Chapter 13 Their Backer is Gu Jingchen

"Alright, alright, I'll go." Li Chengxi's eyes flashed with a blood-red fury as he gritted his teeth and spoke, hatred radiating from every word. Yet, he was utterly helpless. Compared to Gu Jingchen's resources and background, the difference was staggering—leaving him no choice but to bow his head and swallow his pride.

"Chengjing, how are you?" Li Chengxi strode toward the holding cell, his face softening with faint traces of concern when he saw his younger sister.

"Brother, when can I leave? When can I get out of here?" The moment Li Cengjing saw Li Chengxi, it was as though she clutched at a lifeline. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and she shot to her feet, grabbing her brother's hand through the iron bars. Her voice trembled with resentment and despair.

"Chengxi, I'm so scared. Will you take me home?" Seeing Li Chengxi, Qu Yanyan immediately put on an innocent and pitiful demeanor, her tearful eyes glistening as she gazed up at him helplessly.

"Chengjing, I don't know when you'll be able to get out. Your brother needs more time to make arrangements." Li Chengxi's brow furrowed, a dim shadow passing over his features as he mentioned this, his mood darkening further.

As for Qu Yanyan, Li Chengxi didn't even glance her way. That woman, smugly thinking she was seductive and charming, was utterly oblivious to how repulsive she looked with her dark circles, swollen face, and disheveled appearance. Disgust welled up in him. To Li Chengxi, Qu Yanyan was never more than a convenience—just another desperate woman throwing herself at him. Why not take advantage?

What kind of man would pass up an opportunity like this?

In Li Chengxi's heart, his true love remained Shang Xixia. But even that love wasn't exclusive or unconditional. In his view, what man didn't seek flings on the side? Still, when it came to choosing a wife, only a woman like Shang Xixia could qualify. Beautiful, talented, classy—someone who could bring him pride in public.

Of course, this precondition only applied if she was "clean." If she caused any scandal, how could he possibly keep someone like that at home?

"Brother, don't we have money now? Mom has so much money, can't you use it to get me out? Do you know that little bitch Shang Xixia and her two accomplices were already released, all of them!"

Li Cengjing, who had rarely suffered this kind of humiliation, shook with rage as she spoke, her fingers trembling, her face pale, and her teeth grinding in anger.

"And what good would that do? Their backer is Gu Jingchen! Does your brother have that kind of power? You stay put! And you, Qu Yanyan, stop stirring up trouble and take good care of my sister!"

Being outmatched by Gu Jingchen and remembering the humiliations he'd faced in front of him, Li Chengxi's frustration surged. He ran his fingers roughly through his short hair, glaring at both Li Cengjing and Qu Yanyan with a seething intensity before turning on his heel and leaving with large strides.

"Brother!" Watching her usually doting brother walk away, Li Cengjing screamed in the detention cell, her cries filled with a heart-wrenching agony, as if her last source of support was vanishing.

"Chengjing, stop crying. Just wait for your brother; he'll figure out a way to get us out." Behind Li Cengjing, Qu Yanyan feigned comforting her, but her eyes gleamed with a calculating glint as a sinister smile crept across her lips.

"Gu Jingchen, so you're that powerful. You've just become my new target." Qu Yanyan's lips curved into an arrogant smirk, her cold laughter chilling to the bone.

Meanwhile, in Gu Jingchen's car.

The moonlight outside streamed through the car's crystal-clear windows, casting fragmented beams of light onto the passenger seat. Gu Jingchen, through the rearview mirror, was mesmerized by Shang Xixia. Her soft, flowing hair gleamed like silk in the gentle moonlight. Her head tilted slightly forward, and the luminous sheen of the moon highlighted her fair, delicate neck and side profile, a breathtaking sight that stirred an insatiable longing within him.

The subtle scent emanating from Xixia was as pure as lilies, enveloping the enclosed car with an ethereal air. It flowed like a silent stream, quietly nourishing the barren lands of Gu Jingchen's heart and infusing his desolate soul with the vibrant force of life.

At that moment, his heart, long frozen, melted into a warm, chaotic mess. Simply knowing that the woman he cherished was by his side filled him with an overwhelming tenderness, his deep, dark eyes shimmering with infinite affection.

Seeing her delicate frame faintly tremble, hardly perceptible, Gu Jingchen's sharp, defined features quickly turned grave. Without hesitation, he reached out his pale fingers and adjusted the air-conditioning to a slightly warmer setting.

"Thank you, Mr. Gu, for helping us so much and even driving us home."

From the back seat, the two young women spoke up politely.

"No need to thank me. You're Xixia's friends, so you're my friends too." Gu Jingchen's low, elegant voice carried a rare hint of warmth, accompanied by a faint smile that softened his usual aloof demeanor as a stereotypical domineering CEO.

"Sigh, I wonder how my cousin is doing? After the big fight at the KTV today, it must have caused her a lot of trouble. After all, she's just the manager there."

Yu Tingting nodded adorably in acknowledgment, but a heavy sigh soon followed as she lowered her head like a crestfallen puppy, her voice laced with deep guilt.

"Tingting, let's go and apologize to her tomorrow. It was all my fault, and I'm willing to face the consequences." Shang Xixia bit her lip, turning to look at Yu Tingting. She reached out her delicate hand to gently ruffle her friend's hair with the tenderness and remorse unique to a close childhood bond.

"Xixia, don't be silly! If something happens, we take responsibility together. But that's not the biggest issue. The real problem is that your mom's medical bills are due again soon. We haven't managed to raise enough money yet, and her heart condition can't be delayed any longer. But it's hard enough just to make ends meet—how can we possibly save enough for her surgery?"

Zhou Xingyan let out a heavy sigh, finally addressing the crux of their predicament.

"Xixia, maybe you should go find your dad. No matter what the truth behind everything is, he raised you all these years. He must care about your mom too. If you go and plead with him, he surely won't ignore your situation!"

Yu Tingting tilted her head, her delicate eyebrows forming a worried frown as she gazed at Shang Xixia in the front seat of the car.