Chapter 31: Journey to the Ancient Town

Lin Yiwei drank some warm brown sugar water and lay down early to rest. She had grown accustomed to the large bed in the master suite; it was soft and comfortable, and the moment her head hit the pillow, her mind eagerly drifted into slumber.

Xie Bo sat behind the dark glass, slowly swirling a glass of brandy, watching the girl’s sleeping face in silence. The moonlight outside the window was beautiful, the night air gentle. He could clearly see her relaxed features, her skin glowing with a fresh, honey-powdered radiance. Between her brows sat a mole, pure yet strangely alluring.

"I am teaching you how to love me."

She truly dared to say such things.

Xie Bo did not believe he could love anyone; he only loved himself. He was willing to indulge her and offer a helping hand in times of trouble, but it was merely a craving to possess her. Only by convincing himself of this could he allow his desire to spread wantonly, layer upon layer, covering the chambers of his heart like spiderwebs.

Xie Bo did not want to admit any other possibility.

He was not yet fully fledged, and his father, Xie Sizhuo, was still in his prime. A man with an intense need for control, his father micromanaged everything—including his children’s marriages—just as he had steered the Xie Group with an iron fist for years, leading it to peak prosperity.

Xie Bo’s two older brothers had been pampered and indulged since childhood, developing the entitled tempers of spoiled young masters. Consequently, they had the confidence to argue with Xie Sizhuo, demanding freedom in marriage and career, preferring death over a lack of liberty.

Only Xie Bo, the illegitimate son brought back into the Xie family at age ten, had faced endless cold shoulders and disdain because his mother had been a hostess in the red-light district. Every day, he had lived with extreme caution, as if walking on thin ice. After years of lying dormant, he had finally gained a foothold before Xie Sizhuo, earning the dignity of being the third young master of the Xie family. Every ounce of respect—or fear—he had earned with his own hands.

Who could be willing to destroy all of that?

He could let Lin Yiwei be his lover, give her everything within his power, make her comfortable and happy, even including that tiny sliver of affection he never shared with anyone else. But Xie Bo was not a man ruled by romance... he could not be.

He drained the transparent brandy in his glass, pushed open the mirrored door, and stepped to the side of Lin Yiwei’s bed. His fingertips traced her soft contours, touching her cherry-like, seductive lips.

Lin Yiwei was sensitive; like a startled beast, she subconsciously clutched the quilt and looked at him defensively. She had not yet let down her guard entirely, so being awakened from her sleep left her feeling somewhat bewildered.

Looking at the man’s figure submerged in the dark, cold night, and feeling his icy fingertips, Lin Yiwei asked softly, "What is it, Xie Bo?"

She was so gentle.

But Xie Bo did not answer. He loosened his belt, caught the hair at the back of her head, and tightened his grip.

He closed his eyes.

...

The next day was the trip to the ancient town; Lin Yiwei had set her alarm for six in the morning. When she woke up, Xie Bo was gone. She remembered that after things finished last night, he had held her as she fell asleep. In her dreams, she could still feel his frantic kisses landing on every inch of her skin, burning like sparks.

But she never saw him when she woke up.

Like a sensitive and lonely beast, he would never expose his vulnerable side to anyone.

Lin Yiwei tidied herself up, feeling waves of cramping in her abdomen, which she could only endure. Today was the first day of the three-day, two-night sketching trip to the ancient town. She needed to close the distance with Chi Xiyu and make her trust her completely. Every day the progress bar stalled was a risk.

When she left, Lin Yiwei saw a steaming glass of water on the island counter, next to a capsule of ibuprofen and a small note:

"Good morning, baby."

Lin Yiwei picked up the ibuprofen and stared at it for a long time before swallowing it with the hot water. Beside it sat a sandwich that was slightly charred and a cup of warm milk. She silently told herself not to be moved by such a small, shallow gesture.

Selfish people always stand on the winning side.

Even so, she subconsciously tucked the little note that said "Good morning, baby" into the inner pocket of her bag.

On the bus back to campus, Lin Yiwei looked at the note repeatedly. The sunlight pouring into the bus window warmed her heart. She leaned against the railing in the middle of the bus, wanting to send a message to Xie Bo, just to say something. She typed out "Good morning," but then deleted it.

What was there to say?

...

