Chapter 54: Leo

When Lin Yiwei was collecting her luggage at the terminal, an airport staff member informed her that she had an additional piece of checked baggage that had been shipped separately, and she would need to wait a while to claim everything together.

Lin Yiwei frowned and asked the staff member in slightly unfluent conversational English, "What kind of luggage is it?"

The other person replied in English, "It was forwarded and checked in for you by a Mr. Xie."

"Oh, I see."

In her entire world, there was only that one willful and unrestrained Mr. Xie.

That being the case, Lin Yiwei walked to the airport waiting room, fished out her portable notebook, and doodled casually to pass the time.

Fortunately, she only had to wait forty minutes before the forwarded luggage arrived.

Holding her claim ticket, Lin Yiwei went to the baggage claim area, and when she saw the staff members hauling a huge pet crate off the conveyor belt, she was somewhat dumbfounded.

Alive—it's alive?

The pet transport crate opened, and a majestic German Shepherd sat right before her, panting with its tongue out and looking up at her.

???

?????

Lin Yiwei repeatedly confirmed with the staff, "Is this for me?"

"No, why is it a dog? Are you sure it wasn't sent to the wrong person?"

"No way! Such a big one!"

The staff member patiently informed her in English, "That is correct. This is indeed your checked express delivery."

"I don't know this dog, and I'm a bit afraid of it... Can it be sent back?"

"This was sent to you by Mr. Xie. If you don't want it, you can contact an animal rescue organization for humane disposal."

"..."

Humane disposal...

Lin Yiwei walked over. The German Shepherd sniffed the scent on her, immediately stood up and wagged its tail at her, and nudged her hand affectionately with its large head.

It seemed well-trained and did not bite.

She calmed down a little, stroked the dog's head, and then called Xie Bo.

"Arrived?" The man's voice was as low and pleasant as ever.

"What is the meaning of this? Why did you check your dog in and ship it over?"

"I was meaning to tell you beforehand. It used to be a police dog, and I adopted it after it retired. It can look after the house and protect you."

Lin Yiwei turned her head slightly and saw the dog sitting steadily beside her. Even after enduring more than ten hours of transit—without anyone knowing whether it had relieved itself or not—it still didn't run around blindly and stayed obediently by her side.

"We've been together for so long; it has smelled my scent on you, so it should recognize you." Xie Bo's tone was calm, completely devoid of the panic and disorientation he had shown while searching for her before boarding, "Just feed it two meals a day and take it for a walk at dusk."

"Xie Bo, I can't take care of it. I'm going to rent a place, attend classes, and work a part-time job. How could I possibly have the time to raise a dog? I can only take care of myself; I can't take care of it..."

"I've already arranged your life, so you don't need to worry. Someone will take care of you."

"Xie Bo, I don't need you to arrange my life. Helping me get admitted to the school is already enough. I can take care of myself."

Suddenly, the man let out a light, cold scoff, tinged with a cold and detached mockery, "Lin Yiwei, you're making a clean break with me, aren't you?"

Lin Yiwei lowered her eyelids, looking at the innocent-looking large dog beside her, and remained silent.

The matter concerning Lin Xie had not been resolved yet, and she did not dare to provoke him.

"No lovers, no meetings—I accept these terms." Xie Bo knew the internal struggle in her heart and was unwilling to bully her. He took a deep breath, "But I want you to live within my sight, and live within an atmosphere infused with my presence. Do you understand, Lin Yiwei? You are not allowed to stop loving me. When you use those fancy little toys of yours, you must think of me in your mind—only me. Can you do this?"

Lin Yiwei lowered her head and said nothing.

He was still such an unreasonable person, demanding to forcefully occupy a place in her heart even across thousands of mountains and rivers.

"Xie Bo, the promise you made to me—it won't change, right?"

"As long as you don't change, I won't change."

Lin Yiwei hung up the phone, reached out, and ruffled the little German Shepherd's head. "There's nothing I can do. Your owner doesn't want you anymore, so you're stuck with me now."

