Chapter 45: Falling First

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Lin Yiwei was feverish and drowsy, sensing someone adjusting the quilt. She struggled to open her eyes and saw Xie Bo gently folding the corner of the bedsheet. After finishing, he climbed into bed himself, turned her head to rest comfortably against him, allowing her to nap peacefully.

He rarely took such meticulous care of anyone. Even the German Shepherd, Xie Bo’s beloved dog, never received a folded quilt from him, though he had kept watch over it through the night. Yet that dog had accompanied him longer than anyone else ever had.

After the bout of illness, the girl’s forehead burned even hotter. Exhausted, she leaned drowsily against his rather stiff shoulder, letting him hold her, inhale her scent, gently brush his lips against hers.

She didn’t sleep either; she no longer had the strength to even lift a finger. Instead, she gazed at him with eyes that seemed to speak, filled with desperate longing...

Xie Bo was her last lifeline, nothing else remained. Even if he had just ruined her plan—whether intentionally or not—Lin Yiwei pragmatically realized that if she didn’t hold on to Xie Bo, the slender figure of the boy who had vanished into the alley’s morning mist would become a final farewell for the rest of her life.

She wanted to see Lin Xie one more time, to ask him properly—why, exactly...

“I don’t want you to be enemies with the Chi family.” She weakly traced his face with her arm, brushing against the stubble that had grown on his unshaven jaw, “Just help me find him, help him escape. It’s that simple. You can do this.”

She tried to soften her gaze as much as possible.

It was difficult; her foxlike eyes often gave off a cold and distant impression, as if she looked down on everyone and everything with disdain.

Xie Bo pressed his cheek to her forehead, still burning hot. “You need to rest.”

“Can you promise me?”

She insisted on getting an answer.

“I’ll send you abroad first—to the Royal College of Art in London, to fulfill your dream.”

“I’m not leaving. I want to stay by your side.”

If she had said that before tonight, Xie Bo would have been delighted.

“Be obedient. You go first. I’ll handle your brother’s situation.” Xie Bo kissed her hand and tucked it under the quilt, “They haven’t suspected you yet, but it’s only a matter of time. You staying close to Chi Xiyu is pointless now. Let me handle it. I’ll find him for you.”

A tear slid down from the corner of her eye, dampening his shirt over his chest, clinging wetly to his heart.

“Can I trust you?” Her voice was hoarse. “Xie Bo, can I?”

“You have no choice but to trust me.”

Lin Yiwei cupped his face and kissed his Adam’s apple—the most sensitive and least resistant spot on him.

Xie Bo’s breathing grew heavy. She rarely initiated kisses; the patch of skin she had injured tasted of blood and salt. He kissed up her neck, finally finding her lips, and they clung to each other fiercely.

The man held her tightly, cradling her waist, deepening the kiss until their breaths came raggedly...

“Do you want this?” Lin Yiwei asked.

“Do you?”

She nodded.

But Xie Bo shook his head, tousling the hair at her forehead. “You’re burning up and still thinking about this? Be good and sleep. We’ll talk later...”

With that, he got up and left the room, going to the cabinet to fetch a first-aid kit and took out some bandages.

The wound on her neck was shallow; a single bandage could cover it. He cleaned the fruit knife.

This woman... tender enough to strangle him, fierce enough to take his life.

He simply couldn’t push her away.

The one who fell first, losing their thick armor, offering a soft heart.

Xie Bo took a pomegranate from the fridge, sliced it with a knife, and peeled the seeds into a plate.

Li Du came out wearing slippers and sat by the bar stool. He peeled a seed and, on impulse, popped one into his mouth.

Xie Bo didn’t mind; he didn’t stop him.

“Settled?”

“Sending her to England.”

“You’re helping her with Lin Xie’s matter?”

“That’s her only family. No matter what, I want her to be happy.”

There were too few happy things in her life, just like him.

“If you get involved, inevitable conflict with the Chi family will arise.”

“Whether there’s conflict depends on my relationship with Chi Xiyu.”

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Dealing with Chi Xiyu was not difficult for Xie Bo.

