Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Painful Past (26) Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Painful Past (26) “Ji Tingyang, are you insane?!”

Ji Zeqiu had rushed back from school upon learning of Ji Tingyang’s actions, now tightly gripping his collar.

“I am not insane.” Jingyang’s eyes were inhumanly cold.

“Locking Wen Li up here, if that’s not madness, what is?!” Ji Zeqiu gritted his teeth.

“Only by locking her up here can she not leave.” Ji Tingyang looked at him, “Don’t you also like Wen Li? We should have the same idea, right?”

Ji Zeqiu’s grip on his clothes tightened, then slowly loosened, “No… that’s not right…”

“Your way of thinking is wrong, do you know what you are doing, if someone reports…” His voice trembled slightly.

“Then are you going to report me, do you want to put me in jail?” Ji Tingyang interrupted him.

Ji Zeqiu’s body suddenly stiffened in place, he opened his mouth, flashes of their childhood dependency passing through his mind, unable to utter a word.

“If mother knew what you are like now, she would surely be very disappointed…” Ji Zeqiu said softly.

Ji Tingyang’s breathing halted for a moment, a sharp pain spreading across his heart, each breath becoming exceedingly painful.

“Mother is long gone.” He clenched his hand by his side, his voice slightly hoarse.

Mother had long left this place, long left them…

After speaking, he ignored Ji Zeqiu and turned towards the second floor.

Ji Zeqiu stood frozen in place, his bowed head hiding the expression on his face.

Somewhere not far away.

Ji Yuqiao, who had witnessed the argument between Ji Tingyang and Ji Zeqiu, silently shed tears.

It was all Wen Li’s fault.

It was because of her that the eldest brother and second brother were fighting.

If only she would disappear, then the brothers wouldn’t fight.

Ji Yuqiao wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, a determined look in her eyes as she headed to the second floor.

She reached the bedroom at the end of the hallway and forcefully pushed open the door.

Wen Li, startled by the door’s noise, trembled, her eyes instantly brimming with unstable tears, her whole being exuding a pitiable air.

“Ji Yuqiao?” Seeing that it was not Ji Tingyang who had come in, Wen Li’s strained emotions relaxed a bit.

Ji Yuqiao walked straight up and dragged Wen Li out, “Leave our house now, the farther you go the better, it’s best you vanish from before us.”

Her grip on the hand tightened, causing Wen Li pain.

“Wait a minute.” Wen Li struggled, “I can’t leave.”

“Why not leave, do you like my older brother and don’t want to go? Then just break up with your boyfriend.” Ji Yuqiao said.

That way my older brother wouldn’t be so upset.

“I don’t like him at all.” Wen Li turned her head away, her voice colder.

“Then why…”
“I can’t leave. My parents are still here, if I leave, Ji Tingyang will definitely not let them go.” Wen Li bit her lip, her face showing a hint of fear.

She still could remember, when she tried to sneak away, the words Ji Tingyang had said.

“You should be aware of the Ji Group’s influence domestically; if you dare to run, I assure you they absolutely can’t continue living here.”

“And your student registration… I want that too.” Ji Tingyang’s eyes were filled with a terrifying gloom.

Wen Li’s heart clenched in fright.

Although her parents favored sons over daughters and didn’t treat her as well as her older brother, they were still the parents who had raised her for over a dozen years.

It also involved her education.

Wen Li’s step out the door hesitated and withdrew.

Ji Tingyang, as if he had anticipated this outcome, curled up the corners of his lips and smiled.

Wen Li shook off Ji Yuqiao’s hand and returned to the bedroom, “I won’t go with you.”

Ji Yuqiao had no choice but to leave.

…

Night.

Ji Tingyang came back from a social engagement, his body reeking of pungent alcohol, and staggered into Wen Li’s bedroom.

He sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the sleeping Wen Li, a rare gentleness emerging in his eyes, his fingertips slowly brushing across her cheek.

Since being confined in the villa, Wen Li hadn’t had a peaceful sleep. Feeling the tickle on her face, she slowly opened her eyes.

Although the room was dim, Wen Li could still see Ji Tingyang’s face by the moonlight, her complexion turning pale instantly.

She sat up abruptly, tightly pulling the quilt over herself, “You, why are you here?”

Ji Tingyang looked at her cheeks, his face hidden in the darkness carrying a hint of fragility, “I drank a lot tonight, I feel so sick…”

“Those people thought I was young and easy to bully, they made me drink a lot. If it weren’t for the project…” Ji Tingyang paused, his head slowly drooping onto her shoulder, “…was it the same for father, being forced to drink a lot?”

His voice grew fainter, so faint that Wen Li couldn’t make out what he was saying at the end.

But as Ji Tingyang leaned in, Wen Li’s body instantly tensed up, and she could no longer care about what he was saying.

Wen Li’s body remained stiff for a long time until she realized he wasn’t doing anything else, and her tensed body gradually relaxed.

The Ji Tingyang she knew from the past was either cold–he barely spoke to her when they were children–or domineering, forcefully confining her in the villa.

This seemed to be the first time she had seen him so vulnerable.

Wen Li felt a touch of pity and spoke to him in concern, “If it makes you feel sick, then don’t drink so much.”

“No,”
“Don’t leave me, okay?”

She had appointments with several CEOs about a project, they always thought I was too young,”
Wen Li was in bed sleeping, watching his figure
Wen Li couldn’t leave there, and Ji Tingyang could only go
They were cold
“Regarding your parents, my second brother and I will figure something out. You should leave here first.”

“If you don’t want to follow”
“If you want to live with them overseas, you could continue trying to escape?”

“You can go now, I will let you leave”
He stood there stunned for a long time, then went upstairs.

Ji Zeqiu was silent for a moment, bowing his head, “I need to go let her out now.” Wen Li was in bed sleeping, watching his figure
Wen Li couldn’t leave there, and Ji Tingyang could only go
They were cold
“Regarding your parents, my second brother and I will figure something out. You should leave here first