《My Wife Gets More Vicious The More I Spoil Her》


 Chapter 1: Even without a sugar daddy, you can still have a sugar sister.

    <h4>Chapter 1: Even without a sugar daddy, you can still have a sugar sister.</h4>


    It was the rainy season, the sky was gloomy, as if it was about to rain at any moment.


    Inside a cafe by the street, a girl was sitting by the window. She was wearing a very ordinary white short-sleeved shirt, with her long hair loosely tied up, and a few strands of bangs naturally falling when she lowered her head.


    She was engrossed in reading a book, but her gaze asionally wandered towards the window, where she would watch the passersby for a while as if she were waiting for someone.


    Not far away, a waiter lowered his head when he noticed that the girl had shifted her attention back to her book for the umpteenth time.


    He was ying with a Rubik''s Cube, probably passing the time, with slow and leisurely movements.


    He was just one step away from solving it.


    At that moment, a hand suddenly reached over, apanied by a stern voice, "Xie Xuan! I''ve caught you again! ying Rubik''s Cube during working hours? What kind of ce do you think this is, an amusement park?"


    "If it were an amusement park, I would be on a roller coaster now. Who would still y with the Rubik''s Cube?" Xie Xuan leanedzily against the counter, his voice clear and pure.


    "You..." The Rubik''s Cube was confiscated by the owner of the cafe. He turned and walked behind the counter, picking up a clean rag to wipe the surface. "It''s going to rain, and there are no people out on the street. It''s normal to have no customers."


    Xie Xuan shrugged and smiled.


    "Even if it was a sunny day there might not be much business in such a remote location!"


    The owner lifted his eyes and nced at him. "Still smiling?"


    Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow.


    Should I cry instead of smiling?


    The owner pouted toward the girl by the window. "Go attend to her a bit. Always cking off at the counter. When will you earn enough to pay off your debt?"


    That debt...


    Thinking about it gave Xie Xuan a headache.


    Seeing that he did not move, the owner urged, "What are you waiting for?"


    Xie Xuan nced in the direction of the girl once again.


    Even without a sugar daddy, you can still have a sugar sister.


    Xie Xuan straightened up, intending to ask the ''sugar sister'' if she wanted a refill.


    Just as he picked up the drink menu, he heard the sound of a crisp wind chime.


    It was a decoration hanging at the entrance of the cafe. The chime indicated that a customer had arrived.


    A young woman entered the shop. She quickly scanned the area, and then walked straight to the table where the girl was sitting.


    Before she even sat down, the woman said, "Lu Haiqiao, I told you to choose a meeting ce. I didn''t ask you to pick such a ce. Getting lost in all these twists and turns, and there''s no parking nearby. I had to park far away and walk over!"


    Lu Haiqiao closed her book and looked up.


    She had a pair of beautiful eyes, with bright, shining ck pupils. The outer corners of her eyes were long and slightly upturned, and her naturally long eyshes flickered, giving her a very obedient and well-behaved appearance.


    "What would you like to drink? The coffee here is quite good." Her voice was as pure and innocent as her appearance, and in that moment, the woman stoppedining.


    "No, thanks. I''ll just sit for a while before I leave." She pulled out a chair and sat down, cing her phone on the table.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at her expressionlessly. "Why did you ask me out?"


    The woman in front of her with heavy makeup was called Su Qingya, her sister.


    The reason they had different surnames was because their parents divorced when Lu Haiqiao was four years old.


    Her elder sister, Su Qingya, lived with their father, Su Jinchang, while Lu Haiqiao was taken away by their mother, Lu Wanxin. From then on, her surname was changed to Lu.

 Chapter 2: I’m at your service whenever you need me

    <h4>Chapter 2: I''m at your service whenever you need me</h4>


    "Lu Haiqiao, I have 30,000 yuan here. It should be enough for you and that woman to cover a year''s living expenses. I''ll transfer the money to your WeChatter. Consider a token of gratitude from me and Dad."


    As she finished speaking, the corners of Lu Haiqiao''s lips curled up slightly. "No need; we don''t need it."


    Su Qingya paused, her fingers hovering over the keypad to enter the password.


    She put down her phone and looked at Lu Haiqiao. "You don''t have to pretend to be strong in front of me. Do you think I don''t know what kind of situation you and that woman are in?"


    A few days ago, the household servants mentioned that they often saw Lu Wanxin bargaining with the market vendors when buying groceries. If it was as she said ¡ª she ''didn''t need'' the money ¡ª then there was no need to haggle over a few yuan when buying groceries, right?


    Thinking of this, Su Qingya added, "Being too proud doesn''t benefit you. Just ept the money so that you can live a morefortable life. After all, 30,000 yuan is not enough for me..."


    Before she could finish, a male voice interrupted, "Do you need anything else? Our cheesecake today is quite delicious. Would you like to try a piece?"


    Su Qingya, who was interrupted, looked displeased.


    She tilted her head up, about to scold the person, but her eyes met a wless and handsome face.


    The curse words that were about toe out of her mouth instantly disappeared, and her expression softened.


    Su Qingya smiled pretentiously and looked at Xie Xuan with her hand supporting her chin. "Little brother, I want to know if today''s cheesecake tastes better or if you taste better."


    Xie Xuan remained silent.


    His gaze was fixed on Lu Haiqiao as if his earlierment about the cheesecake being delicious was meant for her.


    "Thank you, but not now," the girl''s voice was sweet and polite, "We still have some matters to discuss. Can you pleasee back when we''re ready to order?"


    What a soft and nice marshmallow!


    Xie Xuan put away the drink menu and smiled, "Sure, I''m at your service whenever you need me."


    Back at the counter, the owner asked, "No orders?"


    Xie Xuan replied, "No."


    The owner raised an eyebrow, "Not even from the one who cameter?"


    Xie Xuan shook his head.


    The owner''s gaze briefly swept over the elegantly dressed Su Qingya, and he let out a small "hmph," muttering, "There''s a saying that''s proven. The richer the person, the stingier they be!"


    ...


    At the dining table.


    On the other side of the table, Su Qingya finally shifted her gaze as she realized Xie Xuan had disappeared into the back room.


    She opened her purse, took out a cigarette, and lit it skillfully.


    Taking a slow drag, Su Qingya lifted her chin, casting a sideways nce at Lu Haiqiao. "Back to the topic, do you want the money or not?"


    "No." Lu Haiqiao refused without hesitation.


    "If you don''t want it, then forget it. Just don''t me me, your sister, for not taking care of you in the future." Su Qingya casually waved her hand, with the cigarette between her fingers, releasing a cloud of white smoke. Lu Haiqiao, who disliked the smell of smoke, instinctively frowned.


    At that moment, the phone on the table rang.


    Su Qingya switched the cigarette to her other hand and picked up the phone.


    It was a call from their father, Su Jinchang.


    "Hello, Dad..."


    Su Qingya''s voice on the phone was crisp and clear. "Got it. I won''t forget the banquet tonight."


    "Now? I''ve got something to attend to right now."


    "You don''t have to pick me up. Just meet me at the entranceter."


    Su Jinchang said something that had Su Qingya''s gaze suddenly shifting to Lu Haiqiao.


    "Lu Haiqiao? No way, you have such an arrangement?"

 Chapter 3: Won’t see

    <h4>Chapter 3: Won''t see</h4>


    Hearing her name, Lu Haiqiao''s hand paused mid-air as she held her cup.


    It was surprising that Su Jinchang still remembered her existence.


    She remembered that year vividly when he had first pped her mother hard across the face and then pointed at her, a mere four years old, and shouted, "Get lost! Take this b*stard child with you!"


    The stubborn Lu Wanxin had desperately held back her tears and retorted, "Su Jinchang, it''s not until today that I truly understand what it means to distort right and wrong, to confuse ck and white. You were the one having an affair with that woman, and now you dare to use me of being unfaithful?"


    Su Jinchang remained unfazed. "You know very well whether it''s true or not. For the sake of our past as husband and wife, don''t force me to show the evidence."


    The so-called evidence was nothing more than a paternity test report.


