Chapter 30: I Want Xi Xingye’s Life

“I won’t—”

Before the last word even left her lips, Shen Qingci slammed on the accelerator, shooting forward in a sudden burst!

Xi Xingye lost his balance, hands flailing in midair, nearly flying off the motorcycle.

He gripped with his legs, pressing the bike between them, and leaned forward with his lean waist, finally settling back onto the seat.

“What are you doing! I almost got thrown—”

Before he could finish, strong hands suddenly pulled him forward. He lunged instinctively, wrapping his arms around the slender waist ahead of him.

“If you don’t want to be thrown off, hold on.” The woman’s cold, clear voice came from behind, pausing for a moment before adding, “Nice waist.”

Thump thump!

His heart raced like a drum; Xi Xingye could hear it clearly.

He replied automatically, “Hmm… yeah, not bad. Pretty slim, soft to the touch…”

“I meant your waist just now when you almost fell—the strength in your waist was pretty good.” Shen Qingci’s dark eyes flashed in the rearview mirror. “What are you talking about?”

Xi Xingye instinctively moved his fingers that were resting on her waist, snapped back to reality, and turned his head to shout, “Of course! I said it because I train often! Isn’t it normal for my waist to be strong? Do you think I was praising you?”

Shen Qingci smiled faintly and accelerated.

His hands tightened around her waist.

The wind screamed around them: “Slow down! I’m gonna die! The wind’s blowing straight into my mouth!”

“Shut up!”

The two of them arrived ahead of schedule at the clothing factory warehouse. Shen Qingci instructed Yan Shouwang to wait at Factory No. 3’s entrance as agreed, while she, Xi Xingye, and Xu Zijie sneaked to the back of the warehouse, hiding behind a shipping container.

From there, they had a clear view of Yan Shouwang.

At the agreed time, a tall figure appeared.

It was a middle-aged man with a buzz cut, wearing a black baseball cap, carrying a black briefcase, cautiously surveying the surroundings.

“He’s here!” Xu Zijie said.

Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes. “Not him.”

“Huh? Why?” Xu Zijie looked puzzled.

“Don’t be stupid.” Xi Xingye patted the back of his head. “If he were here to trade with Yan Shouwang, that briefcase would definitely be full of cash. Look how lightly he’s holding it—does it look like there’s anything inside?”

Xu Zijie suddenly understood, awestruck, giving him a thumbs-up. “Amazing, Brother Xi!”

Xi Xingye smirked, glancing at Shen Qingci’s surprised expression. “What are you looking at?”

“Seems like you’re not a complete fool after all,” she said lightly.

“What did you say? Who’s the fool?!”

Xu Zijie quickly intervened. “Brother Xi, what she means is she’s changed her opinion of you—she’s complimenting you on being smart!”

Xi Xingye glanced at Shen Qingci, pouting. “Hmph, I guess she has good taste.”

“Enough. Don’t mess around. The person who actually bribed Yan Shouwang should be nearby.” Shen Qingci surveyed the surroundings as she spoke to the two behind her.

The view around the container was limited, so she got up to check another area.

Xi Xingye followed her.

Creeping along the wall to the factory’s main entrance, Shen Qingci spotted a sneaky figure near the door.

The person seemed short, roughly matching her guess.

Realizing they were discovered, the figure quickly ran in another direction.

Shen Qingci moved instantly to follow.

In the darkness, a sneaky figure raised a stick, closing in on Shen Qingci from behind.

She saw it at a glance.

Tch, too slow, too clumsy.

The figure raised the stick.

When it was still a fist away from her, she closed her eyes and dropped preemptively.

“Shen Qingci!” Xi Xingye rushed forward, catching her quickly.

Shen Qingci was surprised and tried to push him away—but it was too late.

Thud—

The stick hit the back of Xi Xingye’s head with a dull thump.

Two black bags were immediately thrown over their heads.

—

Swish—

The hoods were removed. Shen Qingci opened her eyes, adjusting to the light.

They were in a warehouse. She was tied to a bench, and across from her in a cage lay Xi Xingye, waking up, rubbing his long fingers across his eyes.

Earlier, she hadn’t resisted and had been tied up and loaded onto the vehicle.

But on the way here, she hadn’t considered who was behind it—her mind kept replaying the moment he had charged forward…

Was he crazy?

He knew there was danger, so why did he rush over?

A flicker later, she saw a pair of silver high heels.

A deep red Chinese-style qipao paired with a mink shawl, long wavy hair falling freely over her shoulders, and a pair of calculating apricot eyes.

“Hey, familiar face,” Lin Shanwan said.

Shen Qingci stared at her for two seconds. “So it’s you.”

She had suspected many people.

She originally thought it was Shen Shirou sabotaging the company, or old grudges left by Shen Yuan.

But she never expected her.

“What, tired of being Little White now? Switching careers to kidnapper?” Xi Xingye’s mocking voice came as he slowly sat up, long legs curling, hoarse. “Did that fool Xi Zhenghao know?”

“Xi Xingye, don’t think threatening me with your father works. It won’t, because I won’t let you leave here alive.”

Lin Shanwan sat on a stool brought by her subordinates, crossing her legs. “You think Yan Shouwang could be taken down so easily? He’s ranked third among underground enforcers in Beijing. Yesterday, he was just performing for you under my orders.”

Yan Shouwang appeared, standing behind Lin Shanwan.

“Too bad your schemes are still too naïve,” Lin Shanwan said, covering her mouth and laughing faintly.

“Stop talking nonsense,” Shen Qingci said. “Just tell me—what do you want?”

Lin Shanwan didn’t mind her tone; she had already seen stranger things.

She raised her chin, pointing at Xi Xingye bluntly: “His life.”

“Lin… Shan… Wan!” Xi Xingye gritted his teeth.

Lin Shanwan chuckled, crouching beside Shen Qingci. “How about we make a little deal?”

Shen Qingci narrowed her eyes.

Lin Shanwan continued, “I take care of Xi Xingye. When he dies, you’ll inherit a hefty fortune. You give me half of what you get, and I let you go. Deal?”

Her smile was radiant, but a dark light lingered in her eyes.

What’s the point of just taking that brat’s life? She could have done that long ago.

She had let him grow up to watch him fail, to see him betrayed, to see no one care, to lift him high only to smash him into the mud—just like what his despicable mother had done!

Sure enough, hearing this, Xi Xingye’s veins bulged instantly.

“Lin Shanwan, you really are a dog!” He clenched his jaw.

He loved to play, but he wasn’t stupid.

He knew Shen Yuan was important to Shen Qingci and that this woman had an iron hand and no qualms about cutting ties…

Such tempting conditions—he knew she wouldn’t refuse.

Yet Lin Shanwan insisted she make the choice in front of him.

Wasn’t that just to watch him bow, to feel the pain and fear of being abandoned again?

He knew all this, yet his hands still trembled, and his heart sank lower and lower.

His gaze couldn’t help but fall on Shen Qingci…