Chapter 20

As Gong Youqi and Su Yingran entered the Gong family's gate, Gong Youkai and Xiao Chuchu were just emerging from the garage.

After exchanging greetings, Su Yingran was surprised to learn that Gong Youkai's girlfriend was Xiao Chuchu, one of the "Twin Jewels" of Xinyue. Thinking of the other woman, her expression subtly changed.

Xiao Chuchu also secretly observed Su Yingran several times. Though she remained silent, her expression wasn't particularly pleasant. She had always assumed that the person beside Gong Youqi today would be Yu Xi. She didn't know much about the relationship between Xiao Xi and Young Master Gong, but when Young Master Gong personally went to Youbang to pick up Xiao Xi last time, she instinctively felt their relationship was more than just ordinary.

She had just returned to Xinyue two days ago and seen Yu Xi. When she mentioned Young Master Gong, Xiao Xi's expression instantly became complicated, but she didn't elaborate. Having grown up together, Xiao Chuchu naturally understood Yu Xi best. Xiao Xi was usually cheerful, straightforward, and carefree, but in reality, she always shouldered her burdens alone, never revealing her true feelings. She always disguised herself as an invincible optimist, protecting those around her, but never showing her vulnerability. Xiao Chuchu understood that Xiao Xi was actually a very touching girl, and if Gong Youqi casually hurt her friend, Xiao Chuchu wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

The Gong residence wasn't luxurious; it was a two-story Chinese-style villa. However, the surrounding scenery was excellent, nestled by mountains and water, perfectly meeting the Gong parents' current leisurely lifestyle requirements. Since Gong Youqi returned from Hong Kong, Gong Kaiqi, the chairman of MJ, had truly retired and was now focused on health preservation at home with Mrs. Gong, entrusting the entire company to his younger son, Gong Youqi.

The first time Gong Youkai brought Xiao Chuchu home, the Gong elders paused their egg-eating for half a minute. The still charming Mrs. Gong, disregarding her image, grabbed Xiao Chuchu, overjoyed and tearful: "Child, it must have been difficult for you, I thank you on behalf of the entire Gong family!"

Xiao Chuchu looked at the exceptionally emotional Mrs. Gong, and at Mr. Gong who, though silent, looked as if she had sacrificed herself for a noble cause. Her pretty face immediately flushed crimson. She glanced at Gong Youkai, whose expression remained impassive, and wondered if this man had some secret, like transforming into a werewolf on a full moon night.

Later, Mrs. Gong revealed that despite Gong Youkai's underworld status and his unapproachable, wooden expression, which surprisingly made him popular with women, no woman had ever stayed by his side for more than a month before being scared away by his violent and unpredictable temper, even fleeing without claiming compensation.

And Xiao Chuchu's casual remark, "He's actually quite thoughtful," left Mrs. Gong speechless for a long time. But later, at the dinner table, she personally witnessed her elder son serving food to his girlfriend, and they even... exchanged loving glances. Mr. and Mrs. Gong immediately helped each other back to their room, holding hands and gazing at each other for a long time before simultaneously sighing: "Our Youkai finally found someone..." And such a gentle, well-mannered, and beautiful girl at that. Regardless of Xiao Chuchu's background, the Gong family immediately recognized her as their daughter-in-law that very day.

Today, the Gong household was unusually lively again. Mrs. Gong, seeing her usually gentle younger son with such an excellent girlfriend, was naturally ecstatic. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Youqi's seemingly gentle demeanor towards Miss Su. Upon learning that she was the new chairperson of "Huantai," she exchanged a glance with Mr. Gong, found an excuse, and pulled Gong Youqi upstairs for a talk.

"Doesn't she have a fiancé?" Mrs. Gong still remembered the newspaper from a few months ago. When this new chairperson took office, the media also widely reported on her well-matched fiancé, a CEO of a certain enterprise, who seemed to be a refined, bespectacled man.

"Son, you didn't steal her away, did you?"

Gong Youqi smiled, a little unnaturally: "They broke up, and besides, Yingran and I knew each other before." He was also considering how to tell his parents that they planned to get married early next month. He had already sent people to investigate "Huantai," and the situation was indeed not optimistic.

Mrs. Gong looked puzzled: "You like her that much?"

He hesitated, then nodded, his mind filled with another face. He didn't want to beat around the bush: "We plan to get married early next month."

Mrs. Gong, with her phoenix eyes full of inquiry, observed her younger son for a long time, then sat on a chair, knowingly scoffing, "Tell me honestly, what's the purpose of such a hasty marriage?"

Gong Youqi was silent. He knew that no excuse would convince his astute parents. If he said he didn't want to make it public, his parents would likely pry even deeper. But he had promised Su Yingran not to reveal the truth.

Mrs. Gong walked up to him, her tone suddenly softening: "Youqi, you've always been very obedient since childhood. Your brother rarely comes home after his drastic change in temperament, and you replaced him, choosing a major you didn't like and taking over your father's company. You've never disappointed us, but Mom knows you might have been forcing yourself all this time. That's why your father and I have never pressured you about your marriage. We don't care about wealthy family alliances or anything like that; we just want you to choose someone you genuinely like."

"Marriage is not a game. I won't force you to reveal any entanglements between you and Miss Su, but you must understand that once you marry, given the reputation of both families, it will attract considerable public attention. If you're not together because of love, it will be increasingly difficult to make it work."

He furrowed his brows slightly: "We won't go public." And it wouldn't last long either.

"What? Not public? Are you just going to get a marriage certificate and deceive the public?" Mrs. Gong's agile mind churned, and she was certain her son had done something foolish this time: "I ask you, who proposed this marriage?"

Gong Youqi's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment, he said, "I owe her."

"Silly son." Mrs. Gong already understood that Miss Su had proposed the marriage. She pulled him closer and said, "You can't repay what you owe her with marriage. How long can you keep a marriage a secret? At the very least, both families and close friends will know, right? Word will spread, especially since the Gong and Su families are not unknowns. Do you plan to live like this with her forever?"

Gong Youqi stopped speaking.

Mrs. Gong knew she wouldn't get anything more out of him. Her younger son, when stubborn, was a match for his elder brother. She could only pat his arm: "Think about it carefully. Your father and I will also consider it. Don't act on impulse and regret it later, hurting both yourself and others."

A ripple appeared in his dark eyes, then quickly subsided: "I know."

At the dinner table, Mr. Gong was gentle and spoke little, while Mrs. Gong was lively and cordial, constantly serving food to her two sons and their girlfriends. Gong Youkai hadn't seen his younger brother in a long time and casually asked, "How are things going in Hong Kong?" He wasn't asking about the official bidding business, but about the Blue Gang.

When Gong Youqi, with an unprecedented anxiety, personally asked him for men to send to Hong Kong to find that elusive "little fish," he naturally saw through it. Ding Yang returned a few days ago, only saying that Gong Youqi had been injured in the Blue Gang, but the specific details were unclear. He only knew that the matter was related to Yu Xi, and that the person had been brought back to Shanghai. As for why his brother was sitting next to someone he had fallen in love with at first sight today, while he found it inconvenient to ask too many questions, he could sense Xiao Chuchu's unhappiness today. For Chuchu's sake, he decided to probe indirectly. Gong Youqi's underworld identity was unknown even to his parents, and certainly to Su Yingran. But he had deliberately exposed it to Yu Xi, and had never cautioned her not to reveal it, as if he trusted her from the beginning.

Upon mentioning Hong Kong, Mrs. Gong immediately remembered. She rushed into the room and placed a glittering golden plaque, personally delivered by a foundation chairman last week, onto the table. She smiled at her younger son: "Youqi, explain this."

Su Yingran looked at the "XXXXX Heart Ambassador" honor on the plaque and asked confusedly, "Didn't Auntie donate private jewelry to that auction in the company's name?"

Mrs. Gong's eyes darted around. She turned to Mr. Gong, raising an eyebrow, and asked again, "Are you sure it wasn't you who bought the jewelry out of charity?" She then flipped open the commemorative album, pointed to a piece of镂空 bracelet "she" had donated, and commented, "The carving on this one has a bit of artistic flair."

Mr. Gong spread his hands. Besides his wedding ring, which he had personally chosen, he hadn't stepped into a jewelry store in decades. His wife had no interest in such mundane items, only dragging him into cultural centers.

Several pairs of eyes looked at the exquisite album, then turned to the sole suspect, Gong Youqi.

Gong Youqi's face darkened, not preparing to explain. His mind, however, was filled with thoughts of her. Had she missed him these past two days? What was she doing...?

Xiao Chuchu secretly bit her lip, deciding to stick up for her friend. She blinked her large eyes innocently and whispered, "That... it looks a lot like the bracelet Xiao Xi wore when we had dinner together last time."

Yu Xi felt very happy these past few days.

Lu Renjie would ask her out as soon as he got off work, for dinner, karaoke, or just strolling along the street. Sometimes they would do nothing at all, he would just sit contentedly in Xinyue, watching her.

She suddenly realized that people weren't that hard to change, as long as they encountered a reason to change. She thought about how a year ago, she was still in Australia, being harassed by strangers and trying to avoid them. Now, she could actually sit idly in his apartment, watching a DVD while he, wearing an apron, cooked in the kitchen.

She felt her heart was happy and aching. The joy they created together these past few days felt like a reprieve before an execution, first taking him to cloud nine, then preparing to push him into the abyss.

She hated her own cruelty. Hated herself for her momentary weakness in agreeing to give him a chance, knowing full well that that chance was an empty dream.

She would inadvertently think of another person again, feeling like she was falling into a terrible, unconscious transition. Sometimes when Lu Renjie held her hand, she would recall the warmth of another palm; looking at the fox's seductive eyes, she would imagine a pair of dark ones. This made her feel even more apologetic to Lu Renjie. Today, when he jokingly suggested he wanted to eat her cooking, she unhesitatingly agreed to cook herself. But upon returning with him, he chased her out of the kitchen with the excuse of "showing off his skills to earn her admiration."

While daydreaming and staring at a movie that had been playing for half an hour without her even noticing who the main character was, three dishes and a soup were already arranged on the nearby table.

