CHAPTER 354: CHAPTER 353: THE FINAL FRENZY

Wan Chu’er slowly shook her head at him, her eyes filled with resolution and pain.

"Uncle Jiang, we can’t proceed with the wedding tomorrow, I’m sorry."

Jiang Kechu felt a blockage in his chest, as he said frantically: "Okay, if you don’t like that wedding, then we’ll cancel it. Actually, I don’t like it either, it’s quite bothersome. Let’s just go get our marriage certificate."

He suddenly regretted not getting the certificate earlier. Mrs. Jiang had said to get the certificate tomorrow morning before the wedding ceremony; the timing was just right, and it would also be a good memory for later. At that time, why didn’t he think more about it?

Wan Chu’er turned her face away and said stubbornly: "It’s not about the wedding. I can’t marry you, at least not now. I can’t get past my own barrier."

"Chuchu!" Jiang Kechu interrupted her, "Don’t talk nonsense. Have you forgotten? You’ve said it so many times before, you said your biggest dream in life was to marry me, then we’d have a few kids and be happy together. Tomorrow, no, let’s go get the certificate now, okay?"

He coaxed her gently, as if obtaining the certificate would bind Wan Chu’er’s body and soul to him.

Wan Chu’er continued shaking her head, "It’s not the same anymore."

"We can’t go back to the past, Uncle Jiang, don’t force me. Please give me some time, will you?" Her cool voice carried a hint of pleading, causing Jiang Kechu great discomfort.

"How long?"

"Three years."

"Chuchu, do you plan to not see me for three years during that time? Are you planning to hide?" Jiang Kechu asked, feeling that this was very likely. The mere thought made him feel suffocated.

Wan Chu’er closed her eyes in agony, this was already the greatest extent she could reach. She couldn’t marry Jiang Kechu carefree right after what had happened with Wan Shiguo.

Instead of being tormented after marriage, and even causing the Jiang Family to worry about them, it was better to separate for a while.

Jiang Kechu grabbed Wan Chu’er’s shoulders with a domineering and forceful tone: "No! I don’t agree." He remembered the dream he had before; that feeling of despair, something he didn’t want to experience.

Pain twisted in Wan Chu’er’s heart. Must she tear open her wounds? Must she utter hurtful words?

She stared at Jiang Kechu stubbornly like a defiant calf, and Jiang Kechu stared back at her with equal hardness.

Neither would give in, as if doing so would plunge them into irreversible doom.

Finally, Jiang Kechu reached out to cup her head, brought his face close to hers with an air of refusal, and said:

"Chuchu, I won’t let go. You are mine. You can only be mine. You can go nowhere; if you don’t want to get married, that’s fine, but you can’t go anywhere. You must stay by my side."

What’s the difference from now? Why can’t he give her some time and space?

Why force her!

Seemingly infuriated, Wan Chu’er pushed Jiang Kechu away with a forceful shove and let out a wry laugh, as if finding an opportunity to vent, she roared:

"Why do you have to be so annoying, why can’t you let me go! If not for you, if not for your repeated obstacles, if not for your boundless assurances, how could my father die, how could he die without saying a word to me? Do you know how much he missed me, missed my mother? We could have been reunited, but it was you, all of you...

You keep talking about secrets, secrets, but if I can find out, why couldn’t you?

Because you never really searched, you betrayed my father, you offered my father as a sacrifice!

Do you know what a living sacrifice is?!

Being locked underground for ten years without seeing a single ray of light, enduring a bloodletting once every year, watching one’s own blood flow out, and seeing one’s vitality being sapped away bit by bit, wishing for death but not being able to die because they won’t let it happen! Not only do they not allow death, but they also go to great lengths to extend their life force, to offer living breath to the dead.

Ten years!

He endured ten years beneath the ground! If his will wasn’t strong, he would have gone mad and died long ago. But he bore the torture, endured for ten years!

He died persisting, just short by that little bit, just a little bit and he could have seen his daughter, could have been rescued!

