Chapter 25: Repay him with affections?

Ning Xi looked silently at the sprawl of black-clad bodies. While Wan Caixuan had detailed the attack earlier, experiencing the aftermath in person struck her much more profoundly.

The scene served as a chilling testament of Lin Xiao’s extraordinary capabilities. Ning Xi, who had hired him into the company, was already aware of his skills. But even she was astounded by his formidable prowess now on display.

That being said, his strength was reassuring. The stronger Lin Xiao, the safer Miss Wan.

Ning Xi looked at Lin Xiao with a look of awe bordering on disbelief, which left him feeling somewhat unsettled.

“What’s the matter?” Lin Xiao asked, feeling slightly awkward.

“Nothing. I’m just curious about how non-humans differ from ordinary people,” Ning Xi responded.

Lin Xiao could only remain silent.

Not until the arrival of the police did Ning Xi finally divert her attention away from him. Lin Xiao sighed in relief. He preferred a face-off with a gang of black-suited assassins over enduring Ning Xi’s penetrating gaze.

Wan Caixuan observed the friendly exchanges between them, feeling an inexplicable twinge of sadness. Despite her wealthy upbringing, her aloof nature meant she had few friends. Lin Xiao was one of the few men who had spent considerable time in her company.

The assassination attempt had only deepened her sense of isolation. Though the assassins lay dead, she harbored a suspicion about the mastermind behind the plot.

“He’s just my bodyguard. His protection is part of the job. I can’t overthink this,” Wan Caixuan tried to reassure herself.

It took her some time to regain her composure, but the incidents were indelibly imprinted in her mind. The memory of him diving to shield her from a bullet and lighting her path in her darkest hour of despair persisted.

Eventually, Ning Xi finished her statement to the police and joined Lin Xiao.

“Ning Xi, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. We were the victims here; the ones who died were assassins. I’ll probably just have to make a few more trips to the police station. Luckily, Brilliant Group’s reputation should be enough to smooth things over,” Ning Xi said.

Lin Xiao nodded in relief. He abhorred complications, especially after his last run-in with a striking policewoman, which had resulted in a lengthy and bothersome visit to the police station.

“Miss, we’ll need to leave the Rolls-Royce here as evidence. We can take my car back,” Ning Xi suggested.

“Agreed.”

Lin Xiao drove Ning Xi’s car back to the company. The drive was quiet, with Wan Caixuan mostly silent and very few exchanges between Ning Xi and Lin Xiao.

Just as they neared their destination, Wan Caixuan finally broke the silence.

“Let’s keep the assassination attempt confidential.”

“Understood,” Lin Xiao replied, asking no questions.

He was aware that there were hidden layers to the attempt on Wan Caixuan’s life. However, as a bodyguard, he felt his role was to provide protection, and he refrained from meddling in affairs beyond his purview.

Upon their return to the Brilliant Tower in the late afternoon, they were greeted with respectful salutations.

“Good afternoon, Assistant Ning. Good afternoon, President.”

“Good afternoon, Assistant Ning. Good afternoon, President.”

As Lin Xiao and Ning Xi accompanied Wan Caixuan into the building, a figure watched from the shadows. Lu Yufei saw Lin Xiao following Wan Caixuan into the building, and a malevolent smile spread across his face.

He had spent the entire morning eagerly anticipating Lin Xiao’s return, eager to witness firsthand the spectacle of Lin Xiao being fired from the company. Now that Lin Xiao was finally back, he couldn’t help but revel in joy.

“Country bumpkin, this might be your last time in the Brilliant Group. Get lost! Haha!”

Envisioning the scene of Lin Xiao being ousted from the building in humiliation, Lu Yufei broke into involuntary laughter.

Unaware of Lu Yufei’s thoughts, Lin Xiao was currently accompanying Wan Caixuan to the very top floor of the Brilliant Tower. After watching Wan Caixuan and Ning Xi walk into the CEO’s office, Lin Xiao settled down on a chair outside.

Inside the office, Wan Caixuan stood next to an enormous, transparent, tempered glass wall, her arms folded across her chest. Her face was etched with melancholy as she gazed blankly down at the floors below, lost in thought.

Ning Xi, seeing Wan Caixuan’s distressed expression, felt a pang of sympathy. People only saw the young mistress’s glamorous public persona, but no one knew of her sleepless nights and the sorrow of not being able to return home.

Ning Xi approached Wan Caixuan and gently consoled her.

“Miss, please don’t be upset. You still have me.”

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” Wan Caixuan pushed aside her sadness and turned to face Ning Xi. “I just didn’t anticipate their ruthlessness.”

“Miss, what should we do next?”

“Since they’ve resorted to hiring assassins, it’s clear they’ve given up pretending,” Wan Caixuan said. “I cannot afford to be passive. I must retaliate.”

“Yes, Miss. I’m glad you see it that way. You were too lenient before, and it only made them bolder,” Ning Xi agreed.

Wan Caixuan’s expression hardened.

“Don’t worry, Ning Xi. I won’t show mercy again. This assassination attempt was a blessing in disguise. It revealed just how ruthless they really are. Since I’ve chosen to compete for the family’s succession, I owe it to those who believe in me to fight back. Even if I’m at a disadvantage now, I won’t back down. The first step is to take control of Brilliant Aya Limited.”

Ning Xi’s heart lifted seeing Wan Caixuan’s resolve return.

“Miss, don’t worry. I’ll always stand with you. I’ve already gathered the basic intel on Brilliant Aya: who’s with us, who’s against us, and who’s on the fence.”

“Ning Xi, thank you.”

“Miss, you don’t have to thank me. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

A flicker of emotion passed through Wan Caixuan’s eyes, but true to her nature, she quickly masked it and shifted topics.

“By the way, where did you find that bodyguard? He’s… something else. Did you manage to dig up anything on him?”

“I couldn’t find anything on him,” Ning Xi said, shaking her head with calm determination. “But Miss, I truly believe Lin Xiao isn’t a bad person. I first met him when he stood up for me. Back then, he looked like any ordinary laborer. Rough clothes, like a worker from the countryside, but his presence, his aura… it was exactly the same as now. I trust him completely.”

Wan Caixuan’s lips curled into a subtle smile.

“Oh? You sound pretty confident. Putting your reputation on the line like that. Could it be? A hero saves the damsel in distress, and now you’re planning to repay him with your heart?”

“Miss!” Ning Xi’s face flushed.

“Don’t joke like that. If we follow your logic, he saved you too. Are you thinking of repaying him with…”

She trailed off mid-sentence, realizing too late what she’d said. Her mistress had never liked men, and a careless comment like that could easily offend her.

“I—I’m sorry, Miss…” she stammered, quickly bowing her head.

“It’s fine,” Wan Caixuan said lightly, though a curious glint lingered in her eyes.