Chapter 34: Break-up Fee

Due to hypothermia, Chi Xiyu almost went into shock. If it had been delayed any longer, her life might not have been saved.

At that time, Lin Yiwei was fine, she could even walk around, but due to catching a cold during her menstrual period, after being hospitalized, she started to faint and have a fever continuously, which later turned into pneumonia.

The Chi family paid for all of Lin Yiwei’s hospitalization expenses. The reason was simple: Lin Yiwei saved Chi Xiyu’s life. If it weren’t for her pulling Chi Xiyu out of the water, they would have been facing a cold, swollen body in the morgue now.

Chi Xiyu’s father, Chi Youhuai, personally visited Lin Yiwei at the hospital. Chi Youhuai appeared amiable and affable, a middle-aged man who was very talkative and friendly. He paid for Lin Yiwei’s stay in a luxury suite in a private hospital, personally expressed his gratitude to Lin Yiwei, and instructed the doctors to take good care of her.

As Lin Yiwei’s only relative in Qinggang City, her aunt also brought Su Andi to visit Lin Yiwei. Of course, they weren’t genuinely concerned about her condition; it was only because Lin Yiwei had saved the young lady of the Chi family, a huge favor that her aunt believed would surely lead to gratitude from the Chi family and some benefits to be gained from her niece.

In less than three minutes after entering, Lin Yiwei chased her aunt away. The situation became chaotic, with Lin Yiwei even grabbing the thermos at hand and smashing the fruit basket her aunt had brought to pieces.

Knowing the girl’s violent temper, her aunt grumbled and cursed, calling her an ungrateful wretch.

Her aunt was her punching bag for venting, as for what exactly she was angry about, she didn’t want to delve into it herself.

Lying in the luxurious suite of the private hospital, akin to a five-star hotel, watching the sunlight stream into the room, feeling the gentle breeze through the curtains, and enjoying the soft, plush mattress…

Lin Yiwei had never known that even when sick, one could be so comfortable.

Money was truly good.

Waking up to eat, eating to sleep, sleeping to watch TV… She really wanted to live like a waste for the rest of her life, but she couldn’t.

She had to stay vigilant, stay in the fight.

Lin Yiwei dozed off again in a daze, and when she woke up, there were no malicious or disgusting relatives in the ward.

There was a man peeling a pomegranate by her bedside.

His hands were as elegant and beautiful as ever, with long, slender fingers, neatly trimmed nails, and strong knuckles.

The plate was piled high with pomegranate seeds like a small mountain.

Seeing her wake up, he pinched her chin and without a word, poured the plate of pomegranate seeds into her mouth.

Juice splattered, nearly choking her.

After the sweetness came an excess of pomegranate seeds in her mouth.

Xie Bo handed her a tissue, but she was not polite at all.

She grabbed his wrist and spat everything out into his palm.

The man chuckled lightly, went to wash his hands in the bathroom, and then threw half a pomegranate to her, letting her peel it herself.

He was too lazy to serve her.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just checking if you’re still alive,” Xie Bo said nonchalantly.

“Thank you, thanks to you, I’m still breathing.”

“You’re quite something, running into the canyon to play in the rain. Didn’t you see the signs prohibiting entry?”

Lin Yiwei didn’t want to explain the situation at that time anymore. It was indeed careless, and even if she had drowned, it wouldn’t have been unjust.

To come out unscathed was already a special grace from heaven. Not only was she unharmed, but she also had Chi Xiyu indebted to her for saving her life.

More importantly, the words Chi Xiyu had uttered in a daze further confirmed to Lin Yiwei that Lin Xie was the ghostwriter for Chi Xiyu.

He was restricted in his freedom.

Otherwise, Lin Xie wouldn’t have avoided her for so many years.

They had once been each other’s everything in life.

“So, shouldn’t you thank me for saving your fiancée’s life?” Lin Yi looked at Xie Bo. “So that you can have some help in the battle of succession in the future.”

Sitting on the armchair, Xie Bo casually rested his long legs on the coffee table and smiled.

“To some extent, I do need to thank you, but you didn’t sacrifice yourself for me, did you?”

“Why not? It was for you.” Lin Yiwei put on a show of acting, looking at him mournfully. “Just thinking about how sad you would be if something happened to her.”

“My Yiyi is really considerate of me.” Xie Bo walked over, lifted her chin, and said, “You woke up and started bickering with me. If I’m not mistaken, are you jealous, Yiyi?”

“How can you have such a ridiculous idea?”

“Blame me for that time…” Xie Bo didn’t continue. “You know the situation…”

Lin Yiwei interrupted him, “It’s your own guilt that made you think like that. I don’t have such thoughts.”

She turned her head, shaking off his hand.

Xie Bo smiled even more happily, his eyes sparkling like peach blossoms in bloom.

He took a pomegranate seed, cupped the back of her head, and fed it to her without asking.

The pomegranate seed passed back and forth between them until the moisture was almost completely absorbed.

He enjoyed feeding her pomegranate seeds, saying with a warm breath, “I like it when you’re jealous.”

