Shi Xi didn’t necessarily have to go downstairs to buy fruits.
The System had detected Huo Yao was nearby and wanted her to find an opportunity to meet him.
Compared to her main mission, the System cared more about collecting soul fragments.
But Huo Yao wasn’t someone easily accessible?
When she said she wanted to give him fruits to repay him for saving her life, he directly refused.
On her way back to the apartment, Shi Xi noticed several luxury cars parked by the roadside, one of which seemed to belong to Chi Xuan.
She had swindled another compensation fee from him – how could he not be angry?
But she didn’t expect him to come looking for her so soon.
From their chat history, Chi Xuan appeared impatient and arrogant.
Yet he was easily soothed and soft-hearted.
Of course, if you crossed him, the consequences would be severe.
After sending the message to Huo Yao, Shi Xi put her phone back in her bag.
Leaning on her cane, she continued forward.
Witnessing this scene, Chi Xuan pressed the car window button in surprise, his pupils slightly trembling.
“Huh? She’s crippled?”
“Damn, it’s Lin Shi Xi!”
“How could it be?”
“It really seems like her… isn’t this the same outfit Lin Shi Xi always wears?”
The more Chi Xuan heard, the more irritated he became.
Frowning, he stared intently at the figure, his handsome face gradually turning grim.
He couldn’t help but curse, pounding the steering wheel hard.
How could it be Lin Shi Xi!
The two people in the car quickly glanced at Chi Xuan’s expression.
Lin Shi Xi was disabled, lived alone in a dormitory, and rarely went out.
Most of her lifestyle photos exposed online showed her wearing a mask.
In her ID photo, two prominent scars immediately drew attention, making people overlook her intact right cheek.
No wonder they hadn’t recognized her immediately.
Speaking of which, some netizens had created mirrored images of Lin Shi Xi’s right face, and she actually looked quite beautiful – remarkably similar to her AI-enhanced face.
“…I have to admit, that side profile is absolutely stunning.”
“So she scammed money for plastic surgery?”
“But no hospital could completely remove those two scars, right?”
“Is that her father?”
“The show’s about to begin!”
Someone on the street shouted “Lin Shi Xi.”
The girl with the cane turned to look at the sound, then continued walking, her steps becoming slightly hurried.
Soon enough, Lin Zhen caught up with her.
She was forced against a utility pole, her cane snatched away, leaving her awkwardly collapsed on the damp ground.
The fruits from her bag scattered everywhere, some rolling away along the curb.
Her purse was snatched by Lin Zhen. Passersby wanted to intervene, but were intimidated by his fierce demeanor.
This was the spectacle Chi Xuan had come to see.
But now, witnessing it firsthand, Chi Xuan felt no satisfaction or pleasure.
In his mind, a vague image kept flashing.
A sunny rose garden, a girl sitting quietly before an easel, her side profile glowing like a delicate angel.
That image suddenly became clear, expanding from the corners of his memory, impossible to ignore.
Lin… Shi… Xi…
Xixi.
His elder brother Chi Yuan had an arranged marriage with the Lu Family’s young lady, and he occasionally visited with the elders.
The Lu Family had a little princess – quiet, well-behaved, talented in singing and dancing, always ranking first academically.
He never spoke to her because he wasn’t the well-behaved child the elders approved of, often used as a negative example.
Later, the little princess disappeared.
The Lu Family gained another little princess.
He never went to the Lu Family again and had forgotten there was such a person.
But just now, he suddenly remembered her.
Without even understanding his own thoughts, Chi Xuan abruptly pushed open the car door and stepped out with his long legs.
His two friends were startled by his actions, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure what had come over him.
Weren’t they just going to watch the show?
Why was he getting involved now?
Shi Xi leaned against the lamppost, head slightly lowered, listening to the vulgar and disgusting insults with complete indifference.
Chi Xuan had found this place by spending a fortune to track her down.
As for Lin Zhen, not only did he know she had money, but he could also pinpoint her location precisely—someone must have tipped him off in advance.
Aside from Chi Xuan, there was probably no one else.
That bastard was probably watching the show right now.
