Chapter 154

Grandpa’s eyes welled up with tears. Although he had only known this young person for a few days, blood was thicker than water, and the genuine care from the heart warmed him deeply. With this thought, Grandpa suddenly acted playfully and threw himself into Xuanyuan Xuanjing’s arms. “Grandpa, you’re so kind!”

Grandpa’s heartfelt confession immediately pleased the doting Xuanyuan Xuanjing, who embraced his well-behaved granddaughter with strong arms, a broad smile lighting up his face.

Those nearby saw this and couldn’t help but smile, clearly satisfied with the current situation.

“By the way, Xiaoxiao, you didn’t know yet, did you? Your good friend is Yuwen Xi, the biological son of Mr. Wei Ting! It was announced at your engagement ceremony,” Shilei, wiping away tears as if recalling something, said.

Yingyue was taken aback; she hadn’t expected Xi to be of such a status. Though this wasn’t her concern, her brows furrowed nonetheless, for she had not forgotten that she had personally accepted Yuwen Xi’s proposal but had not appeared at the engagement ceremony!

Since the moment she met Yuwen Xi, it seemed she owed him something—an unrepayable debt—and he had given selflessly all along. Surely, this incident must have been a heavy blow for him, for she clearly remembered how happy he had been when she accepted his proposal.

Thinking of this, Yingyue looked at Shilei and asked, “Brother, where is Yuwen Xi now?”

“He returned to China just a few days after that day.”

“Is that so? He went back home?” Yingyue murmured. “Perhaps I should return to see him.”

“Xiaoxiao, what did you say?” Shilei noticed Yingyue’s lips moving as if to speak, but her voice was too low to catch, so he asked.

Hearing this, Yingyue looked up at Shilei. Seeing the puzzled faces around her, she was about to speak when a sudden ringing interrupted her.

Shilei, being closest to the phone, frowned but did not hesitate. With a slender hand, he answered the call. What was said on the phone was unknown, but his expression grew graver, his brows knitting tightly into a bow as he hung up.

Yingyue and the others saw this and their brows furrowed in unison. Xuanyuan Xuanjing then asked, “Leier, what’s going on?”

Shilei did not answer immediately but glanced at Yingyue before turning to Xuanyuan Xuanjing. “Grandpa, just now we received news—Arthur Reeves, after rushing from the racing arena, was involved in an accident during today’s race,” he said, then looked at Yingyue again. Yingyue’s face paled noticeably upon hearing this but remained silent. Shilei continued, “According to on-site reports, his injuries are severe, and from the circumstances at the scene, it seems to be a case of intentional sabotage.”

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Xuanjing’s brows deeply furrowed, his tone heavy. “What happened? Have they found out who did it?”

Shilei’s frown deepened as he said enigmatically, “Our people at the scene estimate there’s an eighty percent chance—” He glanced again at Yingyue, who remained undisturbed, her face only pale. Then Shilei said to Xuanyuan Xuanjing, his gaze fixed on Yingyue, “Eighty percent chance—it was Arthur himself who caused it!”

Xuanyuan Xuanjing seemed incredulous, but when he caught sight of Yingyue’s suddenly ashen face, a moment of understanding flickered across his expression. Yet he still asked, “You mean the prime suspect is Arthur Reeves himself? So, he deliberately caused the crash?”

“Yes,” Shilei said heavily. During this time, everyone remained silent but all eyes turned to Yingyue, watching her every move.

“What would drive him to do such a thing?” Xuanyuan Xuanjing asked, almost rhetorically.

Shilei looked at Yingyue and said, “People say Arthur has been deeply depressed lately. He was planning to retire from racing, but for some unknown reason, he suddenly made a comeback—and this time, he signed a death pact!”

“A death pact?” Xuanyuan Xuanjing exclaimed loudly, “Has he lost his mind?”

Shilei saw his grandfather’s mock outrage and anger, his black eyes rolling, and his mouth twitched slightly before he calmly replied, “I think so, Grandpa.”

