338: Chapter 338 Kunlun Ruins!

That evening.

The setting sun dyed the Yuan River a shade of orange-red, and the distant green mountains were gilded with a golden edge.

Ye Chen and the other two returned to Wangjiang Tower.

Just as the car came to a steady halt, Ye Chen pushed the door open and got out, his gaze inadvertently sweeping across the area as his footsteps paused slightly.

Three people were gathered at the entrance of the restaurant.

Jin Dagui.

Zhang Cuihua.

Jin Shanting.

The three of them stood there as if they had been waiting for a long time, the expressions on their faces complex beyond words.

Jin Dagui rubbed his hands together, his eyes darting around uncertainly.

Zhang Cuihua's eyes were red; it was hard to tell if she had truly been crying or was just faking it.

Jin Shanting shrank back at the very end, clutching his stomach, the bruises on his face not yet fully faded, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at Ye Chen.

Jin Meiting saw this scene as soon as she got out of the car.

Her body stiffened slightly.

Ye Chen calmly took a step forward, shielding her behind him.

"What are you doing here?"

Jin Dagui opened his mouth but couldn't find the words, as it was far too awkward...

Zhang Cuihua tugged at his sleeve and gave Jin Shanting a look.

But Jin Shanting kept his head down, not daring to make a sound.

The scene became even more awkward...

After a good while.

Jin Dagui finally took two steps forward, a smile on his face that looked more painful than crying.

"Meiting..."

"Um... your father and mother discussed it, and what happened yesterday was our fault."

"We... have come to apologize to you."

Zhang Cuihua also nodded hurriedly, her eyes turning even redder as she reached out to wipe the corners of her eyes.

"Yes, Meiting, I've been thinking back for a long time, and we really have mistreated you all these years."

"You've been suffering out there on your own, and as your parents, we haven't helped at all..."

"My heart aches!"

As she spoke, she actually managed to squeeze out a few tears.

Standing behind them, Jin Shanting also muttered softly, "Sister, I'm sorry..."

Standing behind Ye Chen, Jin Meiting looked at these three familiar yet strange faces and heard their words, but her heart felt no ripple of emotion.

An apology?

Mistreatment?

Heartache?

If these words had been spoken seven or eight years ago, she might have cried, might have softened her heart, or might have felt that they finally understood.

But now...

She only found it laughable.

Just yesterday, they were pointing at her nose and cursing, demanding Ye Chen kneel and apologize, and wanting to sell her to that Li Chuntian for a bride price.

And now?

They all came running over, saying these trivial things, their eyes redder and more professional than stage actors.

Why?

Jin Meiting knew exactly why.

Because of Ye Chen.

Because of Zhao Wu's appearance.

Because the man who could make a mine owner act so respectfully was her man.

They were afraid.

They regretted it.

They wanted to seize the last chance to get on this boat.

Jin Meiting took a deep breath, stepped out from behind Ye Chen, and looked at the three of them with a calm gaze.

"We no longer have any relationship."

"Don't come here again in the future."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of ice water poured over the faces of Jin Dagui and the other two.

The smile on Jin Dagui's face froze.

Zhang Cuihua suddenly snapped back to her senses, her expression becoming increasingly desperate.

"Meiting! How can you say that?"

"We are your biological parents!"

"Our blood flows through your veins! How can this relationship be severed just like that?"

She took two steps forward, trying to grab Jin Meiting's hand.

Ye Chen took a step forward and blocked her.

Zhang Cuihua stumbled and nearly fell, her expression turning even more unsightly.

"Meiting! Are you really going to be this heartless?"

"I'm putting my foot down today!"

"If you don't forgive me, don't forgive your father, and don't forgive your brother..."

She suddenly turned around and ran toward the steps at the restaurant entrance, standing on the edge and pointing at the Yuan River below.

"I'll jump down from here!"

Both Jin Dagui and Jin Shanting were stunned.

Surrounding diners and passersby looked over one after another; some stopped and took out their phones to start filming.

Zhang Cuihua stood on the edge of the steps, her hair messy in the wind, her expression both grief-stricken and resolute, looking exactly like a virtuous woman driven to a dead end.

Jin Meiting's face turned slightly pale.

However.

Ye Chen laughed.

"Jump, then."

"If you don't jump, you're a coward."

Zhang Cuihua: "???"

Ye Chen had his hands in his pockets, a harmless smile on his face.

"Perfect. Just yesterday, your big brother Li Meng was thrown into the Yuan River by my people."

"If you jump down today, the whole family will be together, all having taken a bath down there."

Zhang Cuihua: "???"

Jin Dagui: "???"

Jin Shanting: "???"

The expressions on the three's faces were instantly quite the sight.

Zhang Cuihua stood on the edge of the steps, unable to either leave or jump, her face turning green, white, and red like a dye workshop.

Jump?

