Chapter 371: Reputation

“What exactly are you hiding from me?” Lin Xiao tilted his head slightly, leaning in close to Li Yunxi’s ear and whispering, “Who were those companions the manager just mentioned?”

Li Yunxi’s neck shrank slightly. The warmth of Lin Xiao’s breath against her ear made her feel an odd tickling sensation.

She gave Lin Xiao a sidelong glance, her eyes rippling with a teasing charm, her voice playful yet alluring. “You’ll find out soon enough. Do you really think I’d set you up? Today is your good fortune.”

“Fine. Let’s see what trick you’ve got up your sleeve.”

“Why do you have to say it like that?” Li Yunxi bumped Lin Xiao lightly with her shoulder, feigning annoyance. “What kind of trick could I have? Of course, it’s something to make you happy.”

Lin Xiao showed no particular reaction to Li Yunxi’s near-confessional words, but the manager walking ahead of them was struggling to contain the waves of shock crashing through her mind.

‘The devil herself has finally met her match,’ Manager Xiao’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she thought, ‘Just what kind of man is this Lin guy? He actually managed to tame Li Yunxi? Could it be that he’s… extraordinary in certain ways?’

Besides that explanation, Manager Xiao really couldn’t figure out how Lin Xiao had managed to subdue the infamous Demoness Li.

As this thought took hold, her gaze toward Lin Xiao subtly shifted, filled with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Completely unaware that he had become an extraordinary figure in Manager Xiao’s mind, Lin Xiao continued his casual conversation with Li Yunxi while silently scanning the surroundings.

It was a habit of his.

Whenever he entered unfamiliar territory, he would first analyze the environment, mapping out hiding spots, ambush points, and escape routes, committing everything firmly to memory.

As he quietly observed, snippets of whispers and gossip drifted into his ears.

Unsurprisingly, all the attention was focused on him and Li Yunxi, with people speculating about his identity and his relationship with her.

Li Yunxi was a well-known figure in Jinghai’s upper-class circles.

As the only daughter of Li Liancheng, the wealthiest man in the city, she was destined to inherit a fortune worth billions and take over the entire Li Group in the future.

Naturally, countless men—from business elites to wealthy heirs—tried to pursue her.

But she never gave any of them the time of day.

There was once a so-called elite who was supremely confident in himself. On Valentine’s Day, he grandly prepared 999 roses and confessed to Li Yunxi in public, only to be ruthlessly scolded. Not only that, but she had his clothes stripped down to his underwear, forcing him to run home half-naked.

Since then, that elite disappeared from Jinghai’s social scene, and every other suitor suddenly went silent overnight.

And this wasn’t even the worst of it.

Incidents like these happened more than once, and over time, Li Yunxi earned the title of The Demoness.

“Look, isn’t that the Demoness Li?”

“Shh! Lower your voice. If she hears you, you’re dead.”

“Who’s that guy with her? The sun must be rising from the west, she’s actually that close to a man?”

“I’m shocked too. I thought she didn’t like men?”

“Wait, remember that incident at Panlong Mountain?”

“Yeah, she went against Le Fangyun because of some guy… Could it be him?”

“Le Fangyun’s finished now, isn’t he? Do you think Demoness Li destroyed him for this man?”

“That actually makes sense.”

“Holy crap, this is major news! Li Yunxi actually has a man now?”

“Damn it, who is this pretty boy? How did he manage to tame the Demoness?!”

People whispered among themselves, their words dripping with envy and resentment.

Though Li Yunxi was infamous for her temper, she was still the daughter of Jinghai’s wealthiest tycoon and an absolute beauty. She was the epitome of a rich and attractive woman. Whoever married Li Yunxi wouldn’t just gain a stunning wife—they’d also inherit the Li family’s vast fortune. It was a jackpot by all definitions.

Even though none of them actually had a chance, seeing someone else succeed was still painful.

Lin Xiao followed Li Yunxi deeper into the resort. Though the crowd spoke in hushed tones, Lin Xiao’s sharp hearing picked up every word.

His expression turned strange, and he glanced at Li Yunxi repeatedly.

Lin Xiao didn’t care about their jealousy, but what caught his attention were the things they revealed about Li Yunxi’s past.

To put it mildly, her history was… colorful. While she hadn’t committed any heinous crimes, she had certainly been reckless and wild.

He never realized this “big sister figure” had actually lived such a wild and reckless life. Apparently, she even got into physical fights before, once hospitalizing an entire group of rich heirs.

“Lin Xiao, what are you staring at? Is there something on my face?”

Li Yunxi caught his strange gaze and suspiciously touched her cheek.

“Nothing.”

Lin Xiao looked away indifferently, his expression calm.

He might not know much about women, but even he understood—saying anything right now would be asking for death.

Li Yunxi didn’t think much of it and simply continued walking.

After about ten minutes, they finally arrived at a wooden lodge nestled in the mountains.

“Miss Li, Mr. Lin, this is your reserved hot spring area.”

Manager Xiao pushed open the cabin door but did not enter, instead standing aside and gesturing for them to go in.

“Give me the key. You can leave now.” Li Yunxi waved her off.

Manager Xiao handed over the key with both hands, bowed slightly, and quickly walked away.

Li Yunxi casually tossed the key into her handbag. Now that no outsiders were present, she returned to her usual self, slinging an arm around Lin Xiao’s shoulder with a grin. “Lin Xiao, what do you think? Satisfied with this place?”

Lin Xiao nodded.

He took a quick look around and he had to admit, Li Yunxi had good taste. The lodge was situated in the mountains, providing a breathtaking view. Surrounded by lush greenery, the area was serene and private.

While Lin Xiao wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about hot springs, he still appreciated the thoughtfulness of Li Yunxi’s gesture.

“It gets even better inside. Come on, let’s go in.”

Li Yunxi, like a child eager to show off a treasure, pushed Lin Xiao inside.

The moment they stepped in, Lin Xiao’s eyes lit up.

The cabin’s interior was completely different from what he had imagined.

He had assumed that, since this was a hot spring facility, the room would be bare except for a large soaking pool.

But he was wrong.

The moment he entered, he felt a distinct chill—the temperature inside was at least ten degrees lower than outside. Despite it being summer, the room wasn’t hot at all. In fact, it was refreshingly cool, like autumn.

It made sense—who would want to soak in a steaming hot spring under the blazing summer sun?

If they weren’t careful, they might end up getting cooked.

Having air conditioning inside the cabin was a luxurious yet logical touch.

In the center of the cabin was a square pool, about half a meter deep, with crystal-clear water continuously bubbling up from the underground spring, releasing faint wisps of steam.

Surrounding the pool were various modern furnishings—sofas, water beds, lounge chairs, a television, and even a refrigerator. Everything one could need was available.

One entire side of the cabin wasn’t walled in. Instead, a massive one-way glass panel stood in place, allowing guests to enjoy the scenery outside while maintaining complete privacy.

It was an ingenious design, and no wonder the hot spring resort remained packed even in summer.