The Counterattack of a Wealthy Family's Substitute

Seeing Yao Yingxi's cold and indifferent demeanor, Xi Yuanchen suddenly felt a surge of anger. He walked over with a grim expression, intending to pick up Yao Yingxi's computer, when he inadvertently glanced at the screen and noticed it displayed the website of a design college in Yuncheng.

Yao Yingxi noticed Xi Yuanchen standing beside her. She didn't look up and continued staring at the computer screen, but she still couldn't concentrate on what was on it. Her mind was in complete chaos, and she was in a very bad mood.

Xi Yuanchen asked in a cold voice, "You want to study fashion design as a major?"

Yao Yingxi replied, "Yes."

Are you throwing a tantrum at me?

Upon hearing this cold and forceful statement, Yao Yingxi hurriedly looked up at Xi Yuanchen and shook her head: "No, Mr. Xi."

She tried her best to pretend that she was flustered because of Xi Yuanchen's misunderstanding, but in her heart she was afraid that Xi Yuanchen would see through her.

Xi Yuanchen stared at her with a cold expression and no emotion in his eyes.

Yao Yingxi gripped the edge of the computer nervously, her eyes meeting Xi Yuanchen's.

"Knock knock..."

The room was broken by a knock, shattering the silence.

Xi Yuanchen withdrew his gaze, stood up, and walked towards the door.

Yao Yingxi watched his departing figure and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Boss, you guys are still awake, aren't you?"

Bai Tingsheng stood at the door and secretly peeked into the room.

Xi Yuanchen's face was cold: "What is it?"

Bai Tingsheng smiled and said, "It's nothing. I couldn't get through to you on the phone, so I came to let you know. We're going out to sea tomorrow. Are you guys coming, boss?"

He suddenly had the urge to go out to sea, so he changed his mind at the last minute and asked Yuan Xi and the others, who all agreed. He came to remind Xi Yuanchen whether the two of them should go, and if so, to make some preparations.

Xi Yuanchen hummed in agreement and then continued speaking in a nonchalant tone, "I understand."

After saying that, he closed the door. Bai Tingsheng, standing outside, pursed his lips and chuckled softly. Had he just interrupted his boss's good time? Otherwise, why would he look so annoyed?

Yao Yingxi sat on the bed and heard what Bai Tingsheng said. She figured she'd be returning to Yuncheng tomorrow, so she shut down her computer and put it back in her suitcase.

Xi Yuanchen closed the door and walked back.

Yao Yingxi was wearing loungewear, and her fair and slender waist was exposed because she was bending over.

Xi Yuanchen suddenly felt a surge of desire, but remembering that he had things to do tomorrow, he could only turn around and walk to the balcony, gazing into the distance.

Yao Yingxi put down her computer, stood up straight, and looked around the room. She didn't see Xi Yuanchen, but the French windows on the balcony were wide open.

Yao Yingxi walked over, saw Xi Yuanchen standing there with a cigarette between his fingers, then turned back.

She lay in bed, thinking about what had just happened, a bitter smile on her lips.

The next day, Yao Yingxi didn't sleep a wink. At five in the morning, she got out of bed and saw that Xi Yuanchen was still asleep beside her. She stared at him greedily for a while before leaving the bedside, washing the tall glass, pouring red wine into it, and then running into the bathroom to wash up.

She came out of the bathroom, picked up the wine glass from the table, and walked to the balcony.

The sea breeze gently caressed my face, carrying the scent of the sea, and the sound of waves crashing against the beach filled my ears—it was as if nature itself was playing a symphony.

Yao Yingxi lowered her eyes, swirled her wine glass, and took a sip.

The bitterness of the red wine permeated my mouth and slid down my throat into my stomach.

Yao Yingxi gazed at the dark red liquid, a faint smile playing on her lips, as if she were growing to enjoy the bitter taste of the red wine more and more.

When Xi Yuanchen got up, it was already six o'clock. He saw Yao Yingxi standing on the balcony and was somewhat displeased.

