Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 52 - Gasping for Breath

“I might be able to guess the real reason you’re here today.” Looking at Jian Yiqing in front of him, Jian Gangchen was filled with hatred-why didn’t he strangle this thankless wretch when he had the chance.

How could he have let him grow to this point?

“Is that so? Take a guess, then.”

Jian Yiqing was not in a hurry at all. He even lit a cigar and began to smoke leisurely.

“You want to know your origins, isn’t that right?” Jian Gangchen said with a smug expression.

After all, having leverage over someone is inherently satisfying.

To be honest, Jian Yiqing couldn’t understand why someone like Jian Gangchen would allow his wife to have an affair with another man.

And then even let a bastard be born.

More unbelievably, he actually raised this bastard into adulthood.

Over the years, Jian Yiqing had investigated his mother’s involvement with that other man, but he could never find any clues.

It was as if the information had been deliberately blocked, leaving him unable to uncover the truth.

The more elusive the truth was, the more his curiosity was piqued. Moreover, from a young age, the word “bastard” had pierced his heart like steel needles, causing him sleepless nights.

“You fool, do you really think I’d tell you?” Jian Gangchen felt even more triumphant, his face almost breaking into a wide grin.

Jian Yiqing’s expression turned cold. He hated Jian Gangchen’s smug face the most.

Jian Gangchen continued, “Anyway, now that things have come to this, the outcome no longer matters. As long as I see your confusion, as long as I know you’re still in pain, I feel a sense of relief. Haha, you bastard, whether you know the truth or not, you’ll always be a bastard, a bastard!”

These hurtful words provoked Jian Yiqing to press the burning cigarette butt into Jian Gangchen’s mouth.

The scorching cigarette butt was forced onto his lips, quickly burning them to a charred yellow, with wisps of smoke rising.

Yet, even faced with this intense pain, Jian Gangchen gritted his teeth, refusing to utter a sound.

Once the cigarette butt was extinguished, Jian Gangchen still showed no sign of weakness. This result only fueled Jian Yiqing’s frustration.

Jian Gangchen, trembling, said, “Try whatever tricks you want, but it’s absolutely impossible for me to bow down or tell you about that matter.”

Hearing his defiant tone, a cold smile appeared at the corner of Jian Yiqing’s mouth. In a disdainful voice, he replied, “Old fool, I know what you’re thinking. You just want a quick end, but do you think I’ll let you have that satisfaction? The methods you used on me back then, I’ll make sure to repay every single one.”

“You!”

Jian Gangchen was no longer afraid of dying. At this point, death would be a release. But Jian Yiqing’s words sent a shiver through him, like a trembling note from a devil, instantly making him tense.

This bastard never played by the rules since he was a child, and he had repeatedly suffered at his hands. Now that he was paralyzed, he couldn’t fathom what Jian Yiqing intended to do.

The unknown outcome was the most terrifying thing, and Jian Gangchen was on the brink of fear.

He cautiously observed Jian Yiqing’s face, hoping to glean some secrets. Unfortunately, he was disappointed.

That loathsome face gave away nothing, genuinely making him feel repulsed.

Just as Jian Gangchen’s patience was about to run out, Jian Yiqing slowly spoke, “Do you know what happened to your son, Cheng Duo?”

Hearing those words, Jian Gangchen couldn’t help but shudder, glaring at Jian Yiqing.

If there was anything he still cared about, it was his eldest son, Cheng Duo.

All his future hopes were pinned on the only heir of the Shangguan Family, Cheng Duo. How could Jian Gangchen not care?

Seeing the hint of emotion in Jian Gangchen’s expression, Jian Yiqing nodded with satisfaction and continued, “I think it’s necessary to tell you something.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a white silk handkerchief. If Jian Qingtian saw this handkerchief, he would immediately recognize it-it was the same one that Jian Ru handed over to him today.

Now, however, it was in Jian Yiqing’s possession, and he had brought it here.

“What is this? Just an old rag,” Jian Gangchen said, trying to maintain a strong front, though he knew the handkerchief might be significant.

“Oh? Is that so?”

A barely noticeable smile appeared on Jian Yiqing’s face as he waved the handkerchief in front of Jian Gangchen and said slowly, “Old fool, this is the handkerchief your grandson gave to my son. They’ve been in conflict lately, and your grandson, Jian Ru, is at a disadvantage in every aspect. This handkerchief is a token of his submission to my son.”

