Chapter 16: Gu Jin Yi

Rong Xiu glanced sideways at the unusual looks exchanged between Xie Cen and Wen Lan Sheng, but paid no heed.

Now all his attention was on Fan Xia. Seeing her sinking softly into the sofa, her long hair cascading down like spilled ink, his fingertips twitched. He pretended to casually hook her soft black locks with his fingertips, twining them around his fingers.

“Go make a cup of honey water,” he said with his back to Wen Lan Sheng, his voice as cold as ice.

Wen Lan Sheng clenched his fists. Was he treating him like one of the servants in the Rong family? Fan Xia doted on him at home and couldn’t wait, what right did Rong Xiu, an outsider, have to order him around.

Wen Lan Sheng didn’t move.

Rong Xiu turned his head, his chiseled half-face handsome and gloomy: “Are you deaf?”

Wen Lan Sheng’s eyes flashed with anger: “I–”

“Lan Sheng, I remember there’s still honey in the kitchen, go make a cup,” Wen Ming Yue said to Wen Lan Sheng.

Wen Lan Sheng looked at Wen Ming Yue, his eyes uncomprehending and angry.

Wen Ming Yue’s tone sank slightly, taking on a mother’s authority: “Hurry up!”

Wen Lan Sheng reluctantly went into the kitchen and dissolved a spoonful of honey in warm water.

There was a pharmacy right at the entrance of the community downstairs. It didn’t take Xie Cen long to buy the medicine. By the time he brought the medicine back, Wen Lan Sheng had just brought the prepared honey water out of the kitchen.

“Thank you.” Rong Xiu thanked him coldly and distantly, but who knew how much sincerity was in that thanks.

Seeing that Rong Xiu took the glass of honey water not intending to drink it himself, but wanting to feed it to Fan Xia, Wen Lan Sheng immediately snatched the glass and inserted himself between the two: “Senior, let me feed it to Xia Xia. It’s getting late, you have work tomorrow too. I can take care of Xia Xia here, and I’ll help her to the bedroom to sleep in a bit.”

The words were said, just short of directly kicking him out.

“No rush, I’ll leave after I see her take the medicine.” Rong Xiu unhurriedly smoothed his bespoke tailored deep black double-breasted suit, slightly stretching his long legs. His indifferent, inhumane ascetic aura seemed out of place in Fan family’s fresh and simple cozy two-bedroom apartment.

Wen Lan Sheng repeatedly admonished himself in his heart that this was Xia Xia’s top boss, he couldn’t tear off the facade and ruin her future. Only in this way could he persuade himself to endure: “…Okay.”

Wen Lan Sheng took the stomach medicine and opened the foil packaging according to the instructions. Two blue and white capsule pills were revealed.

He gently patted Fan Xia’s face and called out softly in her ear, “Xia Xia, wake up, take the medicine before sleeping, okay?”

Fan Xia opened her eyes in a daze, but her hazy gaze didn’t focus on Wen Lan Sheng’s face. She lowered her eyes quietly, her long hair falling over her chest. Her fair skin was delicate under the warm light. Unlike ordinary people who would have a big personality change and make a drunken scene when drunk, she didn’t make a fuss or cause trouble when drunk, like a child.

No, a child being woken up from a sound sleep would still cry and make a fuss to act spoiled. She was even easier to coax than a child.

But now she was being held by Wen Lan Sheng like a child, her head quietly resting on Wen Lan Sheng’s shoulder. She obediently swallowed the two stomach medicine pills fed to her with the honey water without even furrowing her brows.

Rong Xiu tilted his head, watching her slightly drunken appearance. Under her thick lashes, her eyes were half-closed. Her pale thin lips were stained with some residual honey water, glistening, like cherry flesh showered with rain, lustrous and soft, silently enticing one’s heart.

Rong Xiu’s eyes darkened slightly as he pressed his lips together imperceptibly.

“Senior, Xia Xia has taken the stomach medicine. You should go back early too.” Wen Lan Sheng’s arm guardedly held Fan Xia, speaking to Rong Xiu in a defensive posture.

Rong Xiu uncrossed his long legs, about to get up…

“What’s the rush, Mr. Rong went to great lengths to bring Fan Xia back. Let him sit for a while longer,” Wen Ming Yue said.

Wen Lan Sheng looked at Wen Ming Yue in disbelief, feeling worse than being stabbed in the back.

