40.wake up

The next morning, Ye Chen drove his Bugatti anxiously to Chen Xin's house. He hurriedly got out of the car and rushed towards the villa. To his surprise, he saw that his good buddy, whom he had been looking for since yesterday afternoon, was sitting motionless on the stairs in front of the villa.

Ye Chen's temper flared immediately. He walked over and angrily scolded him, "Chen Xin! What's going on with you? I couldn't find you at your company or at home! Lin Xiaowan has been missing for days! If it weren't for Harold telling me, you'd probably plan to hide it from me forever! What are you sitting here for? Go find her right now! Don't you like her?"

But Chen Xin didn't react to his anger. He just stared blankly at the car keys in his hand.

After a moment of rage, Ye Chen gradually calmed down. Seeing the expression on Chen Xin's face, he started to feel worried. "Did you find her but couldn't bring her back? Don't worry, I know some powerful bodyguards back home. They have a lot of experience finding people. I'll call them and have them fly over to the US right away."

However, just as he pulled out his phone, Chen Xin gently placed his hand on Ye Chen's.

Chen Xin slowly looked up, meeting Ye Chen's gaze with calm eyes and said, "No need. I've already found her. Ten minutes ago, the people I sent to find her just gave me the news."

Ye Chen was taken aback. "Then why are you just sitting here? Go pick her up now!"

Chen Xin shook his head and calmly replied, "It's no use just going to find her. Xiaowan is still angry with me and refuses to acknowledge her feelings for me. Even if I bring her back now and we reconcile, our conflict will only be temporarily smoothed over. It will explode again later."

"So what… What do you want to do then? What do you mean by her not acknowledging her feelings for you?"

Chen Xin gave a slight smile, his dark eyes gleaming with confident calmness. "Once she's back by my side today, you'll understand what I mean. I'll make her, both physically and emotionally, belong to me alone from now on."

With that, he stood up on his own, brushed the dust off his pants, and walked toward the garage. "I'm off now, Ye Chen. See you later."

"Uh… okay."

Ye Chen stared blankly at Chen Xin as he drove off with an imposing presence. His mind wandered back to when they were both in kindergarten. Back then, they had fought over who would be the class leader. Later, they reconciled and became sworn brothers, but the desire to be the leader remained unchanged.

At that time, Chen Xin was gentle and gracious, while Ye Chen was cooler, fitting the style of the popular "cool guy" image. The girls naturally thought Ye Chen's cool demeanor was more attractive, and the boys saw him as the one who fit the "leader" role, so he was more popular in class.

But one day, a kite suddenly flew into the kindergarten yard and got stuck in a small tree. It was a beautiful kite that the girls wanted, but no one could reach it. So they turned to Ye Chen to climb the tree and get it. Ye Chen, who was afraid of heights, hesitated, but before he could decide, Chen Xin quietly climbed the tree, retrieved the kite, and handed it to the classmates.

Naturally, everyone cheered for him, and even though Chen Xin was scolded by the teacher and parents for climbing the tree, from that day on, he became the undisputed leader of the class.

Ye Chen always accepted this loss gracefully. But years later, when they were both in college and had gotten drunk one night, Chen Xin revealed that he had actually hung the kite in the tree himself. Knowing that Ye Chen was afraid of heights, he had come up with that plan.

Ye Chen didn't think there was anything wrong or despicable about Chen Xin's method. After all, they both came from business families, and their parents had taught them from a young age how to do business, how to exploit others' weaknesses, and how to survive in the competitive and unpredictable business world.

So when Ye Chen learned the truth, he only admired his brother more.

But now, looking at Chen Xin's retreating figure, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What method was Chen Xin going to use to bind the enchanting Lin Xiaowan to his side?

Meanwhile, Chen Xin was driving towards the company. He had been so busy looking for Xiaowan that he hadn't had time to deal with the company's matters. He had even told his assistant not to disturb him with any work-related issues for now.

But now, he was calling his assistant to tell them that he was ready to get back to work.

After learning this, the assistant quickly relayed important messages to Chen Xin and notified the company's partners. Soon, business calls started flooding his phone.

As he drove and talked on the phone, he became increasingly overwhelmed and flustered. When making a turn, he accidentally knocked his phone off the holder. The call was cut off, and the phone fell onto the floor. Chen Xin quickly reached down to pick it up, not noticing that he had turned the steering wheel too much. The car veered toward an old, crumbling wall on the side of the road.

In the last moment, as he looked up and saw the decaying wall coming toward him, he lightly pressed the gas pedal. The car crashed into the wall with a loud "bang."

