ARBRMW : Chapter 63

 

After the New Year’s Day holiday, it was time for final exams. After finishing their last exam, Chen Xu and his friends walked out of the exam hall, heading to the cafeteria for lunch.

 

“Chen Xu, what did you choose for the last question? I guessed randomly,” Tang Zhen asked, holding Chen Xu’s hand.

 

Chen Xu thought for a moment, “I chose A.”

 

“Damn! I originally chose A but changed it to C. I should have stuck with my first choice,” Zhu Yaoyuan said, frustrated, punching his chest.

 

Tang Zhen sighed, “I knew I had bad luck. I guessed D.”

 

As they chatted, they suddenly heard several groans from behind.

 

“I chose the wrong answer!”

 

“I changed my answer three times and never chose A! I missed the correct answer every time!”

 

Chen Xu turned around and saw it was their classmates. “I might not be right either.”

 

“How could a top student choose the wrong answer?” Apparently, Chen Xu’s classmates had more faith in him than he did in himself.

 

Chen Xu was pretty sure that the correct answer was A. He said that only to comfort them, but it seemed they didn’t believe him.

 

“You’ve been studying hard lately. Here, let me give you some extra meat,” the cafeteria lady said, smiling warmly at Chen Xu and piling food onto his plate.

 

Chen Xu, holding the full plate of food, looked a bit puzzled with his pretty eyes. “Thank you, Auntie.”

 

“You’re welcome. Come back for more if it’s not enough,” she said, her voice much gentler when speaking to Chen Xu, such a polite and pretty child.

 

Chen Xu nodded obediently. When he sat down with Zhu Yaoyuan and Tang Zhen, they shook their heads in amazement.

 

“Is the cafeteria lady your relative or something? She always gives you extra. Look at mine, barely any meat,” Zhu Yaoyuan said, flipping through his food and finding only a few pieces of meat.

 

Tang Zhen, eating his vegetables, said, “The semester’s almost over, and you’re still not used to how the cafeteria lady treats Chen Xu differently? It’s because our Chen Xu is good-looking.”

 

Zhu Yaoyuan protested, “I’m good-looking too.”

 

“You’re ordinary good-looking. Chen Xu is stunning,” Tang Zhen said, pointing a finger at Zhu Yaoyuan’s heart without mercy.

 

As students passed by their table, almost everyone glanced at Chen Xu, boys and girls alike, some even blushing with excitement.

 

“You guys can have some. I haven’t touched it yet,” Chen Xu offered, seeing that he couldn’t finish all the food.

 

Zhu Yaoyuan didn’t hesitate, taking a large piece of meat, feeling very satisfied. Tang Zhen took a meatball, saying, “I’m on a diet, can’t eat too much.”

 

“You look like you’d blow over in the wind. Why are you dieting?” Zhu Yaoyuan said, having heard Tang Zhen talk about dieting all semester. To him, Tang Zhen was already too skinny.

 

“No, no, no. You don’t understand. As a delicate, soft little bottom, I must be fair-skinned, beautiful, and long-legged. Can’t be fat!” Tang Zhen said, staring at Chen Xu. “Our Chen Xu is the perfect uke, such a lucky man.”

 

Chen Xu felt a headache coming on. “I’m still growing.”

 

“You’re perfect now. No need to grow more. Too tall for a bottom, and you’ll cry being the top,” Tang Zhen loved to talk big, full of theoretical knowledge but never daring to go to a bar. He wanted a proper boyfriend but found it very difficult.

 

As they finished eating and were about to leave, they ran into two girls holding hands. One of them was Qin Yuzhen, the campus beauty from the journalism department, whom Zhu Yaoyuan had been pursuing.

 

Qin Yuzhen greeted Zhu Yaoyuan, making his ears turn red with joy. They exchanged a few words before parting, leaving Zhu Yaoyuan still blushing.

 

“My goodness, Zhu Yaoyuan, why are you so pure?” Tang Zhen exclaimed, touching Zhu Yaoyuan’s burning ear.

