Chapter 88

Xie Fuyi’s gaze fell on the words on the document, feeling as if a bolt from the blue had struck him. His face turned instantly pale. “It can’t be!”

Red-eyed and frantic, he rushed forward and tore up the documents on the table. Stumbling, he half-sat on the carpet beside Xie Tingbai’s feet, unconsciously clutching at his clothes. He looked up at him, his voice choked with emotion. “Big brother, there must be some mistake. How could I not be a child of the Xie family?”

He couldn’t even bear to think about it. If he wasn’t the third young master of the Xie family, how would he survive? How would people look at him? Would those he had offended or bullied come after him?

The more he thought about it, the paler his face became. Tears welled up in his eyes, his grip tightening, his voice pleading, “Big brother, maybe it’s because I’ve been misbehaving lately, so you’re trying to scare me like this? I promise, I promise I’ll be good from now on. Big brother, please don’t scare me anymore…”

His pleading, with his eyes upturned, made him look especially pitiful, his beautiful eyes reddened, enough to soften anyone’s heart.

Xie Tingbai lowered his gaze, his fingers twitching as if to wipe away the tears, but he couldn’t. Not yet, at least.

This brother of his, his character had been corrupted. Even if he pleaded now, he still didn’t realize the severity of his actions.

It would take time…

Xie Tingbai remained indifferent, silent, looking particularly cold-hearted.

Finally, Xie Fuyi couldn’t hold back his tears any longer. “Big brother…”

Xie Huaixiao stood behind him, his dark eyes brooding. Why did he only call him big brother? Did he think he couldn’t protect him?

He lazily spoke up, his tone mocking, “How could the documents provided by big brother be wrong? He has confirmed this matter several times already. It was said that eighteen years ago, in the hospital, babies were switched. Isn’t that right, big brother?”

Xie Tingbai glanced at him and took out a photograph, saying calmly, “His name is Jiang You, also a freshman at your school. If you still don’t believe it, I’ll have him brought here tomorrow, and you can both undergo another test to confirm.”

“How could it be him?” Xie Fuyi stared blankly at the person in the photo, shaking his head murmuring, “Impossible! I don’t believe it!”

He had just bullied the person who was apparently the true young master of the Xie family?

Xie Huaixiao grabbed Xie Fuyi’s wrist and pulled him into his embrace. “Yiyi, it’s a done deal. You should think about what to do next.”

He hinted, “I heard this kid is destitute. His father disappeared after accumulating massive debts, and his mother passed away from illness. If you were switched, you might have to work part-time to repay the debts.”

Xie Fuyi’s face turned pale with fear.

How could a young master who had been pampered and raised in luxury since childhood handle such things?

He grabbed Xie Huaixiao’s clothes. “Second Brother, please help me. I don’t want to…”

Seeing his beautiful brother pleading in his arms, feeling his dependence, Xie Huaixiao felt somewhat satisfied.

A smirk tugged at his lips. “You can continue to stay in the Xie family if you want, but you won’t be a young master anymore.”

Xie Fuyi looked puzzled. “Then what would I be?”

Xie Huaixiao cleared his throat. Unable to be a young master, he could be a young mistress of the Xie family…

But it wasn’t the right time yet.

He squinted his eyes, teasingly, “Apart from being a young master, the only other option in the Xie family is to serve as a servant. How about you serve Second Brother? I’ll take care of you.”

Xie Fuyi’s expression changed. The proud young master wouldn’t just soft-talk a few words and actually become a servant. He wouldn’t swallow his pride.

Pushing Xie Huaixiao’s hand away, he stood up and kicked him. “You’re dreaming! Since you’re driving me away, then I’ll leave!”

Xie Fuyi glared angrily at Xie Tingbai, tears still in his dark, shiny eyes, but he didn’t linger. He turned and ran out.

“Yiyi!” Xie Huaixiao’s face changed. He hadn’t expected the young master to leave just like that. He had only made a couple of jokes, and he was gone. This temper, he wouldn’t bear any grievances.

Xie Huaixiao was about to go after him when Xie Tingbai suddenly spoke up, “Huaixiao, your words just now went too far. Think carefully before you speak.”

Xie Huaixiao stopped, turning back with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “Big brother, don’t tell me you didn’t mean it? Otherwise, why haven’t you told mom and dad the truth? You must have other plans, right?”

