Chapter 39: Injured

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Lin Yiwei entered the private room, arriving more than ten minutes after Xie Bo had gone in. Chi Xiyu had not yet returned, and a subtle, indescribable expression flickered in Chu Ang’s eyes.

Xie Bo lounged casually and lazily on the sofa; his piercing, venomous gaze no longer fixed on him or Lin Yiwei. The air of calm confidence radiating from him stirred Chu Ang’s imagination. Something must have happened during the interval when the two left one after the other just moments ago.

In his mind echoed Xie Bo’s voice—

“She’s my lover. We’ve slept together.”

He began to scrutinize her carefully. When she went out, she wore only a white camisole dress; when she returned, she had on a racing jacket—Le Du’s jacket. Yet even so, it could not conceal the faint strawberry marks on her smooth, satin-like neck, as if she had broken out in a rash.

He tried to console himself that it was just an allergy—whether to alcohol or something else.

Still, the serpent of jealousy flicked its tongue, coiling itself around Chu Ang’s heart, tormenting and painful.

Lin Yiwei no longer pretended intimacy with him, but was not cold either; she reminded him to drink less, then lowered her head to play a casual game on her phone.

Chu Ang asked, “Do you want to leave? I’ll see you off.”

Lin Yiwei glanced around the room. “Xixi hasn’t come back yet. I’ll wait for her, say hello, then leave.”

“Alright, then I’ll wait with you.”

Suddenly, Chu Ang felt anxious—afraid of losing her, afraid she no longer held the same interest in him as before.

He had once thought himself decisive, but when it came to a girl he truly liked, he acted like a coward burying his head in the sand.

He was overly attentive—ordered her a cup of warm milk, requested a song for her.

Lin Yiwei did not refuse and sang a song by Karen Mok, “Cloudy Day.”

Her voice carried a faint huskiness, unique and distinctive. Singing had its own flavor, much like this song—an intoxicating haze of melancholy, perfectly complementing her entire aura.

Xie Bo and a few young men played dice with sharp, decisive moves; only when he glanced at her with a sticky gaze did his eyes betray his fixation.

She was like his spiritual opium—an addiction, a craving, a painful withdrawal, a failed attempt that only deepened his obsession...

Even though he had just made a move, he was already thinking again.

Lin Yiwei sang, fully aware that Xie Bo was watching her, and that Chu Ang’s gaze shifted between her and Xie Bo.

She found it meaningless.

...

Soon, the strange atmosphere was shattered.

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open. Several men stormed into the room with ill intent.

Yun Hui led the way, followed by the young master of the Chi family—Chi Xicheng.

“Well, well, everyone’s here, including our Lord Bo,” Chi Xicheng swaggered in, “Perfect timing—we settle accounts tonight.”

Chi Xiyu had met Chi Xicheng outside the club and knew he was coming to stir trouble. She tried to pull and persuade him all the way but could not hold back this stubborn, vengeful elder brother.

“Brother, please don’t cause trouble. Your injury has nothing to do with Xie Bo! It’s not him—I’ve told you how many times.”

Chi Xicheng shook off Chi Xiyu. “Shut up.”

His left hand was still bandaged; the fracture hadn’t fully healed. His anger blazed uncontrollably, desperate to vent.

Xie Bo did not rise but leaned against the sofa, idly playing with a steel lighter, his gaze cold.

Cold, yet oppressive.

“Chi, your wound’s not healed and you’re out wandering? You really have energy,” Xie Bo said sarcastically.

Chi Xicheng was convinced that the one who had beaten him up in the old town was Xie Bo—the brutal punches aimed to kill.

Who else could it be?

Yun Hui brought a chair, and Chi Xicheng sat opposite Xie Bo. “Xie Bo, just give me a straight answer—were you the one in the alley that night?”

Lin Yiwei looked at Xie Bo, hoping he would deny it.

