Chapter 5: Big Trouble

Before falling asleep, Lin Yiwei’s door banged as if there was an earthquake.

She slipped on her slippers and went to open the door. Su Andi rushed in without hesitation, complaining and crying, “You’ve made me miserable! Chi Xicheng couldn’t find you and came to trouble me!”

Lin Yiwei frowned sensitively and asked, “You didn’t betray me, did you?”

“Lin Yiwei, are you even human? Because of you, they beat me up, and all you care about is yourself!” Su Andi poured out all her grievances, “I’m suffering because of you!”

She lifted Su Andi’s chin, examining the faint red mark on her forehead.It was a bruise, with a little skin broken.

She fetched the first aid kit and applied some iodine to it.

Su Andi watched her approach slowly, holding her breath involuntarily.

Even though she was a girl, looking at Lin Yiwei’s face up close, which was as beautiful as a disaster, made her heart race uncontrollably, let alone for a man.

Su Andi had always been jealous of her face since childhood, but fortunately, she had more than Lin Yiwei—

A happy family, a wealthy life, more friends… These were all things Lin Yiwei couldn’t envy.

Even though she usually pretended not to care, Su Andi could tell that whenever the family was harmonious and happy, Lin Yiwei looked like a jealous voyeur, enviously gazing at everything she had.

Su Andi could always find subtle psychological balance in this regard, so she and Lin Yiwei could live together harmoniously for so many years.

“Does it still hurt?” Lin Yiwei’s concern was genuine.

“Yes! It hurts so much.”

“Did it happen because of Chi Xicheng?”

“Yes, he couldn’t find you, so he took it out on me!”

In wealthy families, there were many spoiled individuals with bad tempers, so Lin Yiwei wasn’t surprised.

“You don’t belong to their circle. Trying to squeeze yourself into their circle, you’re asking for trouble.” She gently applied the medicine to her.

“Heh, Lin Yiwei, what about you? Before, as soon as you heard Chi Xicheng’s name, your eyes lit up.” Su Andi snorted, “Don’t forget, I got beaten because of you!”

“You didn’t betray me, did you?” She asked again.

“Of course not! How could I betray you? We’re sisters, even if not by blood, we’ve known each other for over ten years!”

“You’re right.” Lin Yiwei smiled thinly.

Su Andi asked her again, “By the way, why did you suddenly leave tonight?”

“I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Chi Xicheng took notice of you, what a great opportunity, it’s a shame you didn’t seize it.”

“What great opportunity?” Lin Yiwei looked at the cut on her forehead, “Do you want this opportunity?”

“I…”

Su Andi suddenly stuttered, hesitated for a while, and said, “I have someone I like.”

“You met the person you like tonight?”

“Xie Bo didn’t show up at all! I asked around, and they said he and Chi Xicheng have never gotten along.” Su Andi said gloomily, “Although their families cooperate in business, they don’t get along. Chi Xicheng likes to form cliques, has many buddies around him, which is quite similar to his sister. But Xie Bo is different, he’s solitary. He usually doesn’t attend events organized by Chi Xicheng. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have gone. It’s really a waste of time.”

Lin Yiwei wasn’t interested in these things. She packed up the first aid kit, then glanced at Su Andi’s new Hermès bag and murmured, “Nice new bag.”

Su Andi’s expression changed slightly, then she smiled, “A friend got me a high-quality replica, it looks pretty real.”

“I didn’t ask how you got it, and you don’t need to explain so much.”

“Then I’ll… go to bed first, good night.”

“Good night.”

As Su Andi walked out of the room, she seemed noticeably nervous.

Lin Yiwei realized that Su Andi might have been bought off. In the following days, she became colder towards her, refusing to attend any gatherings or dinners she arranged, and even declined Su Andi’s invitations to go shopping.

Although the relationship between the two sisters had always been superficial, Su Andi was the only companion Lin Yiwei had to go shopping with as they grew up.

Lin Yiwei understood Su Andi’s vanity very well.

She had to be on guard against her.

A few days later, Figue University welcomed the start of the semester.

Situated on a peninsula in the cosmopolitan city of Qinggang, Figue University had exchange partnerships with many world-renowned institutions, particularly in their business and art schools, producing numerous outstanding talents in the art and business sectors.

Hence, many prestigious families were willing to send their children to Figue University to study both business and art, nurturing artistic flair without compromising their family enterprises.

For children from poor families, unless they possessed exceptional artistic talent, entering this artistic sanctuary with top scores to obtain substantial tuition and living expense waivers would be challenging. Otherwise, this university, filled with an aristocratic atmosphere, was not suitable for ordinary families.

