My Paranoid Girlfriend Asks Me to Be Her Kept Woman (Rebirth) - Chapter 5

Zhao Qi continued giving instructions.

“There usually aren’t many people here. You can stay without worry.”

“Will you still come back?” Lin Yi asked, her eyes full of worry and anxiety.

Zhao Qi blinked, then smiled faintly.

“What? Are you worried I won’t come back?”

Lin Yi bit her lower lip again. Hearing Zhao Qi’s question, she hesitated.

“When I knocked earlier, I heard you on the phone. Did something happen again?” That was why she looked so uneasy.

Zhao Qi could read Lin Yi’s emotions at a glance. It was as if she could magically sense the unspoken anxiety within her.

“I…” Lin Yi tried to organize her words.

Buzz—— Buzz——

Both of their phones vibrated at the same time.

Lin Yi’s hand moved faster than her brain and she answered the call.

“Sister, it’s me, Xiaolu.”

“It was my fault. I was deceived by bad people and lost my way, but I never really wanted to hurt you, Sister.”

Zhao Qi was standing very close and could faintly hear the voice. Her brows furrowed, her sharp eyebrows looking as cold as a blade. Then, with perfect manners, she took a step back to avoid the sound coming from Lin Yi’s phone.

Lin Yi remained silent.

On the other end of the line, Lin Xiaolu put on an extremely pitiful act, explaining how helpless she was. She claimed she only wanted Lin Yi to have more resources and greater opportunities for development, instead of being buried despite her talent. She said she never expected things to turn out this way and that she only reported it because she was worried about Lin Yi. As a young girl in a panic, the only thing she could think of was to call the police.

“Sister, can you forgive me?”

Lin Yi’s face was expressionless.

She and Lin Xiaolu had come out of the orphanage together. From a young age, Lin Xiaolu had always been weak and dependent, easily bullied. Lin Yi had protected her all this time, believing it was her responsibility as the older sister. But what exactly was Lin Xiaolu to her?

Before she became an adult, she relied on state subsidies, scholarships, and part-time jobs to finish university while also supporting Lin Xiaolu. She had always remembered the orphanage director’s words about watching over and helping each other. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaolu sucked her blood dry — never worrying about money and happily completing four years of university.

After graduating, she was scouted by Jianming Entertainment Media. At the time, she had wanted to join another company that focused on production and work as a producer’s assistant. It was Lin Xiaolu who said that becoming a celebrity would earn big money, and then they could live together forever. Lin Xiaolu would always be her most loyal little assistant, and they wouldn’t have to separate because of life’s struggles.

She had been blinded by the beautiful future Lin Xiaolu described.

She was an orphan who had always longed for a family, and Lin Xiaolu — the little sister she had sheltered under her wings — was the family she had acknowledged.

What she never expected was to be stabbed viciously in the back by this “family member” she had recognized…

And to this day, she still didn’t know why Lin Xiaolu did it.

“I forgive you. Then what?” Lin Yi’s lips curved into a smile.

Zhao Qi’s frown deepened, a deep crease forming between her brows.

Lin Xiaolu: “Sister, really?”

“Heh. Even you don’t believe it yourself. Why keep pretending like this?”

“Sister. You’re not like this. You will forgive me. You will always support me.”

“What nonsense are you saying? If I had raised a dog all these years, it would at least bark at me. Raising you only got me betrayal.”

“No, it’s not like that!” Lin Xiaolu suddenly screamed frantically over the phone. “Sister, you’re not like this toward me!”

Lin Yi didn’t want to listen anymore. She hung up the call, her eyes reddening with suppressed emotion.

She was far from as calm as her tone had suggested.

Zhao Qi unconsciously pinched her thumb against her index finger. She looked at Lin Yi, who then lifted her head and met her gaze.

“I’m fine, it’s just…” Lin Yi said softly, “my heart hurts a little.”

Zhao Qi stared carefully into her eyes. Those eyes that should have been as bright as stars and as vibrant as spring were now covered by dark clouds.

Her own heart ached in response, throbbing as if something was connecting them.

She silently stepped closer and unconsciously stroked Lin Yi’s cheek. There were no tears on her face, yet Zhao Qi could feel her heart trembling.

She knew this feeling — like a hole had been punched in the heart. No matter how you tried to fill it, it could never be restored.

Lin Yi was pulled into Zhao Qi’s arms. She seemed to hear someone sigh softly.

“Then come with me.”

Her hand was held, and that familiar warmth spread to her fingertips. Her soul seemed to tremble.

**

A roar sounded from the roadside. With a press of the accelerator, they drove away from the apartment building.

Lin Yi sat in the passenger seat, her mind blank, still unable to react.

Zhao Qi held the steering wheel with both hands, her right index finger tapping idly on it.

Lin Yi watched the scenery receding outside the window. After a long moment, she asked hesitantly, “You’re going home… is it really okay for me to follow you?”

She had wanted to stop the woman from going home, but she never thought about going together!!!

Zhao Qi kept her eyes on the road, completely focused.

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“……” Lin Yi didn’t know how to answer.

“Relax, my family members are all very nice.” Zhao Qi’s curly hair looked fluffy, and a trace of imperceptible mischief flashed in her eyes. “Mm, and they’re very open-minded too,” she added lightly.

Lin Yi gripped the seatbelt. When she lowered her head, her pink hair fell softly.

!!!

How could she have forgotten about her hair!!!

She had dyed it only because she was attending a drinking party and had been persuaded by the stylist.

It did look beautiful and complemented her skin tone, but now she was about to meet her beloved’s family. She didn’t know if they would misunderstand because of it.

