Chapter 103: Goodbye, Pretty Boy

“If I say no?”

“Bo Jinxiu, you know that Xia Ling intervened in my relationship as a third party back then, so I will never allow myself to become one. Even if we’re only here for fun and no feelings are involved, I will never destroy someone else’s happiness.”

“Jiang Ciyou, over these three years we’ve been together, didn’t it mean anything to you at all?”

Jiang Ciyou smiled and shook her head. “Bo Jinxiu, look at you now. How are you any different from Yan Feng in the past? Even the way you speak is exactly the same.”

Hearing Jiang Ciyou compare him to Yan Feng, his face darkened severely.

“Bo Jinxiu, we don’t need to tear our faces apart. After all, there are no real feelings between us. Today, let’s part ways amicably. I wish you and Miss Shen the best in your marriage.”

“Should the time come and you send me an invitation to the wedding, I will definitely attend the banquet.”

With that, Jiang Ciyou turned, picked up her bag, and prepared to leave.

Before she had taken two steps, Bo Jinxiu caught up with her. He suddenly seized her arm. His eyes were clearly filled with something he was desperately suppressing. He gripped her tightly, as if letting go would make her vanish.

“I’ll pack up your things. When you’re ready, have Secretary Gao come collect them.”

Jiang Ciyou spoke calmly. “After this, if there’s nothing left between us, we need not meet again.”

Bo Jinxiu wanted to say something, but then he noticed a black shadow lingering at the edge of the corridor on the second floor, watching them intently. He bit his teeth, and a bitter sentence finally slipped out. “Fine. Since you’ve already made up your mind, then let’s separate.”

He slowly released her grip, finger by finger.

Jiang Ciyou couldn’t help asking, “Since you have someone you truly love in your heart, why bother with me? Is it simply because you can’t bear the loneliness and want to satisfy your physical needs?”

Bo Jinxiu’s expression had already returned to its usual coldness, yet his face was deathly pale. His voice grew quiet and indifferent. “You said we don’t discuss feelings between us, only that we’re here for fun. Then why ask this now?”

Jiang Ciyou smiled. She seemed to have suddenly found peace. “Actually, I was worried before that if you had developed real feelings, things would become complicated. But now, this way… I think it’s good. Very good.”

“Goodbye, little white face.”

Jiang Ciyou lazily stretched and waved her hand in a casual farewell. Then she walked away.

Shen Nuo was waiting outside.

“How did it go? The farewell over?”

Jiang Ciyou took a deep breath. “I’ve said everything that needed to be said.”

She hooked her arm through Shen Nuo’s and said with a light laugh, “Shook off a huge burden. Worth celebrating. Come, I’ll treat you to hotpot.”

That night, Jiang Ciyou ate far too much—especially the ultra-spicy kind. By the end she was crying from the heat. Shen Nuo watched her in silent dismay.

She had truly been serious.

But no matter what, she knew Jiang Ciyou was clear-headed. The waters of the Bo family were deep. Anyone who stepped into them would only drown. She would never wish for even the slightest connection between Jiang Ciyou and the Bo family.

After two days in the capital, Jiang Ciyou returned to Rongcheng.

Life settled back into its usual rhythm: work, home, repeat. The only change was that the sight of Bo Jinxiu had vanished completely from Lv Yin Villa.

Jiang Ciyou packed away every last one of his things. Then she sent him a final message, asking him to send someone to collect them and deleting all of his contact information.

Bo Jinxiu never sent anyone.

Jiang Ciyou could only leave the heavy suitcases and bags in the storage room. The villa suddenly felt strangely empty. Although the house had originally been promised to Bo Jinxiu, the transfer had never been completed before his true identity was exposed. After that, there was no more talk of handover. So the owner of Lv Yin Villa remained Jiang Ciyou.

She had been sleeping poorly these past days, and the dosage of her sleeping pills had been increased. But there was good news on the horizon: the Shen family planned to build a new automobile factory in Rongcheng, and Shen Nuo, as the person in charge, would be moving there soon. The two could once again share a life side by side.

For Jiang Ciyou, it felt like the greatest blessing of all.

Half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Today was a momentous day.

The retrial of Yin Ruyun’s case was being held, and judgment would be handed down today.

The matter had caused quite a stir throughout the city.

The verdict turned out to be justifiable defense—acquittal.

The second trial had brought forth many new pieces of evidence, along with Yin Ruyun’s adopted daughter taking the stand. Of course, Jiang Ciyou knew the decisive factor behind this outcome was the flawless lawyer team of the Bo family.

She had expected at most a reduction to voluntary manslaughter with a lighter sentence. She never imagined the final result would be outright acquittal.

The news of the trial had reached Yao Shulan through a carefully arranged gossip from Mrs. Li. So Yao Shulan sat in the courtroom, watching Jiang Xiaoxiao testify with her own eyes. She also witnessed the judge pronounce Yin Ruyun not guilty.

When Jiang Xiaoxiao stepped out of the courtroom, Yao Shulan moved immediately, slapping her hard across the face.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was stunned.

She had returned to the Jiang family for three years, and Yao Shulan had fulfilled every request without complaint, never once scolding her. Jiang Xiaoxiao knew how guilty Yao Shulan felt and how desperately she wanted to make amends. She had expected Yao Shulan might be displeased about her testifying, but she had never imagined such an intense reaction.

“Jiang Xiaoxiao, since you’re so worried about your mother, why don’t you go be her daughter instead?”

The words hit Jiang Xiaoxiao like a blow. She stood frozen in place for a long moment before finally snapping back.

“Mom, I’m your daughter! Your biological daughter! How can you say such a thing? I only have you as my mother, and I only recognize you. Mom, please don’t abandon me.”

Seeing Yao Shulan’s face twist in sudden coldness, Jiang Xiaoxiao’s heart raced with panic. Yao Shulan had never treated her this way before.

“Since you only acknowledge me as your mother, why testify? You know full well that Yin Ruyun and I share an unbreakable hatred. Her mother seduced my father, drove my mother to death, nearly destroyed our entire family, and later switched my child. Such a deep, unyielding grudge—I could never forgive her in my lifetime. People like her belong in prison. But you, my own daughter, perjured in court and let that vile woman walk free.”

Yao Shulan looked at her with eyes full of heartbreak and fury. “Jiang Xiaoxiao, you have truly disappointed me.”

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s mind spun into chaos.

“Mom, that’s not true.”

She tried desperately to explain.

But Jiang Ciyou walked over with graceful steps, high heels clicking softly. She spoke casually, “Yes, Jiang Xiaoxiao. How could you perjure in court like that?”