Chapter 14: The High-Stakes Game

Half an hour later, Xie Bo barged into Room 307 of the Baiyin Club.

He came with hardly anyone, only accompanied by Li Du.

In stark contrast to his lone presence was Chi Xicheng, surrounded by a group of sharply dressed bodyguards in the private room, projecting an imposing aura.

Lin Yiwei was being dragged by her hair, forced to kneel on the carpet beside the sofa. Her hair was disheveled, and her slender, fair arms bore bright red marks from being tightly gripped.

The muscles at the corner of Xie Bo’s eyes twitched slightly.

Chi Xicheng sat upright on the leather sofa, grinning mockingly at Xie Bo. “No way, Xie Bo, you really look down on me so much that you only brought Li Du with you?”

Xie Bo calmly took a seat on the black leather sofa directly opposite him. Behind his rimless glasses, his dark eyes were calm and unreadable, embodying the refined image of a gentleman scion.

“That’s enough.”

He was confident and composed; bringing only one person was already giving Chi Xicheng enough face.

Chi Xicheng hated this calm, unruffled demeanor the most. It was infuriating just to look at.

Who wasn’t a young master these days? Why was Xie Bo so confident, as if he ruled all of Qinggang City with a single hand?

Just a bastard son—what was he so arrogant about?

He reached out and grabbed Lin Yiwei by the neck, squeezing so hard she nearly couldn’t breathe, her cheeks flushed deep red.

Xie Bo’s voice was low and stern: “Chi Xicheng, it’s really despicable to lay hands on a woman.”

“So you do care about something after all!” Chi Xicheng sneered, pulling Lin Yiwei’s hair to bring her closer. “So Xie Bo actually has someone he cares about. Such a ruthless man… I’m curious, how skilled are you to have captivated him?”

Lin Yiwei coughed, strands of hair falling over her face as she looked at Xie Bo.

His rimless silver glasses reflected a cold light, his deep black eyes fixed on her, emotionless.

Chi Xicheng pinched Lin Yiwei’s face, forcing her to look at him, but she stubbornly kept her gaze on Xie Bo.

“Xie Bo, I’m still giving you face. I left her alive, waiting for you to come rescue her.”

“If you dare.”

Even though he was unconscious, and the accident was Chi Xicheng’s doing...

Any accident in a racing crash could be plausibly denied or explained away.

As long as it wasn’t admitted, it wouldn’t openly offend the Xie family.

If Chi Xicheng really harmed Xie Bo’s people and enraged him, their personal grudge would be small. But if it caused a rift between the Chi and Xie families, which the hated paparazzi got wind of, damaging their business...

Then it would be a big problem.

That was why Xie Bo dared to come alone.

Chi Xicheng grabbed Lin Yiwei’s collar and tore it open with a sharp tug.

The girl’s eyes were filled with humiliation, but she did not cry, only covering herself with her hands.

No matter how much Chi Xicheng bullied her, she refused to cry.

Tears were not for enemies—they were for those closest and dearest.

“Don’t be fooled by how meek she looks. She’s got a stubborn streak! No matter how I bully her, she won’t cry,” Chi Xicheng sneered, “She’s a spiteful little bitch.”

Xie Bo’s gaze turned icy as he said, “Chi Xicheng, try touching her again, just try.”

Chi Xicheng knew Xie Bo’s patience was at its limit. Sure enough, he stopped tearing at Lin Yiwei’s clothes and loosened his grip, patting her cheek.

“This face of yours, it’s no wonder even our experienced Xie young master fell for you. Truly a femme fatale.”

---

Lin Yiwei struggled fiercely and spat at him. Enraged, Chi Xicheng raised his hand to slap her, but Xie Bo’s deep voice cut through the air—

“Chi Xicheng!”

“She knows nothing about the rules of this circle,” Xie Bo said, clenching his fists until the veins on his hands bulged and the blood vessels at his temples throbbed. “She’s my person. I’ll discipline her myself. You have no right to lay a hand on her.”

Chi Xicheng smiled. “I can return her to you, Xie young master, but on one condition: I want your DS Racing Club.”

Xie Bo refused without hesitation. “Impossible.”

“Listen to this,” Chi Xicheng grinned, whispering to Lin Yiwei, “In his eyes, you’re nothing. At least I’m willing to offer three percent of my shares to get you back. Now who do you think cares more for you?”

Lin Yiwei shot him a fierce glare.

Xie Bo suddenly broke into a cold smile. “No way, Chi Xicheng, you don’t think I came here to negotiate with you, do you?”

“Xie Bo, why so arrogant? You’re on my turf now, surrounded by my men,” Chi Xicheng said, pushing Lin Yiwei away and sitting leisurely on the sofa. “Forget it, I’m not that interested in your racing club anyway. How about this—Xie Bo, politely pour me a cup of tea, and I’ll return her to you.”

