Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The air conditioning wasn’t on, but Xia Wanzhi was still curled into a ball, shaking uncontrollably.

Xie Qiyan drove steadily, though he accelerated whenever he could. He saw her huddled against the side of the seat with her eyes closed, looking as if she were completely devoid of any sense of security.

The traffic on the way back to Lanting Bieyuan wasn’t great. It seemed the more anxious one was, the more red lights they encountered.

Faced with another sixty-second red light, Xie Qiyan glanced at Xia Wanzhi before unbuckling his seatbelt. He reached into the back seat to grab a blanket.

The moment he touched her, Xia Wanzhi jolted as if by reflex. Her eyes snapped open, her pupils filled with alertness and terror.

Xie Qiyan frowned. He draped the blanket over her and immediately withdrew his hand.

Many people were afraid of him.

But Xia Wanzhi never was.

Yet in that moment just now, he had truly seen fear in her eyes.

The shaking might not have been from the rain, but from a severe shock.

Her current emotional state was highly abnormal.

What on earth had happened to her at the Zhou Family residence?

When they arrived at Lanting Bieyuan, Xie Qiyan parked the car downstairs. Although Xia Wanzhi had her eyes closed, he knew she wasn’t asleep.

She was in a trance.

After a moment, Xie Qiyan finally spoke. “Xie Tan is on her way. Go upstairs first.”

Xia Wanzhi heard him, but her reaction time was delayed. It took a while before she asked, “How do you know I live here?”

“Why wouldn’t I know who the Xie Family’s property was given to?” Xie Qiyan countered.

Xia Wanzhi realized that this apartment had likely been bought for Xie Tan by him.

In that case, the fact that Xie Tan had rented the place to her at a heavily discounted price had probably been done with his consent.

This meant she owed him a portion of that favor as well.

Soaked and miserable, Xia Wanzhi blinked and avoided his gaze. She pushed the car door open, intending to get out.

“Take the umbrella,” Xie Qiyan reminded her, handing it over.

Xia Wanzhi froze for a moment, staring blankly without taking it.

“Take it,” Xie Qiyan repeated.

It took another long moment before Xia Wanzhi finally accepted it.

Watching her silhouette disappear under the umbrella, Xie Qiyan tapped his phone screen with his long fingers. The person on the other end picked up quickly.

“Where are you?” Xie Qiyan’s voice carried a hint of coldness.

Xie Tan was sitting in her car as if on pins and needles. “Almost there, almost there! I had the driver bring me over as soon as you messaged me.”

Xia Wanzhi lived alone. Given the nature of their relationship, it wasn’t appropriate for him to go inside and look after her.

As soon as he hung up, the Xie Family car pulled up. Xie Qiyan watched Xie Tan get out of the vehicle and waited about ten minutes before starting his engine to leave.

Xie Tan sent a WeChat message saying that Xia Wanzhi’s assistant was also there.

For the first time, Xie Qiyan sent Xie Tan a message longer than five words: [Listen to what they say.]

The Xia Wanzhi he knew would never allow herself to look this pathetic.

Perhaps it was curiosity about what had happened between her and Zhou Yu, or perhaps he just wanted to know what kind of thing could break her down like this.

He admitted that he wanted to involve himself in this business today.

Upstairs, Xia Wanzhi had taken a hot shower and changed into fresh clothes. Wrapped tightly in a robe, she remained in a state of shock despite the concern from Zhuzi and Xie Tan.

Zhuzi had never seen Xia Wanzhi like this and was certain something had happened after she left. However, with Xie Tan present, there were things she couldn’t say out loud.

Xie Tan brought over some hot water for Xia Wanzhi to take medicine. She was still a child after all, and seeing Xia Wanzhi in this state made her eyes well up with tears.

Xia Wanzhi forced a smile. Guessing that Xie Tan’s visit was likely at Xie Qiyan’s behest, her heart felt a bit complicated. She patted the girl’s head and said, “Don’t worry about me. You should go home.”

Xie Tan wiped her eyes. “I’ve finished my homework. I’m in no rush to go back.”

“Sister Zhuzi is here. I’ll take good care of your Sister Wanzi. Xie Tan, be a good girl. We need to discuss some adult matters.” Zhuzi took Xie Tan by the hand, stood up, and escorted her downstairs.

