Chapter 65: Who Dares?

Walking through the hallway, Lin Xiao and Ning Xi trailed behind Wan Caixuan. Suddenly, Ning Xi nudged Lin Xiao with her shoulder, gesturing subtly for him to take notice of Wan Caixuan’s back.

“Pardon?” Lin Xiao asked, slightly bemused.

In response, Ning Xi, sly as a fox, leaned in closer to Lin Xiao, her eyes twinkling mischievously. She whispered, “Like what you see?”

“…”

Indeed, the view of Wan Caixuan’s back was not only appealing but also quite seductive. The elegant sway of her slender waist, her perky hips, and her long legs were a tantalizing sight. However, caught off guard by Ning Xi’s sudden question, Lin Xiao was unsure of how to respond.

Sensing something, Wan Caixuan abruptly turned around. With a frosty gaze, she asked Ning Xi, “What are you up to, Ning Xi?”

“I’m not doing anything in particular, just admiring the president’s exquisite figure,” Ning Xi said playfully, unperturbed by Wan Caixuan’s icy demeanor.

“Did you make the reservation I asked you to?” Wan Caixuan’s tone turned even colder, a hint of menace in her eyes.

Ning Xi, undeterred and still wearing a smile. “Yes, at the usual spot, the Brilliant Hotel. Is the president treating us to dinner tonight?”

“No, tonight’s expenses will be deducted from your salary,” Wan Caixuan declared coldly.

“That’s unfair. It’s employee exploitation, I object,” Ning Xi cried out, clutching Lin Xiao’s arm pitifully. “Lin Xiao, you must say something. The president is being too harsh, expecting a lowly assistant like me to foot the bill.”

“…”

Lin Xiao kept silent. He was well aware of the close relationship between Ning Xi and Wan Caixuan. Besides, he had no interest in meddling in the affairs of women.

While they were engaged in this banter, the three took the president’s private elevator to the first floor of the Brilliant Tower. They entered a small garage at the rear of the building, where a gleaming new black Rolls-Royce awaited.

Wan Caixuan fetched a key from her bag and handed it over to Lin Xiao.

As Lin Xiao accepted the key, his fingers brushed against Wan Caixuan’s palm. She swiftly withdrew her hand as though jolted by an electric shock, leaving Lin Xiao feeling somewhat perplexed.

‘Is it really necessary to exaggerate this much? I’ve held you in my arms before. Why act as though this minor touch is such a big deal?’ Lin Xiao thought to himself.

At that moment, Wan Caixuan also came to realize that she had been overly sensitive. A faint blush painted her cheeks. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Lin Xiao’s eyes.

Off to the side, Ning Xi was trying to hold back her laughter. She knew Wan Caixuan’s heightened sensitivity was entirely due to the aftermath of getting drunk the previous night.

Lin Xiao opened the car door, allowing Wan Caixuan and Ning Xi to climb in. He then slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The Brilliant Hotel was a stone’s throw away from the Brilliant Tower, just a five or six-minute drive. It was a subsidiary of Brilliant Aya Limited and boasted a certain reputation within Jinghai City.

However, due to fierce competition, most of the hotel’s patrons were business partners who relied on Brilliant Aya Limited. Being the CEO of the company, Wan Caixuan was naturally a frequent diner at her own hotel.

The hotel’s parking lot was filled with luxury cars. However, amidst these glamorous vehicles, the brand-new black Rolls-Royce driven by Lin Xiao was particularly striking.

Lin Xiao parked the car at the entrance of the hotel. Wan Caixuan disembarked without uttering a word to him.

Ning Xi gave Lin Xiao a gentle pat on his shoulder, her breath tickling his ear as she giggled, “Lin Xiao, why don’t you park the car first, then come find us inside.”

As she spoke, Ning Xi’s lips were dangerously close to Lin Xiao’s ear, her breath sweet and tantalizing, causing a ticklish sensation.

Lin Xiao, now somewhat accustomed to Ning Xi’s sporadic flirtations, simply nodded, unfazed.

Once Ning Xi alighted, Lin Xiao found a spot in the lot to park the Rolls-Royce. He then took out his keys and made his way to the hotel.

Upon entering the hotel, Lin Xiao took a moment to look around. Although the Brilliant Hotel might not be the best in Jinghai City, its affiliation with Aya Limited ensured a splendid decor and ambiance. Magnificent murals adorned the walls, a seamless blend of contemporary and classic. The elegant surroundings were a sight to behold.

