69novels Page 86
Page 86
Mingren ignored her words and continued venting: "I even pretended to wish them well today... I'm disgusting... I secretly wanted to kill that bastard..."
Seeing Akito's pained expression, Sayako's eyes flashed with determination: "Listen, Akito, Kaiyuri has made her choice. You should let go."
"I can't do it..." Akito slumped over the bar, tears finally streaming down his face.
Sayako shook her head inwardly. "I'll take you home. Then..." she narrowed her eyes, "I need to meet this legendary Chen Xiao."
When Sayako escorted Akito home, Kaiyuri was anxiously waiting at the door. Seeing the two of them, she immediately ran over: "Akito! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Mingren staggered to his feet and said, “No…it’s none of your business…you have Chen Xiao now…” His voice was full of sarcasm. “I wish you…happiness…” After saying that, he rushed into the house and slammed the door shut.
Hai Xili wanted to chase after him, but was stopped by Sha Yezi: "Let him be alone for a while." She looked Hai Xili up and down, her gaze sharp, "Hai Xili, I didn't expect you to fall in love with a man so easily?"
Hai Xili nodded, somewhat awkwardly: "Yes, I like Chen Xiaojun. After meeting Chen Xiao, I felt that everything I had experienced in my life was to welcome Chen Xiao's sunshine."
Sayako asked bluntly: "So you can have a new boyfriend now? That Chen Xiao?"
Haiyu's face flushed slightly: "Yes...it was sudden, but..."
“Where is he? I’d like to see him.” Sayako interrupted her, her eyes flashing with a challenging light.
Just then, Chen Xiao came out of the house. He had just finished showering and was only wearing casual pants, his upper body still dripping with water. Seeing Sayoko, he raised an eyebrow and smiled: "And who is this?"
Sayako's gaze lingered on Chen Xiao's perfect abs for a second before she regained her composure: "You're the Chen Xiao who broke the hearts of the Ming people?"
Chen Xiao walked to Hai Xili's side and naturally put his arm around her waist: "I didn't mean to hurt anyone." His smile was charming yet provocative, "Feelings can't be forced, can they?"
Sayako snorted coldly: "You managed to win over a woman who's been a widow for over a year in just one day. Not bad."
Kaiyu interrupted uneasily, "Miss Sayako, please don't say that. It was my initiative..."
"Alright." Sayako waved her hand. "I came to see the Akitos today, not to argue."
She turned to leave, then turned back to Chen Xiao and said, "But Mr. Chen Xiao, I must remind you, although our town is remote, it's not a place for city people like you to play emotional games."
Chen Xiao's smile deepened: "Thank you for the reminder. However..." He deliberately tightened his grip on Hai Xili's hand, "I'm serious about Hai Xili."
Sayako scoffed dismissively and strode away.
Kaiyu watched Sayako's departing figure with a worried expression: "She seems to really dislike us..."
Chen Xiao kissed the top of her head: "Don't worry, she's just concerned about Mingren."
A hint of interest flashed in his eyes. "However... this Sayako is quite interesting."
Hai Xili looked up at him: "You wouldn't...?"
Chen Xiao smiled but did not answer. He simply took her hand and said, "Let's go in and see the Ming people."
[System Notification: New character Sayako has appeared]
Current favorability rating: -20% (hostility)
[Difficulty Level: A]
[Special Attributes: Strong sense of justice | Strong protective instinct | Extreme aversion to philandering men]
Chen Xiao glanced at the system panel, a confident smile playing on his lips. Another interesting challenge, isn't it?
A loud bang came from inside the room, followed by the Ming man's hysterical roar: "Get out! All of you get out!"
Hai Xili trembled in fright, and Chen Xiao patted her shoulder reassuringly: "I'll go take a look."
Pushing open Mingren's door, the scene before him made him frown—broken glass bottles were scattered all over the floor, and Mingren sat on the edge of the bed, his face flushed, clutching half a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
Upon seeing Chen Xiao, his eyes instantly turned fierce.
