“How much I want?
Can it compare to your Lin Su-su?”
Xia Xing lifted her gaze slightly to look at Gu Huaijin.
“For your Lin Su-su, you gave her the wedding that belonged to me.
To make her famous, you poured in a hundred million without blinking an eye, yet froze my cards the next moment—and you still say I want too much?”
Gu Huaijin’s voice was cold and low.
“That is no reason for you to target Lin Su-su again and again.”
Xia Xing retorted sarcastically, “Right, it’s all me picking on her.
Miss Lin remains untouched by the world’s filth, pure and immaculate.”
Gu Huaijin could easily hear the sarcasm in her words.
He frowned, thinking Xia Xing had grown utterly unreasonable.
He was about to speak when Xia Xing’s voice cut him off first.
“I hope you and Miss Lin clear up all false information about me online.
Otherwise, don’t blame me for dragging you both down to ruin.”
Dark, unfathomable emotions swirled in Gu Huaijin’s black eyes.
“Ruin?”
“Yes.
Don’t you believe me?”
“I hardly do.”
Xia Xing smiled and said no more.
“We’ll see.”
Their conversation ended badly once again.
Shortly after Gu Huaijin left, Shen Yeming returned and drove Xia Xing home.
…
The next day, Xia Xing drove to pick up Shen Xi after school.
Though the scandal had not blown over, Shen Xi had not seen her for days and begged to meet her.
At the thought of Shen Xi, warmth spread through Xia Xing’s heart.
Even the wounds in her chest seemed to soothe a little.
There was a traffic jam at this hour.
Afraid Shen Xi would grow anxious waiting, Xia Xing sent her a message.
“Xi Xi, there’s traffic on the road.
I might be a few minutes late.”
Shen Xi replied quickly.
“I got it, Aunt Xingxing.
Don’t rush, drive carefully.”
A soft smile tugged at Xia Xing’s lips.
In the past, whenever Lin Su-su went out, even if Xia Xing was only slightly delayed, Gu Ziting would greet her with a sour look.
Once she had caught a bad cold and coughed nonstop on the way, yet Gu Ziting only messaged Lin Su-su, not bothering to ask how she was doing at all.
As she passed an intersection and prepared to turn, a car not far away charged straight toward her!
Xia Xing’s expression changed sharply.
She swerved hard on the steering wheel, but it was too late.
BOOM!
After the deafening crash, Xia Xing lost consciousness briefly.
…
She did not know how long had passed before she slowly came to, hearing soft sobs through the shattered glass.
“A-Jin, you’re finally here… That woman driver was terrifying.
She didn’t even hit the brakes before slamming into me… I thought, I thought I’d never see you again… Waaaa!”
Blinking hazily through the cracked windshield, Xia Xing spotted a tall familiar figure lifting Lin Su-su out of the wrecked car.
Lin Su-su?
Had Lin Su-su been the one to hit her?
Lin Su-su’s face was streaked with tears, looking delicate and tearful.
She threw herself straight into Gu Huaijin’s arms.
“A-Jin, I thought I was going to die just now.
I was so scared…”
The man murmured to comfort her.
“It’s alright now.”
Chaotic noises rose outside; quite a crowd had gathered to watch the accident.
Gu Huaijin did not glance her way even once.
He walked through the onlookers, seemingly ready to take Lin Su-su away.
Black smoke swirled up alongside blazing flames, bursting from somewhere inside the car.
The pungent smell of gasoline made Xia Xing cough violently.
Cough!
Cough!
Xia Xing struggled to climb out of the vehicle, only to find her foot trapped, unable to move an inch.
Instinctively, she fished her phone out of her pocket to call for help.
The car was on fire.
If she dialed emergency services, by the time rescuers arrived, she would likely burn to death.
Without time to think, driven by raw survival instinct, she pressed Gu Huaijin’s number.
Trapped in mortal danger, her senses felt sharper than ever before.
She heard his familiar phone ring coming from where he stood.
Cold sweat soaked her palms, slick and clammy.
Xia Xing stared fixedly in Gu Huaijin’s direction, gripping her phone tightly.
Gu Huaijin’s footsteps suddenly halted.
Though she had long given up on him, at this life-or-death moment, Xia Xing’s heart still hammered wildly.
Gu Huaijin pulled out his phone.
Seeing Xia Xing’s name on the screen, his eyes darkened.
Just then, Lin Su-su spoke softly.
“It’s Miss Xia’s call… It seems she’s come to her senses.”
Lin Su-su gave a pale, faint smile, her voice frail.
“A-Jin, answer it quickly.
Ziting needs his mother… Don’t worry about me.
I’m fine… Anyway, I don’t have much longer to live.”
Gu Huaijin’s eyes flickered.
“I’ll take you to the hospital first.”
Ignoring everything else, Gu Huaijin carried Lin Su-su away.
In that instant, Xia Xing’s mind went blank.
It felt as if a heavy sledgehammer had smashed straight into her heart.
Her vision faded to black, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
…
“Wow, the woman they just brought in—isn’t that Gu Huaijin’s first love, Lin Su-su?”
“That’s right.
You should have seen how frantic and distressed Mr.
Gu was when he rushed her here… They’re such ill-fated lovers.
It’s such a pity they didn’t end up together.”
“I heard Gu Huaijin’s wife was a homewrecker.
She used despicable tricks to tear them apart so she could marry him.”
“I saw Gu Huaijin staying right beside Miss Lin’s bed… That loving gaze of his is enough to melt anyone.
I know my morals are skewed, but I almost hope they can be together.”
Xia Xing regained consciousness amid their whispers.
“Oh, this young lady’s awake.”
Someone noticed her stirring, and the chatter stopped.
“Miss Xia, how are you feeling?”
Xia Xing shook her head gently, her head spinning.
“…My head hurts.”
The doctor said, “Aside from superficial wounds, you have mild concussion and a slightly sprained ankle.
You’ll need to stay hospitalized for observation for a few days… Miss Xia, please notify your family to come settle your hospital bills.”
Family?
Her family was most likely sitting by Lin Su-su’s bedside, tending to her every need.
A mocking smile slowly tugged at Xia Xing’s lips.
After a long silence, Xia Xing made a phone call.
…
Once he confirmed Lin Su-su was not seriously injured and finally got the sobbing woman to fall asleep, Gu Huaijin drove back home well past midnight.
The villa lay shrouded in darkness.
Rubbing his tired temples, Gu Huaijin pushed open the bedroom door.
The bedroom was also pitch black.
Once, no matter how late he came home, Xia Xing would leave a lamp on for him.
When she heard him return, she would get up at once and ask whether he had eaten, if he wanted a midnight snack.
But after Xia Xing left, all of that was gone.
At first, Gu Huaijin had not felt much difference.
Yet tonight, for some reason, a strange, heavy coldness hung in the air.
Gu Huaijin flipped the wall switch abruptly.
Bright light flooded the room.
But the chamber was empty.