Chapter 248 - 247: Stay With Me Tonight

"Xu Feifan, you’ve gotten real bold, haven’t you? Hitting your wife just because you’re drunk?"

Xu Feifan sobered up a bit from the hit. Noticing the red swelling on Meng Qiaofei’s cheek, he tried to argue, "It was just a momentary impulse. Who told her to insist on leaving?"

"Are you even a man? You spend your days eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, and then you come home just to cause trouble."

"The company has a mountain of problems. I don’t ask you to help me with anything, but at least don’t cause me more trouble!"

Xu Yue was utterly disappointed in her brother, and her scolding was merciless.

"Yang Xun and I are not getting a divorce. If you can’t stand living in this house, then you can leave!"

Hearing this, Xu Feifan’s eyes widened, and he struggled to climb up from the floor.

"Xu Yue! What did you say? You’re kicking me out!"

"You ungrateful brat! I’m your brother! I have a share in the Xu family’s assets. What right do you have to kick me out?"

"When our parents passed away and left you the company, I didn’t even fight you for it. And now you’re trying to destroy me completely!"

"Fine! I’ll call the reporters tomorrow! I’ll expose you and let everyone know what kind of person you, Xu Yue, really are!"

He cursed loudly, spittle flying from his mouth.

Xu Yue’s temper flared as well. She slapped Xu Feifan’s hand aside and raged, "The company was given to me because you don’t have the ability to manage it!"

"In all these years, have I ever let you go hungry or without clothes? Every cent you spend is money I earned! You do nothing productive all day. If you weren’t my own brother, I would never support you!"

She took a deep breath, her voice holding an indisputable chill. "Let me tell you something, Xu Feifan. This villa is in my name, and I’m the one who pays for all the monthly expenses."

"If you dare lay a hand on anyone again or do anything else this disgraceful, you will get the hell out of here. From that moment on, I won’t have you as a brother, and you won’t get another cent from me."

Xu Feifan’s face fell instantly.

He knew perfectly well that he was just a wastrel. Without Xu Yue’s support, he couldn’t even survive.

If he were kicked out of the Xu Family home, he wouldn’t even have a place to live.

"Yueyue, I was just saying that because I was angry. Your big brother drank too much."

Xu Feifan’s face shifted between pale and flushed, but in the end, he backed down.

"Cut the crap. You’re not welcome here tonight. Go stay somewhere else, and don’t come back if you’ve been drinking."

Xu Yue commanded.

Xu Feifan had sobered up considerably. Realizing he couldn’t afford to provoke Xu Yue, he trudged over to the sofa, picked up his jacket, and said, "I’m going, I’m going, alright?"

He walked briskly toward the door. As he passed Meng Qiaofei, he muttered, "Give me some money. I’m broke. You can’t expect me to sleep on the street, can you?"

Meng Qiaofei opened her purse and was just about to look for some money when Xu Feifan snatched it from her, pulling out all the cash inside.

He left in a huff, started his car, and sped away.

The living room fell silent. Meng Qiaofei stood by the sofa, one hand covering her swollen cheek as tears streamed silently down her face.

Yang Xun walked over, his voice much gentler than before. "Sister-in-law, let me put some ointment on that for you."

"Mm..."

Meng Qiaofei nodded, her voice choked with sobs.

Yang Xun helped her sit down on the sofa. He found a tube of anti-swelling ointment in the first-aid kit under the coffee table, squeezed some onto his fingertip, and gently applied it to her red, swollen cheek.

His movements were very light. The pads of his fingers were warm to the touch as he slowly and carefully rubbed in the ointment.

Xu Yue stood at the top of the stairs, watching this scene with a strange feeling in her heart. She said softly, "Sister-in-law, I’m sorry."

"Yueyue, how could this be your fault? I’m really fine."

Meng Qiaofei’s eyes were swollen from crying, making her look especially pitiful.

"As long as you’re okay. Get some sleep once you’re done with the ointment."

After saying this, Xu Yue felt like a third wheel and turned to go back upstairs.

Xiaolin followed closely behind her up the stairs.

Only Yang Xun and Meng Qiaofei were left in the living room.

Meng Qiaofei sat on the sofa, fighting back the stinging in her eyes. She said in a low voice, "Xiaoxun... I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you."

"Who would laugh at you? My heart just aches for you."

Yang Xun’s hand didn’t stop, his fingertips gently tracing circles on her swollen cheek.

"If he ever dares to lay a hand on you again, don’t just take it. Call me directly. I’ll beat the hell out of him!"

Meng Qiaofei lifted her tear-filled, almond-shaped eyes to his sharply defined profile, her heart overflowing with emotion.

"Xiaoxun..."

She suddenly reached out and gently gripped Yang Xun’s wrist, her voice a bit hoarse. "I’m a little scared. Tonight... could you stay with me?"

Yang Xun looked down at her beautiful, pleading eyes, and after a moment of silence, he nodded.

「In the dead of night, inside Meng Qiaofei’s room.」

The two sat side-by-side on the edge of the bed. Meng Qiaofei gently leaned her head on Yang Xun’s shoulder, sobbing softly. "Sometimes I really don’t know how much longer I can endure this kind of life."

"Sister-in-law, if you don’t want to live like this anymore, I support you getting a divorce. If Xu Feifan doesn’t agree, I’ll beat him until he does."

Yang Xun reached out and gently put his arm around her shoulders, a pang of bitterness in his heart.

"Getting a divorce isn’t that simple."

Meng Qiaofei sighed, raising her teary eyes to look up at him.

The distance between them shrank. Her breath, carrying a captivating, sweet fragrance, brushed gently across his lips.

Yang Xun’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He slowly lowered his head and kissed her soft, cool lips.

Meng Qiaofei’s body trembled slightly, then she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

Her fingers clutched at the fabric on his back, gripping it tightly as if it were a life-saving piece of driftwood.

Yang Xun’s response was exceptionally gentle, lacking his usual brashness. Instead, he slowly soothed her frayed nerves.

Outside, the moonlight was hazy, spilling through a gap in the curtains and casting a faint silvery glow over the dim room.

The precious spring night was all too short, and sleep never came.

...

The next morning, Yang Xun was awakened by the ringing of his phone.

He groggily fumbled for his phone and glanced at the caller ID. It was Zhou Yuan.

"Hello, Young Master Zhou. What’s up?"

"Mr. Yang, I have news!"

Zhou Yuan’s voice was tinged with excitement. "I heard that a collector in the neighboring Shunping City, a man named Zhao Hongshan, has a Red Flame Reishi in his possession!"

Yang Xun was instantly wide awake. He shot up in bed. "Really? Is he willing to sell it?"

"He’s not selling this Red Flame Reishi for money. There are conditions if you want it."

Zhou Yuan explained over the phone, "Zhao Hongshan’s daughter has a strange illness. He’s consulted many doctors, but none have been able to cure her."

"So he’s put the word out: whoever can cure his daughter’s illness can choose any one treasure from his collection. The Red Flame Reishi is among them."

"What if I can’t cure her?"

"Then there’s probably nothing to be done. He said that reishi was prepared for his daughter. If her illness can’t be cured, he won’t give it to anyone."

Zhou Yuan said, his tone helpless.