Say something already!

5

The mention of a psychiatric hospital scared Xie Zhiyan enough that he stopped making a scene.

Xie Zhiwei gave him a disdainful look. "Tell me exactly what happened, from the beginning."

Xie Zhiyan was panicking badly and could only begin his account reluctantly.

It had all started that morning, when Shu Yan and Feng Qian took a few young masters to catch Shu Yao cheating. Of course, they found nothing.

Tan Xilin was both angry at Feng Qian and the others for stirring up trouble and resentful of Shu Yao for attracting so much attention.

So he had publicly humiliated Shu Yao at a gathering.

Plenty of young masters were there. After a drink, Xie Zhiyan felt emboldened and went over to stand up for Shu Yao.

With several groups caught up in the chaos, no one knew who had thrown the first punch. Before long, Tan Xilin was lying on the floor with his head bleeding, while Xie Zhiyan stood there holding a wine bottle.

When he finished, Xie Zhiwei said nothing. Soon enough, just as he had hoped, Hua Jian started up again.

Tsk!

Xie Zhiwei, Xie Zhiyan: ??

Say something already!

They can't even see through such a simple scheme? How did Xie Zhiwei increase the Xie Group's market value by tens of billions? Unfortunately, this was a setup. Shu Yan stole the surveillance footage immediately after it happened. Without that footage, they couldn't clear Xie Zhiyan's name. There was a backup, but the hotel's deputy manager has already hidden it. In the end, that deputy manager never dared hand it over as evidence for Xie Zhiyan.

Xie Zhiwei and Xie Zhiyan were deeply disappointed to hear that, but then they heard Hua Jian continue.

They might still have a chance if they went to find the deputy manager now and spoke to him in person before things got too serious.

Xie Zhiwei immediately stood up.

Hua Jian looked at him in bewilderment, while Xie Zhiyan looked at Hua Jian with a strange expression.

The hotel that hosted the gathering did indeed have a deputy manager who was at odds with Tan Xilin. Xie Zhiyan had helped him twice just to spite Tan Xilin.

How did Hua Jian know? Did he really have some kind of supernatural power?

Once Xie Zhiwei left, Hua Jian's inner voice fell silent too.

The two brothers sat on the edge of a hospital flower bed, feeding the mosquitoes. It took half an hour for Xie Zhiwei to return.

In that half hour, Xie Zhiwei had sent someone to find the deputy manager. After a few threats, the man had indeed produced a USB drive.

"Let's go."

"Big Brother? I don't have to apologize to that bastard Tan Xilin anymore?"

"Go home and behave yourself. I've still got things to do. Cause trouble again and I'll break your legs!"

The deputy manager had the surveillance footage. Hua Jian had been right again.

Xie Zhiwei cast a cool glance at the well-behaved Hua Jian and scolded him. "What on earth are you wearing? Your surname may not be Xie, but everyone in the Imperial Capital knows you belong to the Xie family. Don't disgrace us!"

"Go see Assistant Sun first thing tomorrow. I'll tell him to transfer you some spending money. Buy yourself a few outfits!"

Delighted, Hua Jian quickly looked up. "Thank you, Big Brother!"

Hehe, I've got money!

I'd better save up. Once the Xie family goes bankrupt, there won't be any more spending money.

Xie Zhiwei: ...

His head was throbbing. He turned and left.

Xie Zhiyan hurried after him and pitifully clung to his arm. "Big Brother, I'm your actual little brother! I don't have money for clothes either. Tell Assistant Sun to send me some too!"

Seeing the holes in his clothes, Xie Zhiwei coldly shoved him away. "Get lost."

Xie Zhiyan let out an anguished cry. "Big Brother!"

Hua Jian felt wonderful, though his face remained expressionless. "Third Brother, I'm heading home."

I've got money to spend!

Xie Zhiyan turned on him viciously. "Whatever Assistant Sun sends you, you have to give me half! Would you have come here if I hadn't gotten into trouble? If you hadn't come, you wouldn't have run into Big Brother or gotten any spending money."

Hua Jian inwardly cursed and called Xie Zhiyan a bastard.

Xie Zhiyan seethed. The moment Big Brother left, that bastard Hua Jian started cursing him!

"Are you giving it to me or not?"

"No. I can barely afford food. Go ask Big Brother yourself. He's your actual big brother, after all!"

Hua Jian wasn't about to indulge him. With that, he ran off like a shot, leaving Xie Zhiyan cursing behind him. "Hua Jian, you'd better not let me catch you!"

With a fortune due to hit his account tomorrow, Hua Jian splurged on a taxi back to his apartment.

Once he got back, he locked the door, turned off his phone, and went to sleep. He wasn't getting up even if the sky fell!