“Mom, I’m also worried about Senior’s safety. It’s late, it’s not safe for a man to go home alone,” Wen Lan Sheng said with restrained anger and in a good tone.

Rong Xiu unhurriedly leaned back on the sofa and adjusted his rimless glasses on his high nose bridge, the corners of his lips curling up: “It’s fine, security is very good at Yunshui Bay.”

Hearing the words Yunshui Bay, Wen Ming Yue’s eyes instantly lit up. That was a top-notch wealthy area that money might not even be able to buy. Ordinary people like them would never come into contact with such high-class figures in their lifetime. They had to seize the opportunity.

“Lan Sheng, hurry and pour tea for Mr. Rong,” Wen Ming Yue said.

Wen Lan Sheng was so angry he almost lost his mind. He no longer held back his anger and said while supporting the swaying Fan Xia, “I’ll help Xia Xia back to rest. Pour it yourself.”

“You child!” Wen Ming Yue was slightly angry.

“I’ll pour it. Mr. Rong, please wait a moment.” Xie Cen picked up the teapot and walked towards the kitchen to boil water.

“Mm, no hurry.” Rong Xiu glanced lightly at Wen Lan Sheng who was suppressing his anger, leisurely placing his hands on his knees, his cold eyes smiling: “Lan Sheng, do you need my help?”

Wen Lan Sheng’s back stiffened, his back trembling with anger: “No need. Please rest well.”

“Our Lan Sheng ah, spoiled by me and his mom since childhood, has a pampered temper. Mr. Rong, don’t stoop to his level,” Xie Cen said as he brought the tea to Rong Xiu.

Rong Xiu picked up the teacup, his thin lips seeming to smile yet not: “Lan Sheng has changed quite a bit in recent years.”

Back in college, Wen Lan Sheng was quite attentive to Fan Xia. It wasn’t long after announcing their engagement that he felt it was a done deal that he would become Mr. Fan. Not only did he neglect taking care of Fan Xia, he even brought his own parents to live in his fiancée’s home. What a joke!

Rong Xiu took a light sip of tea, his gaze casually sweeping over Wen Lan Sheng’s parents’ faces. As expected of one family, just like Wen Lan Sheng, equally greedy and insatiable.

“It’s getting late, I won’t disturb you two any longer.” Rong Xiu stood up, his tall and straight figure looking down at Wen Lan Sheng’s parents sitting on the sofa.

“Leaving already? Stay a bit longer, Mr. Rong,” Xie Cen said courteously.

Rong Xiu glanced in the direction of the bedroom, watching Fan Xia’s clothing disappear from view. He came here for Fan Xia, not to waste time with these two people.

As for staying just now, it was also to annoy Wen Lan Sheng a bit. As long as he saw Wen Lan Sheng unhappy, he was happy, he felt great, he wanted to see Wen Lan Sheng being stepped on by him, the look of the person he cherished most being taken away.

*

In the bedroom, Wen Lan Sheng changed Fan Xia into pajamas and tucked in the quilt.

He sat quietly on the bedside, watching Fan Xia sleep soundly, completely unaware of what had happened. He felt angry, hateful, and helpless. He leaned against her chest and muttered aggrievedly, “Good for you, sleeping and not knowing anything. You don’t even know how Rong Xiu bullied me just now… Xia Xia, if you weren’t drunk, you would definitely defend me, right?”

Answering him was Fan Xia’s quiet breathing, as well as the sound of his parents seeing Rong Xiu off at the door in the living room.

Wen Lan Sheng hugged her neck and closed his eyes in self-deception: “You definitely would.”

Xie Cen walked into the bedroom and saw Wen Lan Sheng hugging Fan Xia. He complained, “You really… In front of outsiders, you didn’t give your mom any face at all.”

Speaking of this matter, the anger that Wen Lan Sheng had managed to quell flared up again.

He sat up with a start and shouted in a loss of composure, “You also know that Rong Xiu is an outsider! Dad, if Mom can’t see it, can’t you see it either? That Rong Xiu today was clearly here to humiliate me! In front of our whole family, he held my wife and entered our home! In front of the three of us, he touched my wife inappropriately! He even ordered me around like a servant! Not only did you not help me, you even acted timid in front of him. You are my parents, not his hired help. What are you afraid of him for!”

