Chapter 115: The Person in the Candlelight

"My son, Yanchi, hasn't been coming home lately. I looked into it and realized that someone has truly bewitched him," Mother Cheng paused, "Miss Jiang, I would like that person to give my son back to me."

Jiang Yao had already anticipated the reason for Mother Cheng's visit.

"Ma'am, Yanchi has his own legs to walk on; no one is forcing him to do anything. Furthermore, he is an adult. He has the right to choose the life he wants and the person he wishes to love."

"But that person is you!" Mother Cheng said, visibly displeased. "You should know why I don't want you together with Yanchi!"

"How would I know the preferences of others, or the reasons behind them? Ma'am, I don't like playing guessing games."

Mother Cheng took a deep breath, frustrated. "Fine, fine. Since you refuse to accept a polite approach, don't blame me for being blunt. While Yanchi may not be the primary heir to the Cheng family, given his status, he should at least be with a woman of equal standing, or at the very least, one who is well-bred and comes from a clean background."

"But you—you have no father, your mother passed away long ago, and there is that incident from your past. I know today's young people hate talk of 'purity'—as if discussing it makes one an old fogey—but Miss Jiang, tell me, is purity really not important? If it weren't, why would so many people care about it?"

"You are right; purity is indeed important," Jiang Yao said slowly.

"Then how do you have the nerve to be with our Yanchi? Do you want him, or our entire Cheng family, to become the laughingstock of the social circles?"

"I said that purity is important, but I am not impure," Jiang Yao looked at Mother Cheng, stubborn and unafraid. "I once felt inferior and lost because of what happened to my body; I even considered ending my life. But later, I realized that nothing is purer than a soul living with integrity. The truly impure are those who harm others and those who point fingers at the suffering of others."

"Ma'am, you ask me how I have the nerve, but I must ask you: why should I feel ashamed? I am not the one who did wrong. Should I carry the wounds others inflicted upon me and spend my life hiding in shame and inferiority? It is the perpetrators who should feel ashamed, not me. It is a pity, however, that they lack a conscience."

"You..." Mother Cheng stared at Jiang Yao in surprise.

"I am telling you this today to show you that not only will I not be ashamed, but I will hold my head high and live more uprightly than anyone else. To emerge from the pain of the past is the most glorious thing of all!"

Mother Cheng pointed at Jiang Yao. "Are you saying you have no intention of leaving Yanchi?"

"That is a choice between Cheng Yanchi and me. I ask that you do not interfere, Ma'am."

"In that case, I have no choice but to... have no choice but to..." Mother Cheng enunciated each word, "bless you both."

"What?" Jiang Yao, who had just been so firm, was stunned by this sudden turn of events, her eyes widening in surprise.

The expression on Mother Cheng's face softened. "Good girl. That is exactly how it should be. My beloved son's girlfriend should naturally possess such character and depth. Before coming here today, I was worried Yanchi had chosen the wrong person, but now it seems he has a keen eye."

"But just now..."

Mother Cheng stood up and patted Jiang Yao on the shoulder. "The Cheng family started from scratch. My husband and I have seen everything over the years. We aren't afraid of a poor family background or your past; after all, even if the sky were to fall, our family could hold it up. The only thing I feared was that you would be weak-willed, narrow-minded, or lack integrity."

"Now, my concerns are gone. Go back now; Yanchi and the others are waiting for you."

"Ma'am..."

"Go on, hurry now."

Jiang Yao looked at Mother Cheng with gratitude. As expected of someone who had weathered great storms, it was truly rare to find someone of the older generation with such an open mind.

When Jiang Yao returned to the private room, Cheng Yanchi nudged her arm quietly. "Who was looking for you just now?"

"A secret," Jiang Yao smiled.

"Hiss..."

As the two were talking, the door to the room opened again.

Standing at the door was none other than Jin Nana!

"What are you doing here?" Cheng Yanchi frowned.

Jin Nana ignored him and beckoned to Jiang Yao. "Hey, Jiang Yao, come out for a second. I have a gift for you."

"What kind of gift could you possibly have for Ah Yao?" Cheng Yanchi rolled his eyes. "I'm just trying to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday; why must you all insist on interfering?"

Jiang Yao pressed down on Cheng Yanchi's shoulder. "I'll be right back."

Stepping out into the hallway, Jiang Yao looked at the empty-handed Jin Nana. "What is it you wanted to give me?"

Jin Nana pouted, looking impatient. "Let's be clear, this is the only time. There won't be a next time."

"What?" Jiang Yao didn't understand.

"Jiang Yao, it's not that I'm being kind; someone begged me." Jin Nana pointed toward the stairwell at the end of the hall. "It's in there. Go see for yourself."

Jiang Yao looked Jin Nana up and down, unable to fathom what she was planning. She walked silently toward the stairwell.

The stairwell was empty, with no one in sight. Perhaps the light was broken; it was pitch black, without a glimmer of light.

"Miss Jin, what on earth are you playing at..."

Before she could finish her sentence, candlelight suddenly flickered to life.

Jiang Yao froze. In the candlelight, He Yunqing’s handsome face appeared, looking both beautiful and mysterious.

The man approached slowly, holding a cake, the light of the candles dancing in his obsidian eyes.

"Ah Yao..."

Jiang Yao's heart began to beat erratically.

She involuntarily clutched her chest. "I never imagined Miss Jin would help you with something like this."

"I begged her for a long time," He Yunqing smiled, the corners of his lips lifting.

So much had happened recently—so much that it felt as though she hadn't had a chance to speak to He Yunqing like this in a very long time.

"It's quiet here. There's no one else," He Yunqing seemed to read her mind.

"What does it matter if there's no one else?" Jiang Yao felt a sour ache in her nose. The video of He Yunqing clarifying their relationship to the media flashed before her eyes.

Though her reason told her it was the best choice, her heart still ached uncontrollably.

These past few days, whenever the night was deep and she was alone, that ache became even more pronounced.

It was only then that she realized how afraid she was of being alone.

That was why, apart from work, she spent all her spare time with Cheng Yanchi.

Everyone in the upper social circles knew it now.

He Yunqing must know, too...