Joining A Dating Show With Five Exes - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: What I Want Are People Who Can Bet Their Lives To Protect My Wife

“CEO Xie, the wind on the sea today is too strong. Three drones of this model have already crashed.”

On a small island with open private guesthouses.

Xie Zhiqing heard the voice in her earpiece, a trace of impatience surfacing in her dark eyes.

The ownership of this archipelago was extremely complicated. Some parts were under the jurisdiction of other countries, and some still had lingering colonial issues.

However, because the scenery was truly beautiful, wealthy individuals could arbitrarily renovate their territories. As long as they had enough cash, no one would intervene if they wanted to build castles on the spot or establish fortress-like defense mechanisms.

According to Xie Zhiqing’s plan, larger drones used for reconnaissance would easily cause trouble. Choosing smaller types would allow for more concealed approaches—

Yet, a strong wind just happened to blow over the sea today.

As a result, after finally reaching the vicinity of her destination, she felt even more helpless than she did back home.

Xia Zhiran, sitting on the opposite sofa, looked weary, having battled the strange condition in her palm all night, yet she had the leisure to let out a scoff at this moment:

“Helpless now, Young CEO Xie?”

Before Xie Zhiqing could answer, a call came through on the phone resting on the stand on the table.

At first, Xia Zhiran thought it was news from the people she had sent out to inquire locally. Seeing the incoming call, she couldn’t help but frown.

“Wangshu.”

She answered lazily: “What is it?”

However, the junior who, in her estimation, had claimed to be unwell and gone to the hospital on the night of the banquet, and should have been escorted home by her arranged people, now brought unexpected news.

“The locals say a wealthy person’s island set off very exaggerated fireworks all night the day before yesterday.”

“I just searched. Shen Lingxi set off a display in Victoria Harbour a few years ago, but no one knew who it was for at the time. By the way, Auntie, the fireworks seller is difficult to contact, it’s too much trouble. I have an easier way to confirm.”

The person who had been lounging on the sofa suddenly sat upright.

“Where did you run off to?”

Staring at the phone, which only displayed a voice call, Xia Zhiran wished it was a video call so the reckless child could clearly see the anger in her eyes.

“Wangshu, you get home right now—”

Xia Zhiran had already prepared for the worst.

Although she had only met Shen Lingxi once, she had already learned a lesson about her style of doing things. It was one thing for her to be willing to confront such a person for Cheng Shiyuan, and another thing entirely to involve her family.

That damned kid. What on earth did she learn from her all these years?

Now, she even had real-time knowledge of her whereabouts.

Xia Zhiran’s face turned grim. If her hands weren’t so inconvenient right now, she would check her phone without hesitation and uninstall any potential eavesdropping software that might have been installed.

“I won’t go back.” Wangshu’s voice was exceptionally calm, without the panic and fear of that night.

She had already made her decision: “Unless Cheng-Cheng personally admits to us that she went with Shen Lingxi willingly, I will never give up… Besides, you need a trustworthy guide right now, and my Spanish is quite good.”

Xia Zhiran let out a cold laugh.

But this time, it was Xie Zhiqing, who had approached without her noticing, who answered Wangshu.

“How do you intend to confirm?” Her steady, calm voice rang out.

Wangshu paused: “I heard in a popular tavern in the main city here that some of these wealthy people are on the islands, and some are not, but they all have unified management teams, and most of the hired servants are Filipino maids.”

“This afternoon, supplies are scheduled to be delivered to the island that set off the fireworks. I can find a way to get on the supply boat.”

Xie Zhiqing pondered for a moment: “That’s not advisable. I just checked. The supply teams here don’t go onto the island. The most you can access are the peripheral servants. Those people have been professionally trained; they won’t easily disclose their owner’s identity.”

Wangshu was silent for a while.

Just as Xia Zhiran was about to lean over and order her to immediately go home.

Slowly, she offered another option: “Actually, there’s another piece of news. The owner of that island is preparing to hire mercenaries, supposedly to strengthen the security around the island.”

