“Vicious? Have any of you ever seen someone who cannot swim deliberately fall into the water themselves just to frame someone else? Brains are a good thing, but President Gu clearly has none!” After saying this, Lan Bei carried Chi Xue away.
“To the hospital?” Lan Bei asked softly after they left the club.
Chi Xue shook her head. “Let’s go home. I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
After returning to Lan Bei’s Villa, Chi Xue took a hot shower, but her entire body still felt cold.
Irritated, she went to the study and tried to draw.
However, when she picked up the paintbrush, she discovered that her right hand could not exert any strength at all, which left Chi Xue deeply discouraged.
Staring at her right hand, unable even to hold the paintbrush properly, Chi Xue angrily shoved the brush and all the paints on the desk aside. Then she hugged her knees, feeling more defeated than ever before.
“Your hand has not recovered in the first place. Overexerting it will not do your right hand any good, so why force yourself to draw?” Lan Bei walked over from behind Chi Xue, picked up the paintbrush from the floor, and said calmly.
He brought over a bowl of brown sugar ginger tea and handed it to Chi Xue. Only after watching her drink it did he feel relieved.
“It won’t get better. It will never recover. My hand is ruined. I’ll never be able to draw again.”
For her, the greatest blow was not Gu Cishen’s betrayal, but the fact that her right hand was ruined and she would never be able to draw again. That had once been her dream!
Seeing her like this, Lan Bei sighed.
He gently drew Chi Xue into his arms, stroked her hair, and comforted her softly.
“Don’t worry. No matter what price I have to pay, I’ll make your right hand better! You have to keep your faith, understand? One day, you’ll pick up a paintbrush again and fulfill the dream you never completed!”
Chi Xue gently shook her head. She had already fallen into despair and no longer held any hope.
The greater the hope, the more painful the disappointment.
Shangya Villa District, Building 8, Area A.
After being tormented by Xia Mian last night, Chi Xue had slept poorly all night. Thinking of those earrings, she called Su Lian first thing in the morning.
As soon as the call connected, Su Lian’s flippant voice came through. “Chi Xue, have you made up your mind?”
“You can name any condition except that one.”
“Crimson Bar, eight o’clock tonight.” Su Lian let out a mocking laugh, his tone contemptuous. “If you have the guts to come, I might consider selling them to you. But if you stand me up, I’ll throw the earrings into the sea.”
Chi Xue immediately said, “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely be there on time.”
Chi Xue arrived early. After waiting twenty minutes, she saw Su Lian, and the two went up to the ninth floor together.
However, Su Lian had not reserved an ordinary Private room, but the round-cornered glass room at the very center. From there, they could overlook the lively scene on the entire first floor.
Chi Xue took out her bank card and placed it on the coffee table. “Young Master Su, this is one million. I’ll pay it to you first. As for the rest...”
Su Lian sat on the long sofa, leaning back against it with a lazy expression. “What’s the rush? I haven’t said I’m going to sell you the earrings yet!”
“Young Master Su, what exactly will it take for you to sell them to me? You asked me to come to the bar, and I came.” Chi Xue looked somewhat displeased, but still asked him calmly.
She stood not far away in a well-tailored long dress. Her figure was graceful, her features beautiful, and her makeup exquisite. When she did not smile, she possessed a cold, glamorous beauty.
Su Lian curved his lips into a smile, carrying a hint of roguishness. “This Young Master isn’t short of money.”
“Name it. As long as I can do it.”
Su Lian’s gaze changed in an instant, gaining a hint of something inscrutable. He looked Chi Xue up and down before slowly saying, “Why don’t you come with me and be my woman? Everything I have will be yours.”
“Su Lian.” Chi Xue’s lovely brows drew together slightly, and her expression turned ugly.
Su Lian raised his brows slightly. “What? Is following me beneath you?”
“Young Master Su, please say something practical.”
Su Lian gave a cold laugh, seemingly mocking her. “After all, Miss Chi has always accepted anyone who comes along. Surely one more won’t matter. Isn’t that right, Miss Chi?”