    Su Jinchang, as the CEO of the Su Group and a perennial upant of the third ce on B City''s rich list, could easily fabricate a fake report.


    "Fine! Fine! Fine!" Lu Wanxin wiped away a tear that had escaped from the corner of her eye. "Su Jinchang, you''re great, truly great!"


    After that intense argument, Lu Haiqiao left the Su family with her mother.


    It had been twenty years since then.


    Su Qingya nced at Lu Haiqiao and deliberately lowered her voice. "Now that you mention it, it makes sense."


    "Really?"


    "Alright, I''ll think of a way. Don''t worry, Dad. When have I ever let you down?"


    "Alright, let''s leave it at that. I''m hanging up."


    After ending the call, Lu Haiqiao spoke before Su Qingya could say anything, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave first."


    "Don''t be in such a hurry," Su Qingya propped her elbows on the table, looking at Lu Haiqiao who had already stood up. She lifted her chin slightly. "Sit down, I haven''t finished talking."


    Lu Haiqiao stood still for a while.


    She felt the phone vibrate in her pocket.


    She took it out and saw that it was a WeChat message from her good friend, Xu Duo.


    A long link followed by a line of text.


    "Three o''clock in the afternoon."


    The top left corner of the phone screen showed the current time was 1:30 p.m. Lu Haiqiao thought for a moment and sat down again. "Go ahead."


    Su Qingya said, "The call just now was from Dad."


    Lu Haiqiao: "I know."


    Su Qingya: "He said he wants to see you."


    Lu Haiqiao: "I won''t see him."


    Su Qingya: "Why not? He is our father!"


    Lu Haiqiao: "So what? Who he is is his business, and whether I see him or not is my decision."


    Su Qingya was momentarily taken aback, then lit another cigarette. "Lu Haiqiao, that''s a great opportunity for you now that Dad wants to see you. Don''t you know who you are? To put it nicely, you''re the youngest daughter of the CEO of the Su Corporation, but in reality, you''re the b*stard child of that woman and another man."


    "Therefore, you have no reason or qualification to put on airs in front of me. Listen to Dad obediently and make me think that you have some sense of self-awareness."


    As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed arge pile of ash umting at the end of her cigarette.


    Su Qingya nced at Lu Haiqiao and saw that she still had the same expressionless face. So, she deliberately extended her hand and waved it conspicuously in front of Lu Haiqiao''s eyes.


    Her little sister had always been this indifferent, and it was infuriating.


    Only that woman would treat her like a treasure!


    Lu Haiqiao was busy replying to Xu Duo''s WeChat message and couldn''t stop Su Qingya in time. Her eyes were identally exposed to the acrid smoke and drifting ash, causing her eyes to redden instantly.

 Chapter 4: Poor Troublemaker

    <h4>Chapter 4: Poor Troublemaker</h4>


    Su Qingya stood up satisfied and said, "Dad said he arranged to meet you next Wednesday. Prepare yourself properly before then. I''ll send someone to pick you up."


    Before she left, she bent down and warned, "Remember, you''re a b*stard. So don''t push your luck!"


    ...


    When Xie Xuan came out from the back room, he saw Lu Haiqiao wiping the corners of her eyes with a tissue.


    The woman opposite her had already left.


    "What''s going on?" he asked his boss.


    The cafe was not big, and Su Qingya spoke with a high volume. The owner, who had been in the front of the cafe the whole time, had overheard most of the conversation.


    He nced at Xie Xuan. "Why are you so concerned?"


    Xie Xuan touched the tip of his nose with his index finger. "She''s pretty."


    The owner made a disapproving sound. "Being pretty is one thing, but with all that debt on your back, how are you going to date someone?"


    Xie Xuan was about to respond when his phone rang.


    He took out his phone from his pocket and saw that it was a WeChat message.


    The owner craned his neck to take a peek. "Is it those debt collectors again?"


    Ever since this kid started working here, he never mentioned his parents or any other family members. Instead, the owner had identally overheard him say phrases like ''how much money'', ''is it enough'', ''how much time left'', and so on many times when he was on the phone.


    It seemed like he had offended the wrong people, owed too much money, and didn''t dare to contact his family.


    As he thought about it, the furrow in the owner''s brow deepened.


    He hoped this kid could behave and not bring those creditors to the door. His shop was small and couldn''t withstand such turmoil.


    Xie Xuan, who waspletely unaware that he had beenbeled as a ''poor troublemaker'', was currently looking at his phone, absorbed in the message.


    The WeChat message was from Zhou Nuo.


    A link to an auction website.


    "Brother Xuan, the thing you''re looking for will be auctioned off today at 3 p.m. sharp."


    Xie Xuan tapped the screen and typed out a response.


    Before he could hit send, he heard Lu Haiqiao shout, "Excuse me."


    Between beauty and an important matter, Xie Xuan decisively chose the former.


    He put his phone back in his pocket and quickly walked over.


    "May I take your order?"


    Lu Haiqiao had a shoulder bag slung over one shoulder and a thick book in her arms. There was only a mobile phone on the table.


    "Thank you. I don''t need to order any more. Please bring me the bill."


    As she spoke, she picked up her phone. "WeChat or Alipay?"


    Xie Xuan replied, "Anything is fine."


    Lu Haiqiao casually opened WeChat, and when the ''Scan to Pay'' page popped up, she raised her head.


    Xie Xuan, who intended to return to the counter to get the payment QR code, instantly changed his mind after their eyes met.


    Standing face to face, he could see her appearance.


    This Little Marshmallow was really beautiful.


    A kind of obedient, sweet beauty.


    Her skin was fair, her nose was well-shaped, and her eyes were moist and slightly red. On both sides of her cheeks, a pair of shallow dimples appeared when she smiled faintly.


    "How much?" she asked.


    Xie Xuan nced at the empty coffee cup on the table. "Twenty-five."


    He took out his phone and opened his own payment code.


    With a vibration, the 25 yuan was deposited into his WeChat wallet.


    After settling the bill, Lu Haiqiao picked up her bag and prepared to leave.


    As she passed by Xie Xuan, she heard him suddenly shout, "Lu Haiqiao?"


    She turned her head, didn''t say anything, and her slightly furrowed brows revealed a hint of ''how do you know my name'' perplexity.

 Chapter 5: I Have Money

    <h4>Chapter 5: I Have Money</h4>


    "Your name is written on the book." Xie Xuan raised his chin and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a packet of tissues and handed it over. "And this, it''s aplimentary item from the cafe. Every customer gets one."


    "Thank you." She took the tissue and left.


    After staring at her slender figure for a few seconds, Xie Xuan''s gaze shifted to the bag on her shoulder.


    It was t and looked like an empty bag.


    If that''s the case, why didn''t she put the book in the bag?


    ...


    At the counter.


    Xie Xuan transferred the twenty-five yuan he received directly into his boss''s ount.


    When his phone made the sound of receiving a WeChat payment, the owner spoke, "Why? Didn''t get her WeChat?"


    What did he mean by not getting WeChat? He did not even ask for it.


    Seeing him silent, the owner thought he might be feeling down and tried to console him, "Don''t be so disheartened if you didn''t get her WeChat. As the saying goes, fate brings us together from thousands of miles away. If you''re destined to couple with that girl, you''ll meet again sooner andter."


    "I heard that her sister said the girl can live for a year with 30,000 yuan. I assume her family background isn''t that great."


    "So, work harder now and save up more money. When you pay off the debts and the girl is with you, she won''t have to suffer."


    "Especially, don''t let her suffer the disdain of her sister."


    Xie Xuan understood the situation better now.


    So, the reason the Little Marshmallow secretly wiped her tears was because she was being mistreated by her sister.


    The owner continued to say, "Honestly, don''t be fooled by that girl''s appearance. She looks obedient, but she''s quite stubborn. She even refused her sister''s money, and I overheard..."


    Without waiting for him to finish speaking, Xie Xuan felt his phone vibrating urgently in his pocket.


    He didn''t rush to take it out. Instead, he turned around and walked towards the inner hall. "I''m going to the toilet!"


