flstandardbreds Chapter 142 You Owe Me
Chapter 142 You Owe Me
The basement door slammed shut with a heavy, unsettling echo.
The room was surrounded by thick walls, filled with the damp smell of earth, and permeated with an undeniable chill and the stench of blood.
In the dim light, the various knives and whips piled up in the corner gleamed with a cold light, like venomous snakes waiting for their prey.
The woman stood there expressionless, staring silently at Xie Huaijin, who was tied to the chair.
His body was trembling slightly, as if he were experiencing a terrible nightmare.
Xie Huaijin sat in the chair with his eyes tightly closed, his face as pale as paper, and his lips bloodless.
His hands were tightly bound to the back of the chair, and deep red marks were left on his wrists.
His feet were chained with a heavy iron chain, restricting his movement.
The woman watched all of this with indifference, without the slightest pity.
She slowly walked to Xie Huaijin's side, carrying a basin of ice-cold water in her hands.
Suddenly, without warning, the woman splashed the basin of water onto Xie Huaijin's face.
The icy water rushed out like a torrent, and his body shuddered violently as if he had been electrocuted. Then he slowly opened his eyes.
Xie Huaijin's eyes were dazed and empty. Water droplets were still on his face, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the ground, forming a small water stain.
The vision gradually became clearer, as if the fog was slowly being lifted.
Finally, a woman's figure appeared before them. She stood there quietly, like a beautiful painting.
When his gaze was fully focused on her, he couldn't help but gasp.
Because standing in front of him was none other than her—Jiang Jiyue!
He stared at her in disbelief, as if time had frozen in that moment.
Her face was still as beautiful and charming as ever, only now it showed more maturity and vicissitudes.
“It’s you, Jiang Jiyue…” he murmured to himself, his voice filled with surprise and doubt.
"Why are you here?" Xie Huaijin asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Jiang Jiyue's lips curled up slightly, forming a mocking smile. Her gaze was as cold as ice as she looked down at the man in front of her, as if he were just an insignificant ant.
Xie Huaijin, the man who had once caused her endless torment, had finally fallen into her hands.
She couldn't help but recall the days she had been imprisoned in this dark and gloomy basement, a memory she didn't want to relive.
"Do you know? I was once locked up here, just like you are now, soaking in icy water, feeling despair and fear." Her delicate hand stroked his face.
Jiang Jiyue's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, filled with resentment and bitterness towards Xie Huaijin.
Her eyes revealed a resolute determination, as if she had completely broken with her past self.
Faced with Jiang Jiyue's questioning, Xie Huaijin seemed somewhat bewildered, as if he had forgotten this woman with whom he had once had a connection.
However, there is one person he will always feel guilty towards.
"When old acquaintances meet, do you really not remember who I am?"
Jiang Jiyue's tone became increasingly sharp, and she leaned forward slightly, as if trying to get a closer look at Xie Huaijin's expression.
“You are…Joey?” His voice was filled with disbelief and shock, as if he were seeing someone who could never have appeared before him.
He gazed at the woman before him, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. That once-familiar face now carried a hint of strangeness and indifference. He couldn't help but recall the past, those memories buried deep within his heart, now surging back like a tidal wave.
His feeling was right after all; the Jiang Jiyue who suddenly appeared was indeed Qiao Yi!
She actually appeared in front of him in this way. Was this her revenge on him?
A sharp pain shot through his heart as he recalled the moment he had abandoned her for personal gain.
At the time, he was blinded by self-interest and chose to leave her without hesitation.
But now, she has returned to his life in this way, making it impossible for him to escape his past.
"I...I'm sorry..." His voice trembled slightly, seemingly filled with guilt and helplessness.
He once loved her; it was a feeling of wanting to protect her and prevent her from getting hurt.
However, when faced with a choice between interests, he did not hesitate to abandon her and choose Fu Silin, who had a better family background.
A flicker of disappointment and pain crossed her eyes; she couldn't understand why he had so easily abandoned their relationship.
"You chose Fu Silin over me when it came to your own interests. You're a hypocrite!" Her voice, filled with anger and resentment, pierced straight into his heart.
He lowered his head, not daring to meet her gaze, because he knew she was right.
His choice certainly made him seem like a hypocrite, someone who abandoned true love for personal gain. But what could he do? Faced with the pressures and temptations of reality, he discovered how fragile his resolve was.