At the hotel, Xiaowan lay motionless on the bed. She had actually woken up a long time ago, or rather, she hadn't been able to sleep at all. The words Chen Xin had said to her kept echoing in her mind all night long: "I just want the girl I love to love me the same way. Why does that seem impossible to you?"

The more she thought about it, the more it hurt, and the more she couldn't help but recall a few dark memories she had deliberately buried deep inside her heart—

The snow fell heavily, the forest was dark and eerie, with several figures hidden deep within the trees, and that woman's contemptuous expression when she saw her…

She couldn't help but gasp in pain, curling her body as if this posture could shield her from the terrifying memories.

"You're such a worthless burden, it's a miracle I even brought you into this world. How dare you ask for anything?"

She heard that woman's evil, demonic voice.

"Why don't you just die! Why?! The ultrasound clearly said it was a boy! If it weren't for you, would I be living such a miserable life? It's all your fault!"

She saw that woman's face twisted in ugliness as she slapped her.

"I'll tell you this—no one will ever love you! You're just a worthless thing, and if you ever make me angry again, I'll push your head into the frying oil!"

She felt the scars that woman left on her body sending sharp pain.

Xiao Wan hugged herself tightly. It's said that this curled-up posture is human instinct because it's the position humans keep when in their mother's womb. But for her, there was no loving mother, only a twisted, mad woman who saw her as a maggot and constantly wished for her death.

She opened her red eyes and gasped for air, but fear and hatred spread like a virus in her heart, making it harder and harder for her to move.

It felt like a thousand dry, sinister hands were trying to pull her back into that abyss of despair she had just barely escaped from.

Just then, the doorbell rang from the living room.

Xiao Wan froze, and those dry hands seemed to retreat in fear of the sound. Xiao Wan saw Chen Xin's gentle smile in her mind and felt strength returning to her body. She quickly scrambled off the bed and ran to the door.

Breathing heavily, she opened the door and saw Harold standing in front of her.

Although she had turned off her phone and paid cash at the hotel, Xiao Wan had already suspected that Chen Xin would find her sooner or later. What confused her was why it was Harold who came to pick her up.

"Xiao Wan!" Harold pressed his hands urgently on her shoulders, his face full of panic. "Chen… Chen Xin had a car accident and was just sent to the hospital! Can you stop arguing with him and come with me to the hospital?"

Smack. Xiao Wan felt as if she heard something breaking, like the gentle smile of Chen Xin in her mind shattering at that very moment.

When Ye Chen arrived at the hospital, Xiao Wan and Harold were already there.

He gasped for breath as he stopped in front of them, his heart tightening when he glanced at Xiao Wan: her hair was a mess, curled up on a chair hugging her knees, barefoot, her eyes swollen from crying, staring blankly at the ground, her face pale like paper.

Ye Chen immediately pulled Harold aside and asked in a low voice, "How is Chen Xin?"

Harold answered, "He's still in surgery. The doctor said he mainly hit his head and fell into a coma, and there are many abrasions on his body. The doctor is removing the glass shards from his skin now."

Ye Chen scratched his head in frustration. "Damn, how did this happen? I saw him at his house half an hour ago! How did the accident happen?"

Harold sighed. "It seems he was on the phone with a business partner while driving. I think he's been searching for Xiao Wan these days, hasn't slept for several days, and his body and mind are exhausted. He couldn't control the car and… well, you know the rest."

Ye Chen turned and glanced at Xiao Wan, and Harold quickly grabbed him. "Hey, bro, don't blame Xiao Wan at a time like this. She's in a bad state too. When I went to pick her up, I felt like she was about to break down, crying the whole way here…"

"I'm not blaming her," Ye Chen quickly said, but then he swallowed his words to avoid revealing anything. "Don't worry, I know what's important."

"Good, that's a relief," Harold nodded. "Chen suddenly had this accident, and now the company's in chaos. I'm going to call his assistant to explain. Can you stay here with Xiao Wan?"

"No problem," Ye Chen nodded. After Harold walked away with his phone, Ye Chen slowly approached Xiao Wan, took a deep breath, and gently sat down beside her.

He noticed that when he sat down, Xiao Wan's body shook slightly, as if she feared he was going to scold her.

Ye Chen's heart ached for her, and after a long silence, he finally raised his hand and softly patted her back, saying in a low voice, "Chen Xin will be fine. Don't worry."

Xiao Wan seemed completely surprised by the gentle tone, her eyes widened in shock, and then the tears that had just stopped flowed down again.