    ...


    After leaving the cafe, Lu Haiqiao stood by the roadside and hailed a taxi.


    Her destination was a mall some distance away.


    She was lucky. She had just entered the mall when raindrops the size of beans started falling from the sky.


    She nced around and noticed that quite a few people hade in to take shelter from the rain.


    Some of them took out their phones and connected to the mall''s Wi-Fi, ying games to pass the time.


    Perfect.


    The more people, the better.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled and found a rtively quiet bench to sit on.


    She took out a Bluetooth earpiece from her pocket and put it on her ear. Then she opened WeChat and made a voice call while taking out a tablet from her bag.


    It was 2:50 p.m., just in time.


    The WeChat voice call connected.


    Xu Duo''s voice came through the Bluetooth earpiece. "I thought you''d bete."


    Lu Haiqiao chuckled. "How is that possible? I''ve never beente when I want something."


    Xu Duo clicked her tongue. "But this time, it''s not something you want. It belongs to you."


    Lu Haiqiao: "Then it''s even less likely for me to fail."


    Xu Duo: "Don''t be toocent. There might bepetitors."


    Lu Haiqiao: "I have money."


    Xu Duo: "..."


    With just those three words, you''ve won.


    The link Xu Duo shared on WeChat was for arge auction website.


    Lu Haiqiao typed the website name into her tablet''s browser and clicked to enter.


    The homepage featured scrolling advertisements, and her target for today was right there.


    Two paintings.


    One was called ''Flower Moon''. The other was called ''Night''.


    However, these two paintings, along with one more named ''Spring River'', belonged to the same series.

 Chapter 6: Vague

    <h4>Chapter 6: Vague</h4>


    Two years ago, at an auction, this set of ''Spring River Flower Moon Night'' was sold to a mysterious buyer for a staggering 210 million yuan. Unexpectedly, when it was delivered, the two paintings ''Flower Moon'' and ''Night'' suddenly disappeared.


    The entire series lost two paintings, significantly reducing its value.


    In the end, the mysterious buyer canceled the deal. The only remaining ''Spring River'' in the series ended up in the hands of Xie Guangde, the richest man in B City.


    It''s quite unexpected that ''Flower Moon'' and ''Night'' have resurfaced after two years.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at the scrolling images on the webpage, her eyes filled with determination.


    On the other end of the WeChat voice call, Xu Duo had already switched to the auction page and was waiting.


    "Interesting, very interesting."


    Lu Haiqiao: "What''s interesting?"


    Xu Duo: "I mean the introduction in the details of the auction."


    Lu Haiqiao: "What''s the problem?"


    Xu Duo: "Gao Xuan. Master ofndscape painting. Unknown gender. Birth year is unknown, and unknown participation record. I say, Miss Lu, why is your introduction so vague?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "Keep it concise. It''s not annoying to look at."


    Xu Duo: "..."


    It was better not to leak any information at all, but having ''unknown'' written on everything looked rather ominous.


    Xu Duo: "Honestly, I still don''t quite understand why you chose the name ''Gao Xuan'' back then."


    Lu Haiqiao: "Because of my grandfather."


    Xu Duo and Lu Haiqiao had known each other since elementary school, and while Xu Duo didn''t know everything about her family, she knew a fair bit.


    Xu Duo: "But your grandfather''s name is Lu Ye. It doesn''t seem to have any connection with the word ''Gao Xuan'', right?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "But he has another nickname called Ming Jing."


    Xu Duo: "..."


    Well, mirror hanging high, the ''Ming Jing Gao <anno data-annotation-id="69612-7dda-4167-866b-2ff4545830a4">Xuan''</anno>.


    It turned out that Miss Lu was such a casual person.


    After registering an ount on the auction website, Lu Haiqiao paid a deposit of 100,000 yuan as required.


    Shepleted the process right at three o''clock.


    ''Flower Moon'' and ''Night'' were already open for bidding.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at the webpage. The starting bid was 5.5 million, with increments of 500,000.


    Who were they looking down on? Starting with such a low bid?


    She frowned slightly and thought it didn''t matter; she should resolve it quickly.


    Moving the cursor and clicking relentlessly, she confirmed her bid when it reached ten million yuan.


    At this moment, a dialog box popped up.


    "Your bid is below the current price. You cannot ce a bid."


    Lu Haiqiao: ???


    She refreshed the webpage and saw the current price.


    Twenty-three million.


    F*ck!


    Which b*stard was looking for trouble and wanted topete with her?


    ...


    In the men''s washroom of the cafe.


    "Achoo..." The impatient b*stard suddenly sneezed.


    Zhou Nuo''s voice came through the phone. "What''s wrong, Brother Xuan? Did you catch a cold?"


    Xie Xuan sniffed. "I suddenly don''t feel well."


    Zhou Nuo snorted. "Then, you better take care. I heard that only idiots catch a cold in the summer."


    "You''re the idiot," he yawned, as he had stayed upte ying gamesst night and didn''t get enough sleep, "Be serious. If someone else grabs it, I''ll twist your head off and use it as a stool!"


    Zhou Nuo thought to himself,<i> ''Brother Xuan is the devil of B City. Even if one dares to eat a bear''s heart and a leopard''s <anno data-annotation-id="876e0e59-f7c8-4094-9ad3-44a4c33a33fc">gall</anno>, still one would not dare topete with you.''</i>


    But little did he know, this thought had barely crossed his mind when hezily leaned against his chair and nced at hisputer screen. He was stunned for a few seconds before he suddenly sat up straight, eximing, "Brother Xuan, I can''t believe someone ispeting with you!"


    <annotations style="disy: none;"><li>perspicacious and impartial in judgment</li><li>idiom meaning pluck enough courage</li></annotations>

 Chapter 7: Going all out, right?

    <h4>Chapter 7: Going all out, right?</h4>


    Xie Xuan frowned. "What''s the current price?"


    Zhou Nuo: "28 million."


    Xie Xuan: "Both sides?"


    Zhou Nuo: "Yes, both."


    Xie Xuan: "Then it''s probably the same person."


    After thinking for a moment, he said, "In that case, I''ll y along with him. If he adds 510, I''ll raise it by 1100. Let''s see who can outbid whom!"


    Zhou Nuo: "..."


    What 510, 1100, that''s by thousands. You even left out the word ''thousand'' behind the numbers!


    ...


    At the mall.


    "Hey, hey, hey, Haiqiao, it''s 38 million now!"


    "I saw it." Lu Haiqiao''s voice was calm.


    Xu Duo: "The other party seems to be well-prepared, and notcking money."


    Lu Haiqiao''s eyes turned cold as she said, "No matter what, no one is allowed to snatch what belongs to me."


    "If you cherish the painting so much, why did you auction it back then?"


    Xu Duo had asked this question many times before, but Lu Haiqiao always responded to her with silence.


    This time was no exception.


    The expected silence made Xu Duo give up seeking an answer.


    "Forget it, forget it. If you don''t want to talk about it, then don''t."


    Lu Haiqiao softly replied with an ''"Mmm".


    At that moment, Xu Duo noticed the countdown timer next to the current price on the webpage.


    After checking the rules, she reminded her, "Haiqiao, this is a time-limited auction with no time extension. In other words, at thest second of the auction, the highest bidder wins."


    Lu Haiqiao, who had just raised the price to 43 million, could not help but curse.


    This kind of bidding required more than just money. It depended on which side was lucky enough to ce the winning bid at thest second before the auction ended.


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and tightened her grip on the tablet.


    Going all out, right?


    Then I would raise it to a price you couldn''t afford!


    "Woah, Brother Xuan, looks like this person is going against you." Zhou Nuo stared at the current price of the items on theputer screen and clicked his tongue twice. "He directly raised it to 70 million."


    70 million...


    Two years ago, the entire series had been sold for 210 million yuan, which was exactly 70 million yuan per painting.


    Has it reached the limit?


    "Brother Xuan, what should we do now? Should we raise it?" Zhou Nuo asked.