Xie Cen glared at him, “You think I don’t know that surnamed Rong man has an ambiguous attitude towards our Fan Xia? His eyes were practically glued to Fan Xia. But there’s no other way. If you offend him and make Fan Xia lose her job, do you think Fan Xia will hate you?”

“It’s precisely because I considered this point that I’ve been enduring…”

“Enduring is the right thing to do.” Xie Cen held Wen Lan Sheng’s hand, “Think about it. With Rong Xiu’s family background, wealth, and passable looks, if Fan Xia really had feelings for him, there would be no need for Rong Xiu to personally come to the door to provoke you. So why did he come today?”

Wen Lan Sheng looked at Xie Cen and shook his head.

“It’s precisely because Fan Xia isn’t taking the bait. She has you in her heart. She remembers your kindness to her when she was in trouble. So Rong Xiu can only target you. He deliberately angered you, made you hysterical, made you go crazy, to wear down Fan Xia’s love for you, to make Fan Xia feel that you’ve changed, so that he has a chance to take advantage of the situation.”

Wen Lan Sheng listened with trepidation.

Indeed, experience makes one wise. If Xie Cen hadn’t explained this layer to him, when Fan Xia woke up from her drunkenness tomorrow, he would have definitely hounded her about this matter relentlessly. At that time, Fan Xia would have definitely found him annoying and felt that he was making a big deal out of nothing. The wall of estrangement would be built up like this through one small matter after another.

“Dad, what should I do then?” Wen Lan Sheng gripped Xie Cen’s hand tightly.

“In my opinion, if Rong Xiu wants to debase himself, then let him do it. What’s most important for you now is not to fight him. You really can’t win against him if you fight. But don’t forget, you are Fan Xia’s original husband. What’s most important now is to treat Fan Xia extra well and win over her heart. Don’t let there be any changes to the wedding. And most importantly…” Xie Cen pointed at Wen Lan Sheng’s stomach, “Hurry up and get pregnant. Fan Xia is an orphan. Such people value family affection above all else. As long as you’re carrying her child, even if she really has something going on with Rong Xiu, her heart will still be with you.”

Wen Lan Sheng covered his stomach, his eyes churning with a crazy possessiveness, “I understand.”

He would definitely get pregnant with Fan Xia’s child and keep Fan Xia by his side forever. He absolutely wouldn’t let anyone take her away.

Xie Cen patted his shoulder, “It’s best if you can come to terms with it. It would be such a shame to lose Fan Xia’s job. Do you know, just because of Fan Xia’s job, knowing a lot of inside information, the stock she recommended to your mom a while ago skyrocketed. In just a few days, your mom made 50,000 yuan.”

“50,000?”

“Yeah, you don’t know, your mom was heartbroken when she saw how much the stock price rose. She regretted not investing more. Otherwise, it was possible to make 200,000. But your mom and I only have that little bit of money left.” Xie Cen sighed, “If I had known, I would have borrowed money to invest. Fan Xia’s inside information is so accurate.”

However, Wen Lan Sheng didn’t care how much money they made from stocks. He only cared about one thing, “Mom made 50,000 yuan from stocks, so why did you still cry poor to Xia Xia today and ask her to give money to Jing Jing?”

“Uh—” Xie Cen coughed awkwardly, “They are separate matters.”

“What separate matters? You clearly have money, so why do you still make Xia Xia pay?” Wen Lan Sheng said with agitation, “You clearly know that Xia Xia and I have been saving up recently to buy a new house. Not only do you not help, you also take money from us to subsidize Wen Jing?”

“We are all family. What’s wrong with helping out a bit? Besides, your sister is alone abroad. It’s always good to have a bit more money on hand,” Xie Cen said.

“You only know to spoil her. Giving money without properly educating her will only harm her and make her learn improper things,” Wen Lan Sheng snorted.

“Alright, I won’t argue with you. Go to sleep early.” Xie Cen knew he misspoke and was in the wrong. Plus, he had just been provoked by Rong Xiu today and was emotionally unstable. He didn’t want to talk anymore and planned to explain to Wen Lan Sheng properly tomorrow.

Who knew that at four o’clock in the morning, Xie Cen shouted and knocked on the master bedroom door.

“Lan Sheng! Fan Xia! Wake up! Something happened!” Xie Cen knocked on the master bedroom door with great agitation.