"By the way, what's your name?"

Lin Yiwei had forgotten to ask Xie Bo for the dog's name, and not wanting to call him back, she simply said, "Forget it, you'll get a new name. Since he doesn't want you, from now on you are mine, and you have nothing to do with him."

She thought for a moment, a mischievous smile curving the corners of her lips, "Then I'll call you Little Dog Xie."

The German Shepherd panted with its tongue out, looking at her gently as if it were also smiling brightly in the sunshine.

Carrying her luggage and holding "Little Dog Xie" on a leash, Lin Yiwei walked out of the airport. Immediately, an Asian-looking woman of about forty years old warmly greeted her, "Are you Mr. Xie's Miss Lin?"

"Uh..." Lin Yiwei replied unnaturally, "I'm Lin Yiwei."

The woman was dressed appropriately and possessed an elegant demeanor and speech. "I'm the housekeeper hired by Mr. Xie to take care of you. You can call me Aunt Lu."

"Please don't use formal address, just call me Weiwei," Lin Yiwei said politely, "I'll be troubling you from now on."

Aunt Lu formed an exceptionally favorable first impression of her, smiling and nodding repeatedly as she led Lin Yiwei out of the airport, where a black Mercedes-Benz sedan was waiting at the curb.

Just moments ago on the plane, she had been making a schedule—how much renting an apartment would cost, what time every day she would go to her part-time job, how much she could earn, and how to use scholarships to offset tuition fees...

She had never expected that Xie Bo had already arranged every single aspect of her life.

***

The words he had just spoken—requiring her to live within his sight and his atmosphere... Clearly, Lin Yiwei was in no position to refuse any of this.

Little Dog Xie hopped into the car with practiced ease, Lin Yiwei climbed in as well, and the driver started the engine.

Looking at the scenery outside through the car window, the sedan happened to pass by the River Thames. Following the arrival of spring, the willow branches along the bank had sprouted new buds, trailing gracefully over the water's surface.

It was early morning, and the sunlight filtered through a hazy mist onto the river, casting shimmering ripples like the white of an egg. A few small white sailboats drifted leisurely with the current on the river, bringing to mind the poem *Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again*.

"This car is a gift from Mr. Xie for your daily use. He said you already have a driver's license—of course, if you don't dare to drive it, you can call the driver at any time."

Lin Yiwei nodded silently.

Soon, the sedan turned onto Oxford Street. This street was quite old; it was nearly impossible to find a flat paving stone along the roadside. The street featured colorful hat shops, very modern jewelry stores, art galleries, and antique curio shops...

The place where Lin Yiwei was to stay was only three or four blocks away from the art college and within walking distance. The house was a small three-story building located within a narrow lane. Its aged and low-profile exterior gave off a distinct vibe reminiscent of 221B Baker Street from *Sherlock*.

Aunt Lu led Lin Yiwei inside. There was a small courtyard that could serve as an activity space for "Little Dog Xie," featuring blue fences and white stone steps. Entering the house, the foyer led straight into the living room, beside which was a three-story spiral staircase.

The house was kept impeccably clean. The living room was laid with a warm, creamy-white carpet, exquisite Chinese porcelain pieces were placed on the cabinets, two lazy lounge chairs stood by the fireplace, and a large bookshelf on the side was filled with Chinese literature books.

The house seemed brimming with the warmth of life. Lin Yiwei curiously asked Aunt Lu, "Is this house rented or bought by Xie Bo?"

"This house belongs to Mr. Xie. I've been living here all along."

Seeing the look of doubt on Lin Yiwei's face, Aunt Lu explained, "I am a friend of Mr. Xie's mother. I took care of her during the period before she passed away from illness. Out of gratitude, Mr. Xie later helped me pay off most of my debts, got me out of the red-light district, brought me to England, and gave me a place where I could settle down. Mr. Xie said you are a very important person to him, and he wouldn't feel at ease leaving you to any hired babysitter. After all, his father..."

