Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 56

The Clock Winds Back Twenty Years

On a quiet night, Su Xue’er sat by her daughter’s side, watching over little Jing Xuan who had just fallen asleep after playing to exhaustion. Her warm hands gently caressed Jing Xuan’s rosy cheeks with loving affection. Suddenly, the noise outside shattered the stillness. Jing Long burst into the room, carrying something in his hand.

“What’s wrong?” Su Xue’er asked urgently.

“There’s a traitor! We’re in serious trouble!”

“What happened?”

“Somehow, the Italians’ goods ended up in our company’s warehouse. At first, I thought it was a misunderstanding—something we could explain away. But it turns out they’re not willing to let it go. They’re not just

after the goods—they’re after us.”

“Is it serious?”

“This morning, Bo Kai found that Old Wei had been assassinated. Then some employees at the company were poisoned. They’ve already made their move. They came at us fast and hard. We have no choice but to

leave—immediately! Pack what you can. We’re leaving now!”

Jing Long carefully picked up the sleeping child and, shielding his wife, fled the Jing family estate under the cover of their hidden guards.

Little Jing Xuan was jolted awake by the jostling as her father ran. Surrounded by darkness and people fleeing in all directions, she was terrified and began to cry.

“My good girl, don’t cry,” Jing Long whispered gently. “Daddy’s here. We’re playing hide-and-seek now, okay? Don’t be afraid.”

As he comforted his daughter, Jing Long glanced back over his shoulder. They had run some distance when Su Xue’er, whose health had been fragile since childbirth, stumbled and fell by the roadside. Jing Long quickly reached out to help her up—when a few flashes of gunfire lit up the night, followed by the thudding sound of bullets embedding in nearby tree trunks.

“They’ve caught up!” Su Xue’er gasped. “Don’t worry about me—go! Take our child and protect her!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Jing Long snapped. “We stay together. Our child needs both of us to protect her. Come on—be strong! We go together!”

Su Xue’er tried to stand, but a sharp, searing pain shot through her leg.

“Ah! My foot… I twisted it! A-Long, don’t worry about me. Take the child and go!”

Jing Long didn’t speak. Instead, he handed their daughter to Yan Siwei, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

“Brother, you are the one I trust the most. This child is the Jing family’s only heir. It seems Heaven wants to destroy us. Take her away. Raise her as your own. Let her live a normal life—don’t let her grow up like me.”

“Big brother, what are you saying?” Yan Siwei felt the weight of a final farewell, as if they were parting forever.

“Promise me. Don’t let Jing Xuan suffer. If your sister-in-law and I survive this, we’ll come find you. Take care.”

“Daddy—wu wu—Daddy, Mommy!” Jing Xuan cried as Yan Siwei struggled to contain her flailing limbs. She broke free and ran back to her mother.

“Mommy, is Daddy leaving me?” she sobbed.

Su Xue’er, wincing in pain, gently stroked her daughter’s hair.

“No, sweetheart. Jing Xuan must be good, and listen to Uncle. Daddy just has something important to do, so he can’t keep playing hide-and-seek with you.”

“Is Mommy leaving too?”

“Yes, Mommy too. So, you must wait patiently for us to come bring you home, alright?”
“Wu wu… okay.”

“Don’t cry! No matter what happens in the future, don’t cry. Be strong. My Jing Xuan is the best, the strongest!”

“Mm!”

“Yan Siwei, take her. A-Long and I thank you!”

“Sister-in-law!”

“There! Over there!” someone shouted, revealing their position. Bullets rained down like a storm.

“Don’t hesitate—take the child and go!”

“Big brother, sister-in-law—we’re going. Take care of yourselves!”

Clutching Jing Xuan tightly, Yan Siwei ran toward the edge of the estate. Jing Xuan rested on his shoulder, looking back. Her parents’ faces blurred farther and farther away.

BOOM—

A massive wave of heat swept over them. Yan Siwei was thrown to the ground but curled protectively around Jing Xuan, rolling into a roadside ditch. Miraculously, they evaded the pursuers.

“Brother Pingji, looks like they’ve gotten pretty far. Should we keep chasing?” a breathless figure asked the short but razor-straight man beside him.

“We’ve already captured Jing Long. Those who fled are just remnants. They won’t stir up much trouble. Let’s consider them lucky,” Nishikawa Heiji replied, leading his men away.

As he turned, the glow of distant flames etched his figure deeply into Jing Xuan’s young mind.

—

Years later, Nishikawa Heiji looked curiously at the young man who stared at him so intently. A chill crept across his heart. Staring at an elder for so long was deeply impolite. Lan Qing tugged gently at Jing Xuan’s sleeve. Jing Xuan looked down and gave her a charming smile, making her blush.

Composing herself, Jing Xuan gave a polite Japanese bow. “Uncle Iga, Auntie, Uncle Nishikawa. I’m Lan Qing’s friend—my name is Jing Xuan.”

With his handsome features and graceful, courteous demeanor, Jing Xuan immediately won over everyone at the Iga household.

“What a fine young man!” Hasegawa Xiu noted how tightly Lan Qing clung to Jing Xuan’s sleeve, like a child hiding behind an adult when facing strangers.

Although Nianqing felt a pang of jealousy, she approached with elegance, linking arms with Nishikawa Goro. “Jing Xuan, welcome to our wedding. I’m trusting you to take care of my wonderful little sister. If you dare bully her, I won’t forgive you!”

“Sis~” Lan Qing pouted sweetly at Nianqing but kept her eyes on Jing Xuan, her gaze playful—daring her to try bullying her.

Nishikawa Goro remained silent. From the moment Lan Qing entered, his attention had never left her. Her every expression, every coy glance—it all captivated him.

Jing Xuan noticed Goro’s burning gaze and felt irritated. She reached out and wrapped her arm around Lan Qing’s waist, pulling her close.

“Don’t worry, sister. I love Qing so much—it’s impossible for me to bully her.”

“Hmph! You love her that much? Then what about all those scandalous affairs?” Iga Jonin grumbled, jealous that his darling daughter was now behaving like a docile kitten in another man’s arms. Given Jing

Xuan’s notorious tabloid history, he didn’t want his daughter being deceived.

“Dad!”

“Let him explain himself!”

“Uncle Iga,” Jing Xuan said, “I can explain everything—but not now. Qing believes in me. So please, forgive my rudeness.”

“But I don’t believe you! My daughter is not someone to be trifled with! If you want to be with Lan Qing, you’ll have to get past me first. Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes!”