My Weekend Lover Turned Out To Be My Boss - Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Villain O · “Love of a Lifetime”

“Qiao Xin… you’re just… walking the same path… your brother did…”

She raised her hand and slapped me. To my numbed body, this slight pain was nothing. I tilted my head, mocking her malice. “You… you’ll end up just like Qiao An… no good end…”

Infuriated by my words, Qiao Xin returned to the machine. This time, she increased the intensity. I let out another heart-wrenching wail; it felt as if countless maggots were feasting on my heart. Just as I felt my body was about to shatter and I could no longer hold on, she finally turned off the machine. She interrogated me viciously: “Just promise to hand over that network list and wipe all the data on the container shipment, and I’ll stop the torture!”

As expected, it was about the list. I squinted, my body still twitching involuntarily from the residual current. In a dying breath, I refused her: “You’re… dreaming…”

Receiving such a response, Qiao Xin hissed through gritted teeth, likely driven to the edge of madness. “Fine! You’re a stubborn one. I’ll give you that!”

She turned back to the machine, but as she attempted to crank up the voltage further, a subordinate stepped out to stop her. “Miss Qiao, the Boss ordered that she must stay alive for questioning. You’ll kill her like this.”

Qiao Xin shoved the man aside, cursing, “Get lost! Today I want her dead, and no one is stopping me!”

With that, she flipped the switch again. The current surged from the soles of my feet to my brain, sending my entire being into violent spasms. I could no longer scream. My vision blurred into nothingness, and white foam began to leak from my mouth. Seeing that I was at death’s door, Qiao Xin finally cut the power. Suddenly, with a loud bang, the door was kicked open. A figure charged in.

Lin Chen flew into the room, taking down the group of thugs in the dim space within seconds. Amidst the chaos, Qiao Xin tried to hide behind me, but Lin Chen’s eyes locked onto her in the dark. He stepped forward, showing no mercy for the “fairer sex,” and gripped Qiao Xin’s throat with one hand. “A woman with a heart this poisonous is a plague to keep alive,” he said coldly.

“Lin Chen, don’t do anything reckless!”

Following the shout, several other figures appeared at the door. Hearing the voice, Lin Chen threw Qiao Xin aside and pulled out a knife to slice through the thick ropes binding me. I had no strength left; even my last shred of consciousness was dissipating. Without the ropes to hold me up, I toppled forward, but someone caught me.

I smelled my favorite scent. Warm, wet droplets fell onto my lips—salty and bitter. I opened my mouth to say something, only to realize I had lost my voice. Phoebe’s hands were ice-cold; she stroked my forehead, using her sleeve to wipe the filth from the corners of my mouth.

I had never heard Phoebe sound so panicked and helpless. With a voice trembling violently and thick with tears, she cried out in sorrow: “Feifan… I’m sorry, I’m late… I’m taking you to the hospital… Quick! Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance!”

Leaning in her arms, I felt a sense of pure happiness. Using the last of my strength, I raised my hand to touch her cheek. A faint, unintelligible sound escaped my throat. Her fingers continuously wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes. I must have terrified her.

“Please don’t scare me. I swear I won’t be cold to you anymore. I promise you, we’ll leave the office buildings behind and take the child to travel the world. I can’t lose you… I can’t…”

……

I took a sharp, deep breath and opened my eyes, staring at the snowy white ceiling as I gasped for air. I wasn’t dead! Feeling warmth at my fingertips, I turned my head toward the bedside. Phoebe was gripping my hand tightly, seemingly asleep. I tried to pull my hand away, but the slight movement woke her. Phoebe looked up at me in a panic, her eyes filled with a lingering dread that wouldn’t fade.

Seeing me awake, tears immediately welled in her eyes. With a red nose, she stood up and bolted out the door. A moment later, she returned in a state of utter disarray, practically dragging the doctor into the room. “She’s awake! Check her, now!”

The doctor didn’t dare delay. After a thorough examination, he calmed Phoebe down and spoke in a formal tone: “The patient’s condition has stabilized for now, but she needs to stay for observation for a few days. It’s best to do a full-body scan tomorrow. If she experiences nausea or an inability to swallow, please find me immediately.”

After the doctor left, Phoebe returned to my side. She took a thermos from the nightstand and poured some hot water, saying softly, “You must be parched. Have some water.”

She blew on the steam and fed me sip by sip, then carefully used a tissue to wipe my mouth. I whispered her name: “Phoebe.”

Hearing me speak, she leaned in close. “Yes? What is it?”

“How long have I been asleep?”

Exhaustion finally showed on her face. Holding the cup, she whispered, “It’s been four days since the emergency room. I didn’t dare leave this room. I was so scared…”

“I’m sorry. I must have terrified you.”

Phoebe sniffed and set the cup down. She reached out to massage my arms. “If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, you must tell me. Don’t keep it inside. Thankfully, Qiao Xin used a low current, or it really would have been fatal. It’s my fault, too—I shouldn’t have let you send Lin Chen away.”

