"What did you say?"
Jing Yan couldn't accept the news for a moment, looking at Zhan Mohan with surprise, "How is that possible? How could Si Yu be in trouble?"
Zhan Mohan signaled him to calm down, then recounted the events, "That's how it happened. She sacrificed herself to save us..."
After hearing the explanation, Jing Yan didn't know what to say. He sat on the sofa in a daze for a long time, then numbly asked, "What about her remains? Can they be recovered?"
Zhan Mohan shook his head, "There was nothing left. We could only erect a cenotaph for her and pay respects annually."
This was all they could do. Jing Yan knew it wasn't their fault. Those who had done evil had also been punished, and this was the inevitable outcome.
"Jing Yan, do you still have feelings for her?"
Looking at his current expression, Zhan Mohan was no longer sure.
Jing Yan pondered the question for a while, "Perhaps. I can't say for sure, but I am sincere towards Bai Qing. The deceased are gone. I think there will always be a place in my heart for Si Yu."
Though it sounded a bit scummy, he had after all loved Jiang Si Yu for so many years. Such feelings couldn't just be let go of on a whim. Regardless, Jiang Si Yu was no longer alive. Even if he kept a shadow of Jiang Si Yu in his heart, it would be just that.
Zhan Mohan did not comment on his words, but earnestly reminded him, "Yi Chen is right. You're not young anymore. It's time to get married and have children. If you think Miss Bai is a good match, then hurry up."
Jing Yan nodded. Bai Qing and Jiang Si Yu were clearly two very different people in personality. Therefore, he was absolutely certain that his feelings for Bai Qing had nothing to do with Jiang Si Yu.
Leaving Zhan Mohan's room, he still felt a pang of sadness. After all, Jiang Si Yu was someone who had always lived in his heart. It was understandable that he couldn't accept the sudden bad news immediately.
Fortunately, Bai Qing had already gone to sleep. She didn't know he had secretly gone out late at night, nor did she know about Jiang Si Yu. Their relationship would be much simpler.
Looking at the sleeping figure on the bed, Jing Yan stayed awake all night. The next day, due to lack of energy, he could only stay in the room to catch up on sleep, letting Bai Qing go out with Wei Yumeng and Mu Linjing.
As it happened, the two women were curious about Bai Qing and pulled her to the beach to chat. Zhan Mohan and his brother were barbecuing not far away.
This was not difficult for Zhan Yichen, but it proved to be a challenge for Zhan Mohan, who could only follow his brother's instructions.
Wei Yumeng would occasionally glance over while chatting, smiling at her husband's predicament. Bai Qing, sitting beside her, also chimed in, "President Zhan seems very humorous."
"He's not humorous at all, he's clearly clumsy," Wei Yumeng pretended to complain, though in her eyes, Zhan Mohan would always be associated with positive adjectives.
"No, I just think President Zhan is very charming."
Bai Qing added this, causing Wei Yumeng and Mu Linjing to look at her simultaneously. As she spoke, she smiled at Zhan Mohan, her expression seeming to carry a hint of... contentment, or perhaps admiration?
This expression made Wei Yumeng uncomfortable. Bai Qing should know that Zhan Mohan was her boyfriend's brother, and she, sitting beside her, was Zhan Mohan's lawfully wedded wife.
The harmonious atmosphere between them was naturally affected. Bai Qing quickly noticed their negative emotions and quickly explained.
"Please don't misunderstand. I just think President Zhan has a lot of personal charm. Perhaps it's because of the open culture abroad that I've formed this habit. So, I wasn't careful with my words. If I have offended Mrs. Zhan, please forgive me."
She apologized sincerely, which made Wei Yumeng unable to dwell on it further. Perhaps it was indeed due to cultural differences. Bai Qing was, after all, Jing Yan's girlfriend. To overreact to such a matter would be making a mountain out of a molehill.
So, Wei Yumeng chose to endure. Based on the principle of not making a fuss, she continued to smile at Bai Qing.
Fortunately, Bai Qing's subsequent behavior was not inappropriate. She maintained a comfortable distance from the two men, which made Wei Yumeng feel a bit ashamed for being so sensitive.
"Miss Bai, where is your hometown?"
Zhan Yichen suddenly asked this question. The reason was simple; he was thinking about Jing Yan's marriage and wanted to inquire about Bai Qing's family background.
Bai Qing's expression changed upon hearing the question. After a pause, she said, "My hometown is in the countryside. I have only one elder brother. He paid for my education and sent me abroad to study."
Seeing her somber expression, Zhan Yichen stopped asking.
After a while, she unexpectedly took the initiative to speak.
"My family was very poor when I was a child. My brother dropped out of school early to work and support me. He worked very hard to provide for me, especially after I went abroad to study. To save money, we hardly contacted each other."
As she spoke, tears seemed to well up in her eyes, but she held them back.
None of the people present had experienced such hardships, and they could only offer clumsy comfort.
When they had eaten enough, Zhan Mohan suggested she take some food to Jing Yan. She complied obediently and immediately did as asked.
While the two brothers were cleaning up, Mu Linjing pulled Wei Yumeng aside, and under the guise of aiding digestion, they walked a distance away.
"Linjing, what do you want to tell me?"
"You also feel that something is off about this Bai Qing?" Mu Linjing glanced in the direction Bai Qing had left, her gaze unfriendly. "The atmosphere was perfectly fine, why did she have to bring up these things? Was she trying to gain sympathy?"
Hearing this, Mu Linjing sounded rather sharp-tongued. However, considering their status and Bai Qing's relationship with them, she had no reason to fabricate stories about her past hardships.
Even if Zhan Yichen had initiated the question, it was out of ignorance, and he had quickly stopped once he learned the truth.
Her actions now inevitably seemed like she was trying to evoke pity.
Mu Linjing and Wei Yumeng were close friends who shared everything, so naturally, Mu Linjing sided with her.
"In any case, Yumeng, be careful. This Bai Qing always seems a bit strange. I don't have a good impression of her anymore."
As women, Wei Yumeng shared the same intuition, "I know what you mean, don't worry."
Meanwhile, the two brothers, while cleaning up, casually discussed what had happened at the dinner table. Zhan Yichen and Mu Linjing were truly in sync; their words were almost identical, both expressing caution towards Bai Qing.