Chapter 26: Just Pretend Your Ex-Boyfriend Is Dead

Qiao Xu comforted herself inwardly, "Forget it, just pity him."

After all, even his own brother had abandoned him.

He didn't turn around, so Qiao Xu hugged him from behind.

"Xu Si'an, even if there was no misunderstanding, we have no future."

"Believe me when I say we do."

Xu Si'an turned back and pulled her into his arms, pressing his forehead against hers. "I am truly sorry about what happened with your uncle, but whether it’s blind dates, marriage, or sex, you’re only doing it with me."

Qiao Xu was speechless; she knew she shouldn't have pitied him.

"Get lost, you're an eyesore."

Xu Si'an pecked her lips lightly, his voice raspy as he pleaded, "Let me woo you."

"You were the one who pursued me in our sophomore year; now it's my turn."

Qiao Xu covered his mouth. "I have no interest in dating an ex-boyfriend."

"Just pretend your ex-boyfriend is dead."

Qiao Xu: "..."

"I'll have a black-and-white portrait of you framed and hung on your wall tomorrow."

Qiao Xu pushed him away forcefully. "Go to hell. Don't hang it in my house; hang it at your brother's."

What kind of man was he? Trying to scare her to death.

Xu Si'an pulled her back into his arms from behind. "Baby, I've missed you so much."

Qiao Xu murmured, "Ex-boyfriends shouldn't be handsy."

"So, is that the only thing an ex-boyfriend can't do?"

Xu Si'an guided her back to the bed. "Sleep now, it's very late."

Before closing her eyes, Qiao Xu didn't forget to remind him, "Get out of here quickly. A man and a woman alone in the middle of the night—you're ruining my reputation."

The man chuckled softly and patted her back. "Alright, you sleep first."

Qiao Xu was genuinely exhausted. Perhaps it was because he was there that she drifted off to sleep so quickly.

Xu Si'an personally retrieved the pants he had hung on the balcony and headed into the bathroom. After showering, he carefully lifted her blanket and slipped inside. In her sleep, Qiao Xu subconsciously burrowed into his embrace.

As her soft body collided with his, Xu Si'an’s smile deepened.

And she claimed she didn't like him, despite these subconscious actions. You could sooner believe a dog could fly than believe a word out of Qiao Xu's mouth.

Having been separated for four years, these were the only two nights Xu Si'an had been able to sleep naturally while in Qiao Xu's bed. Usually, he had to drink several glasses of hard liquor to numb his nerves just to find a shred of drowsiness.

By noon the next day, the warm sun filtered through the curtains onto the two figures huddled together. The phone on the nightstand rang. Xu Si'an reached for it, pulling his arm tighter around her slim waist. He kissed her ear and glanced at the caller ID.

"Baby, it's your mom."

Qiao Xu made a noise but didn't move. Xu Si'an answered the call and held the phone to her ear.

"Xu Xu, the matter of finding you a match is underway. Do you remember Chen Yuanming from your Aunt Chen’s family?"

"Xu Xu? Xu Xu?"

It wasn't that Qiao Xu didn't want to speak; it was that she couldn't.

Upon hearing her mother's voice, she had snapped her eyes open. She nearly screamed, startled by the enlarged handsome face right in front of her. Xu Si'an took the opportunity to seal her lips. The more Qiao Xu pounded on him, the more fiercely the "dog" bit back.

She knew this untrustworthy wretch; she had been wondering why he hadn't gotten up to pick up the blanket in the middle of the night.

Finally released, Qiao Xu kicked wildly under the covers. Xu Si'an let out a muffled groan before she covered his mouth with her hand. His expression shifted instantly. Qiao Xu glared at him and mouthed two words: "Shut up."

"Mom, I was just half-asleep. What were you saying?"

Xu Si'an clutched himself and turned away, while Qiao Xu got out of bed. After a few minutes of conversation, she hung up. She returned to the bedroom, pulled the curtains open, and threw off the covers. "Get up. Get out of my bed."

Xu Si'an looked up at her, his eyes filled with grievance and strikingly bloodshot. Qiao Xu saw him clutching his crotch.

"What are you doing?"

Xu Si'an pressed his tongue against his back teeth. "What do you think?"

"I knew you hated me, but I didn't realize you hated me this much."

Qiao Xu felt a bit guilty; she had only kicked him casually. "Stop pretending. I didn't use any force."

Xu Si'an laughed in frustration. "If you had used force, my soul would have left my body."

Qiao Xu leaned over to look at him. "Does it really hurt?" It didn't look like he was faking; the veins in his forehead were quite prominent.

His arms circled her waist, and he pulled her down onto the bed. "It hurts. You're fully responsible."

"I'm responsible for your—"

"Get up and leave my house. I have to go out."

Xu Si'an rolled over and pinned her beneath him. "Go out where? To meet the neighbor boy your mom arranged for you?"

Qiao Xu glared at him. "None of your business."

"Ex-boyfriends shouldn't be so nosy."

Xu Si'an’s expression turned cold. "No way. Make him wait in line; I was here first. Qiao Qiao, you can't treat me like this. You slept with me just last night."

Qiao Xu: "???"

"Get your facts straight. You were the one who crawled into my bed."

Xu Si'an buried his face against her, nudging her pajamas aside. "You rolled into my arms. I just wanted to borrow a bed to sleep in."

Qiao Xu was beyond exasperated. What was he doing now? He was truly Cherry's father—his way of nudging her was exactly the same.

"Well, you've already had your turn. It's someone else's."

Xu Si'an gave a roguish smirk. "You can go, but help me out first, and then I'll let you leave."

Qiao Xu was dumbfounded. What was he talking about? Help him with what?

The blanket was pulled up to cover them both, and Qiao Xu’s curses were swallowed by his kiss.

"Mmph—Xu..."

"Baby, this is the trouble you caused."

"I didn't."

"Kiss me."

"Qiao Qiao, baby~"

"Wife~ it hurts!"

Qiao Xu was furious. "Shut your mouth!"

Xu Si'an’s voice was low, raspy, and tender. "Baby, your nails..."

An hour later, Xu Si'an personally drove Qiao Xu to her "blind date." The man behind the wheel was refreshed, a smile playing on his lips. Qiao Xu’s hands trembled as she applied her lipstick.

Xu Si'an just had to add fuel to the fire. "Baby, no need to apply it; it's already very red."

"Shut up."

He chuckled. "So fired up? It’s my fault; I was too busy enjoying myself and forgot to help you."

Qiao Xu threw her lipstick at his face. "Stop the car."

"Don't make a scene. Your blind date is waiting."

Xu Si'an dropped Qiao Xu off at the designated restaurant. She pushed the door open and stepped out, curling her lip. "Don't see me again, you jerk."

"Baby, my flight is at nine tomorrow morning. I'll come pick you up."

Xu Si'an watched her retreating figure, his eyebrows arched in a light smile. He reached into the center console, pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, and lit one up. He took out his phone and made a call. "Help me gather everything about Shen Zhiwei from the last six years. Everything."

He Yanyuan asked, "Why? Planning to steal your brother’s woman?"

Xu Si'an sneered. "That kind of trash? Only my brother, with his high-level 'love-struck fool' syndrome, would want her. I’m different; I’m a loyal lapdog."

He Yanyuan, on the other end of the line, nearly choked with laughter. "You have quite the self-awareness. So, how did it go? Did Qiao Xu try to kill you?"

"She tried. I crawled into bed and coaxed her."

He Yanyuan was truly impressed by this shameless dog.

"Give me that new car in your garage."

"I'm going to have that woman trending on the internet for the next ten days or so."