Reborn to Redeem: Their Abusive Love
Chapter 36: Adding fuel to the flames

Chapter 36: Adding fuel to the flames

He didn’t say anything else, but he still looked pale and downcast, occasionally glancing at his own hands and body. Xu Si saw his despondency and thought it was the trouble of growing up. It’s okay. Growth is like that. She can give him time to grow slowly.

「Before March arrived.」

The precipitation increased. The entire Hong Kong Island was in the midst of wind and rain. The streets’ drainage systems malfunctioned, causing water to congest to a high level.

Merchants in the old Xu Family mall were injured by falling building materials due to their own cost-cutting and improper construction. They bled profusely on the ground. After a hospital examination, it was determined they only had superficial wounds.

The mall’s management was clever, representing the mall by sending condolences and gifts.

However, someone had greased the palms of the media, which sensationalized the incident. Many people were superstitious that year, so the rumor that someone had died in the Xu Family’s mall quickly drew widespread public attention.

Despite the mall issuing a notice and the company immediately sending a lawyer’s letter to warn the press, their reputation still took a hit. Public opinion continued to ferment.

The incident was neither big nor small. It was just disgusting.

When Anshi mentioned it, he pushed his glasses up heavily, his tone somber.

"Miss, I’ve asked reporters. It was done by the young master of the Xie Family. He also opened a mall this year, right opposite us. He copied our model completely, even poaching our veteran employees. Speaking of which, he is your classmate, named Xie Ming. If this continues, our mall losing customers will be a small matter. But with endless troubles, no one will want to come in, and it’s the reputation of the brands that will suffer."

Xu Si sat on the second-floor terrace, painting a bustling building. Holding her paintbrush, she dabbed a touch of red paint and applied it to the building’s main entrance, contemplating each stroke carefully.

Hearing that name, Xu Si furrowed her brows. She had too many classmates, each one the son or heir of some family, but she had no particular recollection of this Xie Ming.

To quickly jog her memory, she returned to the study and made a call to Wen Jiaojiao.

Wen Jiaojiao sounded listless over the phone. "Oh, him? Do you remember the dork in our class, the one obsessed with cleanliness? That’s him. My mother took me to the Xie Family to discuss business recently, and I saw him there. He’s changed a lot, probably because trade is so lucrative. He’s been dealing with many foreign businesses. I don’t know what got into him, but now he talks and acts like a gangster. He loves nightclubs and chasing beautiful women—a complete rich playboy. Many people don’t want to offend him. Why the sudden interest?"

Xu Si chuckled lightly and summarized, "He’s giving me trouble. It’s quite a headache."

"That fierce? He dares to trouble you?" Wen Jiaojiao’s voice rose sharply, tinged with amusement. "Wait for me. I’ll find out where he’s been hanging out recently."

This was the kind of understanding forged through many shared experiences. Without Xu Si having to say anything, Wen Jiaojiao knew what Xu Si wanted to do and strongly supported her decision.

A few minutes later, she read an address to Xu Si.

Xu Si copied the address onto a note, her delicate handwriting reading:

——Miyuan Nightclub.

She rested her chin on her hand, holding the phone with a smile. "Thanks, Jiaojiao."

Wen Jiaojiao was forthright. "Don’t thank me. The day after tomorrow is my grandpa’s birthday. I’m abroad right now and can’t make it. Can you go for me?"

Many people knew of their good relationship. However, few would have expected it to be so good that one could attend an elder’s birthday celebration on the other’s behalf.

Xu Si laughed. "Alright, I got it. I’ll bring a gift Grandpa likes. You can relax."

After hanging up, Xu Si handed the note to Anshi and said with a smirk, "Go on, then. These scions of powerful families don’t enjoy peaceful times, so let’s light a fire for them and stir things up—the more chaos, the better."

Anshi understood. He tucked the note into his pocket and hurried out the door.

「The next evening.」

At Miyuan Bar, an ostentatious guest was doused in chicken blood. The blood had already congealed, and it splattered over his body like pieces of tofu. The foul stench was enough to make people retch, and many covered their mouths, backing away.

The ground in front of the new mall opposite Chengpin Mall was also splashed with chicken blood.

Furious, the young master of the Xie Family charged out to a secluded stretch of road. He disgustedly wiped the chicken blood off his body, clenching his teeth and muttering Xu Si’s name as if he wanted to devour her alive.

Xu Si didn’t care at all about his anger.

There was an essential difference between the powerful families. The Xu Family, involved in real estate and industry, had a deeper foundation than the Xie Family, which was engaged in trade.

There was also a difference among the scions of these families. Xu Si was now in control of her family’s assets, while Xie Ming was merely one of those competing for his.

It was her low profile over the past two years that had emboldened such reckless thoughts in others. He didn’t dare confront me outright, but I am bold enough, and I take things to the extreme. In terms of bringing bad luck, this kind of bloody incident is surely more ominous than anything that happened at Chengpin Mall. Consider it my gift to him.

Xu Si selected some birthday gifts for Wen Jiaojiao’s maternal grandfather: calligraphy, paintings, and decorative pieces. These were all from her father’s former collection and were enough to express sincere goodwill.

She disliked attending these banquets. However, in her previous life, she had been forced to socialize and had gradually become accustomed to these environments, which were always filled with the exchange of mutual benefits.

She hadn’t planned to bring Pei Zhen along, instinctively feeling that such places were unsuitable for him. I want to keep such a beautiful young boy hidden for a couple more years.

After getting dressed, Xu Si came downstairs. The main living room light was on. The night outside was like thick, undiluted ink. The fireplace hadn’t been used in a long time; instead, a floor lamp illuminated one corner, casting a soft and quiet glow.

Pei Zhen sat on the sofa, flipping through a German book. The archaic, dense text was lightly reflected in his gray eyes. Though it was clearly dull, he read with serious attention.

The palace in dark hues, thick vines on the enameled window sills, and the unbelievably handsome boy. Wonderful and eerie, like a comforting dream after being startled awake on a stormy, thundering night.

For a moment, Xu Si couldn’t bring herself to interrupt, quietly observing this picturesque scene.

Only when a car horn sounded outside did the young man lift his gaze from the book. His eyes landed on Xu Si instantly. Noticing her rather formal makeup and attire, his gray eyes were clear as he asked, "Auntie, are you going out?"

She smiled and tidied her loose hair. "Yes, I’m off to Sister Jiaojiao’s maternal grandfather’s birthday banquet. I’ll be back soon. If you find eating alone boring, you can ask Butler Ge to take you around. See which restaurants have good food; you can eat whatever you fancy."

Pei Zhen replied, "Don’t worry about me, Auntie. But Auntie, will you be drinking?"

Xu Si thought for a moment. "I’ll drink a little, I suppose."

Pei Zhen set down the German book and glanced at the watch on his wrist. He then said gently, "In that case, when it’s over, can Butler Ge and I come to pick you up, Auntie?"