Chapter 123: Forget It

The air hung heavy for a brief moment. Tang Yao stood by the window, watching Tang Que from afar. It hadn't been that long since they last met, yet he had grown so frail—his cheeks sunken, his frame skeletal, his entire spirit withered.

But then, that was how sick people looked.

Tang Yao withdrew her gaze, feeling a pang of pity. She said softly, "Your illness isn't incurable. You need to pull yourself together and cooperate with the doctors."

Tang Que did not speak. He remained silent, seemingly having nothing to say to her.

Realizing her mind had wandered, Tang Yao collected herself and added, "I called your sister. She said she couldn't make it. If you need someone to look after you, you can hire a private nurse."

Tang Que remained silent, even closing his eyes to avoid looking at her.

Although they had been separated for a while, Tang Yao still held feelings for him, but she could never quite see through him, which left her feeling insecure. He claimed he didn't like Cheng Hui, yet the way he looked at her was always different.

They say a woman’s intuition is sharpest. Tang Yao sensed that Tang Que’s feelings for Cheng Hui were not what she had assumed. He might deny it with his lips, refusing her, but his eyes betrayed him.

Tang Que hid things so deeply that she had been fooled by him at the start.

Tang Yao walked over and sat on the edge of his bed, her fingers grazing his face and the bridge of his nose. "Do you remember our graduation trip after high school?"

Tang Que finally opened his eyes. "What about it?"

Tang Yao hesitated for a long time before asking, "I want to know, how do you really feel about Cheng Hui?"

Cheng Hui had joined that graduation trip because Tang Que was going, though an even more significant reason was that Tang Yao had invited her.

Tang Yao had seized that opportunity to confess her feelings to Tang Que. Fearing he would refuse, she had impulsively kissed him. As luck would have it, Cheng Hui had seen it; she seemed to have witnessed something she shouldn't have and quickly ran away.

Tang Que had pushed her away immediately, his expression unreadable. At the time, however, she had been so happy that she ignored his look. To her, not rejecting the kiss meant he liked her, and liking someone meant they could be together.

Of course, she knew Cheng Hui had always liked Tang Que, but so what? She liked him too, and when it came to men, she wasn't about to back down.

She didn't want to yield Tang Que to Cheng Hui, so she had made her move first. She felt fortunate that she had confessed to him before Cheng Hui and that she had succeeded.

That period had been the happiest time of her life. Tang Que was good to her, and once things progressed naturally, she was willing to give herself to him and sleep with him.

From beginning to end, Tang Que never showed a hint of dislike toward her, especially in front of Cheng Hui. He had rejected Cheng Hui so decisively—so ruthlessly, without a shred of mercy.

She had naively believed that Tang Que truly loved her, as he was so good to her, but in reality, she had never understood him at all.

Once, she had accidentally discovered Cheng Hui’s graduation photo on Tang Que’s phone—a solo shot of just her.

Her world had collapsed at that moment. Why would he have her photo on his phone?

But she hadn't had the courage to confront him. Instead, she put the phone back and acted as if nothing had happened. Yet, that incident became a thorn in her side; she became deeply bothered by any contact between him and Cheng Hui.

Later, Tang Huaihuai called, demanding that she and Tang Que pretend to break up so that Tang Que could get close to Cheng Hui. If it succeeded, Tang Que would break up with Cheng Hui and return to her.

She had refused, thinking it was absurd, but she dared not defy Tang Huaihuai. Tang Que was obedient to her; if they didn't follow her instructions, Tang Huaihuai would force Tang Que to break up with her. She had no choice but to watch as Tang Que stayed in contact with Cheng Hui.

Before long, Tang Que and Cheng Hui were officially a couple. And she, Tang Yao, became a secret "third party."

She was miserable, arguing and causing scenes with Tang Que. At first, he would coax her, but later he had no time for her. Even when they were at the same school, he didn't have time to eat, date, or go shopping with her—he had to return to Yongcheng to find Cheng Hui.

Once, while they were at a hotel, Cheng Hui called. She intentionally said things to provoke Cheng Hui. To her surprise, Tang Que wasn't angry; he patiently coaxed her instead. But at that moment, she felt Tang Que was so fake, so hypocritical. She couldn't swallow the bitterness.

Not long after, they broke up—completely. She never reached out to him again, and Tang Que never came looking for her.

Today, she couldn't help but ask, "In your heart, how do you see Cheng Hui? Do you... like her?"

Tang Que’s gaze rested on her face, his thin lips pressed tight. He said nothing.

