Her chest was heaving as she reached over with her right hand to untie the binding on her left hand. She took deep breathes in and out to calm herself down as she rubbed her bruised wrists. One by one she undid the bindings on her legs and stood up. She found her legs were shaking slightly. 

Jang Huan grabbed a robe from the side and tied it tightly around her as she tried to hold herself together. In her mind, she made up excuses to placate herself and push down the terrible knot in her throat. 'Maybe something happened. Maybe he collapsed in the kitchen?' 

Jiang Huan hopelessly called out again: "Tingzhe?" She tentatively went to the kitchen and found it completely empty. 

A solitary tear slowly rolled down her cheek. She brushed it away and frantically shouted"Tingzhe?! Tingzhe!!! Tingzhe!!!"

She ran to the bathroom and pulled back the shower curtain. Finally, she rushed to the living room. When she found it empty the horrible sinking feeling consumed her. She knew all hope was lost. Jiang Huan threw the pillows from the sofa on to the floor. Her leg clipped the side of the coffee table as she let out her frustrations and when she looked down, she caught sight of a posit note with writing on it. 

Jiang Huan felt her world slowing as she reached for the note. She read allowed "I know what really happened at your work, you've lost your purpose."

She dropped the note and brought both her hands up to her face shaking her head as she staggered back on to the coach. 

Jiang Huan spoke in a sorrow-stricken voice: "This isn't right. Tingzhe loves me. He wouldn't do this to me. I must have done something wrong."

Jiang Huan wiped away the tears from her face and sniffed. She grabbed her phone and dialed Tang Tingzhe's number. She called once, twice, five times and still, all she got was his voicemail. 

Jiang Huan sobbed: "Come on Baby. Pick up the phone."

She sent him her 12th message [Baby, talk to me. I don't understand what's going on. What does your note mean? I didn't mean to hide anything from you. I just didn't want you to think bad of me. I did it for you baby. I did everything for you, baby].

Jiang Huan dialed again, this time the call connected: "h.e.l.lo baby?"

Female voice: "h.e.l.lo. who is this?"

Jiang Huan looked at her phone screen and saw that it was Tang Tingzhe's number before responding: "Where is Tingzhe? Who are you? Why do you have his phone?]

Jiang Huan listened as the female voice addressed someone: "Tingzhe, some whiny B**** is calling you and giving me att.i.tude." She heard some shuffling. 

Tang Tinghze: "h.e.l.lo. Who is this?"

Jiang Huan: "Tingzhe it's me. Who was that on your hone right now? Did you hear what she just called me? What's going on?"

Tang Tingzhe gave a lazy sigh: "Jiang Huan I don't know why you need everything spelled out to you. I don't like you, I never did. We had a business transaction. You chose to help my friends and even said that you would take everything and that I should leave it to you. In return, I generously gave you some of my precious time. I'm glad I've told you everything now and got it off my chest. It's true what they say; the truth will set you free. Well anyway, don't call or message me anymore I've finally managed to escape your whiny, low self-esteem nonsense I don't want to be pulled back in. I don't know why you are constantly this selfish. Good luck with everything."Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

Jiang Huan couldn't even utter a single sound whilst Tang Tingzhe delivered his speech. She looked at her phone in disbelief and then threw it at the wall: "AAAHHHHHH."

Jiang Huan pulled on her hair: "You B*****d! You son of a B***h! How could you do this to me after everything I've done. After all the sacrifices I made. I lost everything. I gave up everything for you Tingzhe." Tears streamed down her cheeks and snot dripped from her nose. 

She brought her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them as she cried through all her pain. 

After what seemed like hours Jiang Huan's eyes were red and swollen. Her throat hurt with all the crying and her voice sounded croaky and strained. She got up and glanced at the pieces of her phone and its's shattered screen on the floor. 

Jiang Huan walked to her home phone and dialed the person who always knew what to do: "Mama."

Jiang Huan's Mom: "h.e.l.lo my darling Xaoi Huan. What's wrong?"

Jiang Huan sniffed: "Mama, I messed everything up. I've been so stupid."

......

Little 4th had his arms crossed as he sat at the dining room table watching his brother have some tea and snacks. 

Little 4th pretended to smile as he thought 'Stupid elder brother making me pour tea for him. Am I a kettle?"

Qin Song quirked a brow his voice held a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt: "Yes?"

Little 4th turned and looked at his mom. 

Madame Qin giggled elegantly: "What'swrong my little one?"

Little 4th: "Elder brother has a..."

Qin Song cleared his throat and interrupted Little 4th's complaint.

Little 4th said sourly: "He has a wonderful tea drinking manner."

Madame Qin giggled more. She wouldn't interfere with teasing between siblings, it what strengthens their bond. 

Little 4th heard a familiar ring tone that immediately made his face light up in joy. He picked up the call "Big Sister YingYing!!"

Qin Song tea went down the wrong way and he choked slightly on his tea. He cleared his throat in a masculine manner to disguise his faux pas. 

Li Xiuying: "Did you get my invite?"

Little 4th slyly looked at Qin Song and acted shocked: "What invite Big sister YingYing? Since big brother came home 3 hours and 34 minutes ago he hasn't mentioned anything."

Madame Qin concealed her mirth as she watched Qin Song's face morph from smugness to sour. He looked like he swallowed a fly. 

Li Xiuying: "I gave your brother an invitation to pa.s.s on to you for this Sat.u.r.day."

Little 4th: "Oh you gave it to my elder brother. He hasn't mentioned anything yet. He was just busy having tea leisurely in front of me. I'll ask him when he's finished being busy relaxing."

Li Xiuiyng: "Hmmm? He hasn't given you the envelope yet?" 

Little 4th pouted: "Big Sister YingYing, he's bul..."

Qin Song took the small yellow envelope and quickly placed it in front of Little 4th before he could say the word bullying. 

Little 4th gave Qin Song a triumphant look as he grabbed the envelope with his chubby hand. 

Li Xiuying: "Little 4th?"

Little 4th: " Don't worry big sister YingYing I have the invite, I was just playing a joke."

Li Xiuying: "Okay Little 4th, have a look at the invite and talk to your parents about it."

Little 4th said in a cutesy voice: "Okay bye-bye." He placed the phone on the table and held the envelope in both his hands. His eyes sparkled. 

Qin Song acted as is he was nonchalant: "So, aren't you going to open it?"

Little 4th jumped down from his chair: "Goodnight."

Qin Song feigned being hurt: "Is this any way to treat your brother?"

Little 4th said with a gloating look on his face: "You reap what you plow." He then walked out the room with his head held high, his back straight and his chubby fingers gripping the carnary yellow envelope. 

Madame Qin couldn't hold in her laughter anymore. She followed little 4th our and patted Qin Song on his shoulder in pity. 

Qin Song muttered: "My plow must be broken then." He smiled as he thought of little 4th's triumphant look. His little brother was the most adorable nuisance in the world. 

Qin Song thought [I'll have to get dad to tell me later].