The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH58

Chapter 58

Chai Xiaoyu felt a chill rush from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, his arm hairs standing on end.

It was late autumn, and the sky darkened early.

They had been driving from the city for nearly an hour and a half. Outside, it was pitch black. Inside the car, the dim light from the dashboard and central console was the only illumination, and he couldn’t make out Fu Xiuning’s expression.

There were streetlights, and Fu Xiuning was right in front of him, yet it felt as though the man was completely enveloped in darkness.

It took Chai Xiaoyu several seconds to find his voice, tense and trembling. “Understood, Brother. I’ll be more mindful from now on.”

He tried to steady Fu Xiuning and ease the atmosphere. “By the way, Brother, how much longer until we get there? Is there anything you need me to do for tonight’s surprise event?”

Fu Xiuning replied in a gentle tone, “The second thing—I only like hearing Sui Sui call me Brother.”

Chai Xiaoyu froze again.

He had never encountered something like this before.

Chai Xiaoyu was good-natured and warm to others, getting along with almost everyone. Even with classmates who had extreme personalities, he could coexist peacefully. Usually, their outbursts had some kind of warning or pattern.

But not Fu Xiuning. One moment, he was a friend; the next, he tore the facade apart with no warning at all. His tone remained mild and even polite, leaving people utterly clueless about what he might say or do next.

Fu Xiuning turned a corner, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “Did you understand what I just said?”

Chai Xiaoyu hesitated, then said, “…I understand.”

Fu Xiuning seemed satisfied. “Good. Remember to stay away from Sui Sui from now on. There’s no need for you to appear in front of him. I’m all he needs.”

Chai Xiaoyu couldn’t hold back and retorted, “But my boss needs normal social interactions. He’s an independent person, not your possession.”

Fu Xiuning chuckled softly.

The laugh emboldened Chai Xiaoyu, and he asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “I’m laughing at your naivety.”

Chai Xiaoyu bristled. “What I said is the truth! And my boss would never let you control him like that!”

Fu Xiuning said flatly, “Oh, really?”

His system was so frightened it almost screamed: “Sweetie, don’t provoke him!”

Chai Xiaoyu snapped, “Then what am I supposed to do? I tried reasoning with him, but he won’t listen!”

The system, both scared and at a loss, muttered: “We only know he’s antisocial. All the data and analysis pointed to that. But now he’s showing signs of obsessive possessiveness too, and I don’t know how to handle this.”

It added with a trembling voice: “One thing is for sure—Fu Xiuning’s history of victories isn’t fake. He’s genuinely terrifying.”

Chai Xiaoyu was growing even more unsettled. “What do you mean by that? Is he planning to kill me?”

The system stammered: “Ma-maybe…”

Chai Xiaoyu immediately said, “Check where he’s taking me.”

The system conducted a quick search and then panicked: “There’s no navigation turned on. His phone history doesn’t show anything related to a surprise event. I can’t find the destination. If he didn’t give oral instructions to someone, then there is no so-called surprise event tonight!”

Chai Xiaoyu’s mind went blank.

He had come out to help with good intentions, and now it seemed like he wouldn’t be making it back alive.

He felt his blood run cold, his entire body freezing up, unable to summon any strength. After a long moment, he finally fumbled his phone out of his pocket.

Fu Xiuning glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “Who do you want to call?”

Chai Xiaoyu’s hands shook, and his phone slipped onto his lap.

Fu Xiuning smiled. “Are you trying to tell Sui Sui? You probably won’t get the chance.”

Chai Xiaoyu’s brain buzzed. “W-what do you mean?”

Fu Xiuning said calmly, “I already told you before—I don’t like how you’re always contacting Sui Sui.”

Chai Xiaoyu stiffly replied, “I said I’ll be more mindful from now on.”

Fu Xiuning chuckled. “But judging by what you said earlier, you don’t seem like someone who’ll actually be mindful. How can I trust that?”

