Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Xi Siyan was the only heir in the third generation of the Xi family. His father had a high reputation in politics, and everyone in the Xi family, whether in business or politics, had achieved remarkable success.

Chen Mo didn't have much interaction with him.

The first time they met in their previous life was in Yuhuai Village.

The Xi and Yang families had been close for many years. The Yang family had relied on the Xi family's connections to quickly confirm Chen Mo's identity. So when the Yang family came that day, he was there to accompany Yang Shule.

On the muddy road under pouring rain, he sat in the open backseat of the car in a white shirt, never getting out.

Even the young girls in the village would blush secretly when they saw him.

The second time,

In the school restroom, he encountered a male student confessing to him.

He easily admitted that he did indeed like men and rejected the other person without mercy. After sending the person away, he washed his hands and said, "Have you seen enough? If you have, get out."

Chen Mo, who had been smoking in the stall, pushed the door open and met his cold gaze.

There were many more such encounters later.

On the playground, in the classroom, at the Yang family's home, or during New Year gatherings of both families.

They always met but never became familiar.

Chen Mo had a fixed impression of this person. He was the one in the Xi family described as a prince, born noble and unafraid to show his likes and dislikes. There was always a large crowd around him, and among them, Yang Shule stood out the most.

Their childhood friendship made it clear why Xi Siyan disliked him, no other reason needed.

Later, all the news about him came from Yang Shule.

Mentioning the Xis, the young man's expression brightened.

"Mom, I'm going to the Xi family! It's Siyan's birthday today, and I still need to pick up his gift!"

"He's leaving the country; no one will teach me my lessons anymore."

"Siyan, can I fly over to see you during the summer?"

"When are you coming back?"

"Brother! He's not leaving this time, right?! Drive me to the airport, please!"

"I won't go to the company; I've already agreed to work with Siyan."

"Chen Mo, this project is something Siyan personally handled. Why is it with you?"

...

That year, Chen Mo handled many projects.

Facing Yang Shule's questioning look, Chen Mo was genuinely taken aback before sneering, "What are you suspecting? I only know that a project can support my entire team. Should I avoid it just because the boss's surname is Xi, for your sake, Yang Shule? Who do you think you are?"

Those were the two most aggressive years of Chen Mo's career, and his temper could ignite at any moment.

Yang Shule turned pale on the spot.

Chen Mo was prepared for Yang Shule to whisper in the Xi's ear, causing the project to fall through.

However, the project went surprisingly smoothly until its completion.

At the celebratory banquet afterward, both parties dined together.

Halfway through the meal, Xi Siyan arrived late.

He was no longer the young man Chen Mo remembered from school. Now a broad-shouldered adult, every move exuded the maturity of someone in power. The only constant was that he remained the center of attention wherever he went.

He sat down to Chen Mo's left.

With so many people in the private room taking turns toasting him, he drank every cup without changing expression.

Finally, it was Chen Mo's turn.

Chen Mo, who blushed when drunk, was already eight-tenths intoxicated. Amid the cheering, he leaned back in his chair and raised his glass to Xi Siyan: "President Xi, I'll drink first."

He downed the glass in one go.

After finishing, he looked at Xi Siyan's untouched glass and raised an eyebrow: "President Xi isn't drinking?"

"You're drunk," Xi Siyan stated.

Pretending.

Chen Mo cursed inwardly.

Guessing that Xi Siyan looked down on his current social maneuvering, and recalling Yang Shule's suspicious gaze at the start of the project, the joy of celebration faded.

Driven by alcohol, he pushed himself up from the table.

Resting one hand on Xi Siyan's shoulder and holding the glass to his lips with the other, he whispered, "Class President, we haven't seen each other in so long. Really not drinking? Or do you want everyone here to know we've known each other for a long time?"

Chen Mo forgot whether Xi Siyan helped him finish that last glass. He only remembered the cool, indifferent look in his eyes as they passed through the glass.

The next morning, he woke up in the apartment he bought outside.

Opening his eyes, he saw Gou Yiyang's face looming above him.

"How did you end up here?" Chen Mo asked.

Gou Yiyang replied irritably, "Did you drink yourself into oblivion? I told you to quit drinking; one day it'll kill you!" Then he proactively asked, "When did Xi Siyan return to the country?"

