Unexpected (GL) - Chapter 1

Jinghai City, Fang Group, CEO’s Office.

Qin Ning sat in a swivel chair, her long hands folded on the desk. Her eyes behind the glasses were sharp and cold.

She said nothing, just stared at the pale, thin woman in front of her.

Xie Jing had always been strong and optimistic.

In Qin Ning’s memory, she had never shown such a helpless look before—not even when they broke up.

Even then, she had calmly and gently said just those two words: “Break up.”

Qin Ning pulled her thoughts back and asked in a flat voice, “Why are you here?”

Xie Jing’s eyes were slightly red, and she tried hard to keep her voice steady.

“Qin Ning, can you help the Xie family business?”

“Now you know to come and beg me?”

Qin Ning’s cold voice echoed in the quiet office, full of sarcasm.

“When you left with Shen Xinghe, didn’t you think you might need my help one day?”

When she heard the name “Shen Xinghe,” Xie Jing opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but then fell silent.

Seeing this, Qin Ning let out a cold laugh.

“So why didn’t you go find Shen Xinghe this time? Why come to me?”

Xie Jing said, “She…”

Qin Ning cut her off right away.

“You feel bad for her. You don’t want to spend her money, so you came to me instead, hoping I’d still care enough as your ex to help you through this?”

Xie Jing choked, “No, it’s not what you think…”

“Oh? Then what is it?”

“Don’t tell me you suddenly changed your mind and started missing me, so you came back hoping to get back together?”

Xie Jing quickly said, “I didn’t think that.”

“What, you’re so sure I’d say no that you didn’t even dare think about it?”

Xie Jing stayed quiet.

You already said everything—what else could she say?

Qin Ning paused for a second, then continued calmly.

“How could someone fall into the same hole twice? Even if you really thought that way, I wouldn’t say yes.”

Qin Ning gave a self-mocking smile.

“Miss Xie, I’m not the fool I used to be, the one who would do anything just because you said a few sweet words.”

“Why should I help you?”

Yes, they were already broken up.

Why should Qin Ning help her?

Xie Jing needed a lot of money.

And besides, she had once “betrayed” Qin Ning.

At this point, the fact that Qin Ning wasn’t mocking her already showed restraint.

Why would she help?

Xie Jing’s throat tightened. She swallowed hard, but no words would come out.

She stared at Qin Ning for a long time, then finally made up her mind. She stepped back, turned around, and reached for the door.

The moment her hand touched the cold door handle, the sound of high heels hitting the floor quickly came from behind—click, click.

“You can’t even hold it together for a few words?”

Qin Ning grabbed Xie Jing’s wrist from behind, coming close to her.

“You came for money today, didn’t you? You want me to help you through this mess? Fine—if you agree to one thing—”

“Qin Ning.”

Xie Jing tried to pull her wrist away but couldn’t.

The grip was too tight.

Qin Ning’s face showed a bit of anger.

“Xie Jing, your company’s about to go bankrupt. How long do you plan to cling to that pathetic pride of yours?”

Xie Jing bit her lip and said nothing.

“Did you forget what you said when you left me to go overseas with Shen Xinghe?”

Qin Ning stared coldly at Xie Jing’s profile.

She could clearly see her colorless lips trembling.

“You said all that back then, and now you come to me yourself. What do you think I am?

Someone you can just summon and send away whenever you want?”

Touching that painful memory suddenly broke something in Xie Jing’s heart.

But she still kept her head down, not wanting Qin Ning to see her fall apart.

“Stop it, Qin Ning… please… just stop.”

“Oh? You don’t want to hear me talk?”

“Then let’s do something else.”

Right after she said that, Qin Ning yanked Xie Jing’s wrist hard.

Xie Jing had to turn around, now facing Qin Ning.

Her shoulders were pressed down, and the next second, her back hit the cold office door.

A sharp pain hit the back of her head, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes, about to fall.

Qin Ning grabbed her chin and kissed her hard.

How long had it been since she last kissed Xie Jing?

As their breaths tangled, Qin Ning couldn’t help but remember.

Two years—almost 700 days and nights—not a single day she had forgotten her.

Even though she had betrayed her and gone overseas with another woman…

Even though she had dumped her…

Now, at this familiar taste, Qin Ning fell right back in.

As their lips moved together, Qin Ning heard Xie Jing whimpering.

She held her fragile, thin neck with one hand, feeling it tremble like it could break at any moment.

While kissing her deeply, Qin Ning tightened her grip, feeling the pulse race faster and faster under her palm.

Then suddenly, Xie Jing’s body shook, and her tears finally spilled over.

Qin Ning tasted the bitterness on her lips.

Xie Jing was crying.

Her tears dropped into Qin Ning’s palm—hot enough to make her let go.

Xie Jing bit her lip, wiped her tears, and turned to run away in panic.

But just as she opened the office door and hadn’t even stepped out, she was yanked back by strong force at her waist.

“Didn’t you want my help?”

“Well, I changed my mind. You’ll get every cent of the money you asked for. No later than one month.”

After she spoke, Qin Ning slammed the door shut.

She grabbed Xie Jing’s wrist and pulled her quickly into the lounge behind the office.

The next moment, Xie Jing was thrown onto a soft bed.

Qin Ning came down on top of her.

She was just as forceful as ever—no matter how Xie Jing struggled, she couldn’t move her at all.

They had made love countless times during their years together,

but never like this—both of them crying.

Tears blurred Xie Jing’s vision. Through the haze, she looked at Qin Ning.

In that deep moment of emotion, she tried to reach out and hug her.

But Qin Ning pushed her down, holding her shoulders, sinking her into the bedding.

It had been two years.

Xie Jing was even thinner than before.

It felt like there was only a skeleton under her skin.

The sharp bones in her shoulders pressed painfully into Qin Ning’s palm.

Her heart felt like it was being pricked with needles.

“Qin Ning… it hurts…”

Xie Jing’s breathing was messy and trembling.

She dug her nails deep into her palm to bear the pain, and bl00d oozed between her fingers.

Qin Ning froze, then gently loosened her grip.

“Qin Ning…”

Xie Jing reached up and touched the corner of her eye.

The tears there were still wet—cold—and her fingertip trembled.

“How did we end up like this?”

Qin Ning murmured.

Xie Jing’s brows furrowed. Her voice was so soft it was hard to hear.

“I’m sorry… It’s all my fault.”

“I like you!”

“Qin Ning, I like you.”

“We’ll be together forever.”

Suddenly, the voice of young Xie Jing echoed in Qin Ning’s ears.

They once hugged and kissed under a blue sky,lay on the green grass, and swore they’d love each other forever.

The memories flashed through Qin Ning’s mind like slides in a projector.

They had spent five joyful years together.

Those five years of laughter felt so close now, like it was still happening.

Qin Ning tilted her head slightly, trying to hear what Xie Jing was saying.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make it out.

One by one, the memory slides passed—until the very last one.

And at last, Qin Ning clearly heard two words:

“Break up.”