Savage Kiss - Chapter 82

Xu Chen’s surgery was scheduled for the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

Xu Qingyi deliberately stayed a few extra days so that her grandmother could also see Xu Chen’s condition after the surgery.

However, due to the postoperative observation period, they could only see him through the glass. Shen Yuqiao said the surgery was successful, but it would take time for him to wake up.

Xu Qingyi needed to start focusing on her new product line. Working from her hometown was inconvenient, so she had to return to Beijing.

Since the transaction had ended and she wasn’t in a state of deep-seated animosity with Shen Yanzhou, that was the most suitable place for her to work.

She discussed bringing her grandmother along, but the elderly woman insisted she could live on her own.

When Xu Qingyi suggested moving her to a nursing home, her grandmother refused.

In the end, a cousin’s aunt offered to help take care of her grandmother, as the two elderly women were around the same age and could keep each other company!

By the time all these arrangements were finalized, it was already mid-March.

Just before she was about to leave, Shen Yuqiao finally contacted her.

Xu Qingyi didn’t dare answer the call in front of her grandmother, especially since Shen Yanzhou was also at the table having a meal.

Over the past few days, he had been staying at a hotel in the county but would come over for either lunch or dinner every day.

Their relationship had somewhat reverted to how it was when they first met, purely transactional, except now there was an added layer of tacit understanding forged through their time together.

Only when she was alone did Xu Qingyi call Shen Yuqiao back.

“Has my brother returned to the country?” she asked.

Shen Yuqiao was silent for a few seconds. “We’re waiting for the second phase of the surgery.”

Why was there a second phase?

Wasn’t the surgery successful? Wasn’t he just supposed to recuperate in the hospital until he woke up?

Just as Xu Qingyi was unsure which of his statements to believe, he suddenly asked, “He went to find you.”

It sounded like a question.

But Xu Qingyi detected no uncertainty in his voice, only conviction.

She knew, of course, that he was referring to Shen Yanzhou.

She pressed her lips together slightly and replied in a calm tone, “Our transaction is over. Shen Yanzhou and I have nothing to do with each other now.”

Shen Yuqiao seemed to let out a faint laugh. “Is that so?”

His voice carried a hint of coldness. “In half a month, he bought four boxes of condoms from Tianxiang Supermarket in Yun County. Was he using them all by himself?”

Xu Qingyi’s breath caught in her throat.

How did he know in such detail?!

Any normal person would know that four boxes in half a month, even blowing up balloons wouldn’t use them that fast.

But Shen Yanzhou had the capability.

She could hear the displeasure in Shen Yuqiao’s voice, undoubtedly because he knew she was lying to him.

For a long moment, Xu Qingyi didn’t know what to say.

Shen Yuqiao’s cold voice came through again. “Maintain your relationship with him.”

He tightened his grip on her weakness. “Only then will your brother’s second-phase surgery go smoothly.”

Xu Qingyi clutched her phone, feeling suffocated.

Lately, her interactions with Shen Yanzhou had been entirely on her own terms. Shen Yuqiao’s sudden demand triggered a rebellious impulse in her.

Because she knew that someday in the future, she would have to obey Shen Yuqiao again and continue hurting Shen Yanzhou.

To be honest, she didn’t really want to.

Just as Xu Qingyi was about to say something more, Shen Yuqiao abruptly hung up.

Perhaps she was too angry to think clearly, but she immediately called him back.

This time, she had to make things clear: once Xu Chen’s surgery was complete, he had to be returned to her so she could take care of him herself.

But Shen Yuqiao’s line was busy, he had probably blocked her.

…Shen Yuqiao was on a call.

Over the past half-month, Mi Lian hadn’t contacted him for the first time, but this was the first time she had managed to get through.

“President Shen, what is the meaning of this? Wasn’t it agreed that Shen Yanzhou would be elected?”

Shen Yuqiao smiled very politely. “Did I say that?”

“You!” Mi Lian truly hadn’t expected him to go back on his word.

Then she heard him say unhurriedly, “Miss Zhuang asked me to agree to let him run, and I agreed. I don’t recall promising he would be elected, did I?”

Mi Lian laughed after hearing this.

“Shen Yuqiao, others may call you a refined gentleman, but I think you’re nothing but a despicable villain! My parents’ resources won’t be handed over to you so easily!”

Shen Yuqiao leisurely poured himself some tea.

When he had been on the call with Xu Qingyi, he had held the phone to his ear. Now, he set it aside.

He took a sip of tea.

“Miss Zhuang doesn’t understand business, so I’ll pretend I didn’t hear those impolite words.”

Mi Lian found it ridiculous. “Are you planning to openly seize my family’s resources?”

“Not satisfied with being a despicable villain, so now you want to be a business bandit?”

Shen Yuqiao seemed thoughtful. “I quite like that label.”

In the past, the business world had labeled him as promising, young and accomplished, refined and proper, none of which were the real him.

Just as Mi Lian was about to curse at him, he suddenly brought up, “Were you the one who leaked those secretly taken photos of Xu Qingyi?”

Mi Lian’s alarm bells went off, but she kept her composure. “What are you talking about?”

“Stay away from her,” Shen Yuqiao said succinctly, his tone cold and flat.

Mi Lian frowned deeply.

Many unbelievable thoughts flashed through her mind.

“You know Xu Qingyi?”

“Then you must also know she’s with your brother, right?”

She had never heard of Shen Yuqiao having a girlfriend, so why was he protecting Xu Qingyi?

Mi Lian felt as if something was stuck in her throat. “Do you like Xu Qingyi? Knowing she’s your brother’s woman, could it be that you…”

“Miss Zhuang,” Shen Yuqiao interrupted her leisurely.

Mi Lian instinctively stopped and listened.

But Shen Yuqiao only said indifferently, “Delusion is a mental illness. People can be locked up for it.”

Mi Lian immediately understood the implication of his words.

If even a single word of what she said got out, it would be considered slander, and he would definitely make her life difficult.

Mi Lian smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. In fact, I think…”

“We could even cooperate. I want your brother, you want Xu Qingyi. Wouldn’t it be good if I helped you break them up?”

“I’ll say it again, don’t touch her.”

After leaving those words, Shen Yuqiao hung up directly.

…

Shen Yanzhou returned to Beijing on the same day as her. Xu Qingyi heard he had bought a high-speed rail ticket.

So, she deliberately bought a plane ticket just to avoid him.

After receiving Shen Yuqiao’s call, her rebelliousness had flared up so strongly that she didn’t want to see Shen Yanzhou at all over the next two days.

Just thinking about possibly going through something like last time again made her heart ache.

On the day of her return, Xu Qingyi had just boarded the plane and settled into her seat when Shen Yanzhou suddenly messaged her on WeChat: [Upgrade to business class?]

Confused, she pretended her phone was off due to takeoff and didn’t reply.

A short while later, a flight attendant came over and said someone wanted her seat, so they were upgrading her.

The flight attendant politely asked her to move to business class. When she didn’t move, the flight attendant continued to wait with a smile.

Xu Qingyi had no choice but to get up, take her phone and eye mask, and head over.

As she entered the business class cabin, the flight attendant closed the door behind her.

Shen Yanzhou was sitting by the window in business class. He opened the small partition and leaned out to wave her over. “Come in.”

She frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“A friend is a premium platinum member. He’s treating you to a business class seat.”

This was an international tourist flight, which Xu Qingyi had gritted her teeth to book just to avoid him. Needless to say, the first-class cabin was luxurious.

After Xu Qingyi entered, Shen Yanzhou closed the small door and casually pressed the “Do Not Disturb” button on the inner side of the seat.