Boundary - Chapter 10

Half a year after returning to the country, he began a relationship with Gu Yetang. It was also after that, after many years, he started seeing Gu Yetong from time to time again.
He knew that in Gu Yetong’s eyes, he was not a good match for her sister. On the surface, she treated him with courtesy. Privately, she had once bluntly accused him of treating her sister like a canary, not respecting her independence as an individual.
“Have you ever thought that perhaps it is you who does not respect her independence?”
And he had mercilessly counterattacked.
He knew that Gu Yetong dearly loved Gu Yetang, caring for her in every way. Their relationship was more like that of mother and daughter than sisters. Although Gu Yetong herself was just a young woman under thirty, she had played the role of a mother for too long.
Jin Nanting didn’t know whether a mother’s death or abandonment would more devastatingly collapse a young child’s world. But he knew how irreversible the impact of a mother’s absence could be on a person’s growth.
Therefore, he did not believe in lasting love, only in controllable risks. This was why he chose Gu Yetang, who came from a simple family and had a gentle temperament. Such a girl would not actively seek to climb the social ladder, but once she had someone to rely on, she would quickly adapt and get used to being taken care of.
Just like the first half of her life being taken care of by her sister.
Gu Yetang had never mentioned any negative comments from her sister about him, but since their engagement at the end of last year, she had also not shown any panic or hesitation about the upcoming marriage.
So when Gu Yetang left a message and ran away a month before the wedding, he was undoubtedly shocked, and his intuition told him that Gu Yetong must have played some role in it.
He did not immediately go to confront her, but instead had his secretary investigate the financial situation of the Gu family.
Gu Yetong was right; if they had direct business dealings, she would be easily manipulated by him. But she was also wrong; the interests in the business world were intricately complex, and if he really wanted to grasp the lifeline of the Gu family, it would not be difficult.
As expected, three days later, Gu Yetong came to him.
“I don’t know where Tangtang is,” Gu Yetong refused to sit down, holding her head high trying to maintain her composure, “Even if you bankrupt the Gu family, I can’t hand her over to you.”
He knew she naturally wouldn’t. Even if she knew Gu Yetang’s whereabouts, this woman had clearly shown that her sisterly love could not be bought with interests.
Such a strong bond was somewhat enviable.
“I didn’t intend to bring her back.” Being able to escape a month before the wedding, Gu Yetang was not as steady and sensible as he had thought. If so, then she was not suitable to be his wife.
“Then what do you want?” Gu Yetong asked, her right hand on her hip.
“I want to know what you said to her that made her suddenly choose to run away from the wedding.”
The woman’s face tightened, not denying that it was because of her that things had turned out this way. Her attitude of daring to take responsibility still made Jin Nanting admire her.
“I just asked her to think about whether she really loves you enough to change everything about her life.”
This answer made Jin Nanting laugh in extreme anger, the cold smile spilling from his lips made the woman step back half a step in fear.
Love?
“I didn’t expect,” Jin Nanting stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to her, “this to be the question you would ask.”
Could it be that he had misjudged her too? He thought she would be a smarter woman, one who could see things more thoroughly and long-term.
“Jin Nanting.” Perhaps afraid that he would lose his temper, Gu Yetong’s tone softened. “Tangtang is not like us, she is very delicate and emotional.”
He knew, so he always treated the girl as gently and considerately as possible, meeting all her needs. Was that not enough?
“You… with your conditions, you can quickly find a woman suitable to be your wife.” Gu Yetong continued to softly comfort him, “Let Tangtang go, she needs a man who truly loves all of her.”
“Then you marry me.”
He didn’t know who was more surprised by his words, the woman or himself.
“You’re not being rational right now.” Through the reflection of the glass wall, he saw Gu Yetong quickly put on her business-like expression again.
“You can question my rationality, but you can’t question the current situation of the Gu family.” Jin Nanting quickly calculated in his mind what would happen if everything really went according to his demands. “The Construction Bank has frozen your loan application, if I continue to pressure, I guarantee you won’t find any bank willing to lend.”
Gu Yetong could not bear to see the efforts of herself and her grandfather over the years go to waste.
“You’re threatening me,” the woman said through clenched teeth.
He could force Gu Yetong to yield, he was 99% sure.
“I gave you a choice.”
Gu Yetong strode around the desk to stand in front of him, grabbing the lapel of his suit. “You’re too despicable.”
That beautiful face was flushed with anger, even if she punched him now he wouldn’t be surprised. He remembered when they were kids, a child mocked her for taking her mother’s surname, implying she had no father, and Gu Yetong ended up beating him up.
Rationality, perhaps, was just her protective color, the little girl deep inside her was impulsive and stubborn.
“I don’t think punishing someone who has embarrassed me is despicable.” His rationality also had its limits, his carefully planned three-year path collapsed because of her few words, he couldn’t just let her off without a care.
“Then what do you mean by asking me to marry you? Is this also a punishment?” Although the woman’s fist clutching his lapel was tight, he could see she was somewhat guilty.
“You can take it as compensation for my loss.” Since the originally calculated path had been disrupted and destroyed, he had to quickly repair and minimize the loss.
“Have you thought about what others will think? Everyone, everyone knows you’re engaged to my sister, the wedding invitations…”
“Printed, but not officially sent out.” Jin Nanting interrupted her, Gu Yetang had left him a message on the sample of the wedding invitation saying she had to stop this mistake, “Falling in love with someone else before marriage is better than being abandoned before marriage.”
If he couldn’t even keep his fiancée, how could he keep the Jin family’s business? He could almost foresee how much doubt and criticism he would face if the wedding was completely canceled.
“You’re just impulsive.” He was satisfied to see the woman’s hand start to tremble.
Impulsive? Perhaps. But this was indeed the most efficient solution for him at the moment. And as a solution, Gu Yetong was indeed a good choice, although her personality was too independent and strong, but he had already verified that he had the means and ability to grasp her weaknesses.
“We,” and more importantly, as the woman said, they were alike. Although she must be unwilling now, in the end, the two of them could communicate and cooperate with each other through rationality and logic.
And this choice would not harm her. Unless…
“Gu Yetong, you’re not also waiting for a man who truly loves you, are you?” Jin Nanting grabbed her right wrist, with a little force he made her let go, “You said it yourself, we are not like your sister. You know very well how unreliable love is.”
Under the wide suit jacket, her wrist was thinner than he remembered, as if a little more force from him would break it. She seemed thinner than in high school, or perhaps it was just because she had been too worried about her sister to eat these days?
Love, even the most selfless love between family members, does not mean that one can keep a person by their side for a lifetime. Gu Yetong should have deeply realized this by now, right?
“Or are you afraid?” Seeing the woman silent, Jin Nanting changed his strategy, “Afraid that after marriage, I don’t know how to torment you, to retaliate against you?”
“I’m not afraid of you,” Gu Yetong said through gritted teeth, “as long as you don’t threaten me with Tangtang or the Gu family.”
“Then I take it as your agreement.”
“I take it as your madness.”
Indeed, marrying Gu Yetong might be the craziest thing he had ever done in his life.
Jin Nanting leaned down, looking at the woman sleeping beside him.
But since his original plan had been completely destroyed by her, since they had already exchanged vows in front of everyone…
Then Gu Yetong would be his lifelong partner.