She paused. "He entrusted me to take care of you, so it is naturally my duty. Without him, I might have ended up just like his mother... riddled with illness and leaving this world prematurely. How could I possibly have a life as wonderful as this now?"

Aunt Lu did not hide anything from her at all, speaking with complete candor, which made Lin Yiwei feel very at ease.

Ever since she was little, she had been a girl with severe paranoia, always maintaining her guard against people; only utter sincerity could ever win her trust.

Aunt Lu led her to the second-floor bedroom. This room offered a broad view; unblocked by any high-rise buildings, it commanded a sight of the wide, rushing river.

After Lin Yiwei unpacked and settled in, drowsiness gradually crept over her. However, she couldn't sleep just yet as she needed to adjust to the jet lag. Therefore, after eating, she forced her drooping eyelids open and went out for a stroll to measure the bicycling time to school and familiarize herself with the shops and streets around her home.

***

Once settled in London, daily life was very simple—attending classes, sketching and painting from life, walking Little Dog Xie at dusk, going shopping for daily necessities with Aunt Lu at the supermarket, and on rainy days, sitting by the fireplace with Aunt Lu, listening to the crackling and popping of firewood inside the hearth, chatting, and listening to her recount past stories of the bustling world outside...

Upon entering the Royal College of Art in London, Lin Yiwei poured all her focus into her studies, carrying forward the fine virtues of diligent and hardworking Chinese students. Coupled with her unique, sensitive talent for color, she quickly stood out in the academy. Her works were recommended by her tutor to a London art exhibition, where they were successfully displayed, garnering a wave of favorable reviews and even making it into newspapers and magazines.

Having been illuminated by the spotlight, Lin Yiwei finally understood why Chi Xiyu constantly sought out major art awards. It was like leveling up and defeating monsters, gilding her resume with layer after layer of gold leaf and lighting up badge after badge of honor.

For Chi Xiyu, these were all halos added to her wings, whereas for Lin Yiwei, these were the bargaining chips she was adding, step by step, for a comfortable material future of her own.

Leng Zhiyun frequently visited London. Every time she came, aside from visiting her ailing father, she would invariably visit Lin Yiwei at school.

The two interacted like friends, sharing a meal or strolling around the campus. Sometimes she would even bring her baby along, and Lin Yiwei thoroughly enjoyed playing with the little one.

She mentioned that her father's surgery had been quite successful, but his condition had not yet stabilized, and his heart could not take the slightest stimulation. Once her father's health improved, she wanted to invite Lin Yiwei over to their home for a meal.

Lin Yiwei's introverted social phobia flared up dramatically at this; she had zero desire to go have a meal at the home of a Hong Kong jewelry tycoon! She had no idea how many rigid rules there were, and lacking worldly experience, she would definitely commit some social faux pas.

Although Leng Zhiyun didn't pressure her face-to-face, she genuinely cared for her, offering warm regards, helping her connect with numerous art galleries and exhibitions, and increasing the exposure of her works. This made Lin Yiwei feel quite apologetic, yet filled with gratitude.

Xie Bo no longer contacted her; there were no text messages and no phone calls. But she knew that Aunt Lu would contact Xie Bo and report to him about her daily life and living conditions in London.

Of course, Lin Yiwei was also closely "monitoring" Xie Bo's life through her good friend Ye Anning.

Xie Bo and Chi Xiyu had officially made their relationship public. Regarding this matter, Chi Xiyu had posted about it on her Moments three times, using different angles and subtle background details to flaunt and showcase her happiness to everyone.

Regarding her constant updates showing affection every few days—whether the two of them were going on a yacht party, or camping and barbecuing in the wilderness with both the Xie and Chi families, or Xie Bo accompanying her to an art exhibition...

The two never argued; wherever they went, they walked hand in hand, looking as sweet as a model celebrity couple in the entertainment industry.

Everyone was marveling at how Xie Bo's young-master temper and Chi Xiyu's spoiled-heiress temper could be together without fighting? It was simply unbelievable, leading people to say that Xie Bo must be humoring Chi Xiyu, truly doting on and loving her... Respectful and polite to one another, they would surely smoothly walk down the aisle into marriage.