"What are you doing here? Showing off?" Mingren staggered to his feet, reeking of alcohol. "You're so proud of stealing my sister-in-law, aren't you?"
Chen Xiao stood calmly at the door: "You've had too much to drink, Mingren. Calm down."
"Calm down?" Mingren suddenly burst into wild laughter, his voice hoarse. "How can you expect me to calm down!" He smashed the bottle against the wall, glass shards flying everywhere. "I was the one who set my sights on Haixi first! What right do you have to..."
Hai Xili stepped out from behind Chen Xiao, tears welling in her eyes: "Mingren, how...how could you say that? I've always considered you a younger brother..."
"Shut up!" Mingren suddenly turned to her, his face contorted with rage. "What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for! My brother has been dead for so long! And you're already trying to seduce men everywhere..." A torrent of filth poured from his mouth.
Chen Xiao's eyes turned cold, and he strode forward, punching Mingren in the face. With a crisp "smack," Mingren staggered back a few steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Chen Xiao!" Hai Xili exclaimed.
“他欠揍。”陈潇甩了甩手腕，冷冷地看着倒在地上的明人，“骂我可以，侮辱海夕里不行。”
Mingren touched his face, staring at them in disbelief: "You...you..." He suddenly grabbed a shard of glass from the ground and lunged at Chen Xiao.
Chen Xiao easily dodged, then threw another punch with his backhand. This time, it hit Mingren squarely in the stomach, causing him to curl up in pain. "Get out," Chen Xiao said, grabbing him by the collar. "Come back and apologize when you're sober."
Hai Xili wanted to say something, but seeing Mingren's resentful eyes, she ultimately just turned her face away.
The man from the Ming Dynasty staggered to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood: "Fine...very well...you just wait!" With that, he slammed the door and left.
Silence returned to the room, broken only by Hai Xili's soft sobs. Chen Xiao pulled her into his arms: "Don't cry, it's not worth it."
"Did we... go too far?" Hai Xili looked up with teary eyes.
Chen Xiao gently stroked her long hair: "Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. Have you forgotten the things he said to you?"
Hai Xili shuddered again, recalling the Ming man's vicious words. Chen Xiao kissed her forehead: "Don't think about it. But..." He hesitated, "Should I go check on him? What if he's having second thoughts..."
Hai Xili looked at him in surprise, tears welling in her eyes: "Chen Xiao...you're so good." She kissed the corner of his lips, "Even after how he treated you, you still..."
Chen Xiao returned her kiss until she was breathless before letting go: "Because I care about you. The things you worry about, I worry about too."
Hai Xili was so moved she couldn't speak, she just hugged him tightly. Chen Xiao whispered in her ear, "I'll be right back."
[System Notification: Hai Xili's Affection +10, Current Affection 95%]
[Achieve the achievement "Guardian Angel": When protecting another woman in front of other women, your charm will temporarily increase by 20%.]
As night deepened, Chen Xiao followed the markers on the system map and quickly found the Ming people staggering along the edge of the town.
Unexpectedly, Mingren did not go to the river or any place where he might commit suicide, but went straight to the small building of Sayako's house.
"Interesting." Chen Xiao, hidden in the shadows of the trees, watched as Mingren frantically rang the doorbell.
Sayako opened the door quickly, still wearing that burgundy sundress, clearly having just taken a shower, her hair still dripping wet.
"Mingren? How come you..." Her words were interrupted by the strong smell of alcohol.
"Sayako-nee..." Akito suddenly knelt on the ground, "You're the only one who's ever been good to me... I love you... Let's be together!"
Sayako stepped back in shock: "Are you crazy? Get up!"
"I'm not crazy!" Akito shouted hysterically, "If Haiyuri doesn't want me, are you going to reject me too?" He suddenly sprang up, intending to pin Sayako against the wall, "Stop pretending to be so high and mighty! You women are all the same!"
Sayako quickly dodged, "Akito, wake up!"
"I'm perfectly clear-headed! You've always protected me since we were little... You clearly like me too, right..."
