Chapter 60: Talk about conditions

Xie Bo was taking a shower on the second floor.

Lin Yiwei was rummaging around the house, casually searching through some previously used items including a makeup box, skincare lotion, and facial creams.

He had actually kept them all this time.

They had once spent an unforgettable weekend at a villa on Herin Road, and many things were purchased nearby with Xie Bo accompanying her to the nearby town.

Recalling the crazy days before their breakup, Lin Yiwei felt a burning sensation in her heart.

Since then, Xie Bo had pried open her tightly sealed heart.

Lin Yiwei quickly freshened up, applied light makeup, extending her eyeliner and blending it downwards at the corners, highlighting her clever and cunning fox eyes. For lipstick, she chose raspberry.

She didn’t like makeup for an important reason; her deep facial features made even a hint of makeup appear too bold, drawing full attention on the street.

Lin Yiwei… didn’t feel secure.

Before meeting Xie Bo and after he left, everyday life was fraught with tension. That summer after graduation, she was constantly followed while looking for a rental house. Even the married landlord was eyeing her…

Coming from a lower class and being beautiful, she became a piece of meat thrown into a pack of wild dogs. She’d rather be disheveled than attract attention. Beside Xie Bo, Lin Yiwei had more opportunities to wear makeup. Sometimes, she even handed the lipstick to Xie Bo, and their favorite pastime was applying lipstick while kissing.

That was… a long time ago.

Lin Yiwei sighed in front of the mirror and walked to the second-floor closet. Xie Bo put on a neatly pressed black suit, with no wrinkles on the collar, broad shoulders and narrow waist, his back lines sharp and powerful in the mirror.

Looking like a curious cat, she reached out to him, “Hi.”

Xie Bo coldly withdrew his gaze, picked up a light gray tie from the grid, and Lin Yiwei quickly took it from his hand, “Let me help you.”

He immediately withdrew his hand.

Lin Yiwei was bumped by his action, took a step back in pain, “Can’t touch you anymore.”

Xie Bo didn’t want to touch her injured hand, which was why he was so sensitive. He wanted to explain, pursed his lips, hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately said nothing.

Lin Yiwei didn’t force him, but she didn’t leave either, standing awkwardly against the wall.

Xie Bo knew she was pretending to be pitiful and didn’t want to soften, but still kicked a stool to her feet.

“Master Bo.”

“I don’t want to hear you talk.”

There’s nothing new under the sun. She just talks nonsense. Xie Bo didn’t want to hear it. Lin Yiwei knew he didn’t like it, so she had to shut up and not further provoke his anger. While he was impatiently adjusting his tie, she gently took it over, and looped it around in circles.

Xie Bo still backed away. He didn’t want to hurt her again.

Lin Yiwei tugged at the tie and motioned with her eyes, “Master Bo…”

She put on makeup.

Xie Bo looked at the girl’s captivating fox eyes, smelled the faint powdery fragrance on her body, and thought again.

Lin Yiwei was well aware of this, her crimson lips slightly parted, breath gently flowing over his neck, tiptoeing slowly, lightly touching his thin lips, leaving an imprint of her lipstick on them.

Xie Bo greedily desired more, but then he thought, if it weren’t for that person, why would she eagerly cross the ocean to come back to find him, sticking to him, clinging to him?

The once elusive little fox, only Xie Bo pursued her, never expecting her to come knocking willingly.

All that talk of loving him, missing him, Xie Bo believed it, but deep down he knew she loved Lin Xie more.

Those longing text messages, that was her most passionate and sincere love.

She was false to everyone but true to that brother.

Xie Bo’s heart grew cold, he held her chin, gently pushing her away, “I think your injuries are almost healed, you can return to London.”

“It’s too early,” Lin Yiwei hurriedly grabbed his hand, “It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much.”

“…”

“I still need Dr. Yi to treat me for a few more sessions, I can’t leave yet.”

Xie Bo didn’t look at her, “Suit yourself, but don’t bother me.”