"The campus forum TalkTok has tons of posts like this, envying their sweet daily life. You can tell at a glance that Chi Xiyu bought trolls for it." Ye Anning's complaint was equally merciless. "Does she think not fighting equals sweetness? Xie Bo simply can't be bothered to argue with her, too lazy to invest any emotional energy. Anyone can see it—he's obviously staying with her for the sake of the corporate group."

Wearing her headphones, Lin Yiwei sat by the River Thames, sketching a scene of an elderly couple with white hair leaning against each other while watching the sunset. "Chi Xiyu might not be unaware of it."

"You mean she knows?"

"Whether one is loved or not, even the most foolish person can sense it."

She watched the elderly husband before her gently brush a piece of willow fluff off his wife's clothes. "If Chi Xiyu herself feels very happy, perhaps she can feel love. If she isn't happy yet has to pretend to be, then she can only drink the water herself and know for herself whether it's cold or warm."

"Xie Bo is quite prominent; he often represents his father at various business meetings," Ye Anning continued. "In a few days, it's his twentieth birthday, and the Xie and Chi families will announce their engagement. I heard from my dad that the joint retail chain *Yue Mei Fresh*, developed in cooperation by the two groups, will also be handed over completely to Xie Bo to manage during the birthday banquet, given to him as a birthday gift by Xie Sizhuo."

Lin Yiwei knew about *Yue Mei Fresh*; hundreds of chain stores had opened across provincial capitals nationwide, and there were even three branches in London.

"He's getting precisely what he wished for now, riding high on success."

No matter how busy he was, Lin Yiwei only hoped he would keep the matter concerning Lin Xie in mind.

No, she couldn't just pin her hopes on that alone.

Lin Yiwei had to remind him.

***

On the day of Xie Bo's birthday, Leng Zhiyun delivered the custom Buddha-stone bracelet that Lin Yiwei had ordered.

The design blueprint for this bracelet was provided by Lin Yiwei, and Leng Zhiyun helped process and manufacture it. Every single detail, connection point, and the size and shape of the jade stones were personally designed by Lin Yiwei.

The Buddha stones were pure black with not a single flaw, and the beads Leng Zhiyun helped select were top-tier, exquisite corundum gemstones, each pure and translucent.

Leng Zhiyun said it was specially sent back to China to be blessed at a Buddhist temple, believing it could bring good fortune and peace.

Lin Yiwei transferred the money for the bracelet to Leng Zhiyun according to their previously agreed-upon price. Although Leng Zhiyun initially said it wasn't necessary and considered it a gift from her, Lin Yiwei stubbornly insisted that it was a commission and she had to pay.

Leng Zhiyun couldn't win the argument and understood the young girl's stubborn temperament, so she had no choice but to accept. However, she only took half—a little over half a million—and told Lin Yiwei to pay the rest later.

When Lin Yiwei persisted further, Leng Zhiyun immediately changed the subject, "By the way, my father's condition has stabilized. We can arrange a time to invite you over to our house for a casual meal. Just family members—myself, my dad, and my older brother and his wife. What do you think?"

Lin Yiwei truly didn't understand why Leng Zhiyun was so fixated on having her come over to her house for a meal and even meet her father.

"Since your esteemed father has just recovered from a serious illness, I'd better not go disturb him."

"It's no disturbance at all! Hearing that you saved our little Pearl, my dad has also been very eager to meet you and express his gratitude in person."

"Really, there's no need. It was just a small effort on my part."

"Weiwei, do you really not want to have anything to do with our family? If you have such concerns, I suppose I won't force you."

Filled with guilt by those words, Lin Yiwei waved her hands repeatedly. "No, you've misunderstood."

"Don't worry," Leng Zhiyun took her hand and said gently, "It's just a casual meal; you don't need to be too nervous."

"Then... then let's wait until Mr. Leng's health completely recovers. I wish him a speedy recovery."