Lin Yiwei belonged to the latter category.

Though her painting talent was slightly inferior to Lin Xie’s, she possessed a strong sensitivity and intuition for colors.

So Lin Xie would often pat her head, jokingly saying he would send her to study at the Royal College of Art in London. Figue University had long-term cooperation with the Royal College of Art, and for her, getting into Figue University, then taking the IELTS exam in her third year to study abroad, was the closest path to her dream.

Lin Yiwei knew that Lin Xie had placed his own dreams on her.

For people like them, without a dazzling academic background, making a mark in the art world would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Standing in front of the magnificent European-style building of Figue Art College, Lin Yiwei gazed at the sunlight shining on the splendid semicircular dome, her mind not on her own future…

But on Lin Xie, who had disappeared without a trace for two whole years.

She had to find him and go to the Royal College of Art in the UK for further studies together.

And never be apart again….

Although the school waived most of the tuition and living expenses for her, she still had to bear a portion herself.

Lin Yiwei had some savings, but not much. She found a part-time job at a maid convenience store off-campus, where there were quite a few art galleries along the street. During her spare time, she could sell some paintings at a low price or customize portraits to earn some pocket money.

On the first day of reporting to the college, she saw Chi Xiyu.

Chi Xiyu stepped out of a Mercedes-Benz, carrying an exaggerated full-diamond powder bag, with delicate high heels adorned with slender straps wrapping around her slim ankles, exuding the aura of a noble young lady from head to toe.

Several girls surrounded her, discussing her new hairstyle and recent skin condition, or the latest hairpins from a luxury brand…

Of course, there were also a few girls standing aside in twos and threes, looking at her with a cold and disdainful gaze.

Not everyone was eager to please Chi Xiyu, especially in Figue University, where the offspring of wealthy families gathered, and Chi Xiyu had more “friends” and even more enemies.

On the first day of school, it was Chi Xiyu’s award-winning artwork, “Secret,” that was being showcased at the art sharing event.

Before Chi Xiyu entered the rest area, a female student placed a palette of red paint in her path, hoping to embarrass her and disrupt her art sharing event.

As expected, Chi Xiyu accidentally knocked over the paint palette when she entered, and she could only grumble as she went to the restroom to clean her skirt.

It was an unexpected opportunity, and Lin Yiwei successfully made her first contact with her and gained her trust and favor.

The plan progressed smoothly, but unexpected events caught her off guard.

On the first day of school, she collided head-on with the man she had been trying to avoid.

She had thought deleting WeChat messages would end the absurdity of that night, but little did she know, it was just the beginning…

Whether it was due to physical intimacy or his nature, Xie Bo was very “audacious” towards her, completely different from the gentle and obedient impression Lin Yiwei had of him.

She had provoked someone she couldn’t control, completely beyond her capacity to handle.

In just a few minutes of their reunion, she could read from this man’s eyes his strong possessiveness and dominance, as well as his… lingering desire.

He still wanted her.

Lin Yiwei claimed to be on her period to temporarily stabilize him, but she could tell Xie Bo didn’t believe her.

He didn’t believe her, yet he didn’t force her, which gave her a little sense of security.

She felt that a person like Xie Bo was surrounded by countless glamorous admirers.

Perhaps… after some time, he would forget about her.She could only hope for that for now….

Clutching her backpack containing his racing jacket, Lin Yiwei cautiously walked out of the art building as if holding a hot potato. Just then, she saw Xie Bo receiving a large bouquet of snow mountain roses handed by the driver, greeting Chi Xiyu.

Chi Xiyu walked towards her with a reserved smile of a lady, saying, “Hi, Brother Xie Bo, I just saw you.”

They had known each other since childhood and had even studied abroad together for a while during high school, so their relationship was intimate. Especially after the prospect of marriage between the Xie and Chi families, Chi Xiyu had already regarded Xie Bo as her future husband. Even though they weren’t officially a couple yet, Chi Xiyu had already set her mind on him. From the moment she laid eyes on him, she had made up her mind.In theory, with their relationship, they should have had the title of boyfriend and girlfriend long ago, but… Xie Bo just wouldn’t define their relationship.

As a girl, Chi Xiyu naturally had to maintain her dignity and wouldn’t take the initiative to bring it up. So the two of them always maintained this perfect level of ambiguity.