Lin Yiwei knew he wouldn’t easily forgive her, didn’t insist further, and sat back on the soft stool, asking him, “I didn’t mean to provoke you, just asking, Master Bo, what are your plans for today?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Will you come over tonight?”

He didn’t answer, turning away to a display case of jewelry, Lin Yiwei noticed under his sleeve, faintly discernible, the dignified aura of black jade.

He still wore the gemstone bracelet she gave him, not only that, but also her ruby bracelet.

One red and one black chain, truly a perfect match.It’s a pity, that was their only matching point.

Lin Yiwei took a deep breath, looking at him, “I’ll wait for you, if you don’t come back, I’ll come find you, at the office, at the club… Master Bo probably can’t let his girlfriend know about my existence, right? Don’t force me to show up…”

Before she finished, the man’s claw-like hand suddenly grabbed her face, gripping tightly.

Lin Yiwei felt her cheekbones were about to be crushed.

“Fine, if being soft doesn’t work, then I’ll be tough. Are you threatening me in Chi Xiyu’s name? Lin Yiwei, you’re really scheming just for him, do you love him that much?”

“…”

He could explode at any moment, just now downstairs he was entwined with her passionately, but now that Lin Xie wasn’t mentioned, he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Master Bo, it hurts, you’re hurting me.”

Xie Bo released her, the young girl rubbing her cheek in distress, easing the pain, “I didn’t say anything, can’t you stop overthinking? Can’t I just hope you’ll come back tonight?”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

“Let’s talk about just now, we’re like two grasshoppers on the same string, how could I threaten you?”

“We’re not, not anymore.”

Xie Bo turned and swiftly walked out, Lin Yiwei followed him like a shadow to the garage.

Xie Bo got into the car, slammed the door shut with a bang, started the engine.

Lin Yiwei lay on the car window, “What are your plans for today, can you tell me?”

Intentionally, he said, “Accompanying Chi Xiyu shopping, watching movies, having dinner with Chi Xiyu.”

Seeing her persistently grabbing at his window, Xie Bo couldn’t bring himself to press the window button, “Lin Yiwei, go away.”

“I’m jealous.”

“Jealous,” he sneered, “Jealousy isn’t just a word on your lips, you haven’t learned what jealousy really is.”

Only he, several sleepless nights, burning with anger, wishing to crush that man to dust…That’s jealousy.

Xie Bo stepped on the gas, Lin Yiwei ran to the front of the car, blocking his path. Xie Bo slammed on the brakes, startled.

“Lin Yiwei, are you trying to get yourself killed!”

“You might as well run me over.”

Xie Bo rubbed his eyes, slightly softened his tone, “What do you want from me?”

“Promise me, come back tonight.”

“I can’t promise uncertain things.”

Xie Bo drove off, Lin Yiwei chased after the car for a few meters, then dejectedly watched the sedan disappear into the morning mist.

She picked up a large stone by her feet, fiercely smashing it against the garden fence, letting out a low roar of frustration.

What should she do… what should she do…

Lin Xie was barely holding on, she knew he was almost at his limit.

Yi Shiqi said he was sick, and if he couldn’t get treatment, she didn’t know what would happen.

The pain was unbearable, like being struck by a thousand arrows.

…

Lin Yiwei spent the whole day at home, bored out of her mind, thinking of all sorts of bizarre ideas, only to dismiss them one by one.

She even searched Xie Bo’s study inside and out, trying to find any trace related to Lin Xie.To no avail.

Xie Bo wouldn’t leave any clues at the Herin Road villa, still leaving her at home with peace of mind.

Thinking about this, at dusk, Lin Yiwei took her dog and went to the DS Club.

She thought there wouldn’t be many people at this time, but unexpectedly, they were having a barbecue party to celebrate the team’s consecutive victories of the week.

The party was held in the club’s backyard, with several men and women sitting on sofas in the lounge area, drinking and playing games.

At the front desk, Li Du was diligently reviewing quarterly reports, with a few pieces of crispy barbecue on his plate, eating while working…

Suddenly, the dog stood up and leaned on the counter, stretching its big head to reach the meat on his plate.

