Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 76: I Know Lin Xi’s Whereabouts

「Yancheng.」

Inside a luxurious villa, Si Wen had just returned home from the prestigious aristocratic school in Yancheng. Today was Christmas Eve, so the school had magnanimously allowed them to leave an hour early. Even the senior year students got to benefit from this privilege. How touching.

She was now sitting on the living room sofa with her cheek propped on one hand, listening to a bodyguard tell her something. He looked to be around thirty, with a tall, powerful stature and a chiseled face. His features were sharply defined, and his piercing eyes sat beneath sword-like brows. One look at his muscular physique, without even meeting his gaze, was enough to intimidate anyone.

Her other hand was idly fiddling with her phone, which was displaying the Taobao storefront for Trend Attire.

She was currently wearing her school uniform. Her black hair was tied up in a neat bun with bangs cut straight across her forehead, giving her a doll-like face. She wore a pink shirt, a black-and-white checkered tie, a red checkered skirt, knee-high black stockings, and a pair of tall white boots, making her look both youthful and chic.

She wasn’t browsing Trend Attire because she needed new clothes. Si Wen had a dedicated walk-in closet of roughly 300 square meters, neatly filled with haute couture from all over the world. It was packed with JK, Lolita, and Hanfu-style outfits, evening gowns, and more—too many to count.

Outsiders couldn’t begin to imagine why someone like her would ever need to shop on Taobao.

But upon closer inspection, one would see that her screen was on the reviews section. The top comment was the one posted by Lin Xi, which included a photo review of her and Xue Yang.

Even though Lin Xi’s face was mostly concealed and bundled up, as her best friend since childhood, how could Si Wen not recognize her? She knew it was her the moment she saw the photo.

The picture had been taken by a passerby on the night of the first snow. It captured Lin Xi and Xue Yang both turning back in surprise as the vast, fluttering snowflakes created a perfect backdrop.

At first glance, the two looked perfectly suited for each other.

But that was only to an uninformed outsider. To someone in the know like Si Wen, a man like him was not worthy of Lin Xi and her family background in the slightest.

To think I’d find her here so effortlessly after searching high and low. Lin Xi, oh Lin Xi, you certainly made me work to find you. The Lin Corporation was looking for you, but so was I!

She had exhausted nearly all her connections and still couldn’t find her. If it weren’t for the change of seasons prompting her to check on Trend Attire, she never would have discovered Lin Xi’s whereabouts.

Ever since starting her senior year, the academic pressure had increased dramatically. If not for Christmas Eve, she wouldn’t have been allowed to come home at all. Lin Xi had probably run away due to the combined pressure from her studies and her family. It had been almost a full semester.

"Is this man currently a model for Trend Attire?"

The bodyguard shook his head. "He’s a freelancer, not under contract. Jennifer once tried to persuade him to sign, but he refused."

Si Wen raised an eyebrow slightly. "And why is that?"

Indeed, the hidden owner behind Trend Attire was Si Wen herself. Her father had given her a "small goal" to help her develop her skills, and with her keen eye for fashion, she had opened this shop.

Sometimes, the gap between people is just that vast. While you’re still struggling for your future, others have already used a "small goal" to reach heights you might never attain.

"Jennifer said it’s because being the brand’s public face requires careful management of one’s personal image and private life, so he turned it down."

"So, she’s living with a man now?"

"Yes, Miss Si Wen. After Miss Lin Xi ran away from home, she was taken in by that man. As for why Miss Lin Xi hasn’t returned home after all this time, that is unknown."

"I see."

Si Wen stood up and headed upstairs as the bodyguard discreetly let himself out of the villa.

Her room was unimaginably large to an ordinary person. The maids had already prepared a hot bath. Seeing her enter, a maid respectfully called out, "Miss," and then retreated.

She slipped out of her school uniform, then gently lifted a pair of long, slender legs and stepped into the bath. Si Wen sat down and stretched her body comfortably.

In that moment, all the fatigue from her continuous, high-intensity studies melted away.

The bathtub alone was nearly the size of a swimming pool, its surface strewn with flower petals. It was said that the water was piped in from the natural mineral springs of Xiangshan Snow Mountain.

Setting all else aside, how many families in the Dragon Country could afford such a luxury?

And yet, even a family like the Si Family paled in comparison to the Lin Family. It was no exaggeration to call the Si Family a "little brother" in front of the Lins.

After soaking for a while, Si Wen picked up her phone again and dialed a number.

The call connected quickly, and Si Wen spoke first.

"Auntie Shen, Merry Christmas Eve."

An anxious voice came from the other end of the line.

"Miss Si Wen, have you found our young lady?"

"Not yet. Aren’t you going to wish me a Merry Christmas Eve, Auntie Shen? I’m hurt."

There was a hint of disappointment in the voice on the other end, but it still sincerely replied, "Miss Si Wen, Merry Christmas Eve."

I wonder how the young lady is doing... Is she eating well? Is she staying warm? In this freezing weather, what if she’s run into bad people... Just the thought of it made her eyes redden. Oh, Miss, please come home soon!

After taking a sip of juice, Si Wen said, "If—and I’m just saying if—I knew where Lin Xi was, would you tell Chairman Lin right away?"

"Miss Si Wen..."

"Shh! Find a safe place to talk to me."

After a moment, Si Wen sensed that the background noise on the other end had gone silent.

"Now you can answer my previous question."

"The young lady has been away from home for so long. If she wanted to come back, she would have already. Since she hasn’t returned, she must not want President Lin to know where she is yet."

"Congratulations, you said the magic words. I know where Lin Xi is. But I’m still in school preparing for next year’s college entrance exams, so my family is very strict, and I can’t go see her. That’s why I was hoping you could go see her secretly and check on how she’s doing."

"Miss Si Wen, please tell me where Miss Lin Xi is. I promise I won’t tell President Lin."

"Auntie Shen, you know that if you dare to betray me, I have my ways to make you regret it when Lin Xi gets back."

Si Wen and Lin Xi’s relationship was closer than that of blood sisters.

Auntie Shen knew that Si Wen was telling the truth.

"Miss Si Wen, I swear, I absolutely won’t breathe a word."

...