Goodbye, Scumbag! The Powerful CEO Is My New Devoted Lover - Chapter 6

“Frozen?”

Su Xiao stared at the screen, it took her a long moment to process the word. She double checked the card number several times to confirm it was indeed her primary account.

Su Xiao took a deep breath and opened her banking app. The balance page was blank, save for a notification that read: “Account Abnormal.”

Her heart tightened. When the gallery caught fire, it contained not only her father’s paintings but also many works entrusted by collectors for restoration or consignment. She had assumed that when Yan Mingshen said he “would handle it,” he meant he would at least contact lawyers to smooth things over on the surface. After all, she was still his wife in name. The Yan family certainly didn’t lack the funds.

But he had truly done nothing. Not even a basic assessment of losses or a word of reassurance. Was he truly that indifferent, or was he doing this on purpose?

Su Xiao suddenly felt a pang of regret. She should have slapped Xia Zhi harder. The items in that gallery were valued at six or seven figures at the very least. Added together, it was a staggering sum.

Her phone vibrated again. It was a WeChat message from Xu An.

Xu An: The law firm is asking if we should start drafting the divorce settlement? Xu An: Is your card okay? My assistant just told me that several collectors have filed applications with the court.

Staring at the words “Is your card okay,” Su Xiao’s nose prickled, and tears nearly fell. Xu An was always like this, always thinking of these troublesome matters before she did, yet phrasing things carefully so as not to panic her.

She replied, “The card is frozen.” Almost immediately after sending it, Xu An called.

“That dog, Yan Mingshen! Didn’t he say yesterday that ‘everything was arranged’?” Xu An’s voice erupted from the other end. “Xiaoxiao, don’t panic. I’ll transfer some money to you first.”

“No need, An’an,” Su Xiao interrupted, her voice raspy. “That money is what you earned yourself. Don’t throw it into this pit.”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but they both knew that “some money” wouldn’t fill a hole this deep.

“I still have two apartments under my name. I’ll contact an agent to sell them tomorrow. Combined with the calligraphy and paintings left in the warehouse, I can cover a portion of it. I’ll get the collectors to withdraw the lawsuits first, and I’ll pay back the rest slowly.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end. Xu An’s voice dropped, tinged with hesitation. “Xiaoxiao, are you really not considering seeing Youngest Uncle?”

“I… I’ll think about it.”

Su Xiao’s hand holding the phone stiffened. In truth, compared to Xu Bozhou, she would rather beg Yan Mingshen. At least when she met Yan Mingshen, she was already an adult who had learned to leave herself a way out.

“Fine. If you make up your mind, tell me. I’ll help you contact him.”

After a few more words, Su Xiao made an excuse to hang up. She had to go out. Other things could wait, but she needed to find someone to handle the remains of the gallery.

When Su Xiao changed her clothes and went downstairs, the two people who had been there earlier were long gone. She gave a bitter smile, went out, and hailed a taxi toward the city center. Although her bank card was temporarily unusable, the cash she had on hand and her mobile wallet were enough for her daily expenses for the time being.

Su Xiao leaned against the car window, calculating the remaining cards she had left to play.

The taxi eventually stopped in front of a gray office building. It was small but clearly well maintained, with white gardenias planted at the entrance. There was no sign, but many people were coming and going.

As soon as Su Xiao stepped out, someone immediately came to welcome her inside.

“Hello, are you here for calligraphy restoration? It’s on the second floor.” The receptionist was a girl with a round face and a sweet, likable voice.

“I’m looking for your boss, Qin Yu.” Su Xiao couldn’t help but find the girl’s gossipy gaze amusing. “Just tell him his Senior Sister is here.”

Qin Yu was her father’s apprentice. Ten years ago, he had come to Jiangcheng alone, insisting on studying under Su Zhen. He had knelt at the door of the small studio for three days until he fainted from heatstroke and was carried inside. Su Zhen, who had never intended to take an apprentice, sighed and shook his head but was eventually pressured into accepting him.

“Please wait a moment, I’ll call him down right away.” The girl scurried upstairs.

A moment later, she returned with a young man in work clothes. He had handsome features and fair skin, with a frame that made a simple work uniform look like high fashion.

“Senior Sister.” His voice was clear and youthful. “Do you need my help?”

“Yes. I assume you’ve heard about what happened to the Su family.”

“I have.”

“I want you to take a few people to the site. Bring back any paintings that can be saved. For those that can’t, help me estimate their value.”

Looking at him was like looking at her past self: young, beautiful, and high spirited. If she hadn’t married Yan Mingshen despite her father’s warnings while she was still in university, she would likely be just like this now.

“Sure. I’ll have Xiao Li drive. We should go now; the longer we wait, the harder it will be to save anything.” Qin Yu nodded. Over the years, Su Xiao’s father had treated him like his own son, sharing all his resources and connections. Even if Su Xiao hadn’t asked, he would have stepped in to help.

However. “By the way, Senior Sister, where is President Yan? Didn’t he come with you? I thought the Yan family would have sent people already.”

“He’s busy.” Su Xiao paused. It wasn’t that she wanted to hide things from Qin Yu, but it was better if as few people as possible knew about the divorce before it was finalized.

Seeing that she didn’t want to elaborate, Qin Yu didn’t press further. In his memory, Su Xiao was the type of person who wanted to carry everything herself. If he pushed too hard, she might not even let him help at all.

Qin Yu sighed and spoke to the receptionist. He picked two of his most capable apprentices and took Su Xiao to the Su family gallery.

Arriving at the ruins again, Su Xiao couldn’t help but feel a surge of grief. The fire had been extinguished, leaving only the hollow shell of a massive artistic structure. Pieces of rice paper, swollen from rainwater, were stuck between the bricks. When the wind blew, they fluttered down, leaving fragmented ink marks in the mud.

Her father and her home were all buried beneath this debris.

“Senior Sister.” Qin Yu patted her shoulder, his expression worried. “If it’s too much, why don’t you sit in the car for a while? I’ll take the guys down to look first. I’ll come get you if I find anything I can’t handle.”

“I’m fine.” Su Xiao shook her head and was the first to step out of the car. Ultimately, this was her father’s legacy; she couldn’t let Qin Yu stand in for her.

Just as they were about to cross the police tape, they saw a fat man rushing toward them, out of breath, with several bodyguards in tow.

“Su Xiao! Who gave you permission to come in here?”