In the study, Xie Bingxia's sobs echoed. She looked like a small animal licking its wounds alone after being severely bullied by a bad guy. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her back trembled with each sob, instantly arousing an overwhelming urge to protect.
However, Gu Bei paced restlessly back and forth in the room. He first tried to console her, "Don't cry."
"Wow—" Xie Bingxia simply burst into louder sobs. Gu Bei grew even more flustered and stammered on, "Let's, let's have a good, good talk."
"What's there to talk about?" Her small, red eyes looked both angry and aggrieved.
"I think you're right," Gu Bei struggled to organize his thoughts in his muddled mind. "I'm your elder brother."
"And then?"
"You're my younger sister."
"What else?"
"Without blood relation."
"All nonsense!" Xie Bingxia wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "Get to the point."
Gu Bei tugged at his hair, and a few strands immediately stuck up, looking a bit comical. "So... what I mean is... I'll treat you well, ensure you can go to school smoothly, live without worry about food and clothing, and grow up healthily."
"That's only natural," Xie Bingxia stopped crying and calmed down a bit. She stared blankly at Gu Bei. The usually calm and composed Boss Gu was completely out of sorts in front of her. His stuttering and disorganized manner was just like a child looking for excuses after doing something wrong.
"So, what I mean is... it's good for us to be siblings."
"I don't think it's that good," Xie Bingxia replied. "We can be siblings, but more than just siblings."
Gu Bei frowned tightly, trying to figure out the logic in her words, then shook his head. "We must treat each other with respect."
" 'Treat each other with respect' is used to describe a couple," Xie Bingxia walked towards him. Sure enough, Gu Bei stepped back accordingly. "No, no. What I mean is we can't be too intimate."
"But I like you," Xie Bingxia's passionate confession made Gu Bei even more panicked. He couldn't even look into her sincere eyes.
"Is it not okay to like you simply? What on earth are you afraid of? Afraid of me?" Xie Bingxia boldly stepped forward as she questioned.
Gu Bei suddenly grabbed her shoulders and stiffly pushed her away. "I'm not afraid of you. I'm afraid of myself!"
Helpless and powerless, Gu Bei didn't know how to explain further. He lowered his head and pleaded, "Please, just listen to me, okay?"
The silent air lingered between them for a long time. Xie Bingxia said coldly, "Okay."
*
Early the next morning, Xiaomei came to Xie Bingxia's door early but hesitated to knock. Yesterday, Gu Bei left home with a gloomy face, exuding a more terrifying aura than a zombie. It was obvious how badly he was hit.
With a whoosh, Xie Bingxia pulled open the door, startling Xiaomei who was standing outside. "Miss, you're up! I thought you'd sleep in a bit longer."
Xie Bingxia was full of energy. "Prepare breakfast. I want a prawn sandwich with thick cheese slices and lots of ham."
Xiaomei took the order and was about to leave when Xie Bingxia added, "Oh, help me pack my clothes later, as well as my usual skin - care products and cosmetics."
"Miss...," Xiaomei was scared. "Are you running away from home?"
"No! I'm going to live on campus!"
Xie Bingxia saw clearly everything Gu Bei did last night. At first, she was extremely angry. She even shed tears, but why didn't Gu Bei change his mind? Why did he push her away so forcefully?
His eyes were clearly full of affection for her.
Until he said, "I'm not afraid of you. I'm afraid of myself."
The great boss of the Xie family was actually shrinking back in the face of human relationships and ethics! What kind of shell had he wrapped himself in to be so cautious and hesitant? But at least one thing was good. Xie Bingxia's previous efforts weren't in vain.
Gu Bei must have been moved.
Xie Bingxia munched on her sandwich. Xiaomei chattered on and on beside her, but she ignored it. She typed a message in the WeChat chat box: Don't send anyone to pick me up from today on. I'm going to live on campus.
"Miss, don't be angry with the young master. If you live on campus, he'll get angry again."
"It's okay. I'll take the blame if the sky falls," she thought disdainfully. Hmph, that coward wouldn't stick his head out just because of such a trivial matter and disgrace himself. The most important thing now was how to pry open his shell and leave him nowhere to hide.
