Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 43
That’s right! Nishikawa came this time to arrange a marriage meeting for his son. Forming a marital alliance with the Iga family would be highly beneficial for their future prospects—after all, the two families have had longstanding ties. It was practically certain: Nishikawa Gorō was destined to become the Iga family’s son-in-law.
After the usual pleasantries, a family banquet commenced. Noticing his son’s constant glances at Lan Qing, Nishikawa Heiji smiled knowingly.
“Lord Jōnin,” he said, “may I ask—do either of your daughters currently have a suitor?”
“Oh, that?” Lord Jōnin chuckled. “Since Heiji wants Gorō to become our son-in-law, why not let the children get to know each other first? Whether or not my daughters are seeing anyone, it all depends on Gorō’s own ability to win their hearts!”
“Well said, Lord Jōnin! Let the young ones handle it. Haha!”
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That evening, back in their guest room, Nishikawa Heiji summoned his son.
“Father.”
“Gorō, do you like the second daughter of the Iga family?”
“Father…”
“Do you like Lan Qing?”
“…Yes.”
“A man must have the courage to take responsibility for his feelings! If you do, say so. If not, say so. Why hesitate?”
“Yes! But… Father, I know Lan Qing doesn’t like me.”
Recalling the atmosphere at dinner, Gorō’s eyes dimmed. Yes, he could sense it—Lan Qing did not have feelings for him.
Heiji placed a firm hand on his son’s shoulder, as if trying to pass strength through it. “Forget whether she likes you. If you like her, go after her boldly! My son is no coward!”
“Father…”
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While father and son were having their heartfelt moment, elsewhere in the Iga residence, Lan Qing was pacing back and forth in the room she shared with Nianqing.
“Lan Qing, you’re making my head spin—you’ve been pacing for 40 minutes! Can you sit down and take a break?”
Lan Qing paused, sighed, then resumed her steady pacing.
Nianqing watched her with a defeated expression. “Lan Qing, it’s obvious that Nishikawa Gorō seems to really like you.”
“I don’t like him,” Lan Qing replied firmly. “Sister, you know I’ve always had someone in my heart—someone who’s been there deeply, always…”
Nianqing stood up and forced Lan Qing to sit down on the sofa. “You still haven’t gotten over her?”
“There’s… been a bit of a mishap,” Lan Qing admitted.
“Lan Qing… is she… is she really the only one for you?”
Lan Qing lifted her eyes to Nianqing’s, unwavering and resolute. “Yes. From childhood to now, I’ve never had room in my heart for anyone else. I’ve loved her for ten years. I don’t know how to live without her. For the rest of my life, it has to be her.”
Her words carried a resoluteness that shattered the fragile hope Nianqing had been carefully protecting. Still, she asked gently, clinging to that last shred of possibility: “But what if… I mean, what if she doesn’t love you? What if she changes her heart?”
“There’s nothing I can do then,” Lan Qing said softly, standing and turning her back. “I only know that I can’t live without her.”
Behind her, Nianqing couldn’t see the sadness clouding Lan Qing’s eyes—and Lan Qing didn’t see the torment twisting Nianqing’s face.
After a moment of silence, Nianqing composed herself and said quietly, “Lan Qing… regardless of what happens, one of us is going to have to marry into the Nishikawa family. Their banking empire has become one of the most powerful financial conglomerates in Japan. Father’s been planning an alliance for years.”
She paused before continuing. “Now that Nishikawa Gorō likes you… If we don’t prepare soon, I’m afraid Father will agree to the match.”
At those words, silent tears slid down Lan Qing’s cheeks.
Xuan, what should I do?
Nianqing stepped forward and pulled Lan Qing into her arms, letting her vent her emotions freely. But truthfully, she was just as heartbroken—watching the one she loved about to be tied to someone else, and
unable to do anything but smile and offer blessings. She had to act like she was even happier than the person she was losing.
Tightening her arms around Lan Qing, Nianqing held her close, struggling not to let her own tears fall. She had to be strong. She had to shield Lan Qing from whatever was coming.
“Lan Qing, can I stay here with you tonight?”
Lan Qing didn’t reply—she simply hugged Nianqing tighter. And that gesture alone gave Nianqing a sliver of comfort. Right now, Lan Qing was like a child who had lost all sense of security. She still needed her.
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Singapore. Huatian International.
Huang Zhixiong studied the woman sitting across from him. So, this was the girl from the file—the one Jing Xuan supposedly got pregnant?
He found it laughable. That brat was a girl herself—how could she possibly get someone pregnant? Still, he was curious what kind of trick they were trying to pull.
“You’re saying… this child is Jing Xuan’s?”
The woman nodded timidly, not daring to meet Huang Zhixiong’s gaze.
On the side, Jing Cheng was already starting to show impatience.
“I only have one precious niece. Her parents are gone, and before they passed, they entrusted her to me. But now? Now she’s been wronged like this—how am I supposed to answer to my brother and sister-in-law?”
The woman chimed in, calling Huang Zhixiong “Uncle” as if perfectly on cue.
Huang Zhixiong watched the performance unfold with cold amusement. “Just tell me—how much do you want?”
Jing Cheng snapped. “How much? You think everything can be solved with money? How do you put a price on my niece’s innocence?”
Huang Zhixiong leaned back, relaxing in his chair. “Then what do you want?”
“Your son ruined my niece! He seduced her, used her, and now he wants to walk away. We don’t want anything—just for him to take responsibility and marry her!”
“And why should he?”
“Why? Because she’s carrying his child!”
“Impossible.”
“What do you mean impossible? Are you trying to deny it?”
“That child is definitely not Jing Xuan’s—therefore not part of the Huang family either. Just say what it is you really want.”
“What do you mean? That baby is Jing Xuan’s! Where is he? He does something this disgraceful and doesn’t even have the guts to face us?”
“You keep insisting it’s his child—do you have any proof?”
Pushed to the edge by their absurd claims, Huang Zhixiong’s patience finally wore thin.
“We may not have proof, but we demand a DNA test! That child is definitely his!”
Not interested in wasting any more time, Huang Zhixiong pressed a button on his desk. “See them out.”
Immediately, four security guards in black entered and politely escorted Jing Cheng and the woman out of Huatian’s headquarters.
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Once outside, Jing Cheng shouted loudly as he pulled the woman away in a hurry. But as soon as they turned a corner, his demeanor shifted completely. He calmly instructed the woman to go rest and take care of her pregnancy, then climbed into a luxurious van.
“Sir, you seem very pleased. Things must’ve gone smoothly?” asked Xiaofeng, the young driver.
“Haha, Xiaofeng, do you know why I like you so much?”
Xiaofeng blushed. “Sir, just tell me—I can’t guess.”
“Because you’re clever. Huang Zhixiong has taken the bait!”
Jing Cheng laughed in satisfaction, and Xiaofeng laughed along with him—though he wasn’t nearly as simple as he seemed. There was far more to Xiaofeng than met the eye.