She looked at the colorful, fragrant, and delicious meal, momentarily stunned: "Senior, did you really make this?"

Lu Renjie smiled proudly: "Try it first."

Yu Xi picked up a piece of fish, deliberately furrowing her brow and finding fault: "Oh, was this fish first showered in acid rain and then subjected to a chili storm? Barely passable, I'll give you a passing grade." While saying this, her hand reached for another piece. Mmm, it was even better than Sichuan cuisine from Bashu.

"You've truly shattered my delicate little heart," Lu Renjie twisted his apron, looking like a wronged young wife.

Yu Xi was devouring her food, and spared him a glance: "Later, this lord will reward you with a roll of clear tape, you can stick it back together, it might just last a few more decades."

"The most venomous woman!" He acted sorrowful, but his eyes were filled with warm smiles as he refilled her plate.

Yu Xi nibbled on a fried chicken piece, and suddenly asked softly, "Senior, what if one day I really break your heart?"

Lu Renjie smiled at her: "Use tape."

"I'm serious." She put down her food and looked directly at him: "Even though I don't want to, but..."

"Are you trying to say him?" Lu Renjie walked to her chair, turned her body, his long, peach-blossom eyes serious: "Xiao Xi, I know your heart. You're willing to give me a chance, and even if I lose in the end, I won't regret it. Don't blame yourself either, I know love can't be forced."

Yu Xi's eyes welled up. She lowered her head and murmured, "Let's run away... run away..." Run away, if she could go to a new place, she was willing to forget everything, and he would forget his identity. She would re-acquaint herself with this gentle, good man, and she would be the first to fall in love with him.

Lu Renjie was slightly stunned, gently stroking her hair, and slowly embracing her.

The phone suddenly rang, going straight to voicemail. A calm, middle-aged male voice came through: "Renjie, why is your phone off? Your mom and I are already downstairs at your apartment."

49

Yu Xi's body stiffened for a moment upon hearing that calm voice. She composed herself and stood up, asking, "Your parents... why are they suddenly here?"

Lu Renjie rubbed his nose and smiled innocently, "Yeah, why are they suddenly here?" Seeing Yu Xi's troubled expression, he grabbed her hand and explained, "This morning they casually asked about you, and I casually said you might be here today. I didn't expect them to actually casually come over."

What a "casual"! She rolled her eyes at him, then asked, "Have you told them everything about me?"

"I told them you also studied abroad in Australia, and currently, well, you're temporarily on leave due to family matters."

"Then how did you explain my family?" she pressed on. If Lu Renjie revealed that she grew up in Xinyue, would his senior lawyer father, Lu Chuyuan, suspect something first?

"I only said that you and your brother were raised by relatives." He thought she was feeling inferior due to being an orphan, and comforted her, "They won't mind, my mom even praised you for being very strong."

Since she couldn't avoid it, Yu Xi was pondering how to face them when the doorbell rang.

Lu Renjie gave her a reassuring smile and went to open the door.

As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Lu entered, their eyes immediately went to Yu Xi, who was standing in the living room. Lu Chuyuan was tall, and although he only resembled Lu Renjie by about 50%, he was clearly a handsome man. Although Yu Xi knew he was over fifty, he looked only in his early forties, not old at all. However, his facial features were a bit rigid, giving him the appearance of a strict scholar.

Putting on an act. Yu Xi stared intently at Lu Chuyuan. That's right! She remembered this face, this face that had brought Aunt Xin so much humiliation! She could feel her palms gradually sweating, her cold fingertips trembling slightly, and her internal energy felt like it was about to explode. She tried hard to control herself, shifting her gaze elsewhere.

Mrs. Lu's voice, however, was very gentle. Assuming Yu Xi was too nervous, she walked over first and greeted her with a smile: "This must be Miss Yu. You're even more beautiful than in your photos. My Renjie has mentioned you several times."

Yu Xi composed herself and responded with a smile: "Auntie, you flatter me." Then, with graceful politeness, she added, "I didn't know Uncle and Auntie were coming, so I didn't prepare anything." She truly wasn't prepared for how to deal with this wolf in sheep's clothing.

Compared to her still handsome husband, Mrs. Lu looked somewhat ordinary, appearing a few years older than Lu Chuyuan, but she was dignified and virtuous, with a comfortable aura in her every gesture. Yu Xi felt that such a good woman was truly wasted on that two-faced, beastly man. Lu Renjie, smiling, unnecessarily introduced everyone again, and the four people in the living room sat facing each other in two groups.

Yu Xi felt the interview had officially begun. She covertly, mockingly glanced at Lu Chuyuan's scrutinizing gaze, like he was inspecting merchandise, then pretended to be shy and lowered her head. Lu Renjie secretly squeezed her hand.

Mrs. Lu smiled, looking at their clasped hands, but Lu Chuyuan asked directly, "Renjie told me Miss Yu is an orphan?"

"Yes." She looked at that detestable face with a self-deprecating gaze, shivered, then quickly lowered her head: "Compared to Senior Lu's love for books, I truly don't measure up." Sorry, Senior. I don't want to use you, but I have to use your words to reveal my identity.

Lu Renjie, as expected, couldn't stand to see her looked down upon. He squeezed her hand and defended her: "Dad, even though Xiao Xi is an orphan, she's not without background or upbringing. Even if she were an orphan of unknown origin, I wouldn't mind."

Lu Chuyuan's curiosity was piqued: "Oh? Then what special identity does Miss Yu have?"

She couldn't use Lu Renjie anymore, so she slowly lifted her head and replied, "Any special identity is now a thing of the past. Uncle should know 'Liang Ji,' right? I happen to have some connection with the Liang family."

A flicker of surprise passed through Lu Chuyuan's eyes, but as a seasoned veteran, he quickly regained his composure and said in a practiced manner, "You mean 'Liang Ji' Jewelry, right? We might have had some business collaborations." Lu's law firm had a considerable reputation in the area, serving as legal counsel for many types of businesses. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked seemingly casually, "I know a few people from the Liang family. What's your connection to them?"

Yu Xi feigned difficulty for a moment, then a bitter smile touched her lips: "There's no connection now." She paused, then added, "I think it's better to be completely frank with Uncle and Auntie from the start. I also have a twin brother. We grew up in Haoshan Orphanage and were later adopted by a kind person. My upbringing might be difficult for you two to accept - I grew up in Xinyue Dance Hall." Perhaps to Mrs. Lu and Lu Renjie, she was laying bare her humble origins, but she knew Lu Chuyuan would understand everything.

Lu Chuyuan's gaze indeed instantly turned sinister. Mrs. Lu quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "It's nothing to live in a dance hall. Look, Miss Yu still achieved excellent grades and studied abroad, didn't she?"

Lu Renjie also solemnly assured, "Dad, I know exactly what kind of person Xiao Xi is." He knew his strict father still had some notions of social standing, and he also felt Yu Xi was a bit strange today, why would she so abruptly say those things, which would clearly make his parents overthink. He also thought she was genuinely too nervous, and just held her hand even tighter.

Yu Xi believed Lu Chuyuan already knew. His undisguised, sharp gaze scrutinized her, silent, as if guessing how much she knew about the past.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Yu Xi felt Lu Renjie's tension through their clasped hands, but she herself relaxed, chuckling softly and speaking ambiguously: "I believe Uncle isn't someone who judges me by my background alone; he'll need more interaction to truly understand my past." She was clearly hinting at a private meeting. She didn't want to reclaim any losses; she just wanted to expose how ugly this outwardly respectable man was, and give vent to Aunt Xin, who had silently endured so much bitterness and humiliation.

"Miss Yu is right, we do need to understand more before making a judgment." Lu Chuyuan withdrew his gaze and lowered his head to sip his tea, a subtle smile appearing on his tightly pursed lips. It was never a good thing for young people to know too much.

Two days had passed since she last saw Lu Chuyuan, and Yu Xi found it a bit strange that she still hadn't received a call from that man; he was truly composed. These two days, she didn't want to see Lu Renjie, making the excuse that she had embarrassed herself in front of his parents and needed two days to calm down. He very thoughtfully agreed, saying he also needed time to plead her case to his parents, as he had indeed concealed Yu Xi's identity before.

She also refused to see Gong Youqi. Perhaps deep down she longed to, but the thought of meeting him brought a contradictory feeling of rejection. However, his calls couldn't be stopped. He would always call late at night, saying little, sometimes just stubbornly staying on the line like a child, listening to her breathing until she fell asleep. One midnight, she even woke up and tentatively asked the phone by her ear, which she'd forgotten to hang up, "Are you there?" After two seconds, she actually heard his low reply: "I am."

Her heart suddenly filled with a soft sigh.

She felt her world was increasingly sinking into a confusing mire, breathing with difficulty under an invisible, oppressive weight. She was tired of these entanglements of love and hate, and just wanted a simple life.

Let it end. Once she dealt with her fated but unfulfilled relationship with Lu Renjie, and her unfulfilled but fated connection with Gong Youqi, she would leave without a trace, just as before, continuing to be a carefree wanderer in the world.

For Gong Youqi, she still decided to let go.

She could empathize with his predicament; she knew he truly loved her, but she was also an ordinary woman, with her own little selfish thoughts, and she couldn't let it go.

She loved him. Perhaps her love wasn't as etched in his memory, but it was the most profound she had ever experienced in her life. Therefore, she couldn't bear him walking the sacred red carpet with another woman he no longer loved, swearing fidelity in the name of his father. She, too, was originally a worldly, selfish little woman. She admired noble and pure love; she could go without it herself, but she couldn't lower or change her standards for marriage.

She would rather give up than accept such a situation.

It was already winter in late November, and the night air was filled with damp, cold chill. Stepping out of the bar, Yu Xi wrapped herself tightly in her coat and walked along the street. Her mood had been extremely depressed lately, and she had come out to drink so Aunt Xin wouldn't worry. But then she worried about getting drunk and making a fool of herself, so she didn't drink much. Then she worried about getting drunk, so she drank even more. The direct fuse for her depression? She remembered flipping through a magazine that afternoon; the scandalous rumors about a certain two people were indeed at the top of the business gossip list.

