Chapter 27: The Basement

"Do you know she’s sleeping with Xie Bo?"

Chi Xicheng carelessly dragged the secret she had guarded so carefully for so long out into the open.

Lin Yiwei felt as though a thread were tightened around her heart, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on her palms.

To her surprise, Chi Xiyu just laughed it off. "I thought you were going to say something important."

"You can still laugh?!"

Looking around at the guests, she leaned closer to Chi Xicheng and whispered, "I was the one who asked Weiwei to get close to Xie Bo to drive Ye Anning away from him, and Weiwei succeeded."

"That’s not it..." Chi Xicheng looked at his younger sister as if he were staring at an utter idiot. "I’m telling you, Xie Bo is really sleeping with her. I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Alright, alright, are you done? Go back to playing your games!" Chi Xiyu pushed him toward the house. "Stop spouting nonsense at my birthday party. If you keep this up, I’m going to get angry!"

"No, sis, don’t say I didn’t warn you. That woman is not simple!"

"I told you I was the one who sent Weiwei. Every move she made was reported to me, and she handles things much more elegantly than you do. You let people slip right under your nose, but if it weren't for Weiwei, I’d still be annoyed."

Chi Xicheng was speechless. "How did I end up with such a brainless sister?"

Xie Bo was so protective of her, yet Chi Xiyu still thought they were just putting on a show!

"Today is my birthday, Chi Xicheng. Do you have to make me miserable?" Chi Xiyu was starting to lose her temper. "You do this every year. What a buzzkill!"

Chi Xiyu didn't want too many people to know that the estrangement between Ye Anning and Xie Bo was caused by her meddling. It would make her seem petty and insecure.

"Fine, fine, I don’t care anymore!"

Getting sold out and then helping the seller count the money—how could he have such a thick-headed sister?

After Chi Xicheng left, Lin Yiwei’s clenched fists finally relaxed.

Chi Xiyu pulled Lin Yiwei over to the rose trellis, far away from the crowd, and whispered comfortingly, "My brother must have just seen you and Xie Bo together, that’s why he said that. Don’t mind him."

Lin Yiwei said obediently, "Xixi, if you’re uncomfortable, I can cut off all contact with him immediately."

Chi Xiyu was indifferent to this, shrugging. "Weiwei, do you know why Xie Bo is such a magnet for romance?"

"Because he’s good-looking?"

"Look at the boys in our circle—generations of genetic improvement, most aren't bad-looking, yet only Xie Bo attracts so much attention." Chi Xiyu said mysteriously, "I think this matter involves a bit of metaphysics."

Lin Yiwei had seen Chi Xiyu doing tarot readings before, with great solemnity and a full sense of ritual. She truly believed in metaphysics, including tarot and horoscopes. She even wore a pink peach-blossom crystal bracelet on her wrist.

"I knew a girl once who has since emigrated. She was thin, had long hair, and pale skin. She wasn't strikingly beautiful—definitely not a 'stunning beauty' at first glance—and her makeup skills were terrible. She dressed just like you, quite dowdy... but she was inexplicably attractive to men, incredibly so. When she walked down the street with another beautiful friend, men would ask *her* for her WeChat. Isn't that strange?"

"Do you think it's related to metaphysics?" Lin Yiwei asked, intrigued.

"Her mother was a mistress who climbed the social ladder and married a business partner of my father’s—I won't name which group's president it was." Chi Xiyu’s eyes held a touch of disdain. "In our circle, it takes skill to move up from being a mistress. Her mother had talent, and perhaps it's metaphysical, or perhaps it’s just something she picked up. I feel like she had a certain allure in her bones that showed in every gesture, yet she didn't try to seduce men on purpose. She just inexplicably attracted them."

"What does this have to do with Xie Bo?"

"Xie Bo’s mother..." Chi Xiyu leaned in and whispered to Lin Yiwei, "You must have heard, right? His mother was a prostitute in the red-light district, a top-tier one at that. He lived with his mother until he was ten, and only after she died of a venereal disease was he taken back by the Xie family."

"I heard Xu Qianxi mention it. Do you think Xie Bo’s romantic magnetism is related to his mother’s... profession?"