Xia Zhiran immediately interjected:

“Absolutely not! What do those people do? What is happening on that island? You have no information and you dare to sneak in? Are you insane? Wangshu, I’m warning you, if you mess around, I’ll break your legs when you get back—”

However, her niece was determined to stray further down the path of rebellion.

“Xie Zhiqing.” Wangshu only needed the consent of another ally: “If I can get onto the island, I will find a way to let you know the situation.”

But this time, even Xie Zhiqing was silent.

She looked at Xia Zhiran’s unpleasant expression, rarely finding herself at a loss for words.

Morality and self-interest were constantly at war.

The voice of good conscience was telling her that as long as she made this child give up, extinguishing all her hope, telling her that even betting her life would never give her a chance to compete, she would naturally back down.

But the selfish voice was laughing.

‘Do you really want her to give up? You’ve already exhausted all your ideas, haven’t you? Xie Zhiqing, admit it. You are no longer a rational and competent heir. As long as you can get news of Shiyuan, you are willing to pay any price.’

‘Even if that price is someone else’s safety.’

Wangshu seemed to know what she was thinking.

“Don’t worry. I’m already an adult. I can make my own decisions. Auntie’s guardianship over me is no longer valid.”

“I am choosing to do this myself. No one is forcing me. If I unfortunately encounter danger, then that is my destiny.”

Xie Zhiqing finally spoke slowly:

“Send me your location. I will find someone to go with you. You must carry a tracker at all times. If the tracking signal is wrong or disappears, I will immediately report it to the local police.”

Wangshu chuckled and hung up the phone.

Xia Zhiran’s gloomy warning rang out, word for word: “Xie. Zhi. Qing.”

Blood was already seeping from the gauze on her hand, a fresh wound from last night, dripping a crimson color.

However, this was the first time Xie Zhiqing didn’t have a cleanliness compulsion flare-up.

She just stared at the wound on Xia Zhiran’s hand and offered a sudden, faint smile.

She thought of Chen Chuxing, who almost lost her life at the Zhao family banquet in Hong Kong, and then looked at her love rival in front of her, who stubbornly refused to use anesthetic or nerve-blocking drugs to temporarily numb the sensation in her hands.

After a while.

She said very softly: “The three of us can’t have a good ending anyway, can we?”

From the moment she and Xia Zhiran refused to let go, they were destined to be lifelong enemies—

So, what did one more chip in this hatred matter?

If something were to happen to Cheng Shiyuan, how could any of them live well?

Xie Zhiqing walked out into the sunlight. Under the scorching sun, she suddenly felt the urge to admit that Cheng Shiyuan’s choice to give up the heir position all those years ago was correct.

She had been pulled by rationality and self-interest in that position for too long, having long forgotten what she was like as a child.

She had only wanted to live happily with Cheng Shiyuan, always and forever.

If she had never let go in every single moment of the past, Shiyuan wouldn’t be in this situation today, right?

Xie Zhiqing suddenly felt a heart-wrenching pang of regret.

And in this pain, she realized with perfect clarity how much time that should have belonged to her she had missed.

Obtained Xie Zhiqing’s affection: 4

When the sound rang out.

Cheng Shiyuan was leaning against Shen Lingxi, exhausted from excessive passion: “Wife loves me so much, shouldn’t you indulge me? My technique is super good. Want to try it?”

She straddled Shen Lingxi’s lap, her face radiating flawless娇态 (delicate charm), but her heart suddenly gave a sharp pang.

In less than ten days since the system upgrade, she had already received more than half of the affection value.

Yet, at this moment, she felt an unprecedented fear.

She had watched firsthand as Xie Zhiqing became rational and perfect step by step. The resentment of not receiving 100% affection in her youth had long faded. She knew very well that this version of Xie Zhiqing was the best one.

The elders of the Xie family started from scratch, endured too much hardship, and suffered too much. All they asked was that the heir could continue to steer the large ship well, preventing it from sinking and its crew from perishing.