Lin Yi kept telling herself to stay calm. The Zhao family weren’t the kind of people who would judge her because of unconventional appearance.

—

The Zhao family absolutely were.

Lin Yi noticed that although the Zhao family servants were very well-mannered, their eyes kept drifting toward her hair before naturally looking away again.

She sat gloomily in the living room and took a sip of water.

Although the Zhao family ran a large business and their servants had seen much, it was still shocking that their usually steady young miss had returned from abroad with a friend who looked so “rebellious.”

Lin Yi had no idea that because of her pink hair, these people already viewed her as someone unconventional.

Zhao Qi watched in amusement as Lin Yi sat awkwardly in the living room. She called over the servant who had just poured water.

“Where are Big Brother and Second Brother?”

The servant replied respectfully, “The master is still at the company. The second master had a meeting today, but we contacted their secretaries earlier. They said both will be back for lunch.”

Zhao Qi’s eyes lowered for a moment before she asked softly, “What about my third brother?”

The servant hesitated briefly, then answered, “He has been brought back from the Qingshan Sanatorium. He’s currently in the back courtyard.”

Zhao Qi hummed in acknowledgment and waved for the servant to continue her work.

Lin Yi’s hand holding the water glass paused.

Third brother?

[But did you know I also have a third brother who once wished I would die?]

She put down the glass and looked at Zhao Qi.

Zhao Qi closed her eyes slightly, suppressing the emotions in her heart.

—

“Our Xiao Qi is finally back.” Zhao Chengye took off his coat and handed it to a servant while asking, “Where are your sister-in-law and the others?”

Zhao Qi stood obediently to the side and greeted him, “Big Brother.”

“Don’t leave now that you’re back.” Zhao Chengye turned to the servant who was taking the coat.

“The madam took the young master back to her parents’ house,” the servant replied with lowered head while holding the clothes.

Zhao Chengye frowned. “What kind of behavior is that!”

He was about to get angry when he turned and saw the person behind Zhao Qi.

“Who is this?”

Zhao Qi introduced her, “My friend. Didn’t you say there was a gathering today, Big Brother?”

Zhao Chengye glanced at Lin Yi. The eye-catching pink hair displeased him greatly.

But since his little sister had just returned, it wouldn’t be good to lecture her about her choice of friends. He pulled off the tie around his neck with one hand.

“Your second brother is meeting with the Wang family today. If things go well, we’ll settle it for him.”

Zhao Qi thought about it and agreed. Big Brother’s child was already up to her calf, yet Second Brother still wasn’t married. At over thirty years old, he really should find a sister-in-law.

“Miss Wang? Wang Minmin?”

“You know her?”

“I’ve heard of her.”

Zhao Chengye instructed, “Since you’re here today, help your brother take a look at his future wife.”

As he spoke, another car drove in. Zhao Chengzhi had just entered the house when he heard his big brother assigning tasks to their little sister.

With a gentle smile on his face, he teased, “Brother, let little sister rest a bit. She just got home and you’re already putting her to work?”

Zhao Chengye snorted coldly. “It’s all because there’s someone so useless.”

Zhao Chengzhi smiled at Zhao Qi and Lin Yi. He had a gentle, warm aura that seemed capable of melting ice and snow. Lin Yi could feel Zhao Qi relax noticeably.

“This young lady’s hair looks nice,” Zhao Chengzhi deliberately changed the subject, not wanting to remain a target for his brother.

Lin Yi suddenly felt everyone’s eyes in the room focus on her. She couldn’t help feeling nervous.

In her previous life, their first meeting had not been like this at all.

She had been lying in a sickbed, with death already beckoning. Zhao Chengye and Zhao Chengzhi had come to the apartment (Sangzhu, the one Zhao Chengye gave to Zhao Qi) after hearing their sister was keeping a same-sex lover there, intending to cause trouble.

But when they saw her, both men fell silent.

In the end, they only told her to rest well.

They seemed to have already seen that her time was running out.

This was essentially the first formal meeting with Zhao Qi’s family in both lifetimes. They had no idea what Lin Yi was so nervous about.

They only thought that although this young lady looked unconventional with her pink hair, she seemed quite shy.

Zhao Qi spoke up and rescued Lin Yi from her predicament.

“Let’s eat first.”

When they sat down at the dining table, Lin Yi had Zhao Qi on her left and Zhao Chengzhi (Second Brother) directly across from her. Zhao Chengzhi kept smiling at her warmly, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Only after the dishes were all served did Zhao Chengzhi finally look away.

The Zhao family followed strict table etiquette — no talking while eating. For a while, even the sound of chopsticks touching bowls and plates was very quiet.

Lin Yi ate grain by grain, her whole body stiff on the chair. She was terrified of making any mistake and leaving a bad impression on the Zhao family — even though her hair had probably already left a very deep impression.

After the meal, the eldest brother Zhao Chengye called out, “Xiao Yi, come to the study and find me.”

Zhao Chengzhi nodded politely at Lin Yi, displaying gentlemanly grace. “Take care of your friend first, then come find us.”

After the men left one after another, Zhao Qi led Lin Yi to the guest room.

“Rest in the guest room for now. If you need anything, press this button and someone will come.” Zhao Qi glanced out the window. The flowers in the garden were blooming vibrantly. After thinking for a moment, she added, “If you get bored, you can take a walk in the garden.”

Lin Yi nodded repeatedly. Zhao Qi closed the door and was about to leave when she turned back and said, “Just walk around the courtyard. Don’t go too far.”

【Lin Yi.】

Lin Yi let out a sigh and collapsed onto the bed. Suddenly, Wuming’s voice sounded in her mind.

【I sensed the power of “hate.” It is gathering.】