She wondered if his hatred would decrease after the spectacle—
Just as this thought crossed Shi Xi’s mind, she heard several consecutive prompts from the System.
System: “Chi Xuan’s hatred value -10.”
System: “Chi Xuan’s hatred value -10.”
System: “Chi Xuan’s hatred value -10.”
…
Shi Xi: “…”
She lifted her eyelids, noticing someone approaching in her peripheral vision.
It was Chi Xuan.
Perhaps sensing Shi Xi’s confusion, the System explained, “Chi Xuan met the original host several times when he was 12, 14, and 16 years old.”
Shi Xi was slightly surprised, barely managing to dredge up a few images from the original host’s memories.
Before leaving the Lu Family, the original host and Chi Yuan had been childhood sweethearts, so they had met naturally. But she and Chi Xuan were truly unfamiliar—they had barely exchanged more than a few words.
Lin Zhen had already rummaged through Shi Xi’s bag and, finding no bank card, threw it directly at her head.
“Where’s the money?!”
Shi Xi raised her hand to block it, and he immediately grabbed her phone, demanding she unlock it.
Missing two front teeth, his speech was slurred.
“You’ve really got some nerve! Could you have survived without me? How dare you hide money! Did you really think hiding would keep me from finding you?!”
Shi Xi’s face couldn’t unlock the phone now. She snatched it back, her eyes already filled with impatience. “Don’t touch my things.”
“You’re yelling at me?!”
Lin Zhen, reminded of his missing teeth, flew into a rage. He grabbed her crutch and swung it at her!
But before it could hit her, the crutch was caught by a hand.
Lin Zhen struggled several times but couldn’t break free. He cursed at Chi Xuan for interfering, “Get lost! I’m disciplining my daughter—what’s it to you?!”
Chi Xuan directly wrested the crutch away and threw it to the ground, his expression disgusted. “You’re the one who should get lost.”
Lin Zhen staggered back.
His eyes first landed on the other man’s million-dollar watch, and he immediately backed down.
Chi Xuan lowered his gaze, his eyes settling on Shi Xi.
He couldn’t understand why someone who had long left his world had suddenly reappeared.
And in such a manner.
It left his mind in chaos.
The few young men who had followed Chi Xuan over were now staring in shock.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Playing the hero to save the beauty?
A soft approach?
No one knew the reason.
But among their group, he had always been the leader, so they simply watched quietly.
Lin Zhen, seeing how well-dressed and imposing these people were, restrained his loud voice. “Who are you?”
Chi Xuan only said, “She owes me money. Will you pay?”
Lin Zhen’s expression shifted uncertainly at this.
“You… you’re that Chi Xuan!”
The front door was plastered with papers accusing his daughter of seducing a rich second-generation heir through online dating. He had checked online—the one who seemed most deceived was this guy named Chi Xuan.
He was also the one retaliating against her.
Lin Zhen glanced at Chi Xuan, then at Shi Xi, before quickly distancing himself and making a run for it.
Chi Xuan continued staring at the figure huddled beside the lamppost.
Half of her face was pale and exquisitely beautiful, while the other side resembled a cruelly torn-apart doll that had been painstakingly pieced back together.
Shi Xi reached out to pick up her cane.
Chi Xuan extended a foot and stepped on it.
She slowly looked up, meeting the young master’s overly refined face.
However, his thin lips were pressed tightly together, his forehead furrowed into a deep crease, and his gaze toward her was complex.
System: “Chi Xuan’s hatred value -1.”
System: “Chi Xuan’s hatred value -1.”
… The notifications almost never stopped.
Shi Xi: “…”
Ever since Shi Xi met Lu Mingzhe that day, his hatred value had been steadily decreasing.
And it cleared out at the fastest speed.
That was probably because the original host had spent fifteen years with him, so he might have started feeling nostalgic and stopped hating her.
But what was up with this Chi Xuan?
Could it be that he had a secret crush on the original host?
Under Shi Xi’s silent gaze, Chi Xuan picked up the cane, a playful smile already curling at the corners of his lips.
