Hearing the pleading tone in Qin Qinghan's voice, Ye Fengwu's expression immediately darkened. He spoke seriously, "I have never intended to harm you or your daughter. I only want to take care of both of you for the rest of your lives."
Qin Qinghan shook her head self-mockingly, snorting, "You know my past. When I was sixteen, I was taken advantage of. For the past eight years, everyone around me has mocked me. Even my grandfather and uncles no longer treat me as a member of the Qin family."
"Yesterday, I lost my job. I don't even have money to pay the mortgage or cover our family's expenses. I can't give you anything. Please stop bothering me. I beg you, let me go."
The more Qin Qinghan spoke, the more heartbroken and emotional she became, eventually breaking down into tears.
Ye Fengwu's face darkened even further, and he sneered, "So, this is how you've always seen me. You think I approached you because I wanted something?"
"If there is anything I want, I can honestly say that the only thing I want is the right to care for you and your daughter."
Qin Qinghan suddenly looked up, a few tears falling onto the blanket. At this moment, she had completely broken down due to the pressure, and her fear of Ye Fengwu had disappeared.
She coldly said, "Your sweet words won't fool me. A man like you doesn't lack women. If you're trying to win me over with flattery, I suggest you stop now. I'm not some innocent girl, and I won't fall in love with someone like you."
At her words, Ye Fengwu's heart subtly twisted. It turned out that Qin Qinghan had always thought he was only interested in her for temporary pleasure.
"Heh..." Ye Fengwu's self-mockery grew deeper. His face twisted into a bitter smile. "You think I approached you for fleeting desires, or to satisfy my ego from chasing beautiful women?"
Qin Qinghan replied, "Isn't that the case? If you force yourself on me, I can't resist, but that hypocritical mask you wear disgusts me."
"Heh…" Ye Fengwu laughed, but it was a cold, unpleasant laugh.
The sound of his laughter sent a chill down Qin Qinghan's spine. She had gathered all her courage to speak her mind, but now, she felt a wave of fear. She was afraid that this man, enraged by her words, might actually force himself on her.
Instinctively, Qin Qinghan shifted back, retreating until she was against the headboard of the bed.
After a long silence, Ye Fengwu suddenly gazed into Qin Qinghan's eyes and said, "I do have secrets from you, but I believe these secrets won't harm you. When the time is right… I will tell you everything."
The only secret Ye Fengwu kept from Qin Qinghan was that he was Jing Si's biological father—the very man who had caused her to live in torment for the past eight years. Of course, his identity as a military hero was also something he kept hidden.
Had Ye Fengwu known that Qin Qinghan despised the underground organization he was part of, perhaps he would have revealed his true identity as a national hero—hoping that the truth would change her perspective on him.
But now, Ye Fengwu had seen Qin Qinghan's kindness and understood her inner strength. He knew that if she found out he was the man she loathed, she might not just push him away. She might want to hurt him, or even cast him out of her life forever.
Qin Qinghan finally calmed down and shook her head, saying, "There's no need for that. I'm not interested in your secrets. I only ask that you leave me alone. You make me... nervous."
With that, Qin Qinghan reached into the drawer of her nightstand and pulled out something.
Ye Fengwu turned his head and saw that it was a small box—the engagement ring he had given her.
Qin Qinghan placed the box on the bed and said tiredly, "Thank you for everything you've done for us these past few days. I'm returning this to you. Please leave."
Ye Fengwu's heart sank. So, he was being kicked out. He picked up the box and casually opened it, revealing a ring with a sapphire the size of a thumb.
He glanced at it, but then his eyes narrowed, and an expression of deep disappointment appeared in his gaze.
With a sharp snap, Ye Fengwu closed the box and spoke in a heavy tone, "Alright. I'll give you some time to think about it. I'll leave for a few days."
After speaking, Ye Fengwu turned and left Qin Qinghan's room.
As he walked away, Qin Qinghan didn't feel relieved. Instead, she felt a sense of loss.
Bang!
When the front door slammed shut, she felt as though she had lost some form of safety.
"Woo..."
Once again, the muffled sound of her crying echoed in the room.
Outside, by the dumpster, Ye Fengwu's face was grim and disappointed. He held the small box in one hand, and then, with a slight squeeze…
Crack!