Lowering the car window slightly, Fu Xiuning turned to look at him instead of the road. “Do you know where we are?”

Before Chai Xiaoyu could answer, his system shouted out loud: “It’s the sea ahead! If you go off the edge, it’s a ten-meter drop! And it’s all jagged rocks down there! This place is remote—there’s almost no traffic at night. If you two go over, no one will come to fish you out. Stop him, stop him now!”

Chai Xiaoyu’s face turned pale as he confronted Fu Xiuning. “What are you planning to do?”

Fu Xiuning had reached the spot he had in mind.

Even without the system’s murder warning, his words were chilling.

With one hand resting casually on the steering wheel, he said, “I enjoy betting lives. Down there is the sea. Let’s drive off. If you survive, I’ll consider letting you occasionally contact Sui Sui. How about that?”

Chai Xiaoyu’s face twisted, and he forced the words out of his throat: “Y-you’re joking, right?”

Fu Xiuning asked with a smile, “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Chai Xiaoyu’s voice trembled. “But what if you die?”

Fu Xiuning smiled faintly. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Your boss would be free of me forever.”

At last, Chai Xiaoyu broke down, pleading desperately, “Brother, don’t do this! I know you’ve had a hard life, but it’s not your fault—”

Fu Xiuning cut him off. “You know? And how do you know?”

The system cried out again: “You can’t let him know about us! If he finds out, you’ll die!”

It sobbed uncontrollably, shrieking: “Forget it, just stop talking! You’re really going to go off the edge!”

The car inched forward, closer to the guardrail.

Seeing that Fu Xiuning still hadn’t moved, Chai Xiaoyu’s frayed nerves snapped. Acting on instinct, he lunged for the steering wheel to yank it away.

Amid the system’s terrified wailing, Fu Xiuning pressed the brake slightly and turned the wheel with Chai Xiaoyu’s momentum, sharply veering left to avoid the guardrail. The car shot toward the hillside ahead.

Chai Xiaoyu was flung back into his seat by the force. He raised his head just in time to see what was happening, his pupils shrinking in terror.

The next moment, the car crashed into the mountainside with a loud bang.

Throughout it all, Fu Xiuning remained composed. At the moment of impact, he turned the wheel sharply to the right. The car scraped along the rock face, then veered back onto the road, skidding to a halt under a streetlight, coming to rest diagonally across the street.

Chai Xiaoyu, thrown back and forth, was utterly dazed.

Everything had happened so quickly, so chaotically. He stared blankly for what felt like ages before realizing he was still alive. He collapsed into the seat, drenched in cold sweat.

He looked over at Fu Xiuning in lingering fear.

Fu Xiuning, holding his forehead with one hand, turned to look at him, his expression calm.

Under the streetlight, the car’s interior wasn’t as dark as before.

Chai Xiaoyu noticed what looked like blood on Fu Xiuning’s palm. Terrified he might escalate further, Chai Xiaoyu’s trembling hands fumbled at his seatbelt. He reached for the door handle, but it wouldn’t open.

Fu Xiuning said, “Trying to run?”

Chai Xiaoyu pressed himself against the door, his lips trembling, unable to say a word.

He was just an ordinary person. Faced with someone this unhinged, his only thought was to get as far away as possible.

Fu Xiuning glanced out the rear window, confirming there were no cars coming around the bend.

Given how badly this had escalated, he decided to stabilize the situation to prevent the system from abandoning Chai Xiaoyu due to cost-benefit analysis. He said soothingly, “Don’t be scared. I was joking.”

Chai Xiaoyu’s face remained deathly pale as he stared at him in horror.

Fu Xiuning continued in a soft tone, “The window was down. The sound of the wind probably gave you the impression the car was speeding, but it wasn’t. This impact wasn’t even enough to trigger the airbags. And with the car’s emergency safety features, we wouldn’t have actually crashed.