Fan Xia was also woken up in a daze. Covering her slightly aching temples, she sat up. Wen Lan Sheng hurriedly went to open the door.

“Dad, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Xie Cen held up his phone and pulled Wen Lan Sheng’s hand in a fluster, “Lan Sheng, your sister, she… she was expelled from school.”

“What?” Wen Lan Sheng’s sleepiness instantly cleared, “What exactly happened? Wasn’t everything fine a few days ago? How did she suddenly get expelled?”

“They say it’s for cheating on an exam.” Xie Cen said with a sob, “What do we do now? Our family emptied all our pockets to send your sister to study abroad. We even sold your maternal grandmother’s old house and rural homestead. We thought she was about to graduate and could ease the burden on the family. But now this happens…”

“Dad, Dad, don’t cry first. I remember usually cheating on an exam doesn’t lead to direct expulsion.”

Xie Cen beat his chest and stamped his feet, “This isn’t the first time. She was discovered by the school once before, but it didn’t blow up that time. This time, for a programming course, she believed a foreign friend’s nonsense and had them write the code for her. As a result, the code was found to be plagiarized… Our years of hard work, the one million we poured in, all went down the drain.”

Xie Cen hugged Wen Lan Sheng and cried, both pained and angry. Angry at his daughter for being unworthy, pained that his years of hard work had all been in vain.

Fan Xia sat quietly on the bedside, her long hair sliding off her shoulders, covering her expression. Hearing Xie Cen’s helpless sobs, the corners of her mouth curled up imperceptibly.

Because of the sudden accident, the entire family was immersed in a depressing atmosphere.

Wen Ming Yue’s face looked especially ugly. She cared a lot about face. Back when she sent Wen Jing abroad, who knew how much face she gained. Now, slinking back home, if her old colleagues at the factory found out, who knew how they would laugh at her.

Even Wen Lan Sheng’s movements while making breakfast were cautious as he placed the milk, bread slices, and fried eggs on the dining table.

Wen Ming Yue slapped the table and said angrily, “Still eating, my ass! So disgraceful!”

Wen Lan Sheng quietly pushed the milk in front of Fan Xia and said in a low voice, “Don’t mind Mom. Eat well.”

Fan Xia nodded and bit into a piece of fried egg. The ordinary fried egg that tasted the same as usual tasted especially delicious today.

“Fan Xia,” Xie Cen twisted his fingers and asked tentatively, “About Jing Jing’s matter, do you think there’s still hope to turn it around?”

Fan Xia took a sip of milk and said, “Didn’t Jing Jing say the school’s punishment has already been decided? I don’t think there’s much hope.”

“Don’t you work at a big company? Do you have any connections who can put in a word with her school?”

Fan Xia showed a helpless smile, “Uncle, although I work at Shanhai Group, my social circle is all domestic. I’m really at a loss when it comes to abroad.”

“Sigh—” Xie Cen sighed powerlessly.

“Right, did Jing Jing say when she’s returning to the country?” Fan Xia asked.

“She said she booked a ticket to return next week. But coming back from abroad, the plane ticket costs ten to twenty thousand yuan. Jing Jing has no money over there,” Xie Cen said.

Wen Lan Sheng said, “Didn’t Xia Xia just transfer her thirty thousand yesterday? How could she have no money?”

“…” Xie Cen didn’t speak.

“I know, it was all spent on wining and dining, right? That’s why she even thought of cheating on the exam and got expelled by the school,” Wen Lan Sheng said irritably.
“Lan Sheng, don’t talk about your sister like that. She didn’t want to be expelled by the school either. But now that it’s happened, we have to let her come back,” Xie Cen said.

Xie Cen had already extended his conversational hook, looking at Fan Xia expectantly. Fan Xia pretended not to hear, wiped the corner of her mouth, and kissed Wen Lan Sheng on the cheek, “I’m full, I’m leaving first.”

Wen Lan Sheng got up to see her off, “I’m sorry, I didn’t prepare lunch for you today because of Jing Jing’s matter.”

“It’s alright.” Fan Xia rubbed his short hair affectionately and whispered softly in his ear, “I saw a large flat that I like. Shall we go take a look this weekend?”

“Okay.” Wen Lan Sheng was overjoyed in his heart. It seemed his father was right, Fan Xia still cared about him.

