Chapter 398: Return to the Company

Half an hour later.

Lin Xiao drove the Cayenne to Jinghai Airport. From a distance, he spotted Wan Caixuan dressed in a white blouse and black fitted pants.

There was no avoiding her—even from afar—because a large crowd surrounded her. Yet none dared get too close, only taking pictures from a distance, maintaining order, with murmurs of admiration rippling through the crowd. Even celebrities didn’t receive this kind of treatment.

Wan Caixuan wore oversized sunglasses that covered most of her face. Her rosy lips were tightly pressed together, and her entire being exuded an unapproachable coldness.

Lin Xiao parked the car, easily parted the crowd, and approached her. In a low voice, he said, “Sorry, I’m late.”

Seeing Lin Xiao—clothes disheveled, hair still damp, Wan Caixuan couldn’t help but show a faint smile at the corner of her lips. “You’re not late. I just got here myself.”

Then she took Lin Xiao’s arm. The gesture was intimate, like a girl reunited with her long-lost boyfriend.

At that moment, the onlookers burst into an uproar.

Wan Caixuan stood out in every way—appearance, temperament, and dress. She wasn’t just stunningly beautiful; she carried a natural nobility. Anyone could tell she came from an extraordinary background.

And Lin Xiao?

Plain-looking, average clothes, messy appearance, even wearing slippers. Aside from a strong build, there was nothing remarkable about him.

The stark contrast between the two was jarring. Yet the goddess-like Wan Caixuan had taken his arm on her own, showing such closeness—how could that not shock the crowd?

“A flower stuck in cow dung!” someone muttered indignantly.

“Right? What a waste of good cabbage!”

“Why would a beauty like that choose someone like him?” one man beat his chest in frustration, though even he didn’t know what exactly he was regretting.

“That guy’s such a scrub!” another said bitterly, eyes filled with jealousy and disgust. “How can someone like that be with someone so beautiful? Heaven is blind! Why not me?!”

The murmuring and complaints reached Lin Xiao’s ears, but his expression didn’t change. Inside, he remained completely calm.

A true dragon in the heavens never concerns itself with the whispers of ants below. These ordinary people could never comprehend the gulf between themselves and Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao shifted his gaze and noticed the woman standing behind Wan Caixuan. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. “And this is?”

The woman—Aunt Meng—examined Lin Xiao with interest, rubbing her chin with a finger as if evaluating him, though her eyes showed no disdain or dissatisfaction.

“This is Aunt Meng. My father sent her to protect me,” Wan Caixuan quietly introduced. “Aunt Meng, this is my friend, Lin Xiao.”

“Nice to meet you, Aunt Meng.” Though he felt slightly uneasy under her strange gaze, Lin Xiao still greeted her politely.

“Young man, you… Not bad,” Aunt Meng said, pinching Lin Xiao’s muscular arm and clicking her tongue in praise. “With you by Miss’s side, I’m relieved.”

Wan Caixuan frowned slightly, displeased with Aunt Meng’s behavior. “Aunt Meng, now that you’ve seen him, you can head back to the capital, right?”

“Can’t I stay just a little longer?”

“No.”

“Well then, I’ll go. Young man, we’ll meet again.” Aunt Meng gave Lin Xiao a faint smile, nodded, and turned into the crowd.

Though she didn’t appear to move fast, each step covered several meters, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished like a ghost. Yet the people nearby noticed nothing.

Lin Xiao’s surprise deepened. This Aunt Meng was also an ancient martial artist, and based on her strength, likely not inferior to Lei Qianting.

“Let’s go,” Wan Caixuan tugged at Lin Xiao’s sleeve.

He nodded, glanced once more in the direction Aunt Meng had gone, and walked side by side with her through the crowd.

“Who is Aunt Meng?” Lin Xiao asked once they got into the car.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Wan Caixuan relaxed now that they were away from the crowd. She stretched, her posture highlighting her figure.

“She was just here to escort me to Jinghai,” she said while buckling her seatbelt. “But Aunt Meng holds a high position in the family. After bringing me here, she’s heading back.”

Lin Xiao was silent for a long while as he started the car and headed for the Brilliant Tower. After a while, he said, “What a shame.”

“Shame about what?” Wan Caixuan turned her head slightly, her eyes like clear autumn water, gazing at Lin Xiao’s profile.

Though they had been apart for a while, there was no sense of unfamiliarity between them. It felt as though they’d seen each other just yesterday.

“A shame I didn’t get to spar with her,” Lin Xiao said truthfully.

To have such a master so close and miss the chance was indeed a regret.

“I don’t understand ancient martial arts, but I could tell Aunt Meng respects your strength,” Wan Caixuan said with a lazy yawn. “Next time you’re in the capital, you might get the chance to fight her.”

Lin Xiao kept his eyes on the road. Hearing the fatigue in her voice, he asked, “You sound tired?”

“Mm. I came back right after handling Wan Shixuan’s affairs. Barely had time to rest these past few days.” She leaned against the seat, her eyes half-closed. Then, in a soft voice, “Lin Xiao, thank you.”

“For what?”

“For everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for being here.” Her long lashes trembled. “If not for you, none of this would have gone so smoothly.”

“Now that Wan Shixuan is taken care of, you should be safe, right?”

“He was just one obstacle. There are still three major ones ahead. And after all this, I’ve become a thorn in the eyes of my other rivals. Trouble is far from over.” Wan Caixuan’s eyes remained closed as she said, “So I’ll still be counting on you for my safety, Mr. Bodyguard.”

Hearing her slightly playful tone, Lin Xiao smiled faintly. “At your service, Madam CEO.”

***

An hour later.

Lin Xiao drove Wan Caixuan to the Brilliant Tower. Her appearance at the entrance caused an uproar. The unprepared staff were thrown into chaos, running in all directions.

“The CEO is back!”

“Go inform Manager Ning!”

The four guards at the door bowed deeply and shouted in unison, “Good day, CEO!”

Wan Caixuan didn’t even glance at them and walked straight into the lobby, just as Ning Xi stepped out of the elevator. Their gazes met mid-air, and Lin Xiao had the vague feeling that sparks flew for a moment.

Ning Xi wore a black business suit that outlined her curvaceous figure. Her hair was tied up in a simple bun with a wooden hairpin, revealing a slender, snow-white neck. Combined with her beautiful and alluring face, she looked both elegant and captivating.

She first looked at Lin Xiao standing behind Wan Caixuan, gave him a meaningful glance, then broke into a bright smile and hurried over to Wan Caixuan. “Miss, you’re back?”

Then she turned and snapped at the surrounding staff, “Don’t you all have work to do? Get moving!”

Startled by her shout, the employees scattered. The lobby emptied in seconds, even the security guards turning away to pretend to monitor the weather.

“Manager Ning, come with me. I need to talk to you. Lin Xiao, don’t follow us.” Wan Caixuan walked past Ning Xi without emotion and headed for a corner of the lobby.

Ning Xi stuck out her tongue, then rolled her eyes at Lin Xiao, mouthing, “Why didn’t you tell me in advance?”

Lin Xiao opened his hands and gave a helpless shrug.