 

Zhu Yaoyuan blushed even more, pulling Tang Zhen’s hand away, “Don’t touch me. Men and men should keep a distance.”

 

“Aren’t you my good sister?” Tang Zhen often referred to them as sisters in their group chat. Over time, Zhu Yaoyuan started calling them that too, though he still acted very straight when it mattered.

 

Back in the dormitory, Zhu Yaoyuan received a message from Qin Yuzhen. After reading it, he looked at Chen Xu with a complicated expression.

 

“What is it?” Chen Xu noticed his look and asked.

 

“Yuzhen asked if you have a girlfriend. What does she mean? Could she be interested in you?” Zhu Yaoyuan exclaimed, holding his phone in front of Chen Xu.

 

Chen Xu leaned back, seeing that Qin Yuzhen had indeed asked if he had a girlfriend. “Probably not. Don’t overthink it.” Chen Xu didn’t want such a melodramatic thing to happen to him, so he reassured Zhu Yaoyuan.

 

“Alright, I’ll reply to her.” Zhu Yaoyuan stayed in place, replying to Qin Yuzhen.

 

Moments later, he stood up abruptly. “She scared me. It’s her roommate who likes you, the girl who was with her in the cafeteria today.”

 

Chen Xu recalled seeing someone but couldn’t remember what she looked like.

 

“Just tell her I have a partner.” He often had people adding him on WeChat to confess, some even blocking his way at the classroom door. Since realizing his feelings for Si Ye, he didn’t mind letting people know he was taken to deter them.

 

“You’re going public? How many hearts will be broken?” Zhu Yaoyuan sighed, telling Qin Yuzhen the truth.

 

Soon, a trending post appeared on the school forum: “The School Grass Has a Partner! Everyone is Heartbroken.”

 

26l: I don’t believe it! My green love is over!

 

27l: I don’t believe it either. The school grass is always alone or with his roommates. He can’t be in a relationship.

 

28l: Oh, actually, I’m the school grass’s partner.

 

29l: What are you smoking?

 

30l: If it’s true, it means the partner is someone outside school. I’m so jealous of them. They must have saved the galaxy in their past life.

 

31l: The school grass is so rich. Maybe it’s a wealthy young lady he’s been engaged to since childhood.

 

32l: Damn! Is this a romance novel? Why am I not a rich young lady?

 

33l: I’m different from you all. I just want to be a sugar mommy, throw a wad of cash at the school grass’s partner and tell them to leave.

 

34l: The sky has cleared, the rain has stopped, and you think you can do it again.

 

After the final exams, Chen Xu and Zhu Yaoyuan prepared to go home. Tang Zhen intentionally bought tickets for a few days later to work a bit longer, planning to go home just before the Spring Festival. After all, there wasn’t much to do at home, so he might as well make some money.

 

Waving goodbye to Zhu Yaoyuan, Chen Xu checked his phone and headed to the subway station. He didn’t like having someone pick him up or being the center of attention. He had specifically asked Si Ye not to send anyone. Si Ye had wanted to come himself, but Chen Xu refused, saying he wasn’t a child who could get lost.

 

Wearing a military-green down jacket with a large fur collar, which Tang Zhen liked to stick his hands into, Chen Xu carried a black backpack with a few belongings. Unlike his classmates, he didn’t need to bring much home as his family had everything he needed.

 

After walking a short distance, Chen Xu put his phone back in his pocket and looked up to see several burly men approaching him aggressively. His brow furrowed in alert.

 

“Damn! Don’t let him get away!” The men were surprised at how fiercely Chen Xu fought back despite his slender frame.

 

One of them grabbed Chen Xu’s backpack, and he immediately let go of it and ran.

 

He had barely run a few meters when a sharp pain struck the back of his head. Warm liquid soaked his white sweater. With dark eyes full of rage, Chen Xu grabbed a brick and smashed it onto the attacker’s head. Blood gushed from the man’s forehead as he staggered back. But Chen Xu didn’t stop; he raised the brick again and brought it down hard.

