Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Being hauled out of the bar like a little chick, Xia Wanzhi couldn’t stand straight. She simply leaned back until she hit a hard chest, finally settling down.

The summer night breeze was refreshing and pleasant. Xia Wanzhi took a breath of fresh air, pinched her burning earlobes, and asked with a smile, “Do you know what sadness tastes like?”

Behind her was Xie Qiyan, and on either side were Yun Li and Jiang Baichuan. She looked up at the sky, and no one knew who she was asking.

Seeing that Xie Qiyan remained silent, Yun Li had no choice but to pick up the conversation. “What does it taste like?”

“It’s the taste of crushed cilantro being forced down your throat. Green and stinky.” Xia Wanzhi laughed at herself, leaning her entire weight against Xie Qiyan. If he took even a single step back, she would have face-planted into the dirt.

Hearing the meaning behind her words, Yun Li actually let out a chuckle. “Hmm, that’s a very apt description.”

“The sooner you die, the sooner you’re reborn,” Xie Qiyan said, pushing her away with a cold attitude.

Xia Wanzhi stood up straight. It was unclear which part of that sentence triggered her, but she turned around and stared intently at Xie Qiyan, her eyes appearing a bit clearer now.

Xie Qiyan remained indifferent, turning to speak to Jiang Baichuan. “Bring the car around.”

Jiang Baichuan acted as if he hadn’t heard him, turning instead to ask Yun Li, “Where do you live?”

Yun Li was slightly startled. After a half-second hesitation, she said, “Actually, I can just take a taxi myself.”

Jiang Baichuan’s lips curled into a smile. “It’s on the way. I’ll drop you off.”

Yun Li: “???”

She hadn’t even given him her address yet; how could it be on the way?

Xie Qiyan glanced at Jiang Baichuan.

Jiang Baichuan waved the keys in his hand and smiled at Xie Qiyan. “My car, my rules. President Xie, please suit yourself.”

Xie Qiyan’s expression darkened slightly, a hint of gritted teeth in his demeanor.

Just as Yun Li was about to politely decline, Jiang Baichuan leaned in and whispered, “Boss’s Wife, a third wheel should have the self-awareness of a third wheel.”

Yun Li was convinced. She followed him sheepishly for a few steps, only realizing the situation after she got into the car. “Wait, wouldn’t it be fine if we both just went to our own homes? Why…”

“I’m kindly creating an opportunity, but Xia Wanzhi’s ‘brother’ might not necessarily appreciate the gesture. That’s why I need Miss Yun’s cooperation.” Jiang Baichuan’s reasoning was decent and appropriate.

Yun Li pursed her lips, thinking it actually made sense.

She really shouldn’t get in the way of Xia Wanzhi’s Second Spring.

–

Xia Wanzhi stared at Xie Qiyan for nearly ten minutes.

It wasn’t until Yu Fei received the order and rushed to the scene that Xia Wanzhi finally looked away.

Staggering and unable to find the car door, Xia Wanzhi stood to the side, fuming at herself. Even an eternal iceberg like Xie Qiyan couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

The moment she was tossed into the car by Xie Qiyan, Xia Wanzhi adjusted her lopsided body and took the opportunity to wipe her traitorous, slightly damp eyes.

Seeing her remain silent, Yu Fei couldn’t hide his curiosity and asked, “Is Miss Xia… unconscious?”

Xie Qiyan glanced sideways, offering a rare reply. “Drunk.”

“Just how much did she drink…” Yu Fei sniffed, smelling the alcohol.

“Are you a dog?” Xie Qiyan looked at Xia Wanzhi, who was curled into a ball, his voice dropping a few notches.

Yu Fei glanced in the rearview mirror. “Could it be that we pushed her too hard and she’s feeling hopeless?”

“Shut your mouth.” Xie Qiyan turned his head, meeting Yu Fei’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

Fierce and overbearing.

Yu Fei shut his mouth and sheepishly looked away.

Not allowed to talk, not allowed to look.

If he didn’t know better, he’d think this girl in the car was his boss’s woman.

“President Xie…”

“Next month’s bonus is gone.” Xie Qiyan was already growing impatient.

Yu Fei suppressed his grievance. “Even if it’s gone, I still have to ask. Are we taking Miss Xia to your place or back to the Zhou Family?”

Xie Qiyan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “To my place–”

“Huh?” Yu Fei nearly lost his grip on the steering wheel.

“Do you think that’s appropriate?” The natural chilling aura around Xie Qiyan intensified.

Yu Fei: “…Then back to the Zhou Family.”

