Chapter Twenty-Three: Spending Money to Ward Off Disaster

Xia Xin woke up in a daze, opened her eyes, and found herself lying on the office sofa, a jacket belonging to Chen Fan draped over her. She was puzzled as to how she had ended up there.

Just then, Chen Fan pushed open the office door, holding a thermos in his hand. Seeing Xia Xin awake, he said, "Perfect timing. I've made some honey water for you—to help you calm down."

Xia Xin frowned and asked, "How did we escape?"

Chen Fan walked over, smiling slightly. "Well, I had to spend money to avoid disaster. You fainted from fright, so to save you, I gave those men the two million you entrusted to me."

Hearing this, Xia Xin tried hard to recall what had happened. She remembered the situation was extremely dangerous, and then, for some reason, she had suddenly lost consciousness.

"Did I really faint from fright?" Xia Xin asked, uncertain.

Chen Fan nodded, handing her the thermos with a hint of apology. "They were after me, and you got scared because of it. I'm sorry."

Xia Xin hesitated, then took the thermos, blowing gently on the steam before taking a sip. The warmth soothed her, and she felt much better, no longer anxious and unsettled as before.

She grumbled, "It's all because you used to be so flamboyant and offended so many people!"

Xia Xin wasn't surprised by any of this. Years ago, when the Chen family was at its peak, Chen Fan embodied the role of a playboy to perfection. He not only humiliated many young men from East City's elite circles, but also stole quite a few girlfriends. Most crucially, he was especially arrogant, so naturally he had a host of enemies.

Chen Fan laughed awkwardly, "Hehe, let's not bring up the past."

"I can avoid mentioning it, but now that you've returned and the Chen family has declined, those you once humiliated will surely look for ways to make you pay. Incidents like today are bound to keep happening."

She shot Chen Fan a glance, worry creeping into her eyes.

With a hint of annoyance, she said, "I should have known nothing good would come from being involved with you. I'm already regretting agreeing to the deal!"

Chen Fan's face darkened, and he said helplessly, "Xia Xin, I rescued you from a gang of thugs. Not only do you not thank me, now you keep finding fault with me. Is there any woman like you?"

"In the end, it was your fault. If you hadn't been so wild and fickle, maybe we..." Xia Xin blurted out emotionally, but quickly stopped, almost revealing too much.

But Chen Fan had already guessed, and a charming smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Are you saying we could have gotten married back then? Xia Xin, I never thought you secretly liked me!"

"Impossible. How could I ever fall for a jerk like you? Stop flattering yourself!" Xia Xin deliberately put on a stern face, her cold tone masking her inner turmoil.

Chen Fan gave her a playful smile. "Oh, is that so?"

Xia Xin refused to back down, glaring at him. "What else do you think it could be?"

The two locked eyes, neither willing to yield.

After a moment, Chen Fan smiled lightly. "Alright, since you're awake, I won't stay any longer. By the way, Leng Shuang called earlier. I told her to come at three. You should get ready."

With that, he left without another word.

Looking at the jacket covering her legs, Xia Xin muttered, "I'll return it to him next time."