After taking the medicine, the abdominal pain subsided slightly. In the dormitory, Lin Yiwei packed her modest luggage. There was little need to change coats often in winter, so her suitcase contained only undergarments and daily essentials.

The dorm door was open. Directly across, Chi Xiyu, having finished packing, was discussing the ancient town trip with the other girls in their circle. Seeing Lin Yiwei walk out with her luggage, she waved and greeted her with a smile. Clearly, she knew nothing about her date with Ye Anning yesterday.

Lin Yiwei smiled back, then shifted her gaze to Xu Qianxi.

Xu Qianxi was leaning against the wall, gritting her teeth, still fuming about yesterday. She desperately wanted to blurt out what she had discovered, but because she had been "silenced" by Xie Bo, she couldn't say a word. It was agonizing.

Chi Xiyu returned to her room to freshen up before departure. Xu Qianxi lowered her voice and said sarcastically to Lin Yiwei, "Well, well, even Xie Bo is willing to help you. It’s Xixi’s good luck to have such a 'capable' friend like you."

Lin Yiwei said expressionlessly, "I am only listening to Xixi and doing as she requests."

"And dating Ye Anning? Did she tell you to do that too?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

"Xixi is innocent; you might be able to fool her, but you can't fool me. You must be colluding with Ye Anning, and who knows what kind of mischief you're plotting behind our backs. And Xie Bo—what kind of tricks did you use to actually seduce him?"

Lin Yiwei glanced at Chi Xiyu, who was changing clothes in the room, then looked at Xu Qianxi, whose face was flushed with anger like a pufferfish. "Do you really care that much about Chi Xiyu? Or are you just angry that she trusts me so much? Or... are you simply jealous of me?"

"Bullshit!"

Chi Xiyu walked out of the room wearing a Lolita-style dress for the outing. Lin Yiwei and Xu Qianxi fell silent instantly. Xie Bo had personally approached her yesterday; although his tone was calm, every word was a threat. Xu Qianxi wouldn't dare offend this big shot even if she had ten times the courage. Even if she was about to explode with rage, she dared not reveal a single word to Chi Xiyu.

However... teasing Lin Yiwei was not out of the question.

She took Chi Xiyu’s oversized suitcase and pushed it toward Lin Yiwei. "Weiwei, could you carry Xixi’s luggage for her?"

Lin Yiwei felt the faint throbbing in her abdomen and bit her lip.

Chi Xiyu ignored her noticeably pale complexion, smiled, and said "Thank you," then walked downstairs chatting happily with the other girls. It was as if this was simply Lin Yiwei’s natural role.

Lin Yiwei watched her departing back...

The current Chi Xiyu viewed her as nothing more than an expendable presence. If she wanted to climb to her side, she had to drive away the inner circle and become someone irreplaceable.

Lin Yiwei carried the heavy suitcase downstairs. Her abdomen continued to cramp with intermittent, sharp pains. By the time she reached the ground floor, beads of sweat had formed on her forehead. She forced herself to endure the pain, following Chi Xiyu toward the school gate at the end of the camphor walkway.

The meeting point was outside the North Gate. Several buses were waiting, along with the luxury cars driven by the young masters and ladies, creating a bustling scene that filled the entire street.

Xu Qianxi walked over with a smile and hung her own heavy backpack on Lin Yiwei. "Why are you so slow? We’re going to be late."

Lin Yiwei walked faster without a word.

Xie Bo and a few other young men happened to pass by. He was fiddling with a basketball, tilting his head to say something to Li Du, a casual, faint smile on his lips.

Chi Xiyu greeted Xie Bo and asked with a smile, "Brother Xie Bo, we’re going to the ancient town for a sketching trip. Are you coming? There are some great roads there, perfect for racing."

"Where?"

"Xun'an Ancient Town. We're heading there now. I even had my brother drive that sports car you gave me so we can go for a spin."

"Your brother is going too?"

"Yeah."

Xie Bo’s peripheral vision swept over the pale girl behind her who was dripping with cold sweat. He smiled warmly, "I have classes in the morning and need to stop by the company in the afternoon. We'll see. Maybe I'll come later."

"Great! Then I'll wait for you!"

"Hmm." He reached out and patted Chi Xiyu’s head.

The girls erupted into cheers, feeling sweetened by the head pat, including Chi Xiyu... who was so happy she almost felt dizzy.

Xie Bo walked past Lin Yiwei without looking at her, never giving her a second glance. Yet, his long, narrow peach-blossom eyes scanned Li Du beside him, giving him a subtle signal.

