Chapter 16: Bad Idea

On the phone, Li Du was quite helpless as he explained to Xie Bo, “You know the temper of that young lady. Last night, she stayed in the club the whole night. She wouldn’t sleep herself, nor would she let me sleep, insisting on knowing your whereabouts no matter what. I had no choice but to give her the address of the Ramon apartment. Mr. Bo, I am sorry.”

Xie Bo didn’t blame Li Du. He hung up the phone and pulled Lin Yiwei out of the blanket, “If you don’t want her to see you, it’s best you leave now.”

Lin Yiwei was still groggy, but upon hearing him switch to Chi Xiyu language, she suddenly woke up, hurriedly put on her slippers, grabbed her bag, and thought of leaving.

Xie Bo pulled her back, smiling, “Going out like this?”

Only then did Lin Yiwei realize she was still wearing Xie Bo’s white shirt.

The thin layer, quite long, half-hidden covered her thighs like a nightgown. This shirt had almost become her dedicated pajama at the Ramon apartment.

Her own clothes were so torn they were unwearable, so Xie Bo found a loose black and white sports outfit from the closet and threw it over her head.

Although it was a bit large, the sporty style was barely acceptable to wear out.

Lin Yiwei hurriedly changed her clothes, wanting Xie Bo to go out.

The man obviously had no intention of leaving; leaning against the dark grey wall panel, he lifted his chin, his dark eyes glancing at her through the moonlight silver rimless glasses in a frivolous manner.

“Xie Bo, you look particularly bad with these glasses on.”

Xie Bo sneered, “I’m going for the beast in gentleman’s clothing look.”

“You even admit it.”

“Why not.”

Lin Yiwei didn’t waste any more time, turned her back to him, and put on her bra.

That night, the two of them had already left no physical secrets from each other.

“Why not let her come up? If she does, I can take another elevator down.” Lin Yiwei was well aware of Chi Xiyu’s temperament. “She’s definitely waiting outside, and who knows how long she’ll wait. If I go down, I’ll run straight into her.”

“I’ve said before, this is my private residence. If you come up once, there will be a second time, and it’s very troublesome.”

“Then how am I supposed to leave?”

“Do you know how to drive?” Xie Bo opened a cabinet, which gleamed with three or four rows of luxury car keys, “Choose one you like and drive yourself back.”

Lin Yiwei hesitated, “I can’t.”

“A college student who can’t drive?”

“I didn’t have time to learn.”

In fact, it was because she couldn’t afford it. Driving school fees were not cheap, and she spent all her summer vacations earning living expenses for the school term.

But she had her own little pride and dignity, especially in front of Xie Bo… She didn’t want to be looked down upon by him.

“When I have time, I’ll learn,” she added weakly, “What’s so great about learning to drive.”

How could Xie Bo not see the flicker of pitiful pride in her eyes? He casually picked up a few keys and said indifferently, “When you have time, I’ll teach you.”

After saying that, he pushed Lin Yiwei out the door and took the elevator to the exclusive underground third-floor garage.

There, a row of luxury cars she could hardly name, but looked very expensive, were displayed like a grand car show.

Xie Bo started his favorite convertible sports car and said to Lin Yiwei, “Get in, I’ll take you.”

“I… I don’t ride in convertibles.”

How could she possibly ride in such a high-profile sports car with him? Not to mention being seen by any acquaintance on the road in Chi Xiyu, it would be disastrous.

Xie Bo got a bit impatient: “Then pick one you like.”

Lin Yiwei chose back and forth, finally settling on a pure black glass SUV: “This one.”

A Rolls-Royce Cullinan, quite the choice.Xie Bo opened the car door for her, smiling, “Do you like this one?”

It wasn’t so much about liking it, but she felt it would be safer and not as flashy.

“It’s okay, just drive slowly, I get car sick.”

“Car sick?” He buckled his seat belt after getting in, “Are you kidding me?”

“What, can’t I get car sick in your car?”

“……”

Xie Bo had always wanted to take her for a spin. For a long time, he had never had such a strong desire to take any girl for a drive…

And now he finds out this girl gets car sick.

How utterly dull.

Xie Bo started the engine and drove the SUV out, Lin Yiwei constantly reminding him, “Slower, slower.”

“The speed is already down to 40.”

“Slower, please. 30 is fine.”

“……”

When they exited the gates of the Ramon apartment, Lin Yiwei saw Chi Xiyu standing at the door.

Chi Xiyu stared at the passing SUV for a long time. Clearly, she recognized Xie Bo’s car.

Lin Yiwei panicked and quickly ducked her head down, afraid of being noticed.

Shortly after, she received a WeChat message from Chi Xiyu—

Xixi: “I suspect that Ye Anning was with Xie Bo last night, staying in his apartment.”

Breeze: “I’m not very sure.”

Soon after, Chi Xiyu sent another message —In a 20-second voice message, Xixi said, angrily and frustrated, “You don’t know? I asked you to stay close to Ye Anning to help me keep an eye on her and Xie Bo. And now you’re telling me you don’t know! What use are you to me?” Clearly, she was very upset.

