Chapter 76: You’re actually quite handsome.

As they talked, they unknowingly found themselves back in the villa.

“What have you two been discussing behind my back?” Ning Xi abruptly interrupted their conversation.

With a face full of grievance, she stared at Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan. Her voice and expression were akin to a wronged wife who had caught her husband in an act of infidelity.

Lin Xiao said nothing, feeling somewhat unsettled by Ning Xi’s display of emotions. Luckily, Wan Caixuan swiftly broke Ning Xi’s gaze, her face turning cold. “Ning Xi, do you have too much free time? If so, then you can handle today’s negotiations with a few companies.”

“Miss, this is simply inhumane! I’m already so busy every day, and you want to add more work? Capitalist, ruthless capitalist!” Ning Xi protested with a pitiful expression.

“I’m just a bit curious,” Ning Xi confessed. “You called me yesterday and said you couldn’t stand Lin Xiao and spent quite a while berating him. Why the sudden change of heart now?”

Wan Caixuan’s face stiffened. A blush crept onto her usually icy features. Not daring to look at Lin Xiao, she gave Ning Xi a severe look and retorted, “If you’re that idle, your workload for today is doubled.”

Wan Caixuan didn’t have the nerve to look at Lin Xiao. She shot Ning Xi one final glare before storming off.

Yesterday, when she was in her second-floor bedroom, she couldn’t sleep and did indeed call Ning Xi, during which she lambasted Lin Xiao. She was filled with frustration and embarrassment because Lin Xiao had seen her naked and she had, in her confusion, bitten his chest. Her mind was a whirlwind of anger, embarrassment, and chaos. With nowhere else to direct her fury, she had vented all her grievances about Lin Xiao to Ning Xi.

The assassination attempt in the middle of the night—and the purge of a traitor in their midst—had largely dispelled Wan Caixuan’s lingering resentment toward Lin Xiao. Especially now, as a strange and growing sentiment toward him had already begun to take root.

Once her dissatisfaction vanished, her unusual feelings toward Lin Xiao grew purer and deeper.

Without her even realizing it, Wan Caixuan’s attitude toward Lin Xiao changed significantly.

But as the proverb goes, the bystander sees most of the game. Ning Xi, who was familiar with her character, recognized her transformation and couldn’t resist teasing her.

Watching the irate Wan Caixuan march off, Ning Xi’s lips curled into a triumphant smile. Amused, she sauntered over to Lin Xiao.

“Lin Xiao, you really had a fortunate night,” she said, grinning. “Miss has never pined over a man like she did last night. You’re her first, so don’t screw it up.”

Lin Xiao wasn’t sure what Wan Caixuan had told Ning Xi the day before, but he knew better than to respond. Silence, in this case, was safest.

Still, the memory of last night stirred something in him. Just recalling the sight of Wan Caixuan was enough to quicken his heartbeat and make his blood hum. Her body was irresistibly tempting—breathtaking.

But before he could lose himself in the memory, Ning Xi’s gaze bore into him, intense and unrelenting. It made him uncomfortable.

With a wry smile, he asked, “Sister Ning Xi, is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?”

“No, not at all,” she said, shaking her head with mock innocence. Then, with a teasing glint in her eyes: “I just wanted to get a good look at the face that cast such a powerful spell. Miss usually has no time for men, but with you… she’s different. Honestly, though? You’re not even that handsome.”

Lin Xiao wasn’t overly handsome. He could only be considered slightly above average in appearance. Yet, he possessed a unique allure in his demeanor.

The longer one spent with him, the more they could perceive his captivating charisma.

Like a cup of strong tea, the initial taste may be bitter, but as you continue to savor it, you come to appreciate the depth and essence of its flavor.

Particularly his eyes. At first glance, they appeared to be ordinary and lackluster. However, upon closer inspection, one could perceive a depth akin to the ocean. The more you observed, the more intriguing they became, kindling a desire to uncover the secrets hidden within them.

Ning Xi was gazing at Lin Xiao’s face. She planned to tease him, but now it felt as though she was reading a comprehensive book or savoring a tea with an endless aftertaste. Unknowingly, she had become a bit entranced.

Lin Xiao gently cleared his throat. “Uh, Sister Ning Xi, what’s up?”

At the sound of Lin Xiao’s voice, Ning Xi abruptly returned to reality. Realizing she had momentarily lost her composure, she blushed, but the color quickly faded from her cheeks.

“Nothing much. I retract my previous words. You are quite handsome. No wonder you can make our lady lose her composure.”

Lin Xiao said nothing.

Ning Xi’s tempting lips slightly parted, a radiant smile at the corners, her captivating eyes seemed as though they wanted to devour Lin Xiao whole.

Despite Ning Xi’s outward boldness, she was deeply nervous inside. Her behavior was half to cover her earlier embarrassment, half due to a desire she didn’t fully comprehend herself.

Her heart was pounding uncontrollably, her body trembled faintly, and there was a seductive gleam in her eyes.

Lin Xiao was oblivious to Ning Xi’s internal turmoil, or if he knew, he pretended otherwise. He simply stared at the mesmerizing Ning Xi standing so close, opened his mouth to say something but chose silence instead.

Just then, Wan Caixuan’s voice echoed from the hall, breaking their silent exchange.

“What are you two doing over there? Finish your breakfast quickly and head to the company.”

“Understood. I’m on my way,” Lin Xiao responded, then ran towards the hall as if making an escape.

Watching Lin Xiao’s retreating figure, Ning Xi felt a mixture of amusement and irritation. She had made her feelings so evident, yet Lin Xiao acted oblivious. It was like offering a gem to a blind man.

However, she quickly reassured herself. “Maybe it’s precisely because Lin Xiao is like this that I’ve acted so out of character. If he were like those other men, I wouldn’t even give him a second thought.”

Without lingering any longer, Ning Xi sashayed back into the villa.

After breakfast, around half past eight, Lin Xiao drove the Rolls-Royce and dropped off Wan Caixuan and Ning Xi at Brilliant Tower.

“I’ll head up first,” Wan Caixuan said casually as she stepped out of the car.

She made her way to the president’s private elevator, ready to ascend to the executive office on the top floor.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ning Xi beckoned Lin Xiao closer. Thinking she had something to say, he leaned in.

“What is it?”

“Muah!” Instead of replying, Ning Xi puckered her red lips and planted a kiss on his cheek, leaving behind a vivid lipstick mark.

“…”

Caught off guard, Lin Xiao froze. The sudden kiss—the softness, the warmth, the faint lingering fragrance—sent his heart into an unexpected flutter.

“Ning Xi, what was that about?”

With a playful glint in her eyes, she replied cheerfully, “That was your reward. You saved Miss’s life and uncovered a hidden traitor. The consequences could’ve been disastrous. I figured our hero deserved a little appreciation. Can’t have you feeling underappreciated, now can we?”

“…”

Faced with such a confident explanation, Lin Xiao found himself speechless.

“I’ve got to go too. Bye~” Ning Xi blew him a playful kiss and stepped out of the car.

She caught up with Wan Caixuan, who hadn’t gone far, and followed her into the president’s private elevator.