Xuanyuan Xuanjing’s mouth twitched as he inwardly grumbled, This damned kid really is clever.

Shilei returned a glance to Xuanyuan Xuanjing that conveyed silently—Grandpa, this is what you call a tacit understanding!

Amid their silent exchange, Grandpa suddenly stood up abruptly. “I’m not feeling well. I’ll go rest upstairs.” Without waiting for anyone’s reaction, he hurried upstairs as if chased by a raging flood.

No one stopped him, for from his ashen face, they understood there were unspoken troubles weighing on him.

Yingyue dashed back to her bedroom and collapsed onto the velvet pillow, clutching it tightly with both hands, digging deep furrows into the plush fabric—a clear sign of her inner turmoil.

At this moment, Yingyue’s heart was screaming silently.

What exactly do you want? What are you doing? Do you think I will change my mind because of this? Do you believe your self-inflicted suffering will make me drop all burdens and come back to you?

Suddenly, Yingyue lifted her head, her gaze complex and unreadable, her heart a turbulent sea.

Arthur, don’t think that I will come to see you because of this! No, I won’t!

I won’t pity you, not at all!

The more you press me, the less I will return to you!

Yet despite her defiant thoughts, her body betrayed her—her face was streaked with tears.

Unaware, tears streamed down her cheeks. Still, Yingyue stubbornly denied the mounting worry flooding her heart.

No, Arthur, I absolutely will not see you!

Thus, during the days Yingyue feigned indifference, the Water Love Garden remained quietly silent. Everyone busied themselves with their own affairs, yet Yingyue could not ignore the furtive glances directed at her by a few.

Though outwardly calm and seemingly unmoved, her heart was anxious beyond measure. She could endure it—she could avoid focusing on Arthur’s situation.

However, on the day after Arthur’s accident, an unexpected visitor arrived in a hurry, his face anxious—it was Xiahou Yu!

Thanks to Shilei and the others deliberately easing things, Xiahou Yu reunited with Yingyue after a long separation. Standing before her, he felt an indescribable sensation: Yingyue was so close, yet felt so distant, especially with that calm, indifferent expression that now seemed unfamiliar. But he could no longer care about that—his whole focus was on Arthur.

Seeing Yingyue, he paused briefly, then urgently said, “Yingyue, you must come with me! You have to go with me right now!” With that, Xiahou Yu grabbed her arm, trying to pull her along.

“What are you talking about?” Yingyue frowned slightly, coldly shaking off Xiahou Yu’s hand. She took two steps back to put distance between them and said coldly, “Yu, if you intend to take me to see him, then you’ve come for nothing. I won’t see him!”

Xiahou Yu was stunned, hardly believing it—this once gentle girl had unknowingly turned so cold, so unfamiliar.

Is she still the same girl I once knew?

“Yingyue, please don’t be like this, okay?” Xiahou Yu tried to ignore her icy demeanor, pleading, “Do you know how critical Arthur’s condition is? He’s been unconscious for a full 36 hours since the accident yesterday. The doctors say if he doesn’t wake within 48 hours, he never will!”

He watched her face carefully, catching every slightest change of expression. But to his disappointment, Yingyue remained expressionless.

What he did not see was that, hidden from view, Yingyue’s hands were clenched tightly inside her sleeves.

A deep sadness washed over Xiahou Yu’s heart. He sighed and said, “Yingyue, do you know why Arthur returned to racing? Do you know why he crashed? It’s because of you—because you abandoned him. After regaining all his memories, you still left him. He said that since meeting you, you’re the only thing he ever cared about. If even you don’t value his life, why should he?”

Xiahou Yu’s voice grew heated, his eyes tinged with a faint red. Then he paused, struggling to calm his emotions. Looking at Yingyue’s calm face, he said quietly, “I heard he’s poisoned by you for life. Since you don’t want to cure him, then so be it. Maybe that’s for the best.”

After saying this, Xiahou Yu didn’t look back. He turned and left.

As he departed, a single drop of crimson fell onto the grass beside Yingyue.