Chapter 53: His Heart is Aching
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ku Jie used to Lu Jingzhi in the past because he thought that Lu Jingzhi was merely taking advantage of Jiang Yuning. He a.s.sumed that Lu Jingzhi was just like Lu Zongye—that he was only messing around with Jiang Yuning as Lu Zongye did in the past.
However, Jiang Yuning had repeatedly spoken up for Lu Jingzhi and had even a.s.sured him that the relations.h.i.+p between Lu Jingzhi and herself was real. Therefore, he finally understood the situation, but there were still certain things that he wanted to discuss with Lu Jingzhi in advance.
“Alright then.”
Jiang Yuning could only look at the both of them helplessly as she already knew that this day would come eventually.
“Okay then, but both of you are not allowed to fight.”
Ku Jie rolled his eyes once again, knowing that Jiang Yuning had only said that because she was trying to protect Lu Jingzhi.
The three of them then quickly finished dinner before Lu Jingzhi and Ku Jie proceeded to the balcony for a chat as Lu Jingzhi’s study room was confidential.
The two tall and handsome men stood together on the balcony, looking extremely attractive even from the back. How could anyone in the entertainment industry be compared to the two of them?
Jiang Yuning tried to eavesdrop on their conversation but was quickly discovered by Ku Jie. Ku Jie then pulled her ear and said, “Can you just give us men some privacy just for a short while?”
Lu Jingzhi looked at Jiang Yuning’s red ear and his heart started aching immediately.
“Fine, I will go out now.”
Jiang Yuning stuck her tongue out at Ku Jie. She could only ever reveal such a childish side of herself in front of Ku Jie because of their close relations.h.i.+p.
Jiang Yuning then quickly returned to the living room before taking out her script to go through it once again. At the same time, Ku Jie finally began talking to Lu Jingzhi.
“I have always known about Ningning’s feelings for you. She has always had feelings for you ever since she was a young girl. However, at that time, I felt that the two of you belonged to two completely different world,” Ku Jie said as he leaned against the fence and allowed the cooling sea breeze to blow lightly against his hair. “I know that you have given up a lot and done so much for her in the past, yet I feel that you should not think that she is indebted to you because she has also suffered a lot for you.”
“When she was fifteen years old, she stupidly ran to your university to wait for you and camped in front of you school gate for three days and four nights. When she finally came home, she was down with a high fever for the entire week.”
“When she was sixteen years old, Lu Zongye tricked her into meet him at the grove behind the school campus and she was bullied by three men there. If it was not for the gardener who saved her, she would not have been able to make it back home.”
“When she was seventeen years old, she went to your university to attend your graduation ceremony but when she came home, she was extremely depressed and that lasted for more than half a year. Later on, she was once more tricked by Lu Zongye and almost got into trouble once again.”
“I have told her time and time again not to have anything to do with the Lu family anymore, but she refuses to listen. She told me then that it was the only chance that she would have to see you and that she did not want to miss out on it.”
“Therefore, when she was eighteen years old, she insisted on attending the feast hosted by the Lu family.”
“Lu Jingzhi, I have watched Ningning suffered time and time again. My heart has ached for her all these times.”
“When she turned nineteen, the Jiang family finally lost everything that they had. It seemed like she had finally given up on her obsession for you, but even after entering the entertainment industry, Lu Zongye had not given up on continuously hara.s.sing and humiliating her.”
“We have spent so many years trying to get rid of that sc.u.mbag Lu Zongye and we finally did it. However, you turned up immediately after that. Therefore, you should understand my hostility towards you.”
“She has not done anything earth-shattering for you, but you have always been the most important person to her ever since the beginning.”
Ku Jie could not help but to light up a cigarette as he spoke about all the things that Jiang Yuning had done for Lu Jingzhi in the past. The bitter redness of the cigarette flickered like the burning rage in Ku Jie’s heart at that moment.
“Uncle had treated me like his own son in the past and thus, for the past few years, I have done my best to take care of Ningning and to give her the best that I can afford to.”
“She is like a biological sister to me and so, if you ever hurt her in the future, I promise that I will deal with you personally and not let you off so easily even if you are the powerful and formidable Lu Jingzhi,” Ku Jie continued warning Lu Jingzhi.
Lu Jingzhi’s heart was equally tangled and anxious at the moment.
Both the tall men stood in the dark silently.