Li Du understood immediately. He walked over enthusiastically and said, "Xixi, let me help you with your luggage."

Before Chi Xiyu could accept or refuse, he had already taken the suitcase from Lin Yiwei’s hands, along with the heavy backpacks she had been carrying.

"Thank you," Lin Yiwei whispered.

Li Du’s lips curved into a smile, one full of hidden meaning.

Xu Qianxi was unwilling to let it go, but she understood what was happening. Li Du wasn't helping Chi Xiyu; he was clearly helping Lin Yiwei! Yet Chi Xiyu was still smiling like a flower, completely oblivious to the threat right under her nose.

...

Arriving at the North Gate, the most eye-catching vehicle on the roadside was Chi Xiyu’s white modified supercar. Chi Xichen sat inside, his sunglasses reflecting the light as he waved at his sister.

Lin Yiwei said to Chi Xiyu in a low voice, "Xixi, I’ll get on the bus first. See you at the ancient town."

"Yeah, okay, go ahead."

Seeing Lin Yiwei leave, Chi Xichen deliberately dragged out his words, "Why leave the moment you saw me?"

Chi Xiyu feigned anger, "You have the nerve to say that! You don't eat the grass beside your own nest, you know! You even dared to... I haven't even settled the score with you yet!"

Regarding the incident on her birthday, Chi Xiyu had complained to their father afterward, leading to a severe lecture for Chi Xichen. He was bursting with suppressed rage. It had been her idea to go to the art studio; in a way, she had lured him there, and she was the one who had started the fire. Chi Xichen felt incredibly wronged. He had never been played by a woman like this before and was mulling over how to teach Lin Yiwei a lesson. Otherwise, where would he put his pride?

...

Lin Yiwei boarded the bus and chose a front-row seat to avoid motion sickness. Once the group leader finished counting heads, the bus slowly pulled away.

Fu Xiang, the class monitor who organized the event, sat next to Lin Yiwei. He was a bespectacled boy with a scholarly appearance, about 175cm tall. He also wore glasses, but he possessed a completely different aura from Xie Bo, who wore them to look refined. The cool, silver-rimmed glasses set off Xie Bo’s elegant bone structure, giving him an air of detachment and a touch of hidden malice. Many students at school tried to mimic his style, wearing the same glasses, but the result was always a poor imitation—either too stiff or slightly sleazy.

The class monitor, however, gave off the vibe of a refined egoist. Perhaps it wasn't the glasses, but his inherent nature. He was keen on organizing various team-building activities, and the high entry cost excluded ordinary students, allowing him to hobnob with the wealthy young masters and ladies. Of course, no one knew how much he skimmed off the top. The wealthy students didn't care, as long as he organized the activities well and ensured their food, accommodation, and entertainment were satisfactory.

Lin Yiwei’s participation in this sketching trip was unexpected for Fu Xiang. A poor, top-tier student like her, who relied on scholarships to cover tuition, couldn't afford such high costs. She must have another motive, Fu Xiang guessed—perhaps to expand her network and meet rich heirs. After all, a three-day, two-night trip made it easy for things to happen. Combined with Lin Yiwei’s striking beauty, Fu Xiang felt even more convinced she was a "gold digger" taking a shortcut.

Despite these thoughts, he was extremely attentive toward her. Seeing her holding her abdomen, he asked with concern if she was feeling unwell.

Lin Yiwei didn't mind being blunt and said she was having menstrual cramps. Upon hearing this, Fu Xiang told the driver to stop at every rest station so students could stretch and use the restroom, and even went to the water room to get her hot water. Such obvious, fawning attention drew gossip-filled glances from the girls around them, who teased the two.

Lin Yiwei, with her sensitive and perceptive heart, could see through Fu Xiang. She was all too familiar with the lecherous look behind his glasses; she had encountered it in high school. He put on a facade of devotion while calling her a slut in his heart... once rejected or given the cold shoulder, he would inevitably be humiliated into anger and spread rumors behind her back, subjecting her to slut-shaming. These "trash-heap" men... Lin Yiwei had seen them all.

She dealt with Fu Xiang carefully along the way, neither overly cold nor overly enthusiastic. One had to be cautious with such seemingly upright, petty men.

