Chapter 129: Oblivious to Mortal Danger

Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan immediately fell into silence.

Just then, Ning Xi shattered the quiet. She led Lin Xiao to the sofa and sat down, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Enough with the dull topics. Lin Xiao, you’ve got to tell me how you dealt with those robbers. I’m burning with curiosity!”

Regarding yesterday’s events, Lin Xiao was hesitant to discuss them in detail. No matter how riveting the tale might be, it ultimately boiled down to taking lives, which was nothing to brag about.

Yet, unable to withstand Ning Xi’s relentless coaxing, he sighed and began recounting the incident in a calm manner.

Lin Xiao’s voice was low, steady, and radiated a magnetic allure–an unequivocally masculine timbre that seemed to captivate the listener. Ning Xi found herself instantly entranced.

Wan Caixuan, who initially feigned disinterest, found herself unwittingly captivated by Lin Xiao’s storytelling. Her eyes, filled with beauty, were fixated on him as she listened intently.

Although Lin Xiao lacked a flair for dramatizing events, the compelling nature of the story kept Wan Caixuan and Ning Xi entirely engrossed. The facts alone were enough to hold their rapt attention.

Their faces alternated between expressions of excitement and concern as they hung on Lin Xiao’s every word. By the time Lin Xiao concluded his account, both women were still lost in his narrative, their eyes aglow with an unusual luminescence.

Wan Caixuan, dignified and composed, managed to maintain her poise. Ning Xi, however, was utterly spellbound by Lin Xiao, her eyes alight with an intense fervor.

If not for Wan Caixuan’s presence, Ning Xi might have thrown all caution to the wind and hurled herself at Lin Xiao, daring actions she would not normally contemplate.

As it stood, although somewhat restrained, Ning Xi had unwittingly nestled against Lin Xiao, her arm entwined around his, her chest pressed against his forearm.

The closeness rendered Lin Xiao awkward. Fortunately, a phone call offered a convenient interruption, and Ning Xi exited the president’s office on the pretext of other matters.

“By the way, did you manage to buy the clothes I asked for yesterday?” Wan Caixuan asked.

“No, I ran into those robbers while I was shopping,” Lin Xiao responded, shaking his head.

Wan Caixuan nodded in understanding. “That’s alright. It isn’t a big deal if you didn’t buy them. We were supposed to attend a banquet today, but it’s not an obligation. Let’s skip it this time. Nonetheless, you still have to buy clothes. There’s a charity dinner coming up in a few days that we must attend. I also need to get a few outfits. Why don’t I buy you a suit later?”

Upon hearing Wan Caixuan’s suggestion, Lin Xiao was reminded of yesterday’s clothing fiasco with Huang Xinyu. He couldn’t help but shudder involuntarily.

For Lin Xiao, facing a gang of robbers seemed more appealing than dealing with the overwhelming array of outfits that Huang Xinyu had tried to pair him with.

Although Wan Caixuan wasn’t Huang Xinyu, she was a woman nonetheless. And Lin Xiao had developed something of a psychological aversion to shopping with women.

“President, you don’t need to go through the trouble. I can buy my own clothes,” he responded.

“What, are you that unwilling to shop with me?” Wan Caixuan’s face remained expressionless, her tone inscrutable.

However, Lin Xiao discerned a scolding undertone in her words, coupled with a faint air of irritation.

If Lin Xiao had a better grasp of the female psyche, he’d rush to say something nice to lighten Wan Caixuan’s mood. Her tone was that of a young woman in a sulk.

Unfortunately, Lin Xiao, being a man unaccustomed to understanding the complexities of modern women, couldn’t catch on. Of course, he didn’t outright refuse, but instead shook his head and said, “No, it’s not that. I just don’t want to inconvenience you. As your bodyguard, it’s my duty to accompany you wherever you go.”

“Hmph, so you’re still reluctant,” Wan Caixuan retorted.

She couldn’t pinpoint why she felt compelled to say this. However, just recalling Lin Xiao’s earlier hesitation was enough to anger her. When did she ever personally invite a man to shop and get turned down?

“Fine, then you can stay behind. I’ll shop alone.”

Even Lin Xiao, obtuse as he was, sensed the tension in Wan Caixuan’s voice. Was the usually composed and dignified CEO, who carried herself like a goddess, actually upset with him?

The female heart was truly as inscrutable as a needle at the bottom of the sea. How could her mood change so abruptly?

“Let’s not say things in the heat of the moment. You can buy me a suit,” Lin Xiao conceded.

At this, the vexation in Wan Caixuan’s heart ebbed somewhat. She fixed her eyes, clear as autumn water, on Lin Xiao. “Is that your genuine feeling?”

“I never lie,” Lin Xiao affirmed with a nod.

Wan Caixuan was quite pleased with Lin Xiao’s response. Stretching languidly, she stood up and declared, “Let’s get going then.”

***

Just as Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan were leaving the Brilliant Tower, Yang Tao arrived at the security room, his face pale as he clutched his stomach.

After his discussion with Secretary Wang yesterday, he was too impatient to wait. Despite his lingering injuries, he hurried to the company.

“Brother Yang, what brings you to the office? Are your injuries fully healed?” asked a security guard upon seeing Yang Tao.

“I’m managing, I’m managing,” Yang Tao waved it off. “How has Director Lin been managing things these last few days?”

Yang Tao initially expected the security guard, who had previously been under his command and had shown disdain for Lin Xiao, to complain about the new director. However, to his surprise, the guard’s face was flushed with admiration.

“You mean Director Lin? I had him all wrong before. He’s actually a good man, he’s been doing a fantastic job.”

Caught off guard, Yang Tao felt a surge of anger but held his tongue, realizing it wasn’t the time to make a scene. Forcing a smile, he said, “Then it seems I’ve misunderstood Director Lin as well.”

“Yes, Brother Yang, you’ve definitely misunderstood him,” the guard agreed, nodding.

Thinking this was a one-off, Yang Tao turned to leave without another word. What he didn’t anticipate was that every other security guard he greeted thereafter also held Lin Xiao in high regard.

To make matters worse, he discovered that due to his hospitalization, the chief position in the security room had been filled by a newcomer named Luo Xiaofeng.

It dawned on Yang Tao that if he’d stayed in the hospital for even a few more days, he’d likely be irrelevant upon his return to the company.

At this point, he finally understood why Secretary Wang was so keen on framing Lin Xiao.

“Very well, so you’re good at winning hearts,” Yang Tao thought, his face twisted in rage. “But what good will it do? Offending Secretary Wang for the sake of some low-level security guards, you’re courting death.”

In Yang Tao’s eyes, Lin Xiao’s actions were utterly foolish.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he swiftly pulled out his phone and dialed a number.