Leng Zhiyun indeed didn't dare to tell her about her lineage directly; this matter involved major stakes, and any setting other than home was untrustworthy.

She had to wait until her father's illness was completely stable before bringing the little pearl back home. After all, he had just undergone a coronary bypass surgery; if he got too excited and suffered a relapse, a good thing would turn into a bad one.

At the same time, it was also for the safety of the little pearl.

She had to be extremely cautious.

That night, Lin Yiwei watched the live broadcast of Xie Bo's twentieth birthday banquet online.

Having not seen him for over half a year, he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight in the camera's view. The contours of his facial features appeared increasingly sharp, already possessing the decisive and ruthless aura of Xie Sizhuo.

His gaze was resolute and icy, just like the black jade Buddha stone on Lin Yiwei's wrist—deep water running still.

The Xie and Chi families announced their impending family marriage alliance, and the cooperation between the two families would be pushed forward even further. Standing side by side with Chi Xiyu like a devoted couple, Xie Bo smiled appropriately at the camera.

Lin Yiwei felt that they truly resembled the golden boy and jade girl standing before the Goddess Guanyin.

Xie Bo wore a mask, and Chi Xiyu was no exception; it was just that Lin Yiwei had seen Xie Bo's truest self, whereas she had never seen what Chi Xiyu looked like without her mask.

Her mask was worn twenty-four hours a day, never to be removed for even a single moment.

Lin Yiwei swirled her glass of red wine, drank it down, and, slightly tipsy and on the verge of intoxication, pressed her phone and dialed Xie Bo's number.

The call connected. Neither of them spoke first; only their breathing crossed across ten thousand rivers and mountains... intertwining, just like their hurried gasps in each other's ears every single time.

After a moment, Lin Yiwei broke the silence first, "Master Bo, is there any news about my brother?"

Over the phone, the man's voice carried a certain warm texture, like a stream brushing over pebbles: "It's my birthday, and you only want to ask about this?"

"Happy birthday, Master Bo."

"I've said before, 'Master Bo' is what outsiders call me. What are you supposed to call me?" His voice deepened.

"Xie Bo."

"And what else?"

"Brother..."

The man's breathing tightened slightly before he spoke, "After the engagement, I will take over many of Chi family's affairs. Next month, Chi Xiyu is having a solo art exhibition, and the process will be handled by me, including the transportation and safekeeping of multiple paintings. Don't worry, your brother's hiding place will be figured out by me very soon."

Tears streamed down Lin Yiwei's face, and she tried her utmost to hold them back.

Xie Bo didn't like her crying for another man.

She tried her best to keep her voice calm: "I'm watching the playback of your engagement livestream. Thank you for everything you've done for me."

"Don't thank me for this. I'm not getting engaged to help you find Lin Xie; I'm doing it for my own interests. Even without you, I would still get engaged."

These words carried a hint of petty grievance, as if he were retaliating against her...

Retaliating against her intention to make a clean break.

Lin Yiwei didn't want to talk about these things with him, so she changed the subject, "Xie Bo, so you were born in the summer—a Leo, a proud zodiac sign."

"You're in September—a Virgo, an endlessly troublesome zodiac sign."

"..."

The two of them truly couldn't have a proper conversation; they would start bickering before even finishing three sentences.

Xie Bo murmured, "Next month, I'm coming to London to attend a financial conference. It happens to be your birthday, and I want to meet."

"We agreed not to meet."

"Consider it just meeting an old classmate," Xie Bo compromised. "Don't worry, we'll just have a meal like friends, and once I'm done eating, I'll leave. Let's go eat barbecue, shall we? You must be craving it."

"No meeting, Xie Bo. Since we agreed on it, let's not break the agreement."

On the other end of the line, after an awkward silence, Xie Bo let out a cold scoff, "You've never thought about me at all, have you?"

"We agreed..."

"Since you want your morality, let me be the bad guy."

He increased the intensity of his tone, his voice as sharp and powerful as ten thousand arrows piercing through—

"If you're unwilling to meet me at a restaurant, then wait for me in the bedroom."