Chapter 175: A Warm Welcome

“I’m not shy. I simply have nothing to say,” Lin Xiao said coolly.

“Fine, fine, I’ll stop talking. Happy now?”

As Li Yunxi turned to head towards the door, she paused midway, looked back, and said, “Other men strip for me and I don’t even care. So, to be seen by me is your privilege, you know?”

Lin Xiao trailed behind Li Yunxi, his demeanor calm, uttering not a word, as silent as a stone.

His silence only served to heighten Li Yunxi’s interest in him.

Li Yunxi had encountered her fair share of men who were all too eager to engage in endless chatter and boastfulness. To her, nearly every man seemed like a peacock, desperate to flaunt their finest feathers at the slightest opportunity.

Yet, beneath the glossy exterior these men presented, Li Yunxi could often see their ugly side.

Lin Xiao, however, stood apart from these men.

He was highly capable and had a wealth of stories, yet chose to remain modest and silent, concealing his brilliance and edge, revealing his true abilities only when absolutely necessary.

It was these fleeting moments of genuine brilliance that Li Yunxi found most admirable.

Approaching the room they had reserved, Li Yunxi flashed a mysterious smile, stepping aside, “Lin Xiao, why don’t you do the honors and open the door?”

After a brief glance at Li Yunxi, Lin Xiao reached out to push open the door.

What he found on the other side, however, left him momentarily taken aback.

Behind the door stood a roomful of people. A room full of young women, each more beautiful than the last, dressed in matching black and white maid outfits, lined up in two neat rows, with hands clasped in front of them.

As Lin Xiao swung the door open, all the maids spoke in perfect unison, their voices harmonizing as they greeted, “Welcome, Master!”

They seemed amused, covering their mouths and giggling after shouting “Master.”

Lin Xiao was dazed for a moment before he regained his composure. This scenario was entirely unexpected. Despite his vivid imagination, he could never have predicted that Li Yunxi would assemble a roomful of maids in just over half an hour.

“What’s this about?” Lin Xiao turned to Li Yunxi, looking for an explanation.

“This is the surprise I’ve prepared for you,” whispered Li Yunxi, her voice full of allure. “What do you think? Quite the surprise, right?”

After her words, Li Yunxi attempted to push Lin Xiao into the room, but he stood firm.

“Who are they?” Lin Xiao asked, frowning.

Li Yunxi felt a pang of worry seeing Lin Xiao’s reaction. It was clear he wasn’t delighted by the surprise.

“You don’t like the surprise?” Li Yunxi raised her hand, silencing the maids’ laughter.

“I’m only surprised, not pleased,” Lin Xiao scanned over the girls, his frown deepening, “Why would you think I’d enjoy this?”

“Isn’t this what all men like? Harems, maids, and such,” Li Yunxi said matter-of-factly, “The guys I know all enjoy this sort of thing.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested at all,” Lin Xiao said, his face devoid of emotion.

Li Yunxi scrutinized Lin Xiao’s expression, realizing he wasn’t lying, and sighed in defeat, “Alright, I guess I’m not cut out for this sort of thing. I’ll give up, happy now?”

Lin Xiao’s expression softened slightly. He understood Li Yunxi had good intentions. She had just overdone it.

He extended his hand to Li Yunxi, saying, “Miss Li, I’d be pleased to be your friend, but just that, a friend, not a lackey.”

Li Yunxi glanced at Lin Xiao’s bandage-wrapped hand, her expression a mix of amusement and bewilderment, before finally taking his hand, “Then let’s be friends.”

As Lin Xiao and Li Yunxi shook hands, the girls dressed in maid uniforms exchanged looks, their expressions varied. They were taken aback to see their big sister, who notoriously disliked men, accommodating Lin Xiao in such a manner.

Indeed, it was an accommodation. Li Yunxi’s aversion to men was as renowned in the circles of the affluent as her beauty. With any other man, she wouldn’t even entertain the idea of a handshake, let alone show a trace of warmth.

Many men had attempted to curry favor with Li Yunxi, only to be met with scathing rebukes and humiliation, similar to what had happened with Le Fangyun.

Now, Li Yunxi willingly shaking hands with Lin Xiao seemed as unbelievable to these long-time followers as the sun rising from the west. They looked back and forth between Lin Xiao and Li Yunxi, some even rubbing their eyes, wondering if they were witnessing an illusion.

After the handshake, Li Yunxi herself appeared slightly uncomfortable, quickly withdrawing her hand.

Seeing the astonished looks on the girls’ faces, she became exasperated, her brows furrowed and eyes glaring, as she snapped, “What are those looks for? Go and change your clothes. Why are you standing around like fools?”

She was venting the frustration she felt from Lin Xiao onto her followers. However, the girls were well accustomed to Li Yunxi’s temperament, understanding that though she lashed out at them, she wasn’t really angry.

“Big Sister, you told us to wear these outfits, and now you’re asking us to change…” a young girl grumbled.

“Just change if I tell you to, and cut the chatter,” Li Yunxi retorted as she walked over and firmly slapped the girl on the buttocks.

“Why hit my butt,” the girl protested, her face a picture of grievance.

“You always talk too much. Just go, and after you’ve changed, you can all go home. No need to hang around here anymore,” Li Yunxi impatiently dismissed them with a wave of her hand.

“Got it, got it, we’re leaving.”

“We’ll leave you to your date, Big Sister. Hope you have a blast today!”

“I can’t believe Big Sister would do this, ditching her sisters for a guy.”

The girls, making faces and tossing around playful comments, quickly cleared out of the room.

Li Yunxi’s cheeks flushed slightly as she covertly glanced at Lin Xiao upon hearing the girls’ remarks.

Lin Xiao remained calm, seemingly oblivious to the comments, which both relieved and slightly irked Li Yunxi.

‘This guy… is absolutely infuriating,’ Li Yunxi thought, seething internally.

In no time, the room, once bustling with the girls, was left with only Lin Xiao, Li Yunxi, and three girls who had decided to stay behind.

Though these three weren’t as strikingly beautiful and glamorous as Li Yunxi, they were undeniably attractive in their own right. Lin Xiao had seen them before at the Panlong Mountain car race, but didn’t know their names.

“Didn’t I say you should all leave?” Li Yunxi frowned, giving the three girls a sharp look, filled with an air of admonishment, “You’re not listening to this big sister now, huh?”