You're Strong But Now You're Mine
Chapter 171 - 170 Qing Lan’s Thoughts

Chapter 171: Chapter 170 Qing Lan’s Thoughts

"Will, won’t, will, won’t..."

In the afternoon, Qing Lan sat in the editor-in-chief’s office, gazing at the dense sky outside the window, holding a pink peony flower in her hand, idly counting the petals.

"...Will."

Qing Lan looked at the last petal, carefully plucked it, and placed it in the notebook on her right. She pondered for a moment, picked up an ink pen, and opened the notebook to record the major events of the day—all important matters had to be recorded in writing.

Qing Lan knew that she wasn’t particularly smart, and although Xiangxue Sea had her study and learn, it was only to raise her value and craft the persona of a ’confidant beauty.’ Naturally, she didn’t learn any practical knowledge, only reading either melancholic poems or flattering articles, along with seductive skills to attract men; ultimately, it was all about pleasing men.

The reason she understood a bit about Mathematics was initially to earn money to buy her freedom from Xiangxue Sea, and speaking of making money naturally required Mathematics. She diligently sought business opportunities and indeed found a few lucrative ideas over the years, but without capital, she had to collaborate with other sisters. As a result, those sisters either turned their backs on her after making money or lost money and took their anger out on her.

At that time, Qing Lan was almost in despair: she had no capital, and no one she could trust, but she wanted to earn money, which required initial funds. From beginning to end, she had only one way to earn that initial capital, and it could be earned quickly and abundantly.

Because she was one of the courtesan candidates to be launched by Xiangxue Sea.

When Qing Lan debuted, Xiangxue Sea was filled with wealthy merchants and young gentlemen. She wore the most flamboyant attire of her life, with a delicate, enchanting makeup, standing atop Xiangxue Sea’s highest pavilion, overlooking the graceful young men below like a queen. But she knew in her heart that they only wanted to drag her down, for her to remain forever mired in the filthy murky sea.

For a moment, Qing Lan thought about just jumping down, landing dead in Xiangxue Sea as a spectacle, a final act of defiance for herself.

The sounds of bidding rose and fell, and Xiangxue Sea had a pleasant name for the first night’s expenditure on debuting courtesans—’Gratitude Ceremony,’ meaning a thankful tribute for Xiangxue Sea raising a daughter to adulthood. Even though it was a highly ironic auction ceremony, Qing Lan knew many sisters compared this—in fact, whoever received more in the Gratitude Ceremony on debut held more status in Xiangxue Sea.

Suddenly, a price several times higher echoed through Xiangxue Sea, plunging the surroundings into silence. Qing Lan looked up to see a young man with a calm face and delicate features sitting alone at a large table, raising a glass to greet her.

Her face turned pale with fright.

What followed went as she expected: she was redeemed, Red Aunt squeezed out a few crocodile tears, sobbing as she sent her off, but couldn’t help quietly wishing her well; several sisters came to congratulate her, but their eyes were either filled with pity or sympathy.

She wasn’t seeing Jing Zhengwei for the first time.

Years ago, during her learning years, Qing Lan noticed this carefree-spending young master of the Jing Family, one of the key patrons of Xiangxue Sea, who almost never stayed overnight, spending lavishly to redeem girls. Initially, Qing Lan thought he was a savior for the girls. But alongside tales of his generosity and charm came rumors of his sinister and terrifying actions.

Jing Zhengwei visited Xiangxue Sea every two to three months, redeeming a yet undebuted maiden;

No one knew where those girls went afterward;

His visit to Xiangxue Sea signaled the disappearance of the girl he last redeemed.

Even with just this information, those who grew up savvy in Xiangxue Sea could deduce the truth. If debuting was a one-way, miserable path, being redeemed by Jing Zhengwei was a dead-end—even a dead-end that only lasted two or three months!

This was true despair, visible, predictable, bone-chilling despair. When Qing Lan saw Jing Zhengwei, she nearly wanted to kneel and beg him to spare her.

But unexpectedly, Jing Zhengwei did not treat her roughly; instead, he fulfilled all her requests, spending vast amounts of time accompanying her to see sights, read books, and listen to music, without even touching her—although ’Qin Ri’ was strange, it was within Qing Lan’s acceptable range.

However, the more Jing Zhengwei acted like an ascetic and looked at her with affectionate eyes, the more terrified Qing Lan became. Sometimes, she couldn’t distinguish whether the depth in his eyes was genuine love or intense murderous intent.

She also tried to deceive herself, thinking perhaps Jing Zhengwei was infatuated with her at first sight, perhaps he was tired of playing and wanted a simple girl, perhaps... but she ultimately couldn’t convince herself, because she couldn’t find out the fate of the girls Jing Zhengwei had previously redeemed.

Instead, among the servants at Jing Mansion, she heard a shocking rumor.

