The Counterattack of a Wealthy Family's Substitute

Upon hearing those words, Xiu Yan's expression darkened, and he raised his voice: "Yao Yingxi."

Yao Yingxi was startled when he called her by her full name, and stared at him blankly. This was the first time Xiu Yan had called her that since they became acquainted.

"Aren't we friends?" Xiu Yan asked rhetorically, his eyes slightly red. The way he looked at Yao Yingxi gave her the illusion that a wronged puppy was sitting in front of her.

Yao Yingxi nodded: "Yes."

"Since we're friends, let's not talk about those things anymore. I don't like hearing them." He said seriously, "Really, I'm so glad I met you tonight. I'm glad I had something to do at the company and happened to come back. Otherwise, I don't know what would have happened tomorrow."

"I don't know how long you've been gone, or why Xi Yuanchen hasn't found out about your disappearance. I really don't know how he's protecting you." Xiu Yan's tone was full of resentment as he said this: "Xiao Xi, from a friend's point of view, I increasingly disapprove of you being with Xi Yuanchen. The recent series of events are all because of Xi Yuanchen, and they've affected you."

"Xiuyan." To prevent Xiuyan from continuing, Yao Yingxi spoke up to stop him. She was grateful to Xiuyan for what happened tonight, and grateful to him as a friend for thinking of her, but that didn't mean he could blame Xi Yuanchen in front of her.

"This isn't her fault. It was my own stubbornness that prevented the bodyguards from following me around." She never imagined that she would be kidnapped as soon as she left the bodyguards' side.

Yao Yingxi smiled bitterly to herself, probably thinking that she looked weak and incompetent.

Remembering what the short man had said, that the person who kidnapped her wanted to get rid of that version of herself from Xi Yuanchen forever, she suspected Liang Pingyin, and even Xi Yuanchen's other enemies, but she felt it couldn't have been them.

First, if they were Xi Yuanchen's enemies, their purpose would definitely be to threaten Xi Yuanchen. However, it seems that they did not take photos of him or contact Xi Yuanchen, otherwise Xi Yuanchen would not have been unable to find him for so long.

Secondly, if it was Liang Pingyin who did it, given the huge trouble the Liang family is going through now, it's impossible that Liang Pingyin would still have hope for Xi Yuanchen and suggest that she leave him. Also, she wouldn't have just let her sit there for those few hours without tormenting her.

This didn't seem like Liang Pingyin's doing. She smiled as she recalled the kidnapping that Fang Qing and Ye Xiaoya had planned before.

"Even at a time like this, you're still speaking up for Xi Yuanchen. Xiaoxi, I think you know in your heart that the kidnapping you experienced today, and everything that's happened to you lately, are all related to Xi Yuanchen..."

“Xiuyan,” Yao Yingxi interrupted him.

Xiu Yan subconsciously looked up at her, and Yao Yingxi said calmly, "You've crossed the line."

Hearing her reminder, Xiu Yan looked up and gave Yao Yingxi a deep look, then sighed, "I'm sorry."

The atmosphere inside the car suddenly became quiet. The night completely enveloped the city, and the warm-colored streetlights illuminated the endless road.

Because it's late at night, there are very few people out for nightlife. Occasionally, a taxi or a private car will drive by, but very few.

The two remained silent for about ten minutes before Xiu Yan couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Xiao Xi, why don't you close your eyes for a bit? I'll tell you when we get there."

Yao Yingxi shook her head: "We're almost there. I don't want to hear Xiu Yan's words again. You said we're friends, and I think you know better than I do what friends should do."

Xiu Yan remained silent, suppressing his inner feelings and possessiveness.

Meanwhile, Xi Yuanchen was sitting in his car downstairs, repeatedly dialing the phone number that was already switched off.

The mechanical female voice continued to ring out, each time sinking Xi Yuanchen's heart into the snowy winter season.

He put down his phone, covered his eyes, and felt increasingly heavy-hearted, still without any news from Anan.

Xi Yuanchen felt like he was suffocating from the air in the car. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot, staring into the distance.

At the same time, a car drove by, its headlights blindingly bright.

Xi Yuanchen subconsciously raised his hand to block the light. The car drove up to a spot not far in front of his car and turned off its headlights.

Xi Yuanchen frowned. It was past three in the morning. Who would come to the apartment so late?

He was sitting in the car when he saw the back door of the other car opened from the inside, and a pair of men's leather shoes got out first.

Then, when Lavender saw Xiu Yan's face, her expression turned cold.

Xiu Yan walked around to the other side of the car and opened the back door. Yao Yingxi's hand, which had been hanging in mid-air, withdrew.

"Let me walk you to the door."

Just as Yao Yingxi was about to refuse, Xiu Yan said again, "I don't mean anything by it, I just want to see you go up so I can feel at ease. If you're afraid Xi Yuanchen will see it, then forget it." He knew Yao Yingxi wouldn't agree.

Because she loves Xi Yuanchen, she worries that Xi Yuanchen will be unhappy if he sees her, and she doesn't want to have anything to do with him.

“No…” Yao Yingxi sighed, “Fine, if you want to send it, then go ahead. But at this hour, it’s not convenient for me to invite you up for tea.”

Yao Yingxi shrugged. Upon hearing this, Xiu Yan's lips curled up, his eyes crinkled, and his gaze towards Yao Yingxi was filled with undisguised affection.

Yao Yingxi smiled slightly at him.

When Xi Yuanchen saw Yao Yingxi get out of the car, his face immediately darkened. He recalled what Zhong Enming had said not long ago: Yao Yingxi might have gone out with someone she knew from school.

Someone I knew at school?

Xi Yuanchen sneered. This was no stranger to her from school; this was clearly someone with ill intentions towards her, and Yao Yingxi was aware of these intentions.

It's the middle of the night, and it's so late for two people, a man and a woman, to come back from outside. It's hard to believe that something happened beforehand.

Xi Yuanchen was overwhelmed by the questions that were swirling in his mind. His eyes were dark and his face was grim as he opened the car door and got out.

As Yao Yingxi turned around and was about to walk forward with Xiu Yan, she felt a gaze fixed on her. She subconsciously looked up and was stunned when she met Xi Yuanchen's bloodshot eyes and angry expression.

Actually, her eyes lit up when she first saw Xi Yuanchen. She originally thought that Xi Yuanchen might not know that she was missing, or that if he knew she was missing, he might go out to look for her. At this time, if he couldn't find her, Xi Yuanchen wouldn't be able to go back.

But I didn’t expect…

She met Xi Yuanchen's gloomy gaze for a few seconds, then guiltily looked away. Xi Yuanchen had never liked her being with Xiu Yan, and at this hour, Xiu Yan had brought her back. If Xi Yuanchen didn't know what had happened that day, he would definitely be furious.

Yao Yingxi's gaze fell on the car next to Xi Yuanchen, and she suddenly looked up.

When she got out of the car, she didn't notice if there was a car parked in front of her, so she didn't know if Xi Yuanchen was already waiting for her there, or if he had just come back from looking for her outside.

"Come here." Xi Yuanchen's deep voice rang out, his face showing a hint of anger. His cold gaze swept over Xiu Yan, finally landing on Yao Yingxi.