Xie Bingxia gulped down the strawberry milk. She already had a plan in mind. Living on campus was something she had planned before, but Gu Bei's actions had advanced the schedule. Moreover, living on campus would also make it easier for her to join hands with others to bring down the witch.
If she didn't act quickly, what if Gu Bei suddenly decided to marry Yuan Yiyun one day and held a wedding? It would be even more troublesome to fight then.
The Gu family's car pulled up downstairs of the dormitory. Qin Feng ran over to help Xie Bingxia carry her numerous bags. "Suddenly deciding to live on campus. Have you completely fallen out with Gu?"
Xie Bingxia didn't answer. Li Duo joked on the side, "That's just perfect. You can press on with your advantage!"
"Mind your own business!" Qin Feng kicked Li Duo's butt. "Get to work!"
This was the high - end single dormitory complex of Qingya University, next to the faculty dormitory. It was said that Yuan Yiyun had also asked the school for a room. Xie Bingxia didn't hesitate to choose the building closest to hers. From the window, she could just see the entrance of the faculty dormitory. For this, she had shamelessly asked Xie Shuwen for some tuition fees. Last time, she had helped Xie Shuwen finalize a joint - venture deal with a Macau casino. Xie Shuwen had secretly opened a branch and partnered with Chen Laojiu to expand his assets. With that matter settled, Xie Shuwen was happy and immediately transferred some money to Xie Bingxia.
Qin Feng told Li Duo to help carry the luggage upstairs first. He waited for Xie Bingxia at the dormitory door and whispered, "You were really right yesterday. Yuan Yiyun invited me to dinner, and it was really..." He made a fishing gesture.
Xie Bingxia laughed. "Now you've become a big fish waiting to be caught in her vast ocean. How do you feel?"
"Do women really change so much? Before, she'd always mock me when she saw me. In the blink of an eye, she not only praised me to the skies but also showed off her charm. She even practically shoved her chest in front of me."
It was all thanks to his mother, Xie Bingxia thought to herself, but joked on the surface, "Wow, it seems you've taken quite a few advantages."
Qin Feng looked panicked and waved his hands. "No way! I only like you."
This guy. He was either too innocent or too shameless, always saying he liked someone without even blushing. He was the complete opposite of Gu Bei.
Even during the time when Xia Jingwei was dating Gu Bei, Gu Bei's feelings were more reserved. He wouldn't shout "I love you" to the whole world, but he would secretly put a diamond ring on your finger.
"What should we do next?" Qin Feng's words pulled Xie Bingxia back from her thoughts. She continued, "You're a good bait. Don't let your guard down on Yan Xiaoyi. Do both at the same time and find out information about the others."
Qin Feng looked embarrassed. "But... but I'm really afraid of being devoured by her! She's really scary..."
"It depends on your willpower, young man," Xie Bingxia patted him. "Be sure to protect your virginity."
Qin Feng's face instantly turned bright red. "Who, who told you I'm a vir, vir, vir...?! I, I had a girlfriend before..." His voice trailed off, lacking any conviction.
"Li Duo said so. Go ask him," Xie Bingxia pointed at Li Duo who was coming out of the elevator. Li Duo was sweating from all the work and had no idea what the two had said privately. He only saw Qin Feng charging at him with a raised fist, let out a scream, and quickly retreated into the elevator.
"Li Duo, stop! You're not getting any fried chicken and beer tonight!"
"Ahhh, Goddess! Save me! Save me..." Inside the elevator, Qin Feng gave Li Duo a choke - hold. "I'm sorry. Our Brother Feng is really good at that. Really good, cough, cough..."
Xie Bingxia was amused by them and burst out laughing, dispelling her recent unhappiness.
In the Mercedes - Benz G not far from the dormitory, Gu Bei loosened his tight grip on the steering wheel. The backs of the three people in the distance gradually disappeared from sight. He picked up the phone on the front windshield. In the WeChat chat box, a message caught his eye: Don't send anyone to pick me up from today on. I'm going to live on campus.
He scrolled down and saw another message: I respect your choice.