When she returned, Zhuzi sat beside Xia Wanzhi, her voice thick with suppressed tears. “Tell me the truth. Did that bastard do something to you?”
Xia Wanzhi curled her fingers, her eyes welling with tears again as she looked up at Zhuzi.

She didn’t say a word, but Zhuzi understood the look in her eyes.

“That animal…” Zhuzi cursed under her breath. She stood up, wanting to storm out and give the man a beating, but realizing she had no power to do so, she could only wipe away her tears in frustration.

“He didn’t succeed. I got away,” Xia Wanzhi said, her voice hoarse. After taking a steadying breath, she pushed the blanket off her lap. “Let’s go see Yun Li first. I’m worried about her.”

She didn’t want to be alone with her thoughts right now. Only by staying busy could she keep the memory of what just happened at bay.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Zhuzi took the opportunity to register Xia Wanzhi to see a doctor as well.

Xia Wanzhi’s current state was not a good sign.

Inside the VIP ward, Yun Li was lying on the bed eating grapes, while Jiang Baichuan stood guard beside her, peeling an apple.

Xia Wanzhi’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them.

Yun Li had gauze on her forehead, but seeing her looking so lively made Xia Wanzhi breathe a small sigh of relief.

She assumed this luxury ward was Jiang Baichuan’s doing.

“I already told him I’m fine, but he insisted on using his status as President of the Jiang Corporation to force the doctor to shove me in here. He won’t even let me leave. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Yun Li complained the moment she saw them, right in front of Jiang Baichuan.

Xia Wanzhi looked at Jiang Baichuan thoughtfully. She choked up slightly, momentarily unsure of what to say.

“Why do you look so terrible? Where’s the person I called for you? Didn’t he help you move?” Yun Li reached out to touch Xia Wanzhi’s forehead.

Xia Wanzhi smiled and gently pulled her hand away. “I’m fine.”

“What do you mean ‘fine’? Did you have a fight with Xie Qiyan, or did he kick you out of the car? Why do you look even more haggard than I do?” Yun Li asked, her concern turning into agitation. Fearing she might have inadvertently caused trouble with her good intentions, she shot another accusatory glare at Jiang Baichuan.

Of all the roads in the world, she had the rotten luck of crashing into him.

Can a CEO just crash into people’s cars whenever he wants?

Are CEOs’ driving skills really that bad?

Feeling Yun Li’s glare, Jiang Baichuan turned to his phone and sent a message to Xie Qiyan: [Did you bully the girl?]

“President Jiang, could you please step out for a moment?” Xia Wanzhi’s voice was faint as she tried to dismiss him.

Yun Li was the type to get to the bottom of everything, and Xia Wanzhi knew she’d have to talk, but she couldn’t say it while Jiang Baichuan was there.

Jiang Baichuan glanced at Yun Li and gave a slight nod. “I will take full responsibility for today’s events.”

Regardless of what had happened between Xia Wanzhi and Xie Qiyan, he was the one who had called him there, so the responsibility lay with him.

In just half a day, both Yun Li and Xia Wanzhi had ended up in the hospital.

What a mess…

Yun Li ignored Jiang Baichuan and continued to press Xia Wanzhi with a frown. “What exactly happened? Were you bullied?”

Just then, Zhuzi walked in with the registration slip to take Xia Wanzhi to her appointment. Overhearing Yun Li’s question, the thought of that scumbag Zhou Yu made her lose her temper. She couldn’t help but burst out, “It’s all because that bastard Zhou Yu stopped acting like a human being! I never should have left them alone. That animal actually tried to force himself on her…”

Jiang Baichuan, who hadn’t yet left the room, came to a sudden, jarring halt.

Zhuzi had been too loud. Yun Li’s grip on Xia Wanzhi’s hand tightened until it hurt. Xia Wanzhi’s eyelashes trembled as she added, “I was okay in the end…”

“Do you look like you’re okay?!” Yun Li roared, her eyes turning red with fury.

Xia Wanzhi remained silent, and Zhuzi hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Yun Li. The three of them fell into a deathly silence.

“I should have just been more careful driving,” Yun Li said, wiping her stinging eyes in self-reproach. “It’s all my fault.”

If she hadn’t been rear-ended, if she hadn’t been delayed on the road, she would have arrived at the Zhou Family home sooner to pick her up. That bastard Zhou Yu wouldn’t have had the chance to lay a finger on her.

Jiang Baichuan clenched his fists. He felt a level of guilt that even a lifetime of penance couldn’t wash away.