Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
There was no need for Ji Nuan to carry out her revenge personally. Three days later, Hai Cityâs Civil Aeronautics Administration released the following news:
The flight BA168 headed toward London, England, crashed midair as it was flying across the Pacific Ocean due to an unknown malfunction. There were 57 Chinese and 108 English individuals aboard that flight. Several passengers had come from other countries and met with the misfortune. China and England had already sent their maritime rescue team to search for the victims. However, due to the circumstances of the crash and the poor weather during the occurrence, it was likely that few had survived.
When she received this news, Ji Nuan subconsciously called Ji Hongwen. However, her call was not picked up regardless of how many attempts she made. She stood before the ceiling-to-floor windows in her condo in T City, looking in the direction of the Pacific Ocean.
She had made another call to Auntie Qin the day before and found out that Ji Mengran was set to fly off this afternoon. She was headed to London, England, and was supposed to take the very flight that had crashed, flight BA168.
In both her first and previous life, this so-called sister had caused her so much worry. Ji Nuan, who had received this news abruptly, did not find it too shocking or difficult to accept. However, her first reaction was that Ji Hongwen wouldnât take this news well!
Her call to Ji Hongwen could not go through, so Ji Nuan decided to call Auntie Qin instead. When Auntie Qin picked up the phone, she was crying and saying that Ji Hongwenâs reaction wasnât good. After receiving the news, he had kept himself locked in the companyâs office. It had been hours since he had appeared and no one in the company dared to enter.
Regardless of what had occurred, Ji Nuan would never find it in herself to forgive everything. However, from Ji Hongwenâs point of view, Ji Mengran was still his blood-related daughter.
â-
Mo Jingshen returned home to see Ji Nuan dressed and ready to leave.
âItâs already six in the evening, where are you going?â
âIâm taking a flight back to Hai City tonight. Iâm not sure if Iâll be able to rush back by tomorrow morning, but Iâll have Feng Ling go to Professor Lin to take a leave for me,â Ji Nuan hurriedly replied and walked to leave.
Mo Jingshen glanced at her. With one stretch of his hand, he tugged against her elbow and brought her back. At the same time, he took her bag from her hands and placed it down. âEven if you go to the airport now, the earliest available flight to Hai City would only takeoff after midnight. Thereâs no use rushing there so early. Calm down first and tell me why you are going back?â
âMengran was supposed to head to London today, but her flight crashed. Iâm worried that my Dad wonât be able to take this well. I have to go back to see him!â Ji Nuan was sure that Mo Jingshen had heard about this news. News of plane crashes were usually immediately released across the country.
âItâs true that the flight headed from Hai City to London met with a crash. I sent someone to check with the flight company after receiving the news in the afternoon. Ji Mengran did not board that flight. Sheâs only been temporarily assigned to the missing peoplesâ list,â Mo Jingshen watched Ji Nuanâs pale, worried face and calmly explained.
Ji Nuan stared at him as her mouth fell open. She was silent for a long while, as though processing his words, before she finally appeared more composed. She then picked up her phone to call Ji Hongwen again; it was still unanswered.
âBut my Dad isnât answering his phone right now. The people at his company wonât dare to enter his office to disturb him either. Iâm worried that...â
âDirector Ji has faced all sorts of trials and tribulations in the business world; his heart is strong. Iâll have Shen Mu drive over to Ji Group to take a look and inform Director Ji that Ji Mengran didnât board the flight.â Mo Jingshen pressed her elbow. âDonât panic. Leave this to me.â
Thatâs right, Shen Mu did not come to T City with Mo Jingshen. He was still in Hai City.
As Mo Jingshenâs most capable right-hand man, he definitely could enter Ji Group to meet her father.
Ji Nuan nodded; her gaze fixed on Mo Jingshen.
Mo Jingshen understood that she was anxious and did not say more. He patted her back comfortingly and picked up his phone to call Shen Mu.
After personally watching Mo Jingshen instruct Shen Mu, Ji Nuan took another glance toward her own phone. Her screen was lit up with another piece of news about the bodies found by a rescue boat.
Perhaps she had really lost all feelings a long time ago. The changes in her past life and the hatred from her current concealed more than ten years of feelings developed from growing up together. From the moment she heard about Ji Mengranâs accident, Ji Nuanâs heart was completely unaffected. She only found it difficult to accept that she did not manage to return all of her sufferings onto Ji Mengran and felt slightly dejected.
Even after knowing that Ji Mengran was not aboard that flight, she did not feel anything.
Things like feelings were truly gone after they faded. Things that had turned cold, like a frozen heart, could not be warmed up again.
Ji Nuan was carried back onto the sofa by Mo Jingshen. She stared at the phone in her hand, wondering when Ji Hongwen would return her call.
Mo Jingshen removed the coat she had put on and placed it by the side. He urged her to sit on the sofa and leaned down to watch her: âAre you upset that Director Ji hasnât answered your call?â
Ji Nuan sat unmovingly, and Mo Jingshen did not ask more. He sat down by her side and pressed her head to lean on his shoulder.
Ji Nuan closed her eyes and was quiet for a long time before saying, âRegardless if Mengran really met with an accident, I feel that after this incident my Dad will instinctively begin to avoid me.â
Mo Jingshen placed his hand on her head, gently stroking her. He leaned down to kiss the corner of her lips: âNuan Nuan.â
His voice was low and carried a few hints of heartache as he explained, âWhen it comes to the relationship between his daughters, itâs true that his way of managing things has been poor. He hasnât been able to discipline Ji Mengran well due to his work. However, you cannot assume that heâll gradually distant himself away from you now that youâve discovered you may not be related to him by blood.â
âEn, perhaps Iâm really overthinking...â
Mo Jingshenâs warm voice landed by her ear. âYouâve been his pride and joy since you were young. He has always been focused on nurturing you, so he has never considered blood relation as a problem. Itâs sufficient that he has recognized you as his daughter. He simply needs a quiet environment to recover from todayâs incident. He isnât trying to avoid you. All sorts of accidents may happen in this world, but the sincere love that has existed for a long time wonât suddenly disappear. Thatâs the way it is for me toward you, and the same applies for Director Ji.â
Ji Nuan buried her face in his embrace: âI hope Iâll always be his daughter. Even if the Ji family becomes less prosperous, I would still wish to be his daughter.â
The man was silent for several seconds before he softly replied, âIf Director Ji knew you were feeling this way, he would definitely feel comforted. The past twenty years of nurturing you havenât gone to waste. This is the best repayment he could have asked for, and itâs much more real than calling back to talk about your concern.â
She hugged him and buried her face deeper in his neck.
The little woman did not force herself to be brave like the way she had done in the past few months. At the very least, she had learned to hide in his arms when she felt vulnerable. She did not run away, nor did she avoid him.
Mo Jingshen felt comforted by her trust.
He gently rubbed her shoulders, whispering: âAfter Shen Mu sees Director Ji, heâll ask him to call you. Set your mind at ease and wait for the call. Donât rush.â