She didn't know who predicted it so accurately, "The golden couple's wedding is approaching." It was well said; in another week, this tabloid gossip would become factual news. She blew on her cold hands, then pulled out her vibrating phone from her pocket.

She looked at the number, hesitated, then answered.

"I want to see you." After a moment of silence, he spoke in a low voice.

She exhaled a puff of white air into the cold air and chuckled, "But I don't want to see you yet."

"I have something to tell you," Gong Youqi's tone was somewhat helpless. He had wronged her too much, couldn't afford to provoke her, and couldn't bear to force her anymore.

She leaned against a camphor tree by the roadside, feeling her head gradually spinning. After thinking for a moment, she still refused: "Just say it over the phone." Hmph, the tables had turned; her former benefactor now had to face her temper.

"About Yingran and my wedding," he paused, but before he could finish, Yu Xi frowned and interrupted him: "Uh, Gong Youqi, I have no interest in your wedding whatsoever. You don't need to tell me anything." Bastard, did he want to show off in front of her? Did he want to tell her the date? Did he want to invite her to be a bridesmaid? Did he want to discuss the details with her? She didn't want to hear any of it! She had endured enough. The extremely well-matched couple's photo from the magazine replayed in her mind, and the alcohol in her stomach churned, instantly triggering her drunkenness. She angrily thought, if he provoked her any more, she might just crash their wedding.

Gong Youqi coughed, trying to continue: "Listen to me..."

"Don't listen!" The alcohol and anger exploded together! Cough what cough! Do you have H1N1?! "I'm sick of your explanations, tired of your logic! You feel guilty towards her, you compensate her, you marry her, do whatever you want! Go to heaven and earth, be lovey-dovey, die for each other, just don't tell me!" A certain woman had been holding in a lot of frustration recently and, unable to bear it anymore, decided to act crazy with the help of alcohol: "Gong Youqi, am I easy to bully?! Do you think I'm so great? Why should I wait for you for three months? Why should I suffer with you for what you owe her? Do you think I don't mind you marrying her just because I didn't object? You fool! Idiot! Do-gooder! Brainless! Gangster..."

Even Gong Youqi, as slow to react as he was, could tell she was drunk again. He asked, both amused, sighing, and feeling distressed, "Where are you now?"

Yu Xi, having finished her rant, gasped for air. She looked around and answered with a cold joke, "On the road."

"..." He rubbed his forehead, patiently asking, "What road?"

"A very wide road."

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"..." Gong Youqi thought of her unique drinking habits and quickly grabbed his coat and headed out: "Are there any landmark buildings around you?"

She touched the tree trunk behind her and continued to answer cutely, "There's a camphor tree."

Alright, it was impressive she could even recognize it as a camphor tree.

"..." Gong Youqi felt his head starting to throb: "Just stay where you are, don't move around."

"Mmm," Yu Xi hummed, her head growing heavier and heavier. She slowly squatted against the tree, wanting to vomit. After dry heaving for a while, four large leather shoes suddenly appeared before her eyes.

She stared at the shoe upper and giggled, "Your shoes are a bit unglued." Then, following the black leather shoes, she saw black trousers, then a black trench coat, and further up... Before she could see the matching black face she imagined, she felt a pain in the back of her neck and lost consciousness.

Gong Youqi drove along streets lined with camphor trees, wide and near bars, searching for her figure. When he went downstairs, her phone suddenly hung up, and when he called again, it was off. A faint anxiety gnawed at him. He didn't know if her phone battery had died or if she intentionally didn't want him to find her, but he had to see her.

To tell her his feelings in person.

After his mother spoke with him that day, his heart had been restless. Recalling her drunken frankness tonight, he was sure he had unintentionally hurt her again. He had only considered his own position, thinking that by quickly repaying his debt to Yingran, he could be with her sooner. He hadn't realized that his actions would cause her so much difficulty.

When it came to love, his usual aloofness turned into clumsy impetuosity. The more careful he was, the more mistakes he made. These past few days, he had endured the dual torment of longing and worry. He wanted to truly see and touch her, yet he was afraid of making her truly angry and driving her away. He was torn. If it were his old self, he would have directly barged in front of her, embraced her tightly, carried her away, and used his lips to silence her rejections, declaring the depth of his longing, his possessiveness, and his love. But he had already hurt her, and he feared that even a slight coercion would frighten her away again.

He had been so forbearing, yet he still hurt her.

He considered Yingran, purely from the perspective of compensation, and knew that no one else could truly help her. But he was momentarily foolish, believing that marriage was merely a formality that could end amicably. He hadn't anticipated that few women would disregard such a sacred mutual vow, nor had he foreseen what kind of situation Xiao Xi would be in if he married Yingran.

At the end of the family dinner that day, Xiao Chuchu only clarified one sentence for him, but it made him suddenly realize how great a mistake he had almost made.

"Xiao Xi is definitely not the type to share love with others, even temporary sharing. She would abandon it without hesitation. So, if you don't love her, please let her go early."

He pondered, and suddenly realized with a shock.

Even if his relationship with Yingran ended in three months, Xiao Xi might be seen as a third party interfering in someone else's marriage, subjected to public condemnation. With Xiao Xi's stubborn nature, how could she bear the stigma of ruining someone else's marriage? She would only smile coldly, bless them, and then leave gracefully without another glance at him. Envisioning such a scene, he almost couldn't bear it. How could he let her escape again? Perhaps letting go one more time would become an irreparable lifelong regret.

How could he be so foolish? Yu Xi's strong opposition at the time should have made him guess all this, but he only thought about starting over with her as soon as possible without any burdens. When Xiao Xi questioned Yingran's motives, he didn't pay any attention either. Perhaps out of selfishness, he didn't want to believe that Yingran would plan the gains and losses of a marriage so meticulously. And if Yingran had indeed planned it that way, making it difficult for him to escape the shackles of marriage after marriage, he would probably disappoint her.

Aside from being a bit clumsy in love, he wasn't an overly kind person in other aspects. He didn't want to hurt Su Yingran again, but he would absolutely not hurt Xiao Xi because of her. Perhaps Su Yingran had once occupied a place in his heart, but now he clearly knew who filled his entire heart. No one could replace Xiao Xi's position. He felt that with each passing day, his love for that woman deepened. This feeling surprised and flustered him, making him feel as though he had touched the most profound love of his life, yet he also feared that he wouldn't manage it well and would be left with regret.

A mix of gains and losses, bittersweet.

He had originally intended to tell her that he had decided to cancel his marriage with Yingran for her sake.

From when did that woman's deep and shallow shadow completely imprint itself in his mind?

The first time, she, heavily made up, accidentally signed a contract with him, displaying a dazed, infatuated expression as if she had caught a big fish;

In the business world, she effortlessly handled difficult clients, her embarrassed look when he coldly dismissed her for seeking credit;

At the company, she schemed to become his secretary, adorably poking the keyboard like a decorative vase;

At the banquet, she skillfully deflected trouble for him, her exasperation when her identity was revealed and her attempted kiss failed;

At the dance, her fiery, passionate dancing aroused his body, and he felt inexplicably angry when she danced with other men;

In the dressing room, her impulsive kiss ignited something within him, making him unable to resist her sweetness;

In the apartment, her bare face suddenly appeared, causing a tremendous stir within him, that inexplicable temptation transforming into an urge to pin her down and devour her;

In the bedroom, she was both hesitant and passionate, bringing him unprecedented intensity and passion, even making him indulge and disregard that it was her first time, repeatedly immersing himself in a fiery sea that only she could save him from;

How could he tolerate her smiling "immovable principle"? He simply didn't dare to admit that he already had the idea of keeping her;

How could he remain calm about her ambiguous posture with Lu Renjie? He returned after she rested, just wanting to silently warn her that she could only be his;

How could he still calmly enjoy the opportunity she deliberately provided for him and Yingran? He thought he only had eyes for Yingran, but he couldn't help but search for her figure at the venue. When he saw her leave with Lu Renjie, his heart suddenly felt blocked. When he heard she had left because she wasn't feeling well, he unhesitatingly found an excuse to leave and instinctively went to look for her;

How could he not suspect that she wasn't the perfunctory and incompetent vase in the office? Her myriad charming facets, her ever-changing purity, her boundless allure, how could they not make him pay attention and secretly care;

How could he express the wonderful feeling of his heart fluttering when he saw her pure and sunny smile at the orphanage;

How could he suppress the thoughts he hadn't even noticed when he wanted to give her that "crystal heart"? How could he describe the heavy resentment and disappointment in his heart when she refused to accept it;

How could he forget her first startled and helpless tears when he, in his conflicting selfishness, was violent towards her;

How could he bear to see her seeking comfort and embraces from other men? He couldn't help but wait downstairs for her every night. He couldn't help but put aside his pride and take the initiative to find her. When he saw her drunk, his heart ached uncontrollably. He blamed himself for hurting her so much;

How could he be so foolish as to both cherish and enjoy her drunken cuteness, yet still refuse to truly face his feelings;

He couldn't let go of his guilt towards Yingran, even forcing himself to be responsible for her to the end. How could he not notice that he had also taken possession of her, yet never thought about where to put her;

He couldn't accept her flirting with other men. He secretly warned Fang Hao not to touch her again. When she defiantly left in front of Su Yingran, he only wanted to run up and stop her;

He let himself not look for her for two days, but his heart was flustered, and he finally sent someone to search for her. When he found her, he rushed to the orphanage in the middle of the night, waited in the car until dawn, then pretended nothing was wrong and went in to pick her up;

He convinced himself that he had to keep her. He secretly confiscated her documents and had people follow her. Knowing that she still wanted to escape, he watched her even more closely. His contradictions constantly bothered him. Even though he knew what he was doing was wrong, he still acted forcefully and unreasonably to keep her;

When he found her in Youbang, he truly wanted to keep her close, like in a cage, to feel at ease. That punishment was just to warn her and himself again that even if he made mistakes, he had already let go;

He misunderstood her again because of Su Yingran. He knew she couldn't have such a scheme, yet he still used it as an excuse to numb his reason, allowing him to have the courage to keep her again;

He watched as she finally shed all her disguises, revealing her original stubborn and proud nature. He could only find himself falling deeper, even less willing to let go. He held her so tightly, demanding her endlessly, watching her cry, hearing her finally beg for mercy beneath him. He could only hide his heartache, pinching his palms, sighing helplessly again and again after she fell asleep: I'm sorry, but this is the only way to keep you.