In his first twenty-four hours inside the novel, he had slept with a man, met his mother, visited a hospital and a bar, found two part-time jobs, and picked up a few juicy bits of gossip.

For someone who was only a background character, he was practically being worked to death!

Before falling asleep, Hua Jian let his thoughts wander a little.

To the man he had deliberately avoided thinking about.

He should be okay, right?

Last night, I might have, possibly, been a little rough...

Room 206, UP Bar.

Bo Lin frowned and shifted slightly.

Beside him, Lu Zexi said, "Xie Zhiwei will be here soon. That useless little brother of his dragged him down again."

Bo Lin didn't respond, and Lu Zexi didn't mind.

Ten minutes earlier, Bo Lin had finally gotten to the bottom of yesterday's mix-up.

Lu Zexi hadn't sent any entertainer to his room yesterday at all.

"Why do you look so awkward sitting like that? Is your back hurting?"

Bo Lin raised his eyes and gave him an icy look. Lu Zexi immediately looked away. "Forget I said anything."

"But seriously, what's wrong? Did you drink too much last night? Or was the bed at the Haiping Hotel uncomfortable? That shouldn't be the case."

"Lu Zexi, I know you're not mute even if you keep your mouth shut."

Lu Zexi pursed his lips. "If you won't date, at least find someone to help you blow off steam. All this abstinence has turned you into a powder keg."

With a clink, Bo Lin set his glass on the table.

Seeing that he was genuinely annoyed, Lu Zexi finally shut up.

The room was quiet when Xie Zhiwei arrived. He raised his eyebrows. "Sorry for the wait, Mr. Bo, Zexi."

Lu Zexi rose with a smile. "No need to be so formal. Sit down and we'll talk. Manager Liu, bring up my wine."

"Yes, Mr. Lu."

Lu Zexi tipped his chin toward Xie Zhiwei. "Where did you rush off to just now?"

"A little family matter. It's all sorted out. Then traffic held me up for a while." Xie Zhiwei looked at Bo Lin and smiled. "I'll have three drinks as an apology in a moment."

He and Lu Zexi had been classmates for two years in high school. Back then, the Xie family had been nowhere near its current size, and he naturally hadn't been able to join Lu Zexi's social circle.

They had been neither particularly close nor particularly distant.

It was only after he took over the Xie Group that several projects brought him into more frequent contact with Lu Zexi, and they began seeing more of each other.

But Lu Zexi loved having fun. The person Xie Zhiwei really wanted to cultivate a relationship with was the man sitting upright beside him.

"You're too kind, Mr. Xie. Zexi said you have a good project. Let's discuss business first. We can drink afterward."

"Hey, Lin! How can we come here and not drink? You..."

"Lu Zexi!"

"Fine, fine, you win. Zhiwei, tell Mr. Bo about that South City project first!"

Xie Zhiwei's gaze shifted slightly, and he grew a little more wary of Bo Lin.

People said Lu Zexi had connections on both sides of the law. Though he seemed carefree, his methods were ruthless. Every business deal he made was like an exercise in clairvoyance, with money practically coming to find him.

But judging by what he saw now, perhaps the truly formidable one was the man on the sofa.

The fine wine worth a million was set aside as the three men got down to business.

Xie Zhiwei did most of the talking. Lu Zexi occasionally interjected, while Bo Lin listened without expression.

Partway through, Lu Zexi grew tired of listening and opened the wine after all.

The atmosphere immediately relaxed a little.

Bo Lin checked the time and prepared to leave.

The project they had discussed today was hardly essential. The return on investment was too low.

Just as he was about to speak, Xie Zhiwei's phone rang.

As Xie Zhiwei answered, Bo Lin took the opportunity to stand up.

It was Assistant Sun. Mindful of the other two men, Xie Zhiwei kept it brief. "Have someone keep an eye on them. And remember to transfer this month's spending money to Hua Jian first thing tomorrow."

He gave Assistant Sun instructions in a low voice, completely missing the way Bo Lin went still.

Hua Jian wasn't a common name.

Could the Hua Jian Xie Zhiwei mentioned be the man from last night?

Why was Xie Zhiwei telling his assistant to send Hua Jian spending money?

Was Hua Jian Xie Zhiwei's kept lover?

Damn it. Bo Lin gritted his teeth in anger.

He realized that what infuriated him most about this was actually one question: when Hua Jian was with Xie Zhiwei, was he on top or underneath?

Xie Zhiwei hung up and keenly sensed that something was wrong with Bo Lin's expression.

Since he had entered, Bo Lin had only glanced at him once.

Why did Bo Lin's gaze now feel like icy blades, as though he wanted to devour him?