Chi Xiyu trusted Lin Yiwei completely by now and spoke without reservation. "Some people, even without trying to radiate charm, carry a certain 'dusty' aura. Perhaps there really is a metaphysical influence."

After saying this, she seemed to feel it was inappropriate and added, "I don't mean Xie Bo is as dissolute as his mother, that's not what I mean. Xie Bo was taken back to the Xie family early on; he grew up there and received the best education. He’s not like his mother at all."

Lin Yiwei could tell that was exactly what Chi Xiyu meant, and the added explanation felt entirely redundant.

"If you see through him so clearly, why do you still like him?" Lin Yiwei asked. "You should rationally reject such a 'fox-spirit' of a man."

"Pah, pah, pah, Xie Bo is not a fox-spirit."

Lin Yiwei never believed in metaphysics, but the fact that Xie Bo was handsome... was undeniable.

"That's why, since Xie Bo has that constitution and the added boost of metaphysics, he’ll always have women throwing themselves at him. I couldn't be angry even if I wanted to." Chi Xiyu consoled herself. "Besides, Xie Bo doesn't love anyone; he only loves himself. In junior high, a girl really liked him. It was raining that day, and she ran over to bring him an umbrella while he was studying in the library. She only brought one, thinking they would have a romantic walk back to the school building together. To her surprise, he took the umbrella, said it was too small and would get his clothes wet, said 'thanks,' and walked off alone, leaving her standing at the library entrance in the cold wind for half an hour."

"What a jerk." Lin Yiwei couldn't help but curse.

If someone did that to her, she would be so angry she’d smash his head in with that umbrella.

"He is a jerk." Although Chi Xiyu cursed him, there was a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "Xie Bo doesn't love anyone but himself. He accepts everything—people being nice to him, chasing him, giving him gifts—but he never gives a shred of genuine heart in return. Once you realize that, you stop asking for trouble."

"True." Lin Yiwei seized the opportunity to flatter her. "Xixi, you are much more clear-headed than those other girls."

At that moment, the concierge signaled for Chi Xiyu to blow out the candles and cut the cake.

Chi Xiyu returned to her room to change into an even more beautiful and eye-catching dress. Surrounded by family and friends, she stood before the meticulously decorated cream cake like a crowned princess.

Camera flashes went off. Lin Yiwei turned her head to look at the three-story courtyard villa.

From a distance, the Chinese-style courtyard villa, nestled among lush greenery and deep woods, looked like a cage wrapped layer upon layer in vines.

...

At the Xie Group board meeting, Xie Bo was dressed in a suit and tie, wearing those thin, rimless moonlight-silver glasses, sitting beside his father.

Xie Sizhuo, a titan of the business world in Qinggang City, had used iron-fisted tactics to grow the Xie Group into a leading enterprise, earning himself a spot on the Forbes billionaire list. But Xie Sizhuo didn't just have one son.

At Xie Sizhuo’s level, there was no shortage of women around, and naturally, there were many choices for an heir.

Among all his sons, Xie Bo was the most inconspicuous.

He didn't even get the "Jia" generation name his brothers had; he was given only the single name "Bo," which his mother had chosen. Even after being brought back to the Xie family, the name was never changed.

In the past, Xie Sizhuo hadn't paid much attention to this third son. It was only as Xie Bo grew older and began to show his cleverness and sharp wit—straight A’s, countless competition awards—that he stood out. His business sense was inherited directly from Xie Sizhuo, possessing sharp strategic investment vision and a ruthlessness that didn't lose to his elders.

Xie Sizhuo tried giving him a small amount of capital to see what he could do. To his surprise, the boy made it flourish. The fresh food chain he started, Yuemei Fresh, opened many branches in Qinggang City with creative business models and was currently profitable with a bright future.

Consequently, Xie Sizhuo began bringing Xie Bo to board meetings more often.

Tabloid media were all gossiping that the Xie Group would likely be inherited by this third son in the future. Even with his poor birth, no one dared to underestimate him.

During a break, Xie Bo scrolled through Chi Xiyu’s social media and saw the teaser vlog for her birthday party.