Li Du was startled by the sudden appearance of the dog’s head and nearly fell off the high stool, “Oh my god!”

“Du.” Lin Yiwei leaned on the table, smiling as she looked at him, “Long time no see.”

“Xie Jiayu, why did you bring it here?”

“It’s now Xiao Gou, don’t use such a serious name, it sounds weird.”

“But that’s its name, and besides, young lady, why are you here?” Li Du looked around warily at the crowds coming and going, “Master Bo’s status is extraordinary now, you can’t… well… you know.”

“I know, he’s going to get engaged, the prospective son-in-law of the Chi family.”

“And you still came.”

“So Chi Xiyu isn’t here?”

“She’s not.”

“That’s good, how about Master Bo?”

“He hasn’t come back yet, are you looking for him?”

“No rush.” Lin Yiwei played with the race car model on the table, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Li Du, making him nervous.

“Miss, what exactly do you want? Just say it, you’re making me doubt myself…”

Lin Yiwei leaned in close to his ear, whispering, “Where’s my brother? Do you know?”

“How could I possibly know?”

“Du, tell me.” Lin Yiwei glanced around at the club members coming and going, speaking softly, “I’m at my wit’s end, he won’t save my brother, what else can I do?”

“It’s not that I won’t tell you, I really don’t know. Instead of asking me, you should beg Yi Shiqi. At least he’s been there a few times with Master Bo.”

Lin Yiwei immediately pulled out her phone, ready to arrange a meeting with Yi Shiqi, but Li Du blocked the screen with his hand, stopping her, “Let’s not talk about whether he would betray Master Bo for you. Even if you privately arrange to meet his brother, if Master Bo finds out, do you know the consequences? Lin Xie has already driven him crazy this past year, and Yi Shiqi is not as resolute as I am. If you dare mess around, try it, and see if he won’t kill you.”

Lin Yiwei leaned against the bar coldly, “You brothers really have a deep bond…”

“You say that, but this past year Master Bo hasn’t done nothing. He’s practically become a spy for the Chi family because of you. Have you considered what risk this entails? You conveniently use him to save your ex-lover, who would forgive that?”

She hurriedly said, “Lin Xie isn’t my ex-lover. I was so young back then, he’s my relative, he raised me. How could I not save him?”

“Don’t explain to me, explain to Master Bo.”

Lin Yiwei thought for a moment, “Where is his office, upstairs?”

“What… what do you want to do?”

Lin Yiwei didn’t delay any longer, hastily heading upstairs.

Li Du hurriedly followed, “Weiwei, you can’t go up there!”

German Shepherd saw him catch up and viciously barked at him, causing Li Du to step back repeatedly, holding onto the dog.

Lin Yiwei pushed open the door and walked into Xie Bo’s office.

Half of the office was filled with various business championship trophies, neatly arranged in glass cabinets. Lin Yiwei skillfully searched through the drawers of the desk, pulling out various documents, searching for any trace of Lin Xie.

She remembered him mentioning that Chi Youhuai had entrusted many details of Chi Xiyu’s upcoming art exhibition to him, which might provide a clue. If only she knew where he was being held captive.

Suddenly, Lin Yiwei spotted a familiar black phone in one of the drawers. She trembled as she picked up the phone—it was Lin Xie’s Redmi phone!Just as she pressed the power button, the office door was pushed open.

Lin Yiwei looked up and saw Xie Bo entering, clad in a black flame racing suit. He tossed the racing suit onto the sofa, the collar of his shirt underneath loosened, exuding a carefree and lax aura.

Lin Yiwei tightly clutched the Redmi phone, her hands trembling.

Xie Bo’s dark gaze casually swept over the messy documents on the office desk. With a calm and steady voice akin to the calm before a storm, he asked her—”What are you looking for?”

“Nothing…”

“Tell me, I’ll help you find it.”

“I’m sorry…” Lin Yiwei hastily rearranged the scattered documents.

