CHAPTER 1423: CHAPTER 1423: ACTING GOES LIVE (1)

Qiao Qiao grew more terrified the more she thought about it, her imagination spiraling into horror. Almost reflexively, she dashed toward the door.

Ye Shiqing reacted quickly, chasing after her in an instant and grabbing her at the door.

Qiao Qiao screamed loudly in shock, and Ye Shiqing hadn’t expected her reaction to be so extreme. He quickly covered her mouth and whispered in a low voice, "Don’t scream!"

It seemed clear now: staying here was no longer an option.

He had to find a place where no one would be around, maybe deep in the mountains or remote woods—somewhere her screams wouldn’t draw any outside attention.

Qiao Qiao struggled against Ye Shiqing’s hand, managing only muffled sounds.

"Xiaoqiao, don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you. I just want you to accept me, that’s all." Seeing the terror in Qiao Qiao’s eyes, Ye Shiqing’s heart hurt as well.

Even he hadn’t foreseen that he’d end up resorting to such measures to prove that he and Xiaoqiao were destined to be together. She refused to give him even the slightest chance, and he was done wasting time.

"I’ll let go of you, but please don’t scream anymore, okay? If you agree, just blink." Ye Shiqing did his best to speak in a gentle tone.

Qiao Qiao rapidly blinked, and Ye Shiqing released her.

"Don’t be afraid. I promise I won’t hurt you..."

"You think this isn’t hurting me? Ye Shiqing, how did you turn into this person?" Qiao Qiao looked at Ye Shiqing in disbelief. "I’ve told you more than once—I’m a married woman now. Even if I were to start another relationship, it’d have to be after I’ve divorced. What you’re doing, dragging me here like this, doesn’t just hurt me—it destroys my dignity and reputation!"

She truly couldn’t comprehend Ye Shiqing’s mindset. He’d gone so far as to kidnap her, coercing her to be with him, and he still claimed this wasn’t hurting her?

"I’ve told you, Ye Xiandong is deliberately avoiding you; it’s his way of delaying you. I know him too well. You feel like you’d be betraying him by being with me, but have you considered that he’s exploiting your traditional values to imprison you, restricting your freedom emotionally and physically? Why should we play into his hands?" Ye Shiqing argued confidently. To deal with someone like Ye Xiandong, you had to be even more ruthless.

Qiao Qiao had, of course, contemplated this possibility before. But still, she felt that even if Ye Xiandong was unkind to her, she didn’t want to repay him by being unjust. She still hoped to sort out her feelings after their divorce.

"He is him; I am me. His actions don’t dictate how I should act. What you should think about is whether what you’re doing right now is completely unethical!" Qiao Qiao’s face hardened. "Let me go home, and I’ll pretend this whole incident never occurred. Otherwise, I’ll definitely report you for kidnapping!"

"Since I’ve decided to do this, I never planned on turning back. I’ve thought through all the consequences, and even if you end up hating me, it’s better than missing out on a lifetime with you." Ye Shiqing replied coolly.

If Ye Xiandong remained untraceable for the rest of his life, if even after a few more years Ye Xiandong still didn’t return, would it mean his time had been wasted?

That’s why he chose to gamble everything on an audacious move. No matter the cost, he had to try. Walking this road of no return, he was prepared for the worst possible outcome.

And now, the task he’d set for himself was ensuring Qiao Qiao carried his child.

"Ye Shiqing, I truly will hate you—don’t think I’m joking!" Qiao Qiao’s expression was frosty.

Once, she had trusted him so deeply, believing he was the mentor who would guide her life. How could she have imagined that he would act so recklessly?

"Then hate me," Ye Shiqing said matter-of-factly. "It’s better than being ignored by you." After speaking, he made several phone calls.