Just as Xie Bo’s finger was about to swipe away, a fleeting, light figure appeared in the auto-playing video.

Xie Bo froze the playback, zoomed in, and recognized Lin Yiwei’s slender back.

He had sent her a message that morning asking what she was doing, but she hadn't replied.

She had actually run off to Chi Xiyu’s birthday party. He wondered how many cold stares she would receive.

That didn't matter, though.

...

Just thinking about Chi Xicheng made Xie Bo restless.

Chi Xicheng had tried to violate her multiple times and was still obsessed with her. Yet she dared to go right in front of him, and even dared to...

Was she truly unafraid, or did she simply not care?

Piping hot black Americano flowed from the coffee machine, and the high temperature scalded his finger, feeling like a sharp thorn drilling into his heart.

Xie Sizhuo walked into the breakroom and instructed Xie Bo, "Speak a few words on my behalf at the board meeting later. Use your own judgment. Whether Yuemei Fresh can take root in first-tier cities depends on whether you can convince them this time."

With that, he had his assistant bring the documents to Xie Bo. "I won't interfere; everything is in your hands."

Xie Bo replied obediently, "Don't worry."

He took the documents to his office to prepare, his heart in turmoil.

His mind was filled with the whip marks on her back...

And she still dared to...

The back of Xie Bo’s hand tightened until his knuckles turned white.

He couldn't endure it for another second; he stood up and strode out the door.

However, looking at the busy hallways of the Xie Group...

How many years of painstaking planning had it taken to earn the right to stand here today, to stand beside Xie Sizhuo?

No one could stop him.

...

Chi Xiyu was busy fussing over her three-tiered birthday cake and filming her beautiful vlog.

Lin Yiwei took a cocktail from a waiter’s tray and wandered off, acting nonchalant as she approached the villa.

The entryway had a Chinese-style bamboo screen, elegant and hazy, and the living and dining areas featured floating ceilings with surrounding light strips.

Groups of people were sitting in the living room chatting. Lin Yiwei didn't stand out. She carefully observed the structure of the villa and every room open for viewing.

The first and second floors housed the guest reception halls, study, home theater, and gym. The third floor belonged to private bedrooms and was not open to visitors.

Also not open to visitors... was the sunken basement.

Holding her glass, Lin Yiwei stood at the entrance of the spiral staircase leading to the basement, pretending to be lost in thought while quietly observing.

She actually noticed something unusual: a Filipina maid walked down the stairs with a tray.

She leaned over to look down the spiral staircase and saw the maid standing in front of the basement door, entering a passcode. After she went in, the door closed.

Lin Yiwei didn't dare linger at the stairs. She wandered off with her glass to the window, but her eyes remained locked on the staircase.

Half an hour later, the maid came out with the tray.

Lin Yiwei’s brain was racing. She imagined countless possibilities, even suspecting that Lin Xie was being held prisoner by the Chi family and the maid had just delivered his meal!

Lin Yiwei headed toward the spiral staircase. The area below was off-limits, but she couldn't care less.

This was a golden opportunity; if she missed it, she didn't know if she’d ever get another chance.

She walked down the stairs step by step until she reached the tightly shut keypad-locked door. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might jump out of her chest.

Lin Xie... was he inside?!

Suddenly, someone grabbed her collar and yanked hard, forcing Lin Yiwei to lean backward.

She looked up and saw Chi Xicheng’s demonic face.

His left eyebrow, which was scarred and broken, tilted in front of her. His eyes were filled with a malicious grin as he patted Lin Yiwei’s face—

"I said sooner or later you’d fall into my hands, and look, the opportunity is here, isn't it?" Chi Xicheng gripped her collar and dragged her up the stairs. "Since you delivered yourself to my doorstep, I won't be polite!"

"Chi Xicheng, don't you dare!" Lin Yiwei grabbed the stair railing. "The house is full of guests; you wouldn't dare do anything to me."

"Get this straight: this is my house. What wouldn't I dare to do?"

Through the European-style ornate iron railings of the spiral staircase, Lin Yiwei looked at the keypad door just inches away and suddenly had a plan.

"Young Master Chi, at least find a safe place. I don't want Xixi to know about us; she would definitely blame me."