Yao Yingxi stood there lost in thought, completely unaware that Xi Yuanchen was already standing behind her.

"What are you standing there looking at?"

Xi Yuanchen spoke up.

Yao Yingxi was startled by the sound. When she turned around and saw Xi Yuanchen, she shook her head and said, "No, I wasn't looking at anything."

The sky was already beginning to lighten, and spring mornings are always a bit chilly.

Xi Yuanchen noticed that Yao Yingxi's lips were somewhat bluish, frowned, and touched her hand.

Yao Yingxi instinctively tried to pull back, but Xi Yuanchen held on tightly, and she couldn't move.

"Go in and take a bath."

Yao Yingxi paused, nodded, and went into the room.

Half an hour after Yao Yingxi finished her bath, she came out wearing a bathrobe, went to the wardrobe to take out a set of casual clothes, and went into the bathroom to change. Her hair was a little wet.

With a cold face, Xi Yuanchen walked over and, as if possessed, pulled her to sit down: "Let me blow-dry your hair for you."

The deep voice beside her ear made Yao Yingxi catch her breath and her mind go blank.

Xi Yuanchen's calloused hands gently ran through her hair. The hairdryer hummed, and warm air fell on her hair and skin, like tiny insects tickling her heart.

"All right."

The hairdryer was turned off, and Yao Yingxi snapped out of her daze when Xi Yuanchen reminded her.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips dug into her flesh, but she seemed oblivious to the pain, calmly rising from the sofa with a relaxed expression: "Thank you, Mr. Xi."

Xi Yuanchen grunted in response, his expression somewhat displeased.

But Yao Yingxi wasn't looking at him. Instead, she turned around and walked back to the bedside. She opened her hands, which were hanging by her sides, and noticed that they were bleeding.

With a slight smile, Yao Yingxi said, "This is a warning to yourself. Don't expect Xi Yuanchen to like you. It's impossible."

You two can only ever be lovers. Although you're doing the most intimate things, you're not the closest people to each other.

"What are you still sitting there for? Go downstairs and have breakfast."

Xi Yuanchen came out of the bathroom and saw Yao Yingxi sitting on the bed, and gave her a reminder.

Yao Yingxi looked up and got out of bed: "Okay, Mr. Xi."

She followed Xi Yuanchen out of the master bedroom and down the stairs.

In the large living room, Bai Tingsheng was half-squatting on the floor, looking through a pile of things in front of him.

Xi Yuanchen asked, "Are you planning to go diving?"

Bai Tingsheng looked up and saw Xi Yuanchen standing up with a smile: "It's not easy to go out to sea, how can we not go diving? Boss, are you coming?"

Xi Yuanchen turned to look at Yao Yingxi: "Want to play?"

Yao Yingxi nodded: "Let's play."

She had never tried diving, but she had seen it on TV. It must be like an aquarium, full of fish and marine life.

Xi Yuanchen nodded.

Bai Tingsheng smiled slightly as he watched the two of them, then lowered his eyes and continued working on his own things.

What's going on? When did our boss become so indecisive? He seems uninterested when we ask him to play.

But as soon as Miss Yao agreed to go, he followed along.

Xi Yuanchen was thinking that he brought Yao Yingxi with him this time to help her relax and reward her for taking care of him for the time she had spent there.

"Mr. Xi, Mr. Bai, shall we go out for breakfast, or should I order takeout, or should I cook it myself?"

Seeing Xi Yuanchen sitting down and Bai Tingsheng fiddling with his things, Yao Yingxi asked a question.

When Bai Tingsheng heard her say that, he looked up and asked, "Miss Yao can cook?"

Yao Yingxi nodded.

Xi Yuanchen said, "Tingsheng, are you done? If you are, then you can leave."

Bai Tingsheng had originally planned to have Yao Yingxi buy groceries and cook, as he was tired of eating out these days. But since Xi Yuanchen said so, he could only nod and say, "Okay, I'm almost done."