The Lin Family Winery, located on the outskirts of Sea City, was a large complex that integrated both a production facility and cellars. This complex was the very lifeblood of the Lin Family.
When Luo Xiu arrived in a taxi, he saw the blaze lighting up a vast expanse of the night sky. Thick smoke billowed into the air, forming a dense, oppressive mass that made the night seem even darker and suffocated the senses.
A dense crowd of curious onlookers had packed the area, making it more chaotic than a holiday festival and greatly annoying the soldiers tasked with maintaining order. Fire trucks were parked neatly in a row. Streams of water, like a dragon's breath, blasted the roaring inferno, but the fire was too fierce and showed no signs of abating.
"Where is Xi Yue?" Luo Xiu pushed through the crowd to find the Lin Family mbers standing outside the police cordon.
"You jinx, how dare you show your face here!" Zhang Cui saw Luo Xiu and imdiately burst with fury.
The rest of the Lin Family also glared at Luo Xiu, grinding their teeth in anger.
Lin Daqi clutched his cane tightly, his chest heaving with rage. He wished he could go over and club Luo Xiu to death.
"Luo Xiu, were you the one who trashed the casino last night?"
"That was Boss Huang's place!"
"Even if you trashed it, why did you have to bring the Lin Family's na into it? What does the trouble you caused have to do with us?"
"Now look! They ca for revenge, and the Lin Family is finished!"
"This is all your fault!"
"You jinx! The Lin Family's century-old foundation, ruined in a single night!"
Losing patience, Luo Xiu ignored them and asked Zhang Cui impatiently, "Is Xi Yue inside?"
Zhang Cui's eyes were bloodshot as she roared in fury, "Luo Xiu, you listen to ! If anything happens to my husband and my daughter, I'll never forgive you!"
Luo Xiu wasted no more words. He ducked under the police tape and rushed straight into the inferno.
"Hey! Are you insane? Get back here!" an officer shouted, moving to stop him, but Luo Xiu was too fast, leaving the man with only a view of his receding back.
Zhang Cui gritted her teeth and said, "Forget about that jinx. It'd be better if he just burned to death in there!"
「In the midst of the inferno.」
Luo Xiu held his breath. A faint, cyan aura emanated from his body, forming a protective shield that insulated him from the intense heat of the flas.
"Lin Xiyue!"
"Lin Xiyue, where are you!"
After searching a large area, he still couldn't find her.
At that mont, his anxiety flared like wildfire. He was terrified that sothing had happened to Lin Xiyue, because if it had, he would never get the Jade Pendant back.
Just then, Luo Xiu felt a warmth on his neck. Looking down, he discovered the Jade Pendant he wore was glowing. Vaguely, he could feel a strange aura from the pendant guiding him.
He hurriedly took off the Jade Pendant. Following the faint, mysterious aura, he soon found Lin Xiyue in an underground cellar.
And it wasn't just Lin Xiyue; Lin Youpeng was there too. Both father and daughter had fallen unconscious.
Lin Youpeng was severely burned, a ghastly sight, but Lin Xiyue, held tightly in his protective embrace, was largely unhard. Luo Xiu then noticed that she was still clutching another Jade Pendant in her hand.
It was the very pendant he was after.
He figured that the two pendants were resonating with each other, forming so kind of connection. After all, they were originally a pair.
But at that mont, Luo Xiu had no ti for such thoughts.
"Xi Yue!"
"Wake up!"
"Are you okay? Can you move?"
Lin Xiyue's eyes slowly fluttered open. Seeing Luo Xiu, a faint smile touched her lips as she murmured weakly, "Luo Xiu… don't worry about . Just find a way out… This Jade Pendant… here, take it back…"
"It's a good thing I made it in ti, otherwise this Jade Pendant would've been lost."
"I'm sorry… I held you up for so long because of this. Now… we're both free."
A tremor went through Luo Xiu as he stared blankly at her. To think she would risk her life and run in here just for this Jade Pendant…
Luo Xiu clenched his teeth. He didn't take the pendant. Instead, he swept Lin Xiyue into his arms, gave the prone Lin Youpeng one last deep look, and turned to leave.
「Outside the police cordon.」
Everyone was arguing noisily.