In the afternoon, the bus entered the ancient town. Low walls of black tile and white plaster appeared, filled with ancient charm—small bridges over flowing water, rice paddies, and wild mountains. The passengers' lethargy was dispelled by the gentle breeze, and the bus filled with lively chatter.

Fu Xiang tentatively asked, "Lin Yiwei, I was thinking I won't charge you for the fees. Don't let the others know; I'll refund it to you quietly."

"Why?"

"Your situation isn't great. I heard you're working part-time at a convenience store. It's not easy."

"Thanks for your kindness, Monitor, but no need."

Fu Xiang thought for a moment and said, "Actually, everyone eating together is fine; the main cost is the accommodation, especially since you requested a single room."

"I don't sleep well, so I'm used to being alone."

"How about this? Why don't you share a room with someone, and I'll refund half the money to you," he said thoughtfully. "Help you reduce the burden a little."

"Thank you, Monitor, you’re so kind." Lin Yiwei replied with a distant, polite tone. "But haven't the rooms already been arranged?"

"Others' rooms are arranged, but mine is a double room. Why don't you share with me? I won't charge you a cent."

Lin Yiwei looked down and saw him gripping his jeans so hard the holes were about to tear through. He was nervous, or perhaps ashamed of the crude, lecherous thoughts in his mind.

Lin Yiwei’s face cooled. "Monitor, what do you mean?"

"Don't misunderstand. You're on your period, right? What could I do? I just thought it was a waste for one person to have a double room. You stay in my room, I won't charge you—isn't that a win-win? You don't have the means, after all."

The more he explained, the more his dirty intentions were laid bare. Especially with her being on her period, it made him look like a beast, and his cheeks turned bright red.

Lin Yiwei stopped playing along and said bluntly, "No need, Monitor. I can still afford the room fare."

Fu Xiang coveted her beauty and suspected she was only here to cling to rich heirs, so he had already labeled her a gold digger in his heart. Now that she had rejected him, he was ashamed, embarrassed, and angry, with a fire in his heart he didn't know how to vent. Fortunately, the bus arrived at the hotel, and Fu Xiang hurried off to organize the check-in.

The hotel was expensive, fitting for the spending habits of the young masters and ladies. Opening the window, one could see the rippling river of the water town and the ancient covered bridge spanning the water, with the reflections of towers coming into view.

Lin Yiwei rested in her room for a while after dropping off her luggage. Ye Anning sent her a post from the campus forum, "Talktok":

[818 Our Class's Pure Goddess]

Although the post didn't name names, the information exposed was unmistakable. With a sarcastic tone, it launched a haughty moral accusation against a certain poor, top-tier student, claiming she acted high and mighty while actually being a gold digger. It mentioned her working at a maid convenience store, acting seductive to lure male customers, and joining the school’s elite travel group just to seduce rich heirs for one-night stands to make money. "What is she pretending to be pure for? Everyone in our class knows what kind of goods she is..."

The language was foul and the targeting so clear it was practically her ID number. Lin Yiwei endured her rage and read the post word for word. The comment section was filled with foul remarks, openly critiquing her appearance and body, and speculating whether she was being kept by someone.

She had experienced this more than once. But Lin Yiwei could never get used to it. Facing these malicious words, she burned with anger and forwarded the post to Fu Xiang:

"Did you post this?"

Monitor: "No, I just finished arranging everyone's check-in. I'm busy."

He tried to play innocent.

Lin Yiwei didn't buy it: "Delete the post immediately."

Monitor: "It really wasn't me~ Don't frame a good person. [Smile]"

He sent a gentle smiley face. To Lin Yiwei, the meaningful "oh" and the emoji were a blatant provocation. She was 90% sure Fu Xiang had posted it. She gripped her phone, about to contact the forum administrator to report the post, when a message from Ye Anning arrived:

"The post was deleted! The Talktok admins usually act like they're dead, letting the forum turn into a dumpster fire, but they reacted fast this time!"

Lin Yiwei refreshed the page; the post was indeed gone. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a message from Fu Xiang came in:

Monitor: "Reported and banned, huh? [Smile]"

Weiwei: "You said the person who posted it wasn't you."

Monitor: "It really wasn't me, but I'm watching the drama too~ [Smile]"

Lin Yiwei was so angry she could explode, but there was nothing she could do to him. She could only block him.

At that moment, Xie Bo, who had been silent all day, sent her a message:

thin: "Baby, how do you want him to die?"