Chapter 25 Lin Xi’s Illness

At that moment, startled exclamations rose from the entrance, drawing Lin Xi and Lu Yuxiu’s attention. Lin Tianyou, dressed in a sharp business suit, hurried in. The aura of authority from his long-standing position and the innate grace of his noble heritage set him apart, making him seem untouchable atop a lofty peak. Even with his courteous and gentle manner, people instinctively kept their distance.

“Xiao Xi, I’m not late, am I?” Lin Tianyou glanced around.

Lu Yuxiu had just been thinking of him—speak of the devil, and he appears.

“Brother, you’re late! I’ve already blown out the candles!” Lin Xi bounced over to him. “Where’s my gift?” She held out her hand, gazing at her brother with eager anticipation.

“Second Brother, what took you so long?” Gu Yao walked up and slung an arm around Lin Tianyou’s shoulder. “Look at her, she’s a little gold-digger! All she cares about is presents.”

“Hmph! It’s my birthday! Not everyone is as thoughtless as you, showing up empty-handed,” Lin Xi retorted, her young lady’s temper flaring as she confronted Gu Yao with righteous indignation.

Gu Yao was momentarily speechless, clearly defeated. “Well…I mean, it’s not like you’re lacking anything!”

“Don’t make excuses! You’re just stingy!” Lin Xi frowned, refusing to let him off the hook.

“All right, all right!” Gu Yao gave up, raising his hands in surrender. “You’re the boss today. I was wrong, I’ll make it up to you later!”

Those watching were stunned, struggling to process what they’d just witnessed. So the renowned business mogul Lin Tianyou was Lin Xi’s brother! Lin Xi was indeed a true heiress—the legendary, never-before-seen Lin family daughter was right here among them!

And the boss of Starlight Entertainment, the famous King of Song, treated her with such indulgence and affection. Lin Xi was truly the winner in life.

Still, everyone was tactful enough to pretend they’d seen nothing. They quietly took their food and slipped back to their dressing rooms.

“All right, that’s enough. Stop bickering. Yao, you’re at fault!” Gu Jue, ever the peacemaker—married men always seemed more prone to worrying—stepped in.

“Who wants to argue with you, Fourth Brother? I’d rather you call me ‘Big Sister’ instead!” Lin Xi, still annoyed, complained.

“Fine, fine, Sister! Big Sister, it’s your birthday today—you call the shots!” Gu Yao, on the bottom of the family food chain, surrendered with a look of mock despair, indulging her demands.

Wen Jin, watching from the sidelines, was struck by how fortunate Lin Xi was to have so many people doting on her. Quietly, she slipped away to her room.

Lin Tianyou chuckled. “Xiao Xi, your fourth brother’s about to be bullied into submission! Give him a break.”

Gu Yao shot his second brother a grateful look.

“Xiao Xi, haven’t you always wanted your own brand?” Lin Tianyou took a file from his assistant and handed it to her. “Here you go—this company is yours now.”

Lin Xi was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up as she eagerly accepted the file. “Really?!”

“Of course. Ai You Foundation will provide your startup investment, and I’ve already found a manager for you. But how you develop it from here will depend on you.” Lin Tianyou ruffled her hair.

“Ah, I love you so much, Brother!” Lin Xi exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. She glanced, not so subtly, at Gu Yao, as if to show off.

“Cough, cough, I’ll invest a bit too—as a birthday present!” Gu Yao chimed in meekly from the side.

Lin Xi, having already forgotten their earlier spat, accepted without hesitation. “Great! Transfer it right away!” Gu Yao could only smile wryly—he knew all along Lin Xi was setting him up. But he didn’t mind; for his sister, it was just pocket change.

Lu Yuxiu had been silently watching. He saw how Lin Xi acted around those close to her—so bright and carefree, almost childlike. When would she ever feel so at ease and unrestrained around him?

Lin Xi tugged at Gu Yao’s sleeve, dragging him off to her dressing room, clearly intent on making sure he transferred the money.

“Second Brother, I have to go pick up Shiying,” Gu Jue said, glancing at his watch.

“All right. Drive safe,” Lin Tianyou replied, giving his shoulder a pat.

Gu Jue nodded at Lu Yuxiu and took his leave.

Now alone, Lu Yuxiu turned to Lin Tianyou. “Mr. Lin, there’s something I’d like to ask. Would you be willing to answer?”

“Go ahead, Mr. Lu,” Lin Tianyou replied, sensing he had something on his mind.

“I’ll be direct. I want to know—what happened to Lin Xi twelve years ago?” Lu Yuxiu was blunt; he was done waiting and guessing.

Lin Tianyou showed no surprise; it seemed he had expected this. Gazing into Lu Yuxiu’s resolute eyes, he knew the time to reveal the truth had come. “Very well. I’m free tomorrow at noon. Let’s meet at Lansi.”

Lu Yuxiu was slightly taken aback, not expecting such an easy agreement.

——————————

The next day at noon, the rare winter sun shone brightly, warming everything it touched.

Lu Yuxiu arrived at Lansi for their meeting. Seated across from each other, both men hesitated, unsure how to begin.