“What’s going on with the Brilliant Hotel? Do they let just anyone in? They even allow such shabbily dressed individuals to enter.”

At that moment, a voice laced with disdain suddenly echoed from behind Lin Xiao.

Due to a change of clothes, he hadn’t worn his expensively bought suit and was dressed rather casually. Though not fancy, his attire was neat, clean, simple, and by no means shabby.

He turned around to find a man in his thirties, potbellied and exuding contempt, with a heavily made-up young woman by his side.

He spared the man a cold glance and chose to ignore him. He was not one to bicker about trivial matters. After all, he couldn’t resort to violence just because someone said something offensive.

As long as it didn’t cross a line, he preferred to let it slide.

However, Lin Xiao’s silence seemed to feed the man’s arrogance. He mistook Lin Xiao’s quietness for fear, growing even more triumphant.

“Look at these country bumpkins,” he sneered at his female companion. “Do they really think they can afford a place like the Brilliant Hotel? This is a place for the partners of Brilliant Aya Limited, not for such lowly individuals.”

His companion giggled in response, throwing him a flirtatious glance and breaking into laughter.

Seeing her delight, the man’s smugness deepened, and he laughed, “Little Ping, these country bumpkins will stoop to anything for a bit of money. They’d probably kneel instantly if we told them to.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao could no longer stay silent. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he turned and stared at the man, his voice ice-cold, “Apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?” The man stared back at Lin Xiao, derision in his tone.

“Apologize for your words,” Lin Xiao said, each word measured and firm.

The man laughed dismissively. “What a joke! Who do you think you are, just a country bumpkin? I could make one phone call and ensure you can’t stay in Jinghai City.”

Their altercation drew the attention of others in the hotel. Eyes turned their way.

A man in a suit recognized the middle-aged man, “Isn’t that Fan Tong, the man who abandoned his family to leech off a rich woman?”

“So, he’s the man who left his wife to become a rich woman’s toy? I heard she’s in her sixties. How dare he bring another woman into the open?” someone else exclaimed, sounding surprised.

“Rumor has it that rich woman is a sadist, extremely cruel to her playthings. Has this man been so tormented he’s become a sadist himself?”

“Your news is outdated. This man parted ways with that wealthy woman ages ago. I heard he even schemed with others to swindle her, and as a result, he took over her company. Only then did he manage to establish ties with Brilliant Aya Limited. However, there’s a good chance he might be psychologically disturbed from the torment he suffered from that woman,” said a bespectacled man.

Whispers and disparaging remarks from the crowd enraged Fan Tong. He had indeed been kept by a wealthy woman in her sixties and even abandoned his family for her. His psyche was twisted due to her torturous behavior, prompting him to belittle those lower in status or poorer than him, using this to seek a sense of superiority.

Noticing Lin Xiao’s cheap attire and the beautiful woman by his side, whom Fan Tong had just wooed with his money, he decided to provoke Lin Xiao to feed his sense of superiority.

Fan Tong gave Lin Xiao a fierce glare. All the patrons of the Brilliant Hotel were partners of Brilliant Aya Limited, and despite their disdain for him, Fan Tong didn’t dare offend them. But he thought he could manage this country bumpkin.

“Security. Security. I suspect this country bumpkin is a thief. Get him out of here,” Fan Tong shouted, keeping his eyes fixed on Lin Xiao.

At Fan Tong’s call, the hotel security quickly arrived. “This is the man,” Fan Tong said, pointing at Lin Xiao, “I suspect he’s a thief. Help me get him out.”

As a partner of Brilliant Aya Limited, Fan Tong was a frequent diner at the hotel and a known member, so the security guards recognized him. Although they found Fan Tong distasteful, they had to do their job. One of them approached Lin Xiao and politely said, “Sir, please cooperate with our procedures.”

“I am not a thief. I’m here with someone,” Lin Xiao calmly said.

Laughing at Lin Xiao’s response, Fan Tong said, “With someone? Haha, that’s quite an excuse. Do you think a country bumpkin like you has any business being at the Brilliant Hotel? What a joke.”

The security guard, noting the growing crowd, reiterated, “Sir, please cooperate with us.”

The onlookers, who understood the situation, held Fan Tong in contempt. Still, as a partner of Brilliant Aya Chemicals like themselves, he did wield some influence. So, they were unwilling to completely cross him over a stranger.

Fan Tong smirked at Lin Xiao, feeling triumphant. Just then, a cold, icy voice echoed from behind, “Let’s see who dares to throw him out.”