Chapter 38: Another Slap

The man's tone was nonchalant, making Lin Xi almost believe it was just another joke. She frowned and looked up at him, only to find him gazing back at her.

They were close enough that a slight turn would bring them into contact. The air was saturated with familiar scents, a hint of agarwood blending between them, intensifying as the temperature rose. It was impossible to tell whose wrist the fragrance emanated from.

Lin Xi gave him a sidelong glance, meant as a warning.

In Qin Yu’s eyes, however, it posed no threat; it was more like a cat acting coy. She thought herself fierce, but to others, it was merely charming, lacking any bite.

With thoughts hidden from each other, Lin Xi leaned her head towards the window, pretending to sleep. For the remainder of the journey, she did not speak to him again.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the high-speed rail station.

Qin Yu was the first to get off. He circled around to her side and offered his hand.

Under such circumstances, Lin Xi had no choice but to accept. She reached out, steadying herself against his wrist as she stepped down.

Injuring her right foot had made everything inconvenient. As soon as she barely managed to stand firmly, the man withdrew his hand.

She was left standing alone, caught between advancing and retreating.

Lin Xi hadn't expected such a sudden gesture. She looked up at him in disbelief.

"You..."

"What is it?" Qin Yu, hands in his pockets, lowered his gaze at her, his face unreadable, showing no sign of intentionality. Lin Xi searched for his assistant, only to see him already queuing at the security checkpoint.

Only Qin Yu remained nearby.

She had hoped that, with his assistant gone, she could manage by holding onto her suitcase and hobbling inside. But his assistant, anticipating her every move as if he feared she’d make a last-minute escape, had already taken her suitcase.

Such resourcefulness—no wonder he was Qin Yu’s special assistant.

Now, both options were blocked. Lin Xi pulled her lips into a bitter smile. "Everyone around Third Brother is a genius. Earning a million-a-year salary to stay by your side is such a waste."

"If Third Brother ever decides he doesn't want him anymore, recommend him to me."

"He really is smarter than your current assistant. If you like, I can transfer him to Feiyun tomorrow."

His special assistant had joined LX Capital right after graduation, staying by Qin Yu’s side for years, rising through the ranks. A meticulous worker, clever and discreet in private. Over the years, Qin Yu had changed many assistants and secretaries, but this one remained.

When you find someone who works perfectly, there's no need to replace them. Cheng Si had asked for him before, but Qin Yu refused.

Lin Xi: "..."

Truthfully, she admired such people and enjoyed working alongside them—she genuinely wanted to poach him. But he belonged to Qin Yu, and even if both agreed, she couldn't accept.

The only reason the assistant would agree was because of Qin Yu, but deep down, he would not want to switch jobs. Being an assistant in Feiyun’s R&D department versus the special assistant to LX Capital’s president—there was more than just a difference in rank. Even if she matched the salary, unless he was mad, he’d never genuinely want to join Feiyun.

If Qin Yu really sent him over, the assistant would surely resent her.

"No, no, I was just saying. We're not even in the same field—he wouldn't be much use on my side."

With that, Lin Xi refocused on the real issue: how she was supposed to walk.

She tried to take a few steps. Limping slowly, she was even slower than the elderly hurrying nearby.

She could walk, yes, but avoiding putting weight on her right foot was impossible.

While she stood still, it seemed fine, nothing amiss. But as soon as she started walking, any pressure brought sharp pain.

All the while, Qin Yu stood aside, as if removed from the scene, watching like an observer.

Lin Xi took a deep breath and surrendered, exasperated. "Is this how Third Brother takes responsibility?"

Qin Yu seemed to have been waiting for this. When she glared at him, a faint smile flickered in his eyes. She had just moved away, widening the gap between them, but he easily closed the distance with a single step, making Lin Xi even more annoyed.

"Weren’t you so eager to go back by yourself this morning? I thought after yesterday’s medication, you’d be all better today."

He knew perfectly well how she was, yet still teased her.

Lin Xi turned away angrily. She’d be crazy to rely on him.

For a few hundred yuan, plenty of people would help her inside. Why should she plead with him?

Sensing her irritation, Qin Yu restrained himself. Before she could call for someone, he swept her up in his arms.

The sudden loss of gravity made Lin Xi gasp in a short scream. Instinctively, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

By the time she realized what was happening, he was striding purposefully towards the security checkpoint. She slapped his shoulder in frustration.

Once wasn’t enough to vent her anger; she gathered her strength for another hit. Just as her hand came down, Qin Yu turned his head, and her fingers scraped hard across his face.

Suddenly, Lin Xi’s heart skipped a beat, as if someone had pressed pause. Her hand froze mid-air.

Since she could remember, Lin Xi knew that aside from Old Master Qin, Qin Yu’s parents had never laid a hand on him. Back in school, Cheng Si and Ruan Dong were notorious troublemakers, often fighting and skipping class. The three of them were in the same class, but Qin Yu was different—he rarely fought, and no one dared provoke him. He was more like a shadowy boss behind the scenes.

Her older brother, the eldest in their circle, had often disciplined Cheng Si and the others, sometimes physically. But he’d never laid a hand on Qin Yu, let alone struck his face.

But she...

Since her return to the country, no one had mentioned that slap from years ago. Qin Yu, the one who’d been hit, never seemed to bear a grudge.

She thought the incident had been forgotten—a tacit agreement among them all.

She expected Qin Yu to be angry, but his stride didn’t falter. He glanced down at her, meeting her eyes.

Imitating her earlier accusatory tone, he said, "Lin Xi, this is the second time."

Those few words left Lin Xi mortified, unable to escape.

She had known Qin Yu wouldn’t forget that slap.

Sometimes, you have to admit when you’re wrong. She shouldn’t have done it.

The apology was on her lips, but her stubborn nature wouldn’t let her say it.

"I’ll remember this slap," he said.

"I didn’t mean to hit you—it was an accident," Lin Xi choked out.

"And I trimmed my nails, so I didn’t leave any marks."

"Third Brother isn’t really going to hold a grudge, is he?"

From the sound of it, he meant to repay that slap someday.

Qin Yu was always one to settle scores; she knew this. But surely he wouldn’t actually hit her?

"Can I apologize to you?"

"What do you think?"

"…"

"Fine, Third Brother—just hit me back."