“And the steering wheel—you only touched it for a second and barely moved it. I was the one who steered the car away from the guardrail.”

Chai Xiaoyu tried to process his words. “W-why?”

Fu Xiuning explained, “I suspected you had ulterior motives for getting close to Sui Sui. If that were true, you’d have confessed in the face of life and death. But you didn’t reveal anything, which means I was overthinking.”

His tone softened further. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”

Chai Xiaoyu felt a weight lift from his heart and slumped in his seat, tears streaming down his face.

The system, also relieved to have narrowly escaped disaster, burst into uncontrollable sobs.

The two of them, host and system, sat in stunned silence for a moment. Chai Xiaoyu collected himself slightly and asked, choking on his words, “You… are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Just then, a car came around the bend.

Under the distant streetlight, Fu Xiuning identified the make and color. He knew Xing Shi had arrived.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, Fu Xiuning turned to Chai Xiaoyu with a smile. “You’re not seriously believing me again, are you?”

Chai Xiaoyu: “!”

System: “!!!”

Fu Xiuning said, “My speed wasn’t fast. I could’ve handled the curve myself. But you caused a distraction that led to me crashing into the mountainside and injuring myself. You’re going to pay for this. My car isn’t cheap.”

Chai Xiaoyu opened and closed his mouth in disbelief. “But this… this was all your fault!”

Fu Xiuning said, “The dashcam in my car is off. No one can prove your claims. However, the surveillance at the bend will clearly show you lunging at me. If you’re not convinced, feel free to sue me—let’s see if you can win against my family’s team of lawyers. And most importantly, once Sui Sui learns that you hurt me, he’ll never speak to you again.”

A faint smile played on his lips as he spoke in a gentle tone. “From now on, you’ll be saddled with an astronomical compensation debt, and Sui Sui will cut ties with you. You’re finished.”

Just as he finished speaking, the car that had just arrived stopped in front of them.

Fu Xiuning unlocked the door and stepped out.

Xing Shi exited his car simultaneously. As soon as he looked up, he spotted the blood on Fu Xiuning’s forehead.

The driver, Xiao Qin, saw it too and was immediately alarmed.

Xiao Qin knew nothing about what had happened. Earlier in the day, he’d simply been told to pick up Xing Shi after class and bring him over under the pretense of a meeting. He’d thought the boss had arranged something romantic. But now, seeing Fu Xiuning injured, he hurriedly got out of the car as well.

Fu Xiuning walked around the front of his car and stopped in front of Xing Shi. Without saying a word, he extended his hand backward to open the passenger door.

Chai Xiaoyu looked up at Xing Shi, a surge of grievance and lingering fear flooding his chest. His eyes reddened. “Boss, listen to me. I…”

Before he could finish, his body suddenly wavered.

The system quickly assessed the situation.

[If Xing Shi believes Fu Xiuning, Chai Xiaoyu is doomed. If Xing Shi doesn’t believe Fu Xiuning, they’ll fall out, and Chai Xiaoyu still won’t be able to approach Fu Xiuning. Either way, it’s over for him.]

Familiar with Chai Xiaoyu’s personality, the system realized it couldn’t let him ramble to Xing Shi. It promptly deleted its own existence and severed the connection.

Xing Shi immediately sensed the energy fluctuation. He raised his hand and pressed it against Chai Xiaoyu’s forehead.

Skillfully absorbing the energy, he turned his attention back to Fu Xiuning.

Fu Xiuning, having enjoyed watching the process, adjusted his expression slightly when he met Xing Shi’s gaze.

Xing Shi stepped closer, reaching out to lift Fu Xiuning’s bangs to inspect the wound on his forehead.

Top Draw and 99 both observed Fu Xiuning’s face magnified in front of them and instinctively floated back slightly.

This was the strategy target who had given the main system headaches for years. At this moment, his overwhelming presence was no joke.