Chi Xiyu couldn’t figure out what Xie Bo was thinking, and she had heard gossip from her circle of sisters more than once, saying that Xie Bo had a pretty girl in his car one day, and within a few days, he had changed to another one. He was too appealing to girls, and there were countless girls chasing after him. But fortunately… Xie Bo never did anything out of line. Compared to the continuous scandals of her brother Chi Xicheng, Xie Bo was already considered a model gentleman among the scions of wealthy families.

Chi Xiyu investigated all the girls who had ridden in his car, using threats and enticements, and heard a consistent answer from them – “Nothing happened.”

So Chi Xiyu turned a blind eye, maintaining her high posture, and didn’t bother about those annoying distractions around him.

Of course, Xie Bo would also give her plenty of face and maintain her self-esteem. Especially on important days like today, he would always make it special, personally coming to see her sharing event, holding a bouquet of flowers, standing in front of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, waiting for her, and taking her to enjoy a romantic French meal.

Xie Bo praised her outfit.Chi Xiyu felt a little embarrassed. This dress was still the cheap college style skirt from that girl who looked a bit shabby.

“I want to go back and change clothes, Brother Xie Bo, could you please take me to the dormitory building downstairs first?”

“Sure.”

Chi Xiyu had a happy smile on her face, watching Xie Bo open the car door for her personally, and elegantly and gracefully getting in.

Ignoring the other love notes from girls in the rose bouquet, Chi Xiyu selectively believed that they would grow old together.

Lin Yiwei turned away expressionlessly, walking away from this enviable golden couple, heading in the opposite direction.

…In the evening, Lin Yiwei returned to the dormitory building.

Taking advantage of the dormitory’s emptiness, she quickly took out Xie Bo’s clothes and stuffed them haphazardly into the wardrobe. She even considered throwing them away, but the thought of someone like him, who wouldn’t settle for anything cheap, made her hesitate. This seemingly inconspicuous jacket might be worth a price she couldn’t afford to lose.

Lin Yiwei needed to find a way to return this “hot potato” without direct contact.

In the midst of her contemplation, the clicking of high heels approached, and Shen Zitong entered the dormitory.

Lin Yiwei immediately closed the closet door.

However, she closed it too forcefully, making a sound that caught Shen Zitong’s attention.

“What are you doing sneakily?” she frowned and asked.

“Nothing.”

Since childhood, Lin Yiwei, who had learned to read people’s expressions, had noticed Shen Zitong’s leadership personality from the moment she moved into this dormitory. Shen Zitong had volunteered to be the dorm monitor on her own initiative and quickly made the girl on the opposite bed, who had slightly lower family background, her follower. The other girl was a top student and didn’t engage in these cliques, so Shen Zitong targeted Lin Yiwei.

With Lin Yiwei’s temperament, if she had someone like Shen Zitong, who had a dominant personality, around her, she would have shown weakness, compromised with her, and said pleasing words to make her happy for a peaceful university life. However, Lin Yiwei, who had done her homework early on, knew that Shen Zitong and Chi Xiyu were not on good terms. The incident with the spilled paint palette was Shen Zitong’s doing. If she wanted to be with Chi Xiyu, she couldn’t join Shen Zitong’s circle of sisters. Therefore, Lin Yiwei treated her very coldly, which greatly displeased Shen Zitong.

Lin Yiwei was too beautiful, and her beauty was extremely intimidating. She also refused to be “sisters” with her, which instinctively made Shen Zitong feel uneasy with her presence. She would occasionally cause trouble for Lin Yiwei.For example, at this moment, Shen Zitong walked to her desk and disdainfully glanced at her. “I found my newly bought face mask missing this morning. Did you take it?”

“No,” Lin Yiwei responded calmly to her insulting questioning, “I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Dare you open the closet for me to check.”

“You can’t just open someone else’s closet. It’s an invasion of privacy.”

This statement made Shen Zitong even more suspicious that Lin Yiwei had stolen something. She shouted, “You’re guilty! You must have stolen my face mask. As soon as I entered the room, you quickly closed the closet. Who else could it be but you?”

“I’m not a thief.”

Sensing drama, several girls from nearby dormitories gathered around like butterflies drawn to nectar, gossiping at the doorway, watching the spectacle unfold.

Seeing the increasing crowd, Shen Zitong became even more arrogant. “Since you said you didn’t steal, then open the closet and let me see.”

Xie Bo’s jacket lay in the closet. If it were seen by the group of girls… rumors would spread at lightning speed throughout Figue University.

Her meticulously planned scheme would be in vain.

Lin Yiwei resolutely blocked the closet with her body.

“Wanna see…” She picked up a fruit knife from the table, firmly pinned it to the closet, lifted her chin slightly, and locked eyes with Shen Zitong.

“You can try.”