Chapter 41: Red Rose

【At what moment did you feel like your rational mind turned into a love-struck brain?】

There was a highly rated question on the internet, and Lin Yiwei sat on the island platform, listening to the rushing water coming from the bathroom, casually editing text to respond.

Lin Yiwei: “When the wealthy young heir, who might inherit billions in the future, wakes up in the morning and isn’t clear-headed, asking me to be his girlfriend.”

In less than two minutes, her response was liked and followed up by others:

“OP has a story to tell, squatting here on this floor.”

“Hope it’s not a jealousy-inducing one.”

“I want to see the story of the wealthy young heir falling in love with me. Even if it’s jealousy-inducing, I still want to see it.”

“OP, care to elaborate?”

…

Originally, Lin Yiwei’s responses were a mix of truth and fiction, leaning more towards fictional stories. So she wasn’t afraid to respond and continued by saying: “The wealthy young heir holds absolute dominance. If he wants to break up, he does; if he wants to reconcile, he does. I have no say.”

“Ah, this is so embarrassing for women.”

“OP, can you stand up for yourself!”

“In this day and age, OP can’t be a submissive wife, right?”

“I’d rather believe this is fiction.”

Lin Yiwei: “The breakup compensation starts at seven figures, paid each time we break up.”

“Standing up for yourself isn’t necessary; it feels like you don’t even need it.”

“Breakups and reconciliations are fine, hahaha. What kind of new way to get rich is this?”

Lin Yiwei lay back on the sofa, unable to help but laugh.

Sometimes she liked to post some sarcastic content on the internet, knowing that no one would take it seriously in the end. This was probably one of her few entertainment activities.

The more restrained and oppressed she was in reality, the more she could let loose online.

Xie Bo came out of the bathroom, and Lin Yiwei immediately put down her phone.

He lifted his chin slightly, seeing her lying on the sofa, stretching like a lazy cat, both lazy and cute… He walked over and couldn’t help but lift her up and put her on his lap.

The off-white home clothes made him look much softer, his hair slightly damp, carrying the faint scent of shower gel.

His shower gel had a unique woody scent, slightly bitter, with a hint of spiciness.

Lin Yiwei didn’t like using his shower gel; she preferred sweet fruit scents, even if they might be cheap, but it was her scent.

So next to Xie Bo’s expensive shower gel, there was also a large bottle of her cheap shower gel.

Xie Bo leaned against her neck, sniffing lightly, his hand falling to her waist. She bit her lip and moved him away.

Seeing that she wasn’t wearing a nightgown, Xie Bo asked softly, “Are you going out?”

“Yeah, I want to take a walk outside.”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

“In these past few days, with the incident at Bai Yin Club, we need to be more careful.”

Xie Bo opened his arms and completely embraced the girl, “From now on, on weekends, we’ll go to the mountains. We shouldn’t stay in the apartment, and even here, you shouldn’t use the main entrance. I’ll drive you in and out.”

Lin Yiwei smiled, “So you don’t want others to know about our relationship. You even threatened to announce it before. I must have been out of my mind to believe your nonsense.”

“This is nothing to do with Chi Xiyu.” Xie Bo restrained all his ease, looking at her seriously. “Xie Sizhuo, you must have heard of my father. You don’t have to fear me, but you must fear him. Be obedient in the future, listen to my arrangements, trust me.”

Lin Yiwei had of course heard of Xie Sizhuo, knowing what kind of ruthless character this figure, who dominated the business world, was like. She didn’t want to provoke Xie Bo at all, lest it draw attention from his father, which would end disastrously.

She said in a deep voice, “It’s not necessary to make it so complicated. It’s better for us to separate, just like we did before.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I can’t be without you.”

Xie Bo pulled her back into his embrace, like someone suffering from skin hunger or an addict completely indulging, no longer struggling.

“Apart from making you my girlfriend, I can’t think of a better way to keep you by my side.”

“What’s the difference between a lover and a girlfriend?” She asked back.

Xie Bo answered without hesitation, “I want you to love me.”

“…”

Really greedy.

Love is such a luxurious thing; how could he dare to say it out loud.Lin Yiwei looked at the sharp contours of the man’s face. “Will you love me?”

“Let’s try.” Xie Bo took her hand and placed it on his lips, gently kissing it.

Lin Yiwei knew she should refuse, but then she thought, if Xie Bo was willing to try to let her into his heart, it would be one less obstacle to her plan. Maybe he could really help her.

Chu Ang, Xie Bo, she would use every resource available.

What couldn’t she do?

“Xie Bo, I’m afraid of your father.” Lin Yiwei withdrew her hand.

“So be careful.”

“Even if I’m careful, I’m still afraid. I can’t be your girlfriend, I’m sorry.” She stood up to leave.

Xie Bo looked up at her, taking a lower stance for the first time. “Yiyi, trust that I can protect you. Consider it seriously.”