Ye Chen panicked immediately, quickly saying, "You… you don't have to cry. I'm not blaming you. Chen Xin will be fine. Trust me, okay?"

Xiao Wan cried as she choked out, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't argued with him and run away… if I hadn't made him worry, he wouldn't have had this accident…"

"It's not like that. This has nothing to do with you!" Ye Chen quickly said, "It's that idiot Chen Xin. He was driving while on the phone. Don't blame yourself, okay? Harold just told me that Chen Xin's injuries aren't serious. Once the surgery is done, he'll be fine, alright?"

But Xiao Wan continued to cry, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

Ye Chen watched as her tears fell, feeling as if someone was stabbing his heart with a knife. It was the first time in his life he felt like this, and he didn't know how to react. "Alright, alright, please stop crying. Honestly, this is my fault. I was just at Chen Xin's house and saw him. It was my fault I didn't stop him from going out. If I had stopped him, this wouldn't have happened. So, it's all my fault, not yours, okay?"

But Xiao Wan kept crying.

Ye Chen was so desperate, he nearly pulled his hair out. He took out his wallet from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Wan. "Here, take it. When Chen Xin's better, I'll take you both out to eat whatever you want. Anything you want! And here's the key to my house. Didn't you say you wanted to take something from my safe? Take whatever you want, just… please stop crying…"

Xiao Wan sniffled and looked up at him, her voice barely audible as she asked, "Will he really be okay?"

"Really, it's nothing. I swear to you!" Ye Chen raised his hand in a solemn vow. "If he dies, you can stab me to vent your anger, okay?"

Xiao Wan immediately burst into even louder sobs. "Stabbing you won't bring him back to life…"

Hadn't he just managed to calm her down a little? Why was she crying even harder now?

Ye Chen felt like he was on the verge of losing his mind. Squatting in front of her, he grabbed her shoulders and said in exasperation, "What do you want me to do? Should I kneel to you? Huh? I'm begging you, stop crying! Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"

Just as he finished speaking, a voice came from behind. "Who here is with Chen Xin?"

Xiao Wan's eyes widened. She immediately stood up and stumbled toward the doctor. "Me! It's me! I'm his girlfriend. How is… How is Chen Xin?"

"Please don't cry, miss. There's no need to worry. The surgery went smoothly," the doctor reassured her. "Mr. Chen has a mild concussion, but his injuries aren't severe. He's out of danger now. Once he regains consciousness, you'll be able to see him."

"So… he's okay?" Xiao Wan asked hesitantly.

"He still needs some follow-up observation, but generally speaking, he should be fine."

"He's okay… Chen Xin is okay…" Xiao Wan murmured, repeating the words. Then, as if all the tension left her at once, her eyes rolled back, and her legs gave way. She began to collapse to the floor.

Ye Chen rushed forward just in time to catch her in his arms.

When Chen Xin woke up, the first thing he saw was the ceiling of a private hospital room. He turned his head slightly, hoping to see Xiao Wan sitting by his side. Instead, the person who met his gaze was Ye Chen.

Chen Xin frowned slightly and spoke in a hoarse voice, "Ye Chen."

The man, who had been sitting with his head down deep in thought, immediately looked up at him, his expression a mixture of surprise and complexity. "You're awake! Are you feeling any discomfort? The doctor said to notify him immediately if you're feeling unwell."

"I'm fine. I feel okay," Chen Xin replied. "Where's Xiao Wan? Didn't she come?"

"She did." At the mention of Xiao Wan, Ye Chen's expression grew more serious. "But she was so upset she cried herself unconscious. She's resting in another room now and should recover soon."

Hearing this, Chen Xin frowned slightly. He was about to ask more about Xiao Wan's condition when Ye Chen preempted him.

"Chen Xin, I need to ask you something. We've been close friends for years, so I hope you'll answer me honestly," Ye Chen said, his tone serious.

Chen Xin's eyes lowered slightly, as if he had already guessed the question. "Go ahead," he said calmly.

Ye Chen stared intently at his face, watching for any trace of emotion. "Was today's car accident intentional?"

Chen Xin chuckled softly. "Why would you think that?"

"Because I know you. This is exactly the kind of thing you'd do—put yourself in danger just to get what you want." Ye Chen's voice grew sharper. "Do you remember that kite in kindergarten? You risked climbing a tree to get everyone's admiration. So tell me, did you crash the car on purpose today?"

After a long silence, Chen Xin finally curled his lips into a faint smile. "You're right."