“Two women, and you handle it so smoothly.” Li Du popped pomegranate seeds into his mouth. “But Xie Bo, feelings aren’t that simple. Want to hear my advice?”

“You stayed up most of the night guarding the door just to give advice, didn’t you?” Xie Bo turned and poured himself a glass of water. “If I don’t let you finish, you won’t sleep.”

Li Du was silent for a moment, then advised, “Cut ties with Lin Yiwei and follow your original plan. Chi Xiyu is a suitable match for an alliance. With her, everything you want is within reach. Xie Bo, life is about choices, but you must bear the consequences and risks. Wanting everything will leave you with nothing.”

Xie Bo toyed with the cup handle, smirking, “You always have so many reasons.”

All these years, he had been making choices—shaping who he was, bearing the consequences, suppressing himself to do what he despised but had to do.

Because he desired something deeply—

Power, wealth, and... true freedom.

Li Du didn’t demand an immediate decision; he just patted his shoulder: “Whatever you choose, I hope you live up to all these years of lurking and enduring. But most importantly, live true to your heart.”

“What if those two conflict?”

Li Du thought a moment: “Then you’ll know when the time comes.”

...

Xie Bo carried half a plate of pomegranate seeds upstairs and saw Lin Yiwei standing alone at the hallway entrance. The draft blew against her thin frame; her white shirt outlined her straight legs as she shivered...

He rolled his eyes. “What are you doing up?”

“I overheard your conversation with Li,” Lin Yiwei leaned on the wooden stair railing, barely supporting herself, voice hoarse. “I wanted to hear it, afraid you’d lie to me.”

Her lips were pale and colorless; the only strength left was in her gaze.

She locked eyes with Xie Bo, “You won’t lie to me, right?”

Xie Bo held the plate with one hand and with the other, like carrying a troublesome child, picked her up and unceremoniously tossed her onto the bed: “You look sick. Don’t wander around.”

The next moment, Lin Yiwei grabbed his arm, tightened around his neck, and whispered in his ear, “Xie Bo, if you lie to me, I’ll kill you.”

“Go ahead.”

Xie Bo smiled. His cold hand picked a pomegranate seed and placed it in her mouth. She bit gently, juice splashing onto his lips. He parted her lips and, with that pomegranate seed, they kissed for a long time.

Xie Bo clasped her arm, pinned her to the bed, and unbuttoned her collar—

“You can’t sleep either, huh?”

...

Xie Bo was careful not to be too rough considering her condition. The girl was drowsy and desperate, clinging tightly to him, calling for Xie Bo and then for her brother, wearing him down quickly.

She eventually fell into a deep sleep. Xie Bo felt a twinge of regret. He had been tending to her all night, changing her cold compress, reducing her fever until midnight, kissing her face, her eyes, everything about her...

In the middle of the night, Lin Yiwei woke thirsty and saw Xie Bo still awake. She asked again, “You won’t lie to me, right?”

Xie Bo nodded, repeatedly reassuring her until she could sleep soundly—

“Tomorrow, go to school as usual, don’t raise suspicion. Chi Xiyu doesn’t know it’s you yet. By the time she realizes, you’ll already be in England. I’ve submitted your exchange application to the Royal College of Art in London; they’re reviewing your documents.”

“Will I get in?”

“Don’t worry. Your grades are solid. The only thing left is money, but that’s not a problem.”

Lin Yiwei held his hand tightly: “You rescue him without a scratch, and I’ll stay with you for life.”

“A lifetime is a long time. What if I get tired of it?” He looked at her, his gaze restrained but tender. “Someone like me will get tired.”

“That’s okay. If you get tired, I’ll disappear.” She looked at him with those foxlike eyes, the message in her gaze... gentle and harmless. “Master Bo, I’ll be good. I won’t cause trouble.”

Xie Bo kissed her forehead: “I’m used to you arguing with me.”

“So, you’re just a jerk.”

Xie Bo sneered and tucked her in: “Now, sleep.”

Lin Yiwei closed her eyes, still gripping his hand tightly.

...