Xie Zhiqing had always done excellently, if not for Cheng Shiyuan’s repeated appearances in her life.

Again and again, shattering her precarious chains of rationality.

Cheng Shiyuan, who had always loved to manipulate people’s hearts, fell in love as she pleased, and withdrew when the affection was gone, suddenly had a thought at this moment.

She wondered, Was she wrong?

Turning the perfect Xie Zhiqing into a love-sick fool felt like she was harming her.

A slightly cool temperature suddenly touched the corner of her eye.

Shen Lingxi pinched the moisture on her fingertip, watching Cheng Shiyuan’s timely show of grievance, even resorting to the bitter-flesh trick just to be the one on top.

She asked meaningfully: “You want to exert yourself for me this badly?”

Cheng Shiyuan nodded vigorously.

The sore, heavy feeling in her lower body constantly told her that she could no longer endure any more intimacy.

Shen Lingxi quietly stared at her for a while.

Just as Cheng Shiyuan thought she would be dragged down by her self-pitying tear ducts, she heard Shen Lingxi’s soft sigh.

After a while, the woman lying beneath slowly unbuttoned the collar of her shirt.

She had always dressed formally in a three-piece suit. In Cheng Shiyuan’s memory, Shen Lingxi was mostly fully dressed during intimate moments.

Shen Lingxi seemed not to like exposing parts of her body in front of others.

Her past was a black book, exuding an intense “Do Not Read” aura, even in the sunlight.

However, after the buttons popped open under her fingers, Shen Lingxi bit the index finger of the black glove on her left hand.

White teeth, black leather—

The glove stretched and elongated.

As it was removed, it revealed the pale, rarely-seen skin underneath.

Shen Lingxi used this clean hand to cup Cheng Shiyuan’s neck. After a moment of caressing, she suddenly pressed her to the side of her own neck.

Her tone seemed to hold a smile. She turned her head, sending her voice lightly into her lover’s ear:

“If you’re going to serve me, you must be focused.”

“If you’re on me and still thinking of others… Wife, you won’t be able to get out of this bed afterward.”

However.

Shen Lingxi soon paid the price for the “focus” she demanded.

The pain of being hit with a rod, which she only remembered suffering unexpectedly in her youth, now descended upon her in another form, unanticipated.

Perhaps because she had been away from that hard life for so long, Shen Lingxi found that she couldn’t endure pain as well anymore.

Still, she remained within the bounds of being completely silent.

But her mind did go blank for several minutes, her expression reverting to its usual cold indifference.

Until Cheng Shiyuan, feeling anxious, looked up at her: “You… aren’t you going to give me any reaction?”

Shen Lingxi, like a machine slowly turning on, raised her hand and rigidly stroked her cheek.

After a moment, she suddenly imitated her flawless smile and said with a smile: “Very good.”

Pausing, Shen Lingxi casually brought up: “Mind telling me who else enjoyed your ‘super good technique’?”

Cheng Shiyuan, for once, couldn’t confirm whether the murderous intent in Shen Lingxi’s voice was due to jealousy.

She blinked and suddenly thought of Chen Chuxing, who, after reluctantly lying down, would always find an excuse to get up halfway, unable to last even once, and would press her down to switch positions.

Could it be.

Could it be…

Chen Chuxing wasn’t actually frigid?

But her own technique was just too poor???

Cheng Shiyuan, who had never suffered much in relationships and was used to being pampered and enjoying things from the bottom, felt struck by lightning at this moment.

For the first time, she wasn’t so confident and couldn’t help but confirm with Shen Lingxi: “Is it really good?”

Shen Lingxi didn’t bat an eye: “Extremely good.”

“…But, I’ve stopped leaking fluid.” Cheng Shiyuan’s actions became increasingly tense and slow.

“Oh, that’s my frigidity. It’s not your problem, Wife.”

She sounded exactly like a thoughtful, supportive partner, giving her wife full confidence.

However, Cheng Shiyuan suddenly realized the truth through these two identical excuses!

