After Breaking Up, I Married the Dying Tycoon in a Flash
Chapter 138: Forcing Me to Marry

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Forcing Me to Marry

He was pallid, his brows and eyes lackluster, exceptionally indifferent. After a long time, his Adam’s apple bobbed and he said softly, "I’m truly sorry."

Shen Jinci had long known that, beyond the crowd, he had seen Bian Yue.

He thought it was just an observation with no interaction.

But now he knew that a connection once existed between them, and it was profound.

He didn’t know how to tell himself that their past was not important.

Those real letters, every word earnestly expressing, that Bian Yue had once placed so much trust in him...

Nobody knew how long Shen Jinci stood alone in the temple, but he thought, to some extent, the real ’Shen Jinci’ and Bian Yue were truly the best match.

He seemed like a spectator who won a fortune by chance, stepping from the shadows into the light, bathed in the glory of the spotlight. Everyone said he dazzled, but without that light, he actually had nothing left...

When Zhuang Jie Ning arrived at Fengcheng Group as decided, Li Tingmo was just coming in from the outside.

Having not seen him for a while, Li Tingmo appeared much more austere.

His gaze fell on Zhuang Jie Ning with a scrutinizing indifference.

Zhuang Jie Ning was caught off guard by Li Tingmo’s sudden cold demeanor, but soon managed to lift a smile and stepped forward, "Uncle, it’s been a long time."

"Indeed it has been a long time, Jie Ning. Come with me," Li Tingmo glanced at Zhuang Jie Ning. Having navigated the business world for many years, his eyes were sharp and penetrating.

Zhuang Jie Ning was here on Li Tingmo’s summoning, and now his unfathomable demeanor set her heart racing with uncertainty.

She lowered her eyes, suppressing the anxiety within, and followed Li Tingmo towards the elevator.

Inside the Chairman’s private elevator, there was no conversation between them from beginning to end.

Zhuang Jie Ning anxiously watched Li Tingmo’s profile, her palms sweating.

It wasn’t until the elevator doors opened and Li Tingmo stepped out first that he said inscrutably, "Your aunt heard you were coming today and left early; she should be waiting for you in the resting room now."

Zhuang Jie Ning’s smile was stiff as she said, "Really? What does Aunt want to see me for?"

Li Tingmo stopped in his tracks, looking at Zhuang Jie Ning with a cold gaze, meaningfully saying, "Jie Ning, I’ve always liked you. You’re smart and beautiful, and you know what you should do as a lady of high society, but sometimes being too clever for your own good can be off-putting."

Zhuang Jie Ning’s smile completely disappeared, and she looked at Li Tingmo with a hint of confusion, her voice trembling, "Uncle... what do you mean by that, why...why would you say that?"

"Why I said that, your aunt will inform you," Li Tingmo concluded, not allowing Zhuang Jie Ning any time to respond, and walked briskly towards his office.

Tang Yuwei was tasting tea, and as she saw Li Tingmo and Zhuang Jie Ning come in, she smiled and said, "Come, try the tea I just brewed."

Zhuang Jie Ning had no mood for tea, she sat restlessly looking at Tang Yuwei, clenching her teeth and whispered, "Auntie, if you have something to say to me, just say it."

"Jie Ning, you don’t have to be so nervous. I reached out to you because I like you," said Tang Yuwei.

Tang Yuwei smiled as she walked toward Zhuang Jie Ning, ignoring the panic on her face, and slowly said, "I have known you since you were a child, even earlier than Bian Yue. In fact, I prefer you over Bian Yue. If the arranged marriage between you and Shiheng had succeeded, we would already be family by now."

Zhuang Jie Ning’s scalp tingled, her hand gripped by Tang Yuwei felt ice cold. She tried to break free but couldn’t, her composed face full of apprehension, "Auntie, what do you want to say? Just be straightforward."

The smile remained on Tang Yuwei’s face as she placed a valuable bracelet into Zhuang Jie Ning’s hand, "Take this as my gift upon meeting you. From now on, we will be family."

Zhuang Jie Ning was so frightened that her pupils dilated. She looked at Tang Yuwei in stunned disbelief, thinking she had misheard, and uncertainly asked, "Auntie... what are you saying? What gift upon meeting?"

"A gift for the future daughter-in-law. What? Don’t you like it?" Tang Yuwei’s smile was gentle and her face kind, her well-fitting cheongsam complemented her demeanor, making her seem like a gracious and sophisticated matriarch.

She gently patted Zhuang Jie Ning’s hand and continued slowly, "I’ve given it some serious thought about your marriage to Shiheng, and I decided it should not be annulled. After all these years of affinity, upon reflection, I still think you are the best match for Shiheng."

"Auntie, you are well aware of Shiheng’s condition. Now you want me to marry him—have you considered my position?" Zhuang Jie Ning saw that Tang Yuwei was serious and blurted out in a panic.

Before Tang Yuwei could reply, Zhuang Jie Ning’s expression changed.

She panicked like a fluttering butterfly, her eyes wide with anxiety as she looked at Tang Yuwei, her voice trembling, "Auntie, I didn’t..."

But Tang Yuwei was emotionless; she didn’t let Zhuang Jie Ning finish and slapped her across the face.

Zhuang Jie Ning, holding her face, didn’t come back to her senses for a long time.

Her mind buzzed, her cheek burned with pain, and her eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

"The severity of Shiheng’s illness is known only to Bian Yue, Shen Jinci, and people in the Li Family. I’m very curious where you got your information from, how you learned that Shiheng was seriously ill and on the brink of death?" Tang Yuwei raised her voice accusatorily at Zhuang Jie Ning and scoffed, "Zhuang Jie Ning, did you and Su Youxue really intend to kill my son?"

"Auntie... It’s not like that..." Zhuang Jie Ning hadn’t anticipated that Tang Yuwei would have investigated the matter so thoroughly. Anxiously looking at Tang Yuwei, she quickly explained, "How could I dare poison Shiheng? I just wanted to play a trick on Su Youxue, it was just ordinary health supplements, harmless to the body."

"What evidence do you have to prove it’s harmless?"

"What..." Zhuang Jie Ning didn’t immediately grasp Tang Yuwei’s question.

Tang Yuwei’s sneer intensified as she stated emphatically, "You say it’s harmless, but Shiheng spat blood. If Bian Yue hadn’t taken the risk to sign the guarantor’s document, my son might already be dead by now. Your Zhuang Family must take responsibility for this!"

Zhuang Jie Ning heard and understood all.

She gave a hollow laugh, slowly lowered her hand from her face, her eyes serene, "Auntie is quite the strategist. Are you trying to force me into marrying Li Sihe? With the intention of making me a widow? To pave his way using the capital of our Zhuang Family?"

"Jie Ning, I thought you were a smart kid." Li Tingmo, who had been silent since entering the room, finally spoke up, his voice cold, "Do you think I would have let you come here today without discussing it with your father beforehand?"

Zhuang Jie Ning felt a chill in her heart, "What did you say to my father?"