Lin Yiwei raised an eyebrow, looking down at the man in front of her with eager eyes—

“Between me and Chi Xiyu, you would choose Chi Xiyu without hesitation. What can you guarantee for me? Between me and your interests, you would choose your interests without hesitation. Eventually, I would become a sacrificial pawn, abandoned mercilessly after you tire of me. Having nothing left would be considered fortunate; maybe I would die miserably.”

Xie Bo assured her, “No, Yiyi. I promise, with all my effort. What you’ll eventually get far exceeds what you have now.”

Lin Yiwei pondered for a moment, then presented her condition—

“Regardless of the situation, between me and Chi Xiyu, you choose me, stand by my side.”

Xie Bo pursed his lips, neither agreeing nor firmly refusing.

Lin Yiwei lifted the corner of her mouth. “Xie Bo, consider it seriously.”

With that, she left the Ramon apartment without looking back.

…

The next night, in the convenience store, Lin Yiwei changed into the new winter maid outfit and looked at herself in the mirror. The fluffy collar matched her fair skin perfectly, making her look especially lovely.

The two girls who were changing shifts in the store whispered to each other, stealing glances at the food area, saying that a handsome guy had come to the store.

Lin Yiwei looked over curiously.

A tall boy sat at a table, his uniform fitting snugly against his figure, his broad shoulders slightly tense. He had a straight brow, giving off a sense of determination.

Chu Ang was very handsome, quite different from Xie Bo’s elegant and rakish demeanor; he belonged to the kind of handsome with righteousness. Even in silence, he exuded a serious aura, carrying a natural sense of trustworthiness.

After the girls changing shifts left, only Lin Yiwei and Chu Ang remained in the store. He walked over, “I came to find you. Am I disturbing you?”

Lin Yiwei stretched her neck to look at the shelves. “It’s okay, as long as there are no customers in the store.”

Chu Ang’s expression was somewhat conflicted, with a hint of nervousness. He looked at her, “I… I came to ask if we can still keep in touch?”

Lin Yiwei wasn’t surprised by his visit. “That day, didn’t I confess to you about my relationship with Xie Bo?”

“But you said it yourself, you’ve broken up, haven’t you?”

Chu Ang played with an unopened pack of gum in his hand, not daring to look at her. “I understand now. I don’t mind if you have an ex. You’re so beautiful, it’s normal for many people to like you. I hope I’m lucky enough to accompany you for a part of your life journey. I don’t expect it to last forever, but I want to have this opportunity.”

Quite humble.

A man who could humble himself to this extent for her, even if he desired her, Lin Yiwei wouldn’t dislike him too much. Unlike the proud guy like Xie Bo, who even with “love” added, still needed a “let’s try.”

Lin Yiwei scoffed.

“If you want to accompany me for a while, do you mind if I use you?” Lin Yiwei looked at Chu Ang, being frank with him. “Xie Bo should have warned you, I’m a very utilitarian person. I’ll use all resources around me.”

She didn’t like lying. Even if she played the role of a bad girl, she wanted to be bad openly.

“If I have value to be used, I would feel honored.”

“Why don’t you dare to look at me?”

Only then did Chu Ang lift his head, looking at her earnestly, desire shimmering in his beautiful hazel eyes.

“Lin Yiwei, I’ll do everything I can. It’s absolutely right to protect a girlfriend. Besides, my family may not be as good as Xie Bo’s, but it’s not bad either. It’s not much different from the Chi family. My parents love me a lot, I have a clean and good background, and I don’t have bad habits like smoking or drinking. Although I say I want to accompany you for a while, I won’t play with girls. I’ll hold onto the goal of entering the marriage hall and treat you well. As for whether you’ll choose me in the end, it’s up to you.”

Lin Yiwei was slightly moved by him, just a little…

No matter how sincere a boy’s sweet words were, especially those “vows” made during the passionate pursuit stage, Lin Yiwei always heard them with skepticism. She didn’t believe in romantic words that came so easily, because time would erode all romance. In a few years, he would feel ashamed of today’s foolish words and wouldn’t admit to them.

Ah, men…

She didn’t buy into that. She only looked at their current actions.

Xie Bo had shed blood for her… even if he was a jerk, he was a jerk willing to charge into battle for her.

So…

“I’ll consider it.” Lin Yiwei didn’t directly refuse or agree. “I’m not very familiar with you yet, and I’m a girl who finds it hard to trust others easily.”

Joy appeared on Chu Ang’s face.

Actually, he was already prepared to be rejected. If there was a chance, no matter how slim, he was willing to try.

He handed a prepared red rose to Lin Yiwei.

“Thank you.” Lin Yiwei accepted the flower.

“Well… I’ll go back first. We have training later. I’ll come find you later.”

“Okay.”

