Chapter 24: Don’t Take Advantage of Me

Xu Zijie: “…No… not really, right?”

It was as if he felt disdain.

But he didn’t dare say the rest out loud.

Xi Xingye sighed.

“Sigh, she still loves me too much. What should I do? I clearly wanted her to let go of me!”

“And she’s even worrying about me first during a quarrel? That’s way too much of a burden.”

Xi Xingye shook his head, then arrogantly glanced at the mirror before humming a tune and leaving.

He even handed a tip to a passing waiter.

The waiter’s forehead was full of question marks.

Xu Zijie’s forehead was full of question marks too.

“Bro, why do you look so happy? Weren’t you supposed to be afraid she’d fall in love with you?”

Night had fallen like ink, and the Xi family mansion was dimly lit.

Lin Shanwan hung up the phone, her delicate, apricot-colored nails digging into her flesh.

“Annoying thing!” Her gaze was venomous.

Xi Xiaoshan, sitting nearby and memorizing texts, shivered, the flesh on his face tightening nervously.

Rubbing the jade bracelet on her wrist, Lin Shanwan contemplated her next move.

She had already planted people to keep an eye on Shen Yuan’s company. Tonight, as soon as she heard Shen Qingci’s brother, Shen Lan, crying and running out of the office, she immediately ordered someone to follow him.

She even called a few thugs who, with just a few words, took him to a casino.

Lin Shanwan had originally hoped this useless man would provoke conflict between Xi Xingye and Shen Qingci, creating friction between them.

But unexpectedly…

Her plan backfired, and instead, their relationship grew even stronger!

Picking up her phone again, Lin Shanwan opened a black-profile chat.

[Execute the plan.]

Concise and direct, without a single extra word.

The recipient only read the message and didn’t reply.

Lin Shanwan tossed the phone aside and looked out the window.

This time, she would no longer be sentimental. As long as Xi Xingye existed, her son could never secure his position as heir of the Xi family!

One Xi Xingye was already enough of a headache. Now there was Shen Qingci.

This time, she had to directly deal with these two troubles, and make Xi Xingye… disappear completely!

Inside the casino, Xi Xingye sprawled across the leather sofa in a private room, legs wide apart. The collar of his shirt felt too hot, so he unbuttoned two buttons.

“Boring. I’m leaving.”

Normally, he hated going home at night. This was the first time Xi Xingye felt that playing at the casino was pointless.

“It’s only eleven o’clock, bro!” Xu Zijie shook his head in disbelief.

Even with a curfew, Xi Xingye usually only left the house at the exact right time.

Today, he had risked all the gossip and isolation just to call all his brothers here.

And now the young master was just leaving?

“Not playing.” Xi Xingye sounded impatient, drenched in heat.

He could only complain, “Why’s the casino heating so high? Don’t they know how to save electricity?”

He pulled out two packets of Chinese medicine that had already been soaking in ice water, and gulped down three in quick succession.

At first, it felt cooling, but within minutes, he felt worse all over.

“Is there something wrong with this medicine?” Xi Xingye examined the packaging.

He began doubting the old Chinese doctor he had consulted.

Xu Zijie scratched the back of his head. How could he dare say anything? He had recommended the doctor himself.

“There are so many people in Beijing who specifically see him. It should be fine. If it weren’t, someone would have destroyed his reputation long ago.”

“I’ll smash his sign tomorrow!” Xi Xingye pulled at his collar, gritting his teeth.

“Don’t! Maybe it’s just the dosage?” Xu Zijie guessed.

Xi Xingye frowned, then pulled a bottle of Shenbao pills from Xu Zijie’s coat pocket and swallowed a few.

“That should do it.” Xi Xingye got up.

The casino elevator hall was empty at this time; most people were in the dance floor, card tables, or private rooms. Few left at this hour.

The elevator display counted down from 16, floor by floor, then suddenly jumped to 88.

Xi Xingye stared at the numbers, confused. The lights flickered and went out.

Darkness instantly enveloped him.

Xi Xingye clenched his fists, leaning against the wall. At first, he could breathe lightly, but gradually, his breaths became more rapid.

In the darkness, he could even hear his own heart pounding violently.

Cold sweat soaked his clothes. He felt the walls pressing in on him; the space shrank.

The familiar suffocating feeling spread across his body!

Back in the private room, the others found it boring and were ready to leave.

A casino attendant rushed in, panicked.

“It’s bad! The casino elevator broke! Young Master Xi is trapped inside!”

“What!” Xu Zijie went crazy upon hearing this, rushing to the elevator without even grabbing his coat.

“Call people! Call everyone! Ambulance! Fire truck! Call everything you can!”

“The elevator is being repaired! Hurry and save him!”

The casino instantly descended into chaos.

Shen Qingci had only made a quick phone call outside the casino, delaying herself slightly. She was only halfway on the road home.

Car horns blared across the night. Some cars even drove the wrong way.

She stopped to look.

Was she heading toward the casino?

At the casino, rescue teams gathered outside the elevator.

Since the elevator could only be roughly determined to be between the 9th and 10th floors, people crowded outside the doors on both floors.

Claustrophobia made Xi Xingye struggle to breathe. His strong frame curled into a small ball; he was nearly suffocating.

Memories flashed before his eyes like a reel.

He had left the private room around eleven. Had he passed curfew by now?

That woman would go crazy again, right?

Thinking of this, Xi Xingye snorted.

Ridiculous! Even after being tormented by her, he was still worried about curfew! Had that woman hit some sense into him?

The suffocating feeling grew stronger… He thought of his mother.

Would he die this time? If he did, would he see his mother?

His mind swirled, consciousness fading. His vision was black. He curled up smaller…

Suddenly, a sliver of light flashed.

Footsteps and noise appeared nearby.

“Sister-in-law, be careful!”

It sounded like Xu Zijie…

Sister-in-law? Shen Qingci?

Xi Xingye, unsure if he was near death, felt like he was hallucinating. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids and body felt unbearably heavy.

Gathering his courage, he bit his tongue. Finally, he saw a figure in the light.

Slender figure, white shirt and jeans—it really was Shen Qingci!

She hadn’t left, so why was she here?

Shen Qingci withdrew her hands and casually tossed the chainsaw aside.

“Bang!”

The elevator doors, made of alloy, now lay on the corridor floor like scrap metal.

“Are you okay?” A cool, clear voice approached.

Xi Xingye suddenly realized…

It must be past eleven. She came to get him back…

He was slightly annoyed, but simultaneously immensely relieved, letting himself sink into a deep sleep.

Before losing consciousness, he still grabbed Shen Qingci’s sleeve to warn her:

“Don’t take advantage of me!”