But Xie Bo, unabashed, admitted lightly like a feather falling on snow, “Yeah, so what?”

“You son of a—!” Chi Xicheng grabbed an empty wine bottle from the table, smashed it, and swung it at Xie Bo’s head.

Le Du immediately stepped forward, blocking in front of Xie Bo.

“Le Du, step aside,” Xie Bo said, slowly standing and approaching Chi Xicheng.

Once upright, his presence was even more imposing; Chi Xicheng seemed diminished, instantly overshadowed.

“Xie Bo, we need to settle this tonight!”

“Fine.” Xie Bo flicked open and shut his lighter, then glanced at Lin Yiwei. “Chu Ang, take the unrelated person out.”

Chu Ang looked at him worriedly. “Xie Bo, what’s going on?”

“None of your business,” Xie Bo said decisively. “Get out.”

Though concerned for him, Chu Ang was even more worried Lin Yiwei might be caught in the crossfire. “Let’s go.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Yiwei hurried out with Chu Ang.

Chi Xicheng did not stop them; after all, tonight’s target was Xie Bo. He had no time for others.

“Not necessary, not necessary to stay,” a voice inside Lin Yiwei warned her. “You can’t help, just be a burden.”

One, risk being hurt; two, afraid Chi Xicheng might say something in anger. Chi Xiyu was also present—total loss.

She resolutely followed Chu Ang out of the White Cause Club.

Xie Bo withdrew his gaze, a bit disheartened.

She really left without looking back. Had she thought about who he was enduring this madness from Chi Xicheng for?

Forget it.

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Good that she left.

...

At eight in the evening, the streets bustled with people and traffic; the nightlife was just beginning.

“Yiwei, I’ll take you home first, then I have to go back and check. I’m worried—Xie Bo that guy really...”

Lin Yiwei had already booked a ride on the app. She turned to Chu Ang. “After you send me home, people will be cold by then. You should go check now—I think with you there, Chi Xicheng won’t dare do anything.”

“You think too highly of me.”

“Don’t know. You’re at least a police academy student.”

“But I’m not a real cop yet...”

“Take care of yourself. If it’s really bad, don’t push it. With Chi Xiyu around, they’re still family, after all.”

While waiting for the car, Chu Ang hesitated a long time before finally asking, “What’s your relationship with Xie Bo?”

“Didn’t he already tell you?”

“I want to hear it from you.” His earnest gaze held hers. “Tell me yourself.”

Lin Yiwei paused, then answered, “I used to be his lover.”

“And now?”

“Now... not so sure. He mentioned breaking up with me but doesn’t want me to have new relationships. In short, he treats me like his personal possession—a very unreasonable person.”

“Why? Why did you choose him? Did he force you?”

Lin Yiwei spoke calmly, “No, I chose willingly.”

“Why? I don’t understand.”

“That’s just who I am.” She shattered his dreamy illusions mercilessly. “I’m not a pure girl, not one who joyfully posts morning dew photos on social media—it's all a façade.”

Since she didn’t plan to continue with him, Lin Yiwei pierced the fragile, colorful bubble of romance. “I use every resource around me, including Xie Bo’s influence and his tiny bit of affection. And you—I agreed to date you because you’re from the police academy. Maybe someday you could help me. If it had been one of your classmates asking for my number, I would have given it too.”

By then, the ride had arrived.

Lin Yiwei got in.

Through the tinted window, she looked at Chu Ang—almost heartbroken—and said calmly, “Thank you for liking me. It’s precious, and I’ll always remember it. Go find a girl who suits you.”

...

Lin Yiwei did not return to the dorm.

Last time, she had resigned from the convenience store; she didn’t want to keep working in that maid-cosplay shop.

Because of her, business had multiplied several times. The owner, wanting to keep her, had even cleaned out a storage room upstairs for her as staff lodging.

The temptation was considerable.

Lin Yiwei disliked the school dorm anyway—she needed an independent space to cradle her weary soul—so she stayed.

