Chapter 48: Ning Xi’s Home

“Don’t let me catch sight of you again, or it won’t be as simple as this. Get lost,” Lin Xiao warned, releasing his grip and setting the young man down.

The young man dared not utter a word. He and his few comrades scrambled away from the Jiangnan Bar in complete disarray. They were genuinely terrified by Lin Xiao’s viciousness.

After dispatching the group, Lin Xiao returned to the bar counter and moved to Wan Caixuan’s side. Slipping an arm around her slender waist, he gently helped her up.

She was light in his arms, effortless to support. But Lin Xiao’s expression showed anything but relaxation.

The feeling of Wan Caixuan’s slender, soft waist under his hand and the faint but intoxicating scent wafting to his nose stirred up a wave of emotions within him.

But that wasn’t his primary concern. The most awkward part was when Wan Caixuan, practically unconscious, leaned onto his chest as he helped her up. The subtle softness and her breath against him nearly caused Lin Xiao to lose his composure.

Drawing on the techniques he had mastered in the army, Lin Xiao forced himself to regain composure. It took him a while to fully steady his emotions, but the sharp scent of alcohol in the air helped anchor his focus, gradually cooling the fire in his chest.

Lin Xio exited the Jiangnan Bar. Perhaps the chill wind outside stirred her consciousness, as Wan Caixuan opened her eyes in a daze upon their departure.

However, recognizing Lin Xiao, she immediately closed her eyes and nuzzled her face into his chest like a kitten, comfortably resting against him.

This left Lin Xiao with nothing but a wry smile.

Intending to take Wan Caixuan home, he quickly realized a problem. He knew she resided in Jiangnan Floral Estates, but he had no clue about the specific building or floor. After pondering for a moment, Lin Xiao pulled out his phone and dialed Ning Xi’s number.

“Hello?” Ning Xi’s clear voice echoed from the other end.

“Sister Ning Xi, it’s me.”

“Oh? Lin Xiao? What’s the matter?” Ning Xi was surprised. After a moment’s pause, she teased with a laugh, “Calling me this late, are you feeling lonely and in need of company?”

For some reason, ever since their playful encounter in the elevator, Ning Xi had taken more and more pleasure in teasing Lin Xiao.

“…” Lin Xiao fell silent.

“Cat got your tongue? Don’t be shy. If you need something, I might just—”

“Sister Ning Xi, President Wan is drunk. I don’t know where she lives, so I thought I’d ask you for advice,” Lin Xiao decisively interrupted her increasingly flippant words.

Ning Xi stopped teasing. She replied, “It’s hard to gain access to Miss Wan’s house. It can be quite a hassle if she’s not present. Why don’t you bring her to my place?”

Ning Xi shared her address with Lin Xiao but did not question why Wan Caixuan was drunk.

“Alright, I’ll get in touch once we’re there.”

After hanging up, Lin Xiao prepared to hail a taxi to Ning Xi’s place.

Just then, Wan Caixuan, who had been sound asleep, abruptly opened her eyes. Caught between sleep and wakefulness, she gripped Lin Xiao’s neck, her face filled with sorrow. She nestled her face into Lin Xiao’s shoulder and started sobbing softly.

Her tears soaked into Lin Xiao’s shoulder, and with every quiet sob that escaped Wan Caixuan’s lips, a pang of ache stirred in his chest. The aloof, elegant CEO—seen by the world as untouchable, powerful, and worth billions—was, beneath it all, just a woman burdened with unseen sorrows.

Although Lin Xiao didn’t understand why Wan Caixuan was crying so bitterly, he gently ran his fingers through her soft hair, silently offering comfort. The woman sobbing on his shoulder was no longer the imposing CEO, but a distraught, ordinary girl.

“Why? Why does it have to be this way? Is power truly that important? Is money really worth turning your back on family? I thought stepping aside would ease your fear. But instead, you grew even more ruthless… even sending assassins after me. If only I were just an ordinary person,” Wan Caixuan sobbed.

Though disjointed, Lin Xiao roughly understood why Wan Caixuan was so distressed.

From Wan Caixuan’s intoxicated ramblings, it became clear she knew exactly who was behind the assassination attempts. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to face the truth—because the mastermind was someone close to her, perhaps even a family member.

This matter no doubt involved internal conflicts and power struggles within the Wan family.

All Lin Xiao could do was sigh.

After her crying subsided, Wan Caixuan’s voice gradually softened, and she fell asleep again, nestled in Lin Xiao’s embrace.

Soon after, he assisted Wan Caixuan into a taxi, instructing the driver to head toward Ning Xi’s residence.

“Bro, you’re one lucky man,” the driver commented enviously as he stole a glance at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao simply smiled, choosing not to explain. After all, he knew his explanations would be fruitless. With a stunning, intoxicated woman leaning against him, anyone’s thoughts could easily wander.

Ning Xi’s place wasn’t far, and they soon reached her apartment complex.

After helping Wan Caixuan out of the taxi, Lin Xiao carried her towards the building.

Wan Caixuan murmured incoherently, her drunken words slurred as she clung to Lin Xiao, one arm wrapped tightly around his neck. Her cheeks were flushed, and her warm breath brushed against his skin, stirring a flicker of desire in him. But the lingering haze of alcohol quickly dulled the spark, keeping his thoughts in check.

Luckily, they were close to Ning Xi’s apartment.

Cradling Wan Caixuan, Lin Xiao rode the elevator to Ning Xi’s floor and decisively rang the doorbell.

About a minute later, the security door swung open. Ning Xi stood there in an enchanting manner. The sight caused Lin Xiao’s heart to race, beating rapidly against his chest.

Ning Xi’s captivating stance wasn’t what surprised Lin Xiao, though. What took him aback was her attire, an exceedingly revealing white strappy nightgown.

The garment was scandalously short, leaving vast expanses of her enticingly white skin on display, with her chest filling out the small nightgown nicely. It scarcely covered her thighs, revealing her long, fair legs and exquisite feet, all laid bare for Lin Xiao to behold.

This tantalizing sight only served to compound the agitation Lin Xiao was already reeling from his encounter with Wan Caixuan.

Ning Xi secretly laughed to herself. She purposely wore this outfit, purely to gauge his reaction.

She wasn’t a particularly forward person, she could even be labeled as conservative. But for some inexplicable reason, she found herself wanting to tease Lin Xiao. She had mustered a great deal of courage to wear this ensemble, all to get a reaction from Lin Xiao.

Ning Xi said, flashing a teasing smile, “Lin Xiao, you’ve arrived. Please, come in quickly. I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while.”

After Lin Xiao stepped inside with Wan Caixuan in his arms, Ning Xi quietly closed the door behind them, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she watched him.

“Sister Ning Xi, why are you staring at me like that?” Lin Xiao asked, discomfort creeping over him under Ning Xi’s relentless gaze.

In the room, a man held a breathtaking woman in his arms while another—dressed in a revealing nightgown—stood nearby, watching him silently. Even at a glance, the scene was undeniably strange.