Chapter 18: The Truth Behind Qin Chengyu’s Ending

 

He thought back to the storyline in the novel about Qin Chengyu.

Qin Chengyu never had a romantic subplot. 

The only instance where he experienced kindness was when he collapsed on the school path after being mistreated by Nian Jinsui, and Ning Liang’an took him to the hospital.

This was the sole act of goodwill Qin Chengyu received in the novel.

The reason he was labeled as the ultimate antagonist was because, after returning to the Qin family, he not only tormented Nian Jinsui to death but also went on a rampage against Chu Heting. 

He even attempted to kidnap Ning Liang’an.

However, the kidnapping failed, and Chu Heting heroically rescued Ning Liang’an.

Following this, Chu Heting and Ning Liang’an teamed up to bring down Qin Chengyu. 

In the end, under the combined pressure of the Chu and Nian families, the Qin family was destroyed, and Qin Chengyu committed suicide.

At the time, when Nian Jinsui was engrossed in the novel, he assumed Qin Chengyu had fallen for Ning Liang’an, which explained his drastic actions.

But thinking about it now, Qin Chengyu’s cold and emotionless nature made it unlikely for him to suddenly harbor hope for the world just because of one act of kindness.

Would Qin Chengyu really fall for Ning Liang’an just because he helped him once?

By Qin Chengyu’s own admission, if he truly liked someone, he would go to extreme lengths to snatch them away and hide them.

Yet, throughout the novel, he never displayed such intentions toward Ning Liang’an.

Given Qin Chengyu’s dark and obsessive personality, if he truly wanted to compete with Chu Heting, his methods would have been far more terrifying and extreme.

Even the attempted kidnapping seemed amateurish—it failed before it even started, as Chu Heting discovered it right away.

Looking at the plot now from an outsider’s perspective, it seemed more like Qin Chengyu intentionally staged the kidnapping to provoke Chu Heting.

But if he didn’t like Ning Liang’an, why oppose Chu Heting at all?

Suddenly, Nian Jinsui’s pupils contracted, and he realized the truth.

It was because of the Qin family.

Qin Chengyu wanted to destroy the Qin family.

He had never received even a shred of kindness from the Qin family. 

Though he later became its leader, it meant nothing to him.

So, when Qin Chengyu gained control over the Qin family’s fate, he chose to destroy it.

Everything Qin Chengyu did was to ensure Chu Heting and Ning Liang’an would team up against him and help him obliterate the Qin family.

He succeeded and left the world content.

Looking at Qin Chengyu sitting in front of him, Nian Jinsui felt a pang of sorrow.

At an age when he should have been full of life and potential, Qin Chengyu chose to perish alongside the Qin family that had harmed him.

How deeply disillusioned with the world he must have been.

Would Qin Chengyu eventually face the same ending as in the novel?

He and I really are like two peas in a pod, 

Nian Jinsui thought.

---

“What are you brooding about?” 

Qin Chengyu asked, breaking Nian Jinsui’s train of thought.

“Nothing…” 

Nian Jinsui sighed, pushing aside the jumble of thoughts in his mind.

Seeing that Qin Chengyu had nearly finished his salad, Nian Jinsui maneuvered his wheelchair. 

“Let’s head back, Qin Chengyu.”

Qin Chengyu stood up silently, his mind also preoccupied.

If liking someone means becoming as erratic and unstable as this, I’d rather live out my days alone,

Qin Chengyu thought.

---

When they arrived at the Nian residence, Nian Yixin was surprised. 

“I thought you weren’t coming home for dinner tonight.”

“I promised you I’d come back for bone soup, so of course I’d keep my word,” 

Nian Jinsui replied as he wheeled himself into the house. 

“Though I ate a bit outside, I probably won’t have much room for dinner.”

Nian Yixin didn’t say much, but his eyes were full of warmth as he looked at Nian Jinsui. 

In the past, whenever Nian Jinsui left the house, he wouldn’t return until late at night.

It had been a long time since they’d sat down together at the dinner table.

For years, Nian Yixin had spoiled Nian Jinsui too much, letting him act recklessly and taking no heed of him. 

Things worsened a few years ago when, in a fit of anger, Nian Yixin froze Nian Jinsui’s bank card, further straining their relationship.

However, ever since returning from the hospital, Nian Yixin felt that Nian Jinsui had become more mature, and their father-son relationship had improved.

At the dinner table, noticing Nian Jinsui’s empty soup bowl, Nian Yixin said, 

“Jinsui, have another bowl. It’s good for your recovery.”

“Alright, one more bowl,” 

Nian Jinsui agreed, even though he already felt full.

He hadn’t felt fatherly love in years. 

Though Nian Yixin wasn’t his real father and had no blood relation to the novel’s Nian Jinsui, 

he couldn’t help but see a resemblance to his own father in Nian Yixin.

Perhaps it was because the ways parents showed love for their children were often similar.

This made Nian Jinsui want to be more attentive and filial toward him, 

as if to make up for the regret of losing his own father too soon.

He glanced at Qin Chengyu sitting quietly across from him. 

Thinking about Qin Chengyu’s tragic ending in the novel, his heart ached with pity.

How disappointed Qin Chengyu must have been in the Qin family to choose such a decisive and destructive path.

What a pitiful little Beta.

Since Qin Chengyu was now living in the Nian household, 

Nian Jinsui resolved to make him feel the warmth of family again.

Qin Chengyu was five years younger than him. 

From now on, Nian Jinsui decided, he’d treat Qin Chengyu like a younger brother.

With that in mind, Nian Jinsui turned to the servants. 

“Bring Qin Chengyu another bowl of soup. He’s so skinny; he needs to eat more.”

Qin Chengyu glanced at Nian Jinsui, tempted to point out that bone soup was mostly fat and didn’t help with fractures. 

Eating meat would be more nutritious. But seeing the freshly served soup, he said nothing.

“Jinsui is right,” 

Nian Yixin chimed in. 

“Chengyu, you’re too thin. Eat more meat. I noticed you’re only eating vegetables. Don’t be so reserved.”

Qin Chengyu smirked bitterly. 

This isn’t about being reserved. I was treated the same way in the Qin family.

“That’s easy to fix,” 

Nian Jinsui said, quickly rearranging the dishes on the table. 

He placed the hearty meat dishes in front of Qin Chengyu.

“From now on, arrange the dishes like this every meal,” he instructed the servants.

Nian Yixin joked, 

“Jinsui, you’re treating Chengyu so well—are you planning to starve your father?”

“Dad, you’ve already got a double chin. When you go to the US in a few days, be careful, or my other father might not recognize you. Stick to eating vegetables for now,” 

Nian Jinsui teased, pushing a plate of vegetables toward Nian Yixin.

Startled, Nian Yixin exclaimed, 

“Do I really have a double chin? Jinsui, don’t scare me! Though it’s true, I haven’t weighed myself in a while…”

“Don’t worry. Even if you’re chubby, Father will still love you,” 

Nian Jinsui replied playfully.

Feeling smug, Nian Yixin lifted his chin slightly. 

“Of course. He wouldn’t dare not love me.”

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