"We’ve reached this point, and you still won't tell me?"

Tang Que only looked at her, his eyes flickering. "..."

"Are you afraid to answer? Or is it that you don't dare to face your own heart? In fact, you’ve always liked Cheng Hui, haven't you? To you, I was just a shield."

Tang Que coughed, then finally whispered, "I'm sorry."

These three words were not what Tang Yao wanted to hear, but they confirmed the truth. She steadied herself and offered a faint smile. "Then, now that you're sick, does Cheng Hui know? Do you need me to tell her so she can come and take care of you?"

Tang Que spoke almost instantly: "No need. You don't have to tell her."

Tang Yao even felt he was afraid, though she didn't know what he feared. Since he said no, she wouldn't go to the trouble.

"As you wish. I know what I wanted to know. I won't disturb you anymore, Tang Que. I'm leaving."

Tang Yao fled from his presence as if escaping. Once outside the ward, she leaned against the wall for a moment, and by the time she caught her breath, her face was covered in tears.

...

He Cheng was mired in negative press, dominating multiple trending topics online. The company couldn't delete the posts fast enough; the reports were overwhelming. In the end, He Cheng had to use the He family's connections to push the trends down.

As for the statement the company issued, it was useless—just a gesture for the public.

A statement couldn't silence the masses, especially when He Cheng’s past scandals were being dug up, including his history of rumors, diva-like behavior, and being backed by wealthy benefactors.

He Cheng couldn't go anywhere; he was trapped at home. If he stepped out, he would be photographed and swarmed. Even his assistant was being tracked by the media.

The company was affected too; everyone was whispering about him.

Mrs. He heard the news and immediately called to check on him. "A-Cheng, are you alright?"

He Cheng smoked, sitting on the sofa watching the news with an impatient look. "I'm fine. Still alive."

"A-Cheng, I saw the news. This must be He Chuan’s doing. No one else knows about this!"

When that incident happened years ago, He Chuan had known; he was there, and he was the one who contacted the bar to delete the surveillance and records.

Mrs. He was furious. "I should never have agreed to let your father bring He Chuan back."

It was meaningless to say such things now.

He Cheng knew it had to be He Chuan. No wonder he had handed over the company so easily—he had left himself an ace in the hole.

"Enough. Even if I know it’s him, so what?" He Cheng was extremely irritable, his tone harsh. "Mom, just worry about yourself. Don't fret over my business; I can handle it."

"Son, you are my only son. If I don't look out for you, who will? He Chuan is devious; he’s been that way since he was a child, which is why your father likes him so much. We can't let our guard down; he will definitely come for you again."

He Cheng didn't want to deal with Mrs. He any longer and hung up the phone, tossing it to the other side of the sofa. He smoked, staring at his own news on the television screen.

He had to wait for the storm to pass. He couldn't show his face for now. He had the company pause all his scheduled appearances, and he stayed home, refusing to step out. Even his assistant had been given a vacation.

As for A-Zhou...

He Cheng sneered. He didn't believe for a second that A-Zhou was pregnant, let alone with his child. It was true that he had played with her, but he always made her take the pill; it was impossible for her to get pregnant. Especially contacting him at such a sensitive time to claim she was pregnant—there had to be a catch.

Could Tan Yazhuo be pulling the strings behind the scenes? Using A-Zhou’s pregnancy to threaten him?

That sounded like something Tan Yazhuo would do. He Cheng furrowed his brow; if Tan Yazhuo was behind this, she was clearly setting him up.

Tan Yazhuo was not someone to be trifled with; he had seen her in action.

However, Tan Yazhuo had no pedigree. She had started from nothing, climbing to her current position step by step. While she had plenty of resources in the industry, she had also made her fair share of enemies.

He had the He family; he could use their connections to suppress her and ensure she couldn't survive in the industry.

Meanwhile, the company was actively managing He Cheng’s negative press, throwing money to buy dirt on other stars to divert public attention. One young traffic-star’s secret relationship was exposed—she had built a brand around being single, so this was a fatal blow. Her image was tarnished, endorsements were pulled, and her team suffered significant losses.

Even so, the negative news about He Cheng didn't let up. The company’s management was pressuring Tan Yazhuo constantly to find a solution.

When Tan Yazhuo met with management, she explained the situation. She was scolded publicly by the boss and given an ultimatum: if the profit-sharing agreement couldn't be met, she could pack her bags and leave.

In the face of profit, her years of service meant nothing.

...

Tan Yazhuo went to visit A-Zhou. A-Zhou said she hadn't been feeling well lately and her emotions were volatile; she was worried about whether she could safely give birth to the child.

