Chapter 717: Infiltration

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Lin Xiao raised his uninjured right hand and waved it in front of the two girls.

They exchanged a glance and instantly let out a breath of relief.

“Comrade Xinyu, you liar!”

Huang Caixing pouted, rolled her eyes at Huang Xinyu, and threw herself back into Lin Xiao’s arms, rubbing her face hard against his chest to dry her tears.

Yuan Yu’s snow-white cheeks flushed. She wasn’t as bold as Huang Caixing—especially not in front of Wan Caixuan, Huang Xinyu, and Ning Xi—so she quietly stepped back, holding the hem of Lin Xiao’s shirt with one hand while discreetly wiping her tears with the other.

Thanks to Huang Xinyu’s timely interruption, the heavy mood quickly lifted.

She reached out and gently tapped Huang Caixing’s forehead with a jade-like finger. “Can’t you see? Xiao Xiao’s exhausted.”

“But Big Brother Lin said he’s not tired,” Huang Caixing argued, looking up at Lin Xiao with shining eyes. “Big Brother Lin, are you tired?”

Lin Xiao just smiled and rubbed her hair without answering.

“How’s he supposed to answer when you ask like that?” Huang Xinyu tugged her niece away from Lin Xiao. “Caixing, you’re not a child anymore. Be more sensible.”

“I am sensible! I’m almost eighteen, I’m not a kid!” she muttered, reluctantly stepping back to stand beside Yuan Yu.

Wan Caixuan and Ning Xi walked over then, stopping about two meters from Lin Xiao.

Once she was sure Lin Xiao wasn’t injured, Ning Xi finally relaxed. A teasing smile curled her lips as she looked him up and down.

“Xiao Xiao, don’t you have anything to say? We waited half the night for you, too worried to sleep.”

“Sorry, Sister Ning Xi. I made you all worry.”

Lin Xiao looked sincerely at Wan Caixuan, Huang Xinyu, and Ning Xi, his tone apologetic.

“Since you know we worry, stop throwing yourself into danger,” Ning Xi said with a huff. “I don’t mind that much, but your two little sisters might cry their eyes out.”

“We didn’t cry!” Huang Caixing puffed up her chest. “Those were happy tears!”

Ning Xi glanced at her chest, then down at her own, and suddenly reached out to grope her.

“Little Caixing, don’t be stubborn at a time like this.”

“Ah!”

Huang Caixing squealed, clutching her chest and hiding behind Lin Xiao. “You—you actually dared…!”

She glared at Ning Xi, pouting with righteous fury.

Ning Xi put her hands on her hips and winked. “You’ve got potential.”

“I don’t want that kind of potential…”

As the saying goes, brined tofu meets the right cure. And when it came to thick skin, Huang Caixing was no match for Ning Xi.

Just as Ning Xi was about to tease her again, Wan Caixuan gave her a warning glare and cut in, “It’s late. Let’s head back to the hotel.”

Huang Xinyu followed up smoothly, “This isn’t the place for conversation. Let’s talk at the hotel. Xiao Xiao, don’t drive, just rest in the back.”

A warm feeling bloomed in Lin Xiao’s chest. He nodded.

As they spoke, a stretched Bentley slowly pulled up to the square.

The door opened, and Xiao Xiu stepped out in a tailored black suit. Her long ponytail swayed behind her, and her sharp, elegant presence made her look like the epitome of professional grace.

She placed a hand over her chest and bowed slightly. “Miss, everything is ready.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Let’s go.”

Wan Caixuan glanced at Lin Xiao, then climbed into the car first.

Lin Xiao stood by the Cayenne, a trace of hesitation in his eyes.

Ning Xi noticed, hooked her arm through his, and pulled him toward the Bentley with a laugh. “Relax. No one would dare steal from Brilliant Pharmaceuticals. Your baby’s safe.”

“That’s not what I was worried about,” Lin Xiao said helplessly.

“I know. How about this—you give me the keys, and I’ll have someone send it in for repairs. Once it’s fixed, I’ll have it delivered.”

She winked at him.

“That works.”

Lin Xiao handed over the keys. Ning Xi pocketed them with a smirk.

Seeing this, Huang Caixing pouted and whispered to Yuan Yu, “Little Yu, look at that vixen flirting with Big Brother Lin again.”

“Didn’t you have a long heart-to-heart with Sister Ning Xi last night?” Yuan Yu asked.

“Why are you calling her ‘Sister’? She’s clearly a fox spirit,” Huang Caixing huffed. “I was enduring humiliation for the sake of infiltration, okay? I had to cozy up to her to figure out how to deal with her.”

“Really?” Yuan Yu didn’t sound convinced.

“What’s with that tone?” Huang Caixing stomped her foot. “I’m serious! Someone as smart as me wouldn’t fall for her sweet talk!”

‘If you’re that smart, then the world would have no idiots left,’ Yuan Yu thought to herself.

Out loud, she said, “So? Have you figured out how to deal with Sister Ning Xi yet?”

Huang Caixing hesitated, looking a little guilty. “Not yet.”

“I knew it.” Yuan Yu gave her a knowing look. “Last night, all you talked about was how to seduce Big Brother Lin. Don’t think I didn’t hear you.”

Startled, Huang Caixing slapped her hands over Yuan Yu’s mouth. “Why would you say that out loud?! What if Big Brother Lin hears?”

“Let him. He probably already knows anyway.”

The two girls whispered behind him while Lin Xiao’s expression darkened. The corners of his mouth twitched, and when he looked at Ning Xi, his gaze became strangely complicated.

Ning Xi caught the look, misunderstood it, and tossed him a flirtatious glance. Making sure no one was watching, she slowly licked her lips and murmured just loud enough for him to hear:

“Lin Xiao, what’s with that look? Want a little reward from your big sister?”

“No, Sister Ning Xi… you’re overthinking it.”

Lin Xiao turned his head quickly, doing his best to ignore her.

“You think I’m overthinking it…?”

Ning Xi gritted her teeth silently. In her heart, she made a vow:

Next time, she was going to teach him a lesson he’d never forget.