The Beautiful Wife I Picked Up Is A Little Mute - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: The Money Is Gone

Perhaps because he was certain Xie Mo would return, Ji Hanyue did not restrict his freedom of movement. Having had two prior experiences going out, Xie Mo was now able to navigate his way out of this high-end villa district with ease.

After a night of wind and snow, the ground was covered in a thick white blanket. Every step he took produced a crisp, crunching sound. Even the roadside hedges were draped in white frost; the original greenery had almost entirely vanished.

Xie Mo stood by the road, hesitating, calculating whether he should make a trip back home. He wondered if the money he had hidden behind the computer was still there. Just then, someone tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

He turned around and found it was the Omega from last night. Song Xia, if he recalled correctly. Song Xia had seemed like he wanted to talk to him several times, but Ji Hanyue had interrupted every single time. Now was their only chance to be alone.

Xie Mo came to a halt, preparing to pull out his phone to type. Song Xia spoke first. “Are you… unable to speak?”

I thought it was obvious, Xie Mo thought. He nodded honestly and typed: “Is there something you need?”

Song Xia opened his mouth, then swallowed his words. He was wearing an ordinary coat the butler had found for him—it was worlds apart from the one Xie Mo was wearing. The Omega before him radiated an aura of pure innocence, like clear water scooped from a frozen lake—transparent and free of impurities. Most of his face was buried in a soft scarf, making his palm-sized face look even more delicate.

But he’s a mute, Song Xia couldn’t help but think. How could a wealthy Alpha choose a mute as a partner? Unless he has some extraordinary talent.

Xie Mo waited for a long time. Seeing that Song Xia didn’t speak again, he assumed the other just wanted to say a simple hello. He waved at him and turned to leave. But as he took a step, the person behind him called out urgently.

“Um…” Song Xia’s voice carried obvious embarrassment as he bit his lip. “How exactly did you… seduce Young Master Ji?” He wanted to learn.

Xie Mo froze. He hadn’t “seduced” anyone. He had just gone to pick up a bottle and was mysteriously taken away by Ji Hanyue. And it wasn’t even something he wanted. A guess surfaced in Xie Mo’s mind that even he wasn’t sure of, but seeing Song Xia’s earnest face, he decided to pass on his “method.”

Song Xia watched as Xie Mo lowered his head to type and edit. A few minutes later, the screen was held before his eyes. It was just one line: “Go to A University to pick up bottles.”

Song Xia stared at the words, doubting his own eyesight. But Xie Mo’s gaze was serious; he didn’t look like he was joking at all. Xie Mo had urgent business to attend to, so he quickly typed another line: “I wish you success in seducing Ji Hanyue.”

In Xie Mo’s impression, Ji Hanyue was very rich. Keeping dozens of Omegas should be more than enough for him. Seeing Xie Mo turn around, tuck his phone away, and walk briskly in the opposite direction, Song Xia’s expression became complicated. Picking up bottles? It seems the tastes of wealthy young masters are truly unique.

The roar of an engine sounded behind him. Song Xia turned to look. Fang Qiran rolled down the car window, a distant smile on his lips as he asked bluntly, “Are you the one Ji Hanyue rescued from the casino last night?”

The Spirit of Ecstasy emblem on the Rolls-Royce shimmered in the sun, and the aura of the person inside was clearly different from average people. Song Xia’s eyes flickered as he nodded. “That’s right.”

Fang Qiran’s eyes darkened. His phone was still on the chat interface with Nie Xi. Nie Xi didn’t have much guard against Fang Qiran; they were friends, so he said whatever was on his mind. Through subtle probing, Fang Qiran had extracted key information: Ji Hanyue suddenly had a favored Omega by his side, one he had gone as far as storming a casino overnight to rescue.

He wordlessly sized Song Xia up from top to bottom, then crooked a finger, saying gently, “Ji Hanyue sent me to pick you up. Get in.”

Perhaps having suffered the humiliation of being passed around in the underground casino, Song Xia was desperate to catch any lifeline. Without thinking much, he eagerly opened the door and sat inside.

…

Returning to that familiar concrete road gave Xie Mo the illusion of a lifetime passed, even though he had only been gone for half a month. Walking down the street, he felt an unwarranted nervousness, terrified of meeting suspicious people again. The last encounter was still vivid in his mind. Just look for it and leave immediately. Don’t stay, he told himself, clenching his fists in his pockets for courage.