On the way, Tan Yazhuo bought a pile of baby supplies, arriving with bags full of gifts.

A-Zhou stared blankly at the bags, her eyes dull, showing no reaction.

It was normal for pregnant women to be emotionally unstable. Tan Yazhuo poured her a glass of water and said, "Is the morning sickness that bad? I heard from the helper that you haven't been resting well."

The helper was in the kitchen cutting fruit. With no one else around, A-Zhou looked at her with concern. "Will this incident with He Cheng affect his image in the future?"

Tan Yazhuo’s eyes held a trace of mockery. "Isn't this of his own doing? Even if it affects him, that’s his own problem."

"But the profit-sharing agreement..."

"A-Zhou, don't worry about that. Just take care of yourself and the baby in your belly."

A-Zhou’s eyes welled up. "But... but I can't stop worrying about him."

Tan Yazhuo looked at her with frustration. "Why must you do this? He Cheng is no good. If he had even a shred of conscience, he wouldn't have treated you like that. And he had a record back in high school—why are you doing this?"

"But I’m carrying his child..."

"The child is the child, and he is he. As long as he doesn't know, it has nothing to do with him. A-Zhou, listen to me: don't hold any expectations for him. A man like that isn't worth it."

In truth, Tan Yazhuo didn't think she was a good person either. She was only letting A-Zhou keep the baby to use the innocent child.

He Cheng wasn't going to cool off overnight; he still had value. And management didn't want to give up on their cash cow just yet.

A-Zhou suddenly knelt before her. "Sister Ya, please, I beg you, help Brother Cheng. Don't give up on him."

Tan Yazhuo remained silent for a long time, her expression one of resignation. She didn't know what kind of spell He Cheng had cast on her.

"We'll see. It’s not up to me; He Cheng has to be willing to cooperate."

"This..."

"A-Zhou, you know as well as I do that He Cheng has never been manageable. He has a personality, sure, but most of the time, he doesn't even respect me as his manager. How am I supposed to manage him? I found out about his previous relationships on the internet, just like you did. He’s not suited for this industry, but he has benefactors backing him."

A-Zhou lowered her eyes. She knew Tan Yazhuo was right. She bit her lip.

"Fine, why am I telling you this? I’ll stop, or you’ll start overthinking. But I can tell you this: the company won't give up on him yet. They still intend to promote him, so you can rest easy."

If it weren't for the money, Tan Yazhuo wouldn't want to deal with He Cheng either.

A-Zhou finally let out a sigh of relief and thanked her sincerely.

Tan Yazhuo felt guilty, unable to meet A-Zhou’s eyes, and quickly changed the subject.

...

Mrs. Xin saw the report about He Cheng on the news and was shocked. She hurried to tell Mr. Xin, "He Cheng went abroad back then because he raped a girl! Oh my god, how could Mrs. He not tell us such a huge thing? We even asked Xin Gan to help look after him!"

Mr. Xin was also taken aback. "Where did you hear that? What’s going on?"

"It’s on the news, it’s all over television. How could this be?"

If it was on TV, it had to be true.

If He Cheng had done something so vile, what about the years Xin Gan spent with him?

Mrs. Xin was terrified that Xin Gan might have been harmed by him, but she couldn't bring herself to ask her directly, pacing the living room in a panic.

Mr. Xin quickly made calls to verify the situation. After hanging up, he comforted her. "Don't panic. I’ve asked someone to look into it; don't scare yourself yet."

"You don't understand. A person like He Cheng is capable of anything. These reports are horrifying. Xin Gan was close to him back then, and I’m terrified she was deceived. Whenever I asked her about him, she would stammer and never give a straight answer."

At the time, she thought Xin Gan was just having a spat with him, but now she realized Xin Gan must have known something and didn't want to talk about him.

Mr. Xin was also shaken. Could it be true?

The news of He Cheng’s high school rape case was now known to everyone. The wealthy socialites who often played mahjong with Mrs. He—including the one whose daughter was a fan of He Cheng—immediately cut ties with Mrs. He upon hearing the news. One even called Mrs. He directly to verify it.

How could Mrs. He admit it? She could only make excuses, claiming it was fake news and that someone was smearing He Cheng.

"The entertainment industry is chaotic, and my son is so popular; people are just jealous and trying to smear him. How could he do such a thing? Don't listen to gossip. News outlets will say anything for clicks. My son’s company has already issued legal notices to sue them."

