Chapter 16: The Bewitching Fox Spirit

“How do you act coquettishly?” Shi Yi looked at him earnestly. As a refined lady from a noble family, she genuinely didn’t know how to act cute or flirt.

Ling Siyu was momentarily stunned, then raised his hand to pull her into his embrace, burying his head in the crook of her neck. In a playful tone, he said, “Yi Yi, let me take care of you, alright?”

Then he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Yi Yi, did you learn? This is how you act coquettishly.”

Shi Yi felt a shiver run down her spine. She—she was being teased by a younger man again!?

She jabbed him with her elbow. “Let—let go of me, General.”

Ling Siyu frowned slightly, his voice tinged with concern as his temple pressed against her forehead. “You’re not even feverish, yet you don’t know how to act coquettishly and instead spout nonsense?”

Repeatedly calling herself “General” — was it because she watched too many dramas or was her mind slightly unhinged from the torment by the Chu family?

Ling Siyu’s heart ached profoundly.

“I—I meant, hurry and let me go,” Shi Yi quickly corrected herself.

She must stop calling herself “General.” She had to adapt to life here as soon as possible.

Ling Siyu nuzzled close to her ear, gently coaxing, “Yi Yi, if you act a little coquettish with me often, I won’t just take care of you—I’d give you my life.”

“You—you have no shame,” Shi Yi’s cheeks flushed crimson. Her head bumped against the man’s chest, aching but also warm.

Instinctively, she lifted her chin and shouted, “Ling Siyu, are you a seductive fox spirit? Stay away from me.”

“You have nowhere else to go. How could I not care for you?” Ling Siyu asked softly.

“No,” Shi Yi said decisively. She wasn’t foolish; in this world where she had no relatives, he was her only hope.

After a pause, she added, “Maybe I rely on you a little—just a bit for your wealth, your power, and perhaps a tiny spark of desire. But rest assured, I only want to live well. I will never fall in love with you.”

Ling Siyu’s gaze darkened, looking at her meaningfully as he smiled wryly. “Yi Yi, you really are a straightforward girl. Not even a single insincere word for me.”

After defeating Chu Yifan and now another brother Ji, Ling Siyu felt as if a thorn was stuck deep in his heart.

“That’s what I should do. Don’t worry, I will guard my heart carefully and absolutely will not let it fall for you or cause you any trouble,” Shi Yi said earnestly.

---

Ling Siyu breathed softly onto her earlobe. “Yi Yi, you need to understand one thing.”

Shi Yi looked up at him. “What is it?”

Ling Siyu pursed his thin lips and chuckled, “As long as I’m pleased, you can want anything from me, even my body…”

He dragged the last word out, pinching her chin and leaning in to kiss her.

Shi Yi raised an eyebrow and loudly stopped him. “Don’t try to take liberties with me.”

“Then why don’t you take liberties with me? Hm?” Ling Siyu looked at her with lowered lashes, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“Hey, young master, you wouldn’t happen to have feelings for me, would you? Let me tell you a secret—I’m more than a thousand years older than you. Don’t even think about me,” Shi Yi jabbed his chest with her elbow.

Ling Siyu lowered his gaze, staring at the delicate, enchanting face before him, restraining himself.

He did have feelings for her, but he couldn’t admit it—if he did, that little thing would surely be arrogant beyond measure!

…

Elsewhere.

Song Yashi was pushed out of the operating room.

For convenience, mother and son were arranged to stay in the same hospital room.

Song Yashi lay on the bed, her teeth clenched tightly in rage.

Her entire finger was in a splint; the back of her hand was swollen and red, streaked with blood at the wound. Worse yet, two of her fingers had been amputated due to comminuted fractures.

Her brain was about to explode with fury. She could hardly catch her breath and almost went to confront the Chu family matriarch.

Chu Yifan’s father, Chu Yuancheng, was smoking one cigarette after another by the corridor window.

Finally, losing all patience, he flicked the cigarette to the ground and crushed it with his foot, shouting, “I was on a business trip for a week, and you two caused so much trouble! The Ling family is officially offended by you now.”

He turned to Chu Yifan, furious. “And you, what’s wrong with you? Why did you borrow so much from loan sharks?”

Song Yashi covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. “Why did I marry such a good-for-nothing man? Our wife and son are bullied like this, and you don’t even avenge us, but instead blame us.”

Chu Yifan’s eyes were red as he said, “Dad, it’s all that wretched Shi Yi’s fault. She seduced Ling Siyu, and that’s why Ling Siyu targeted me and Mom.”

“Why did you borrow so much from loan sharks?” Chu Yuancheng kicked over a stool beside him.

Song Yashi sniffled, “Son, be honest with your parents. Why did you borrow so much from the loan sharks?”

Chu Yifan painfully grabbed his head. “I lost some money gambling last time, so I borrowed a bit, thinking I could pay it back. Who knew it would keep piling up?”

“Not just a bit! You mortgaged all the Chu family assets. You squandered the Chu estate, and now even the villa we live in is being forcibly seized. How could I have such a disgraceful son? Are you trying to leave us homeless on the streets?” Chu Yuancheng’s face was livid.

“T-Then, what should we do? *Sob* *sob*…” Song Yashi cried, breathless.

Chu Yuancheng slapped his thigh. “Cry, cry, cry—what are you crying for? If only you had treated Shi Yi better back then! She is deeply favored by Old Lady Ling now. If the Ling family helps us, it would be just a word away.”

Song Yashi sniffed and argued, “Whenever something happens, you blame us. You’re always out gallivanting and never care about us. And that wretched Shi Yi—how did she even get involved with Ling Siyu? She must not forget that as long as she’s not divorced, she’s still our Chu family daughter-in-law.”

Chu Yifan tore at his hair and yelled irritably, “Enough! I’ve already divorced that wretched woman.”

“What?” Song Yashi’s voice trembled with anger. “Son, are you crazy? How could you divorce that woman? With her, there might still be a chance. Now it’s completely over.”

At that moment, Qin Wan’er pushed open the door. She gently rubbed her belly and spoke softly, “Auntie, Uncle, Yifan, don’t worry. I’ll go plead with Shi Yi. Even if I have to beg her on my knees, I’ll make her give the Chu family a way out.”

“Child, as the saying goes, adversity reveals true feelings. No need for aunties and uncles anymore—call us Mom and Dad. You carry the Chu family’s blood; you will be our daughter-in-law from now on,” Song Yashi’s emotions surged.

Learning that Chu Yifan’s foundation had been shaken, Qin Wan’er was the Chu family’s only hope.

Qin Wan’er smiled gently. “Mom, Dad, Yifan, rest assured. I’ll go plead with Shi Yi. She loves Yifan too much to just watch him end up homeless.”

Song Yashi smiled. “Yes, yes, Wan’er is right. That woman Shi Yi clung to our Yifan back then. She can’t just change her heart now.”

“Exactly. I don’t believe it either. She’s only with Ling Siyu to spite me,” Chu Yifan said with absolute certainty.