Chapter 279: Chapter 106: Jiang Heng Grows Suspicious and Investigates Bai Xi (Part 3)

Bai Xuan’s tears always rendered Jiang Heng defenseless.

Jiang Heng opened the cigarette pack, took out a cigarette, but didn’t light it.

He held the cigarette, as if gripping the strings of calm.

Jiang Heng asked Bai Xuan solemnly, "Why did things turn out this way?" This was something Jiang Heng struggled to comprehend.

Bai Xuan looked at the gemstone antique ring on her finger, her tearful eyes making the ring’s appearance increasingly blurry, just like her future, becoming more and more indistinct.

Bai Xuan wiped her tears, and then said softly, "Ah Heng, how old was I the year I saved you?"

Jiang Heng said, "Five or six years old."

Nodding slightly, Bai Xuan sighed, "Yes, a little girl raised with the love of her parents would naturally possess a kind and brave nature, wouldn’t she?"

"But people, as they grow older, become more cowardly, more realistic, isn’t it so?"

Jiang Heng moved his lips, attempting to argue, yet felt Bai Xuan made a compelling point.

"I admit, nowadays I am indeed weak and hypocritical, craving power and status." Bai Xuan laughed at herself and said, "That’s because I’ve had enough of the hard times; I’m afraid of losing everything I once had."

"Ah Heng, do you know what kind of life our family led in Haiyu City when my father was alive?"

Jiang Heng gently arched an eyebrow, tilted his head, and stared at Bai Xuan, hearing her say, "Back then, although our family wasn’t considered wealthy, living a life of extravagance, my father’s popularity in Haiyu City meant our family received the utmost respect from the citizens."

"The benefits and care we received from outsiders in the past were all because of my father. In the first two years following his passing, those uncles still cared for us somewhat. But everyone is an adult, pursuing their official paths, with their own families to take care of, how long could they help?"

"Over time, we were forgotten in Haiyu City, and my mother and I’s lives fell into ruin. Even more despicable was, while we were still immersed in the grief of my father’s death and my sister’s disappearance, an uncle who held a grudge against my father within the Alliance Government, even attempted to take over my mother, wanting her as his mistress!"

These events were real, and so when Bai Xuan spoke of the past, her expression was understandably sorrowful.

Jiang Heng listened quietly to all this, and he felt pity for Bai Xuan arise in his heart.

"To avoid the harassment of that uncle, my mother had to take me away from Haiyu City. But my father had spoilt my mother to the core; during those years we wandered outside, we endured a lot of hardships. It wasn’t until we moved to West Continent City when I was 16 years old, that my mother remarried and our life improved."

"You know my stepfather; he has some money, is generous to women, and when he feigns deep affection, no one can sense it’s a performance. Shortly after marrying him, his promiscuous nature was revealed."

"He began living a debauched life, maintaining young girls outside, sometimes going on business trips for a month without returning home. My mother was afraid of being abandoned by my stepfather, afraid we would once again lead a life of hardship, so she constantly reminded me to sweet-talk my stepfather, never to offend him."

"Under her influence, I always held a flattering attitude toward my stepfather. Therefore, when my mother discovered my stepfather had improper intentions toward Bai Xi, out of jealousy and fear, she decided to hand Bai Xi over to a business associate my stepfather wanted to curry favor with, making Bai Xi a mistress."

By this point, Bai Xuan was crying like a flower in a rainstorm.

She turned her head to meet Jiang Heng’s gaze, speaking in shame, "I know my mother wronged Bai Xi, and I have wronged Bai Xi. I’m also aware that turning a blind eye to Bai Xi’s plight was a weak and contemptible act."

"But if given another chance, I would still choose to turn a blind eye to her situation. Because I’m afraid, afraid of offending my stepfather and being kicked out of that home, being driven out of West Continent City."

From Bai Xuan’s experience, one can see how environment and family can change a person beyond recognition. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"I’m even more afraid that after leaving West Continent City, I would never see you again."

Bai Xuan gently held the hand of Jiang Heng, who was gripping the cigarette, and said to Jiang Heng, "Ah Heng, your presence is a ray of light in my dim life. I can’t refuse your family background, your deep affection, I absolutely cannot refuse you."

After silently listening to Bai Xuan for so long, Jiang Heng’s mood was extremely restless.