Lin Yiwei knew that he wanted others to love him, greedy yet stingy. “Jerk.”

With a little force, she bit his lower lip, the salty taste spreading on her lips and tongue.

Tasting the saltiness, Xie Bo kissed her more vigorously, until the young girl was almost out of breath.

He gently soothed her, licking her mouth bit by bit.

“Yiyi, I do feel guilty about that day.”

Xie Bo toyed with her jawline, brushing past it with a casual air. “But I didn’t have a choice.”

“Did I ask you to explain? You’re just being presumptuous.” Lin Yiwei pushed him away.

Xie Bo straightened his collar, his eyes looking at her.

His pale face had a hint of blush from their recent intimacy, his lips slightly swollen from their kisses, wet and enticing.

Appearing fragile, he was actually covered in thorns.

“Do you have close relatives?” Xie Bo asked softly.

“Why are you asking that?”

“Do you treat close people the same way, with thorns?”

“Aren’t we close enough?”

“True, it seems that’s your nature.”

Xie Bo couldn’t help but bend down to hug her, kissing her forehead and nose. To him, she was like an addiction.

“Are there any other relatives?” Xie Bo asked softly. “Besides the annoying relatives you drove away, I’ll have someone contact them to take care of you.”

Lin Yiwei’s hand reached into the blanket, clutching tightly. “No, I’m an orphan. My foster parents… they’re not my family.”

Xie Bo’s lips curled slightly, and he touched her head. “It looks like I’m the only one to take care of you.”

Before he could finish speaking, his phone rang. Xie Bo glanced at the phone, immediately stood up, and answered, “Dad, I’m coming over.”

As he left, he told the two men in black suits outside the door, “Don’t let any of the people she dislikes come in to disturb her. If she needs anything, tell me.”

In the top-level CEO office of the Xie Group, Xie Sizhao had just finished a meeting and turned to see Xie Bo walking over, waving his hand to invite him in.

Seeing Xie Bo approaching, the assistant specially brewed a cup of hot Americano with sugar and no milk for him. Xie Bo took it, smiled at her, and the assistant blushed, suppressing the smile on her lips as she left.

Xie Sizhao was no longer surprised by his son’s likable peach blossom physique. Like his mother, he had a bit of a frivolous and wandering air about him.

Despite this, he was reliable in his work, intelligent, and clear-headed, which made Xie Sizhao value him.

“Just now, Chi Youhuai had a chat with me. He said you saved his daughter.”

“Not really, someone else saved her,” Xie Bo truthfully replied. “I just happened to find her.”

“Chi Youhuai said you spent hours searching in the forest in the rain, very concerned about Chi Xiyu’s safety.”

Xie Bo lowered his dark eyes, “It’s human nature. Xiyu and I have known each other for so long.”

“You did a great job in this matter. Chi Youhuai is grateful to you, and I also feel proud,” Xie Sizhao stood up and patted Xie Bo’s shoulder. “Although I don’t like how you usually play with your cars, you don’t neglect your duties, never disappoint me. In this regard, you’re different from your brothers.”

Xie Bo flashed his signature green tea smile, “My brothers have their dreams to pursue, I am following in your footsteps, Father.”

Xie Sizhao knew he admired him, admired the business empire he had built single-handedly, and also yearned to inherit the territory.

His ambition was never hidden.

Xie Sizhao took a sip of tea and continued, “Within permissible limits, you can have your own interests and likeable people. After all, you’re young. I’ve been your age too.”

The hint of amusement in Xie Bo’s eyes diminished as he realized his father’s tone was shifting.

“You can like someone, but you must be cautious and not cross boundaries. You know, children from families like ours, cannot indulge in certain things, like racing, and love affairs are no different. I hope you understand that.”

Xie Sizhao always spoke this way, never revealing too much, leaving room for interpretation.

Having been around each other for years, Xie Bo had grown accustomed to Xie Sizhao’s way of conveying messages.

His father knew about Lin Yiwei’s presence.

Xie Bo immediately responded, “I understand.”

“It’s better if you do.”

Xie Sizhao didn’t want to dwell on the topic any longer and continued, “Oh, Chi Youhuai mentioned the marriage between the Xie and Chi families again. I’ve never formally mentioned this to you, but you should have an idea.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Originally, your second brother wasn’t married yet, so theoretically, he would be more suitable. But Chi Youhuai says his daughter insists on you.” Xie Sizhao casually lit a cigar, “It’s not finalized yet. Over the years, I’ve also been observing for more suitable candidates. I’m not particularly fond of his daughter.”

“This matter, Father, it’s up to you to decide.”

“I’m asking for your opinion.”

“It’s… isn’t it too early?” Xie Bo said, “I’m only a sophomore now.”

“It is early, but time passes like water. Look at you, when I brought you back, you were just a little bean, and now you’ve grown so much.” Xie Sizhao blew a smoke ring, “If you have such intentions, we and the Chi Group can have deeper cooperation. There’s no need to haggle over benefits too much. Both sides need to have an understanding of this marriage, to finalize the next project.”