99, who had been briefed earlier about tonight’s events, knew what was coming. Even though it was aware that Fu Xiuning was on their side, it couldn’t help feeling a bit intimidated.

It murmured, “How many times have they met? This is only the third, right? Just three meetings…and he’s already trying to snatch the guy away?”

Top Draw remained silent.

Fu Xiuning couldn’t hear the systems’ chatter. He used his uninjured right hand to gently grasp Xing Shi’s wrist, speaking softly. “It’s not a real wound.”

Xing Shi’s gaze dropped to the blood. “Then what is this?”

Fu Xiuning opened his left hand to reveal a crushed blood packet, explaining calmly, “Just something to fake an injury. It was to scare people.”

Noticing a bit of blood on Xing Shi’s fingertips, Fu Xiuning turned to Xiao Qin and asked for some disinfectant wipes.

Chai Xiaoyu finally snapped out of his daze. Turning his head, he saw Fu Xiuning, still with blood on his forehead, gently holding Xing Shi’s wrist and carefully wiping the man’s fingers clean.

Chai Xiaoyu stared blankly for a moment before his thoughts caught up. He recalled how he had first met Xing Shi at Z University, which led him to move to Z City and secure a job. Later, he invited Xing Shi out for a meal, during which he learned that Fu Xiuning had been Xing Shi’s childhood “Brother.” He had been thrilled—until he realized Fu Xiuning’s possessiveness toward Xing Shi was overwhelming, leaving him feeling increasingly uneasy.

Tonight, they had dined together again. After the meal, Fu Xiuning dragged him to this remote location.

The memory of what had just transpired sent a shiver down his spine. Seeing the current scene only solidified his belief that Fu Xiuning was a complete psychopath. In a panic, he scrambled out of the car.

“Boss!”

He stumbled forward, reaching out to pull Xing Shi away, but Fu Xiuning intercepted him.

Glaring at Fu Xiuning, Chai Xiaoyu urgently said to Xing Shi, “Boss, stay away from him! He’s dangerous! He’s a lunatic and a pervert! He wants to lock you up!”

Xing Shi blinked in surprise. “Is that true?”

Chai Xiaoyu nodded vehemently. “Yes! He admitted it himself! I swear on my life!”

Xing Shi suddenly laughed. “What a coincidence—I want to lock him up too.”

Chai Xiaoyu froze, his expression utterly blank. “…What?”

Xing Shi answered seriously, “You know, that feeling where you want to hide someone away so no one else can see them. Ever since I met him, I’ve felt that way every single day.”

Chai Xiaoyu: “???”

He opened and closed his mouth several times, finally managing to stammer, “B-but wanting and doing are two different things!”

Xing Shi nodded. “That’s why I’ve been controlling myself—so I don’t actually become a lunatic.”

He turned to Fu Xiuning, his smile radiant. “I’ve always worried you’d figure it out one day and be scared off. So, you’ve felt the same way?”

Fu Xiuning gazed at him deeply. “Yes.”

Xing Shi’s eyes lit up with delight. “That’s perfect! We really are a match made in heaven!”

Fu Xiuning hummed in agreement, unable to resist leaning closer to press a kiss to Xing Shi’s lips.

Chai Xiaoyu: “???”

Who am I? Where am I? What is happening right now?

He had come here thinking he’d rescue his boss, but it turned out his boss was just as bad as Fu Xiuning.

What was the saying? A pot finds its lid?

Xing Shi glanced at him. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

Chai Xiaoyu’s brain had stopped functioning. Reflexively, he blurted out, “Oh, congratulations, Boss.”

Xing Shi smiled. “When we get married, I’ll send you an invitation.”

Chai Xiaoyu numbly replied, “Okay.”

After narrowly escaping death tonight, enduring a rollercoaster of emotions, and unknowingly severing his bond with the system, this final blow was too much. Chai Xiaoyu’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.

As his consciousness faded, his last thought was: Never meddle in a couple’s business—it’ll only bring divine retribution.