After Prison, She Shocks the World
Chapter 30 I’ll take you with me even if I die

Chapter 30: Chapter 30 I’ll take you with me even if I die

The Su family is large, and its members are not united in their opinions. Without absolute certainty, I mustn’t touch Lady Su. If she’s cured, I’ll be the Su family’s benefactor. If not, my very life could be in danger.

"I won’t hide it from you, Miss Fu. I came on my own," Aunt Mei said. "I’ve known our young lady since we were children, and after she married, she brought me to the Su family. Over the years, I’ve been commuting between the Su residence and the sanatorium."

Fu Bing stared at her intently. "You clearly had the opportunity to take her place and become the new mistress of the Su family."

She recalled that Aunt Mei had also been present when Old Madam Su was hospitalized. When she visited Sully, Aunt Mei hadn’t joined them for meals, but her position was clearly not comparable to that of the butler and other servants.

Aunt Mei smiled and shook her head. "I heard Miss Fu has a sister, not related by blood but as close as a real sibling. Perhaps you can understand the bond between me and our young lady."

Aunt Mei’s gaze grew somewhat distant. "If my young lady were gone, I would be willing to take her place and care for the people and children she loves. But my young lady is still alive; she’s just been shattered by the pain of losing her daughter. She’s held on for so many years without giving up. I can’t possibly steal her husband and children, and let her wake up to find that everyone has betrayed her."

"The other members of the Su family are too embarrassed to approach you, Miss Fu, so I shamelessly came here, hoping you could examine her, offering me a final shred of hope." As Aunt Mei spoke, tears streamed down her face. Fu Bing handed her a tissue.

Once Aunt Mei had calmed down, Fu Bing asked, "And the second matter?"

Aunt Mei sniffed. "I’d like to ask you, Miss Fu, to join forces with me to prevent Su Kexin from marrying Qin Jinhai."

Fu Bing was startled. "Is Su Kexin’s marriage to Qin Jinhai already a done deal?"

"The Su family favors Qin Jinhai over Qin Jinmo, believing him more suitable to lead the Qin family. Su Kexin also fancies Qin Jinhai, and the Su family will support him both openly and secretly. By then, Qin Jinhai’s influence will have grown even stronger, and you, Miss Fu, will find it impossible to escape his control."

Fu Bing offered a faint smile. "You seem to know quite a bit."

"I’ve managed to live in the Su family for so many years without them growing tired of me; I certainly have my methods."

Fu Bing pondered for a moment. "I can examine Lady Su, but a member of the Su family must be present."

Aunt Mei’s heart leaped with joy. "I’ll have the Third Young Master come."

It’s always easier to talk to intelligent people, Fu Bing thought.

"As for dealing with Su Kexin, I have my reservations," Fu Bing continued. "You’ve cared for her for many years; it’s impossible that you feel no affection for her. Yet, you propose to ally with an outsider against her. That lacks credibility."

Aunt Mei knew it wouldn’t be easy to persuade Fu Bing. Even if Fu Bing harbored grievances against Su Kexin, she wouldn’t readily agree to act against her.

"I understand your concerns, Miss Fu," Aunt Mei said. "I will demonstrate my sincerity in this matter later. Regarding the consultation at the sanatorium, regardless of the outcome, I will pay you a fee of ten million."

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll just take a look and leave?"

"Miss Fu is not that kind of person."

Fu Bing was silent for a moment before saying, "Come back to me once you’ve settled matters with the Su family."

"Alright." Aunt Mei’s heart filled with joy. She thanked Fu Bing repeatedly before leaving.

Fu Bing walked home. Downstairs, she saw a familiar car. Qin Jinhai leaned against a black Maybach. He held a lit cigarette but wasn’t smoking it.

Hearing footsteps, Qin Jinhai turned his head. They looked at each other, the streetlight casting long shadows between them.

Qin Jinhai said sarcastically, "Must you live in such a dump to prove you’ve turned over a new leaf and are starting afresh?"

"There’s nothing wrong with this place." Fu Bing had no desire to argue with him. She was tired from working non-stop every day.

"What is your relationship with Yang Ningzheng that you trust him enough to give him the agency rights for the medicine sales?"

"’Whatever relationship you imagine I have with him, that’s what it is. After all, in your mind, there’s only one type of relationship between a man and a woman.’"

