Chapter 168

Chapter 168 - 168 161 Xingxings Beauty Scheme and Self-sacrifice Chapter 168: 161: Xingxing’s Beauty Scheme and Self-sacrifice Stratagem (Second Update) Chapter 168: 161: Xingxing’s Beauty Scheme and Self-sacrifice Stratagem (Second Update) Don’t be soft-hearted, Wen Changling.

“We—”

She wanted to say let’s break up.

Xie Shang interrupted her, “Changling.”

She saw the back of his hand, its pale skin stretched tight from exertion, blue veins clearly visible.

As if possessed, she changed her words, “Let’s go to the hospital.” The temperature her palm felt was very hot, probably from an infected wound.

Xie Shang had once been fond of skydiving, the long moments of weightlessness followed by the sudden taut pull of the tether, like being reborn after a calamity.

Wen Changling was like that tether.

He finally got a moment to breathe, “No need for a hospital, there’s medicine at home.”

“Where is the medicine?”

“In the drawer.”

Wen Changling went to get the medicine.

There was water on the table; she touched the cup with her finger, it was warm.

“How many pills?”

“Two.”

She poured two pills out, took Xie Shang’s hand, and placed them in his palm.

He cooperated, swallowing the medicine.

“If the fever doesn’t go down, go to the hospital.”

He swallowed the water in his mouth, looked up, the light condensed into two bright spots in his pupils, like pearls inlaid on amber, “Mhm.”

Very obedient, very submissive.

Wen Changling was particularly vulnerable to this, even knowing it might be a ruse.

“Go lie down on the bed.”

Xie Shang nodded, lay down on the bed, moved to the side, leaving space, “Will you come up?”

Wen Changling pulled over a chair, “I’ll sit here.” She sat down, “Xingxing, close your eyes.”

Xie Shang closed his eyes.

The beautiful amber was finally hidden away.

Wen Changling frowned, hating her own indecisiveness. She sighed silently, then stood up.

Xie Shang immediately opened his eyes, “Where are you going?”

“To get the thermometer.”

Next time, she would talk about it after he got better.

Wen Changling brought over the electronic thermometer and took Xie Shang’s temperature every twenty minutes. An hour after he had the medicine, his temperature went down. Wen Changling waited another hour to make sure the temperature didn’t rise again before leaving Xie Shang’s room.

When Xie Shang woke up the next day, Wen Changling had already gone to work.

Granny Zhu brought breakfast over and reminded him not to forget his medicine. Wen Changling must have told Granny Zhu.

Afternoon.

Xie Jingxian came over.

Xie Shang poured tea for him, but he didn’t drink it.

Gu Yihuan stood behind, tirelessly gesturing with his eyes to Xie Shang. Gu Yihuan had run into Xie Jingxian on the way to Flower Chamber Hall, and knowing he was coming to see Xie Shang, he came along. On the way, he realized the atmosphere was off.

Xie Jingxian put his walking stick aside, “What’s the name of the girl you’re dating?”

Xie Liangjiang also arrived, sitting in the courtyard, not entering the tea room.

The identity of Wen Changling should have already been revealed by Xie Liangjiang, and Xie Shang had no reason to hide it anymore, “Wen Changling.”

“Wen Yuan’s daughter?”

“Yes.”

“Do you realize what you’re doing?” Xie Jingxian was furious, shaking with rage as he clenched his fist, “Your uncle died because he went out looking for her.”

Xie Shang stood erect, his back straight, “It was an accident, she didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You didn’t think so before.” Xie Jingxian had never been this angry with Xie Shang before, pointing and scolding him, “What spell did the Wen family’s girl cast on you? She really knows how to cast spells!”

Xie Shang did not argue.

Xie Jingxian said firmly, “Break up with her. Anyone else is fine, but she’s not acceptable.”

“Grandpa, do you know what I’ve done to prevent her from breaking up with me?” Xie Shang’s tone was calm, “I knew from the start that the car had been tampered with.”

He had intentionally injured himself.

Xie Jingxian was in disbelief, “You—”

In a flash of surging anger, Xie Jingxian fell backward.

Gu Yihuan rushed to support him and quickly patted his back to help him catch his breath, “Grandpa Xie, don’t get upset, take deep breaths.” He followed his own advice, “Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale...”

After a few breaths, Xie Jingxian slowly recovered.

Gu Yihuan quickly handed over a cup of tea, “Grandpa, have a sip of tea to calm down.”

To be honest, Gu Yihuan himself couldn’t calm down, his uneducated mind was filled with expletives.

He truly didn’t expect there to be such a relationship between Xie Shang and Wen Changling and had no idea that Xie Shang would gamble with his life for Wen Changling.

Xie Jingxian didn’t take the cup; it was tea brewed by Xie Shang, and he refused to drink it.

Xie Shang stepped forward, “I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

He apologized, but still persisted in his own way.

Xie Jingxian lifted the walking stick next to him, raising it to strike Xie Shang.

He didn’t dodge, bowing his head to take the blow.

Xie Jingxian saw his pallid face, not fully recovered from the illness, and his heart softened; he couldn’t carry out the punishment, but he was too aggrieved to let it go and with a heavy thump, the walking stick struck the ground instead.

All of Xie Shang’s older brothers and sisters hadn’t survived to grow up, and when Xie Shang was born, Xie Jingxian had sought fortune-tellers and spent years in pious observance for his grandson’s well-being. How could he not cherish the grandchild he was afraid to drop when holding in his hands?

“Just like your uncle back in the day, when I called him to come back, he wouldn’t, insisting on staying in Wind Town.” Xie Jingxian was silent for a long time, “You were raised by your uncle, and your personality is the most like his.”

He sighed deeply, truly at a loss, using his walking stick to support himself as he left, bent-backed.

Gu Yihuan glanced at Xie Shang and followed up with a sigh, then chased after Xie Jingxian, and said softly, “Grandpa, my fourth brother is still in the throes of love right now, let’s wait for him to cool down, and when he does, we’ll try persuading him again.”

The amount of information was overwhelming, and Gu Yihuan needed more time to digest it.

Xie Liangjiang was still sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea with no intention of leaving.

Xie Shang approached.

Xie Liangjiang put down his cup, “Wen Changling is using you.”

It was he who had revealed Wen Changling’s identity to the old master, in order to sever this calamitous relationship for Xie Shang. To him, it was a calamity.

“What have you done to make her hate you so much?”

Xie Liangjiang stood up, his demeanor more that of a scholar-merchant than a lawyer, “I haven’t done anything, those four families misinterpreted my words.”

“Whether it was a misinterpretation or not, I will find out.”

In fact, Xie Shang bore a certain resemblance to Xie Liangjiang, such as elegance and composure, as well as ruthlessness. He advised calmly and sensibly, “Father, I am not a filial son, and before you take any next steps, please consider them carefully.”

That was a threat, but also a stance.