Chen Mo was puzzled, "Ask me? Didn't you say you two were on good terms in high school?"

Gou Yiyang poured him some water and said, "We lost contact long ago. After he went abroad, he basically cut off all ties with people back home. Even though we got along fine when we were students, you know how it is once people grow up—the gap becomes more apparent. His circle is not something we can reach."

Chen Mo took the cup and drank a sip.

Then he heard Gou Yiyang gossip, "But I heard another version. It seems his family had issues with his orientation, which is why he cut off contact with everyone here."

Chen Mo wasn’t surprised. During those years, Yang Shule seemed often depressed because he couldn’t get in touch with Xi Siyan.

What a tragic pair indeed.

Chen Mo gave a cold laugh.

Putting down the cup, he said, "Thank you for picking me up last night."

Gou Yiyang looked at him, "I didn’t pick you up. Xi Siyan brought you back."

Chen Mo suddenly turned his head.

Gou Yiyang observed his expression, "You really don’t remember?"

"What should I remember?"

Gou Yiyang helped him recall, "Basically, I got a sudden call from him and was shocked. When I arrived, your coat was dropped on the street at the entrance of the neighborhood, and you were hanging onto Xi Siyan’s neck like a hooligan." He added, "You know what a mess you are when drunk. You suppress everything so hard that when you get drunk, you lose all sense of propriety. How dare you?"

Chen Mo, suffering from a hangover headache, looked terrible as he slowly said, "It was even worse than that."

He recounted how he forced someone to drink last night.

Gou Yiyang had an exasperated look, "Why do you always provoke him? No wonder he looked so upset."

Chen Mo knew his drinking behavior wasn’t great, so he usually controlled himself in social settings.

That night, however, the alcohol got the better of him.

He guessed Xi Siyan might have wanted to kill him.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to do it himself.

Until he died at the age of twenty-eight, which could be called a premature death.

Who knew that in this life, the first day he opened his eyes, he would run into this person.

Probably karma.

In high school, Xi Siyan was already tall, nearly 1.88 meters, and his presence alone was intimidating as he walked through the night. With sharp eyes, a high nose bridge, and clear facial features, he had a striking appearance.

He served as the class president in the experimental class but clearly wasn’t the type to tattle. The group of friends with Gou Yiyang looked to him as a leader, gathering around him.

Someone responded to his question, "Over here!"

Someone waved, "The fever is quite severe."

Chen Mo had already retreated to his previous spot, leaning against the wall, hidden in the shadows where the light couldn’t reach. When Xi Siyan followed the sound of their voices, their gazes met, and Chen Mo could see the momentary surprise in his eyes, as if he was somewhat taken aback to find him among this group.

But he quickly composed himself and approached.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

They were close enough for Chen Mo to smell a faint, crisp scent from him, distinct and unique. The shirt he wore underneath seemed ordinary, but the subtle golden patterns on the rolled-up sleeves revealed something extraordinary.

"Fine," Chen Mo said, his head resting against the wall, trying to find any inconsistency in Xi Siyan's demeanor.

Unfortunately.

This person maintained the image of a responsible class president.

He even reached out to feel Chen Mo’s forehead, frowning slightly, "Your temperature is quite high."

Without waiting for anyone else to respond, he took charge.

"I’ll take him to the hospital."

"Where are you guys heading next?" After getting an answer, he added, "Behave yourselves. If Director Lai catches you, I won’t be able to save you... Risk my life to save you? Do you think I’m not human? ...Even being the class president doesn’t spare me from the nightmare of being scolded by the homeroom teacher. I’ve even solved physics competition problems in my dreams to appease him." He still managed to joke, his demeanor relaxed and in good spirits, "Lao Gou, come help."

Chen Mo had no chance to refuse.

They carried him out of the alley.

Gou Yiyang patted his shoulder by the car door, "What’s wrong? Did the fever make you crazy?"

"Let go first," Chen Mo glanced at his arm still held by Gou Yiyang, his expression somewhat indescribable, "I just have a fever, not a mental breakdown. Are you treating me like a prisoner?"

"You’re ungrateful," Gou Yiyang let go but then pulled out a pack of tissues worth two yuan from his pocket, offering one, "Wipe yourself. Your fever is scary, and you’re sweating like crazy."