Of course she didn't dare to jump.

That act just now was merely to force Jin Meiting to soften her heart and forgive her.

But who would have thought...

That Ye Chen wouldn't follow the script at all!

Among the surrounding diners and passersby, someone couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

The laughter seemed contagious and soon spread.

"Hahahaha..."

"This auntie's acting is pretty good, but her opponent is too strong!"

"Jump! Why aren't you jumping? Do you need me to call the fire department for you?"

"Don't wimp out! Weren't you acting all tough just now?"

...

Hearing that laughter, Zhang Cuihua wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

She slunk down from the steps, keeping her head low, not daring to look at Ye Chen again.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze and looked over Jin Dagui and Jin Shanting.

The two of them instinctively took half a step back.

"I remember a saying, how did it go?"

Ye Chen tilted his head as if seriously reminiscing.

Then.

He smiled again.

"Back then, you ignored me; now, I am beyond your reach."

"Tell me, is that fitting for the occasion?"

The faces of Jin Dagui and the others turned completely green.

Fitting.

It was all too fitting.

So fitting it made them want to cry.

Standing behind Ye Chen, Jin Meiting's eyes turned slightly red.

Not from sadness.

But...

Because she wanted to laugh.

She held it in again and again, but finally couldn't help it, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

This man...

...was truly too wicked.

But she liked this kind of wickedness.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze, not sparing another look at the three of them. He turned around and took Jin Meiting's hand.

"Let's go."

"Go upstairs and rest."

Jin Meiting nodded and followed his lead into the restaurant.

Miao Renfeng followed behind, pausing slightly as he passed Jin Dagui.

He tilted his head, looked Jin Dagui up and down, and grinned.

"Old man, if you know what's good for you, stay away from the Mistress in the future."

"Otherwise..."

Miao Renfeng pointed toward the distant Yuan River dyed red by the setting sun. "I guarantee your whole family will be together down there."

After saying that.

He withdrew his gaze and strode to catch up with Ye Chen and Jin Meiting.

The three figures disappeared into the restaurant's entrance.

Faces filled with both fear and regret appeared on Jin Dagui and the others.

He knew.

From now on, they truly had no relationship left with that daughter and sister.

...

The three of them returned to the room, and the Yuan River outside was already draped in twilight.

Miao Renfeng walked to the window, looked down, then turned and walked to Ye Chen.

"Master, those three have already left."

Ye Chen leaned back on the sofa and nodded without speaking.

Jin Meiting sat beside him, leaning back slightly and nestling into the sofa.

Standing by the window, Miao Renfeng hesitated for a moment before asking, "Master, are we really going to wait for the people from the Chen family?"

Ye Chen lifted his eyelids and glanced at him.

"What? Are you afraid?"

Miao Renfeng shook his head repeatedly.

"No, no! Master, you've misunderstood!"

"I am your man now; wherever you go, I follow. What is there to fear?"

"It's just..."

He paused, a serious expression appearing on his face. "The Chen family is, after all, a family from the Kunlun Ruins. I feel it's better for the Master to know more about them."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How much do you know about the Chen family?"

Hearing this, Miao Renfeng's expression turned solemn.

"Master, the Chen family is a family within the Kunlun Ruins with deep roots and a heritage spanning hundreds of years."

"Although they do not enter the secular world, their true strength is somewhat greater than any of the aristocratic families in the outside world."

"The Five Great Families of the Capital in the outside world would have to take a back seat in front of the Chen family."

He spoke with a hint of emotion in his voice.

After all, Miao Renfeng had lived for over half a lifetime, traveling far and wide, and was well-experienced.

The three words "Kunlun Ruins" had always existed as a legend in his heart.

Ye Chen leaned back on the sofa, becoming curious. "Are there other families in the Kunlun Ruins?"

Miao Renfeng nodded repeatedly.

"Yes! Of course there are!"

"Master, the Kunlun Ruins is not the territory of just one family; there are many families in there."

"Big and small, there are at least dozens of them in total."

"The large ones are old-brand aristocratic families with heritages spanning over a thousand years; their foundations are unfathomably deep."

"For example, Xuanyuan Huo, whom you know, has the Xuanyuan Family behind him, which is among the top ranks in the Kunlun Ruins."

"There are many more small ones, and the Chen family is considered a small family."

"But regardless of size, those who can enter the Kunlun Ruins are no ordinary people."

He paused and then added.

"Furthermore, these families basically do not enter the secular world."

"Because they signed a treaty with the state, they cannot leave the Kunlun Ruins without authorization, let alone act at will in the secular world."

"This was the rule established by both sides when the Dragon Kingdom was founded."

"People from the Kunlun Ruins do not interfere in secular affairs."

"Secular people are also not allowed to enter the Kunlun Ruins without permission."

"If anyone violates this, they are responsible for their own life or death."