As soon as she picked up the phone, a deep and familiar voice came through, hitting Yun Qingxi's ears like a bolt from the blue.

"The sky is clear."

"Xin Huai?"

Yún Qíng xī yī zì yī dù niàn chū nà ge míng zi, qīng xiù de liǎn yī zhèn fàn bái.

"I didn't expect you to remember me?" Xin Huai's tone was very relaxed, but falling into Yun Qingxi's ears it wasn't like that at all.

"What on earth do you want to do?" Yun Qingxi asked directly.

She didn't even need to ask if this email was from Xin Huai. The answer was obvious; apart from Xin Huai, no one else would have sent it.

Xin Huai smiled ambiguously and spoke: "Yun Qing, you are a smart person. The only stupid thing you've ever done is leave the Xin family. But that's good too, now you are Ye Ziyu's girlfriend, his most trusted person. If you continue to work for the Xin family, I can let you live. Otherwise…"

"Otherwise what?" Yun Qingxi interrupted him, her voice icy cold, "I'm not going to help you with that!"

"So you plan to let Ye Ziyu see your true face?" Xin Huai's voice was laced with a veiled threat.

That feeling was just like the heavy prelude to a thunderstorm. There was wind blowing, but it made it hard to breathe.

Yun Qingxi fiercely pinched her own arm, struggling to stay awake, not losing her rationality in anger and anxiety.

Over the years, she hadn't encountered any difficult people, but compared to Xin Hui, those people were simply insignificant. Those people at most just made sarcastic remarks that didn't hurt her, while Xin Hui could truly inflict deep wounds on her, leaving her scarred and broken.

Everyone has a dark side they're unwilling to face, and hers was enough to consume her entirely.

She didn't want to do those things for others, but when did fate ever give her a chance to choose?

After being caught by the Xin family, she had no other choice but to escape. Even after years of running, those past events still clung to her like a shadow, impossible to shake off.

“What benefit does it bring to you, and what benefit does it bring to the Xin family to expose those things?” Yun Qingxi asked harshly, “The Xin family has been hiding in the shadows for so many years. Now, in order to deal with me, they are willing to put all their dark secrets out in the open. Am I that worthy of you, Xin Shao, to make such a big fuss?”

She was betting that Xin Huai's threat was only skin deep, that even if she didn't do what he said, he wouldn't publish the contents of that email.

To deal with her, to get the whole Xin family involved? That's a terrible bargain.

“Clear skies, do you really think all those things in the email are all of the Xin family’s secrets?” A chuckle came from the other end of the phone. Xin Huai sounded like he'd heard an unbelievable joke, “The Xin family is far more intricate than you think. Dealing with you wouldn't require a thousand casualties on our side.”

Yúnqíng tried her best to discern the truth from his tone, but she was utterly unable to.

She knew she had already lost. She lost because Xin Huai had a lot of capital to keep playing, while she had nothing. Her only leverage might be her boyfriend Ye Ziyu and the affection the Ye family had for her.

But how can these be used as bets?

How could she possibly gamble with these things, wagering against someone like Xin Huai, a madman?

"What do you want me to do?" Her voice returned to its usual calmness, her mind already made up.

“Next, the Xuanmei Group and Longcheng's most famous real estate group are going to have a business cooperation. This is Xuanmei's most important external cooperation this year. Help me figure out Xuanmei's offer. If I can win against Xuanmei in this competition, I can consider letting you off temporarily.” Xin Huai didn't make his words too harsh.

This is a temporary break in the clouds, like a single horse galloping by. It is not forever.

Yun Qingxi clutched her phone tightly, swallowing the three words "you're dreaming" with gritted teeth, a few bloodshot lines appearing in the corners of her eyes.

"Okay," she replied, each word carefully enunciated, "just a price quote. I can get it for you."

Xin Huai seemed to have expected her answer, chuckling softly: "This is obedient of you. You're a member of the Xin family, not the Ye family. After bringing down Ye Ziyu, I will arrange a suitable job for you, ensuring your life remains as comfortable and carefree as it is now, never having to worry about money."

Living a life of luxury and comfort?

Clouds and sunshine, she has never valued this.

She hopes to be with the person she loves, living a carefree life. Even if life has many twists and turns, they can walk hand in hand together, never separated, and never defeated.

Suppressing the rising disgust, she spoke coldly: "I hope Mr. Xin will keep his promise and do what he said."

"Of course." A voice came from Xin Huai's phone.

Yún Qíng xī méi duō zài shuō yī gè zì, jì zhí guà le diàn huà.

Staring at the phone screen that was gradually dimming, her face was cold, and she stood there for a while.

"Xin Huai, do you know why you lost..."

Because I am destined to never do anything to harm Ye Ziyu, in this life, the person I am most incapable of harming is him.

She said softly and seriously, then turned and left the room.

Outside the bedroom was a long corridor, Ye Ziyu's study was at the corner, there a light was on, the door was slightly ajar, and the light spilled out, falling on the long plush carpet in the corridor, it looked very warm.

Just like the person Ye Ziyu, he's so warm.

Yun Qingxi knew that Yezizi Yu was inside, possibly dealing with work matters or continuing to investigate the clues behind Ye Zipei's murder.

She took a deep breath and walked over.

It's not that I haven't hesitated, but some things were destined from the beginning. Love cannot be used as a bargaining chip, nor can it be given away for others to exploit.

Yún Qíng gently raised her hand and tapped on the door.

Ye Ziyu sat behind his desk, looked up to see Yun Qingxi outside the door, a little surprised. The look in his eyes that fell on her was still as gentle as before: "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Those eyes looked at her with a gaze so clear yet filled her heart with distress. When Ye Ziyu focused on her, he always gave her a sense of profound affection.

Like a perfectly clean night, sprinkled with stars like scattered gold, pure and moving.

How could he possibly deceive someone like Ye Ziyu?

Yúnqíng opened her mouth: "I... I have something to tell you."

She spoke with difficulty, but for a second she understood. Instead of hiding her ugliness, she should just say everything.

At least this way, Xin Huai could only deal with her alone, instead of being able to use her hand to deal with Ye Ziyu and the entire Ye family.

She's not afraid to face her alone.

No matter how cruel the methods, she was not afraid.

Ye Ziyu saw a hint of something amiss in her eyes. He rose from behind his desk, the worry on his sharp features unmistakable: "What's wrong?"

"Xin Huai contacted me," Yun Qingxi managed to remain calm, her voice trembling as she spoke the truth. "He wants me to... do something for him."

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