But still, it was just short by that little bit, do you know how cruel that little bit is?

For those ten years, he must have been waiting every moment for you all to rescue him, but what about you? Ridiculously, you posthumously awarded him the false title of martyr, you sentenced him to death! You cut off his path to life.

""

You all are too cruel, don’t your consciences hurt at all?!

If only to let him glance at me, to let me speak a word to him, even just to let him know I’ve grown up..."

Wan Chu’er couldn’t continue anymore, she wiped the wetness on her face, turned her head away from Jiang Kechu, and just said coldly:

"Don’t make me hate you, let’s part on good terms. Go, you just go!"

The pain that had been suppressed all day burst forth like floodgates opening, pouring out and overwhelming everything.

Such heartless words were spoken just like that, cold as ice, stabbing Jiang Kechu like ruthless swords.

Jiang Kechu struggled to move his mouth, wanting to explain something. What should he say? Say they were deceived? Talk about what happened that year? He had no right.

But to just leave like that, he couldn’t do it.

Jiang Kechu reached out to grab Wan Chu’er’s hand, but she dodged away from him, which provoked Jiang Kechu, and in a fit of impulse, he held Wan Chu’er tightly in his arms.

"Let go of me, let me go..." Wan Chu’er struggled, hitting Jiang Kechu, trying to push him away from herself.

Jiang Kechu didn’t want to hear any more cold words from Wan Chu’er, without thinking he just covered her mouth with his own.

"Mmm..."

The two entangled, struggled, and soon fell onto the bed.

"Shh—" Wan Chu’er’s upper garment was suddenly torn open, revealing smooth pale skin. Jiang Kechu’s eyes halted, and before he could react, Wan Chu’er threw a punch at him; he quickly turned his head to dodge.

Jiang Kechu, dominated by despair and unwillingness, could no longer maintain his sanity, anger at about to lose Wan Chu’er burning within him, his eyes reddened, and he pressed Wan Chu’er fiercely beneath him.

"Let go of me!" Wan Chu’er used both fists and feet, but how could she be Jiang Kechu’s match? In just a moment, Jiang Kechu had torn her clothes and tied up her hands and feet.

Wan Chu’er’s clothes were quickly stripped off by Jiang Kechu, and the smooth delicate touch, the stark visual impact, made Jiang Kechu lose all reason, pressing down upon Wan Chu’er.

He’d gone mad, driven mad by her.

A tear trickled from the corner of Wan Chu’er’s eyes; she was going mad too.

Alright then, damned fate, let them descend into hell together!

Wan Chu’er struggled free from the cloth binding her hands, raised her arms to touch Jiang Kechu’s bewildered and frantic face, and the two of them fell into a desperate, intensely wild embrace, stimulating yet despairing, pain transforming into primal desire engulfing the two lovers.

It was unknown how long had passed, but Jiang Kechu came to his senses and saw Wan Chu’er all battered by him, immediately getting off.

Wan Chu’er lay limp on the bed, staring woodenly at the ceiling, but her lips uttered a few words: "Please, I beg you..."

Jiang Kechu’s body stiffened, and he hugged Wan Chu’er tightly again.

Neither spoke, only laying there, naked and honest, leaning on each other.

After a long time, Jiang Kechu spoke with difficulty: "Okay, I promise you, you also promise me one thing, live well, no matter what, live well, don’t mistreat your body, if you get thinner or sick, I will go back on my word."

"Okay."

Wan Chu’er lifted her arms to also embrace Jiang Kechu’s waist, nestling against his chest; this was the last warmth, her greatest love.

Even so, they still had to part.

Jiang Kechu cleaned Wan Chu’er’s body, dressed her, and said in a low voice, "I’m sorry for just now."

"I don’t regret it." Wan Chu’er couldn’t bear Jiang Kechu’s guilt.

Jiang Kechu paused, then continued: "No matter where you go, let me know, rest assured, I won’t come to disturb you, but... don’t make me wait too long."

Wan Chu’er remained silent, barely holding back her tears.