The front door lay quietly on the ground—tilted panels and a shattered frame. To an outsider, it might look like a war movie set. The interior was a mess, and it would be a lie to say he wasn’t heartbroken. He had lived here for a long time; every corner held memories, and now it was ruined beyond recognition.

Xie Mo sniffled and navigated through the overturned chairs and scattered debris, heading straight for the bedroom. The computer was leaning crookedly on the desk, its screen shattered into a spiderweb pattern. It had clearly been smashed by a fist. Without the computer to hide it, the crack in the wall was fully exposed.

The money was gone.

Xie Mo felt his spirit leave him. He should have expected this. He scanned the room; it was no longer safe, and the door was gone. Tang Yingrui hadn’t seemed to return either. It seemed true, as Ji Hanyue said, that Tang Yingrui had abandoned him to live in another city.

Moving slowly, Xie Mo found a nylon bag and packed a few clean clothes from the closet. Just then, his phone rang. It was a video call. It was the first time anyone had ever video-called him. Xie Mo hurriedly wiped his hands clean and pressed answer.

The screen lit up, and Ji Hanyue’s handsome face filled the view. He was casually leaning his phone against the back of a chair, propping up his head as he watched the person on the screen. Their eyes met for only a second before the Alpha noticed something was off.

Ji Hanyue frowned. “Where did you run off to?” Before Xie Mo could respond, he added, “Mouth the words, I can understand you.”

Every time he called Xie Mo, it felt like he was talking to himself. He decided to switch to video so he could at least see a living face; it made his mood better. The camera shook as Xie Mo clumsily fumbled with the phone, trying to flip the camera to show Ji Hanyue his surroundings. But having only recently started using a smartphone, he still didn’t understand most functions. Finally, he gave up.

Dejected, Xie Mo leaned into the screen. His rosy lips moved slowly, making sure every word’s shape was clear and deliberate: “I came home to get the money I saved, but it’s gone.” His expression was a bit piteous.

“I’m not short on money for you. Don’t you have 100,000 in your account? Tell me when you’ve spent it, and I’ll send more.” The young master’s wealth was on full display. Now that Xie Mo was with him, he wouldn’t let him lack for anything. Is it worth running around for such a small amount?

“It’s not the same,” Xie Mo shook his head stubbornly. That was money he had worked hard for by picking up bottles; it was different from money someone just handed over.

Ji Hanyue suddenly cleared his throat awkwardly. “That money is with me.” Meeting Xie Mo’s bewildered look, he added with rare patience, “When I went to your house to look for you, I happened to catch a thief with a few thousand dollars on him. I just took it back for you.”

Warmth instantly flooded Xie Mo’s eyes. His lips moved to say a solemn: “Thank you.”

For some reason, Ji Hanyue didn’t like Xie Mo’s overly formal and polite behavior. It felt distant, like an official response. “The mute talks too much,” Ji Hanyue snapped irritably.

He had a late class tonight. He smoothed back his hair and caught sight of a couple whispering and laughing in the tiered seats to his right. Turning back, he saw his friend slumped on the table, a brand-new book sitting above his head, sleeping like the dead. It seemed Ren Wen’s favorite thing to do when bored was sleep.

On the screen, Xie Mo was about to hang up. On a whim, Ji Hanyue commanded, “Come to A University now. Call me when you get to the gate. I’ll pick you up.”

Xie Mo was in a bind; he was still lugging around the dusty nylon bag full of clothes. “You don’t want to?” When no answer came, Ji Hanyue’s tone turned cold. “Think walking is too much trouble? I’ll send someone to pick you up. Stay where you are.”

…

Xie Mo actually didn’t want to go. The memory of being taken to a dark room by Ji Hanyue last time was still vivid. He hadn’t been able to break free, and his gland had been bitten. But currently, he had no choice but to agree.

The person who came to pick him up was Ji Hanyue’s personal assistant. A man who didn’t have a very good impression in Xie Mo’s heart. Xia Yi, on the other hand, was dedicated and seemed to have completely forgotten the “playing the lute to a cow” incident from before. He acted as if nothing had happened, pulling the car door open with a standard smile.

When Xie Mo hesitated, Xia Yi simply lifted him in like a little chick and closed the door. Xie Mo sat awkwardly in the car, clutching the nylon bag, his fingers unconsciously picking at the texture of the bag’s opening. The atmosphere was tight with nervous tension.

Xia Yi searched his brain for a topic, jumping from the weather to campus anecdotes, but the backseat remained terrifyingly quiet. Then he remembered Xie Mo couldn’t speak. The atmosphere became even more awkward.