“Do you think she isn’t pitiful enough?” Xie Qiyan sneered.
Yu Fei: “???”

Then what exactly do you want?

God really should install a mind-reading system for Executive Assistants specifically designed to decode the minds of overbearing CEOs.

Otherwise, a hundred-million-yuan bonus could be wiped out by a single sentence.

After a moment, as if deliberating, Xie Qiyan spoke: “Send her to Xie Tan’s.”

Yu Fei let out a light cough. “But isn’t that just sending her back to your house…”

A sudden chill ran down his spine. Yu Fei’s last few words grew faint, and this time he shut his mouth completely, not daring to say another word.

The car came to a steady stop at the entrance of the Xie Family’s old manor. This time, Yu Fei tactfully slipped away, leaving the space to the two people in the back.

The interior lights were on, but even though Xia Wanzhi had opened her eyes, she didn’t move an inch.

Xie Qiyan didn’t say a word, quietly accompanying her as she sat there.

As the minutes ticked by, the last of Xie Qiyan’s patience finally ran out. “If you don’t get out of the car, I’m leaving you to sleep in here tonight.”

“No.” Xia Wanzhi sat up straight, turning to look at Xie Qiyan with a gaze so resolute it looked like she was about to take a solemn oath of allegiance.

Xie Qiyan frowned and stared at her for a few seconds before letting out a frustrated laugh. “Still haven’t sobered up?”

“I didn’t drink,” Xia Wanzhi said righteously.

“Right, you drank celestial nectar.” Xie Qiyan relaxed his brow and leaned back slightly.

“Xie Qiyan.” Xia Wanzhi’s back was ramrod straight, her tone serious. “I’m not moving out. Even if you give me a hundred million, I won’t move.”

“Determined not to compromise?” Xie Qiyan followed her lead.

Xia Wanzhi’s eyes were steadfast. “I will never bow to the forces of evil.”

“Quite the backbone,” Xie Qiyan commented dryly.

“All capitalists should just drop dead!” Xia Wanzhi fumed.

Xie Qiyan: “…”

“You’re a capitalist’s young miss yourself.” Xie Qiyan’s tone deepened. Seeing Xia Wanzhi’s look of pure hatred toward capitalists, he couldn’t help but recall his former self, back when he had neither power nor influence.

He had hated capitalists just as much.

Xia Wanzhi gripped her clothes tightly, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but after a long while, she only managed: “Not anymore.”

She said, “I have nothing left.”

Xie Qiyan gave a light sneer. “Is that so? How pitiful.”

“Xie Qiyan.” Xia Wanzhi slumped to the side in self-abandonment, slowly moving her fingers to pinch a corner of Xie Qiyan’s clothes. “If you have even a shred of compassion, let me and my Studio be. Aside from the Studio, I have nothing.”

In Xie Qiyan’s memory, Xia Wanzhi wasn’t someone who showed weakness easily.

But the current Xia Wanzhi was acting quite spineless.

If the person acquiring Xingyao were someone else, would she also act this spoiled and cute to beg another man?

But that hypothesis didn’t seem to hold water.

Anything he set his sights on, no one else could snatch away.

The one acquiring Xingyao would only ever be him.

People who begged for favors were the easiest to manipulate. Xie Qiyan gave a light smirk and tapped the back of Xia Wanzhi’s hand with two fingers. “Hand. Move it.”

“You really are heartless.” Xia Wanzhi sighed and pulled her hand back.

For a moment, Xie Qiyan couldn’t tell if she was sober or just acting out a drunken fit.

Xie Qiyan felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.

“Why are you so unwilling to move?”

“Because the Studio is my life.” Xia Wanzhi blurted out the answer before Xie Qiyan could even finish his sentence. Her brain might have been foggy, but as soon as anything related to the Studio was mentioned, her emotions flared up.

She was actually quite clever.

“Your life?” Xie Qiyan looked at her.

Xia Wanzhi nodded solemnly. “That’s my livelihood.”

Xie Qiyan waited for her to elaborate.

Xia Wanzhi’s mouth puckered, and she began to sob. “Those godforsaken people froze all my bank accounts, waah…”

“Then it’s perfect. Move the Studio, and I’ll give you ten times the compensation amount.” Xie Qiyan arched an eyebrow.

Xia Wanzhi’s sobs were instantly swallowed back down. Seeing that negotiations had failed, she rubbed her eyes. Drowsiness hit her, and her head throbbed painfully. She turned her head, found a comfortable position, and slowly closed her eyes.