Tang Shuang was very surprised to see Ah Hai there; last night, he had mentioned about leaving. "How come he"s back again today?" she wondered.
"I"ve come to take you with me," Ah Hai said, sitting down beside Tang Shuang. He reached out and relieved her of the baby.
"Take me with you?" Tang Shuang glared at him. "And where exactly are you taking me to?"
Ah Hai stared tenderly at the baby in his arms. "Back to the village, of course," he said flatly.
"Are you nuts?" Tang Shuang reclaimed the baby into her own arms. "I"m Mrs. Ying."
Frightened, the baby started to cry. Ah Hai frowned and gave the baby"s head a series of gentle pats. Then, he raised his eyes to look at Tang Shuang. "You"re not Mrs. Ying. Your marriage certificate is fake. Ying Qingcang never divorced Xin Qing in the first place."
"Haha!" Tang Shuang burst into laughter. "What are you even talking about? Ah Cang and I already have a son!"
Ah Hai"s gaze remained fixed upon her. "The child is mine."
Tang Shuang"s mind went blank momentarily. Then, she stood up with the baby cradled in her arms. "Do you know what you"re saying?!" she yelled in a shrill voice. "Why are you saying these things? Why are you trying to make Ah Cang misunderstand me?"
"Because I"ve been in love with you for a long time. I saw you as my wife ever since we were young," Ah Hai said, his voice calm and composed. Then, he pointed at the baby in Tang Shuang"s arms. "The child is mine. You can ask Ying Qingcang if you don"t believe me."
"You"re lying!" Panic flashed in Tang Shuang"s eyes. After that, the panic was replaced by a sharp, accusatory look. "If you"re in love with me, then that"s your problem. I don"t feel anything for you at all. Don"t you dare try to ruin things between me and Ah Cang!"
Ah Hai sprang to his feet and grabbed Tang Shuang"s wrist. Pain shot through Tang Shuang. The next thing she knew, the baby was back in Ah Hai"s arms. Ah Hai placed the baby on the couch. Then, he pushed Tang Shuang down onto the couch.
"What are you doing?" Tang Shuang looked at Ah Hai warily. Slowly, Ah Hai crouched down. Then, he ripped her skirt apart.
Tang Shuang panicked and tried to run. But Ah Hai wrapped his hand around her ankle and yanked her back towards him. Ah Hai moved their positions until his body was on top of hers. Ah Hai"s hand reached out to her chest and removed the torn dress from her body. Whitish breastmilk stained his hand; Tang Shuang was still in her lactation phase.
"Ah Hai, you... you can"t do this to me. I"ve always treated you as my brother. This is rape. I... I"ll hate you for the rest of my life." Tang Shuang kicked out with both legs, trying everything to free herself. Alas, there was nothing she could do to escape, since Ah Hai was too strong. He had her trapped against the couch with both of her arms pinned above her head.
"Back in the hotel, the last two rounds? That was all me. You enjoyed it a lot back then." Ah Hai gave her a deep look. "Don"t worry. I"ll make you feel even better!" Ah Hai lowered his head as he parted Tang Shuang"s thighs.
"Ah!!!" Tang Shuang shrieked. "You animal! Animal!"
Whitish breastmilk dripped down from the corner of Ah Hai"s lips. He poked out his tongue to taste it, rolling his hips forcefully at the same time. Having just given birth, Tang Shuang"s body had not fully recovered. All she felt right then was a pain; it felt as if her body was about to be ripped apart. She cried and begged for mercy, though her pleas only made Ah Hai"s movements rougher.
Tang Shuang"s head felt heavier and heavier by the second. Amidst her haze, she seemed to notice someone entering the room. Using all her strength, she opened her eyes. Her mouth dropped open instantly, and she began pounding Ah Hai"s body with her fist as if her life depended upon on it.
"Ah Cang, it"s not like that! He raped me! Hurry up and save me! Save me!"
Tang Shuang saw Ying Qingcang entering the room as well as the smirk on his face. She could not allow Ying Qingcang to misunderstand her, nor could she allow Ying Qingcang to know what Ah Hai had told her just now.
Ying Qingcang sat down on the couch across from her. There was a strange smile on his face, one that Tang Shuang had never seen on him before. Ying Qingcang slowly opened his mouth: "Congratulations on finally getting your wish. We"ve prepared your flight. You can leave with her anytime."
