Chapter 45: Be tempted first

Lin Yiwei was drowsy from the fever, feeling someone arranging the blanket. She struggled to open her eyes and saw Xie Bo adjusting the corner of the sheets.

After finishing, he climbed into bed himself, turning her head to lean comfortably against him for a nap.

Rarely had he cared for someone so attentively. Even his beloved German Shepherd hadn’t received such treatment; he never tucked it in or stayed up all night with it. Yet, that dog had been his longest companion.

After a bout of fever, the girl’s forehead grew even hotter, utterly exhausted. She leaned heavily against his slightly firm shoulder, allowing him to hold her, smell her, and lightly brush against her lips.

Unable to sleep, she lacked even the strength to lift her fingers, gazing at him longingly with eyes that seemed to speak, yearning for him…

Xie Bo was her last lifeline. Without him, the slim figure disappearing into the morning mist of the alley would become her final farewell in this lifetime.

She wanted to see Lin Xie again, to ask him… why.

“I don’t want you to be enemies with the Chi family.”

She weakly stroked his face with her arm, brushing against the stubble that had grown on his jaw throughout the day.

“Just help me find him, help him escape. It’s that simple, you can do it.”

She tried to make her gaze as gentle as possible. Her foxy eyes, not accustomed to such tenderness, always gave off a cold and aloof aura to anyone or anything.

Xie Bo pressed his cheek against her feverish forehead. “It’s time to rest.”

“Can you promise me?”

She insisted on getting an answer from him.

“I’ll send you abroad first, to the Royal College of Art in London, to fulfill your dream.”

“I’m not leaving. I want to stay by your side.”

If she had said this before tonight, expressing her desire to stay by his side, Xie Bo would have been overjoyed.

“Listen, you need to leave first. I’ll figure out your brother’s situation.” Xie Bo kissed her hand, tucking it under the blanket. “They haven’t suspected you yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Staying with Chi Xiyu is meaningless. Let me handle it; I’ll help you find him.”

A tear fell from the corner of her eye, moistening the fabric of his chest, sticking to his heart.

“Can I trust you?” Her voice was hoarse. “Xie Bo, can I?”

“You have no choice but to trust me.”

Lin Yiwei held his face, kissing his Adam’s apple, the most sensitive and least touched area.

Xie Bo’s breathing became heavy. She rarely took the initiative to kiss him. Kissing the spot where she had injured him, she tasted the salty metallic tang, trailing up his neck until she found his lips, entwining with him desperately.

The man held her tightly, gripping her waist, deepening the kiss until both were breathless…

“Do you want to?” Lin Yiwei asked.

“Do you?” He nodded.

She nodded.

But Xie Bo shook his head, tousling her hair.

“You’re so sick, yet you still want this. Just sleep, we’ll talk when you’re better…”

With that, he got up and left the room, fetching the first aid kit from the cupboard. He cleaned the shallow wound on her neck; a single band-aid would cover it. He washed the fruit knife.

This woman… gentle enough to strangle him when she wanted, and vicious enough to take his life for real.He just couldn’t push her away.

The one who fell in love first, shedding the heavy armor and offering a tender heart.

Xie Bo took a pomegranate from the fridge, cut it open with a knife, and hand-peeled it onto a plate.

———

Li Du, wearing slippers, came out and sat on a high stool. Every time Xie Bo peeled one, Li Du couldn’t help but pop one into his mouth.

Xie Bo was quite tolerant, not stopping him.

“Sorted it out?”

“Sending her to England.”

“As for Lin Xie’s matter, are you helping her?”

“She’s her only family member. Regardless, let her be a little happier.”

There were too few things in her life worth being happy about, just like him.

“If you get involved, it will inevitably cause unavoidable conflicts with the Chi family.”

“Whether there’s conflict with the Chi family depends on my relationship with Chi Xiyu.”

Dealing with Chi Xiyu wasn’t difficult for Xie Bo.

“Between two women, you seem to be handling things quite smoothly.” Li Du poured the pomegranate seeds from the plate into his mouth. “But, Xie Bo, matters of the heart aren’t that simple. Do you want to hear my advice?”