As soon as he admitted it, Ye Chen exploded, jumping to his feet. "Chen Xin! Are you out of your mind? Just to get Lin Xiao Wan back, you'd pull something like this? Aren't you afraid the accident could have been worse and killed you outright?"

"I carefully calculated the location and speed. When I modified the car, I also reinforced its crash resistance. I wasn't worried about what you just said," Chen Xin replied evenly.

"Even so—even so, you can't gamble with your life! Is Lin Xiao Wan really worth this?" Ye Chen demanded.

"She is." Chen Xin looked him directly in the eye, his gaze unwavering. "You'd think she is too."

Ye Chen's heart skipped a beat. He clenched his fists slightly, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. What did Chen Xin mean by that? Could it be… had he already figured out Ye Chen's feelings for Xiao Wan?

"What… What do you mean?" Ye Chen asked, trying to suppress his nervousness.

Chen Xin smiled faintly. "What else could I mean? Haven't you fallen for someone too? If the day comes when she wants to leave you, trust me, you'd do the same. You might even go further than I have."

Ye Chen froze. "I… I have someone I like? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Don't you? Why else would you always be alone whenever I see you lately? You used to never be without some girl around to entertain you," Chen Xin said with a knowing smile. "I've noticed for a while now; I just haven't brought it up. Anyway, if you don't want to say who it is, I won't press you. Just let us know when you've won her over so we can celebrate together."

Ye Chen breathed a small sigh of relief. It seemed Chen Xin had only realized he had feelings for someone, without knowing who it was.

Taking advantage of the misunderstanding, Ye Chen replied vaguely, "… I'll tell you once I've won her over."

"Alright," Chen Xin said. "For now, could you check on Xiao Wan for me?"

"Sure, I'll go now."

Just as Ye Chen was about to turn the doorknob, Chen Xin called out again, "Oh, and Ye Chen, could you please keep today's truth a secret from Xiao Wan?"

Ye Chen sighed. "Your business is your own. Do whatever you want; I won't interfere or spread it around. But listen, Chen Xin, this manipulative side of yours—Lin Xiao Wan is bound to find out someday."

Chen Xin smirked. "I'll make sure she loves even that part of me."

Ye Chen turned back, staring at the confidence in Chen Xin's calm demeanor. He couldn't help but wonder: if fate truly gave him a chance to compete with Chen Xin for Xiao Wan's love, would he have any hope of winning?

As he stood there lost in thought, the door suddenly burst open, and Xiao Wan rushed in, eyes red and teary. "Xiao Guai! You're awake!" she cried.

She wanted so desperately to throw her arms around him but was afraid of hurting his injuries. Kneeling by the bed, she clutched one of his hands and pressed it to her face.

Chen Xin gazed at her tenderly. "I'm fine, darling. Please, get up. Don't cry, alright?"

But as soon as he said this, Xiao Wan couldn't help but cry even harder. She sobbed, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I always argue with you and keep running away from home, making you worry so much. That's why I caused you to get hurt like this. I'm really sorry…"

"It's not your fault. I was careless while driving." Chen Xin spoke softly while pulling her into his arms and placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "It's just a small injury, and I'll recover soon. But if you keep crying, I'll feel upset too, and that will slow down my recovery. You don't want that, do you?"

Xiao Wan quickly shook her head hard in his arms and stammered, "N-No, I don't want that. I want you to get better quickly."

"Then no more crying, okay? Be good," Chen Xin said as he raised his hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

Xiao Wan took a deep breath, trying hard to stop her tears. "Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't cry anymore."

Standing by the door, Ye Chen watched the two of them snuggling intimately. Seeing how Xiao Wan cherished Chen Xin as if he was her entire world stirred a pang of bitterness in Ye Chen's heart. Unable to bear it any longer, he quietly opened the door and slipped out.

At that moment, Harold happened to walk over. He glanced into the hospital room and asked, "Chen's awake? He's okay now, right?"

Ye Chen replied in a dull tone, "Yeah, he's fine."

Harold noticed the look on Ye Chen's face and asked in confusion, "Then why do you look so gloomy?"

Ye Chen froze for a moment, shook his head, and muttered, "It's nothing." Then he quickly turned and walked into the restroom.

He turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on his face, trying to steady his chaotic thoughts. After a while, he finally felt somewhat calm again. However, when Ye Chen looked up at his reflection in the mirror, he still caught a hint of bitterness… a trace of jealousy lingering on his face.

He lowered his head and let out a long sigh.

What should he do? He seemed to be losing control over his feelings for that damned woman.