She abruptly stopped her movements, then leaned in, biting Shen Lingxi’s shoulder, choosing to take revenge on the liar in front of her first.

Shen Lingxi, however, chuckled. Affectionately, she turned her head, kissing her cheek amidst the now familiar pain.

It wasn’t until Cheng Shiyuan left a mark on her shoulder and looked up again, satisfied:

“Since my technique is so good, I must make sure you’re thoroughly satisfied.”

“Don’t worry, Wife. I’ll take good care of you.”

Shen Lingxi, who rarely suffered for a foolish lie, had the rare taste of shooting herself in the foot.

Two hours later.

When she got out of bed, her feet even stumbled slightly.

Cheng Shiyuan walked over nonchalantly, acting as her cane, thoughtfully steadying her: “Didn’t Wife always tell me to go out and take a walk to clear my head? How about we go out now?”

For a second, Shen Lingxi suspected she was deliberately retaliating.

However, no matter what emotion Cheng Shiyuan poured into her, as long as those eyes were focused on her, and every frown and smile was born because of her, she found it sweet.

“Alright.”

After she readily agreed, she heard Cheng Shiyuan standing by the door asking her if she wanted to change into a new set of clothes, even thoughtfully suggesting she could help her change.

Shen Lingxi looked down, seeing the fabric on her body wrinkled like a crumpled rag.

But for the first time, she wasn’t too concerned about her neat image—

This was the love Cheng Shiyuan had left for her.

“No need.” When Shen Lingxi wasn’t deliberately putting on a display of warmth, even without any extra expression on her face, her features seemed naturally relaxed: “The sun is about to set. It’s the perfect time to go out before it’s gone.”

Cheng Shiyuan finally got to see the full scope of the island.

The gentle, warm breeze touched her face, bringing the scent of the ocean and the forest.

One side of the island was covered in woods, behind which was a steep cliff. The houses in front of the woods faced the shallow blue sea on the other side. The coastline was made of beautiful silver sand, illuminated by the sunlight into flowing gold.

The water on the cliff side was dark, almost abyssal, sending a chill deep into one’s heart at a glance.

However, the shallow blue in front of the house, like the surrounding small islands, was breathtakingly beautiful, like blue gems embedded in the Pacific Ocean.

Cheng Shiyuan toured the island in almost an hour, feeling that the island resembled Shen Lingxi herself.

It had the capital of wealth and charm, looking simple and easy to see through. Only after drawing people in unknowingly could one see the abyss in her shadow.

Shen Lingxi walked with her without batting an eye. Even when she saw Cheng Shiyuan intentionally veer into the woods, treading on uneven, easy-to-fall slopes and paths, she didn’t ask others to help her.

Instead, she instructed them: “Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her fall.”

No sooner had she spoken.

She heard a muffled grunt.

Cheng Shiyuan sat down hard on the ground. A bump on her behind, which would usually be negligible, hit a spot that was already tender due to her poor state today, making her wince in pain.

She looked at Shen Lingxi in surprise, not quite understanding how Shen Lingxi, who had an inflexible leg and had just been ravaged by her for hours, could walk on this difficult slope as if it were flat ground.

Shen Lingxi understood her confusion and smiled, pursing her lips.

She extended her palm to her.

Then, she was pulled fiercely by Cheng Shiyuan. Both of them were now covered in dirt.

“I originally wanted to take you to meet some people.” After standing up again, Shen Lingxi allowed the person next to her to help her change into new gloves. Watching Cheng Shiyuan brush the dirt off her pants, she said: “It seems we don’t have time now.”

Cheng Shiyuan couldn’t guess who she would meet in this place.

But if she didn’t see the answer, she wouldn’t know Shen Lingxi’s specific plan—

“Are they very important guests?” she asked.

Shen Lingxi tilted her head: “No. Just some people who need to meet you.”

Cheng Shiyuan took the jacket handed to her by the servant, covering the mess on her clothes, and smiled: “Let’s go now.”

Then, she found out exactly who the people Shen Lingxi said needed to meet her were.

