Chapter 11: Hearts Tend Toward the Vulnerable

Chapter 11: Hearts Tend Toward the Vulnerable

Him?

Cause trouble for Chi Jue?

Remembering recent rumors about this person clashing with Chi Jue, picking on him and bullying him, Xu Huaiting raised an eyebrow.

They weren’t lying. Ye Man really did have issues with Chi Jue and indeed took every private opportunity to bully him.

But the outcome... was something else entirely.

Xu Huaiting remembered the first time he saw him.

He was full of tricks, skilled at framing and setting people up, and could lie on the spot; ruthless to himself, and such a person would only be more ruthless to others. With these traits combined, he should’ve been the perfect villain.

But this one in front of him?

Xu Huaiting’s eyes trailed downward.

The boy, bruised and battered, was trying his best to put on a fierce and menacing expression, putting on a deep voice and leaning in close to Xu Huaiting, thinking he looked intimidating.

As he approached, a sweet smell of chocolate and cream filled the air.

Taking advantage of the fact that the other couldn’t see him, Xu Huaiting openly scrutinized this fierce, bad-tempered little liar.

Xu Huaiting was of mixed heritage, tall and well-built, with deep-set features and a sharp, defined contour. When he stared directly at someone, it always gave the impression of a predator poised to strike.

But now, this big lion was lounging against the sink, arms crossed, letting a tiny kitten paw at him.

He thought to himself, what a character—picking fights but making sure he’s well-fed first, taking good care of himself.

After his long speech, Ye Man’s mind had checked out, and his calves were trembling from the strain.

Oh no, he’d pushed too hard—his leg was cramping.

Ye Man’s face turned red as he gritted his teeth, refusing to drop his villainous act, "Even if you want to tell my parents that I bullied you, they won’t believe you. You’d better remember your place!"

Shaking...

"I’m the real young master, what’s yours is mine, and whatever I want, you have to give it to me!"

Shaking...

"If you don’t want to get thrown out—"

Xu Huaiting glanced at him, had had enough, and with one hand, he lifted him up by the waist and set him back down. Ye Man’s feet landed firmly on the ground, finally sparing his poor calves.

Blood circulation returned, and his legs no longer ached. Ye Man, like a hissing kitten suddenly pacified, stared blankly at Xu Huaiting, "Th-thank you..."

"Hmm."

The chest in front of him vibrated, and a particularly hoarse and magnetic voice came from before him.

Ye Man was still wondering if Chi Jue had been so scolded that he cried? Why was his voice so much lower than usual?

Then he heard a complex and helpless voice suddenly ring out from behind, "Xiao Man, let go of Mr. Xu first."

Ye Man was stunned.

Isn’t that Chi Jue speaking?

If the voice behind me is Chi Jue, then who’s the guy I’ve got pinned to the wall?

Ye Man’s body stiffened, his trembling fingers groping over the hard chest beneath him, and he felt even more despair.

Oh no, I’m screwed.

He messed with the wrong guy—no, he messed with the big boss! And he showed his ugliest side right in front of them!

Even though they already saw him for the sneaky troublemaker he was, as long as he wasn’t caught red-handed, he could pretend not to know. After all, someone like that probably wouldn’t bother with him.

But what the hell was he supposed to do now?

Ye Man panicked.

They’d seen his true colors, and he’d even cornered and threatened them in the bathroom. If they got mad and told Chi’s parents he’d been bullying Chi Jue behind their backs, wouldn’t he get kicked out before the year was up?

His mission was a bust, and the main couple still wasn’t together. And if he got kicked out of the Chi Family now, he’d end up with nothing.

No money meant...

What about the orphanage? And what about...?

Ye Man’s panic grew, his mind a buzzing blank.

Xu Huaiting had been casually watching the kid in front of him, curious how the little con artist would react when he figured out he’d messed with the wrong guy. But the longer he watched, the weirder it got.

Ye Man’s face went pale in an instant, and the sparkle in his bright eyes vanished.

Xu Huaiting frowned and touched Ye Man’s forehead, feeling cold sweat.

What’s going on? Just a second ago, he’d been all cocky, clueless as a spoiled housecat. Why’s he so freaked out just hearing it’s me?

Am I that terrifying?

Xu Huaiting barely touched him, and Ye Man flinched like he’d been burned. Xu Huaiting noticed Ye Man’s left foot tripping over his right and instinctively reached out to steady him, but Ye Man, who had been so obedient when he thought he was Chi Jue, now frantically shook off his hand.

Then, right in front of Xu Huaiting and Chi Jue, Ye Man hit the bathroom floor with a loud thud.

The fall sounded bad, and Xu Huaiting knew right away Ye Man’s hand was probably sprained.

When people fall, they instinctively use their hands to break the fall, and Ye Man’s fall was no exception. His hand couldn’t withstand that much force.

The sound of bones popping was enough to make anyone cringe.

Chi Jue’s eyes widened, his breath caught, and he froze in place. After a moment, he rushed over in a panic to help Ye Man.

For most people, they’d be clutching their hand, howling in pain, crying with snot and tears streaming down their faces.

Ye Man cried too, his tears falling gracefully, every move perfectly staged to look pitiful.

He didn’t scream or even seem to notice his injured hand, like he didn’t feel a thing. All his focus was on how to cry more beautifully, more pitifully, more heartbreakingly.

"Mr. Xu, I didn’t know it was you. I was just messing around. I’m blind—I can’t see. Please... don’t hold it against me, okay?"

He couldn’t say in front of Chi Jue that he wanted Xu Huaiting not to tell Chi’s parents about this, as that would just remind Chi Jue that there was a witness.

Ye Man really didn’t know what to do. When he panicked, his mind went blank, and he instinctively resorted to his usual survival tactics—playing the victim, acting weak, and laying it on thick.

His mother was gone, and his father was a mess. He had no one to lean on or protect him. He was young, had poor health, but possessed a pretty face, which often made people want to bully him.

Ye Man had a deep understanding of human nature. People naturally feel for the underdog. If he couldn’t win by being tough, he’d play it soft.

If he looked pitiful enough, someone kind would always step up.

For years, he’d milked people’s sympathy to get what he wanted. His pitiful look made strangers step in when Ye Guowen hit him. His pitiful act got debt collectors chased off and even landed him a meal and a place to stay. His pitiful look made even the bad guys back off.

Ye Man didn’t want Xu Huaiting to rat him out or help Chi Jue. To calm the storm he’d stirred, he fell back on his old tricks.

While making sure his tears looked just right, he thought, *I’m already a wreck—surely the big boss will let it go now. I’ve paid my dues; he’s probably too busy to bother with me, right? He won’t go out of his way to rat me out, will he?*

If this wasn’t enough, what else could he do?

Ye Man nervously bit his lower lip.

No scissors around to make himself look even worse.

Banging his head might work, but it could mess up his face, and then no one would pity him...

He lifted his hand, dramatically wiping his tears.

Halfway through, someone grabbed his arm.

Ye Man leaned on Chi Jue, who was frantically on the phone, his head spinning as he stared at the blurry figure in front of him.

"Don’t move."

The voice was stern, making Ye Man shrink back timidly.

Xu Huaiting firmly held his swollen hand, pulled out his phone with one hand, and quickly called Secretary Chen, giving the location and instructing, "Have Dr. Zhao bring the first aid kit over immediately."

Ye Man tried to subtly pull his hand back.

But as soon as he moved, Xu Huaiting scolded him again, "Still moving? Do you want to lose your hand?"

Ye Man: "Wuwu..."

So, is he off the hook or what?