 

His ferocity scared the other men, who hesitated to intervene.

 

“Stop… please stop…” the man under Chen Xu’s assault weakly begged, bloodied and barely conscious.

 

That blow sent Chen Xu back to his previous life, where Si Yichen had hired men to kidnap him and then burn him alive. The memory of the fire’s searing pain resurfaced, making his current wounds feel as if they were still burning.

 

He had only one thought: he couldn’t be taken, no matter what. He didn’t want to die, and he certainly didn’t want to relive his previous death. He hadn’t even gotten to be with Si Ye. He couldn’t die.

 

“Chen Xu, Chen Xu, I’m here. Don’t be afraid,” a familiar voice pierced through his chaotic mind, reaching his heart and pulling back his sanity.

 

He seemed to fall into a warm embrace, the scent belonging uniquely to Si Ye. Bloodied hands, Chen Xu felt he had returned to a safe harbor, slowly releasing the brick and whispering hoarsely, “Uncle Si?”

 

In an instant, Si Ye felt like his heart was being pierced by countless needles. He kissed Chen Xu’s forehead, “It’s me. I’m sorry I’m late. It won’t happen again.”

 

“Is it really you?” Chen Xu asked, his voice trembling, struggling to open his eyes to see if it was indeed Si Ye. His body went limp as he collapsed into Si Ye’s arms, his entire being relaxed after the intense struggle.

 

Si Ye tightened his grip on Chen Xu, his heart aching as he gently kissed Chen Xu’s forehead, “Yes, it’s me. I’m sorry I was late. It won’t happen again.”

 

Finally certain that it was Si Ye, Chen Xu nestled deeper into his embrace, clutching Si Ye’s clothes tightly. His entire body trembled, and the tension that had held him together broke. His vision, already darkening from the pain, gave way to unconsciousness as he fainted in Si Ye’s arms.

 

Si Ye quickly carried Chen Xu to the car, his entire being exuding a chilling aura that even Jiang, his long-time secretary, found intimidating.

 

“Take these men to the police station,” Jiang instructed the bodyguards, pulling out his phone to call the police chief, asking him to ensure these men were properly dealt with.

 

Back at home, Si Yichen felt an inexplicable sense of unease. Pressing a hand to his chest, he frowned but dismissed it, heading straight to Villa No. 5.

 

“Grandma, have your people reported back yet?” Si Yichen asked, unable to conceal his anxiety.

 

Tao Minzhi casually stirred her coffee, “Some things can’t be rushed.”

 

Si Yichen was extremely nervous, unlike Tao Minzhi, who remained calm and leisurely. “Grandma, are you sure everything is okay?” he asked, doubting the competence of the people they had hired.

 

Tao Minzhi smirked, “You need to stay calm if you want to accomplish great things. Impatience won’t get you anywhere.”

 

“Now, you’ve had your coffee. It’s time for you to leave. Si Ye should be coming back soon.”

 

Si Yichen clenched his pale fingers, getting up reluctantly, “I’ll go then.”

 

Leaving Tao Minzhi’s place, he checked his phone again, still no messages from their hired hands. As night fell, his anxiety grew.

 

“Damn it, what’s going on?” he muttered.

 

As he was about to head to his room, the door suddenly burst open, and a group of policemen entered. After comparing the person in the photo with him, they said, “Si Yichen, take him away.”

 

Si Yichen sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, “What are you doing? Let go of me!”

 

“Do you know who I am? How dare you arrest me!” Si Yichen struggled, his face turning pale and his back drenched in cold sweat.

 

“Uncle Zhong! Uncle Zhong, call my father!” Si Yichen shouted in panic, not understanding why this was happening. Uncle Zhong, equally confused, tried to intervene, “There must be some mistake. Si Yichen may be a bit arrogant, but he’s not a criminal.”

 

The leading officer said, “Si Yichen is suspected of kidnapping. The evidence is conclusive.”