He walked over to her, his fingertip lightly tracing from the hollow of her neck down her spine, gripping her slender waist firmly.

She winced in pain.

“Looking for your brother?” He shifted his gaze downward, spotting the Redmi phone in her hand.

Gritting her teeth, Lin Yiwei said, “You shouldn’t… look at his phone.”

“Now that we’re here, I’ll give you a chance.” Xie Bo cradled her waist, pulling her into his embrace, his voice calm like the impending storm, “Explain to me, let’s see if you can convince me.”

“Me and him grew up together in the orphanage…”

“I know all that.”

Lin Yiwei took a deep breath and continued, “We were childhood sweethearts. I used to think I’d marry him when I grew up. He was gentle and kind, he taught me how to paint, how to become a better person. We went through a lot together. If he hadn’t disappeared, maybe I wouldn’t have met Chi Xiyu, wouldn’t have met you. We live in two different worlds… If you want the truth, that’s it…”

Her bones were still as tough, her gaze still as stubborn.

Xie Bo had countless speculations running through his mind, speculating about their relationship, wondering if it was all a misunderstanding, but…

The words she uttered hit his ears like a blunt force trauma, shattering his heart.

After many days, Xie Bo thought he had calmed down.

No, he still couldn’t calm down, still seething with rage, wishing to crush that man into dust.

Xie Bo released her, just when she thought everything had settled, he suddenly hurled the glass trophy he had just picked up onto the wall.

The trophy smashed into pieces against the wall.

“I don’t want to know about your disgusting relationship.”

“You asked about it yourself.”

Xie Bo turned around and glared at her angrily.

She knew she couldn’t provoke him any further. “But that’s all in the past.”

She hugged Xie Bo, embracing his scorching yet firm body, “What happened before I met you, you can’t blame me for not having a past. Those past experiences shaped who I am now. Xie Bo, you can’t punish me because you loved someone else in the past, that’s not fair!”

“Loved someone in the past?” Xie Bo released her hand from around his waist, pulling her closer, his eyes icy and filled with hatred, “And you don’t love him anymore?”

Xie Bo didn’t wait for Lin Yiwei to respond; he harshly said, “No longer in love? Then what are you doing now?”

With that, he forcefully pushed her away.

“Please, Sir Bo, if you don’t help him, he has no way out. Even if I don’t love him anymore, I can’t just watch him die. He’s my brother!” Lin Yiwei pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

Xie Bo lowered his gaze, looking at the girl before him who seemed to have no way out.

His heart was breaking.

He reached out, gripping the girl’s chin, his eyes filled with intense hatred, and said each word deliberately, “For him, you’d do anything, right?”

…

Xie Bo held onto Lin Yiwei’s hand, pulling her along, and they arrived at the party in the backyard.

Young race car drivers and their friends were enthusiastically grilling, drinking, dancing, and enjoying music—the atmosphere was lively.

Lin Yiwei was dragged along by him, stumbling slightly, attracting many curious glances.

Many women would willingly stick to Xie Bo, but it was rare to see him actively pulling a woman along.

Curious and speculative gazes followed them along the way.

He roughly pulled Lin Yiwei to a grapevine-covered area and tossed her onto the sofa.

Xie Bo glanced back at the curious onlookers, his eyes showing obvious irritation.

The others quickly turned away, pretending to be busy with their own activities, but their peripheral vision uncontrollably shifted towards them.

Lin Yiwei lay on the edge of the sofa, rubbing her sore wrist from being gripped by him, looking at him puzzled.

Xie Bo brought over several bottles of foreign liquor to the coffee table, along with a long-necked glass decanter. He poured the mixed foreign liquor into the decanter with a clattering sound.

Brandy, vodka, gin… After shaking it up, he lined up more than a dozen glass cups and poured the mixed liquor from the decanter into these glasses.

Surrounding men and women were drawn to Xie Bo’s actions, gathering around and whispering to each other.

After pouring so many glasses, it seemed someone had angered Young Master Xie.Xie Bo sat on the edge of the sofa, his long legs restlessly tapping the coffee table, smiling like a scoundrel.