The box shattered, and the sapphire inside turned to powder.
However, a sapphire of that size was harder than diamond. No matter how strong Ye Fengwu was, he couldn't easily crush it into powder.
And from the powder's appearance, it was obvious that it was just regular glass.
"Why did you do this? Was it for the money?" Ye Fengwu muttered in disappointment.
When he had opened the box in Qin Qinghan's room and seen the ring, he had already known that it was no longer the one he had originally given her. The real ring was unique, worth over a hundred million dollars.
The one he was holding now was just a cheap imitation, worth only a few dollars to make.
"Looks like even someone as simple and kind as you would do something like this for money..." Ye Fengwu's disappointment grew deeper.
He muttered one last line and left the neighborhood.
He hadn't planned on asking for the ring back. If Qin Qinghan really had sold her integrity for a hundred million dollars, then he would consider it repayment for her. She was no longer someone worth protecting.
Ye Fengwu only hoped that the hundred million would help her and her daughter live better lives.
Meanwhile, as Ye Fengwu was leaving the neighborhood, Yang Yu rushed back home, crying out as soon as she entered.
"Qinghan! Qinghan! You have to save your father!"
After kicking Ye Fengwu out, Qin Qinghan was feeling dejected, and the pressure of being unemployed made her even more downcast.
When she heard Yang Yu's cry, her heart sank. Although she didn't know what had happened, she realized that her world was about to collapse.
Without thinking about the tears still on her face, Qin Qinghan rushed out of her room to find Yang Yu crying on the couch.
Qin Qinghan trembled as she asked, "Mom, what happened? Where's Dad?"
Yang Yu, full of guilt and self-blame, cried, "Qinghan, I'm sorry. I know things are tough for you, but I couldn't resist playing Mahjong with the neighbors for a bit of fun. But..."
At this point, Yang Yu was barely able to speak through her sobs.
Qin Qinghan realized something serious had happened. She quickly sat down beside her mom and asked, "Mom, what happened? What's going on with Dad?"
Yang Yu wiped her tears and said, "Yesterday, we were playing Mahjong, and your dad won a few hundred. Then some younger men came, one of them called Gao He, who sat at your dad's table."
"That man looked fierce, but he kept losing, and by the end of the night, he had lost over five thousand to your dad."
"Later, Gao He wasn't happy, so he suggested they raise the stakes to a thousand a hand. Your dad felt lucky, so he agreed."
Upon hearing this, Qin Qinghan's face darkened. "Mom, didn't I tell you before? Mahjong should just be for fun, not gambling big!"
Yang Yu's sobs worsened. "I tried telling your dad, but he didn't listen. In the beginning, your dad was winning a lot. Within an hour, he had won fifty thousand."
"Your dad said if he won another fifty thousand, he would stop, and then we could send Jing Si to a good school so she wouldn't be bullied anymore."
Qin Qinghan's worry deepened. She could tell that Gao He was definitely not someone who would lose without a reason.
Yang Yu cried harder. "But your dad's greed got the better of him, and with Gao He egging him on, they raised the stakes even more. In the end... in the end..."
"Woo... Qinghan, your dad and I are so sorry," Yang Yu wailed.
Qin Qinghan's heart sank. She quickly asked, "Mom, did Dad lose? How much?"
Yang Yu finally revealed, "Your dad lost... lost a hundred thousand."
"A hundred thousand..." Qin Qinghan's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected it to be that much.
She quickly tried to comfort her mom, "Mom, it's alright. This is just a lesson. I'll find a way to pay the money back."
Though she said that, Qin Qinghan had no idea where she could borrow the money. Should she turn to Grandpa? But they definitely wouldn't help.
Yang Yu, feeling even more guilty, said, "Qinghan, I know it's hard for you, but please, you have to save your dad. That Gao He said that if we don't pay him eighty thousand by tomorrow, he'll... he'll cut off one of your dad's hands."
Qin Qinghan's face drained of color as she hurriedly asked, "Should we call the police?"
Yang Yu quickly shook her head. "We can't. Gao He doesn't look like a good person. If we call the police, we'll be in even bigger trouble. Qinghan, you have to think of something!"