“You’re staying up late, lurking by the door to give advice?” Xie Bo poured himself a glass of water, turning away. “If I don’t stop you, you won’t be able to sleep.”

Li Du remained silent for a few seconds, advising him, “Cut ties with Lin Yiwei. Stick to your original plan. Chi Xiyu is a suitable marriage partner. With her, everything you desire will be within reach. Xie Bo, life is about making choices and accepting the consequences and risks of those choices. Trying to have it all will leave you with nothing.”

Xie Bo toyed with the handle of his cup, teasing, “You always have a lot of reasons.”

For so many years, he had been constantly making choices, choosing what kind of person he wanted to be, bearing the consequences, suppressing himself, and doing things he detested but couldn’t avoid.

Because he had an intense desire for something deep inside—power, wealth, and… true freedom.

Li Du didn’t force him to make an immediate choice; he just patted his shoulder.

“Whatever you choose, I hope you can justify the years of waiting and endurance. But most importantly, you must justify it to yourself.”

“What if the former conflicts with the latter?”

“When that time comes, you’ll know.”

…

Xie Bo carried half a plate of pomegranate seeds upstairs and saw Lin Yiwei standing alone in the hallway, the cold air making her slender body shiver, her white shirt outlining her straight legs trembling…

He glanced at her. “What are you doing up?”

“Heard you talking with Li.”

Lin Yiwei grasped the wooden banister, struggling to support herself. Her voice was hoarse. “Wanted to listen, afraid you’d deceive me.”

Her lips were deathly pale, her only strength left in her eyes.

She locked eyes with Xie Bo. “You won’t deceive me, right?”

Xie Bo carried the plate with one hand and her with the other, as if holding a rabbit, tossing her onto the bed rudely.

“Looking a bit like a patient, don’t wander around.”

The next moment, Lin Yiwei clung to his arm, tightening her grip around his neck, whispering softly in his ear, “Xie Bo, if you lie to me, I’ll kill you.”

“Alright.”

Xie Bo chuckled, picking up a pomegranate seed with his chilly hand and putting it in her mouth. She lightly bit down, juice splattering onto his lips. He pried open her lips, and the two of them entangled in this kiss for a long time.

Xie Bo pinned her arms down and pushed her onto the bed, undoing the buttons on her neck—

“I can see you’re also unable to sleep.”

…Considering her condition, Xie Bo didn’t dare to be too rough. The girl, half-conscious, despaired and hugged him tightly, alternating between calling him Xie Bo and brother, quickly disarming him.

She drifted off to sleep, but Xie Bo felt a bit of regret. He had been taking care of her all night, helping her change the cold towels, bringing down her fever until midnight, kissing her face, her eyes, everything about her…

In the middle of the night, Lin Yiwei woke up thirsty, wanting water.

Seeing that Xie Bo was still awake, she sought confirmation from him again, “You won’t deceive me, right?”

Xie Bo nodded, repeatedly assuring her to let her sleep peacefully—”Go to school as usual tomorrow, don’t raise suspicion. Chi Xiyu doesn’t know it’s you now. By the time she realizes, you’ll already be in England. I’ve submitted your exchange application to the Royal College of Art in London, and they’re reviewing your information.”

“Can I really go?”

“Don’t worry, your grades are solid. Money is the only thing left, and you don’t need to worry about that.”

Lin Yiwei tightly held his hand. “If you rescue him unharmed, I’ll be with you for life.”

“A lifetime is so long. What if I get tired?” He looked at her, his eyes restrained with a hint of indulgence. “A person like me will surely get tired.”

“It’s okay. If you get tired of me, I’ll disappear.” She gazed at him with those fox-like eyes, conveying a message of gentleness and harmlessness. “Master Bo, I’ll be obedient and won’t cause you trouble.”

Xie Bo kissed her forehead. “I still prefer when you argue with me.”

“So, you’re cheap.”

Xie Bo chuckled, tucking her in.

“Now, sleep.”

Lin Yiwei closed her eyes but still held his hand tightly.

…

Lin Yiwei’s fever subsided quickly, like a resilient weed in the storm. The next day, she was fine.