 

“What?!” Uncle Zhong exclaimed, dropping his phone in shock.

 

Si Yichen’s pupils contracted, his body going limp. How had his actions been discovered? How could this be? Tao Minzhi had assured him it was safe, that the people were professionals.

 

What about Chen Xu? Was he dead?

 

He opened his mouth to argue, but the police were already taking him away.

 

Meanwhile, at Villa No. 5, Tao Minzhi, who was about to have dinner, was informed by a servant that the police had taken Si Yichen away. She was momentarily shocked. Did the plan fail?

 

She patted her chest in relief, thankful that she had covered her tracks. The men involved wouldn’t implicate her. Even if Si Yichen tried to, he had no evidence. She just had to maintain her innocence.

 

As long as Si Yichen was in custody, the only person who knew about her affair with Wei Shifeng was Si Ye. Her adopted son, who dared to betray her, could be destroyed without regret.

 

At the police station, Si Yichen was unaware that Tao Minzhi had abandoned him. Lacking strong mental resilience, he contradicted himself during questioning, claiming ignorance and making incoherent statements.

 

He spent the night being interrogated, without a drop of water or a moment of sleep, leaving him dizzy and miserable.

 

Suddenly, a policeman informed him that someone had come to see him. Si Yichen’s spirits lifted instantly.

 

“Father! Help me, I’m innocent. I didn’t do anything,” Si Yichen stumbled to his feet, reaching out for Si Ye, only to be coldly rebuffed.

 

“You didn’t do anything?” Si Ye’s gaze was like a sharp blade piercing Si Yichen’s heart, making him tremble with fear.

 

“I… I didn’t…” Si Yichen’s eyes darted around, unable to meet Si Ye’s gaze.

 

“I’ve given you many chances. This is the result of your choices,” Si Ye said, returning to the time before Chen Xu was harmed. He felt he had done his best to be fair to Si Yichen.

 

He had given Si Yichen options and warned him not to mess with Chen Xu. But Si Yichen didn’t listen. His blind jealousy of Chen Xu led him to kidnap and nearly kill him. Twice, he had made the same destructive choice.

 

Si Ye threw down the evidence of Si Yichen’s kidnapping. Staring at the undeniable proof on the phone, Si Yichen realized he had been under Si Ye’s surveillance all along. He had foolishly believed his actions were undetected.

 

“What did I do wrong? I’m the rightful heir of the Si family. I’ve worked hard every day, hoping for your approval, striving to be a worthy successor. Why does Chen Xu, who does nothing, get everything?” Si Yichen, sleep-deprived and red-eyed, ranted angrily, his face twisted with resentment.

 

“Hahaha, you must have found out that Chen Xu is Si Lin, right? How does it feel to be married to your nephew? If Grandma finds out, she’ll kill you. You’re a disgusting pervert! Uncle and nephew in a forbidden relationship. How will you face your brother and sister-in-law?” Si Yichen had never dared to speak to Si Ye like this, but now he had nothing to lose, lashing out like a mad dog.

 

Si Ye’s expression remained indifferent. “You’re mistaken. Chen Xu is not Si Lin.”

 

Si Yichen felt as if he had been strangled, speechless. “No… that’s impossible! The timing fits. How can he not be Si Lin?”

 

“He’s not. I’ve done a DNA test. There’s no blood relation between him and the Si family,” Si Ye stated, having received the results that morning.

 

Looking at the report, Si Yichen trembled. “How can he not be? Why not?”

 

He had schemed to use Tao Minzhi to eliminate Chen Xu, believing he was Si Lin and would take everything from him. But Chen Xu wasn’t Si Lin, making all his efforts pointless.

 

“Ah—” Si Yichen clutched his head, screaming in despair.

 

Why had it come to this? He was supposed to be esteemed and admired, living a life of privilege. He couldn’t accept this outcome.

 

He still didn’t see his actions as wrong, only regretting his impulsive kidnapping, which had been discovered.