Seeing the indignation on Chi Xue’s face, he continued in a cool, sarcastic tone, stabbing at her heart. “We’re all thousand-year-old foxes, so stop pretending in front of me. Besides, Miss Chi is nothing more than the discarded old shoe Gu Cishen no longer wanted. You should be grateful that I, Su Lian, am willing to pick you up.”
“Young Master Su, if that’s how you’re going to speak, then there’s nothing more to discuss.” Chi Xue folded her arms across her chest, her expression cold and clear. She turned on her high heels and was about to leave.
A vicious look entered Su Lian’s eyes. He suddenly sprang up from the sofa and blocked Chi Xue’s path. “Chi Xue, leaving right after you arrived is a little too disrespectful to this Young Master. You really don’t want those earrings anymore?”
Chi Xue looked up at him, her expression taking on a careless boldness. “Since Young Master Su isn’t sincerely trying to sell them, then I suppose I don’t want them anymore.”
Although she said that, her heart was still extremely tense.
No matter what, she had to get those earrings back.
“I thought these earrings were very important to you. Looks like I misunderstood.” As Su Lian spoke carelessly, the object he casually flicked between his fingers was none other than those emerald-green earrings.
Chi Xue’s eyes tightened, and she nearly rushed over to snatch them.
“Su Lian, don’t go too far.” She simply did not want to owe Lan Bei another favor; otherwise, she would never have endured Su Lian’s humiliation here.
“Miss Chi, having backbone is a good thing, but don’t be too stubborn.” Su Lian wore a false smile, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and said, “How about this? Go downstairs and dance for me. If I’m pleased, why wouldn’t I give them to you?”
Chi Xue was thoroughly enraged. “Su Lian, keep the earrings for yourself.”
Chi Xue pushed open the door and walked out. Su Lian followed and pinned her against the door panel. “Chi Xue, don’t blame me for not giving you a chance. Go downstairs and dance now, or become my woman. Choose one.”
“Let go of me.” Under his forceful pressure, Chi Xue’s cheeks burned red.
She raised her hand between them, wanting to push him away, but then she encountered the man walking toward them, and her movement froze in front of her.
“What? Playing hard to get?” Su Lian teased, carrying a hint of arrogance.
Chi Xue turned her head away, refusing to look at Gu Cishen, who was coldly glaring at her from not far away. Facing Su Lian, she suddenly flashed a smile. “Yes, I am. Are you satisfied, Young Master Su?”
Her voice softened, sounding both coquettish and tender.
“I just like you this way...” Su Lian bent down, wanting to kiss her.
Chi Xue did not move. As she felt his breath draw near, her heart tensed tightly, and every muscle in her body seized up, making her unbearably uncomfortable.
Suddenly, someone flung Su Lian aside from behind. He immediately flew into a rage, turned around, and threw a punch. “Damn it, which blind bastard dares to—”
Gu Cishen caught his fist in his large hand. His expression was cold, and his custom-tailored suit made him look even more distinguished. “Young Master Su, you’re quite interested, aren’t you? You’re so eager to pick up the old shoe I discarded?”
Su Lian’s expression turned cold. He abruptly withdrew his hand and twisted his neck, his entire bearing filled with arrogance and disdain. “What? It may be an old shoe, but it’s a beautiful one. I’ve taken a fancy to her. Does President Gu have a problem with that?”
“Chi Xue, you’re really so desperate that you’ll accept anyone who comes along. Disgusting.”
Chi Xue smiled brilliantly, radiating extraordinary charm. Her graceful figure swayed with each step as she slowly approached Gu Cishen. The words from her red lips carried a sting. “If President Gu offers enough money, I can accompany you too.”
She raised her slender, pale wrist and lightly pointed a fingertip at his chin, only for Gu Cishen to seize it and grip it tightly. Then he flung it away, his disgusted expression as though he were throwing out trash.
“Get lost.”
Chi Xue’s smile deepened, carrying a hint of reckless abandon. She glanced at the two of them and spat out, “You’re sick.” With a cold sneer, she turned and left.