Redemption - Chapter 9 - Secrets

Miss Jia Ying glared furiously yet helplessly at the young man’s handsome face. Inner turmoil raged within her, her expression shifting uncertainly. Zong Rui, seeing her conflicted look, felt a surge of anger himself, but he was equally powerless to change the situation. He knew all too well how desperate Jia Ying was to uncover even the tiniest scrap of information about her father. Asking her to relinquish that hope would undoubtedly be an unbearable pain for her.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Zong Rui let out a long sigh of resignation and said, “There’s no other way. So…” He fixed his gaze firmly on the boy’s striking yet cold face. He couldn’t explain why, but he was suddenly seized by an urge to destroy the face that disgusted him so deeply. However, his remarkable self-control allowed his expression to remain almost perfectly composed. Forcing himself to suppress his anger, Zong Rui finally swallowed it down and said in an even tone, “Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Zong Rui turned and climbed into the car without a backward glance. Miss Jia Ying almost called out to stop him but ended up swallowing her words. She understood that Zong Rui was doing this for her sake; otherwise, given his fiery temperament, he would probably have already taught this infuriating young man in front of them a harsh lesson.

The car roared away, disappearing down the tree-lined path. The young man watched them leave before turning to Jia Ying with a smile. “Wonderful, Miss Jia Ying. Now we won’t be interrupted.”

Jia Ying’s voice was as cold as ice. “Sir, he’s gone now, so cut the games and tell me everything you know about my father.”

The young man chuckled. “Don’t be in such a rush! Why stand here talking at the door? Let’s move inside.”

In the center of the opulent living room, a beautifully carved rosewood tea table was adorned with a selection of steaming-hot teas: Darjeeling, Assam, Blue Mountain… But the young woman had no interest in any of them. The young man smiled as he said, “Please, have a drink, Miss Jia Ying. Since I didn’t know your preferences, I went out of my way to prepare a variety for you. These were all curated with special care just for you!”

Jia Ying replied coldly, “Spare me the nonsense. I prefer to get straight to the point. Let’s cut to the chase-tell me everything you know.”

The young man shrugged theatrically, feigning helplessness. “It seems you’re quite used to giving orders. Fair enough-it makes sense since I’ve heard you’re a student council president, after all. But,” he added with a faint smirk, “you do realize that I’m not one of your students, right? And this isn’t a school. So why should I follow your commands?”

Miss Jia Ying bit down hard on her lower lip, her gaze fixed on the tea table in front of her, saying nothing. The young man chuckled and said, “Our family thrives on business, so I’ve been accustomed to all kinds of negotiations since I was a child. Why don’t we strike a deal, Miss Jia Ying? I’ll give you what you want, and in return, you give me what I want. A fair exchange.”

Miss Jia Ying lifted her head, her anger overtaking her. “You’re mocking me, sir. You know very well that I’m living under someone else’s roof and couldn’t possibly offer you anything you’d want.”

The young man shook his head with a playful smirk. “That’s not entirely true. There’s more to the world than just money and possessions. I’m not interested in the trivialities around you. What I want…”

He paused, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his lips, and continued, “…is you.”

Miss Jia Ying shot to her feet, her voice sharp with indignation. “Absurd! Shameless!”

The young man smiled faintly as he picked up the tongs and placed a sugar cube into his coffee. He looked at her and said calmly, “Please, sit down. Don’t get so worked up. Look at yourself right now-your face is flushed, your emotions are running wild. You look just like a shrew. That’s not very becoming of you. And yes, you heard me correctly. I’d like to ask you to be my girlfriend, and eventually, my wife. If you agree, you’ll immediately understand the vast benefits this arrangement could bring.”

Miss Jia Ying let out a cold laugh. “No thank you. I already have a very clear understanding of what kind of person you are. And as for my father, there’s no need for you to worry about that anymore. Good day.” With that, she turned and started to leave.

The young man shrugged and called after her. “Don’t be in such a rush! At least let me finish speaking. It seems your temper is even hotter than I imagined. Fine, take a seat; I’ll get straight to the point.”

Miss Jia Ying hesitated, but reluctantly sat back down, her expression full of frustration. The young man reclined lazily on the sofa and said, “Are you aware of all the events that have unfolded in the city today? Don’t you feel like something major is about to happen?”

Miss Jia Ying replied coldly, “And if I do?”

The young man grinned. “Then it seems you don’t fully grasp the gravity of the situation. This could very well become a disaster. You might even lose your life.”

Her voice grew colder. “That’s none of your concern.”

The young man chuckled. “It would be a shame if you were to die. After all, it’s not easy to find a brilliant and beautiful young woman like you these days. I have a duty to save you.”

Miss Jia Ying replied icily, “No need. It appears you have no intention of talking about my father, so I’m leaving.” She stood up once more and made her way toward the door. But before she could reach it, the door shut itself automatically.

Startled, Miss Jia Ying spun around and demanded sharply, “What is the meaning of this?”

The young man rose to his feet, a sinister smile spreading across his face. “I can’t just sit back and watch a future beauty like you get destroyed. Come with me. If there’s one good deed I do in my lifetime, this will be it.”

Miss Jia Ying looked at his twisted expression, so unlike that of the innocent boy he appeared to be, and she couldn’t suppress a slight tremor. But even this subtle movement didn’t escape his notice. His tone, both mocking and self-satisfied, cut through the room. “What’s wrong? Are you scared? The strong and imposing student council president feels fear? Good. Because if you’re not afraid now, tomorrow you’ll be terrified.” As he spoke, he began to inch toward her with the slow menace of a predator.

Miss Jia Ying’s body tensed. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no words came out. Suddenly, she gripped the doorknob tightly and tried with all her strength to turn it. But the door wouldn’t budge an inch. The young man, like a cat watching an exhausted mouse, stared at her struggling figure with amusement. His mocking tone rang out, “It’s useless. This door is already locked from the outside. All your struggling will only tire you out until you’re completely drained. And then, what fun would there be in that?”