 

After meeting with Si Yichen, Si Ye left everything to his lawyers and stayed by Chen Xu’s side in the hospital. Jiang reported that Si Yichen blamed Tao Minzhi for instigating him. When she was brought in for questioning, Tao Minzhi denied everything, saying to contact her lawyer.

 

Without evidence, and with the kidnappers identifying Si Yichen as their employer and not knowing Tao Minzhi, she was eventually released.

 

Thinking the matter settled, Tao Minzhi was shocked when photos of her and Wei Shifeng’s affair hit the trending topics.

 

Investigating, she found the IP address that posted the photos came from Si Yichen’s computer.

 

Though she quickly spent money to suppress the news and delete the photos, it was too late. The scandal had spread widely.

 

[OMG, real-life soap opera!]

 

[Reality is stranger than fiction. This Wei Shifeng guy must be crazy to be involved with an old lady.]

 

[Despite her good looks, she’s still in her sixties. This is just creepy. Does Wei Shifeng have an old woman fetish?]

 

[Damn, I knew Wei Shifeng’s name sounded familiar. Isn’t he the husband of that wealthy socialite Si Jing who always hangs out with young guys?]

 

[Shocking! So it’s Si Jing’s husband. No wonder she always has young guys around. If my husband hooked up with my aunt, I’d be out looking for young guys too.]

 

[Before you judge Si Jing, they might have an open marriage. Wei Shifeng often hits the bars and dates models and influencers. But hooking up with his wife’s aunt? That’s just vile. Poor Si Jing.]

 

The internet, once full of critics of Si Jing, began to sympathize with her, while Wei Shifeng and Tao Minzhi’s scandal was thoroughly exposed.

 

[You really can’t judge a book by its cover. Tao Minzhi seemed like the perfect wife, but who could’ve guessed she’d do this after her husband died? How will she face him in the afterlife?]

 

[Is the Si family doomed? I heard Si Ye’s adopted son was arrested for kidnapping.]

 

[No way! This is huge!]

 

Photos of Si Yichen being taken away by the police surfaced, and alumni of A University quickly identified him.

 

[Should I be more shocked that my schoolmate is Si Ye’s adopted son or that he’s a kidnapper?]

 

[He’s from A University? Must’ve bought his way in with all their money.]

 

[Probably not. Si Ye is famously strict 

and would never allow Si Yichen to enter A University by paying his way in. Si Ye took over Si Corporation at a young age and turned it around with strict management. As his adopted son, Si Yichen would face even stricter standards. He wouldn’t buy his way in.”

 

[How young is Si Ye, anyway? Show us some proof.]

 

[Here, let me share my treasured photo. Si Ye is very low-key and doesn’t like being in the spotlight. This is the only clear photo of him over the years.]

 

[Whoa! Si Ye isn’t a middle-aged man with a beer belly? He’s so handsome and young!]

 

[Haha, who told you he was middle-aged? Our CEO is super handsome.]

 

[Let me clarify. Because Si Ye took over the company so early, people mistakenly think he’s been managing it for many years. But he’s actually only 29, not even 30 yet.]

 

[Mom, look! This is my husband!]

 

[I don’t care! Si Ye is already lying in my bed!]

 

Si Corporation trended due to Tao Minzhi and Wei Shifeng’s scandal, which was quickly suppressed. However, Si Yichen’s kidnapping charge kept it trending, and then Si Ye’s appearance caused the topic to stay hot for even longer.

 

Tao Minzhi was forced to visit Si Corporation. The board demanded she relinquish her shares. She knew her shares were in jeopardy after the scandal with Wei Shifeng broke out. Without control over Si Ye and with Si Yichen in jail, her only leverage was her shares. If she gave them up, her future would be bleak.

 

“Are you trying to push me to death, Si Ye?” Tao Minzhi’s eyes burned with hatred.

 

Facing her gaze, Si Ye wanted to ask what he had done to deserve her hatred. Everything that happened was her own doing. Why blame him?