Qin Jinhai tossed away the cigarette butt and walked towards Fu Bing. She watched him approach calmly, neither retreating nor advancing. Qin Jinhai stopped in front of her.

He had rushed to see her the moment he got off the plane. Her complexion was much improved, lacking the fragility she’d had when she was ill. But the little weight she had managed to regain was gone again.

Fu Bing’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Does President Qin need to inspect every lover before taking them to bed?"

Qin Jinhai averted his gaze, his voice cold. "Don’t you already know?"

"’Strictly speaking, this is our first meeting since you began considering me your lover.’ Fu Bing’s smile held a hint of sarcasm. ’President Qin, you had better exercise some restraint. If Miss Su finds out, she might not dare to harm you, but she could be quite ruthless with me.’"

"Su Kexin?"

"Does President Qin have another Miss Su in mind?"

"I have no relationship with the Su family," Qin Jinhai explained. "And I definitely won’t marry her." Qin Sheng would never hand over the Qin family to him. Therefore, the one to marry Su Kexin would definitely not be him.

"Oh," Fu Bing responded.

Qin Jinhai had a strong urge to pinch her expressionless face. But he restrained himself. His slender fingers fidgeted slightly at his side.

"I’m hungry."

"’I just ate. I’m not hungry.’"

Qin Jinhai’s mouth twitched. "Make me a meal."

"’Aren’t you afraid I’ll poison you?’"

"’If I die, I’ll make sure to drag you down with me.’"

Fu Bing: "..."

Not wanting him upstairs, Fu Bing said, "Go to Imperial Garden."

"’Mm. I’m tired. You drive.’" With that, he handed her the car keys.

Fu Bing got into the car, her face impassive. Before he had even settled in, she deliberately slammed on the accelerator. Qin Jinhai’s body lurched forward with the inertia. He only managed to steady himself by grabbing the overhead handle.

Fu Bing said with a smirk that wasn’t quite a smile, "’I haven’t driven such an expensive car before. I got a little excited.’"

Qin Jinhai ignored her. After fastening his seatbelt, he turned his head to the side and fell asleep.

While waiting at a red light, Fu Bing couldn’t help but glance at Qin Jinhai. When asleep, he looked like a child, his expression innocent. But awake, he provoked the urge in people to stab him to death.

As the car crossed the Jiangcheng Fourth Bridge, Fu Bing found her gaze drawn irresistibly to the churning waters of the river below. If she were to drive the car off the bridge, the deep river below would surely claim both their lives...

Qin Jinhai had opened his eyes at some point. The streetlights flanking the road cast alternating light and shadow across their faces as the car sped along.

Suddenly, Qin Jinhai spoke. "’If you don’t drive into the river soon, you’ll miss your chance.’"

Fu Bing’s hand trembled on the steering wheel. The car nearly swerved into the guardrail. Qin Jinhai reached out a long arm and corrected the steering. Once she had calmed down, he leaned back leisurely into his seat.

"’Dying is easy. A single stab to the heart would do it. Could you bring yourself to do that?’"

"’The only reason you’re still alive and talking to me isn’t because I can’t bring myself to harm you, but because I cherish my own life too much.’"

Qin Jinhai scoffed. "’You’d better continue to cherish your life. Whatever happens, don’t think about dying. If you absolutely must die, make sure to drag a few others down with you. Otherwise, it’s too great a loss.’"

"’I’ll do my best to drag you down with me before I die, so we can all perish neatly together.’"

"’So, you’re that eager to share life and death with me?’"

Fu Bing desperately wanted to curse. Damn it!

Qin Jinhai turned his head, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. His fatigue seemed to evaporate the moment he saw her.

「Early in the morning.」

Fu Bing woke up in Qin Jinhai’s bed. Last night, Qin Jinhai had seemed intent on draining all her strength, venting his energy upon her again and again. Despite the hatred between them, their bodies were surprisingly compatible. They easily found ultimate pleasure in each other. Afterward, Qin Jinhai had held her like a body pillow, sleeping dreamlessly until dawn.

Fu Bing deeply detested this instinctive physical and subconscious closeness to Qin Jinhai. This instinctual closeness, she feared, would become the blade that eventually pierced her.

She carefully extricated herself from Qin Jinhai’s embrace, changed her clothes, and went downstairs.

When Aunt Heng saw Fu Bing coming downstairs, her face lit up with pleasant surprise. "Miss Fu, have you and the Young Master reconciled?"