Lin Yiwei could only respond with a text message apologizing, “I’m sorry, Xixi.”

Chi Xiyu realized she had been too impulsive and softened her tone with Lin Yiwei, “Weiwei, I’m not blaming you. I’m just really upset. You have to find a way to help me keep an eye on them.”

Breeze: “Okay.”

Lin Yiwei glanced at Xie Bo, who was driving. The wind through the car window lifted a few strands of hair on his forehead, highlighting his beautifully structured side profile and his indifferent peach blossom eyes. It’s evident that the person who falls first in such a scenario, like Chi Xiyu, is bound to be the one who gets hurt the most.

“What are you thinking about?” he noticed her gaze and asked curiously.

“It’s none of your business,” Lin Yiwei responded, uninterested in engaging with him.

“What an attitude,” he remarked, reaching out with his right hand to pinch her chin, “No one talks to me like that, not even Chi Xiyu.”

Lin Yiwei pushed his hand away and looked out the window at the rapidly passing scenery, “This is just who I am, unrefined and certainly no lady.”

He chuckled lightly, “There’s a saying, ‘Those who are favored have no fear.'”

“I don’t want your favor, Xie Bo, spare me those words.”

Xie Bo smirked, “See, you are fearless.”

“………”

On the last day before the assessment, Lin Yiwei submitted her completed painting to Chi Xiyu, fulfilling the task she had been given. The painting successfully helped Chi Xiyu score high in the assessment, giving her the opportunity to choose the most prestigious professor in the academy, Professor Mai, as her group mentor.

Lin Yiwei had heard about Professor Mai from Lin Xie. He was the most authoritative old artist in Qing Harbor City, with students all over the world. Lin Xie had mentioned that if she had the chance to get into Feige Art Academy, she must choose Professor Mai as her mentor. A student of Professor Mai once received a full scholarship from the Royal College of Art in London, evidencing the significant weight of a recommendation letter from Professor Mai. Lin Xie hoped she could secure such a recommendation letter.

Of course, Chi Xiyu’s choice of Professor Mai was her father’s wish, insisting she must select this professor at all costs. No other teacher would do; it had to be Professor Mai. Lin Yiwei overheard Chi Xiyu mentioning that Professor Mai had collaborated with her family in the past, and many of Chi Xiyu’s award-winning competition entries were recommended by him. Lin Yiwei even boldly speculated that Professor Mai might be aware of the “truth” behind Chi Xiyu’s artworks. Thus, when Chi Xiyu chose Professor Mai, Lin Yiwei didn’t hesitate to select his group as well. Only by staying in Professor Mai’s group could she hope to uncover more truths.

After the group assignments were concluded that day, Professor Mai specifically asked Lin Yiwei to stay behind for a private, lengthy conversation. Chi Xiyu felt uneasy about this, knowing that her own assignment had scored higher than Lin Yiwei’s. She wondered why Professor Mai had chosen to speak with Lin Yiwei alone. So, when Lin Yiwei exited the office, Chi Xiyu quickly approached her, eager to find out what the professor had discussed, worrying that he might have noticed their similar painting styles.

Lin Yiwei reassured her, “Don’t worry, that’s not it…” She sighed, expressing sadness, “He realized that my painting was a copy of someone else’s work, so he questioned me and gave me a severe reprimand.”

Chi Xiyu was shocked to learn that Lin Yiwei had resorted to copying due to a lack of time after prioritizing Chi Xiyu’s assignment. Feeling guilty, Chi Xiyu apologized for the trouble caused, but Lin Yiwei downplayed the professor’s scolding, mentioning that her grades weren’t affected.

Lin Yiwei’s explanation was only partially true. While Professor Mai did identify her work as a copy, it was actually a copy of Lin Xie’s work, indicating his deep familiarity with Lin Xie’s style. Lin Yiwei managed to evade further suspicion by vaguely claiming she had seen the painting at an exhibition, but this encounter made her strongly suspect that Professor Mai knew Lin Xie personally.

Chi Xiyu, attempting to shift the conversation, sought Lin Yiwei’s help with a personal matter, insisting on Lin Yiwei’s assistance without formalities. She vented her frustration about Ye Anning’s alleged overnight stay at Xie Bo’s apartment, despite Ye Anning’s denial. Lin Yiwei, indifferent towards Ye Anning, advised Chi Xiyu not to obsess over her, suggesting the futility of worrying about one among many admirers of Xie Bo. Chi Xiyu’s distrustful and impulsive reaction prompted an apology from Lin Yiwei, realizing she should have been more cautious in her response to gain Chi Xiyu’s trust.Chi Xiyu, pleased with Lin Yiwei’s compliance, unsettlingly scrutinized her, questioning her loyalty. Lin Yiwei assured her allegiance, only to be stunned by Chi Xiyu’s bizarre request for Lin Yiwei to pursue Xie Bo. Lin Yiwei was left thinking Chi Xiyu had lost her mind.