200 Just as his filthy hand was about to touch Sayako, a strong hand grabbed his neck from behind. "I've said it before, forcing a woman is the most despicable act," Chen Xiao's icy voice rang in Mingren's ears.
Before Mingren could react, Chen Xiao slammed him to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw. The fall made him see stars, and he couldn't get up for a long time.
Still shaken, Sayako stared at Chen Xiao, who had suddenly appeared, and stammered, "You...how did you..."
"Hai Xili was worried he might do something foolish, so she asked me to come with her." Chen Xiao took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, his voice softening. "Are you alright?"
Sayako shook her head, her complicated gaze shifting between Chen Xiao and the Ming people on the ground.
Chen Xiao squatted down and grabbed Mingren by the collar: "Look at the state you're in now. Violently assaulting your childhood friend? Is this what you call love?"
Mingren's eyes were bloodshot, yet he was powerless to resist. Chen Xiao turned to Sha Yezi: "Should we call the police?"
Sayako bit her lip: "No... never mind. He's drunk."
She squatted down, looking at Mingren with disappointment, "But I won't treat you like a younger brother anymore. Let's leave this town first thing tomorrow morning."
Mingren was struck dumb, sobering up considerably: "Sayako-nee... I..."
"Get out." Sayako stood up, her back to him, "before I change my mind."
Chen Xiao picked up Mingren and threw him out the door like trash: "Did you hear me? If I see you near Sayako or Haishiri again..." He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking horribly.
The Ming people fled in a panic.
Chen Xiao closed the door, turned around and saw Sha Yezi trembling, unable to light the lighter. He went over, took the lighter and lit it for her.
"Thank you." Sayako took a deep drag of her cigarette, trying to compose herself. "I didn't expect him to..."
"It's just that I'm showing my true colors after drinking," Chen Xiao said softly. "Do you need me to keep you company?"
Sayako looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of wariness and gratitude: "Why did you help me? We were just here during the day..."
“Anyone with a conscience would do the same,” Chen Xiao said sincerely. “Besides…” he smiled slightly, “Although I’m a womanizer, I never use force. That’s my principle.”
Sayako stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "You know what? You're not quite like the rumors suggest."
“Rumors are always exaggerated.” Chen Xiao shrugged. “Want a drink to calm your nerves? I can listen.”
Sayako hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Alright... I happen to have a bottle of good wine in my collection."
[System Notification: Sayako's Affection +40, Current Affection Level 20%]
[Special event triggered: Hero saves the damsel in distress effect, reducing the difficulty to B level].
Chapter Ninety-Six: Haiyu and Sayako's First Meeting with Mitsuko Takayanagi
The living room of Sayako was filled with a faint scent of lavender. Chen Xiao sat on the leather sofa, watching her take a bottle of amber-colored whiskey from the depths of the liquor cabinet.
The label on the bottle has yellowed, indicating that it has been treasured for many years.
“18-year-old single malt,” Sayako said, gently unscrewing the cork with a bottle opener. “I was originally planning to open it on the bar’s tenth anniversary, but it seems unnecessary now.”
She poured two glasses and handed them to Chen Xiao, her fingers trembling slightly. "Thank you for today..."
Chen Xiao took the glass, his fingertips brushing against the back of her hand unintentionally. "It was nothing." He took a sip, the rich smoky flavor bursting on his tongue. "Good wine."
Sayako sat down opposite him, curled up her legs, and the strap of her sundress slipped to one side.
She seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed on the swirling liquid in her glass: "Mingren wasn't like this before... When he was little, he was bullied, and I was always the one protecting him." She gave a bitter smile, "I never imagined things would turn out like this..."
Chen Xiao moved to sit next to her and casually draped his coat back over her shoulders: "People change. This isn't your fault."
Sayako suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling with tenderness, captivated by Chen Xiao's handsome face: "And you? Chen Xiao, who's rumored to be a womanizer, why are you behaving like a gentleman tonight?"
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on Chen Xiao's handsome profile.