She lived every day with such tension, truly feeling suffocated.
Slowly, as she tired from her struggle, Chu Yu held her tightly. He was genuinely heartbroken; he understood her hardship, her weariness, her unavoidable choices. He only blamed himself for his powerlessness.
Jiang Yan didn't know how she made it home. Dazed, she returned to her bedroom and lay on the bed, gasping for air. Her chest felt so tight, it was as if she were about to die.
Her phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Jin Lan's number. She hadn't saved his name, just a capital letter 'J'.
Jiang Yan answered. The voice on the other end spoke only two words: "Come down!"
She rose and left her apartment, taking the elevator down. Upon reaching the ground floor, Chu Yu's car had already driven away. As she stared blankly at where his car had been parked, a large hand grabbed her and pulled her towards the green belt beside the building.
"Is this what you call separating from Chu Yu cleanly?" Jin Lan pressed her against the wall, his hand fiercely gripping her arm.
He had clearly seen her interaction with Chu Yu. This was not an attitude of separation; it was clearly reluctance, giving Chu Yu false hope!
Jiang Yan trembled with pain. She shook her head. "I do want to break up with him, but... but I really can't control my feelings. Can you give me some time?"
She was already trying her best to reject Chu Yu, but she loved him!
"Have you not recognized your own status? With your dilapidated body, having been played with, having had an abortion, why do you think you're worthy of being with Chu Yu? Do you deserve him?" Jin Lan said, then pulled her towards his car.
Jiang Yan was provoked by his words and yelled angrily, "Yes, I know I don't deserve him. I only deserve to be with someone like you!"
"You're wrong. I don't want you. You are merely my mistress, a plaything! Just a toy! When I get tired of you, I'll naturally let you go! But I haven't had enough yet, so you can only be played with by me!" Jin Lan pulled her to his car, opened the door, and shoved her inside.
Jiang Yan tried to get out of the car, but Jin Lan locked it. He walked to the driver's seat, quickly unlocked it, and got in. Jiang Yan tried to escape, but he grabbed her back. The car started, and Jin Lan drove away from the complex.
"Jin Lan, Ye Wan said you are a good person, and everyone at your hospital says you are the best doctor... Please, I beg you, let me go. I'll pay you back. All the money you spent, I'll return it. I only ask you to let me go," Jiang Yan begged him, trembling.
"That's not what you said when you begged me to save your family back then!" A surge of anger brewed in Jin Lan's chest, and he tightened his grip on her hand.
"I know I was wrong. Please, let me go. I just want to be with Chu Yu," Jiang Yan cried miserably.
With a screech, a piercing brake sound echoed. Jin Lan stopped the car in the middle of the road. The driver behind them cursed and angrily changed lanes to leave.
Jiang Yan's head hit the windshield. Her mind cleared a little. She looked at the man beside her. His eyes were as cold as ice, sending a shiver down her spine.
"I... I... I might have been drunk just now, my mind wasn't clear. I'm sorry." Jiang Yan was truly terrified by his demeanor. The man's eyes looked as if he wanted to kill her; she thought he might end her.
Jin Lan released her expressionlessly and started the car again, moving forward. He didn't say another word. The air pressure inside the car dropped to a terrifying level. Jiang Yan had no idea what he would do next; she was so scared she trembled.