He finally understood what he had missed. He had seen everything clearly during the days she was missing. He had once been infatuated with Yingran, because he had first fallen in love with love itself, and the only memories he had with Yingran were so pale compared to her. Her shadow, her voice, her scent had permeated every corner of his life, making him constantly fall into thoughts of her.

But he was also so selfish, never thinking that perhaps if he gave up Yingran, she might truly accept him. He atoned for his guilt, yet he dragged her along to bear it, even pushing his burden onto her. He thought that by confessing his love to her, she would stay with him in peace, but he didn't expect to hurt her even more deeply, invisibly forcing her to leave.

He was the stupidest man in the world. When he had her, he didn't want her. When he lost her, he didn't cherish her. After finding her again, he still hurt her. His self-righteous love was very likely to drive her away again. He could no longer sacrifice his and her future happiness for past mistakes.

Perhaps he woke up a little late, but he hoped it was still in time.

His car searched street after street for that figure, silently rehearsing the words he wanted to express to her.

Xiao Xi, I want to see you immediately. To tell you a million apologies. And, my realization that as long as I can be with you, I can give up everything else.

Xiao Xi, I'm sorry, I love you. From now on, I will only love you.

It's really cold. The air conditioner seems to be on strike again.

She curled up, the bed beneath her cold and hard, as temperatureless as her hands. Her throat was as dry as if filled with sand; she really shouldn't have gotten so drunk... Someone please hand her a glass of water.

Yu Xi opened her eyes, met with complete darkness. This time, her mind cleared up relatively quickly. First, she usually left a small light on in her room. Second, this cold, hard place didn't resemble a bedroom at all.

She didn't move immediately, trying to recall her last memories before she passed out. She only remembered two people dressed in black, but couldn't recall their faces. She subtly turned her head; a numb pain still lingered at the back of her neck.

It seemed she had been kidnapped.

Calm down, be calm. She tried to discern her surroundings first, but it was still pitch black. Her heart jolted; could she be blind? She blinked hard, feeling no pain. It must be that the place was too concealed. She wiggled her somewhat frozen hands and feet; they were all there and not bound. She exhaled a breath, relieved. She touched the ground; it was cold concrete. Reaching out in all directions, she felt only air.

How long had she been unconscious? Where was this? And who had captured her? She slowly sat up, her head still a bit dizzy. It seemed the alcohol had just worn off, so it was probably morning at most. Could this be a basement? She guessed wildly. It was damp and cold. She hugged herself, annoyed to find her coat was gone. No wonder it was so cold; she was only wearing a slightly thick long T-shirt underneath. Which bastard wanted to freeze her to death? Even if she became a ghost, she'd get her revenge. Speaking of enemies, Yu Xi immediately thought of Lu Chuyuan.

It seemed it was most likely that villain. He hadn't called her these past two days; it turned out he was planning to kidnap her. Would he kill her to silence her? She shivered, then thought that if they intended to kill her, they wouldn't have given her a chance to wake up. At the very least, they would have questioned her or something.

But this place was truly unbearable. She cleared her throat and loudly shouted, "Someone! Is anyone there! I want water!" No one answered. She shouted again with a hoarse voice, and then heard faint footsteps in the distance.

A lock clicked in front of her. She squinted, fearing a sudden bright light. A faint light suddenly streamed in a few meters away, first revealing the shape of a low door, then largely blocked by a dark figure. A dull voice said impatiently, "Why are you shouting before dawn? The person to pick up the goods isn't here yet."

Picking up goods? Was "goods" referring to her? Yu Xi felt an unidentifiable anger flare up. Although her drunkenness was gone, her anger remained. She stumbled, trying to stand up, but didn't expect the place to be so low. As soon as she straightened halfway, she hit her head, grimacing in pain: "Where is this? Who captured me?" Only then, with the faint light, did she see that this low little room seemed to be a small storage room.

The shadowy figure, whose face she couldn't discern, answered irritably, "You'll see them at dawn. We're just responsible for taking the money and catching people."

Oh, just for money? That makes it easier to negotiate. Her mind quickly turned, wanting to probe for information first.

"Brother, which path are you on? To tell you the truth, I'm also in the game. I know a few factions in the underworld, like the Green, Blue, Red, and Green gangs, I'm familiar with all of them. Oh, by the way, do you know the famous Youbang gang? Their leader, Boss Gong, is a good friend of mine." She didn't care if he knew or not, as long as she could make some connections by chatting, at the very least, she had to bluff him first.

The dark figure was indeed stunned for a moment, "You're very familiar with Youbang?"

Looks like there's a chance. Yu Xi rubbed her hands, chuckling, "That's right, we have a very good relationship. Brother, you must also know Youbang's reputation, right? Can you let me out to talk? It's too cramped and cold in here. Let's go out and have a good chat."

The shadow indeed paused, "You're very familiar with Youbang?"

It seemed there was a chance. Yu Xi rubbed her hands, chuckling, "Yes, we have a very good relationship. Brother, you must also know Youbang's reputation, right? Can you let me out to talk? It's too cramped and cold in here. Let's go out and have a good chat."

There was indeed drama, but it was no comedy. As soon as the shadowy figure heard her claim close ties with Youbang, he hastily called for shadowy figure two. The second shadow mumbled for a long time, seemingly disagreeing, and one of them even cursed under his breath. Then, the second shadow suddenly turned on a flashlight, sweeping it around to find her location. Yu Xi quickly shielded her eyes with her hand, cursing inwardly: Are you blind? Don't you have any eye protection common sense!

Shadowy figure two bent down, pulled her out, and she slowly allowed her eyes to adjust to the dim light. She guessed the outer area was indeed a basement, with some discarded furniture piled in a corner. The two kidnappers were dressed in black from head to toe, with black hoods covering their heads, revealing only their eyes. These must be the two who knocked her out when she was drunk. Since they were working for money, Yu Xi planned to use Youbang's influence as a threat, supplemented by money as an诱惑 to bribe the two kidnappers to turn against their employer.

"You just said, what's your relationship with the leader of Youbang?" Shadowy figure two seemed to want to confirm again.

She watched the two exchange glances, licked her dry lips, and smiled softly: "It's exactly the kind of relationship you're imagining." These two should easily assume she's Gong Youkai's person, which would be best to scare them first. She added in her mind, sorry, Chuchu, let me borrow your man as a front.

Unexpectedly, the second shadowy figure snorted and threw her roughly to the ground. The only two eyes visible were sinister and cruel, and his voice became sharp: "You're his woman? Good! Haha! We thought we'd never get a chance to avenge our blood feud with Youbang, but heaven truly has eyes. We couldn't touch them, but they sent Gong Youkai's woman right into our hands!"

Yu Xi was so surprised she couldn't speak. Her random claim of kinship had finally turned sugar into arsenic. She never expected them to be enemies of Youbang; this time, she had truly dug her own grave. She rubbed her aching elbow, retreated a few steps, and leaned against the cold wall, feeling a bit disheartened: "What do you want?"

"Revenge, of course!" The second shadow gritted his teeth in hatred: "How dare they ruin our 'Golden Wolf's' famous path..."

The first shadowy figure interrupted: "Cousin, let's just take the money and deliver the goods, don't stir up trouble."

The two squabbled again, and Yu Xi finally managed to guess and understand. "Golden Wolf" was the organization that had kidnapped Su Yingran last time. It had been destroyed by Youbang, its stronghold eliminated, and its members disbanded. This shadowy figure two was just one of the minor members who had joined the gang not long ago. He had been taught a lesson and then released, but she didn't expect him to be so loyal. Now, the two had a disagreement; shadowy figure one just wanted to take the money and leave, while shadowy figure two stubbornly insisted on "contributing some remaining passion to the deceased organization."

The two seemed to be just new recruits. Yu Xi slightly calmed her panic. Amidst the continuous bickering of the two cannon fodder, she sneezed hard, sniffed, and said lazily, "Two big brothers, whether you want to use me for revenge or deliver the goods for money, you must at least ensure that I, the goods, are intact. The goods are now cold and thirsty. Why don't you two grant a blanket and a cup of boiling water before continuing your discussion?" She quickly added, "Where's my coat?" That was something she and Chuchu had bought together last time, and she had only worn it once. Who took off her coat? She would definitely get her revenge later, stripping them bare, even their underwear.

"Shut up!" The second shadowy figure turned and glared at her fiercely. What kind of prisoner dared to make such demands?

Shadow One, though impatient, still answered her, "You threw up twice on the way here, and your coat smelled too bad, so we threw it away." He subconsciously touched the hem of his own clothes, as if he too had been affected.

Yu Xi secretly noted it down and her mind churned for a solution: "Is your employer a middle-aged man? Two handsome guys, how much did he pay you? How about I pay you double to send me back?"

Shadowy figure one was stunned for a moment, while shadowy figure two directly and fiercely refused, saying they had strong professional ethics. The strong flashlight was shone over again, and he took her chin in one hand, lifted her face, carefully examined her, then chuckled, "Brother, we didn't realize this woman is quite good-looking."

Shadowy figure one also came closer, grabbing her hand that tried to cover her face. After a few glances, his eyes widened, and he said in a rough voice, "How about we don't deliver the goods and keep her ourselves?"

Yu Xi felt her stomach churning with nausea again, her body trembling slightly. Angrily and anxiously, she yelled, "Aren't you two very professional? Are you hired kidnappers or human traffickers who abduct good women?" These two cannon fodder had a problem with their brains; they'd think one thing then another, their thoughts were so disjointed she couldn't keep up.

The cell phone in Shadow Two's pocket suddenly rang. He walked aside, grumbled a few words, then turned to Shadow One and said, "They're here, you go and greet them first." Then he dragged Yu Xi to the corner, pulled her hands up, and tied them to a chain hanging from the ceiling.