The people in front of her, either sitting and smoking or squatting and drinking beer, were all undeniably carrying weapons. Cheng Shiyuan was stunned.

Among the group of burly men, she noticed a more slender, tall figure.

Messy blonde short hair, azure eyes, and rough skin from constant sun exposure.

There was even a scar running across the bridge of his nose.

Although he wore the same unkempt, even strong-smelling camouflage uniform as the others, his bone structure was so superior that he was inexplicably eye-catching.

Like a decadent golden sun.

Cheng Shiyuan couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.

Obtained Wangshu’s affection: 2

The moment the system sound rang out, her heart sank.

She realized she had been staring at this person for too long, and moving her gaze now would make it even more suspicious.

So, she tilted her head and turned to ask Shen Lingxi: “Is there any danger to us living here? Why such a large scale mobilization to find these people? Did you specially accommodate my eyes and find a handsome one?”

Shen Lingxi’s gaze swept indifferently over the line of mercenaries in front of her.

Before she could speak—

Someone from the side suddenly raised a rifle stock and smashed it toward the ‘blonde man’s’ cheek.

“Thud!”

A painful, almost bone-cracking sound echoed in the open space.

Shen Lingxi instinctively pulled Cheng Shiyuan closer into her arms, covering her sight with her palm, preventing her from seeing the scene.

At the same time.

Wangshu heard the vicious warning from the mercenary leader, a low voice in Spanish:

“The Boss’s woman, is that someone you can casually look at! Rookie, if you can’t control your eyes, I’ll kill you first.”

The captain was experienced and knew that these wealthy people had all sorts of taboos. If he weren’t temporarily short on men, he would never have recruited such a money-strapped newcomer.

If this rookie caused them to lose this deal, he would never let the kid off.

Wangshu pressed her tongue against the side of her cheek, feeling the sharp pain in her cheekbone.

Indifferently, she turned her head, spat out a mouthful of blood, which contained a back molar.

Seeing Cheng Shiyuan appear perfectly fine in front of her, the anxiety that had been clutching her heart since the night of the banquet finally eased.

She showed a reckless smile, brought her index and middle fingers together, waved them across her brow, and replied in Spanish:

“Got it, Boss. The Boss’s woman is not mine to sleep with, right?”

Cheng Shiyuan held her breath.

Through the gaps in Shen Lingxi’s palm, she saw the extremely unsightly tooth on the ground in a pool of blood.

Then, Shen Lingxi’s palm suddenly moved away. She heard Shen Lingxi ask: “Do you still find him handsome now?”

Cheng Shiyuan glanced at the ‘blonde man’s’ swollen face.

She showed a bored expression and turned her head:

“Boring. If you had told me you were meeting these people, I wouldn’t have come.”

She wanted to leave.

But Shen Lingxi held her hand:

“No rush. This place isn’t as safe as Hong Kong, the security isn’t great. I heard that thieves and robbers like to sneak onto the island at night to steal valuables. Your safety is always the most important thing.”

Cheng Shiyuan remained silent.

She wasn’t keen on knowing whether she hired these people to guard against thieves and robbers or something else.

Suddenly, she heard Shen Lingxi turn to the men and say in Spanish: “Although I’ve heard your squad’s resume, I need to see for myself how capable you are.”

The captain asked her: “What do you want to test? Marksmanship? Cold weapons? Or team combat?”

Shen Lingxi wasn’t in a hurry to speak. Instead, she took an old-fashioned revolver from the person next to her and click-clacked in a metal bullet.

Shhh.

The cylinder spun skillfully under her fingers.

She slowly closed the revolver, handed it to the captain, and curved her lips faintly.

Then, she suddenly pressed the revolver against her temple.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Shen Lingxi spoke unhurriedly:

“What I want are people who can bet their lives to protect my wife.”

“There are five of you in total, and there are six chambers here—why don’t you let me see if you have enough courage and luck?”

She handed the revolver to the captain, her gaze casually drifting toward the blonde fellow:

“Russian Roulette, your favorite game. How about it, shall we begin?”