To keep this room, she had to keep toiling like a beast at the maid convenience store.

The storage was crude, cluttered with goods everywhere. A single bed sat by a small window, serving as Lin Yiwei’s temporary resting place.

Some coworkers were jealous but after seeing the cramped, cluttered space and the bed where one couldn’t even stretch their feet, they gave up wanting to ask the boss for a room.

How could anyone live here? So small, packed with goods, the bed uncomfortable.

But Lin Yiwei needed such a small space—needed solitude.

After returning, she switched on a small LED night lamp by her bed, glanced at an IELTS practice book, but her mind was chaotic. She picked up a pencil weight and traced meaningless patterns on white paper...

Unable to calm down.

In the old town, she had lost her head and forced Xie Bo to “settle accounts” with Chi Xicheng.

If anything happened to Xie Bo tonight, she could not absolve herself.

Overexerting, the pencil weight crumbled under her nails, her hands stained black.

Lin Yiwei took a deep breath to calm herself.

After all, the Chi and Xie families were in the same boat. Chi Xiyu was still around, Chu Ang had gone to help him—nothing major would happen.

Why worry so much?

She threw down the sketchpad and lay on the bed, forcing herself to sleep.

In a daze, unconscious, she did not know how much time passed before her phone buzzed fiercely under her pillow.

Startled awake, she swore she would buy a new phone when she had money!

This old phone was outrageously loud—it buzzed like an earthquake. Every morning, the alarm’s thunderous buzz would spike her heart rate.

The screen displayed a few English letters—

thin.

It was 12:32 a.m.

Lin Yiwei hesitated, unsure whether to answer.

Afraid something terrible had happened, even afraid to hear Chi Xicheng’s deranged voice on the other end saying he had killed Xie Bo...

The phone kept vibrating, and Lin Yiwei finally answered nervously.

Fortunately, it was not Chi Xicheng’s voice but the owner himself—

“Yi Yi.”

“Hmm, what is it so late?”

“You left so decisively just now,” the man spoke almost in a breath, light and teasing, “That’s just like you.”

“I’m useless if I stay,” Lin Yiwei said rationally. “I’d just hold you back and make Chi Xicheng angrier.”

“Don’t care about my life at all?”

“How could you die, Xie Bo?”

Lin Yiwei wanted to say bad guys live a thousand years but that would be too harsh. Regarding Chi Xicheng’s beating, she was the instigator.

“You won’t. You’re strong, you can protect yourself.”

She added a hint of flattery, “Lord Bo is awesome!”

Xie Bo didn’t buy it, his voice low, “Lord Bo is injured.”

“Ah?”

“Bleeding. Come treat my wound at Lamont Apartment. Wait for me at the end of time.”

After speaking, he hung up.

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Lin Yiwei sat on the bed, hair disheveled, mind blank for a few seconds before immediately messaging him—

Breeze: “If you’re hurt, go to the hospital!”

Breeze: “Don’t wait at the end of time without me.”

Breeze: “Go to the hospital or call your private doctor, Yi something, to come.”

Breeze: “I won’t come. Just wait and bleed to death.”

Breeze: “I really won’t come.”

...

Lin Yiwei threw down her phone, clutching her hair as she squatted on the bed.

He didn’t call or message again.

Annoying, truly annoying. She had never met someone so exasperating.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she sat up irritably, changed clothes, and hurried out.

To check if he was dead or not.

She luxuriously hailed a ride. In less than half an hour, she arrived at Lamont Apartment. The night-shift butler opened the door for her without needing to ask for anyone and personally escorted her to the elevator, swiping her card and pressing the button.

Surely Xie Bo had instructed this. Did he really expect her to come?

Rebellious by nature, Lin Yiwei wanted to turn and leave, but the elevator doors opened with a ding.

Xie Bo sat on a high stool facing the elevator door, watching her from afar.