“I know I’ve wronged you,” he finally looked up and into her eyes, “but I also had my own reasons…” His words sounded weak and powerless, and even he himself found it difficult to justify.
She sneered, interrupting him: "Under no circumstances? What kind of unavoidable circumstances would make you betray our relationship? You're nothing but a selfish person!"
After saying that, she turned and left without hesitation, as if she had no regrets at all.
However, just as she was about to step out of the room, she suddenly stopped.
She slowly turned around, her icy gaze fixed on him, as if trying to pierce through him. Her voice was cold and resolute: "I'm going to lock you up in this dark, sunless place forever, making you spend every moment in regret! This is what you owe me!"
These words struck Xie Huaijin like a heavy hammer, turning his face ashen and causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.
"No... Ai!"
He finally couldn't hold back and roared, his voice filled with despair and pleading.
However, she remained unmoved by his cries, resolutely turning away and leaving only the tightly closed door, completely isolating him from the outside world.
Xie Huaijin struggled in despair, calling out Jiang Jiyue's name repeatedly. His voice echoed in the empty basement, but he received no response.
His throat gradually became hoarse, and his strength gradually faded away until he could only slump helplessly in the chair.
After meeting him, Jiang Jiyue returned to the Red Star Group with a heavy heart.
She went straight into her office and began handling the group's affairs, but her thoughts were still troubled by the meeting she had just had.
Just as she was engrossed in her work, her cell phone rang, breaking the silence of the office.
She picked up her phone and saw that the caller ID showed an unfamiliar number. After hesitating for a moment, she finally answered the call.
A deep voice came from the other end of the phone: "Jiang Jiyue, the contents of what Fu Shiyue gave me are fake and completely useless! Moreover, Fu Shiyue will soon trace Xie Huaijin's disappearance back to you. When that happens, I hope you know what to do."
Jiang Jiyue's expression instantly turned serious. She remained silent for a moment, then slowly stood up and walked to the window.
She gazed at the bustling city streets outside the window, took a deep breath, and said, "Master Fei, I have achieved my goal, and you have gotten what you wanted. As for how things will develop afterward, that's none of my business."
Her tone was cold and resolute, as if she had lost all interest in the matter.
However, the person on the other end of the phone was clearly not satisfied with her answer and continued, "Jiang Jiyue, don't forget our cooperation. You took Xie Huaijin away, and I took Fu Silin away; this was all agreed upon beforehand. Now you want to stay out of it, which is not part of our agreement."
Jiang Jiyue sneered and retorted, "Our cooperation was based on mutual benefit. I have completed my task as agreed. As for how Fu Shiyue investigates, that's his business and has nothing to do with me."
Her words revealed an attitude of complete fearlessness, as if she had already seen through the essence of this game.
“Joey, don’t forget, there are plenty of opportunities in this world for you to turn things around! But without me, how could you have your current status and position?”
His words revealed an undisguised arrogance and conceit.
However, before he could finish speaking, she hung up the phone without hesitation, as if his voice were just annoying noise.
Jiang Jiyue stared silently at her phone screen, which displayed a notification that the call had ended.
During her time abroad, she experienced and reflected on many things.
She understood that society was like a cruel jungle, governed by the law of the jungle. If she were too weak, she would only become a target for bullying.
Your gentleness will only make others cherish you more.
Joey may have been submissive in the past, but she has completely changed and has learned how to protect herself.
Then I'll be the bad guy.
The landline rang.
"President Jiang, President Fu is here. She and her secretary have something to discuss with you."
What's meant to come will come.
She straightened her clothes.
"Let them in."
The door was pushed open, and Fu Shiyue led Ye Xingran in.
His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, staring straight at Jiang Jiyue as if trying to see right through her.
Ye Xingran followed beside him.
"President Jiang, it's been a long time," Fu Shiyue said coldly.
"Mr. Fu, what brings you here?"
"I arranged to come with Xie Huaijin to see you, Mr. Jiang, but I couldn't get in touch with him. I only found out today that he's missing. Has he contacted you, Mr. Jiang, during this time?"
Jiang Jiyue remained calm and looked at him without changing her expression. "No, Mr. Fu is really interesting. If someone goes missing, you should report it to the police. Instead, you come to my Red Star to look for them. Mr. Fu, do you think I've hidden them?"