Chapter 14: Framed by Another

Yi Xiaoyan rushed forward in a stride, grabbing He Haoxuan’s arm tightly. “Don’t leave! Explain yourself—when did I ever insult you?”

“Dawei, don’t bother with her,” He Haoxuan replied with a cold sneer.

Cao Dawei was torn. If he started the car now, Yi Xiaoyan would certainly be thrown to the ground.

“He Haoxuan, are you even a man? Why can’t you just tell me what happened back then?” Yi Xiaoyan sensed something was wrong.

Back then, she and He Haoxuan were on good terms. How could he have changed so suddenly in just one afternoon, as if he’d been badly shaken by something? In those days, Yi Xiaoyan was proud, thinking that He Haoxuan looked down on her. So why should she regard him highly?

Years had passed, and Yi Xiaoyan had matured considerably. When she saw He Haoxuan again and witnessed his downfall, she felt an ache in her heart she couldn’t explain. And hearing that he’d married into the Li family to repay the debt of gratitude for saving his father, enduring a life unfit for a human, made her heart ache even more.

No matter what, she had to get to the bottom of it.

“Haoxuan, just tell her. Let’s see if she has any shame left,” Cao Dawei said angrily, turning off the electric scooter and letting He Haoxuan get off.

He Haoxuan sat silently, like a sealed jar, refusing to speak. Seeing this, Cao Dawei turned to Yi Xiaoyan. “Yi Xiaoyan, back then Haoxuan wrote you a love letter. If you didn’t like him, fine, but why did you call him shameless?”

“What? You wrote me a love letter? How could I not know?” Yi Xiaoyan stared at He Haoxuan in shock.

He Haoxuan was equally stunned. “You didn’t know? Who wrote the reply in the letter that was sent back?”

“He Haoxuan, you’ve known me for so long, and you still can’t recognize my handwriting?” Yi Xiaoyan said angrily. “I had no idea you sent me a love letter. I always thought you looked down on me. Back then, I even heard others say you already liked another girl.”

“I never did,” He Haoxuan said, his face bitter. Now he realized something was wrong about what happened that time. When he wrote the love letter, he was extremely nervous. Later, he found the letter in his desk drawer, and his anxiety deepened. When he opened it and saw the reply full of insults, he assumed it was from Yi Xiaoyan and forgot to check the handwriting.

Thinking back now, He Haoxuan realized the handwriting in that reply didn’t quite match Yi Xiaoyan’s. Her script was much more elegant and graceful. Who could have done such a thing? He Haoxuan’s anger flared.

If he ever found out who was responsible, he would make sure they paid dearly.

“Did you offend someone back then? Who would do this to us?” Yi Xiaoyan stamped her foot in anger.

If she had known He Haoxuan wrote her a letter back then, she couldn’t imagine how happy she would have been. She would never have rejected him, nor gone off to study at Yancheng University in frustration.

Cao Dawei saw it was all a misunderstanding and quickly intervened. “Don’t be like this! It’s getting late. Yi Xiaoyan, you should head home. Haoxuan, get on the scooter, let’s go for a drink.”

Yi Xiaoyan, a little annoyed, said to Cao Dawei, “Since it’s late, you go ahead. I still have something to discuss with Haoxuan.”

“Well... fine, I won’t play third wheel,” Cao Dawei shook his head helplessly.

In the past, he would never have interfered with the two of them. But now that He Haoxuan was married, he shouldn’t be flirting around, especially since the other party was from the illustrious Li family of the Baile Group, with assets worth hundreds of millions. If He Haoxuan strayed, it could cost him his head.

Yi Xiaoyan watched with satisfaction as Cao Dawei left, then turned to He Haoxuan. “Why did you write me a love letter back then?”

He Haoxuan broke out in a sweat. Was there even an answer to such a question? But now, he was a different person, and of course he could reply. “I was bored, I guess.”

“Bored?!” Yi Xiaoyan glared at him. “Don’t talk nonsense. You’re punished—buy me tea.”

“Tea at this hour?” He Haoxuan was surprised. “How about another day?”

“No, I want it now. I have a car—you can ride with me.” Without letting He Haoxuan protest, Yi Xiaoyan turned and walked away.

He Haoxuan nodded inwardly, surprised by Yi Xiaoyan’s success—she’d even bought herself a car.

Soon, Yi Xiaoyan drove up on a ladies’ electric scooter. He Haoxuan’s eyes widened.

“This is your car?”

“Isn’t it a car? Get on the back.” Yi Xiaoyan glanced at him playfully.

He Haoxuan looked at the tiny rear seat and swallowed hard. If he got on, they would be pressed close together. Was it really proper? Even if his heart secretly wished for it.

Seeing He Haoxuan hesitate, Yi Xiaoyan said, annoyed, “What’s the matter? I don’t mind, so why should you?”

“No, no problem,” He Haoxuan said, and got on without another word.

As expected, they ended up pressed tightly together. Yi Xiaoyan’s body trembled slightly, but she still drove the scooter forward.

Chen Hanfei and Xu Jipeng came outside. When Xu Jipeng saw Yi Xiaoyan and He Haoxuan riding together on the scooter, he was furious. “Damn it, class leader, that He Haoxuan is outrageous. He already has a wife, and he’s still chasing after Yi Xiaoyan?”

“Hmph, Jipeng, find a way to tell Li Qingying. Let her discipline He Haoxuan,” Chen Hanfei grinned slyly.

Even if Li Qingying treated He Haoxuan like a dog, she wouldn’t let anyone seduce her family’s dog.

“That’s easy. I’ll tell the Li family tomorrow,” Xu Jipeng snickered.

Sitting behind, He Haoxuan occasionally caught the faint fragrance from ahead, and ripples stirred in his heart. Especially when Yi Xiaoyan braked now and then, pressing them even closer.

These months, He Haoxuan had kept himself pure. His body was quick to ignite.

“Yi Xiaoyan, you can’t keep braking just to take advantage of me,” He Haoxuan teased.

Yi Xiaoyan felt his unusual presence behind her and blushed, scolding, “Don’t entertain any improper thoughts. Behave yourself.”

Instead of going to a tea house, Yi Xiaoyan drove to the riverbank not far away.

He Haoxuan was surprised; this was a place they used to come years ago to study and chat—a spot for their “dates.”

Returning to this familiar place brought back a flood of memories.

He Haoxuan cleared his throat, embarrassed. “Xiaoyan, I’m already married.”

“I know. You married into the Li family to repay a debt. How much do you owe them? I’ll help you pay it back,” Yi Xiaoyan said thoughtfully. “By the end of the year, I’ll have saved a hundred thousand. You can repay the Li family and divorce her.”

“I will divorce her,” He Haoxuan nodded.

Their agreement for divorce was less than half a year away—it wouldn’t be long now.

Yi Xiaoyan was overjoyed at his words. “I’ll wait for you.”

“Ah.” He Haoxuan stared at Yi Xiaoyan in astonishment.