing sound from the "dashing" youth’s throat.

"What's going on? Take the fight elsewhere!" A waiter shouted from afar after noticing the commotion.

"It's nothing, we're just fooling around!" Jiang Xiwen turned to grin at the waiter while simultaneously releasing Gao Jie’s neck. He then turned to Yu Ziqing and said, "Sister Ziqing, let’s go. Your sister’s surgery fees have been taken care of."

"What?" Yu Ziqing had been stunned by the sudden turn of events and hadn't known what to do. Now, hearing Jiang Xiwen’s words, she was filled with surprise. "Is it true, Xiwen? Don't joke around. If the money isn't there, my sister might..."

Her meaning was clear: if Jiang Xiwen was only trying to resolve the immediate crisis, she appreciated the gesture, but only Gao Jie could provide the funds to save her sister.

"Sister Ziqing, when have I ever lied to you?" Jiang Xiwen reached out, took Yu Ziqing’s hand, pushed aside the still-rubbing-his-wrist Gao Jie, and strode toward the stairs.

Being pulled along by Jiang Xiwen and looking at his lean but sturdy back, Yu Ziqing felt a strange sense of security. It was as if this person was no longer a child, but a mature man.

"Yu Ziqing, you actually believe him? Don't regret it when you leave!" Gao Jie rushed up, raising his arm as if to strike.

"What? Do you want a repeat of what happened in that alley last time?" Jiang Xiwen turned his head, looking at Gao Jie with mockery.

A wise man knows when to retreat. Gao Jie took two steps back. "Fine, Jiang Xiwen. You're just relying on Zhang Yong as your backer. Let me tell you, he’s going to be finished sooner or later. Just wait. Yu Ziqing, I offered you a chance and you refused. This little brat doesn't have a dime to his name. When your sister dies..."

Before Gao Jie could finish, Jiang Xiwen had dragged Yu Ziqing downstairs. He had no interest in dealing with the scoundrel further, leaving him to howl alone upstairs.

Not until they reached the lake did Jiang Xiwen let go. "Sister Ziqing, don't worry. I will cover your sister’s surgery fees. I'll go get the money tomorrow and bring it to your house..."

Yu Ziqing’s emotions were still unstable. Upon hearing this, she instinctively replied, "Xiwen, where would you get so much money? I can't take it..."

"Sister Ziqing, saving a life is the priority." Knowing she would try to refuse, Jiang Xiwen cut her off before she could continue.

"But..." From anger to helplessness, and then to surprise, her mind was in chaos. She only thought that she couldn't take Jiang Xiwen’s money—he was still just a child; where could he possibly get such a sum?

"But nothing!" Jiang Xiwen said, growing a bit impatient. "If you don't take my money, do you plan on going back to Gao Jie? Or did you actually want to be his woman and were just putting on a show?"

Yu Ziqing was stunned, and the tears she had been holding back finally cascaded down.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiwen softened his tone. "You are my teacher and my friend. I call you sister, so your sister is like my own. If you don't take my money, are you just going to watch her pass away? You and Uncle Yu had no choice but to agree to that scoundrel, and anyone would understand and forgive that. Now that the money is available, why are you still hesitating? I truly don't know what you're thinking."