    Xie Xuan didn''t hesitate. "Of course. If I can''t secure these two paintings, my grandfather wille over with a knife and hack me to death."


    The corner of Zhou Nuo''s eyes twitched. "Then we raise it by 1,000 each time?"


    Going further would push it over 100 million.


    Even if you had the money, was it wise to y like this? What if the other party was just trying to trick you into increasing the price?


    After some consideration, Xie Xuan said, "I''ll raise it by 100 first to test the other party''s bottom line. If 7,000 is their limit, then no point for me to raise it."


    He was rich, but he was not stupid.


    "Understood." Zhou Nuo acted quickly, immediately raising the price to 71 million after saying so.


    "Haiqiao, there are only two minutes left, and they''ve already bid 7,100. What should we do?" Xu Duo was starting to get anxious.


    If they were bidding for a single painting, given Lu Haiqiao''s temperament, she might directly push the price to over 100 million to guarantee an absolute advantage.


    However, they were bidding on two paintings of equal value, and she had to consider whether she had enough liquid capital on hand to pay for such a substantial fee.


    One painting for 70 million was probably her limit at the moment.


    "I don''t care. Increase the price." As soon as she finished speaking, the current price for both paintings, ''Flower Moon'' and ''Night'', simultaneously rose to 72 million.


    Both sides continued topete fiercely, neither willing to back down.

 Chapter 8: Failure

    <h4>Chapter 8: Failure</h4>


    There were only 20 seconds left.


    On one hand, Xie Xuan''s bid had already reached 80 million per painting.


    "Haiqiao!" Xu Duo tried to persuade her. "One painting at 8,000 yuan, two paintings cost 160 million yuan. Are you sure you have enough money in your ount to cover this much?"


    Lu Haiqiao was very insistent. "Yes!"


    "But..."


    "I must buy the paintings. No need to say anything else."


    The final ten seconds.


    Seeing the current price on the page remained at 80 million, Zhou Nuo was confident: "Brother Xuan, it seems like they should be out of money over there, we''ve got these two paintings locked."


    Xie Xuan leaned against the cold tile wall, not saying a word.


    He did not dare to let down his guard until the very end.


    "Ten, nine, eight, seven..." Zhou Nuo counted down as he refreshed the webpage and gloated.


    It was clear that today''s opponent was a formidable figure, just unlucky to have encountered this person.


    Xie Xuan was the sole heir appointed by Old Master Xie since birth.


    At the age of 13, he was admitted to B City Top Middle School with the highest score, scoring full marks in all subjects.


    Later, he found the school uniform there unsightly and refused to attend, even declining the Old Master Xie''s offer to customize the uniform style. After much deliberation, he chose B City No.3 Middle School which had ordinary teachers.


    The reason was that he found their school uniform more pleasing to the eye.


    However, during his high school years, he attended school in personal clothing, and that new school uniform remained in the storeroom on the second floor of Xie''s residence to this day.


    Assuming that his antics would only happen once, he repeated the same behavior three yearster during the higher education intake.


    The difficult top scorer of the national college entrance examination did not even look at the admission notice of B University, a top university. He tore it up and said that he wanted to repeat his studies.


    He considered it inauspicious that there wasn''t number ''8'' in his total score on the college entrance examination.


    However, despite his outrageous behavior, no one in the Xie family opposed him.


    Even Xie Xuan''s parents only said nonchntly, "As long as our son is happy."


    After all, this Young Master Xie was the youngest grandson of the Old Master. He was highly favored and could do whatever he wanted. No one could stop him.


    But this time, the fearless Young Master Xie had made a mistake.


    Why did he have to y with a paper airne made from the ''Spring River'' painting that the Old Master had painstakingly obtained?


    The Old Master was so angry that he kicked him out of the house. If he didn''tpensate the Old Master for an identical painting, he shouldn''t regard him as Grandpa.


    That was why Young Master Xie, who had never been interested in paintings and antiques, attached great importance to this auction.


    An identical ''Spring River'' painting was impossible to obtain because the original artist, Gao Xuan, couldn''t be found despite all the efforts and resources Xie Xuan had invested. So he thought that if he could buy the other two paintings in the same series ¡ª ''Flower Moon" and ''Night'' ¡ª it might help soothe the Old Master''s anger.


    The countdown timer on the screen indicated the end of the auction.


    Zhou Nuo leisurely refreshed the webpage and saw a huge ''Deal'' appeared on it. He smiled in satisfaction.


    However, when he saw the final bid, he froze.


    "Xuan, Brother Xuan..."


    "Hm?" Xie Xuan repliedzily.


    Zhou Nuo gulped and his voice trembled nervously. "No, no, We didn''t get it."


    "What?" Xie Xuan stood up straight in surprise.


    Zhou Nuo repeated, "The final transaction price was 8,100 yuan. We failed."


    "F*ck!" Xie Xuan clenched his fist and punched the tile wall.


    ...


    After a storm, sunlight prated through the thick clouds.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at the auction page that had ended, remaining silent for a long time.

 Chapter 9: Smile, coax, and wheedle

    <h4>Chapter 9: Smile, coax, and wheedle</h4>


    On the other end of the line, Xu Duo chattered. "Haiqiao, how was it? Did you get them?"


    Lu Haiqiao sighed softly and replied coldly, "No, I''m a step toote."


    Xu Duo could sense her dissatisfaction in her tone and asked. "Then what are we going to do now?"


    After a few seconds of silence, Lu Haiqiao said, "Help me find out who''speting with me for these two paintings."


    Pausing for a moment, she continued, "I suspect there might be two groups of people."


    Xu Duo: "Why do you say that?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "Let''s investigate first and we''ll see if my guess is correct."


    Xu Duo was unhappy. "Why don''t you investigate it yourself? I''ve been very busy recently. I have a few business deals to attend to."


    Lu Haiqiao''s tone was light. "I''m aputer idiot."


    Computer... idiot?


    If she could, Xu Duo wanted to reach through the inte and beat Lu Haiqiao to death.


    A person who hacked into the school''s administrative system in elementary school and changed her unttering ID photo had the cheek to call herself a puter idiot''?


    Xu Duo snorted. "I don''t..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, a soft, sweet voice came from the other end, "Duoduo, please help me. You''re so capable, investigating a few people shouldn''t be a big deal for you. You just need to spare a bit of time... right?"


    Well, she smiled, coaxed, and wheedled.


    Lu Haiqiao had unleashed her ultimate charm and soft-soaped Xu Duo. Who could resist it?


    Xu Duo immediately changed her words. "It''s impossible for me to not agree. I could never refuse you, Miss Lu!"


    "So you promise. You can''t go back on your word." Lu Haiqiao confirmed again.


    Xu Duo held her phone up and leaned against the back of the chair. The chair tilted back. "Alright, if I say I''ll investigate, I''ll do it. Once I''m done with the business deal I''m working on..."


    "Tomorrow," Lu Haiqiao abruptly stated as she finished packing up her tablet and stood up from the bench.


    Xu Duo was stunned. "Huh?"


    Lu Haiqiao, expressionless, walked out of the mall with her bag in hand, "I want to know the results tomorrow."


    Xu Duo: "..."


    Miss Lu, can I interview you?


    May I ask how you seamlessly switch between a cute girl and an unreasonable woman with such a harmless-looking face?


    ...


    It was already 4:30 p.m. when Lu Haiqiao returned to thepany.


    She worked as a columnist on social topics at the ''Jolie Fille'' magazine.


    This was somewhat famous in the industry for its focus on fashion and entertainment. Since social topics made up only a small part of the content, as long as she submitted her articles on time monthly, her workload was not heavy.


    This was also the reason why she chose this magazine. It spared her time to do something else.


    Passing by the reception desk, Lu Haiqiao headed towards the office area.


    Upon entering, she met the manager of the administration department, Fang Chuoqi.


    Fang Chuoqi had likely juste from the pantry, holding a white mug that emitted a faint wisp of steam.