Tang Shuang stared at Ying Qingcang blankly as if she barely understood what he had just said. Ah Hai stood up from her and put his pants back on. Then, he retrieved the blanket from the couch and wrapped it around Tang Shuang. After that, Ah Hai moved Tang Shuang into a sitting position and placed the baby into her arms.
"What he had just said... They"re all true?" Tang Shuang said suddenly, staring right at Ying Qingcang.
Ying Qingcang lit a cigarette and leaned back into the couch. A smile spread slowly across his face, just like the smoke from the cigarette. To Tang Shuang, this man felt as far away from her as ever. It was like she had never gotten close to him before.
"Of course," Ying Qingcang answered. "I told you a long time ago that you have to face the consequences of your own actions. Instead of heeding my advice, you insisted on running around to ruin other people"s lives." Ying Qingcang laughed. "I think it isn"t so bad that you ended up like this. At least you got a man and a son."
Tears spilled from Tang Shuang"s eyes. Tang Shuang shook her head as she sobbed. "You"re cruel... Ying Qingcang! You"re cruel..."
"Cruel?" Ying Qingcang released a cold sneer. "A family was torn apart because of you. Two people who love each other were unable to be together all because of you. You"re the one who had caused Xin Qing so much suffering. Now I"m the one who"s cruel?"
"But I love you!" Tang Shuang yelled miserably. "I wanted to be with you! Is that so wrong?"
"Your love disgusts me," Ying Qingcang said, fixing her with a stare. Then, he pointed his finger at Ah Hai. "He loves you and wants to be with you, too. So, it means that there"s nothing wrong with whatever he"s done to you, right?"
Tang Shuang was stunned into speechlessness. Ying Qingcang stood up. "Let me know when you"re leaving. The chopper will come straight to the villa to fetch you."
Ah Hai nodded. Ying Qingcang released a scoff before he left. Once out of the door, he swiped a hand across his face, revealing a pale, bookish face. He pulled out his phone and dialed.
"President Ying," he said into the phone, "I"ve wrapped things up here."
"Alright," he said again, "I"ll wait for you guys to return!"
In England, Ying Qingcang brought everyone back to Ying Ancestral Home. He had two reasons for doing that: one, he feared that flying back to China straight away would wear Xin Qing out; two, he wanted to slap Ying Hao in the face. The subordinate that Ying Hao had wholeheartedly nurtured turned out to be a wolf in a sheep"s skin. Young Master Shen tossed Elder Li out of the gunny sack that he had used to carry the latter. Ying Hao nearly pa.s.sed out when he saw Elder Li being tossed out of the sack.
"He... He"s Williams?" From the old man"s voice, it was as if he had aged several years. Heartbroken, Ying Hao looked at Ying Qingcang.
Ying Qingcang nodded happily. "William"s lover!"
Ying Hao stumbled a few steps backwards and fell limply onto the couch. "How did things end up like this... how..." Ying Qingcang wanted to say more, but Xin Qing glared at him.
"That"s enough. What if he gets ill?"
Ying Qingcang swallowed whatever he had wanted to say. He gave a hand gesture for someone to take Elder Li away.
"Wait," Ying Hao said. "Is he... dead?"
Everyone turned to Xunxun. "He"s as good as dead," Xunxun said seriously. "His entire body is now paralyzed and his brain is damaged. In other words, he"s basically a r.e.t.a.r.d in a vegetative state."
In Xunxun"s arm, Ah Sha clapped her hands. "Bad guy! Bad guy!" she chanted. Ah Sha did not forget the way Elder Li had tried to strangle her neck with the whip.
A change went across Ying Hao"s face when he looked at Ying Qingcang. "Can you leave the man to me?"
"Why? You"re planning to cure him?" Ying Qingcang"s face darkened.
"That"s impossible," Xunxun piped up. "n.o.body can be saved from my mother"s gadgets."
"I"ll send him to an old folk"s home and then arrange for a few people to look after him. He can live out the rest of his life there," said Ying Hao. "Isn"t that what you want as well? Don"t tell me you want him to die just like that?"
Ying Qingcang thought about it for a moment before agreeing. "Fine," he said. "You can try looking for a neurosurgeon to cure him, too, if you want. Best if you can get his consciousness back. That way he"ll be aware of the way he"ll live out his remaining years."
