Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 20

Lan Qing arrived safely in Tokyo and returned to the Iga family with great fanfare.

“Lan Qing, you’re back! That’s wonderful! Did you enjoy yourself over there?” Iga Nianqing came rushing out, her face lit up with excitement that she couldn’t hide.

Nianqing, however, was not the Iga family’s biological daughter. She was abandoned as a child and knew nothing about her parents—no names, no home, no clue whether any relatives were still alive. Ever since she was little, Nianqing had been mischievous. At the age of nine, she ran away from the orphanage and fell in with a group of street kids, helping them cover their petty thefts and scams.

One day, while snatching a noblewoman’s handbag in a crowded street, she was caught by bodyguards. Normally, her trick worked: she’d look at her victims with wide, pitiful eyes, and most would soften at the sight of such a young, dirty child. But that day, her luck ran out. The woman she’d tried to rob was none other than Hasegawa Xiu—the wife of Iga Jonin.

Hasegawa Xiu had just finished attending an event with her husband and was strolling nearby when Nianqing darted past and yanked her bag. When the guards caught Nianqing, she looked like a street urchin—no more than eight or nine, dressed in oversized rags, her face so filthy it was hard to see her features.

But her eyes were striking—clear and bright, staring directly into Hasegawa Xiu’s. Just as she was about to tell the guards to release the child, a commanding voice interrupted.

“Wait! Let her go.”

It was Iga Jonin—and his appearance changed everything for Nianqing.

“Don’t be afraid, little one. What’s your name?” he asked gently.

“Xiaojiu,” she answered timidly.

“Why are you called that?”

“Because… they said I was the ninth one they picked up.”

“They? Who are they?”

“I can’t say.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“They said if I told anyone, I’d be beaten and wouldn’t get to eat.”

“Well, that’s not right! You don’t have to go back to them. Come home with me. I have lots of food and fun things at my house.”

“Really? But… but if they find me missing, they’ll beat me even worse if they find me!”

“They won’t find you. And even if they do, they won’t hurt you. I promise.”

Jonin’s voice was kind, his eyes warm. The people around him were stunned—when had the powerful president ever spoken to anyone, let alone a child, so patiently?

In the end, Iga Jonin persuaded the little girl to come with him and later adopted her, naming her Iga Nianqing. As for the group of delinquents who once claimed her, they mysteriously vanished under Jonin’s quiet arrangements.

Although Iga Jonin was married to Hasegawa Xiu, he had no affection for her and had refused to have children with her. The moment he saw Nianqing’s eyes, he was shaken—they reminded him of his long-lost daughter, Iga Qing. If not for Nianqing’s age being slightly off, Jonin might have ordered a bl00d test. Nianqing was born just a month earlier than Lan Qing, so she was given the status of elder sister.

Hasegawa Xiu, for her part, was a rare and kind-hearted woman. Denied the chance to be a mother by her cold husband, she devoted all her affection to Nianqing. Later, when Lan Qing returned, seeing the two girls getting along so well brought her real comfort. For the first time, this large, empty house began to feel like a true home.

Lan Qing removed her coat and handed it to the maid, then took Nianqing’s hand and walked in with a cheerful smile.

“Sis, I had so much fun! Were you happy staying at home? Why don’t I see Aunt Xiu around?”

“Mom’s upstairs with Dad. They’re entertaining some guests and can’t come down right now.”

“Guests? Who?”

“I’m not sure. I heard they’re from America. You know how it is—Dad never tells us anything about his affairs.”

Lan Qing’s curiosity was piqued. Guests from America? Must be something important, she thought.

Seeing her sister silent, Nianqing assumed she was disappointed. “Don’t worry, Sis. I’m still here. Did you bring me a present?”

“Ah! Um… about that… I’ll make it up to you, promise!”

“You little rascal.” Nianqing tapped her sister’s forehead with a smile, and the two girls laughed as they headed upstairs.

On the third floor, the study door opened, and a tall man named Jing Cheng exited with his entourage, moving with the confidence of someone used to power. Iga Jonin and Hasegawa Xiu followed politely. Jing

Cheng turned back with a friendly smile and clapped Jonin on the shoulder.

“I’ll leave it to you, Brother Jonin! Looking forward to your good news!”

Jonin politely removed Jing Cheng’s hand. “Don’t worry, Brother Jing. Now that we have a lead, things will move much faster.”

As the motorcade drove off, Jonin’s expression darkened. The smile vanished, replaced by a glint of cold disdain.

Hmph! Jing Cheng, who do you think you are? When I was building the Yilong Society from the ground up, you were still wet behind the ears. And now you think you can throw your weight around just because of your backing? Naïve. You want to play this game? Fine—I’ll play it to the end.

Elsewhere, Jing Xuan pulled her coat tighter as she slipped into a shadowy alley. The early autumn chill crept through the narrow streets lined with run-down apartments and scattered trash. Lights from cramped homes flickered across the cracked walls, casting a dim, flickering glow.

She weaved through the maze of alleys and finally arrived at a hidden bar deep within the neighborhood. Inside, cigarette smoke hung thick in the air and vulgar dance music blasted through the speakers. Young men and women with brightly dyed hair were dancing, laughing, and shouting—a cacophony that made Jing Xuan frown in disgust.

Keeping her head down, she dragged an old chair to the bar, ordered a beer, and drank slowly, waiting.

After a while, a tall, lean man approached and sat down beside her. He ordered the same beer.

“Young Master,” he said quietly.

Jing Xuan didn’t look at him. “What did you find?” she asked calmly.

“My people are still working, but no solid leads. However, we confirmed that he flew to the U.S. last week and hasn’t been seen since.”

“Keep digging. Let me know the moment you hear anything. I suspect something’s happened to him…”

“Understood. Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll handle it. Please take care of yourself.”

He downed the beer in one gulp, placed some money under the bottle, and left without another word.

Jing Xuan continued sipping her drink slowly, her eyes turning sharper, deeper.

“Uncle Movis… where are you?”