A Heart-Racing Dare - Chapter 6

When I opened my eyes again, five bright red characters hovered before me:

[Give us the uncut version.]

Really? That was what mattered to them?

[What happened yesterday? It cut off right at the best part!]

[What could possibly be unfit for a paying member like me to see?]

[I searched the entire internet for an uncut version and found nothing. I was so angry I bought a Luckin coffee at full price.]

[Hmph. I’ll wear daily disposable contacts with no makeup.]

I rolled over lazily. My good mood lasted until I saw a message on my phone.

Shen Xu: [Jiang Xia, we need to talk.]

Talk about what? We weren’t even close. I blocked him without changing expression and forgot about it.

Back at school, someone darted out from around a corner and stopped me. It took me a moment to recognize Shi Yu. She looked much more worn down than when we’d first met, with dark circles no makeup could hide.

“Jiang Xia, you’re with Shen Zhaobei now. Can’t you let Shen Xu and me be together?”

What was she talking about? I frowned and tried to go around her. “What happens between you and Shen Xu has nothing to do with me.”

She dropped to her knees. “I know I did wrong before, but I couldn’t help it. I only wanted to climb a little higher, get a little closer to freedom. I…”

Bewildered, I backed away and looked at the comments.

[They’re trying to drag her back into the regret-and-redemption plot!]

[Mrs. Shen exposed Shi Yu’s interest in Shen Xu’s money. Now he’s remembering how good Jiang Xia was to him.]

[The supporting girl deserves one slap, and the male lead deserves eighteen dragon-subduing palms.]

What? Stay away from me. My temples throbbed. I pulled Shi Yu up. “How much did Shen Xu pay you?”

“What? He didn’t pay me.” She stared, speechless.

My head hurt worse. “He didn’t pay you, and you’re still this devoted to him?” What else could anyone want from a man like Shen Xu? I remembered that her family wasn’t well off; everybody knew it.

Never mind. I handed her a bank card. “Use what’s on it however you like. I’m more generous than Shen Xu. But—” I kept my face blank. “If you’re willing, could you date him for a few more days?”

Preferably forever, so he’d leave me alone.

Shi Yu shook her head vehemently. “Don’t worry, Xia! I’ll never see him again. From now on I’ll build a better life with my own hands!”

That wasn’t what I meant at all.

[Ha! She wanted Shi Yu to take Shen Xu away, didn’t she?]

[Shi Yu: I don’t understand, but whatever you ask, I’ll do!]

[She isn’t terribly bright, but her love of money is pure.]

I sighed. Fine. Let it be.

A few days later, my bad feeling proved right. Shen Xu turned up at our house with both his parents. I sent Zhaobei a message as quickly as I could.

Mrs. Shen spoke with earnest persuasion. “Xiaxia and Xiao Xu grew up together. They have all those years of friendship. A marriage between them makes more sense than one with Zhaobei.”

My father took a sip of tea and went quiet for a long time before laughing awkwardly. “It’s not that we won’t consider the arrangement, only…”

I wore a polite smile and struggled to stay awake. Then someone finally knocked. I hurried to the entryway and opened the door.

Zhaobei came in and found himself face-to-face with Shen Xu behind me. He looked at me as if devastated, his eyes reddening. “Xiaxia, who is he? Why is he in your home?”

I jabbed him hard in the side and rubbed my forehead. “Stop acting. He’s your brother.”

“Oh. Is he?” Zhaobei dropped the performance and calmly changed into slippers.

Ever since he learned I was susceptible to his poor, wounded act, he’d been putting on scenes anywhere and everywhere. And, annoyingly, it worked. When he looked on the verge of tears, I really wanted to tease him.

Shen Xu watched us with a complicated expression. “Brother. Do you have to take her from me?”

Zhaobei looked up with a faint sneer. “Shen Xu, after all these years, how many things have you taken from me?”

It might have been the first time he’d said it so plainly. Shen Xu stood stunned. Their parents came over.

“Zhaobei, how can you call it taking?” Mr. Shen said. “You’re the older brother. Of course you should give way to your younger brother.”

“No,” I said, stepping in front of Zhaobei. “Nobody is born owing another person their turn. Zhaobei was born a few years earlier; he doesn’t owe Shen Xu anything. Please don’t excuse your favoritism. And one more thing: I’m a person. An arranged marriage doesn’t make me an object for you to pass around.”

[Exactly! Why should he always give way?]

[Our girl said it perfectly!]

[No wonder Zhaobei loved her in secret for so long. She’s the sunlight he never dared touch.]

His parents stiffened. They seemed ready to argue but unwilling to make a scene in front of outsiders. It was Zhaobei’s family matter; I couldn’t intervene too much. I turned and quietly took his hand. The room was warm, but his fingers were cold. I squeezed them, and he gripped mine tight.

His eyes were flat and cold. “This ends here. A few words from you won’t keep Jiang Xia and me apart. If you understand, please leave.”

They stood there for a moment, then finally went. My parents tactfully disappeared into the kitchen to prepare dinner, insisting that Zhaobei stay. At last we were alone in the quiet corner. I buried my face against his chest and ruffled his hair.

“It’s over, Zhaobei.”

“Yes. It’s over.”

Our marriage was settled at last. After I told my parents about his past, they took him to heart and urged me to bring him home for meals whenever they could.

The only irritation was Shen Xu, who kept pestering me. Day after day he knocked on the door and poured out useless words: “Jiang Xia, I did terrible things. I was a bastard. I don’t expect us to go back to how we were. Just give me a fair chance to compete with my brother…”

I had nothing to say. Had that redemption plot eaten his brain?

After several visits, Zhaobei and I came up with a plan.

“Jiang Xia, I didn’t do anything! I only asked him to open the door, and then he—” Shen Xu stood there pointing at his brother, his face a picture of disbelief. Beside him, Zhaobei quietly began to cry.

Good heavens. I could tell at a glance who was to blame. I went to Zhaobei and wiped away his tears. “What did he do? Did he bully you?”

“He…” Zhaobei breathed out soundlessly and said no more. It would have broken anyone’s heart.

I pointed at Shen Xu, too furious to choose my words. “You’ve gone too far! How could you do that?”

“Me?” Shen Xu pointed at himself, dumbfounded. I pushed him out before he could explain.

[Ha! Their combined attack!]

[He thought he could outplay that sly fox? Serves him right.]

In time, Shen Xu finally gave up.