Chen Mo took the tissue and crumpled it in his palm.

The paper absorbed the sweat, making his hands warm, but the rising body temperature continued to irritate him.

Just then, after finishing a conversation with the driver, Xi Siyan turned back and asked Gou Yiyang, "Are you coming with us?"

"I can’t," Gou Yiyang said apologetically, "My grandma just called and insisted I go back."

Chen Mo knew that Gou Yiyang's grandmother was a very important person in his life.

The old woman wasn't in good health and passed away before he could finish high school.

Every time they drank late into the night together, Gou Yiyang would say that the thing he regretted most in his life was not spending more time with his grandmother while she was alive, always annoyed by her nagging.

Chen Mo immediately said, "There's no need for you to go with him."

Although he knew it sounded strange, he insisted, "Spend more time with the elderly during holidays; they may be talkative due to their age." After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Don't be so impatient."

As soon as he finished speaking, he could feel two pairs of eyes looking at him.

Chen Mo remained expressionless.

Gou Yiyang was taken aback for a moment before saying, "I know. Thanks, buddy..."

After saying this, he turned and patted Xi Siyan's arm, "Class President, the responsibility of caring for our classmates is on you now. Call if anything happens."

"Alright."

Ten minutes later.

The low-key Maybach weaved through the night market lit up by street lamps.

The windows were tightly closed, creating a quiet space within the car.

Chen Mo sat in the back seat, leaning his head back, his arm covering his eyes. The person sitting next to him remained silent, almost as if they weren't there.

Chen Mo quickly spoke up, "Find a place to drop me off by the roadside."

The gaze from the person beside him felt tangible. Chen Mo heard him ask, "And then what?"

"Then I'll take a taxi, any kind will do."

The other person seemed puzzled, "Is it necessary to go through all this trouble?"

"If not?" Chen Mo lowered his arm and looked over, the pressure making his eyelids crease, adding to his fatigue. Yet his words were direct, "There's no one else here. Gou Yiyang is too dense to have called you here. Seeing that the person needing help is me, does the Class President still want to be helpful?"

Xi Siyan laughed in frustration.

It was obvious.

His laughter lacked gentleness, instead exuding a sense of intimidation, "Do you think I was just acting earlier?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that the case?"

"Chen Mo," Xi Siyan called his name, his tone growing colder, "I don't usually meddle in others' affairs, but if I do, I don't like being accused right to my face. Especially using the excuse of your rivalry with the Yang brothers. If you're dissatisfied, you can fight for it yourself."

Chen Mo smiled.

"With whom? Your childhood friend?" Seeing Xi Siyan's veins bulge, Chen Mo leaned closer, emphasizing each word, "Does he even deserve it?"

Without waiting for a response, Chen Mo leaned back.

He curled his lips, "Or should I fight with the rest of the Yang family? Not worth the effort."

Xi Siyan didn't throw him out of the car.

The car drove all the way to the hospital entrance.

Chen Mo stood by the roadside, watching the car disappear around the corner before turning to enter the hospital.

On the other side, inside the car that had just turned the corner.

Driver Lao Lin glanced at the rearview mirror and cautiously spoke, "Siyan, are you really leaving him like that? It seems the kid is quite sick."

Xi Siyan: "With that sharp tongue, should I help him?"

"I don't think he was targeting you," Uncle Lin tried to smooth things over, "In the end, it's the Yang couple who went too far. Even if not treating them equally, they shouldn't favor one so much. For him to be this sick, yet they only care about..."

Lao Lin had been with the Xi family for years and naturally knew Yang Shule, but he didn't mention his name.

After all, it wasn't his place to criticize.

Lao Lin continued, "Anyone in his shoes would feel upset. Though it wasn't Shule's fault for being switched at birth. You grew up together, so I understand taking his side, but I feel this situation shouldn't be so one-sided."

Regarding the mix-up, Xi Siyan made no comment.

He simply said, "Uncle Lin, when did you start believing rumors?"

"Is it wrong?" Uncle Lin laughed, "You've always sided with family, never bothering with reason. When have you ever argued logically?"

The car fell silent for a moment.

"Have someone contact the hospital."

"Don't let him die."