Chi Xicheng’s tone softened as he heard her give in. "What do you mean?"

"Down there." Lin Yiwei gestured with her eyes toward the bottom of the stairs. "In that room, there definitely won't be anyone; we won't be discovered."

"No way. That’s my sister’s art studio. Nobody is allowed in there."

Hearing the words "art studio," Lin Yiwei’s heart skipped a beat.

"Why can't anyone go in the art studio?"

"How should I know? My dad doesn't let anyone in, says she doesn't like to be disturbed while painting. I have no interest in going in there anyway."

Lin Yiwei felt her temples throbbing.

"An art studio... isn't that just perfect?" Lin Yiwei hooked her finger against the back of Chi Xicheng’s hand and flashed a bewitching, sultry smile. "Isn't it exciting, Young Master Chi?"

"Is this how you seduced Xie Bo?"

"If that’s what you want to believe, then sure."

Chi Xicheng fell for it, his desire piqued. He dragged Lin Yiwei down the spiral staircase to the keypad door.

"My dad and sister act like lunatics whenever they go down there." Chi Xicheng lit up the touch screen. "They never gave me the code, but I’ve seen the maid input it a few times. No secret in this house can be hidden from me."

Sure enough, after two tries, the door opened.

"Young Master Chi, you’re so smart!"

"My sister is crazy, keeping her art studio so mysterious, saying she’s afraid of being disturbed. She paints such trash..."

Lin Yiwei followed Chi Xicheng into the studio.

The room was about the size of a classroom and was filled with many easels, each holding unfinished paintings.

If Chi Xicheng hadn't been standing right beside her, she would have shouted Lin Xie’s name.

But the studio was empty. Not a soul.

Wasn't he here?

Chi Xicheng grabbed her collar from behind, swept the paint boxes off the table, and pressed her down onto the desk.

The disappointment in Lin Yiwei’s heart was like a black hole, threatening to swallow her whole.

It wasn't until Chi Xicheng lifted her skirt that she snapped back to reality, realizing the immediate danger.

Without another word, the girl grabbed the cocktail glass from the desk and threw it at a canvas, while simultaneously flicking the lighter she had been holding in her palm and tossing it toward the painting.

The sequence of movements was fluid, as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times.

The lighter ignited the canvas, and the fire spread like a virus.

"Damn it!!!" Chi Xicheng was stunned by her sudden action. "What are you doing?!"

The girl’s eyes turned icy cold.

She had been holding that glass full of alcohol the whole time, and the lighter was prepared in advance.

Lin Yiwei would never fall in the same place twice.

The canvas burned fiercely, and the smoke instantly triggered the ceiling alarm, which let out a shrill, blaring fire alarm siren.

However, Lin Yiwei noticed that beneath the burning canvas, there was a massive painting of a young girl lying by a riverbank.

Sunlight dappled her body, the water shimmering; the stream flowed over her fair, long legs, her clothes dampened, and her long hair drifted in the river like swaying green water grass.

At the girl’s half-closed neckline, a crucifix hung.

Lin Yiwei clutched her chest, feeling the golden crucifix she had worn since birth.

This painting was also the work of Lin Xie!

The next second, the room’s automatic fire sprinkler system activated, spraying water like a shower head, quickly bringing the fire under control.

Chi Xicheng and Lin Yiwei were soaked to the bone.

The alarm system caused panic, and people in the house began pouring outside. Security personnel with fire extinguishers hurried down the spiral staircase and found a disheveled Lin Yiwei and Chi Xicheng in the studio.

Chi Xiyu, confused, also rushed into the art studio in a panic.

She knew exactly what kind of scum Chi Xicheng was. Seeing Lin Yiwei shivering beside him, she instantly understood everything.

She screamed hysterically at Chi Xicheng—

"Chi Xicheng, you idiot! What are you doing?! You ruined my birthday party! You ruined my painting! This was the painting I was going to enter in the competition!"

The painting had been half-burned, the edges of the canvas scorched black, and the paint was washed into a mess by the high-pressure sprinklers.

Chi Xicheng had nothing to say; he just glared viciously at Lin Yiwei and