As she spoke, the sadness in her eyes faded, replaced by a long-absent coldness. She said firmly, “We can’t just sit and wait anymore. I’ve had enough!”

Phoebe opened her arms and pulled me into a hug. I could hear her suppressed, secret sobs. I stroked her long hair, savoring the peace of the moment. I couldn’t help but press a kiss near her ear. “You’re crying more and more lately. Like a little crybaby.”

Phoebe pulled back to cup my face. She looked intently into my eyes, and finally, the tears broke through completely. Her makeup was a mess, and as she tried to wipe it away with the back of her hand, it only smeared further.

“For so many years, I neglected your feelings. I never considered equality between us. But I never thought you were incompetent. In my heart, you were the lover who was willing to set aside dignity and freedom for me. The fault lies in my selfishness, which hurt you the most.

When you finally let go and left, I finally woke up. You aren’t just my lover; you are a habit I cannot break. My self-proclaimed strength was hollow and shattered in your world.

After you left, my life turned into a mess. Nothing went right. Food lost its taste, and I had no heart for work. I’d constantly find myself remembering our days together. You are like water, like air—impossible to grasp or touch, yet utterly indispensable. In these days without you, I really couldn’t hold on much longer.”

As Phoebe was pouring her heart out, there was a knock on the door. After being granted entry, a young, handsome woman walked in. She wore a crisp white short-sleeved shirt, buttoned all the way to the collar, tucked neatly into her jeans. Her stern, rigorous demeanor sat in stark contrast to her youthful face.

Phoebe sat back, regaining her composure quickly. She asked coldly and suspiciously, “Who are you, and what do you want?”

The woman ignored Phoebe’s question and looked directly at me, introducing herself: “Hello, Miss You. I am Jiang Cha, Deputy Captain of the Second Detachment of the Municipal Criminal Investigation Bureau. This is my police ID.”

Destiny really moves in circles. I remembered the last time I was in a hospital, a police officer suddenly appeared with an arrest warrant for me. Years later, the same scene was playing out again. Phoebe didn’t want anyone disturbing my rest, so she immediately interrupted, “I’m sorry, Officer. She just woke up and isn’t fit to discuss anything.”

Officer Jiang tucked her ID away. Deeming Phoebe’s point reasonable, she replied, “You’re right. Being imprisoned and subjected to torture by a criminal… it was my oversight to intrude. I am the lead on your case, Miss You. Since today is inconvenient, I will return tomorrow morning after your doctor finishes his rounds. Is that acceptable?”

I nodded and said, “Officer Jiang, I really don’t have the energy today. When you come tomorrow, I will cooperate fully.”

“Very well. I’ll leave you to rest. See you tomorrow.”

Phoebe let out a breath of relief and picked a dragon fruit from the basket. “Eat some fruit. The doctor said your stomach needs to be nurtured for a while. Once you’re discharged, you stay home and recover. Leave the thorny matters outside alone for now.”

I shifted into a more comfortable position. “You stayed in the hospital for four days?”

“What do you think?”

“What about work?”

“You ended up like this—what does work matter?”

I smiled and reached out to rub her ear. “You’ve stayed up for four whole days; you’ll wreck your health. Go home and get some rest.”

Phoebe refused, dragging her chair even closer. She said defiantly, “What’s there to fear? There’s a cot I can lie on. Besides, if I’m stationed here, certain people won’t come to trouble you.”

“Are you talking about Guan Shuyun?”

She picked up a piece of dragon fruit and stuffed it into my mouth. “The fruit is cold. Keep it in your mouth and let it warm up before you swallow… When the ambulance brought you in for emergency treatment, she came once. I… I didn’t let her see you. Do you blame me for that?”

I remained silent and shook my head. Then I made a decision: “Once I’m discharged, I can’t go home with you. I need to go to the Guan estate.”

Hearing this, Phoebe froze. She wanted to argue, but she swallowed her words. “If you want to see her, I won’t stop you. When the time comes, I’ll drive you there myself.”

She took my hand again. “You were the one who had those criminal files on Qiao Xin sent over, weren’t you? I couldn’t figure out your goal, but now I think I understand your intentions more or less.”

I lowered my head, a slight smile playing on my lips. “Don’t worry about those things.”

“Then when will you stop?”

“Not until the obstacles in our way are cleared once and for all.”

Phoebe shook her head in distress, finally letting out a bitter laugh. “When did my Feifan become so tough?”

“To say something that might hurt you… your ‘You Feifan’ really did die. I have my own pursuits now, and I know exactly what I’m doing. But that doesn’t hinder…”

Seeing me pause, Phoebe asked anxiously, “Doesn’t hinder what?”

I smiled and hooked my finger at her. She obediently leaned her head closer. I tilted her chin up, unable to suppress the stirrings in my heart. Her soft lips were like a drug; no matter how many years passed, the potency never faded. She wrapped her arms around my neck, responding passionately. Our breath grew heavy as we clung to each other.

“It doesn’t hinder the fact that I love you. I asked you once: do you remember the way I love you? Now is the time to give you the answer. No matter how much I change, the only thing that remains the same is the way I love you.”