His arm was carelessly wrapped with gauze several times; bloodied cotton balls and bandages littered the floor—he had tended to himself but made a mess.

Seeing Lin Yiwei, the man lifted his strong jaw slightly, as if knowing she was uncomfortable, and naturally said, “Come help me. It fucking hurts.”

Lin Yiwei stepped forward and removed the tangled gauze, revealing a deep, slashed wound on his left arm.

“I’m not a doctor; I can’t handle this.”

Startled by the gash, her clothes stained with blood, she said, “Call your doctor, Yi Shiqi. What’s his number? I’ll call him.”

She picked up Xie Bo’s phone, trembling as she unlocked it.

Squinting, Xie Bo enjoyed her panicked look. “Such an embarrassing thing—you want to make it public?”

“At a time like this, who cares about pride? Your hand’s still bleeding!” Lin Yiwei stopped pretending—her concern was real, her care genuine. “If you won’t call him, fine, but you have to go to the hospital!”

She hastily cut the gauze with scissors, rewrapped the wound tightly with bandages, and pulled him out.

“You have to go to the hospital! I’ll take you.”

This time, Xie Bo did not resist. Upon leaving, he opened a row of car key lockers. “You drive.”

“You forgot I don’t have a license.” She dragged him into the elevator.

Inside, he tried to take her hand, but she swatted it away. He yelped, “Ouch.”

Lin Yiwei let him hold her hand, dissatisfied. “Why can’t you go to the hospital by yourself? It’s so late, disturbing others is rude. If I weren’t afraid you’d die and I’d bear the legal risk, I really wouldn’t come.”

After a while apart, even her scolding seemed endearing to Xie Bo. “Yes, yes.”

“You’re supposed to be the mighty third young master of the Xie family! And yet Chi Xicheng drew blood from you? I overestimated you. I thought you’d handle that like a snap of your fingers—one arrow through the clouds, armies bowing before you. If I’d known you were so weak, I would’ve called the cops for you, Third Young Master Xie.” She said disdainfully, “Don’t pretend around me anymore. I won’t add any filters. You’re not impressive at all.”

“Alright, alright,” Xie Bo weakly rested on her shoulder. “Lost a lot of blood. Take care of me here...”

“...”

Lin Yiwei hailed a ride on the street, helped Xie Bo inside, and urged the driver, “To the nearest hospital, please go fast.”

“Okay.” The driver stepped on the gas.

Xie Bo leaned on her thin shoulder, eyes closed. The scent on him was uniquely hers—the lemon shampoo mixed with cheap fruity perfume from her hair, a sweetness ill-fitting her sharp personality.

He turned, cupped her face, sniffing her neck like a dog, kissing gently as he did.

Lin Yiwei wanted to avoid his hands, afraid the blood would flow more, but tolerated his restrained affection.

Xie Bo planted a few tender kisses on her neck. “I’ve really missed you all this time.”

Lin Yiwei, annoyed, said, “You’ve lost so much blood—how are you still conscious enough to fondle me?”

“If I fainted, would you carry me back?”

“I’d toss you out on the street.”

His head sank, resting precisely where the young woman’s neck curved, “So dizzy.”

“...”

Fifteen minutes later, the car arrived at the hospital. Lin Yiwei had a nurse help him with treatment while she went to registration and payment.

Le Du called Xie Bo. “Lord Bo, hospital friends say Chi Xicheng’s spleen ruptured. Prepare for your father to come ‘talk business.’”

Xie Bo shed his earlier spoiled brat act, his eyes cold. “Got it.”

“Where are you now?”

“At the hospital?”

“How did you get in? Weren’t you uninjured?”

“I got hurt. Didn’t you see?”

“That punch you threw—who’d dare hurt you?” Le Du doubted. “What happened?”

Xie Bo watched Lin Yiwei hurry to register and get medicine, and said grimly, “He drew the knife first. I was cut and almost hit an artery. Told everyone it’s like this...”