The socialite wasn't stupid. She didn't buy the excuse. "Legal notices aren't court summons. Anyone can send a notice, but a summons is a real lawsuit. To be honest, Mrs. He, we’ve known each other a long time. I didn't want to believe the rumors, but my son has friends in the industry, and they told me your son’s reputation is awful. Whether this is fake... I don't think it is."

"That’s unreasonable of you..." Before Mrs. He could retort, the socialite had already hung up.

Mrs. He realized that after this, those women would never invite her to play mahjong again. They were all smart; they wouldn't want to invite trouble.

...

Cheng Hui’s departure was set for the 6th of next month. The date was finalized. Upon hearing the news, Cheng Hui lay on her bed, expressionless, showing only the back of her head to Mrs. Cheng.

She didn't want to say a single word to her mother.

She threw tantrums and went on hunger strikes, but Mrs. Cheng ignored her.

Mrs. Cheng surveyed the room and walked to the window to check the newly installed security grille. "Put those thoughts away and go abroad obediently. Don't even think about anything else. Even if you starve yourself, I won't soften. This time, no one’s advice will work."

Cheng Hui pulled the quilt over her head and wept silently.

Mrs. Cheng was dead set on sending her away, and no one else’s intervention would matter.

Mrs. Cheng glanced at her one last time, walked out, and closed the door before going downstairs.

Mr. Cheng was sipping tea on the sofa. Seeing his wife, he asked, "How is Hui-hui?"

"Same as before. Protesting with a hunger strike, refusing to eat."

Mr. Cheng sighed, not knowing what to say. Even if he wanted to speak up for her, he was powerless; when Mrs. Cheng was stubborn, no one could change her mind.

As for Old Master Cheng, he was old and lived quietly in the countryside, unaware of what was happening at the Cheng household.

Cheng Hui wanted to ask her grandfather for help, but she had no phone and couldn't contact him. Besides, he was old, and it wouldn't be right to disturb him.

Mrs. Cheng sat on the sofa, trying to calm herself. "It was my fault for spoiling her, letting her associate with He Chuan. I thought he truly treated her like a sister. Turns out, I was blind. I misjudged him."

"You shouldn't say that."

"Enough. You don't need to speak well of He Chuan. He’s a man, the same age as Cheng Jiu, and he’s been his friend since childhood. Did he treat Cheng Jiu like a friend? If he had, he wouldn't have gone after his friend’s sister. It makes me furious just thinking about it; I never expected he would have such wolfish ambitions."

Mr. Cheng, fearing she would get too worked up, tried to soothe her. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about it. It’s already decided. Let her go abroad; it’ll be good for her to gain some experience. Once this passes, I’ll take you on a trip. Didn't you want to go hiking?"

...

Cheng Jiu told He Chuan about Cheng Hui’s departure. He Chuan had no reaction, holding his glass in silence.

After a long while, He Chuan said, "It’s good she’s going abroad. This way, she won't have to fight with her family over me. She’s different from me—she has parents." He couldn't let her cut ties with her family because of him.

Cheng Jiu asked, "You're giving up?"

"A twisted melon isn't sweet, is it? That’s what you told me." He Chuan gave a self-deprecating smile.

Cheng Jiu was silent. When he had said that, Cheng Hui hadn't liked him yet. But things were different now; Cheng Hui liked him and had been fighting her family for his sake, but she was too weak to move them.

Cheng Jiu was caught in the middle, in a difficult position.

He Chuan tapped a cigarette from his pack and offered it to him. "Want one?"

"No, I quit." Cheng Jiu licked his teeth. He had an addiction and craved one, but he was quitting.

"Quit? What, planning on having kids?" He Chuan seemed to have forgotten the Cheng Hui situation and was able to tease him. "Forget it, don't say anything. I’m already tired of your public displays of affection."

Cheng Jiu looked at him meaningfully. "If you knew it would come to this, why did you get entangled with her in the first place? I told you back then. Have you forgotten the things you swore?"

He Chuan gripped the cigarette pack so hard it deformed, though he didn't seem to notice. "I haven't forgotten. But I can't let her lose her parents and her family just to be with me."

He laughed again, his eyes dull and devoid of light. "Forget it. It’s just a relationship. It doesn't matter who I’m with."

But He Chuan had a cleanliness complex regarding his feelings. He said that, but in reality, he wasn't the type to just date anyone.

His words weren't just for Cheng Jiu; they were for himself.

He didn't want to force Cheng Hui anymore. That was it.

But Cheng Jiu didn't think so.

He felt that He Chuan giving up now was actually an act of irresponsibility toward Cheng Hui.