Chapter 220 I watched his life get ruined with my own eyes

Tan Zheng, a man so openly bold, felt a flicker of unease under Song Ni's petulant gaze. He reached out his long arm, covering Song Ni's eyes. "A young lady like you, isn't it embarrassing?" Song Ni tried to push Tan Zheng's hand away. "You're my husband, not some stranger. What's wrong with me looking?" Hearing this, a wave of pleasure washed over Tan Zheng. This girl was the same back then, reaching out to touch him on the street late at night, saying she had only ever touched him. Thinking of this, the man chuckled softly and asked her, "Baby, are you only brave enough to be lecherous with me?" Hearing this, Song Ni no longer rushed to pull Tan Zheng's hand away. She casually grabbed a cushion and hugged it, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, tickling his palm. "Oh, it's not like I *can't* look at others." Was there anything she dared not do? Ridiculous. Tan Zheng: ... The man narrowed his eyes and, without waiting for a response, scooped Song Ni onto his lap. "You dare?" Song Ni's eyelashes fluttered. "Why wouldn't I dare?" As she spoke, she straightened her back, trying to put more distance between herself and Tan Zheng. It was hurting her waist. Tan Zheng didn't notice Song Ni's movement, only instinctively tightening his grip, pulling her closer. Song Ni: ... "Baby, other men aren't as good-looking as I am." When it came to Song Ni, he had learned after being angered by her so many times that being forceful wouldn't work; gentleness was key. With this temper, she was truly a little empress, someone to be doted on and indulged. He had never treated anyone like this in his life, but what could he do? This little empress was his. If he didn't dote on and indulge her, she could turn cold without hesitation. He didn't want to be a fool abandoned by his wife. Song Ni huffed proudly. Tan Zheng's words were not wrong. Over the years, she had indeed only been brazen with Tan Zheng. After being apart for so long, it had been over a month since they were separated. After returning to the country just the day before yesterday, Tan Zheng and Song Ni were first busy accompanying Xi Jinjiang's parents, then they rushed back and spent a whole night entangled in bed, not having had a proper conversation. Their little playful spat just now had made up for over a month of separation. In the end, Song Ni still hadn't actively inquired about the events of five years ago, even though Dr. Xu had mentioned it in front of her. But there was no need to mention it; the fact that she could drive to Yancheng County alone to visit Xi Jinjiang's parents said it all. Tan Zheng held Song Ni tightly from behind, resting his chin in the crook of her shoulder and asking, "Do you want to know about five years ago?" Song Ni placed her hand on Tan Zheng's, nodded. In ten minutes, she heard from Tan Zheng the information she had spent months searching for, pieced together into a story. Five years had passed, and the events of that year were recounted in just ten minutes. Song Ni only felt heartache for Tan Zheng. He hadn't ingested anything wrong, yet he was detected with stimulants. He simply didn't want to waste the team's racing spot and asked Xi Jinjiang if he wanted to compete. Just like that, simply like that, he had endured five years of guilt and self-inflicted an end to his professional career. Song Ni was indignant, and the more indignant she felt, the more her heart ached. No wonder when they first met at the bar, she could sense such deep emotions just by seeing the way he held his cigarette. "This isn't your fault." Song Ni turned around, facing Tan Zheng, her hands touching his face, leaning in, foreheads touching, noses brushing. "This has nothing to do with you. You just asked him if he was willing to race. The decision was his. You didn't force him." Tan Zheng chuckled. Over the past five years, during the most difficult times, he had tried to console himself this way, but... "Baby." The man's voice was hoarse. "Hmm?" Song Ni's eyelashes trembled, her voice shaking for some unknown reason. "If he hadn't participated in that race, he would have achieved fame, retired with honors, gotten married, had children, and become a coach, nurturing more excellent racers." Song Ni shook her head, not knowing what to say. "But now, his legs are broken, his fiancée left, and he has no child." "Racing is forever out of his reach. Forget racing, he can't even drive normally." "His life is ruined." "I watched his life get ruined with my own eyes." Tan Zheng had met Xi Jinjiang when he was sixteen. When he was too young and reckless, Xi Jinjiang was by his side, training with him. When he was too aggressive, Xi Jinjiang, as someone who had been through it, pulled him back. Before he had learned various techniques, Xi Jinjiang had generously taught him. The first time he won an award, Xi Jinjiang was the first to hug him. While everyone praised his natural talent, only Xi Jinjiang said that he too had worked hard behind the scenes. Xi Jinjiang had seen his sweaty days and had shared in his triumphs on the track. A long, long time ago, he had considered Xi Jinjiang his elder brother from the bottom of his heart. That's why he followed Xi Jinjiang back, helped build houses together, and even climbed onto the roof with him, holding wine, under the starry sky, discussing various races. Discussing how so-and-so's cornering was still flawed, how so-and-so's drifting wasn't perfect enough. Which new car had good performance, and which one was utter garbage. And how this car should be modified, not only powerful but also incredibly stylish. ... In Tan Zheng's most passionate years of youth, he was accompanied by racing, and by Xi Jinjiang. Anything related to racing would inevitably involve Xi Jinjiang. Therefore, how could Tan Zheng stand by and watch Xi Jinjiang's life change drastically without being moved? Especially since it was inextricably linked to him. Over the past five years, he had countless times wished that it was him who had the accident, that it was him who broke his legs, and that Xi Jinjiang was still well, married to the woman he loved, with children, living a happy life. But that was just imagination. Xi Jinjiang had been in the hospital every day for five years, without a fiancée, without children. Alone. So, Tan Zheng dared not be happy. He no longer appeared on the track, nor did he touch a race car. For years, there had been no women by his side. If it weren't for Song Ni, he might have continued like this for the next five years, the next ten. If it weren't for Song Ni, he wouldn't have said those words to Xi Jinjiang, secretly praying that he could move on and face the rest of his life. If it weren't for Song Ni, he might have just lingered with Xi Jinjiang like this. Lingering on. If it weren't for Song Ni, none of this would be happening now. Xi Jinjiang had returned to the country, returned to his hometown, and he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He could love Song Ni without restraint, and without restraint, he could imagine how to bring Song Ni happiness. And his own happiness was also part of it.