Then Shadow also climbed the wooden ladder, and the dim basement immediately fell silent. Yu Xi stood on tiptoe and moved her arms. Her wrists were tightly bound by iron chains as thick as a pinky finger. Her body had just started to warm up, but the cold chains again drew heat from her body. Instantly, fear and grievance welled up in her heart.

She was just an ordinary girl; how could she not be afraid of being captured, of being humiliated, tortured, or silenced? But her stubborn nature always allowed her to put on a brave face in front of others. Yet at this moment, her heart was also fragile and helpless. She subconsciously hoped that Gong Youqi would find her and rescue her quickly.

She missed him. She thought about how she had stubbornly said she didn't want to see him last night, yet when danger struck, he was the first person she wanted to ask for help. This wasn't a good habit, but she knew she had unconsciously developed a dependence on him. How would she break it in the future?

She managed to remain calm and think, imagining how she would negotiate with Lu Chuyuan when she saw him. She didn't believe Lu Chuyuan would kill her, because he also knew that even if she knew those secrets, given Aunt Xin's reputation, she wouldn't reveal them to anyone. Perhaps Lu Chuyuan just wanted to reach some kind of agreement with her, for example, to make her voluntarily leave Lu Renjie. But if that was all, why bother kidnapping her? This point she still couldn't figure out.

A sound came from the wooden ladder again. She tried to straighten her back. Her arms were already numb from the pulling. She took a few deep breaths of cold air to quickly sober herself up. The "clack-clack" of high heels struck the wooden stairs. She finally saw the woman cautiously descending the stairs behind the two black-clad men.

Mrs. Liang.

Yu Xi curved her lips in self-mockery. How could she have forgotten this mistress of the Liang family who had always hated and feared her? But she had already publicly stated that she would give up the Liang family inheritance. Why would this woman still not let her go?

"Hmph, you stinky girl, you didn't expect it to be me, did you?" Mrs. Liang wore a luxurious grayish-brown fox fur coat, and her jewels sparkled in the dim light.

"I truly didn't expect it." She squinted, sneezed, and immediately made Mrs. Liang retreat three feet in disgust.

"Hmph, I knew you'd eventually fall into my hands." Mrs. Liang approached triumphantly, looked at her thin clothes, and sneered, "How is it, is it warm here? You're even comfortable enough to sneeze."

Yu Xi glanced at her, wrinkled her nose: "It's quite warm indeed, I didn't expect even flies to be buzzing around. Unfortunately, this body odor is really making me allergic." This woman was still so vulgar, did she think spraying all kinds of expensive perfumes would turn her into Princess Fragrance? Shadow One looked around and mumbled: "Where are the flies?" He was glared at by Mrs. Liang, and then he and Shadow Two went upstairs first.

Mrs. Liang also reacted, her face red with anger. She stepped forward and slapped Yu Xi: "How dare you call me a fly! I'll slap your mouth rotten!" Yu Xi swayed unsteadily, her wrist throbbing from the iron chain. A red mark slowly appeared on her fair face, and half of her face felt numb, but her words became even sharper: "I didn't say it was you, but it seems you have a lot of self-awareness, I admire that." Then she looked at Mrs. Liang coldly, smiling gently: "A drop of kindness, I will surely repay with a gushing spring." No one had ever hit her like this since she was a child. She remembered this slap.

Mrs. Liang felt a chill inexplicably. She wrapped her fox fur coat tighter around herself and said disdainfully, "Do you think you still have a chance? I've already discussed it with someone. In the next two days, I'll find a buyer and sell you to Thailand." She then pinched Yu Xi's chin, gritting her teeth and saying, "You vixen, you can still fetch some money. You can experience the taste of being a mistress to someone else for the rest of your life over there! Don't even think about escaping. I heard that the big bosses there feed people drugs every day. If you dare to escape, you're asking for death."

Yu Xi looked at her indifferently, her heart still skipped a beat. To say she wasn't scared was a lie, but she absolutely couldn't show it. She deliberately mocked her: "It seems you're still very short of money even after completely taking over Liang Ji, you're actually willing to flatter me that I can sell for a good price."

She didn't know how she had hit Mrs. Liang's sore spot, but her face suddenly darkened: "You said before that you had something to prove your identity, what exactly was it?" Could this woman still be worried that she would reclaim Liang Ji? But Liang Ji seemed to be doing well under Liang Qingshan's management, and she had also said that as long as they managed it well, she wouldn't interfere again. What else did this woman have to fear?

"How much do you know about what happened back then?"

Yu Xi looked at Mrs. Liang's somewhat anxious expression, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. She tentatively said, "I know everything I should know, including your unspeakable dealings with others."

Mrs. Liang's face showed panic: "You... you know about me and him..."

"So it was him who instigated you to kidnap me?" Yu Xi snorted coldly: "You're truly childish. Lu Chuyuan is just using you. Even if things are exposed, you'll be the one to bear the responsibility." Although this woman hated her, she had always been timid. If no one instigated her, why would she suddenly think of kidnapping her? Lu Chuyuan, as expected, was insidious. Did he want to use a borrowed knife to kill? But why would this woman listen to Lu Chuyuan? Was there some secret between them?

Mrs. Liang stared at her directly: "You're talking nonsense! How could he use me! He said he loved me most in this life! I give him so much dividends every quarter, we've long been inseparable!" Then she suddenly remembered something, grabbed Yu Xi's clothes and asked: "Was that share transfer agreement stolen by you?!"

Yu Xi was a little confused. She racked her brains and probed again, finally getting the truth out of her.

Back then, Lu Chuyuan's promise to help Mrs. Liang seize the Liang family's assets was indeed conditional: first, they had an unsavory physical relationship, and second, Mrs. Liang signed a share transfer agreement with Lu Chuyuan, agreeing to transfer five percent of Liang Ji's shares to him. Since the two had a private affair, the share transfer agreement was always kept by Mrs. Liang, and every quarter, she would directly transfer five percent of Liang Ji's dividends to Lu Chuyuan. This had continued for many years, but a few months ago, the share transfer agreement suddenly went missing.

Yu Xi guessed that Lu Chuyuan wasn't sure how much inside information she knew, and he didn't want to make a move himself, so he instigated Mrs. Liang to kidnap her and question whether the share transfer agreement was in her hands. If it was, she might use it to expose the private affair between the two, which would naturally be very important for two well-known figures in high society. Moreover, Liang Qingshan was currently in charge of Liang Ji, and if he knew his mother had privately transferred five percent of Liang Ji's shares, he would definitely not agree.

Having clarified these points, Yu Xi increasingly despised Lu Chuyuan. How many people had this beast in human skin deceived? She also realized she had a glimmer of hope. She stamped her numb legs and looked at Mrs. Liang with a faint smile: "I'm thirsty."

Mrs. Liang had lost her composure, believing the share transfer agreement had indeed fallen into Yu Xi's hands. She furiously went upstairs to get a glass of water, but didn't give it to her immediately: "Tell me, where is that thing now?"

Yu Xi ignored her, her eyes only on the glass of water. Mrs. Liang gritted her teeth and brought the water to her lips. Though the water was cold, she didn't mind and drank it all in one gulp, finally feeling some relief from the dryness in her throat. She licked her lips: "Can I have another glass?"

Mrs. Liang was provoked. "Don't think you can threaten us just because you have that transfer agreement! At worst, we'll just sell you, and that thing will never be found either!"

"Oh, what if I've already entrusted that thing to someone else for safekeeping? If I go missing for a few days, that thing might just surface." In fact, Yu Xi knew nothing about that share transfer agreement, but since it could be used, she would certainly make the most of it. Seeing Mrs. Liang's face darken more and more, Yu Xi felt her cheeks no longer hurt. She struggled with her numb arms and continued to negotiate: "Tell them to let me go first."

Mrs. Liang was now enraged and embarrassed, but couldn't do anything to her. She stomped upstairs again to call someone. Shadow One let her down, his eyes still staring openly. Yu Xi gritted her teeth and mouthed silently, "Stare at me again and I'll gouge your eyeballs out and play with them like marbles!" Suddenly, a deep baritone voice said, "You two go up first, I'll talk to her."

Yu Xi leaned against the wall, massaging her numb arms and hands, coldly watching Lu Chuyuan, who finally decided to show himself.

Lu Chuyuan stood very close, looking at her thoughtfully. Yu Xi noticed that he, like Lu Renjie, had a pair of long, narrow peach blossom eyes, but his gaze lacked Lu Renjie's clarity. His pupils held a chilling cunning. This man was not a fool like Mrs. Liang, and he would be very difficult to deal with. She grew secretly nervous, and a faint worry lingered in her heart: how would Lu Renjie react when he eventually learned his father's true nature?

"They won't know." Lu Chuyuan seemed to easily see through her thoughts, smiling wickedly: "In my family's eyes, I will always be a good husband and a good father."

"Hypocrite! Disgusting!" She recoiled in disgust, as if being close to him was unbearable.

Lu Chuyuan stepped across, extending his arm against the wall, his handsome face, which looked mature but not old, close to hers. He exhaled, "How did you charm my son to the point of obsession?"

Yu Xi felt her whole body's hair stand on end in disgust. She tensed, pressing against the wall, glaring at him: "Stay away from me!"

A hand tried to caress her cheek. Yu Xi instinctively defended herself with both hands and feet, but this cunning old man easily subdued her, pressing her against the wall. He even freed one hand to touch her slightly swollen left cheek, his voice flippant: "Your stepmother truly doesn't know how to cherish you."

She couldn't escape no matter how hard she tried. She suddenly twisted her head and bit his finger fiercely. When she tasted blood, her jaw was clamped tightly. Lu Chuyuan narrowed his eyes at her, a wicked smile playing on his lips. He dragged her to the chains in the corner, bound her hands, and maliciously pulled them upwards, forcing her to stand on tiptoe to support her body. Then he watched with satisfaction as she twisted her slender arms helplessly, swaying precariously and hanging suspended if she lost her footing, her face quickly turning pale, biting her lip to endure the pain, defiantly glaring at him.

He licked the wound on his hand, then approached again, his gaze like a hungry wolf staring at a lamb to be slaughtered. He panted and whispered, "Do you know, more than ten years ago, I was also infatuated with your respectable Aunt Xin, who was in the same position as you are now."