Suddenly, soone pointed toward the raging fire. "Look, there's soone over there!"
Everyone imdiately looked over, shocked to see Luo Xiu running toward them with Lin Xiyue in his arms.
"Xi Yue, it's Xi Yue!"
"Quick, get a stretcher!"
Monts later, Luo Xiu placed Lin Xiyue on a stretcher and said softly, "I'm sorry. In this situation, I had no choice but to save you first. But don't worry, I'll go back for your dad."
Lin Xiyue was sowhat conscious now. She gripped Luo Xiu's hand tightly and shook her head, pleading with him not to go.
Luo Xiu firmly pulled her hand away, turned, and ignoring the soldiers trying to stop him, disappeared once more into the inferno.
「The next day at noon.」
When Lin Xiyue awoke again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. She was still clutching the jade pendant tightly in her hand.
"You're awake?"
Luo Xiu's voice ca from the side.
Lin Xiyue snapped back to her senses and turned to him, asking urgently, "How's my dad?"
Luo Xiu looked at her, a flash of guilt in his eyes. "I can't say he's completely fine, but at least his life has been saved," he said slowly. "His burns are severe, and he's still unconscious."
The mont he finished speaking, Lin Xiyue threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and ran from the room.
Luo Xiu sighed silently and followed at an unhurried pace.
When he entered Lin Youpeng's hospital room, he saw Lin Xiyue crying by the bedside. Nearby, Zhang Cui and the others were also weeping.
Luo Xiu walked over and placed a hand on Lin Xiyue's shoulder. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll heal your dad."
Zhang Cui roared, "Get out! Who asked for your help? Who do you think you are?"
Luo Xiu took a deep breath, resisting the urge to slap her. If he could, he would have smashed her mouth in. But given what had happened, he had to endure it for now.
Lin Fei glared at Luo Xiu. "Sister, divorce this stray dog tomorrow and kick him out of the Lin Family!"
Xu Tao stared at him and yelled, "Nothing good has happened since he ca to the Lin Family. He's a jinx!"
Lin Xiyue pulled Luo Xiu out of the room. She wiped her tears and said, "Don't listen to them. I'm the one who decides if we get a divorce. You'll have to put up with leaving the Lin Family Villa for a bit. I'll contact you later."
Without another word, Luo Xiu turned and left.
That afternoon, Luo Xiu packed his belongings and left the Lin Family Villa.
However, he didn't leave the Sea City Riviera Villa District. Instead, he went to its largest and most luxurious villa. This was the villa Sun Gaozhi had given him. All the paperwork was now complete, so it was entirely his.
The spacious hall was empty, and a profound silence filled every corner. Luo Xiu walked in, used his suitcase as a stool, and pulled out his phone to call Su Shenyun.
"The Lin Family Winery caught fire. I think it was arson."
Su Shenyun asked, "Do you suspect the Su Family? Or do you suspect ?"
She continued, "The Su Family is now partners with the Lin Family. They wouldn't be stupid enough to burn down the winery. That would be like destroying the Lin Family's very lifeline, and the Su Family would suffer significant losses as well."
Luo Xiu's gaze lowered. "So, it was Boss Huang?"
Su Shenyun countered, "Isn't this the result you wanted? I imagine the entire Lin Family now thinks you're to bla and wants to kick you out."
Luo Xiu fell silent, his heart a tangle of emotions. Lin Xiyue had risked her life rushing into the fire for the jade pendant he wanted. The act had deeply moved him, and now he was overwheld with guilt and self-reproach.
On the other end of the line, Su Shenyun said, "I'll investigate who did it. I'll have an answer for you by tomorrow at the latest."
"Also, I'll co pick you up tomorrow night. I'm taking you to et Boss Huang."
Luo Xiu said coolly, "If I find out he did it, I'll make him pay the price then and there."
Su Shenyun laughed. "I know that to you, people like him are beneath notice. But Boss Huang is connected to many powerful people and complicated affairs. So please, do this for . Give him a pass, just for now."
Luo Xiu asked, "And it's not because he's your husband?"
"My marriage to him was for a specific purpose. You could say I'm on a mission."
"Besides, you've slept with his wife so many tis. Going after the man himself now seems a bit much, don't you think?"
...
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