“Come on, darling, drink it all. If you do, I’ll grant your wish and let Yi Shiqi continue treating him,” he said to Lin Yiwei, gesturing towards the array of glasses.

Lin Yiwei looked at the densely arranged glasses in front of her. “Just… treat him?”

“Don’t push your luck. You don’t have the right to negotiate terms,” Lin Yiwei quickly nodded, obediently agreeing, “Just don’t break your promise.”

Xie Bo picked up the first glass, downed it in one gulp, then slammed the glass down, glancing at Lin Yiwei.

Without hesitation, she picked up her glass and, imitating Xie Bo’s gesture, gulped down the potent mixture of liquor.

Her first sensation was a burning sensation.

The pungent odor of the mixed liquor choked her nose, causing her to cough violently, feeling like hot water flowing down her throat and into her stomach.

She coughed for a long time, tears streaming down her face.

She sniffled and picked up the second glass, feeling slightly better after drinking it.

The third glass, the fourth glass… By the time she finished the fifth glass, the world was spinning…

The dim neon lights shone on the man on the sofa opposite her, blurring his sharp features.

Lin Yiwei’s head was spinning uncontrollably, unable to stabilize her body. She tried to sit down but ended up falling at Xie Bo’s feet.

Xie Bo instinctively reached out to help, but then decided against it, letting her fall by his feet.

Around them, some guys took out their phones, recording Lin Yiwei drinking. Xie Bo’s threatening gaze swept over them.

“Hand it over.”

The young man hesitated but dared not disobey him, reluctantly handing over the phone.

Xie Bo didn’t hesitate, grabbing a glass of liquor and unceremoniously tossing the phone into it.

The young man watched in heartache as his newly purchased iPhone sank into the glass, but he dared not say much.

Seeing this, the surrounding people quickly put their phones away.

Lin Yiwei, still coughing, clutching her burning chest, felt her whole body burning up, and everything around her seemed to spin.

“Sir Bo, I can’t do this anymore.”

Even men with strong alcohol tolerance couldn’t handle such potent mixed liquor.

Xie Bo picked up another glass, coldly saying, “I’ll help you with one more glass, but the rest, you deal with yourself.”

There were at least a dozen full glasses left on the table.

Knowing his temperament, Lin Yiwei picked up the glass and downed it, then continued to drink several more glasses in succession.

The German Shepherd sensed something was wrong, sniffing at its owner, trying to stop her.

Lin Yiwei looked at the dog in a daze, suddenly smiling, patting its big head, and pouring a glass of liquor over it, “Silly Xie Dog, you’re so clueless…”

She seemed thoroughly drunk.

The German Shepherd innocently shook off the alcohol splashed on his head, teeth gripping her sleeve to prevent her from drinking more.

However, Xie Bo relentlessly poured her another glass, compensating for the one she had just spilled.

He was a person of firm resolve.

Lin Yiwei picked up the glass, clinked it against his empty one, and continued drinking.

Li Du heard the commotion and hurried over, seeing Lin Yiwei alone, downing over a dozen glasses of strong mixed drinks.

This could kill someone. “Master Bo, she shouldn’t…”

“Get lost.”

His words were promptly dismissed by Xie Bo. It was her own choice; he wanted to see how far she would go to save her beloved.

“Lin Yiwei, keep going.” He calmly pushed a full glass towards her.

Lin Yiwei’s mind was numb, mechanically holding the glass and drinking one after another.

Until there were only three or four left on the table, she couldn’t hold on anymore, covering her mouth, stumbling over to the flowerbed and vomiting uncontrollably.

Li Du quickly brought a glass of water, gently patting the girl’s back as she convulsed, emptying her stomach of alcohol.

Afterward, he offered the warm water to her mouth, “Drink some.”

The girl’s eyes were watery, tears streaming down her face, looking disheveled.

Li Du didn’t mind, gently wiping her face with a towel, “Alright, I’ll take you home. Don’t accompany this lunatic.”