Yu Xi's tense body trembled slightly. She strained to stand on tiptoe to alleviate the pain from her wrists being pulled, and raised her head to curse: "You big pervert, you hypocrite! You don't deserve to even say Aunt Xin's name! You're utterly shameless, how many people have you deceived, you insidious, vicious, sanctimonious beast in human clothing!"

Lu Chuyuan chuckled coldly: "You seem to know everything." He pinched her chin: "For women who know too much, I usually deal with them in two ways. Which one do you choose?"

"If you have the guts, kill me." She desperately threw her head back and said hatefully, "Get your filthy hands off me! What right does a scoundrel like you have to be a father!"

His movements paused slightly at the mention of his son. His long eyes narrowed: "Even if Renjie likes you, it's impossible forever. You will soon disappear from his life." He then lost some patience and asked directly, "Is that transfer agreement in your hands?"

"So what if it is? I won't hand it over!" Yu Xi felt she wasn't afraid anymore. She looked at him with contempt, as if ready to die: "You've been spending a woman's money for so many years, truly admirable to all men."

"A lawyer like you, who knows how much corruption and bribery you've engaged in, how many wrongful cases you've twisted the law for. You're clearly a scum, worse than a beast in human skin! How do you deserve such a virtuous wife and such an excellent son! How many women have you deceived, shamelessly using them to satisfy your selfish desires and greed, Lu Chuyuan, you are truly a pathetic man! Don't you feel ashamed and disgusted living like this? You are truly a disgrace to humanity!"

Lu Chuyuan listened to her cursing, then laughed in extreme anger, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. His voice was as chilling as a ghost's: "Good, well said, you have character, no wonder my son took a liking to you. However, as a father, I prefer feisty little peppers like you. Anyway, there's still time. Before I sell you, I'll give you a good lesson." But he didn't rush to act, just held a spine-chilling cold smile, standing aside and scrutinizing her from head to toe, as if figuring out where to start.

Yu Xi desperately pursed her trembling lips to avoid showing fear, otherwise this beast would be even more excited. Although she was putting up a brave front, she still dared not look directly into his cruel, bloodthirsty eyes. She turned her head away and closed her eyes, pretending that even a glance at him made her want to vomit. Only she could hear her heart pounding like a drum in panic, maintaining a taut string of defiance deep inside, yet knowing that she was about to fall into a terrifying hell, her body and mind slowly being eroded by an unknown darkness.

Lu Chuyuan's voice suddenly drifted into her ears: "How about I first tell you how I used to treat Xin Yue, who was as stubborn as you?" He seemed to be highly skilled in psychological warfare, smiling smugly at her sudden stiffening body, clearly understanding what kind of approach would inflict the greatest blow on such a stubborn woman. He knew how important Xin Yue was, and he vividly described how he had repeatedly sexually assaulted another woman in various ways.

"Shut up! Don't say any more! You shut up! Shut up, shut up!!" She struggled desperately, shaking her head, not wanting to hear any more. Yet every cruel word still entered her ears and automatically translated into images in her mind. She felt her whole body burning with indignant fury. She had always revered Aunt Xin like a mother, so how could she bear that Aunt Xin had once suffered such a fate worse than death for their siblings? It was almost harder to bear than if she had experienced it herself.

Mrs. Liang came downstairs at the sound of the shouting and was startled by Yu Xi's furious, disheveled, and crazed appearance. She asked in confusion, "Chuyuan, what did you say to her?"

Lu Chuyuan hadn't expected Yu Xi to react so strongly. Exhausted from struggling, she was no longer able to stand steadily, spinning like a broken rag doll suspended by the iron chains. He hadn't found the item yet, so he couldn't let her die. He turned the winch to lower her: "If you still refuse to hand over the item this afternoon," he bent down and whispered to Yu Xi, who was softly slumped on the ground, "You know I'm still interested in her."

The surroundings quieted once more, even the dim light was turned off, leaving the room in darkness again. She slowly lifted her head from her disheveled hair, and after a long while, she gathered a bit of strength. She fumbled for a long time but couldn't free herself from the cold restraints on her wrists. She had no choice but to use the faint light to slowly crawl to the corner, curl up, and shiver. Her mind raced with wild thoughts. How she wished she had returned to Australia; it was early summer there, sunny and bright.

The cold gnawed at her like insects, her limbs gradually losing sensation, and even the air she exhaled felt devoid of warmth. She lowered her head and buried her cold face in her equally cold hands, touching a cold wetness on her cheek. She was afraid after all; she knew she was crying. She closed her eyes, her lips trembling slightly, and called out a name almost mournfully again and again: Gong Youqi, Gong Youqi, Gong Youqi... Why aren't you here yet?

Half-asleep, half-awake, she thought she was dying, yet felt that death wasn't scary at all. Perhaps often what people feared wasn't death itself, but the lingering attachments before death. Just like how much she missed that person at this moment; she hadn't even told him "I like you."

She remembered this ambiguous game; in the end, who would win? She had always controlled herself, not daring to fall in love, yet she didn't know when she had lost her heart. Perhaps he was at least braver than her, able to face his feelings. He liked her even knowing about Su Yingran, and though he had hurt her, he continued to love her despite the accusations of many. She had never said it, but very, very early on, even though she didn't dare to accept his change of heart, even though she didn't want to be labeled as the third party who broke up his relationship with Su Yingran, her heart was still filled with joy, because the person he loved was her.

She felt how wonderful it would be if she could see him one last time before she died. She missed his warm embrace. She wanted him to know that even if they couldn't be together, the person she loved was him.

How good it would be if they could love each other.

When she woke up again, she vaguely heard someone mumbling to himself: "This woman is ice cold, isn't she beyond saving?" She really wanted to answer: "You're the one beyond saving, your whole family is beyond saving." Her throat was dry and she couldn't make a sound immediately. She only felt a sneaky hand stroking her face. In a rush, she wanted to shake it off, forgetting her hands were still wrapped in chains. Her movements were too large, and she directly fell to the ground.

She opened her eyes and adjusted for a while before seeing that it was Shadow One squatting beside her, his eyes still staring straight at her. Yu Xi struggled to sit up, forced a smile, and said hoarsely, "Big brother, I want water."

Shadowy Figure One, perhaps softened by the address "Big Brother," nodded: "Wait here."

Yu Xi quickly thought and grabbed his pant leg, lowering her stance and begging softly, "Big brother, please take me upstairs to warm up, it's really too cold here." Seeing him about to refuse, she quickly added, "Aren't you going to sell me anyway? I might freeze to death here, and even if I get sick, the price will be discounted, right? I know you, big brother, are actually very heroic and chivalrous, you wouldn't watch me freeze to death here, would you?"

Shadow One thought it made sense. She was too weak to escape now, and she had been flattered as a hero by a beauty. A surge of heroic spirit rose within him. Without another word, he unlocked the chains, half-supported and half-carried her up the wooden ladder, and out of the basement.

The strong light from the ground made her unable to open her eyes. It took a long time to adjust, and she rubbed her legs and feet a little before stiffly taking a step. She looked around and found that this seemed to be a quite luxurious villa. The sun was still warm, and it seemed to be just past noon. Lu Chuyuan and Mrs. Liang hadn't arrived yet.

Yu Xi quickly flattered Shadow One a few more times and learned that this was Mrs. Liang's private villa, perhaps where she secretly met with Lu Chuyuan every time.

Shadow One grabbed her and entered the villa through the back door. He saw Shadow Two snoring on the living room sofa, the coffee table a mess of food and drinks. The air conditioner was on in the room, and Yu Xi immediately felt like a thawing dried fish, her numbness slowly giving way to sensation.

Shadow One escorted her upstairs to a guest room. The warm room made Yu Xi let out a long sigh of relief. There was a water dispenser in the corner. Impatiently, she asked Shadow One to release her first. She grabbed a paper cup from a nearby shelf and happily drank her fill. She thought to herself, this person still has a conscience; she could deal with him leniently later.

No matter how much torture and interrogation Yu Xi endured, she refused to move. This place was simply heaven compared to the cold, damp basement. She forced herself to use a honey trap to gain Shadow One's sympathy, allowing her to rest here for a while, and only be taken back to the basement when Lu Chuyuan called. Just in case, Shadow One pulled out the iron chain and wanted to lock her again. Yu Xi looked at her swollen and bruised wrists, pitifully continuing to gain sympathy. In the end, the kind Shadow One only chained one of her wrists to the bedpost.

Looking at Shadow One's direct gaze, Yu Xi still felt a shiver down her spine. After much persuasion, she managed to send him downstairs to guard, while she sat on the bed, massaging her limbs and brainstorming ways to escape. If it weren't for Lu Chuyuan, the others would be relatively easy to deal with, but what should she do when facing that insidious, cunning, and ruthless demon?

Her body gradually regained its warmth, and her stomach began to ache from hunger, yet she still felt sore and weak all over. She curled up in the corner of the bed, thinking about how to use the two kidnappers to contact the outside world. She then thought of Gong Youqi and couldn't help but complain that he hadn't found her yet after all this time, calling him a useless gangster.

Just as she was feeling a bit drowsy from thinking, the door suddenly opened. Lu Chuyuan's cunning gaze stared at her, and he smiled sinisterly: "I didn't expect you to have such abilities, to be able to move from the basement to here."

When Lu Renjie saw that the woman who came out of the car with his father was none other than Mrs. Liang, he pressed his fingernails so hard into the tree bark beside him that they almost peeled it off.

How could this be true?!

His always respected, strict, and self-disciplined father, his father who was always responsible at work, considerate to his mother, and guided him well, had actually been secretly having an affair with another woman behind his family's back! And that woman, was none other than Mrs. Liang, their childhood neighbor and now the mistress of Liang Ji!

Even after seeing it with his own eyes, he refused to accept it. He hid behind a tree by the roadside, watching Mrs. Liang link arms with his father, heading into the private villa, before lowering his eyes, intending to leave. Then he caught a glimpse of a black-clad figure, whose face was covered, opening the door for Mrs. Liang. After the two entered, the figure peered outside, then quickly shut the door. He immediately felt something was amiss. After hesitating for a moment, he quietly approached the villa.