When she woke up, she saw Xie Bo sleeping on the sheepskin rug under the bed, half-leaning against the bed, holding a cooling towel.

He had taken care of her all night.

Lin Yiwei picked up a cup, moistening her dry, chapped lips, and looked down at him.

His lips were a bright color, with a split on his lower lip from where she had bitten it. When they kissed, one of them always ended up injured, as if they were playing a game, never able to be affectionate properly.

A few strands of morning light seeped through the curtains, illuminating his face. His robust bone structure, deep-set features, and captivating peach blossom eyes must have come from his stunningly beautiful mother.

The woman who could stir Xie Sizhao’s heart.

Lin Yiwei changed her clothes and wordlessly crossed over him at the foot of the bed, not sparing him another glance.

Downstairs, she found some frozen steamed buns in the fridge and warmed them up, along with some milk.

Li Du came out of his room in a loose-fitting gray home outfit, looking a bit dazed with his hair a bit messy.

“Morning, feeling better?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you going to school later? I’ll drive you.”

“I have a class at ten.” Lin Yiwei checked the time on her phone. “Should be fine. Do you want breakfast?”

Li Du looked at the steamed buns in the steamer. “He never eats these.”

“Whether he eats them or not is his business; whether I make them or not is my business.”

Lin Yiwei adjusted the settings on the steamer. “How do I keep them warm?”

Li Du came over and helped her adjust the settings. “Just set a timer. Since we don’t know when he’ll wake up, steam them first, and he can microwave them later. This machine is a steamer, oven, and microwave all in one, very convenient.”

“Thank you. I’ve never used this type before.”

“You seem very concerned about him.” Li Du took a sip of milk. “I hope it’s genuine concern, not just an act.”

“Is there a difference between genuine and fake? Both are concern.”

“I hope it’s genuine. Xie Bo doesn’t have much real in his life; he needs this.”

Lin Yiwei remained silent, adjusting the settings on the steamer, then picked up a small steamed bun and started chewing.

“Xie Bo is now my only hope, and I’ll treat him well.”

“You’re hoping for another man on his behalf.”

“He doesn’t care; why do you?” She spoke sharply, like a bug covered in thorns, showing hostility towards Li Du.

He always advised Xie Bo not to help her.

…

Li Du drove her to school and broke the silence first: “Lin Yiwei, no matter how much you hate Xie Bo, don’t forget, he’s helping you.”

“How could I hate him? I even made breakfast for him.”

“It was in this car yesterday, you slapped him. It was you, anyone else would have been thrown out of the car.”

“I lost my temper yesterday.”

“No matter what you think, you need to know, he didn’t have to do these things. Because of you, Xie Sizhao is very dissatisfied with his recent behavior. Do you know how cautious Xie Bo used to be? Because of you, he acts impulsively again and again, angering his father repeatedly, as if he’s possessed.”

Lin Yiwei smiled, “Why does it sound like it’s my fault from your mouth? Li Du, you understand, it’s Xie Bo… who never let me go. He succumbed to his own desires, nothing to do with me.”

“He succumbed to his heart,” Li Du insisted. “The Xie Bo I know shouldn’t be like this. He’s serious now, don’t hurt him.”

“Who’s really hurting who?” Lin Yiwei’s smile gradually froze. “Last night I was almost successful, who ruined all my efforts!”

“You can’t succeed without him! You think the Chi family is easy to deal with? With your limited skills, can you get Chi Youhuai and Chi Xiyu in? Don’t be so naive, Lin Yiwei, you can’t play in this circle, none of us can. So, you better be secretly grateful. Him not helping you is his duty, helping you… that’s friendship.”

Lin Yiwei’s hand trembled involuntarily, “Even if I’m crushed to pieces, I still want to challenge this wall and see if these people are really so lawless.”

The car stopped on a less crowded road about a kilometer away from the school gate. Lin Yiwei got out of the car and walked away, slamming the door.

Watching her thin but stubborn figure gradually disappearing into the morning mist, Li Du had a bad feeling.

She would drag Xie Bo down with her, into the abyss.

And what’s most frustrating is, he’s willing to do so.