Just then, Uncle Fu walked in. "Young master," he said. "The rooms are ready." Ever since Tang Shuang moved into Ying"s residence, Uncle Fu had returned to England to take care of Ying Hao.
Everyone retired into their own rooms to rest. Ah Sha wanted to stay with Xin Qing and Ying Qingcang, but at the same time, she was unwilling to part with Xunxun. In the end, Ying Qingcang brought Xunxun away. Only then did Ah Sha agreed to follow Xin Qing to bed.
"Your father and I had already drawn up the marriage agreement," Ying Qingcang said, dragging Xunxun by the collar into the garden. Xunxun did not try to free himself from Ying Qingcang"s grasp. "I"ll handle you like this too when you"re old," Xunxun said when Ying Qingcang released him.
Ying Qingcang released a cold sneer. "Without your mother"s gadgets, you can"t beat me in a fight even when I"m old!"
Xunxun lowered his head and ruminated his thoughts. Then, he raised his head. "What is it that you want to talk to me about?"
"If you ever do something to hurt Ah Sha in the future, I won"t give a face to your father," Ying Qingcang said, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared Xunxun down. He never saw this brat as a child at all. Other than the fact that this brat had the physical appearance of a child, he possessed inner qualities that were comparable to Ying Qingcang"s. One thing for sure was that this brat was even more vicious and devious that he was. Back at the cellar that night, Ah Sha had complied and acted immediately the moment the brat had mentioned the hair clip. It was obvious that the move had been premeditated. Ying Qingcang believed that Xunxun would be able to bring Ah Sha home safely even without their help.
The serious look on Xunxun"s face intensified as he gave Ying Qingcang the stink eye. "I"ll do better than you," Xunxun said. "At least I won"t allow my wife and kids to feel sad. Even if it was all an act!"
Not cute at all. "Also," Ying Qingcang gritted out, "if Ah Sha falls in love with someone else in the future, the marriage agreement will be voided!"
"Haha!" Xunxun gave an evil laugh. "I won"t give her that chance. She can only be my woman for the rest of her life."
Xin Qing had no idea what it was that Ying Qingcang had told Xunxun. All she knew was that when Xunxun returned, he was sporting a huge smile as he climbed onto the bed to kiss Ah Sha. Then, he lay down on the bed beside Ah Sha. Ying Qingcang, on the other hand, had a dark scowl on his face when he dragged Xin Qing out of the room.
Xin Qing found the whole thing highly amusing. "What"s the matter with you?" she asked. "Did you lose the verbal sparring with Xunxun?"
Ying Qingcang gave her a sidelong glance. "You think I"m like you, so easily bullied by a kid?"
"What"s with the long face, then?" Xin Qing said, laughing. "Too bad you don"t have a son. You could do the same thing to p.i.s.s off Boss Wan if you do."
"You know what," Ying Qingcang said, picking her up from the ground. "That"s a brilliant suggestion!" Then, he carried her out of the castle with hurried steps. Xin Qing wrapped her arms around his neck, not daring to shout. "It"s already so late. Where are we going?"
Ying Qingcang said nothing and brought her all the way towards the stable. He mounted a horse and then heaved her up, settling her on the horseback, right in front of him. Ying Qingcang released a loud yell, and the horse galloped into the woods. Ying Qingcang brought the horse to a stop when they reached a large tree with a wide girth. Xin Qing raised her head and saw a treehouse right in the center of the tree. Blushing, Xin Qing stared back at Ying Qingcang, her eyes heavy with l.u.s.t. Ying Qingcang climbed up the tree with her in his arms. During the climb, he lowered his head and kissed her ardently.
"Babe, I won"t be able to take it if you keep looking at me like that!" Ying Qingcang said as he began taking off Xin Qing"s clothes. Xin Qing was already naked by the time they were both inside the treehouse.
The treehouse was very clean. The flooring consisted of thick, plush mats. There were also a bunch of down blankets lying around. Ying Qingcang set Xin Qing on the floor. Through the small window, moonlight shone onto Xin Qing"s body, giving her jadelike skin a certain glimmer.
"Ah Cang!" Xin Qing stretched out her hand, her eyes a mixture of shyness and desire.
Ying Qingcang released a deep and low hum from the back of his throat as he stretched out his own hand.