    She walked over to Lu Haiqiao and stopped. Then, she sized her up with a meaningful gaze. "Clocking-out at five o''clock and you came back at four-thirty. You''re just in time to clock out on the nail. Lu Haiqiao, you''re good at time management. You managed to get through another ordinary workday with ease."


    Lu Haiqiao''s longshes fluttered slightly, and she didn''t look at her, but her tone was serious, "I''ve taken leave."


    Fang Chuoqi''s dislike for Lu Haiqiao was an open secret in the entire magazine.


    She was a few years older than Lu Haiqiao, and even when she wasn''t a manager, she always regarded herself as a senior. But even though she often spoke with a hint of arrogance and self-importance, Lu Haiqiao had never held it against her.

 Chapter 10: The enemy was wiped out without firing a shot

    <h4>Chapter 10: The enemy was wiped out without firing a shot</h4>


    Until a new photographer joined the magazine.


    The moment Fang Chuoqi saw the photographer, she fell in love. Unfortunately, he was interested in Lu Haiqiao.


    After more than half a year of this unrequited love, the photographer confessed to Lu Haiqiao.


    As expected, he was rejected. Perhaps because he felt embarrassed, the photographer resigned the next day.


    From then on, Fang Chuoqi disliked Lu Haiqiao. Especially after she was promoted to manager of the administration department, her mockery and taunts escted.


    Even in casual conversations among colleagues, as long as it was about Lu Haiqiao, no matter how positive it was, she would find something negative to say. She never missed an opportunity to criticize or belittle Lu Haiqiao daily at work.


    However, she could only find fault with small things like arrivingte or leaving early. Lu Haiqiao had never made a mistake in terms of work.


    "What? What''s so great about taking a leave? Can it be used as a death exemption card?" Fang Chuoqi sneered.


    Lu Haiqiao had a bad temper since childhood.


    It could bepared to a small cannonball since it was so bad.


    It would explode at the slightest touch.


    However, her grandfather and mother had always taught her to be tolerant. They said it was a waste of time to fuss over trivial matters. In addition, she was born with a sweet and pleasant appearance. Even if she showed obvious anger, most people would just see it as a soft girl who was aggrieved.


    Feeling aggrieved could be quite effective with parents and teachers, but it wasn''t the same with peers. In the eyes of her peers, it wasn''t such a simple matter.


    Terms like ''green tea''[1.calcting and maniptive], ''white lotus''[2.women who look pure but scheming and rotten-minded], ''brown-noser'', and even harsher words like ''sl*t'' and ''pretentious'' had been used to describe her since she was young. She had heard these words so often that her ears had developed calluses.


    However, she never took thesements to heart.


    Not because she was particrly generous or tolerant, but because these people were only talking behind her back, and they hadn''t done anything truly malicious.


    After all, Lu Haiqiao was a well-behaved girl who consistently ranked first in her ss. If sheined to the teachers, they would take her side.


    Those who gossiped were not fools, they were just doing it for pleasure and satisfaction. They didn''t want to get themselves into trouble.


    Although Fang Chuoqi wore eight-centimeter high heels, she still felt inferiorpared to the tall and elegant Lu Haiqiao.


    She tilted her chin slightly and cast an unfriendly look in Lu Haiqiao''s direction.


    However, Lu Haiqiao only nced at her and said nothing.


    People who provoked Lu Haiqiao face-on were of a lower caliber. Responding to that would be equivalent to devaluing herself.


    Moreover, at this moment, Lu Haiqiao was more concerned about who had taken those two paintings. Compared to that, Fang Chuoqi didn''t even register on her radar.


    It was probably about time. Lu Haiqiao took out her phone.


    It was exactly five o''clock.


    She opened DingTalk, switched to the clock-in page, and lightly tapped with her fingertip.


    With a vibration, her clock-out was sessful.


    Although Lu Haiqiao was on leave, she would still clock in and out on time.


    "Off work." She left those two words lightly and turned to leave, leaving Fang Chuoqi alone in ce, stomping her feet in frustration.


    Lu Haiqiao could imagine Fang Chuoqi furious to the point where her features were contorted.


    It was like putting all your strength into a punch, thinking your opponent would be seriously injured, but instead, the punchnded on a pile of cotton and bounced back, leaving the opponent unharmed, while you ended up falling t on your back.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled. This was much more interesting than a confrontation.


    The enemy was wiped out without firing a shot.


    After leaving the office building, Lu Haiqiao received a WeChat voice message from Xu Duo.


    It had only been an hour since the auction ended, how could there be news so soon?

 Chapter 11: After eating and drinking enough, it’s time to come back and do the work

    <h4>Chapter 11: After eating and drinking enough, it''s time toe back and do the work</h4>


    She pressed the button. "Hello, Duoduo, did you find out anything?"


    Xu Duo''s overly sweet voice came through the receiver. "Well, darling, I called you to ask what you''d like to eat tonight?"


    Lu Haiqiao said with a serious tone. "Get to the point."


    Xu Duo: "Curry chicken, braised pork, steamed fish, and lobster sd. Choose one out of four. My treat."


    "Get to the point!" Lu Haiqiao emphasized again.


    Xu Duo hesitated.


    A few secondster, she said in an extremely sad tone, "I found out that the buyer who bid 8,100 yuan at thest second and the one who keptpeting with you came from two different IP addresses."


    "In other words, apart from you, two other people arepeting over the two paintings."


    As expected.


    Lu Haiqiao waited for Xu Duo to continue.


    But, there was only silence on the other end.


    Lu Haiqiao frowned. "That''s all?"


    Xu Duo replied with a "hmm... That''s all."


    Lu Haiqiao: "..."


    With this level of skill, why bother with the dark web and informationworks? Just go home and inherit the family business!


    After a few seconds, she thought of something else. "Oh, by the way, I also found out the personpeting with you is using an IP address from B City, and it seems to be located in Yue Gang Bay. The other buyer has an overseas IP address and appears to be deliberately concealing the identity, making it hard to trace."


    Yue Gang Bay was a residential area upying four million square meters of prime real estate in a bustling area of B City.


    It was owned by the municipal government and was known for its excellent feng shui. It was surrounded bymercial streets, banks, hospitals, and prestigious primary and secondary schools. It was not an exaggeration to refer to it as a ce where even the wealthy couldn''t afford to live.


    Lu Haiqiao pondered for a moment. "Never mind. Continue to investigate the IP address in that slum..."


    The person willing to spend that much money topete with her must have some background.


    Perhaps they were also investigating the whereabouts of the two paintings.


    Xu Duo''s eyes widened.


    Slum?


    Yue Gang Bay, huh?


    She had just bought two houses there not long ago!


    "Then the overseas IP..." Xu Duo knew that Lu Haiqiao would never easily give up on those two paintings.


    Sure enough, there was a chuckle on the other end of the line.


    "Tonight eight o''clock at the usual ce. I''ll tell you when we meet."


    ...


    When Zhou Nuo walked into the Secret Love Bar, he immediately spotted Xie Xuan sitting in the booth.


    This Young Master was in a bad mood today, choosing to stay downstairs in the noisy area instead of the quiet private room on the first floor.


    It was close to the dance floor, filled with loud music and noise.


    Sitting down next to him, a waiter approached them immediately.


    Since he wasn''t here to drink, Zhou Nuo casually pointed at something on the drink menu and sent the waiter away.


    Xie Xuan rested his head against the sofa and closed his eyes. The deafening DJ music didn''t seem to affect him at all.


    When the drink was served, Zhou Nuo looked at him and called out, "Brother Xuan."


    Just making his presence known.


    Xie Xuan responded with azy "hmm" as if he had known Zhou Nuo had arrived.


    A momentter, taking advantage of a break in music, he said, "Call Big Xie and Second Xie back."


    Hearing this, Zhou Nuo, who was about to drink, hesitated.


    "But Brother Xuan..."


    Xie Xuan ignored him and continued unhurriedly, "It was a bad decision from the beginning to keep them there."


    "Like an alcoholic guarding a winery, or a gambler watching over a casino..."


    "Heh, no difference with putting two rats in a rice jar?"


    Zhou Nuo: ...


