Is He Better Than Me?

"..."

Xi Jin's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

He didn't want things to end this way.

He was afraid she would really leave him, afraid that one day he would wake up and find her nowhere in sight.

It was this bone-deep fear that had made him obsessive and mad, willing to use any means to keep her by his side.

As she struggled against him, his heart ached as though pierced by needles.

He forced himself to speak:

"What do you mean by that? What, are you trying to take advantage of the opening?"

Nan Xingyu finally managed to break free and stumbled back a few steps. "Xi Jin, don't talk nonsense!"

Xi Jin watched her move away from him and closer to Song Shuchen, the flames of jealousy threatening to devour everything.

"Nan Xingyu, you'd better remember who you belong to."

He ordered, "Come here."

Instead, Nan Xingyu shrank back another half step. "I won't."

Xi Jin turned his head and gave a soft, mocking laugh. When he looked back at her, his eyes were utterly cold.

"Nan Xingyu, have I spoiled you too much? Is that why you dare talk to me like this? What are you trying to do?"

He glanced at Song Shuchen and stepped forward to grab her. "What? Do you think he's better than me? Want to find someone else to sleep with?"

The next second.

Smack.

Nan Xingyu's right hand trembled, numb with pain.

Under the starry night sky.

Xi Jin raised his right hand and brushed his fingertips over his left cheek, where she had struck him. The skin had already begun to burn.

He lifted his eyes. There was no anger in them, only a deathly stillness.

"Nan Xingyu, well done. For another man... you hit me."

"..."

Nan Xingyu could no longer hold back her tears.

Through her blurred vision, she seemed to see a glimmer of moisture in Xi Jin's eyes too.

Was it just the haze of her tears refracting the light, or had his eyes really turned red?

She could no longer tell.

Song Shuchen broke the stalemate once again.

He interjected, "Young Master Xi, both of you, calm down. Let's talk this through."

A cold wind swept past, carrying fallen leaves with it. The two stood face to face, neither willing to give way.

Song Shuchen was about to speak when Nan Xingyu's phone rang.

She trembled slightly, wiped away her tears, and took out her phone.

It was the Xi Family's butler.

He hardly ever called her unless something urgent had happened.

Nan Xingyu hurriedly answered.

She heard his anxious voice on the other end. "Xiaoyu, your mother accidentally fell out of a tree. She's in the hospital now..."

"..."

A ringing filled Nan Xingyu's ears.

Xi Jin saw her face grow pale and knew something must have happened. When he saw her about to leave, he caught her wrist in time.

"Where are you going?"

Nan Xingyu looked back, choking on her words. "Something happened to my mom."

Xi Jin's gaze froze for a moment. Without another word, he took her hand and ran toward the parked car.

His warm palm wrapped around her icy hand, and her heart, so unsettled just moments ago, seemed to be held steady by that strength.

It was as if, as long as he was by her side, her mother would be all right.

By the time they reached the car.

Song Shuchen had followed them. He pressed a hand against the driver's door. "Young Master Xi, you've been drinking. I'll drive."

There was no time to waste.

Xi Jin opened the rear door, shielded the top of Nan Xingyu's head with his palm, and helped her into the car.

In the back seat, Nan Xingyu was trembling all over with anxiety.

Xi Jin pulled her into his arms and comforted her in a low voice. "Don't worry. The butler is there. He'll take care of everything. Your mom will be all right."

Nan Xingyu buried her face in his chest and sobbed softly.

Xi Jin kissed the top of her head and held her even tighter.

The car soon reached the hospital.

Xi Jin stopped Song Shuchen, who was about to follow them, and spoke politely but distantly:

"Mr. Song, thank you for bringing us here. It's late, so please go home and get some rest."

With that, he took Nan Xingyu's hand and walked toward the butler, who was already waiting at the entrance.

Song Shuchen watched the two leave, his gaze lingering a moment longer on that slender figure from behind.

A trace of regret appeared in his eyes.

By the time Nan Xingyu reached the emergency room, Liu Meili had already been wheeled out.

Nan Xingyu rushed forward and took her mother's hand. "Mom, how are you? Does it hurt?"

Liu Meili reached out and wiped away her tears. "Silly child, why are you crying? I'm fine. I just took a little fall."

Xi Jin looked at the doctor beside them. "Doctor, how is she?"

The doctor removed his mask and explained, "The patient has a minor spinal fracture and needs minimally invasive surgery. It's not a difficult procedure, and she should recover after about three months of rest. You don't need to worry too much."

After the doctor left.

The butler, Liu Qing, finally asked, "Young Master, what brings you here?"

The bright white lights of the corridor fell on Xi Jin's pale face, making the handprint on his left cheek stand out all the more.

Liu Qing happened to catch sight of it and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Young Master, what happened to your face?"

Xi Jin ignored him and simply stared at Nan Xingyu, who was looking at him.

His eyes were dark and unreadable.

Later.

Thanks to Xi Jin's connections, they contacted the hospital's best orthopedic specialist that same night and arranged Liu Meili's preoperative examinations overnight.

The surgery lasted about an hour.

Liu Meili was wheeled into a hospital room to rest.

"I'm really sorry. My carelessness kept everyone busy all night,"

Liu Meili said apologetically. "It's getting late. Young Master Xi, Butler, please go home and rest."

Liu Qing said, "As long as you're all right. Sister Liu, focus on getting better. I'll take care of things at the Manor."

Then he looked at Xi Jin. "Young Master, it's past one. Let us take you home to rest."

Nan Xingyu looked up and saw that Xi Jin was staring at her. She shrank back and averted her gaze again.

Xi Jin said, "I have something else to do tonight. You go on ahead."

Liu Qing thought nothing of it. It wasn't his place to pry into his master's affairs, so he gave Nan Xingyu a few more instructions before leaving.

"Young Master Xi, thank you so much."

Liu Meili said, "If you hadn't made the arrangements, I might have had to wait until tomorrow or the day after for surgery. And you even arranged such a nice private suite for me. That was very thoughtful of you."

Xi Jin sat on the sofa nearby and said evenly, "Auntie Liu, there's no need to thank me."

As he spoke, he stood up as though he were about to leave.

Liu Meili hurriedly said, "Xiaoyu, go see Young Master Xi out."

Xi Jin paused and turned sideways, his gaze falling on Nan Xingyu. He was clearly waiting for her.

The two left the room one after the other.

Nan Xingyu looked at his back and finally spoke. "Thank you."

Xi Jin turned around, his expression cold. His skin was pale, and although the handprint on his face had mostly faded, a faint red mark was still visible.

"Nan Xingyu, why aren't you avoiding me now? Weren't you trying to stay as far away from me as possible before?"

"..."

Nan Xingyu wanted to, but where could she hide?

The next second, Xi Jin pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

Nan Xingyu froze for a moment.

"Nan Xingyu..."

Xi Jin's voice came from above her, slightly hoarse. "The place where you hit me just now... really hurts."