Xie Tingbai lowered his eyes, his fingers interlacing as he sat on the sofa, his pressure gradually increasing. “He’s still a member of the Xie family for now.”

Xie Huaixiao put his hands in his pockets. “I know. Don’t use your big brother’s status to suppress me.”

It wouldn’t be for long.

Xie Huaixiao didn’t waste any time and went after Xie Fuyi, but by the time he caught up, Xie Fuyi was nowhere to be seen.

…

Xie Fuyi knew he had a role to play tonight, so he needed to go to the bar to drown his sorrows. He happened to run into Jiang Yu, the part-time worker, and decided to teach him a lesson, only to be saved by Xie Huaixiao who chased after him.

However, he underestimated his own tolerance for alcohol. After a few drinks, his face flushed and his eyes watered, feeling dizzy as he leaned against the sofa.

Sitting in a booth on the first floor, Jiang Yu came over to serve him drinks and happened to see Xie Fuyi down a glass of alcohol in one gulp, followed by a violent coughing fit.

His coughing brought tears to his eyes, his nose slightly red, looking pitiful, without a trace of the arrogant young master who bullied people during the day.

Jiang Yu glanced around. Many of the patrons in this bar were open-minded, and Xie Sanshao’s delicate appearance, combined with his drunken state, was quite appealing.

Usually, he would come with friends, surrounded by admirers, so no one dared to approach him rudely. But today, he was alone, and obviously not in a good mood. Being drunk made him an easy target.

Jiang Yu’s gaze lingered on Xie Fuyi’s lips stained with alcohol, overly red, and his beautiful dark eyes shimmered with water, enticing.

Seeing occasional glances from men around him, Jiang Yu didn’t know what his own mentality was like. By the time he realized it, he had already approached and taken the drink from Xie Fuyi’s hand, saying softly, “Xie Fuyi, stop drinking. Go back home.”

Xie Fuyi finally saw the protagonist arrive. He was a little drunk but remembered his mission—to make things difficult for the person in front of him.

Xie Sanshao glared angrily at the person in front of him. “Jiang Yu? What business is it of yours if this young master drinks?”

Thinking of the photo from tonight, his expression grew even more unpleasant, his eyes red with anger. “Are you here to show off? Do you believe I’ll make it difficult for you to stay here!”

Jiang Yu was a bit puzzled. Clearly, it was Xie Fuyi who was threatening him, but how did he suddenly look sad and aggrieved? As if he had been bullied by him…

Just then, a group of four or five carefree men walked over. They observed for a while and confirmed that Xie Fuyi was alone. His face was truly enticing, and they couldn’t resist striking up a conversation.

One of them pushed Jiang Yu aside and went straight to Xie Fuyi, putting his arm around Xie Fuyi’s shoulder. “Little brother, why are you drinking alone? Let big brother accompany you…”

“Get lost!” Xie Fuyi pushed away the greasy man irritably, but he clung to him again. “Don’t leave.”

With a “crash,” he impatiently smashed the bottle of alcohol in his hand against the man’s head.

“Hmm.” The man touched the blood on his head, his eyes glaring with fury. “Damn, this arrogant brat doesn’t know his place! Teach him a lesson!”

“Stop!” Jiang Yu hurriedly stepped forward to pull Xie Fuyi away and kicked the man aside.

But with three or four burly men joining in, he was quickly restrained and pinned to the side.

Meanwhile, Xie Fuyi, still feeling the effects of the alcohol, was lying dazed on the sofa. The man wiped the blood from his forehead, kicked Jiang Yu, then slowly approached Xie Fuyi.

“Xie Fuyi, run!” Jiang Yu urged desperately.

But Xie Fuyi’s mind was foggy, unable to think clearly at the moment. He could only watch hazily as the man grinned maliciously, leaning down and tearing apart his shirt with one hand.

His smooth, fair chest glistened like jade, with two tantalizing blushes.

The man’s eyes widened in lust, about to approach, when suddenly two loud bangs sounded behind him, followed by cries of pain.

Furrowing his brow, he turned to see a tall young man striding towards him, his handsome face cloaked in a chilling mist of anger, his low, suppressed voice dripping with icy menace.

“You’re asking for death.”