    Don''t worry. No matter how bold these two ''rats'' were, they would never dare to cause trouble in your ''rice jar''.


    "After eating and drinking enough, it''s time toe back and do the work."

 Chapter 12: Harvest wool

    <h4>Chapter 12: Harvest wool</h4>


    When Zhou Nuo heard what Xie Xuan said, he guessed, "Are you nning to send them to find the two paintings?"


    The word ''paintings'' sessfully made Xie Xuan open his eyes.


    He straightened his back and sat up straight. "Who asked Grandpa to like..."


    The more he thought about it, the more indignant he felt.


    He shouldn''t have considered whether it was ''worth it or not'' when he set the price. After all, his grandfather''s preference was priceless.


    "Forget it, let''s not talk about it. Just arrange it as I said."


    Zhou Nuo opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more, but after some consideration, he just nodded without speaking.


    He understood what Xie Xuan meant.


    They came to the bar to vent their emotions. In this crowded and noisy ce, some things were indeed inconvenient to say.


    At this moment, there was amotion from not far away.


    Xie Xuan lifted his eyes to look.


    Several young people had gathered near the dartboard near the bar. Unlike other bars, this dartboard area was heavily guarded by two security guards, making it look quite special.


    When Xie Xuan entered the bar, he noticed this special area, but at that time, he was feeling annoyed, so he didn''t pay much attention.


    Now that he had drunk some wine, he had calmed down a little.


    "Over there..."


    Zhou Nuo had been to the Secret Love Bar a few times and knew about this special dartboard.


    "Anyone who can hit the darts on the board not only wins a prize of one hundred thousand yuan but also gets all the expenses here in the future waived."


    Xie Xuan smiled yfully, "One hundred thousand?"


    Zhou Nuo countered, "What''s wrong? Are you interested?"


    Xie Xuan set down his ss and stood up, saying, "Let''s go."


    Zhou Nuo looked up at him, "Where are we going?"


    Xie Xuan casually tucked his hand into his pocket and replied, "To harvest wool."


    Zhou Nuo: ...


    That little bit of wool probably wouldn''t even be enough to knit a foot cover for his grandfather''s pet canary!


    ...


    Meanwhile, in a private room on the first floor of the bar.


    The specially-treated walls blocked the outside noise. Lu Haiqiao leaned against the low back of the sofa with one elbow propped up, her other hand swaying her sszily. Her posture was rxed and casual.


    On the single sofa beside her, Xu Duo''s gaze remained fixed on Lu Haiqiao.


    The girl in front of her was like a goddess.


    Her face was sweet, but her personality was cold and aloof. Many boys had fallen in love with her at first sight, but there were not more than ten who had mustered the courage to confess.


    Because she was just too outstanding. Not only was she at the top in terms of appearance, but her academic performance was also at the top. She naturally didn''t take ordinary people seriously.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at Xu Duo. When their eyes met, she smiled and asked, "Why have you been staring at me? Have you fallen in love with me?"


    Xu Duo was bold with her gaze and exaggerated in her tone, "Yes, I''ve fallen in love with you. I love you so much..."


    Lu Haiqiao raised an eyebrow but didn''t say anything.


    Xu Duo scooted closer and sat down beside her. "Hey, did you call me here just to listen to my confession?"


    "Can''t ept it, can''t ept it..." Lu Haiqiao raised her head slightly and looked at the gorgeous chandelier above the private room. "I know my worth. Your confession belongs to that person."


    Xu Duo was momentarily stunned and then blushed.


    She tried hard to control the smile on her face, leaned her shoulder against Lu Haiqiao, and yfully rubbed against her a few times. "Hey, have you heard from him recently?"


    Lu Haiqiao shook her head. "I''m looking for him too..."


    Xu Duo immediately guessed. "For the painting?"


    Lu Haiqiao took a sip of her drink and did not respond.


    "I''ve checked the website and the auctionpany, and there doesn''t seem to be any issue," Xu Duozily leaned against the sofa. "As for the client..."


    Lu Haiqiao continued, "You can''t find anything, right?"

 Chapter 13: Master

    <h4>Chapter 13: Master</h4>


    Xu Duo responded, "Hmm..."


    Lu Haiqiao sighed softly. "I expected that."


    For two years, she had been searching for a person without any sess. It wouldn''t be easy to find information on him.


    "Well, there''s no rush with this matter," Lu Haiqiao continued, putting down her ss. "The paintings have appeared, and sooner orter, they will return to their rightful owner."


    With that, she stood up.


    Xu Duo looked at her. "Where are you going?"


    Lu Haiqiao patted his forehead with the back of his hand. "I''m tired. Going home."


    "I''ll drive you."


    Just as Xu Duo was about to get up, Lu Haiqiao stopped her. "I can go back on my own. You have to stay here and keep an eye on things."


    Secret Love Bar was opened by Xu Duo''s father, Xu Guoqiang, shortly after she graduated from university.


    Originally, it was just for fun, with no intention of running it for a long time.


    However, Xu Duo gradually developed a sense of responsibility as a business owner.


    She invested a significant amount of money and effort into it, and she visited the bar every evening. asionally, she even went down to greet the customers.


    With her exquisite appearance, social skills, generous spending, and cheerful personality, the business thrived.


    As Lu Haiqiao walked out of the private room, the ground floor''s dance floor switched to elegant blues music.


    The soothing music made her slightly vtile mood calm down a bit.


    She crossed the corridor and was about to head downstairs when she suddenly heard amotion.


    It was loud and boisterous, impossible to ignore.


    "F*ck, we encountered a master!"


    "The second dart has been knocked down; it seems like we''re getting closer to 100,000 yuan."


    "Incredible, how many years of practice does it take to reach this level!"


    "Perfect bullseye, beautiful!"


    Lu Haiqiao leaned against the railing near the stairs, her gaze shifting from the slow-dancing crowd on the dance floor to the lounge area not far from the bar.


    Under the shing lights of the bar, her eyes settled on a tall figure.


    In a brief moment of brightness, she saw the person raise his arm.


    After a swift and precise motion, the enthusiastic apuse and cheers from the crowd followed.


    "F*ck, this guy''s a real master!"


    "The first meal exemption is born!"


    "I thought it was a coincidence earlier, but now it''s clear he is amazing!"


    ...


    The security guard guarding the dartboard whispered something to the bartender, who nodded in response. The bartender then made her way to the first floor.


    Upon seeing Lu Haiqiao, the bartender stopped and respectfully greeted her, "Miss Lu."


    The boss''s best friend was equivalent to half a boss.


    Lu Haiqiao tilted her chin slightly, "What''s going on?"


    The bartender turned to look, "Three darts were knocked off the board."


    Huh?


    Lu Haiqiao raised her eyebrows.


    Really?


    She had her doubts.


    Lu Haiqiao walked past the bartender, hurrying downstairs.


    There were a few steps left to the ground floor.


    At that moment, a familiar figure emerged from the lounge area.


    With quick steps, the person passed by her in a sh. She managed to see his side profile.


    Was it him?


    The waiter from the cafe this afternoon?


    Lu Haiqiao shifted her gaze and arrived at the lounge area with suspicion.


    Aided by the bright spotlight from the bar counter, she saw the back end of three darts with blue and white patterns securely hitting the bullseye. Meanwhile, the three red darts that had previously stuck at the same spot had scattered on the floor.


    These were the darts she casually shot at the dartboard when the bar had justpleted renovation.


    Since the bar''s opening, not to mention knocking them down, nobody had even hit three bullseyes in a row!

 Chapter 14: Luckily, the Earth is round

    <h4>Chapter 14: Luckily, the Earth is round</h4>


    It was precisely because of this, that Xu Duo as the owner, dared to announce that anyone who could continuously hit these three darts would not only receive a cash prize of one hundred thousand yuan but also be exempted from all the expenses at the bar in future.


    This challenge was not intended to increase the entertainment value or publicity of the bar but rather, it was simply believed that no one could achieve it.


    Lu Haiqiao looked at one of the security guards who still guarded the dartboard and asked, "Who shot down these darts?"