While Qing Lan was torn between hope and despair, Jing Zhengwei suddenly wanted to take her to Red Moon Fortress to check the books. As they left, he whimsically had Qing Lan dress as a man, while he wore female attire.

Qing Lan grew increasingly fearful—such a peculiar interest, even with his future wife, yet he displayed it in front of her; this clearly showed he had no intention of letting her live!

However, that night, everything changed.

After Jing Zhengwei countered the assassin with white hair, his demeanor suddenly changed.

He no longer looked at her with affection, only ordinary admiration and a bit of disdain—Qing Lan truly saw a man disdain her for the first time.

In general, it seemed he disliked her, much to Qing Lan’s delight.

He no longer accompanied her on leisurely outings but had her help check the books, while he went off to play cards—if he hadn’t brutally executed the steward Shen Hong with the absurd reason of "Why are you wearing a hat today," Qing Lan would have thought he had truly become a good person.

He even cried.

Qing Lan to this day doesn’t know why he cried that night; later she heard a runaway maid died that night—was he very attached to that maid?

Later, the newspaper opened, changes abound, the most incredible being he made her the overall head of the newspaper.

Even now, sitting in the editor-in-chief’s office, Qing Lan still felt as if it were all a dream.

Although it’s not uncommon for women to hold important positions, those typically require either noble origins or outstanding talent—talent knows no gender.

Qing Lan is very aware of her own role. She is just a plaything, her status no higher than a servant’s. When Jing Zhengwei decides he no longer wants to maintain his facade, it could very well be her end.

Yet he forcibly placed her in this position, even personally overseeing the newspaper to suppress any discontent among the editors and authors. Other than occasionally writing a guaranteed blockbuster article, he leaves everything else for her to handle.

She goes to work every day, works, attends meetings, makes plans, leaves work to go home with him, occasionally buys some snacks on Damenshi Street. Every issue of Youth Daily breaks new records, and she and the other members celebrate their success, even having the power to reward the staff’s hard work.

Everyone also recognizes her capabilities, looking at her not with disdain or contempt but as a competent editor-in-chief.

Almost as if...

She could live a normal life.

Qing Lan wrote three lines in her notebook:

"Second assault on Half City"

"Patriarch Jing Qingfu deceased, Jing Zhengwu suicides out of guilt"

"Young master becomes the patriarch of the Jing family"

Finally, he has ascended to that position... Qing Lan felt somewhat wistful, stood up, and looked out the window to see a car passing through the rain-covered street.

She silently counted one, two, three, and by the time she reached three, the car had just stopped.

Qing Lan couldn’t help but feel a bit of childish delight at her successful prediction. She felt she had been acting strangely lately: odd-numbered petals, even-numbered stairs, cars stopping after counting to three, peeling apples endlessly... She liked doing childish things, wishing upon nonsensical things, all to find a thousand ways her dreams could come true.

Suddenly, she remembered the morning conversation about White Night and the Silver Blood Association in the car.

Young master, no matter what you want to do, no matter who your enemy is, no matter what happens, I will...

Thud. Thud.

Footsteps echoed outside, and Qing Lan turned around in surprise to find it was Mi Die, the guard.

"Aunt Mi, what’s the matter?" Qing Lan composed herself, sat down, and asked, "Is there news again?"

"...Sort of." Mi Die replied, "Someone informed us that the young master has sent the matriarch to the Patrol Execution Guard, accusing her of assassinating the former patriarch Jing Qingfu."

Qing Lan pondered for a moment, then said, "I think I understand what the young master wants to do... Youth Daily will help create momentum."

"And also," Mi Die paused, "the young master is now the patriarch and will live in Jing Garden."

"Okay." Qing Lan was not surprised at all: "Then today we’ll return early, take some necessary belongings and move there—"

"The young master said, you don’t need to go to Jing Garden."

Qing Lan tilted her head, blinking at Mi Die, as though suspecting she had misheard.

Mi Die was silent for a moment, then repeated, "You will continue living in Jing Mansion; this is the young master’s decision."

"Well, of course." Qing Lan lowered her head, her fingers twisting around, speaking lightly, "The young master has become the patriarch; it’s time for marriage and taking a wife. Someone like me really isn’t suitable to move there. I’ll just stay at Jing Mansion. But the mansion is so big, living there alone seems too—"

"Jing Mansion now belongs to you."

"Ah?"

"The young master said he is giving Jing Mansion to you; now you are its owner."

Qing Lan abruptly lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with hopeful light, her voice trembling slightly, "Truly?"

Mi Die nodded quietly, "He also decided to abolish your contract of servitude."

"Really?" Qing Lan’s fingers twisted more, a faint smile on her lips, her eyes filled with joy: "The young master’s kindness and generosity, I will certainly strive to repay him—"

"The young master also said, you are free."

Qing Lan tilted her head, blinking at Mi Die, as the smile faded from her face.