If he hadn't impulsively gone to his father's law firm that afternoon to talk, he wouldn't have accidentally heard a woman's laughter coming from his father's office, where outsiders were never allowed. Nor would he have overheard those chilling words. Although the voices were vague at the time, he vaguely heard fragmented sentences like "that girl is stubborn," "they'll hand over the person at the pier tonight," and "we haven't had intimacy for a long time." Then, ambiguous sounds of panting came from the room. He stiffened, descended the stairs mechanically, and sat in his car for a long time, unable to process the truth he had just heard. He couldn't believe his father was cheating, or was collaborating with the woman in the room on some sinister plot. He was too shocked. He stayed in his car for half a day until he saw his father's car drive out of the garage. Only then did he regain his composure and instinctively followed.

He didn't know he was approaching the cruelest truth of his life.

Yu Xi looked at Lu Chuyuan coldly, without a word. Her calm eyes showed no fear, only the hand tightly gripping the bedsheet beside her body revealed her inner tension.

"Have you thought about it? Where is that transfer agreement?" Lu Chuyuan stood by the bed, believing he was smiling elegantly. It was this handsome and refined demeanor that made so many people respect him as an upright, steady, and reliable gentleman.

She remained silent. Only when impatience appeared in his sinister eyes did she smile sweetly: "If I tell you, will you let me go?"

Lu Chuyuan showed a hint of astonishment at that smile, and looked at her playfully: "If you cooperate well, I can consider letting you suffer a little less." He hooked the iron chain from the head of the bed, coiling it in loops, and then added casually as if chatting about daily life: "You know too much, and you're a smart woman, so you can't be kept. But I can find you a gentler buyer, at least to make your future life better." "Then I truly must thank you for your kindness." She gritted her teeth, resisting the pull on her wrist, yet was still yanked onto the bed with force. Her hair was pulled, forcing her to look up and meet his descending face.

"But to be honest, I'm a little reluctant." His lips moved, and his gaze, carrying a deeper meaning, scanned her up and down.

Yu Xi also curved her lips, and murmured a sentence.

Lu Chuyuan raised an eyebrow, leaning down to ask, "What did you just say?"

"I said," she straightened up, a glint of cunning in her eyes, and slapped him unexpectedly. The crisp sound echoed particularly loudly in the quiet room. She smiled sweetly: "I said, you're truly shameless. I said, I was just thinking of reducing some fat from your thick skin."

Yu Xi had put almost all her strength into that slap, and it was indeed a heavy one. Five finger marks quickly appeared on Lu Chuyuan's face. His facial muscles twitched slightly, and his eyes instantly clouded with a dark red chill. He slowly approached, his nose almost touching hers, and hissed two words like a venomous snake: "Very... good."

"You're welcome." Yu Xi tried her best to control her trembling body, gently shaking her numb hand from the force of the slap, and smiled magnanimously: "If you still need anything, I'd be happy to serve you a few more times."

The next second, she was already brutally pressed onto the bed, hearing his sinister growl: "I indeed still have needs, and I really hope you can satisfy me later without begging for mercy! Don't bother screaming for people to watch, I've told them not to come upstairs, not even your stepmother."

She glared at him and snorted coldly. The fear in her heart slowly turned into satisfaction. At least that slap had somewhat avenged Aunt Xin. Even if she would be scared and hurt and unable to stop crying later, as long as she didn't beg for mercy. She believed Gong Youqi would eventually uncover everything, and even if he couldn't find her, he would avenge her.

As she passively prepared for torture, a dispute suddenly erupted outside the door. The voices grew closer and closer from downstairs. Before the door even opened, she heard a familiar voice: "...Get lost! I know my dad's in there..."

She felt her heart get seared by some kind of heat, unsure if it was excitement or panic, her heart beating so loudly it felt like it would burst out. Lu Chuyuan was also startled and froze. The door was pushed open at that very moment, and that somewhat disheveled, stunning face suddenly appeared before them.

The words "Senior" reached her lips, but she couldn't utter them. Yu Xi watched Lu Renjie's disappointed, pained eyes stare directly at his father, who had been caught red-handed. Then his gaze shifted to her, meeting her eyes. Her whole body seemed struck by lightning. After a few seconds, he cried out "Xiao Xi!" and stumbled forward, pushing Lu Chuyuan away. He trembled as he helped her up, unable to believe that the woman his father was bullying at this moment was the woman he loved!

What... what was all this about! The girl his father and Mrs. Liang's conspiracy mentioned needing to deal with, could it be Xiao Xi...? He was so shocked by the sudden, cruel truth, as if the sky had fallen. He could only gaze at Yu Xi with his heartbroken eyes, uttering hoarsely, "Why... why is it like this..."

She saw an unprecedented despair in his eyes, and even heard his heart cracking with a strong tremor. A huge rock seemed to press on her own heart. She wanted to say it wasn't his fault, that it had nothing to do with him, and to give him a comforting smile, but she couldn't do anything. She just stared back at him blankly, tears inexplicably pouring down. She lightly tugged at his sleeve, and faintly, softly sighed, "Senior."

The tears were for him, who would ultimately have to face the truth. The sigh was also for him, wondering how he would cope in the future. But she couldn't speak further, only feeling her heart had become as complex as a tangled ball of yarn, forming a knot. She hadn't expected Lu Renjie to appear in such a situation.

Gong Youqi held the nutrient solution that the doctor had just mixed, offering it to Yu Xi. He also secretly put two candies in his pocket. He recalled a common plot in novels that Luo Lan had just excitedly reminded him of: when the female protagonist was afraid of bitterness and refused to take medicine, the male protagonist would personally feed her and take the opportunity to steal a kiss. A curve formed on his lips.

"You have to take the medicine before you can go."

Seeing her twitch at the large cup of dark medicine, he was just about to take out the candies to coax her, when Yu Xi, with a dignified expression, held her breath, grabbed the cup, and drank it all in one gulp without even a frown. This made Gong Youqi so frustrated that he almost crushed the candies in his hand.

"What's wrong?" She noticed his strange expression.

"You're not afraid of taking medicine?" he asked sullenly.

"I can't wait to see their expressions now." She smirked, then inhaled: "But the medicine is really bitter."

He smiled, then suddenly lifted her face and kissed her, his tongue sweeping through her mouth. After a moment, he raised an eyebrow in agreement, "The medicine is very bitter." Then he took her lips again: "But you're always sweet." He swept away all the bitterness in her mouth, then subtly slipped in a candy, finally leaving her lips reluctantly.

Yu Xi gasped softly, the sweetness in her mouth flowing directly to her heart. Her face flushed, and she changed the subject: "Isn't it illegal for you to just arrest people like this?"

"They didn't think about breaking the law when they kidnapped you." His tone instantly chilled, and his stern look startled her: "I could have dealt with them secretly, but that's not enough. I won't let them off easily. I will never forgive anyone who dares to hurt you." He almost lost her, and that was something he absolutely couldn't condone.

He then turned his gaze to her, his eyes as gentle as ever: "You don't need to worry about anything. Since I could find them, everything is properly arranged. Even if you want them to disappear, I can make it happen."

A shallow moistness appeared in her eyes, and she whispered, "Actually, you really don't have to do so much..."

"Xiao Xi." He sighed softly, his hand on her waist suddenly tightening. His face brushed against her ear as he whispered, "You don't know how scared I was then. If I couldn't find you again, I would go crazy, I would... lose the meaning of living."

Her heart trembled slightly, and she slowly embraced him back, softly apologizing: "I'm sorry, I made you so worried." When he couldn't find her, he must have been even more anxious than she was. His response was an even more passionate embrace. At that moment, she felt that their hearts, separated by their bodies, were tightly intertwined, beating as one.

"Who exactly are you people?! Don't you know that arbitrarily arresting people is a violation of human rights? This is illegal! I'm a lawyer, I can easily take all of you to court!" Lu Chuyuan managed to remain calm, "Who is your person in charge? I want to see him."

No one paid him any attention.

That morning, when he arrived at his law firm, he had just opened his car door and poked his head out when a cold metal object was pressed against the back of his neck, threatening him back into the car. He was then blindfolded and brought here. On the way, he thought for a long time, unable to recall which important figure he had offended. He had always handled his relationships with various powerful figures very well. He even thought it was some gang leader who had committed a crime and wanted to hire him as a defense lawyer. But when he saw Mrs. Liang also being arrested, his heart sank.

Mrs. Liang stood behind Lu Chuyuan, her face filled with fear, gripping his arm and trembling all over. She didn't understand how she had just stepped out of her house when she was abducted by several people.

When he and Lu Chuyuan watched the two kidnappers, who had been brought in, beaten black and blue, and knocked unconscious, thrown onto the ground, they were already trembling so much they couldn't speak properly. After a long while, Mrs. Liang whispered tearfully to Lu Chuyuan, "Did... did something happen to that girl, and that Thai old man got angry...?"

Wang Xinlun, who was playing charades with Luo Lan, lost again and slammed the table in frustration: "Who said I look like a Thai guy! Bad luck! Someone among these people must have touched my bad luck!"

Gong Youqi's position as right protector was clearly higher than Zuo Ming's. After all, he was the gang leader's own brother, considered a semi-leader. Although he rarely showed his face in the gang, he had made great contributions in several conflicts, and in the eyes of everyone in Youbang, he was second only to the leader. The gang would be unusually busy towards the end of the year, with many small gangs and factions causing trouble. Several sect masters and hall masters who could spare some time today tried to take advantage of the leisure to see how the right protector, who rarely took action, would personally deal with the person who reportedly provoked him fiercely.

Lu Chuyuan also guessed that all this was related to Yu Xi, but he didn't believe she had been rescued. After the delivery yesterday, he hadn't heard anything from that small Thai organization, unaware that Youbang had already dealt with them. He thought for a moment and decided to probe first: "Which organization are you from? President Li of the Shanghai Yihe Association is my friend." The Yihe Association was an arbitration and coordination body that mediated between the black and white worlds of Shanghai. President Li had previously acted as an intermediary, introducing Lu Chuyuan to help resolve several underworld cases.