    Just to confirm.


    The guard recognized Lu Haiqiao.


    He nced at the bar''s entrance and replied, "Just left. A young man."


    Lu Haiqiao: "..."


    The streets are full of young men. Which one are you talking about?


    Lu Haiqiao recalled the man''s attire. "The one in the ck short-sleeved shirt and aqua blue jeans?"


    The guard nodded. "Yes."


    It was him.


    Lu Haiqiao continued to inquire, "What''s his name?"


    If he won the grand prize, he should at least leave his name.


    The guard shook his head, "He didn''t say, and he didn''t want the prize money. He just left."


    A hundred thousand prize money was offered on a silver tter, and he didn''t want it.


    Interesting.


    How interesting.


    A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lu Haiqiao''s lips as she once again cast her gaze toward the bar''s entrance.


    "I''m at your service whenever you need me."


    "Lu Haiqiao?"


    "Your name is written on the book."


    "And this, it''s aplimentary item from the cafe. Every customer gets one."


    Tissue...


    She seemed to have put it in her bag, unopened.


    So, that cafe...


    It was a little remote.


    Luckily, Earth is round, and dropping by wouldn''t hurt.


    ...


    At ten o''clock in the evening, a taxi stopped at the entrance of an old neighborhood in the east of B City.


    After moving out of the Su family, Lu Haiqiao has been living here with Lu Wanxin.


    The exterior of the building might be old, but the security and greenery were quite good. Coupled with convenient transportation nearby, it was afortable ce to live.


    She climbed up the stairs and reached the third floor.


    As soon as she pushed open the door, a fragrant aroma greeted her nose.


    "Mom!" Lu Haiqiao shouted in the direction of the kitchen.


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Wanxin walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of steaming beef noodles. "Baby, you''re back. Quick, go wash your hands. Mom made you supper."


    "Thanks, Mom!"


    Lu Haiqiao, in her slippers, obediently went into the bathroom.


    Before she could even turn on the faucet, she heard Lu Wanxin''s crisp voice from the dining room, "The bottle on the shelf is the hand soap I just bought today. Remember to use the new one."


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao looked up.


    On the shelf, on the shelf...


    "It''s the one with a little frog on it," Lu Wanxin added.


    Lu Haiqiao''s gaze lingered on the words ''Baby Bubble Hand Soap''. "..."


    "Baby,e out for supper after washing your hands. Beef noodles don''t taste good if they sit too long!"


    Outside the washroom, Lu Wanxin''s gentle voice was heard again.


    Did she treat her like a baby?


    Lu Haiqiao shrugged helplessly and washed her hands as quickly as possible.


    When they returned to the dining room and sat down, Lu Wanxin asked, "Baby, did you meet with Qingya this afternoon?"


    Lu Haiqiao picked up a few strands of noodles with the chopsticks and put them into her mouth.


    She didn''t say anything, just nodded.


    Although Lu Wanxin was no longer the wife of the CEO of the Su Corporation, her good living habits, and positive attitude had managed to fend off the ravages of time. Even at the age of forty-seven, she still had a fair and delicateplexion.

 Chapter 15: Three together, don’t waste time

    <h4>Chapter 15: Three together, don''t waste time</h4>


    "Baby." Lu Wanxin paused for a moment. "Don''t meet with Qingya anymore."


    Lu Haiqiao put down the chopsticks and cocked her head at Lu Wanxin. "Why?"


    Sisterhood was not something that existed between her and Su Qingya. The reason they still had minimal contact over the years was that Lu Wanxin had once said that the problems between parents should not affect their children. No matter what, Su Qingya was still her sister, and asionally meeting her wouldn''t hurt.


    In any case, they would only meet once or twice a year. Even if Lu Haiqiao did not like this sister, out of respect for Lu Wanxin, she reluctantly agreed to her invitations.


    Now, her mother changed her mind...


    "Did she look for you?" Otherwise, how could Lu Wanxin know that she had seen Su Qingya in the afternoon?


    The moment she met Lu Haiqiao''s gaze, Lu Wanxin was stunned, then changed the subject and said, "Anyway, we have nothing to do with the Su family anymore. Less contact means less trouble."


    Every time Lu Wanxin put on such an attitude, it meant that no matter how she asked, she wouldn''t say more.


    So, Lu Haiqiao didn''t ask more questions and simply agreed. "I understand."


    Anyway, she didn''t want to see Su Qingya.


    "My baby is so obedient!" Lu Wanxin smiled and raised her hand to rub the back of Lu Haiqiao''s head.


    At this moment, the phone on the dining table rang.


    The lit screen disyed a text message in the center: "He''s back, just arrived."


    Lu Haiqiao''s eyes flickered. Then, she grabbed the phone and stood up. "Mom, I''m going out for a while."


    "Hey, baby, where are you going sote at night? It''s past ten o''clock..."


    The door mmed shut with a bang, cutting off Lu Wanxin''sst word.


    ...


    An hour and a halfter, Lu Haiqiao arrived near a detached vi in the suburbs of B City.


    She intentionally stopped the car a short distance away from the vi. The surroundings were deste, and an eerie wind blew. After paying the fare, the taxi driver immediately turned around and drove back to the main road.


    The small road was muddy with potholes, a result of the earlier rain.


    Lu Haiqiao walked forward cautiously.


    The surroundings were very quiet, with only the sound of the wind whistling could be heard.


    As she continued, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.


    She stood still for three to four seconds before swiftly dodging a violent attack from behind.


    She took a few steps back and, after regaining her footing, realized that three unfamiliar men had appeared from nowhere.


    Dressed in ck with ck pants and ck masks, they seemed to blend seamlessly into the night.


    Lu Haiqiao calmly gazed at the man standing in the center.


    He held a wooden stick, and it was clear that he had been the one whounched the attack from behind.


    It looked like they were about to get physical.


    She carefully removed a hair tie from her wrist, using it to tie her long hair into a simple ponytail.


    "Three together. Don''t waste time."


    As she spoke, the man in the center, holding the wooden stick, charged toward her.


    He moved quickly, but she was quicker.


    She leaned backward to evade his attack and, at the same time, grabbed his wrist firmly. Then, with a powerful kick, she struck him in the abdomen.


    The man winced in pain and doubled over.


    His grip on the wooden stick loosened, and she effortlessly snatched it from him.


    Seeing theirrade in such a state, the other two men rushed over.


    With the wooden stick in her hand, she reached behind her back. She dodged a few punches from the two men and suddenly extended her left hand, forming it into a w shape, and grasped one of the men by the neck.

 Chapter 16: Go back, practice for three to five to seven years, then come challenge me.

    <h4>Chapter 16: Go back, practice for three to five to seven years, thene challenge me.</h4>


    She forcefully pulled one of the men toward her, then swiftly moved aside, causing the man to stumble into the arms of another. Both of them fell to the ground.


    ncing at the three men sprawled on the ground, she raised her hand and removed the hair tie that had been restraining her long hair.


    Her smooth locks tumbled freely as she let down her hair. She smoothed the strands near her ear and, with an impatient look in her exquisite eyes, said, "That''s all? Go back, practice for three to five to seven years, and thene challenge me."


    With that, she bypassed the three men, her steps light as she continued toward the direction of the vi.


    However, the first man who had attacked her got up again, after easing his pain. Before he could regain his bnce, a wooden stick descended from above and struck his forehead with precision.


    With a resounding ''thud'', the man once again copsed to the ground.


    At the same time, the wooden stick that she had snatched away earliernded beside him.


    ...


    After about a ten-minute walk, Lu Haiqiao arrived at the entrance of the vi.


    The intricately carved iron gate was wide open at this moment as if it had known she woulde.


    Amid a serene bamboo grove, there was a cobblestone path that led to a garden at the end. On an impressive artificial mountain, two narrow streams converged and flowed smoothly down the rocks.


    The deste surroundings were merely a facade; the interior of the gate was still exquisitely decorated.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at the well-lit vi and then ascended the steps, standing in front of the facial recognition device at the entrance.