As if the depth of that earlier moment had been an illusion.
“What’s with that look? I saved you.”
“Thank you.”
Shi Xi thanked him as expected.
Her injured ankle had twisted earlier, and it hurt a little.
She reached out to grasp the cane.
But he didn’t let go, his smile turning slightly malicious. “A simple ‘thank you’ isn’t enough.”
Shi Xi pressed her lips together. “Chi Xuan, what do you want?”
Chi Xuan tightened his grip on the cane. “You know me?”
Shi Xi’s gaze shifted from his face to his abdomen. “Didn’t you send me photos?”
Then she slowly added three words: “Abs photos.”
“…”
“Pfft!”
The expressions of the guys behind Chi Xuan grew increasingly exaggerated.
No way, was Chi Xuan this shameless?
Chi Xuan’s expression shifted slightly, instantly turning angry and embarrassed. He glared behind him. “All of you, fuck off.”
“Alrighty.”
“You guys have fun.”
“Hahaha, let’s go, let’s go.”
The group chuckled but kept glancing back as they left.
Damn, Chi Xuan was really acting strange today!
Chi Xuan withdrew his gaze and suddenly felt a warmth on his arm, a slight pressure weighing on him.
Shi Xi, unable to retrieve the cane, simply held onto his hand and slowly stood up.
Her hair was very long, dark and silky, brushing against his hand and leaving a tingling sensation.
Whether it was perfume or shampoo, a faint scent of camellia floated in the air—elegant and subtly sweet.
Chi Xuan froze, blinking slowly.
But as soon as she stood up, she quickly withdrew her hand.
He reacted as if burned, letting go and dropping the cane.
You couldn’t tell from the photos, but she was actually this petite.
Standing in front of him, she only reached his chest.
Remembering something, he suddenly said harshly, “The abs photo didn’t show my face.”
She had been deliberately mocking him earlier!
Shi Xi instantly understood what he meant. “Mm, but there are photos of you online.”
So recognizing him wasn’t difficult at all.
Chi Xuan took a step forward, forcing her to retreat to the edge of the flowerbed, a dark glint flashing in his narrow eyes.
“You…”
A single word escaped his throat, but he didn’t know how to continue.
He wanted to ask, “Are you the former Lu Shixi?”
But deep down, he already had the answer.
He swallowed his words and changed his tone. “I heard you still wanted to sue me?”
“I didn’t sue. I got the compensation.”
Her natural, calm attitude irritated him somewhat.
His tone couldn’t help but carry a hint of mockery. “Oh, so you’re satisfied with just a few thousand dollars? If you had sued me directly and made a scene, you might have gotten more.”
“It’s plenty.”
Her voice was so soft that Chi Xuan didn’t quite catch it. “What?”
Shi Xi was tired from standing, so she simply sat on the edge of the flowerbed, raising her voice. “I said, a few thousand dollars is already plenty.”
Chi Xuan could only see the top of her dark head.
Moreover, the height at which she was sitting was awkward—right at his abdomen.
He was reminded of those restless nights when he’d impulsively rushed to the mirror, striking poses to take photos of his abs for her.
No girl would dislike them, and she was no exception.
But she had kept him hanging, always changing the subject whenever he brought up meeting.
It turned out he was just one of the fish in her pond.
The anger that had been suppressed in Chi Xuan’s chest surged up again.
He grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her up.
He hadn’t expected her to be so light, and his force was too strong, making it seem brutal.
Caught off guard, she stumbled forward and fell against his chest.
To anyone watching, it looked as if she were being bullied by a tyrant.
Hurried footsteps approached. Before Shi Xi could react, a hand reached out from the side and pulled her away—
Chi Xuan felt a sharp pain in his wrist, then was shoved aside, staggering a few steps before regaining his balance.
In front of him, a tall man held the delicate girl protectively, his sharp eyes fixed warily on Chi Xuan.
Chi Xuan’s lips stiffened. “Who. Is. He?”
He glanced at the man, then fixed his gaze on Shi Xi’s face.
His expression was filled with resentment.
As if Shi Xi had just added another layer of green to his head.