Xie Bo wanted to give a positive response. He knew he should give a positive response because it was all beneficial. But the topic of marriage…

Another girl’s cunning smile couldn’t leave his mind. It was as if she had succeeded in making him hesitate on the originally certain path…

That little fox…

Observing his every subtle expression, Xie Sizhao said in a deep voice, “Chi Xiyu has won so many international painting awards at such a young age. She would make a respectable wife for you in the future, and she’s attractive. What are you dissatisfied with?”

“I’m not dissatisfied.”

“Then why hesitate?”

“I just feel, it’s too early to discuss this now,” Xie Bo insisted, a rare occurrence for him. “For me, for her, deciding all of this too early in life shouldn’t be the case. Life’s journey and scenery shouldn’t be determined too early.”

He couldn’t care less about babbling on about anything.

Observing the calm teenager in front of him, Xie Sizhao said, “I’m not saying it has to be decided today, but sooner or later, this matter will have to be settled. So, manage your personal life well. I believe you have the discretion. If this matter ultimately needs me to personally handle it, that girl will probably be embarrassed.”

This was a warning.

Xie Bo’s hand under his sleeve clenched slightly.

“I will handle this matter, you can rest assured.”

He walked out of the building, the cold wind pouring into his collar, chilling to the bone.

Xie Group’s building stood tall in the center of the financial CBD, towering like a mountain, making it hard to catch one’s breath.

Xie Bo opened WeChat, his fingertip sweeping over the top right corner of the breeze’s business card, scrolling down, and saw the option to delete the friend.

His fingertip hovered for a good five minutes, but he couldn’t bring himself to press it.

Exiting WeChat, he entered the mobile banking page and casually transferred a million yuan to her before returning to the delete page.

The phone vibrated, and Lin Yiwei sent a message—

Breeze: “Thought you deleted me, but the breakup fee is already here, why haven’t you deleted me yet?”

Breeze: “To say or not, a million is a bit much, I thought a small hundred thousand would be enough.”

Breeze: “Could you bother to add a gift note? I’m afraid you’ll regret it in a couple of days and ask for it back.”

Breeze: “I won’t give it back.”

Breeze: “Xie Bo, cat got your tongue?”

It was rare for her to bombard him with several text messages in a row. This girl was usually distant from him…

Only when money was involved could her passion be ignited.

Xie Bo’s lips curved into a smile as he sat on the steps outside the Xie Group building, not caring whether the dust on the ground would soil his designer suit.

Xie Bo enjoyed chatting with her—

Thin: “It’s a gift, won’t ask for it back, use it, it’s not enough, tell your brother.”

Breeze: “Did you infect me with some disease? AIDS? Or…”

Thin: “Pay it back.”

Breeze retracted a message.

Breeze: “So, are you getting married?”

Thin: “No, it’s a non-issue.”

Breeze: “I just love how you instantly pay up without hesitation. Please keep it up in the future.”

Thin: “I’m coming to see you now.”

Breeze: “I’m packing my bags to leave the hospital. I actually wanted to stay a few more days, but after recovery, the Chi family won’t pay for it anymore.”

Thin: “If you like being hospitalized, I can pay to let you stay indefinitely.”

Breeze: “Are you suffering from kidney failure? Want me to donate a kidney to you? Sharing one kidney between us at this frequency might be a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

Thin: “I think you’re right. [Dummy]”

As it was time to leave work, a few female employees of the Xie Group walked out of the lobby, seeing the third young master of the Xie family sitting outside on the steps, chatting and texting.

The swishing sound of messages continued, and an involuntary smile hung on his lips.

They couldn’t help but stop and stare at him.

They had never seen this young master smile so brightly before…

It was refreshing.

…

Lin Yiwei walked out of the private hospital carrying her luggage, ready to hail a cab back to school. Suddenly, an SUV appeared unexpectedly, and Xie Bo pulled her into the car, fastened her seatbelt, and drove straight to the mountain road.

Half an hour later, the SUV stopped in front of an uninhabited two-story villa, and Xie Bo pulled Lin Yiwei inside after grabbing her.

The girl didn’t understand why he brought her here and struggled, “Hey! I made plans for dinner with An’an! What are you bringing me here for? Are you trying to silence me? It can’t be.”

“Accompany me for the weekend, just you and me.”

“Xie Bo, don’t tell me you’re improvising again.” She looked at the large, empty, and retro house in front of her, “This house is like a haunted house, and it’s deserted around it. I dare not stay here.”

Xie Bo tightly held her hand, pulling her closer, and whispered in her ear, “Lin Yiwei, that indeed is the breakup fee.”

The girl instantly fell silent and stopped making a fuss.

“For the last two days, I just want to be with you, have an undisturbed weekend. After that, we’ll go our separate ways, and I won’t bother you anymore.”

Not knowing what feeling it was, perhaps it should be happiness, or a sense of relief…

But none of that. Lin Yiwei just felt empty.

The whole world had turned into a vast, gaping abyss, and she didn’t know what to do.

She stopped struggling, and Xie Bo lifted her horizontally, walking towards the old, spacious mansion, letting the remnants of the setting sun completely engulf them.

She held him tightly.