As he spoke, Jian Yiqing’s eyebrows arched again, his triumphant expression undisguised.

Sure enough, Jian Gangchen, lying in bed, began to feel anxious. If it weren’t for his limited mobility, he might have already flown into a rage.

Seeing his agitated expression, Jian Yiqing felt very satisfied. He loved tormenting this old fool; it was the only thing that brought him some comfort.

The humiliation he suffered at the Shangguan Family all those years ago was still vivid in his memory, unforgettable for a lifetime.

Today, he was going to settle all old and new scores.

“What, you’re already struggling with just this bit of news? If you knew that your son, Cheng Duo, perished at sea a few days ago, I wonder what expression you’d wear.”

Although Jian Gangchen believed seven or eight parts of what Jian Yiqing said, he still stubbornly held on, insisting, “I don’t believe it. Cheng Duo is far too cunning to be outwitted by a mere clown like you.”

“Oh, so cunning-you’re really flattering him. I couldn’t see where his cleverness was when he was conspiring with Cheng Mo against the Mercenary Group. You probably don’t know this, but your daughter-in-law is a mercenary within that group. She married your son to leverage his power to gain control of the organization.”

“A little nobody with delusions of competence, thinking he could contend with the organization-what a colossal joke.”

Listening to Jian Yiqing, Jian Gangchen’s lips began to twitch uncontrollably.

Jian Yiqing continued, “Those two fools lost because they were naive, digging their own graves-it has nothing to do with me. Truly, when someone seeks death, not even ten horses can pull them back.”

“A few days ago, under the siege of mercenaries from the organization, they were severely injured and fell into the sea. Do you really think there’s any chance of them surviving?”

“With your only son dead and the remaining grandson a loser to my son, his fate sealed at such a young age, you truly are pathetic, Jian Gangchen.”

“You spent your whole life chasing things you could never have, only to see the person you despise most standing above you. Even your descendants are perishing. Sometimes, I truly feel sorry for you. Your life was destined for failure, to always live under my shadow as a failure!”

Each word was like a steel needle, stabbing directly at Jian Gangchen’s heart.

His chest tightened, his face flushed red, and he glared at Jian Yiqing with furious eyes.

Those angry eyes seemed as if they could bore a hole through Jian Yiqing’s face.

Yet, even in the face of such a scene, Jian Yiqing remained unfazed, looking indifferently at Jian Gangchen.

“What, still unconvinced? How about I show you a video?”

As he spoke, he replayed the news footage from today, broadcasted by a media reporter, right in front of Jian Gangchen.

It depicted the grim scene of Jian Ru’s defeat in a bet. With so many people watching, the Shangguan Family’s reputation was utterly tarnished.

Seeing his grandson on the screen, Jian Gangchen felt his breath grow more and more rapid, almost to the point of suffocation.

Meanwhile, Jian Yiqing’s cold laughter beside him was like a death knell, playing over and over in front of him, like a devil’s call, slowly eroding his life.

“Old fool, besides those two things, there’s something else I want to tell you: Liu Yuanyuan was living with Cheng Duo while she was sneaking around with you. Otherwise, why do you think she faced Cheng Mo’s exclusion? You were destined to be betrayed, whether in your youth or old age, watching your woman betray you, swallowing your pride, and even raising the son of your enemy with your own hands… Your current fate is your retribution, what you deserve…”

Jian Yiqing’s words were the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Jian Gangchen, who had been struggling furiously with a contorted face, finally succumbed to respiratory failure and died.

Seeing his eyes glaring widely in anger, Jian Yiqing let out a deep breath. Gently closing his eyelids, he said indifferently, “After all, you did raise me. I’ll see to it that you have a proper burial.”

“Honey…”

At some point, Li Minchun had quietly stood behind him.

Jian Yiqing turned around slowly, gently grasping the hand that rested on his shoulder, his heart in turmoil.

“Now, can you finally be at ease?” Li Minchun asked softly.

“Yes.”

“Let’s live our lives well from now on and not think about all those chaotic things, okay?” Li Minchun’s voice was filled with longing.

Looking into her eyes, Jian Yiqing nodded resolutely…