“What did Fan Xia just say to you?” Xie Cen asked.

Wen Lan Sheng pursed his lips, “Nothing much, just that we’ll go look at a house together this weekend.”

Xie Cen’s tone was displeased, “As soon as I mentioned Jing Jing not having money for the plane ticket to return, she found an excuse to leave. She can’t even bear to spend ten or twenty thousand, so stingy.”

“If Xia Xia was really stingy, she wouldn’t have transferred thirty thousand to Jing Jing yesterday without a second word. Besides, we are preparing to buy a new house and don’t have extra money,” Wen Lan Sheng frowned, very averse to Xie Cen wanting to scheme money from Fan Xia at every turn.

“She can buy a house worth tens of millions, but can’t bear to spend ten or twenty thousand on a plane ticket.”

Wen Lan Sheng’s thin brows furrowed, “Dad, didn’t you just tell me last night that Mom made fifty thousand from stocks? It’s expensive to buy Jing Jing a plane ticket too. Speaking of which, that money was earned because of Xia Xia in the first place.”

“You…” Xie Cen choked on Wen Lan Sheng’s retort.

*

At Shanhai Group, Zhuang Nian had been observing Fan Xia all morning. He sneaked over, “Chief Fan, did you win the lottery today? You’re so happy!”

Fan Xia raised her head in surprise, “No, no.”

Zhuang Nian narrowed his eyes, “Don’t fool me. I’ve been observing you all morning. From the moment you stepped into the office, you haven’t stopped smiling. Although you usually also look like you’re smiling, it’s more of a habitual smile. Only today, you are truly happy from the bottom of your heart. Tell me, did the president give you a raise behind my back!”

Fan Xia shook her head with a smile, “How could that be.”

“Then did your husband give birth to a child?”

Fan Xia coughed, “Secretary Zhuang, don’t joke around.”

“Zhuang Nian, don’t tease her.” Rong Xiu’s cold and distant voice came from the office. Zhuang Nian shuddered and obediently returned to his original position.

Rong Xiu closed the file and looked at Fan Xia who was working with her head down, his eyes deep.

Indeed, as Zhuang Nian said, today’s Fan Xia was a bit different from usual. That kind of joy from the bottom of her heart diluted the slight sense of aloofness about her.

Rong Xiu adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold, faint light, his narrow eyes filled with exploration, desperately wanting to know what exactly made her so happy.

Was it Wen Lan Sheng? A layer of gloomy cold light surged in Rong Xiu’s eyes.

Originally, he wanted to find an excuse to have lunch together at noon and explore the real reason for her happiness. But as soon as it was twelve o’clock, Fan Xia left the company in a hurry without a moment’s delay.

Rong Xiu watched her retreating figure, his gloomy eyes narrowing slightly.

“Chief Fan is so unusual today. She didn’t win the lottery, didn’t get a raise, and her husband didn’t give birth either. What else could make a woman so happy?” Zhuang Nian, who loved office gossip, mumbled to himself while eating grass. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he realized the truth, “Could it be that she has a mistress outside?”

Rong Xiu raised his eyes and gave Zhuang Nian a cold glance.

Zhuang Nian swallowed a mouthful of grass and walked out, holding his salad.

*

Fan Xia drove and first found an ATM to withdraw 5,000 yuan. Then she parked the car in a hidden corner shaded by trees at the north gate of the Capital Sports University.

Soon after stopping, a tall boy in a basketball jersey opened the passenger side door and got in.

“I’m sorry, Sister Fan Xia. I was delayed because of training. I didn’t mean to be late.” Gu Jin Yi was panting heavily, his messy hair wet with sweat, his chest heaving violently, his arm muscles firm, his fair skin showing a faint pink due to intense exercise and the hot and humid weather.

“It’s alright.” Fan Xia took out a pack of wet wipes and handed it to him.

“Thank you, Sister.” Gu Jin Yi smiled happily, opened the packaging, and wiped the sweat on his forehead. His strong, powerful arm muscles swayed in front of her eyes, his handsome, sunny features displaying vigorous vitality under the scorching sun.

Fan Xia looked away and took out an envelope, “This is for you.”

Gu Jin Yi opened the envelope and was surprised, “So much? I don’t want it, this is too much.”

“Don’t worry about me. I found a job with a very generous salary. Take it.” Fan Xia pushed the envelope into his arms.