Reborn to Redeem: Their Abusive Love-Chapter 75: Do you want to see my secret?

Xu Si had been pondering all along how to brew the Berry Wine.

Pei Zhen used to have quite a sweet tooth, and sweets could make one’s mood better. Moreover, she remembered that when she first arrived here, he would drink some Whisky almost every night. Xu Si wanted to make him a jar of Berry Wine to replace those potent and harmful high-proof alcohols, but she couldn’t decide whether to add pure white sugar or thick honey to the wine. It should be about the same, though adding honey would bring a fuller flavor. Back when her mother was still around, the servants at home would often secretly make these little treats to satisfy their cravings, and the method of making them wasn’t complicated.

However, it wasn’t until she arrived at the place that Xu Si discovered the so-called secret forest growing berries was just a wetland around the Triad Society’s neighborhood. The Blue Eucalyptus trees were so dense there was hardly room for other plants to grow, yet strangely, they coexisted with various berries, which grew particularly lush underneath.

The sky today was a shade of azure, with clouds like fluffy cotton candy.

Xu Si’s hand, holding a basket, paused mid-air. She bit her lip, looking at the berry plants with soil not yet fully blended into their surroundings, and instantly understood whose thoughtful gesture this was.

These berries must have been transplanted here recently. Spanning across large patches, clearly awaiting her visit. Who would go to such lengths to show this kind of thoughtfulness? Xu Si could only think of Pei Zhen.

—Apart from him, there wouldn’t be anyone else.

She reached out, picked a berry, and popped it into her mouth.

—Tart and sweet, with a rich flavor and abundant juice.

Finding it amusing, she picked another.

—Mostly sweet, with an especially delightful taste.

Even if the environment was contrived, it did not affect their beauty or joy.

Xu Si, the wealthy heiress, had never done something like this before. Wandering through the forest, she tirelessly plucked each ripe, trembling berry, occasionally tasting one, occasionally placing it in her basket.

Undeniably, at this moment, she was indeed somewhat relaxed, feeling a rare sense of healing in body and spirit.

For a while, she couldn’t quite discern whether she was creating fun for Pei Zhen or succumbing to temptation and stepping into the sweet trap Pei Zhen had set for her.

Fog-filled forest mist, a towering bodyguard in black, a striking woman in a black dress, and alluring berries that shouldn’t be there. This scene was quite out of place in the Underground City. Like a splash-ink painting dusted with gold specks. Looking back on it, she would find it breathtakingly beautiful.

「...」

After filling three baskets with berries, Xu Si’s fingertip was stained with a pinkish-purple hue, and only then did she contentedly take a ride back to the mansion.

The wind was strong on the road.

It was fine on the way there, but on the way back, the car suddenly took a different route.

The driver had received a phone call, mentioned some confidential reasons, and for safety’s sake, they had to use another passage to return. He also took out a simple map to show Xu Si.

The alternative route was longer and would take them through the city center.

Xu Si had no objections. She bent her fingers and rested her chin on one hand. Turning to look out the window, she admired the Underground City’s various glittering architectural settings: streets paved with undulating cobblestones, castles rising above the clouds, and sky bridges. She thought about building a similar hotel back home; it would definitely be unique to Hong Kong Island.

As they were approaching the Gambling City, Xu Si had the car stop, hoping to try her luck and inquire if any passerby would be willing to sell an Identity Card. There was no way she could go to the Gambling City; it was full of Pei Zhen’s people, and they wouldn’t really help her find one.

Along the way, she received quite a few rejections.

However, a kindhearted tavern gambler told her that in the daytime, people would come out to sell forbidden items on the streets of the Underground City. Just like how thieves would come out at night to dispose of their loot in ordinary areas.

If she was lucky, she might encounter an Identity Card.

Xu Si was skeptical but lingered around the safer streets nearby for a few rounds.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a suit emerged from a forbidden area of another gang’s territory. After struggling for a bit, he was dragged back by a few foreigners.

He was extremely frightened, clawing at the ground, and screaming with a heart-wrenching cry, "Damn it! You bunch of foreign devils! I’ve always operated around here. If you offend me, it won’t end well for you! I’ve already sold the stuff. Isn’t it just about some money? I’ll earn it back and pay you!"

They weren’t afraid to disturb outsiders, relying on the fact that nobody cared during the daytime.

This scene was coincidentally witnessed by Xu Si with her own eyes.

The middle-aged man, seeing Xu Si, and after sizing up the bodyguard beside her, judged that she had the ability to save him. He tugged at his tie and screamed frantically, "Hey, beauty, gorgeous lady, Lady, help me! I’ll reward you, I’ve got a lot of good stuff in my hands."

Fearing that she wouldn’t understand, he even used several methods.

It wasn’t a Hong Kong Island accent.

Xu Si could understand though. Hearing about the good stuff, she asked her bodyguard to bring the man over.

The middle-aged man felt as if he had just escaped death. He patted the dirt off his suit and came over with a smile, looking her up and down with a sneer. "Thank you, you’re an outsider, right? Being here during broad daylight, is something the matter? To show my gratitude, if you run into any trouble, just say the word, and I’ll help you solve it."

He was clearly an old hand at this.

Xu Si raised an eyebrow, "Anything?"

The middle-aged man said proudly, "Of course. Whatever you want, I should have it. If not, I’ll steal it for you."

Xu Si was surprised. The Underground City also had Thieves?

She curled the corner of her mouth. "Do you have an Identity Card on you?"

The middle-aged man choked. "No. Stealing Identity Cards is a serious crime, you know. The Triad Society would kill for that."

Xu Si was somewhat disappointed. freёnovelkiss-com

Her smile was neutral. "Then what do you have?"

"You look like you’re from Hong Kong Island, where gossip thrives. Do you like to follow celebrity news? I’ve got gossip on all the gangs from Hong Kong Island, all organized into volumes."

Xu Si’s interest was piqued. "Do you have anything on the Triad Society?"

"I do, how could I not?" the middle-aged man regained his confidence. "It’s just a bit scarce; they used to be a small gang, but I have stories about that big shot from the Triad Society."

"Which one?"

"Tsk, obviously the top dog."

"What kind of stories?"

"It’s confidential, money first."

Xu Si glanced at the stoic bodyguard behind her and coughed unnaturally, asking, "Are they authentic?"

"Are you kidding?" The middle-aged man pulled out a crumpled paper from his pocket, displaying it with pride. "Look, this is my wanted poster. All the gangs consider me their enemy. It’s got to be real. I’m also lucky, always getting saved by you outsiders."

Xu Si pursed her lips.

She was actually curious about the gossip on Pei Zhen. But she had no money on her.

She made a decisive move.

She took off the watch she was wearing, a family heirloom from her father worth at least a million or two, and put it into the middle-aged man’s hand. "Is this enough?"

The middle-aged man took a look and then eyed her bracelet. "Add the bracelet. It was hell getting my hands on these things. Show some understanding."

Xu Si removed her bracelet as well. The man accepted it, and only then did he hand the bundle over to her.

Deal done, the man stealthily disappeared down the alley.

He moved quietly and nimbly—truly a talented Thief.

Clutching the heavy brown paper bag in hand, Xu Si fell into contemplation, not opening it right away.

The bodyguard behind her suddenly reminded her, "Sister-in-law, shall we go back?"

"Yes."

Xu Si, resisting the urge to tear the package open, tossed the brown paper bag into a basket and got back into the car for the return trip.

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