Lu Jingzhi was especially upset to hear that Jiang Yuning had been repeatedly tortured and humiliated by Lu Zongye. He subconsciously clenched his hand into a fist and when he finally sorted out his emotions, he quickly answered, “I will never let her suffer, nor will I let anyone hurt her again.”
“Good. I hope that you will remember what you have said to me today.” After that, Ku Jie quickly put out his cigarette and then walked away from the balcony, leaving Lu Jingzhi there all alone.
Jiang Yuning was downstairs in the living room when she saw Ku Jie rus.h.i.+ng down the stairs and getting ready to leave. She quickly ran up to Ku Jie and said, “Brother…what happened? Why are you leaving already? Did you guys fight?”
“Nothing happened. I am exhausted, I want to go home,” Ku Jie replied because he had not forgotten that he was only Jiang Yuning’s brother.
“Is it really just that?”
“Yes.” Ku Jie nodded. Before he left the villa, Ku Jie told Jiang Yuning, “Do not forget that I have also done and sacrificed a lot for you, Ningning. Even if you lose everyone around you one day, do not forget that you will always have me on your side.”
“I know that but can’t I just be a little greedy? Can I not have a lover but also have a brother who dotes on me by my side? Please don’t make me choose between both of you because you have to understand that you are irreplaceable in my heart.”
“That is fine by me, then,” Ku Jie said as he finally heaved a sigh of relief. He was relieved to know that he was irreplaceable to Jiang Yuning and that he would always hold a special position in his sister’s heart.
“Hurry up and get home safe. Have a good rest tonight. You have already lost some weight.” Jiang Yuning then quickly went to the kitchen to pack up some leftover food for Ku Jie to bring home. “Remember to eat the food that I have packed for you. I specially got Sister Liang to prepare these dishes for you today.”
Ku Jie was finally satisfied as he left the villa filled with his sister’s love.
“He is just like a child.” Jiang Yuning could not help but to laugh as she looked at her brother. At this time, Lu Jingzhi suddenly hugged her tightly from the back and rested his chin on her shoulder as he breathed heavily.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Huh?” Jiang Yuning did not understand what he was talking about.
“Why did you not tell me that Zongye was bullying you?” Lu Jingzhi said, his voice filled with distress.
“It is not important and it does not matter anymore because he is going to be in so much trouble soon. Furthermore, I have just received a notification from Guangying Media inviting me to attend the audition tomorrow. Second brother, can you help me act out the script?” Jiang Yuning asked as she turned around to look at Lu Jingzhi. She raised the script in her hand and waved it in front of Lu Jingzhi. “You know that this audition is really very important to me.”
“Are you sure that you want me to act out the script with you?”
Jiang Yuning looked right into Lu Jingzhi’s eyes and after a brief moment, she immediately shook her head and said, “No. I think not. I just want to kiss you every time I look at your face…so forget it.”
Lu Jingzhi put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him as he kissed her on the lips. They continued kissing in the living room, unable to stop themselves until Jiang Yuning finally gasped and pushed Lu Jingzhi away from her. “You should go and take a shower soon. I will go to the guest room and practice acting in front of the mirror.”
“I will go to the study first. We can shower together later.”
“Alright then,” Jiang Yuning replied as she quickly rushed off to the guest room.
Lu Jingzhi smiled as he watched the slim and delicate figure that had just ran off. He entered his study room, but even though he was sitting in front of his desk, trying to focus on his work, he could not stop thinking about all that Lu Zongye had done to Jiang Yuning in the past.
…
Jiang Yuning woke up early the next morning to prepare for the audition at Guangying Media.
As she was about to get ready, Ku Jie suddenly called her. “The staff of Guangying Media have already leaked out the news that you are going to come for their audition today.”
Jiang Yuning immediately turned on her laptop and browsed the internet to read the comments had been posted online. True enough, it created a buzz and the netizens were already posting countless comments insulting her.
[Are you kidding me? Jiang Yuning actually has the courage to go for an audition at Guangying Media?]
[Please do not ruin the drama produced by my favourite production house. Jiang Yuning, you will not be able to make it with your mediocre acting skills.]
[Is Guangying Media that desperate for new actresses? Why would they even bother to invite Jiang Yuning for an audition?]
“Well, are you afraid?” Ku Jie suddenly asked when there was no response from Jiang Yuning after a long time. “Just attend the audition today. This time, you do not only have a brother, but also a boyfriend backing you up. We will be waiting for you to come back with good news. When you are back, we will then discuss how we will go about cleaning up your tarnished reputation.”