Lin Yiwei’s fever subsided quickly, like a wild grass unbroken by storm. By the next day, she was fine.

When she woke, she saw Xie Bo sleeping on the cashmere rug by the bed, half-leaning against it, head tilted, holding the cooling compress.

He had cared for her the whole night.

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Lin Yiwei lifted a cup to moisten her fever-chapped lips and looked down at him.

His lips were vivid in color, with a cracked spot on his lower lip from her biting. They often got hurt during kisses—either him or her—like a game where they could never just be tender.

Morning light spilled through the curtains, casting on his face. His rugged bone structure was deeply defined, his features striking, especially his peach blossom eyes—undoubtedly inherited from his stunningly beautiful mother.

A woman who could even captivate Xie Sizhuo.

Lin Yiwei changed her clothes, expressionless, stepping over him at the foot of the bed without another glance.

Downstairs, she found some frozen buns in the fridge and steamed them, warming some milk as well.

Li Du, in a gray, loose-fitting home shirt, emerged lazily. His hair was messy, and he looked dazed.

“Morning. Feeling better?”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you going to school later? I’ll take you.”

“There’s class at ten.” Lin Yiwei checked her phone. “Should be enough time. Want some breakfast?”

Li Du looked at the buns in the steamer. “He never eats those.”

“Whether he eats is his business; whether I make them is mine.” Lin Yiwei adjusted the steamer settings. “How do I keep it warm continuously?”

Li Du leaned over to help adjust the timer. “Set the timer. You don’t know when he’ll wake. Steam it first; he can microwave it later. This machine steams, roasts, and microwaves—all in one. Very convenient.”

“Thanks. I haven’t used one of these before.”

“You seem to care about him a lot.” Li Du took a sip of milk. “I hope it’s genuine care, not just a show.”

“Is there a difference? Both are care.”

“I hope it’s genuine. There aren’t many real things in Xie Bo’s life. He needs this.”

Lin Yiwei said nothing, adjusted the steamer, then bit into a small bun. “Xie Bo is my only hope now. I’ll treat him well.”

“You’re hoping for another man through him.”

“He doesn’t care. What do you care about?”

Her words were sharp, like a creature covered in thorns, bristling hostility at Li Du.

He always advised Xie Bo not to help her.

...

Li Du drove her to school, breaking the silence first: “Lin Yiwei, no matter how much you hate Xie Bo, don’t forget—he’s helping you.”

“How could I hate him? I even made him breakfast.”

“It was in this very car yesterday you slapped him. If it were anyone else, they’d have thrown you off.”

“I was delirious from the fever.”

“No matter what you think, you have to know he didn’t have to do any of this. Because of you, Xie Sizhuo has been displeased with him lately. Do you know how cautious Xie Bo used to be? Because of you, he’s acted impulsively over and over, angering his father repeatedly—like he’s possessed.”

Lin Yiwei smiled. “Why does it sound like it’s my fault coming from your mouth? Li Du, understand this: It’s Xie Bo who won’t let me go. He’s yielding to his own desires—what does that have to do with me?”

“He’s yielding to his heart,” Li Du insisted. “The Xie Bo I know wouldn’t behave like this. If he’s serious, don’t hurt him.”

“Who’s hurting whom?” Lin Yiwei’s smile turned cold. “Last night, I almost succeeded. Who ruined all my efforts?”

“You won’t succeed. Without him, you’re doomed! You think the Chi family’s easy to handle? With your few tricks, you can throw Chi Youhuai and Chi Xiyu in jail? Don’t be naive, Lin Yiwei. This circle isn’t for you or me. So you should be secretly grateful. Him not helping you is just duty; helping you is a favor.”

Lin Yiwei’s hands trembled slightly. “Even if I shatter myself to pieces, I want to crash into this brick wall and see if these people really are lawless.”

The car stopped a kilometer from the school gate, where fewer people were around. Lin Yiwei got out, slammed the door, and walked away.

Watching her thin but stubborn figure disappear into the morning mist, Li Du had a bad feeling.

She would drag Xie Bo down into the abyss.

And the damned part—he would willingly follow.

...