He helped Lin Yiwei, whose thin body struggled to stand. After vomiting, the burning sensation in her stomach eased, and her mind cleared slightly. She pushed away from Li Du, staggered to Xie Bo, and picked up the remaining drink.

Xie Bo elegantly lifted a bottle of brandy, refilling the empty glass before him.

“What’s vomited doesn’t count; let’s start anew.”

He poured a glass, and Lin Yiwei drank it. There was intoxication in her eyes, but more so, stubbornness.

Li Du couldn’t bear it anymore. “Master Bo, enough, she’s just a girl.”

“Do I need you to remind me she’s a girl?”

“Let me drink for her.”

Xie Bo coldly lifted the girl’s chin, looking at her flushed cheeks and tipsy appearance, extraordinarily beautiful.

“You see, you have this ability to make men bend over backwards to help you, even my two brothers are enchanted by you.”

Lin Yiwei snatched the cup from Li Du and kicked him.

Li Du: …

She stubbornly drank that glass, and Xie Bo poured several more, all of which she drank.

She drank a glass, and Xie Bo followed suit, and the two finished the bottle of brandy.

Finally, Lin Yiwei softly collapsed onto Xie Bo, her eyes watery as she looked at him, “Master Bo, is this… is this enough? Are you appeased?”

Before he could respond, she vomited all over him.

Surrounding girls gasped in shock. To vomit on Xie Bo, she must be incredibly audacious, knowing his love for cleanliness and aversion to dirt.

They thought he would immediately push her away, but to their surprise, although he frowned, he didn’t push her away; instead, he held her convulsing back gently.

Lin Yiwei lay on him, her body still spasming, feeling uncomfortable and nauseous.

Li Du moved to help her, but Xie Bo couldn’t stand another man touching her skin. He scooped her up and carried her back to the club’s office.

He meticulously cleaned all the dirt off her, wiped her body, changed his clothes, and let her comfortably lie on the office sofa.

Afterward, he cleaned himself, took a shower, and when he came out of the bathroom, the girl was sleeping soundly, hugging a pillow.

Xie Bo drew the curtains of the four glass windows, adjusted the lighting to a soft color temperature, and placed the hangover glucose sent by Li Du quietly on the coffee table.

Sitting on the edge of the carpet, he opened the plastic tube of glucose and held it to the girl’s lips.

When she didn’t open her mouth, he pinched her mouth to force it open and poured the glucose in. Unexpectedly, the glucose went down her windpipe, causing the girl to cough violently.

Xie Bo lacked experience in taking care of drunkards. Lin Yiwei coughed for a while, then fell back asleep.

Xie Bo nudged her several times to make her finish the remaining glucose, but she mumbled and cursed him with words like idiot and moron.

Xie Bo kissed her forehead, saying he’d rather be an idiot.

Only in such moments, when her consciousness was unclear, could Xie Bo truly open his heart and love her unreservedly.

If she regained her senses, his love would seem ridiculous and foolish. He shouldn’t love a woman who loved someone else. He poured the remaining half of the glucose liquid into his mouth, kissed her lips, and slowly transferred the sweet liquid to her.

She obediently sucked on it, even daringly exploring his tongue, licking his lips and teeth like a kitten, opening his mouth to let her in, entwining with him.

“Yiyi…”

“Hmm?” She unconsciously responded, opening her slightly tipsy eyes.

He even… even dared not ask her if she knew who he was. He feared hearing an answer that would pierce his heart. If she called him brother again, Xie Bo feared he would lose control and harm her on the spot.

Lin Yiwei’s teasing stirred up emotions in him, leading him into her world, allowing him to touch, to explore.

Later, Xie Bo carefully wiped clean his long and powerful fingertips with tissues. He looked at her, lying on the sofa, soft like a puddle of water, still gazing at him with wet eyes.

Xie Bo covered her with his clothes, then went to the balcony, lit a cigarette, took a deep breath, and called Yi Shiqi,

“Start tomorrow, continue to treat him at the villa.”