Yago, who had just finished handling government affairs and rushed back at noon to watch the show, entered from outside the door and caught the conversation: "President Li? Is that the fat old man who bowed and scraped several times, trying to invite us to join his association?" His tone was full of disdain, startling Lu Chuyuan and making him realize that this group of people was no ordinary identity.

His face was grim as he was watched and mocked by several people. He had never suffered such an insult. Resentment welled up in his heart, but he couldn't express it, standing rigidly on the ground, his face pale.

"You can first reflect on how you provoked the little fish." Luo Lan finally showed some kindness, smiling and giving a hint. Everyone knew that those who provoked the little fish provoked the right protector, which meant they provoked Youbang. Even Gong Youkai turned a blind eye to his brother's unprecedented decision to use private torture this time, probably because he saw how deep the sisterly bond was between Chuchu and Yu Xi yesterday.

"..." Lu Chuyuan's eyes held a hint of confusion. Yu Xi slowly walked out from the inner hall, smiled and greeted the others, then looked at Lu Chuyuan and Mrs. Liang's stunned expressions with extreme calmness, softly snorting, "You two don't need to be so surprised to see me, do you?" Mrs. Liang stammered even more: "You... you... you're not... how..." She sneered and glanced at Mrs. Liang: "I'm not, so I disappointed you." Then, looking at the sinister Lu Chuyuan, she thought for a moment and said, "You don't need to guess anymore, they are indeed from the underworld. As for why I'm here, Lawyer Lu can probably guess. I don't want to waste any more words, the enmity between us should be resolved."

Lu Chuyuan's face grew even more gloomy and pale, and he stood silently.

She feigned a wicked smile, then looked at Mrs. Liang: "If I were to pick one of you to punish and one to spare, who do you think I should choose? Or perhaps you'd like to volunteer?"

Mrs. Liang panicked, grabbing Lu Chuyuan to brace herself: "You... you don't try to sow discord between us! Do you gangsters... still have any regard for national law... you're breaking the law!"

Wang Xinlun on the side cursed again, "Breaking what? You talk about the law with us gangsters, that's pure nonsense!" Others also burst into laughter.

Yu Xi still smiled brightly: "Lawyer Lu, why don't you go first, choose whether to be punished yourself or recommend someone else?"

Lu Chuyuan snorted: "I underestimated you."

"How about I start by telling you about the kinds of punishments the underworld uses?" She winked at the others, cleared her throat, and slowly recounted: "Let me give you a very common example." She pointed at the thin, tall shadowy figure two on the ground and said: "For instance, first strip him naked and put him in a sealed jar with only his head exposed. Then put a hungry rat in. What do you think will happen in a few seconds? Hmm, very scary? Never mind, then we'll put a snake in to catch the rat." Shadowy figure two, who had just regained consciousness, hadn't even finished listening before he fainted again from fright.

"You... how dare you... we didn't do that to you!" Mrs. Liang was completely terrified, her voice becoming sharp.

Yu Xi ignored her, just looking at Lu Chuyuan and sneering, "Do you find it cruel? Compared to your perverse methods against a woman, mine are far inferior, aren't they? When you did those beastly things repeatedly, did you ever think that you, too, would one day be punished?" Lu Chuyuan's breathing grew heavier, and he slowly lost his composure. He suddenly spoke, "If you hurt me, how will you face Renjie!"

Hearing Lu Renjie's name, Yu Xi froze, and after a while, she said mockingly, "You don't deserve to have a son as good as Senior Lu! The other day, you hurt me in front of him, and you didn't seem to think about how you'd face him later." Her heart, however, suddenly felt blocked. She remembered that Lu Renjie would have to endure far more than anyone else. She lowered her head, somewhat lost in thought, and no longer had the mood to play games. She coldly glanced at the others and Mrs. Liang, then turned and entered the room.

Gong Youqi was upstairs processing company documents. Seeing her come in looking unhappy, he pulled her into an embrace: "What's wrong? Weren't you playing intimidating games downstairs?"

Yu Xi forced a smile: "Suddenly lost interest. You've finished scaring them, let them go."

He toyed with her hair, "I knew you wouldn't have the heart for it, but I'm not going to let them off easily. I'll investigate this thoroughly. Xiao Xi, if you feel burdened, just ignore everything. I'll handle it all."

He thought of the investigation report on Lu Chuyuan he had just read. This lawyer seemed to have many unknown secrets. His eyes flashed with a cold, ruthless glint. Even if he could be spared in this matter, his other wrongdoings were absolutely inexcusable. Moreover, he had never intended to forgive anyone who dared to hurt Yu Xi from the very beginning.

Winter made one feel increasingly sluggish. Gong Youqi said that according to the doctor's instructions, she needed a short rehabilitation period. He used both gentle and firm persuasion to keep her resting well in Youbang, not allowing her to go out or be disturbed by others. The tonics she drank daily were full of sedatives, so she was almost always in a daze, sweating on the bed. She only knew that someone would tightly embrace her every night and leave hastily early in the morning.

On the fifth day of sleeping, she finally reached her limit. She poured the tonic loudly into the sewer, refusing to be a hypnotized cat anymore, and yelled at a certain person: "If you make me drink one more mouthful, I'm done with you!" That certain person smiled warmly: "Then it's just as I wish."

Yu Xi was extremely depressed. Her tongue had degenerated after days without speaking to anyone. She made a face at him and ran off to find Xiao Chuchu. It wasn't until noon that she saw Boss Gong bring her back. Upon seeing her, she looked like a thousand-watt light bulb: "Weren't you being supplied with medicine by Youqi? Why are you running around?"

Chuchu saw that her friend was almost molding from boredom, so she quickly decided to send Gong Youkai out for a walk. Then she pulled Yu Xi aside to catch up on gossip, letting her know what had happened these past few days.

Lu Chuyuan was reportedly found to have engaged in many illegal activities, including corruption and bribery. He had fled to an unknown location to escape justice and was currently being pursued by the police. Mrs. Liang had been sent to a mental hospital for long-term closed treatment due to her sudden mental breakdown. As for the alleged share transfer agreement, it was reportedly found accidentally by Liang Qingshan at home and merely added another charge to Lu Chuyuan's list of crimes. As for the two kidnappers, Yu Xi remembered pleading for the first shadowy figure, but no one was willing to tell her what punishment they received.

She knew very well that everything had been orchestrated by Gong Youqi, but she hadn't expected him to handle it so decisively and ruthlessly. She felt that although he was outwardly the chairman of the famous large enterprise MJ, in his bones, he might be even more suited to be an underworld leader than Boss Gong.

And Lu Renjie, without warning, went to the United States with his mother two days ago. Yu Xi felt a moment of trance, always feeling a sense of loss, as if something was missing from her heart. She didn't know whether to feel apologetic or pity for him. Perhaps she should have at least seen him before he left. Now that he had left without a word, she truly didn't know if they would ever meet again. But she understood Lu Renjie very well; if he knew the truth, he would surely feel ashamed of his father and probably wouldn't see her for a long time.

Curiosity killed the cat, so out of curiosity, she had to use a honey trap to get Gong Youqi to reveal Lu Chuyuan's whereabouts. Before, she even suspected Lu Chuyuan had met with a terrible end, but Gong Youqi just smiled faintly and said, "Sometimes death isn't the most severe punishment."

Lu Chuyuan, in her stead, was taken back to Thailand by that small Thai organization from before. When Gong Youqi found out that Lu Chuyuan had originally intended to sell her to a fat, perverted old man in Thailand, he made his final judgment with a cold face.

Yu Xi thought of those ageless peach-blossom eyes and wondered what cruel treatment he might receive in that country with many effeminate men.

Although she knew Lu Chuyuan deserved his fate, the thought of Young Master Gong's ruthlessness still sent a chill down her spine. The consequence was that she insisted he not get into her bed that night, which made a certain someone feel extremely wronged. He tried every possible way to sneak onto the bed in the middle of the night, tightly embracing the soft, fragrant woman who couldn't sleep all night without him. Thus, he was woken up in the morning by an angry roar.

"How did you end up in my bed again?!" She distinctly remembered locking the door and bolting it last night before falling asleep soundly.

Gong Youqi rested his head on his right arm, his left hand already misbehaving under the covers. He smiled lazily: "If there's no door, there's always a window."

Her anger was extinguished by that noble, prince-like smile. She still whispered to him: "You're a rogue!" She quickly pulled back his hand that was setting fires, but was pulled back in turn, brought down under him, and perfectly trapped as he leaned over, slowly savoring her. These past few days, he had been busy cleaning up, and her body hadn't fully recovered, leaving him to look but not touch her every night. His endurance had reached its limit.

"Xiao Xi, may I?" He tried hard to suppress his impulse, caressing her sensitive areas to entice her.

Yu Xi knew she had little resistance to his teasing. Her face flushed, she looked at him for a few seconds, then her large eyes darted around. She hooked her arms around his neck, actively lifting her head, and whispered seductively, "You can, but... I want to be on top." She had always been bothered by whether she was on top that time she was drunk and wanted to experience it again.

"?" He paused slightly, then responded cheerfully. His gentle kisses already sprinkled every inch of her skin, like savoring a fine wine, sipping and eagerly sucking, proving his existence in her trembling, wonderful softness, automatically ignoring her mood-dampening reminder.

"Mmm... don't forget I want to... be on top... hmm." She soon went limp under his strong yet gentle demands, complaining bitterly in gasps during his endless conquest: "...liar... hmm." She finally begged for mercy with a mournful sigh. He reined in his still burning desire, tenderly carried her to clean up, accidentally reigniting the passion, and moved the battlefield to the bathroom. He attacked her again just as she caught her breath, and only after she was utterly exhausted did he help her wash, change the sheets, gently place her on the bed, and contentedly nibble her earlobe, whispering, "Xiao Xi, I love you."

After he went to the bathroom to wash up, she curled up under the covers, savoring the bliss after their intimacy, but always felt a hint of unease.

His phone on the table sang cheerfully.

She instinctively glanced at it and immediately knew the source of that unease. Su Yingran. Although he had already promised not to marry Miss Su, there had been no word from Miss Su. She suddenly felt a strange timidity, afraid that the happiness she held in her hand might suddenly slip and fall into the mud because she hadn't held it steadily.