Lin Yiwei looked at Xie Bo.

A faint smile curved at the corner of his eyes, but his black eyes were filled with cold menace.

Her heart clenched, afraid he would refuse, because this was a humiliation even worse than a direct exchange of interests.

Yet Xie Bo stood, walked over to Chi Xicheng, and with elegant hands lifted the teapot, slowly pouring a steaming cup of Pu’er tea.

“Please enjoy, Chi.”

Chi Xicheng laughed triumphantly, about to gloat, when suddenly the hot tea was ruthlessly thrown in his face.

He screamed, instinctively bending over and shivering.

Xie Bo seized the moment, grabbed Lin Yiwei’s hand, and pulled her behind him.

Several bodyguards immediately surrounded Xie Bo as he suddenly struck.

Li Du stepped forward, blocking Xie Bo’s front, smiling coldly. “Chi, many people saw us come into your room. If even a single hair on Xie’s head is harmed today, you won’t have a good day.”

Chi Xicheng held his scalded face, nostrils flaring in rage.

But he dare not act against Xie Bo openly. His face darkened as he waved his hand to dismiss the bodyguards.

Xie Bo took off his racing jacket and draped it over Lin Yiwei, wrapping her tightly.

The clothing absorbed his warmth and scent, bringing comfort.

Xie Bo handed her over to Li Du, who gently guided her to sit on the sofa and comforted her softly, “It’s alright now, Miss Lin. With Master Bo here, no one dares to bully you.”

Lin Yiwei trembled, still shaken and uneasy.

Chi Xicheng wiped the tea from his face with a tissue. “Too much, Xie Bo, too much. You give me nothing and won’t bow down, yet you want to take her from me? What kind of logic is that?”

“This is my logic,” Xie Bo sneered, handing over his phone. “Also, I came prepared with my own sincerity. Take a good look, Chi.”

Chi Xicheng suspiciously took the phone and opened a video—footage from one of his recent parties.

The scenes were chaotic and disgraceful.

At every one of these “high-end gatherings,” all phones were supposed to be confiscated, yet somehow there was a leak.

“Where did you get this?” Chi Xicheng’s face changed drastically. “You son of a bitch, Xie Bo, you dare to undermine me!”

Xie Bo sat back down leisurely, tidying Lin Yiwei’s tangled hair with the grace of dressing a doll.

“Chi Xicheng, I came here with methods and trump cards. I told you long ago not to make an enemy of me.”

---

If this video went public, it would cause an uproar, severely damaging the reputation of both the Chi family’s son and the Chi Group.

His father would beat him to death.

No exaggeration—he really would.

Chi Xicheng exploded in fury, suddenly standing and smashing a beer bottle, holding the sharp end to Xie Bo’s face.

Lin Yiwei urgently grabbed his clothes.

Xie Bo gave her a reassuring look, then turned to Chi Xicheng.

“If you have the guts, try touching me.”

In the moment of Chi Xicheng’s hesitation, Xie Bo swiftly snatched the beer bottle from his hand and struck hard on his head.

Blood immediately trickled down his forehead.

Xie Bo crouched calmly, slapped Chi Xicheng’s face, and wiped the blood from him.

“See, the only difference between you and me is that when you hesitate to strike, I have no such restraint.”

He tossed the bottle aside and reclaimed his phone. “I’m keeping the footage for now. If you behave yourself, maybe I’ll consider deleting it.”

“And…” He glanced at Lin Yiwei, “I don’t want your sister to know about her.”

With that, he signaled Li Du.

Li Du quickly helped Lin Yiwei up, following behind Xie Bo as the three left the Baiyin Club’s private room.

Waiting for the elevator, Lin Yiwei finally lost control; her legs trembled weakly, almost unable to stand, and she collapsed onto the floor.

She was terrified.

“Master Bo, she can’t go on like this,” Li Du said hesitantly. “Should we call a doctor?”

Xie Bo glanced back and saw her trembling violently, unable to cry, her face pale as death.

“Scared?” He approached her, looking down.

Lin Yiwei clutched her chest tightly, holding herself close.

After choking a few times, she finally sobbed.

She was so afraid…

Xie Bo had wanted to tease her for being scared despite insisting she didn’t need his protection, but seeing her so panicked, he said nothing.

He crouched down and lifted the girl into his arms.

Lin Yiwei instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

It calmed her somewhat.

Li Du pressed the elevator button.

Outside the Baiyin Club, the autumn wind was biting cold, chilling to the bone.

Xie Bo placed Lin Yiwei into the back seat of a Rolls-Royce Phantom and got in himself.

“Back to school, Master Bo?” Li Du took the driver’s seat.

As soon as Xie Bo sat down, Lin Yiwei leaned over and hugged him like a cat snuggling its owner.

At moments like this, she knew she had to behave.

He gently stroked her smooth hair and said—

“Go to the Lamont Apartments.”