"I..." Shen Xi's heart trembled, rendering her momentarily speechless.
Just as she was in a difficult spot, her phone in her bag suddenly rang. Upon taking it out, she saw it was Song Kaicheng.
"Hello? Kaicheng ge." Shen Xi glanced at Qin Siye and answered the call in his presence.
Song Kaicheng's anxious voice came through the phone, "Xixi, where are you? Did you go to see Qin Siye alone?"
"Yes." Shen Xi didn't deny it.
"Didn't I tell you not to look for him? Why don't you listen to advice?" Song Kaicheng's voice held a touch of anger and helplessness.
Shen Xi replied, "You've helped me so much, I just want to do something for you."
"I don't need you to do anything for me, all of that was my willing choice." Song Kaicheng's voice suddenly rose, so clearly that even Qin Siye, who was leaning back on the sofa with his eyes closed, could hear it.
"I..." Shen Xi hesitated, unsure how to answer.
After a long pause, Song Kaicheng's voice came again, deeper than before, "Xixi, don't get involved in this matter. Is Mr. Qin with you? Hand the phone over to him."
"Oh." Shen Xi replied with a single word, handing the phone to Qin Siye, "Kaicheng ge wants to speak to you."
Qin Siye sat up, took the phone, pressed the speakerphone, and placed the mobile on the coffee table, "Mr. Song, what do you have to say?"
"Mr. Qin, regarding this morning's events, I was indeed too rash. Everything is my fault, and I apologize to you. I hope you won't make things difficult for Xixi." Song Kaicheng's voice came through the phone, his tone calm, almost as if forced.
Qin Siye's lips curved into a slight smile, and he suddenly chuckled twice, "Mr. Song, what are you saying... Where is this coming from? It's not Shen Xi who made a mistake, so why would I make things difficult for her?"
Shen Xi, however, shot him a slight glare. His words sounded noble, but he always found an opportunity to "squeeze" her.
"Alright. I will take responsibility for the mistakes I made. Mr. Qin, tell me, when you have time, I would like to treat you and Mr. Qin from Phantom Bar to dinner to apologize in person." Song Kaicheng's words sounded much more sincere now.
Qin Siye's gaze darkened, "Dinner? Dinner is unnecessary. I want to see your attitude."
Song Kaicheng said, "Mr. Qin, you are right to criticize. At the time when the truth of this matter came out, I failed to recognize my mistake immediately, which was indeed irresponsible. To show my remorse and apologize to both Mr. Qins, I accept your request to An Kang Hospital and will withdraw my funds and cease to invest."
At this statement, both Qin Siye and Shen Xi were taken aback.
Shen Xi quickly picked up her phone, urging, "Kaicheng ge, please reconsider. Mr. Qin has already..."
"Xixi, stop talking. My decision is made and will not change. It's getting late, you should come back quickly." Song Kaicheng immediately cut her off and hung up the phone. He had heard that Qin Siye had been drinking and now just hoped she would return home quickly.
Shen Xi put her phone back into her bag, stood up, and bowed slightly to Qin Siye, "I apologize for the disturbance, Mr. Qin." Her distant gaze held a hint of anger.
"Wait." Qin Siye also suddenly stood up unsteadily, his gaze fixed on her, "You haven't... haven't answered my question from earlier."
Shen Xi lightly raised her eyelids, "Do you think it's still necessary for me to answer you now?"
"Then this statement, can I... can I understand it as, what you told me before, you truly... truly concealed something?" Qin Siye swayed slightly, his eyes chillingly fixing on her.
Shen Xi's heart jolted. She turned and walked forward, "Think whatever you want."
The next second, the man reached out with his long arm and, from behind her, pulled her into a firm embrace.
"Yin Xi, you are Yin Xi, aren't you? You've been lying to me."
Shen Xi trembled in shock, but no matter how she struggled, she couldn't escape the man's secure hold.
"Mr. Qin, please calm down. Look clearly, I am Shen Xi, Yin Xi's cousin."
"What cousin, don't... don't lie to me anymore. My intuition tells me, you two... you two are the same person." Qin Siye rested his head in the crook of her shoulder, his hot breath intermittently brushing against her neck.
Shen Xi's heart pounded wildly. Tears welled in her eyes. She closed them slightly and uttered a sentence as if guided by an unseen force, "You two have only known each other for a little over a month, why are you like this?"
"No. Although we've only known each other for a little over a month, she... she has lived in my heart for five years."