Chapter 137 We Can't Let Him Go

The embrace felt like it was trying to meld her into his very bones, leaving no room for anything else.

Qiao Wanyin leaned against him, listening to his still unsteady heartbeat.

She closed her eyes, but her mind was in turmoil.

She couldn't bear to see Zishu in danger, but she also couldn't hurt Li'an's feelings.

what to do?

She asked herself the same question over and over again, but had no answer.

Fu Li'an finally fell into a deep sleep, but a faint crease remained between his brows.

Qiao Wanyin gently turned over and, by the moonlight, quietly gazed at his cold and handsome profile.

She reached out and stroked his brow, as if trying to erase the trace of worry.

She leaned down and placed a light kiss on his forehead.

Then, she silently said, "I'm sorry."

The next morning.

She stood in front of the ornate iron gate, her finger hovering over the doorbell for a moment before finally pressing it.

A moment later, a young maid opened the door.

Who are you looking for?

"Find Fang Xiaolin."

Qiao Wanyin's voice was not loud, but it was clear and strong.

"Tell him that Qiao Wanyin has arrived."

The maid looked her up and down a few times, her eyes revealing a hint of disdain.

Before long, he led her into the living room.

"Ah Qing? That's rare indeed."

Fang Xiaolin, wearing a silk bathrobe, slowly walked down the stairs.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes slightly narrowed behind the lenses, and a slight smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"I know you came here because of Zishu, right?"

Upon hearing his words, Qiao Wanyin felt a surge of suppressed revulsion.

She tried to suppress the churning emotions in her chest and looked up to stare straight at him.

"That's right, I'm telling you, stay away from her."

Fang Xiaolin chuckled softly. He slowly sat down on the sofa opposite her, his posture casual yet carrying a sense of superior smugness.

"So blunt? Not even a polite greeting? Not even a few pleasantries?"

There's no need for pleasantries between us.

Qiao Wanyin spoke coldly, her voice carrying a chilling aura.

Her gaze did not waver at all, looking directly into Fang Xiaolin's eyes hidden behind his glasses.

“I know what you’re thinking. Zishu is the deputy commander’s daughter. You’re getting close to her simply to use her family’s influence to climb the social ladder, isn’t that right? That’s your usual tactic.”

Fang Xiaolin shrugged, seemingly unconcerned about being exposed.

He then raised his hand and gestured to the maid standing in the corner.

The maid deftly poured the tea into the cup and then silently withdrew.

"Ah Qing, you're still so clever."

He slowly picked up his teacup. "But this time, you only guessed half right."

"What's the meaning?"

Qiao Wanyin frowned, her tone filled with vigilance and unease.

"I did have a purpose in approaching Zishu."

He blew on the rising steam from the tea, his smile deepening, but his eyes growing increasingly dark.

He slowly sipped his tea, as if savoring some kind of secret pleasure.

"But not just for her father's power, nor just to climb the social ladder."

Qiao Wanyin felt a chill run down her spine.

She suddenly realized that Fang Xiaolin in front of her was far more dangerous and more twisted than the boy she remembered.

"So what exactly are you after?"

Her voice was so cold it was almost frosty.

Fang Xiaolin slowly put down her teacup, raised her eyes, and narrowed her eyes slightly behind her glasses.

"I did all this for you, Aqing."

"What did you say?"

Qiao Wanyin could hardly believe her ears.

"I just want to see what happens when I take away your most cherished friend..."

His tone was light and airy, yet it pierced people's hearts like a knife.

What kind of expression will you have on your face?

The air seemed to freeze.

"Just like back then, you abandoned me without looking back."

Qiao Wanyin suddenly stood up and slammed her hands hard on the coffee table in front of her.

"Are you crazy?"

Her voice was filled with anger and disbelief, "Zishu didn't offend you at all! She doesn't know anything! What gives you the right to pin the past on her?"

Fang Xiaolin suddenly laughed.

The laughter started low, then grew louder and sharper, filled with sarcasm and resentment.

"You didn't offend me?"

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes turning ferocious.

"Who in this world is truly innocent? Ah Qing, do you know how I've endured all these years?"

"It's all because of you!"

He practically spat out those words through gritted teeth, “Back in Hong Kong, I was almost wiped out! Those rumors that flew all over the city, saying I colluded with gangsters, that I betrayed my fellow members, that I embezzled funds… Do you know, that was all the mess you left behind after you left!”

He suddenly stood up and kicked over the coffee table.

“Those people wanted to tear me apart! And you… you vanished without a trace, without even a word of explanation! How dare you live like an innocent person?!”

"You deserve it!"

Qiao Wanyin interrupted coldly, her voice like a sharp ice blade piercing Fang Xiaolin's heart.

"If you hadn't had such wicked intentions, trying to sell me to a place like the Wild Sect Association, would I have retaliated? Would I have exposed all your shameful secrets?"

Before she ran away that time, she took out the chat logs and transfer receipts from Fang Xiaolin who had lied to her.

There are also intimate photos of him with a bunch of women, plastered all over the busiest places in the port city.

The headline was eye-catching, and passersby stopped to watch.

That scene was arguably the most exhilarating thing the original owner had ever done in his life.

At that time, Fang Xiaolin was quite well-known in the local small circle.

But in that one night...

He was utterly humiliated and his reputation was ruined; he was almost too ashamed to go out and see anyone.

"Here, have some tea."

He picked up the teapot and slowly poured a cup. "Aqing, let's talk calmly and let bygones be bygones, okay?"

Qiao Wanyin stared coldly at the cup of tea in front of her, her body motionless.

"how?"

Fang Xiaolin's lips curled slightly. "Afraid I'll drug you?"

"Killing someone here is illegal. I wouldn't do something so stupid, would I?"

As he spoke, he calmly picked up the cup in front of Qiao Wanyin and took a big gulp.

Qiao Wanyin had no interest in figuring out whether he was acting or whether he really hadn't drugged her.

She had only one thought in her mind: how to rescue Meng Zhiyuan?

What exactly do you want?

She finally spoke, "What price do you want me to pay for you to let Zishu go? Come at me, she has no grudge against you."

"Fang Xiaolin, you have so many women around you, one after another, why are you still fixated on her? She's not your type at all, what are you after?"

Fang Xiaolin leaned back on the sofa, her fingertips slowly tapping the armrest, making a soft, rhythmic "tap, tap" sound.

"Are you that worried about her?"

His eyes, however, were fixed on Qiao Wanyin's face like those of a venomous snake. "Interesting."

Qiao Wanyin answered resolutely, "Of course! She's my best friend. We grew up together. Her family doesn't live in Hong Kong. I'm her only support. I can't watch her be cheated out of everything by you, and end up like those other women, dumped by you without even an apology!"

Fang Xiaolin chuckled lightly, her laughter tinged with contempt.

"It's not that we can't let her go."