Lin Yiwei played with the cliché red rose with her fingertips, sniffing it under her nose.

Elegant and graceful sweetness.

Chu Ang’s way of pursuing girls was clumsy and awkward, obviously lacking in romantic experience, but sincere enough.

For most girls, sincerity was a killer move, but it didn’t apply to Lin Yiwei.Whoever was more useful to her, she would get along better with.

She plucked the petals off the rose one by one, until only the bare stem remained.In her teenage years, her only innocence was given to one person.

She had gone through fire and water for him.

…

Before stepping into Xie Sizhuo’s office, Xie Bo stood at the door, taking a deep breath.

The door opened, and he walked in—

“Dad.”

Xie Sizhuo had his back to him, leaning against the edge of the desk, holding a half-burnt cigar.

“Chi Xicheng is hospitalized again. The first time his rib was broken, the second time his spleen ruptured. He keeps saying you’re the one behind it. Chi Youhuai asked me for an explanation.”

He turned to look at Xie Bo.

“What do you say?”

“I’m not much better than him. The first time was a concussion from a car accident, he played a trick on me; the second time…”

He gestured to his bandaged hand. “I almost severed a major artery.”

With a ‘sizzle’, the cigar left a black mark on the documents on the table—

“Xie Bo, you’re grown up. Why do I have to solve your childish fights for you?”

His voice was deep, with a sense of oppression.

Xie Bo restrained his smile, nodded slightly, accepting his father’s deeply concealed anger.

“Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

“It’s not that our Xie family can’t afford to offend the Chi family, or that I’m afraid of Chi Youhuai. It’s just that these things are truly absurd.”

His calm black eyes, like the Dead Sea, stared at Xie Bo.

“You’re not middle school or high school students anymore; you’re beyond the age of being impulsive and causing trouble. The current you is not as sensible as you were at seventeen or eighteen. You really disappoint me.”

Xie Bo listened silently, without any defense.Any defense was useless. In front of Xie Sizhuo, the only way to quell his anger was to obey and admit fault.

“I know your dispute with the Chi family stems from a girl, she made you impulsive.”

Xie Bo’s hand tightened suddenly, the muscles at the corners of his eyes twitched slightly, he struggled to control his emotions, and calmly said, “It’s not because of her…”

“When did you learn to interrupt me?”

“Sorry, father.”

“The matter of marrying into the Chi family, you’ve been indecisive about it, procrastinating repeatedly, and now you’re involved in this absurd and outrageous violent conflict with Chi Xicheng. Xie Bo, I want to hear your thoughts.”

He looked up at the square and handsome teenager standing in the middle of the office.

Xie Sizhuo had several sons, both from outside and inside the family, but in terms of appearance alone, Xie Bo was the most handsome one. Of course, this was thanks to his stunning mother.

“You can speak now.”

“Does it have to be the Chi family?” Xie Bo took a deep breath and said calmly, “I’ve checked Chi Youhuai’s recent medical report. He has pancreatitis, a life-threatening disease. Before long, the Chi family will surely fall into the hands of Chi Xicheng. And I don’t believe that incompetent… can manage the Chi Group well. Father, I think… maybe we can choose another, better long-term partner.”

Xie Sizhuo’s expression showed no emotion, his black eyes only focused on him.

“Alright, now you’re starting to plan for the future of the company. Do you think you’re definitely going to be the future leader of the company?”

“I’m striving in that direction, striving to be the one who can put your mind at ease in all aspects.” Xie Bo never hid his ambitions and desires in front of his father. “Everything, I obey your orders.”

Seeing his obedient demeanor, Xie Sizhuo slightly eased his anger.

“Who said only sons can inherit the family business?” Xie Sizhuo’s mouth relaxed slightly. “The more disappointed Chi Youhuai is in his son, the more he dotes on his precious daughter. If there is an outstanding and capable son-in-law in the future, what do you think are the chances for that worthless one from the Chi family to win the throne? One percent, maybe even less.”

Xie Bo raised his eyebrows, suddenly understanding the truth behind the alliance between the Xie and Chi families.

Xie Sizhuo’s ambition was not in a mutually beneficial marriage alliance; he wanted to swallow the entire Chi family. Using him, using the marriage alliance.

“Now, I’m not asking you to apologize to Chi Xicheng. My son, Xie Bo, does not need to apologize to anyone. But one thing, Chi Youhuai’s precious daughter, I want you to be able to make her happy, ease the embarrassment and conflicts between the two families, and dispel the rumors from the outside.”

Xie Sizhuo looked at him, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes trembling slightly. “Entertaining girls should be your specialty.”

Xie Bo nodded without hesitation. “Don’t worry, father.”

As he left, Xie Sizhuo warned him again, “And about that girl you keep bringing home overnight, this is my second warning to you. I won’t have a third time.”

Xie Bo paused for a moment, maintained his smile, and left the room.