“So, you were that little boy in Xiao Xi’s class all those years ago?” Lin Tianyou broke the silence.

Lu Yuxiu froze in shock, then quickly pressed, “She remembers me? She mentioned me?”

“She doesn’t know it’s you,” Lin Tianyou replied, dousing his excitement. “After what happened, she lost all memories before age twelve. As for you, she only has faint impressions.”

Lu Yuxiu’s feelings were a tangle of confusion and pain. He was unsettled. “How could that be? What on earth happened to her? Why was she traumatized?”

Lin Tianyou studied him, uncertain whether to divulge everything. Yet the concern and urgency in Lu Yuxiu’s eyes were genuine. “I’ve hesitated to tell you, because we’ve never spoken to her about it. That’s why she returned to the country—she wanted to find you, to discover the truth, believing you were someone who knew what happened.”

“My people found out you’d been searching for her all these years. It’s clear you care about her. So perhaps it’s better for an outsider like you to tell her, if it must be told. But I’m not sure how you really feel about her…”

“I love her.” Lu Yuxiu’s answer was instant, his gaze solemn and unwavering.

Seeing his sincerity, and recalling his years of relentless searching, Lin Tianyou finally relaxed. As a man, he recognized Lu Yuxiu’s feelings for his sister were not feigned.

“Tell me—what really happened back then?” Lu Yuxiu’s agitation grew; he unbuttoned his collar as if struggling to breathe. He had his suspicions, but feared hearing something terrible, afraid he wouldn’t be able to bear it—that he would regret not being there for her.

Lin Tianyou sighed, a shadow crossing his face. “When Xiao Xi was twelve, our parents took her on a business trip. There was a car accident; our parents died protecting her. They shielded her with their lives. I did everything I could to keep it quiet—the world never learned of their deaths. It may have been cowardly, but I had no other choice.”

“To protect Xiao Xi, I sent her abroad to our eldest brother. That’s why you couldn’t find her. The accident didn’t take her life, but it did shatter her memory. The doctors said she retained fragments—vague, painful images that haunted her and led to post-traumatic stress disorder. And I, her brother, wasn’t there when she needed me most. I had no way to help her…”

The more Lu Yuxiu heard, the darker his expression grew. He closed his eyes—post-traumatic stress disorder? How much pain had she suffered, out of his sight?

His little girl—so innocent, lively, and bright—should have grown up carefree under the love of her parents and the doting of her brothers. Instead, she had endured such heartbreak.

“Xiao Xi has always been searching for you. She once said she dreamed of a gentle boy. That must have been you. But I don’t think it’s the right time for her to know the truth. She’s only just begun to heal. If possible, I wish she could remain ignorant of what happened,” Lin Tianyou said, brows knitted.

“Don’t worry. I understand,” Lu Yuxiu replied quietly, eyes flashing with determination.

“But have you considered—what if Xiao Xi doesn’t love you?” Lin Tianyou’s words struck at Lu Yuxiu’s heart.

He lifted his head, answering calmly, “I have. But I love her, and I respect her choices. That’s why I’ll do everything in my power to make her love me.” His tone was gentle, as if quietly confident in himself.

That afternoon’s filming was light. Lin Xi and Lu Yuxiu were rehearsing together. Lin Xi quickly sensed something was off—though he recited his lines with her, his attention kept wandering. He would stare at her in a daze, pain and wounded longing flickering in his eyes.

Now, once again, he was lost in thought as he gazed at her.

“Brother Yuxiu, Brother Yuxiu!” Lin Xi waved her hand in front of his face.

Lu Yuxiu snapped back to reality, still staring at her.

“What’s wrong? You seem distracted. Did something happen?” Lin Xi asked, puzzled.

“It’s nothing, just a bit tired,” Lu Yuxiu replied, returning to his usual self.

“You work too hard, always losing yourself in a role,” Lin Xi chided, sounding like someone with more experience. “You always scold me, but you need to take care of yourself too—don’t stay up too late, drink more warm water, get enough sleep, and eat balanced meals, not just fast food. When you’re stressed, remember to unwind—listen to music, watch variety shows, that sort of thing.” She even quoted the typical advice of a notorious boyfriend.

Lu Yuxiu listened, watching her with deep, amused eyes.

“What are you looking at? Are you even listening to me?” Lin Xi noticed his distracted air.

He smiled. “I hear you, little old lady.”

Lin Xi, genuinely concerned for him, was called an old lady for her trouble. Annoyed, she gave him a playful smack.

To Lu Yuxiu, it was nothing more than a gentle tickle. He accepted it with laughter, utterly indulgent.

“If I’m an old lady, then you’re an old man! You’re always nagging me too!” Lin Xi huffed.

“Fine! I admit it—I’m an old man,” Lu Yuxiu responded without protest, his eyes shining with warmth and laughter.

Lin Xi paused, realizing what she’d said. Rarely did she blush, but now she did, flustered by his teasing.

In her embarrassment, she smacked the script against him. “What’s so funny? There’s nothing funny! Let’s focus! The next scene is important—don’t slack off!”

Her cheeks were bright red, her words tumbling out in a jumble, saying whatever popped into her head.

And all the while, Lu Yuxiu watched her with a deep, gentle smile.