    The door opened with a ''beep''.


    The moment the door opened, she keenly sensed that an object was flying toward her.


    Lu Haiqiao raised her hand and firmly caught the object with lightning speed.


    She opened her palm to take a look.


    A fountain pen.


    Visconti''s MACHINA series.


    And it was custom-made too.


    "How do you like it?"


    Upon hearing the voice, Lu Haiqiao''s gaze shifted from the pen with twenty-four diamonds embedded in its cap to the man standing in front of her.


    Lu Yunge, 28 years old, is the eldest son of Lu Wanxin''s brother, Lu Jianyuan. He was Lu Haiqiao''s eldest cousin.


    "Why didn''t you tell me you wereing back?" she asked.


    "Will youe to the airport to pick me up if I tell you in advance?" Lu Yunge replied with a mischievous grin, his arms folded in front of him.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at him and walked directly to the sofa. After sitting down, she curtly replied, "No."


    Lu Yunge: "..."


    Then why bother asking!


    While Lu Yunge went to fetch some water, Lu Haiqiao''s eyes roamed around the ground floor of the vi.


    She flipped over and knelt on the sofa, her arms propped up on the backrest. "Ol'' Lu, what about Ahxue? Why didn''t hee back with you?"


    Ahxue, whose full name was Lu Xuege, was 26 years old, Lu Yunge''s younger brother, and her second cousin.


    "Hold on," Lu Yunge straightened up, "before I answer your question, can I ask you one?"


    Lu Haiqiao blinked her beautiful eyes and replied earnestly, "No."


    Lu Yunge: "..."


    After a three-second stare down, he relented, "Second Brother has been locked in the Buddha Hall by Grandpa for over a week."


    Lu Haiqiao nodded thoughtfully.


    No wonder she couldn''t find him.


    Although Grandpa''s Buddha Hall primarily served as a ce for worship, it also served as a ce to enforce family rules.


    Any member of the Lu family who broke the rules would be sent to the Buddha Hall for self-reflection.


    The length of the punishment varied depending on the severity of the transgression.


    More than a week...


    Did Lu Xuege tear the roof off or something?


    And why such a heavy punishment?

 Chapter 17: Then, he’s not aggrieved

    <h4>Chapter 17: Then, he''s not aggrieved</h4>


    Without waiting for Lu Haiqiao to ask, Lu Yunge exined, "When Second Brother was ying games on his phone, he sat on Grandpa''s reading sses on the table."


    Lu Haiqiao: "..."


    His butt must be unlucky, of all ces to sit, he had to choose the coffee table.


    That''s what she thought, but she still sighed softly and said, "But there''s no need for him to reflect for over a week just because of a pair of reading sses. Grandpa has plenty of them in his drawer. If he likes that style, he can buy another one..."


    Lu Yunge interrupted her, "The broken pair was the one you helped Grandpa pick out six years ago."


    Lu Haiqiao quickly changed her tune, "Oh, then, he''s not aggrieved."


    It was well known that in the Lu family, anything associated with Lu Haiqiao was treated like a family heirloom by Old Master Lu. Not to mention breaking it, they were not even allowed to look at it, let alone touch it.


    "When can hee out?" Lu Haiqiao asked.


    Lu Yunge: "In about two weeks."


    Punished for a whole month...


    Grandpa was ruthless.


    Seeing Lu Yunge move to the armchair on the other side and sit, Lu Haiqiao also turned around and sat down obediently.


    Two weeks was too long for her to wait.


    Lu Haiqiao checked her phone and saw that it was already past midnight.


    Grandpa Lu lived in F Country, taking into ount the time difference, it was currently six in the evening over there.


    She immediately unlocked the screen, opened WeChat, and found the dialog box with ''Grandpa'' on it.


    She always sent voice messages because the Old Master had poor eyesight.


    "Grandpa, it''s Haiqiao. It''s like this. I need a little help from Second Cousin, but I''ve been looking for him for several days and can''t seem to find him. Can you please help me find him? I''m waiting online, and it''s quite urgent."


    Lu Yunge shuddered involuntarily...


    Based on Grandpa''s habits, he should be having dinner at this time.


    The old man was strict and had many rules. He had instilled the principle of ''when eating, do not converse; when in bed, do not speak'' in his grandchildren since they were young.


    So when he was having a meal, even if you sent him a message saying ''waiting online, urgent'', or even if you called him repeatedly, he might not respond.


    Just as this thought crossed his mind, Lu Yunge heard Old Master Lu''s voiceing from Lu Haiqiao''s phone speaker, "Haiqiao, it''s you. Have you been busytely? It''s been so long since you contacted Grandpa, I''ve missed you so much!"


    Faintly in the background, the voice of the butler could be heard, "Master, would you like another serving of vegetables?"


    Lu Yunge: ???


    What happened to the strict upbringing?


    Where were the rules?


    What happened to ''eating in silence and when in bed, do not speak''?


    Did the dogs eat them all?


    Lu Haiqiao replied to Grandpa''s voice message, "I have been a bit busytely, but I''ve always had you in my heart, Grandpa."


    Not long after, the Old Master sent a message.


    Before opening the voice message from Grandpa, Lu Haiqiao hung up the WeChat voice message from Lu Xuege without hesitation.


    "My precious granddaughter, what have you been busy withtely? Are you in a rtionship? If you have a boyfriend, you must not hide it from Grandpa, okay? Grandpa will keep an eye on you. We can''t let some ill-mannered rascal deceive my precious granddaughter!"


    Lu Haiqiao sat on the soft sofa with her long legs crossed, and upon hearing this voice message, her grip on the phone tightened slightly.


    Somehow, an image of a blurry figure standing in front of a dartboard shed in her mind.

 Chapter 18: God of Wind

    <h4>Chapter 18: God of Wind</h4>


    However, her momentary reverie was interrupted by an urgent WeChat voice call.


    Lu Haiqiao snapped back to reality and realized that the iing voice call was from Lu Yunge''s phone.


    As the screen disyed ''Second Brother'', Lu Yunge couldn''t resist giving her a thumbs-up.


    A single WeChat voice message not only made Grandpa break his long-standing rules but also managed to cate him and secure the early release of the Second Brother.


    All of this happened in less than two minutes.


    Incredible!


    Truly incredible!


    "Hey, Second Brother," Lu Yunge answered the call.


    Meanwhile, Lu Haiqiao shifted her posture on the sofa.


    The sofa was a bit high, so she intentionally reclinedzily, with her legs hanging over the edge and swaying gently.


    Coincidentally, Lu Wanxin messaged her, asking where she was. Lu Haiqiao quickly replied with a message, "Out on a news assignment, don''t worry."


    Her job often required her to travel extensively and keep unconventional hours, and over time, Lu Wanxin had be ustomed to it.


    "Brother, brother..."


    "Yes, did Haiqiao... Baby Haiqiao put in good words for me, didn''t she?"


    Never in his wildest dreams did Lu Xuege imagine that he would be ''resurrected'' so quickly. Stunned and flustered, he stumbled over his words.


    Lu Yunge responded with a simple "Hmm," and added, "Who else could it be?"


    "F*ck!" Lu Xuege eximed with excitement his voice broke. "I knew Baby Haiqiao would not just stand by and watch me suffer..."


    "Oh, f*ck! F*ck, who... Grand... Grandpa..."


    "Ah, it hurts. Grandpa, Grandpa, don''t hit me, don''t hit me..."


    Following the sudden screams, there was the stern voice of the Old Master, "Suffer? Second Brother, do you think I sent you to the Buddha Hall for self-reflection to suffer, huh?"


    Lu Yunge: "..."


    This Second Brother not only has an unlucky butt, but also a smart mouth!


    "Hey, Second Brother, I''m telling you to behave. Don''t provoke..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, the phone he had in his palm was suddenly snatched away.


    He didn''t know when Lu Haiqiao hade to his side, and she straightforwardly said, "Lu Xuege, give the phone to Grandpa."


    Presumably, it was Old Master who answered the call, as her voice tone became slightly gentler.


    She spoke as if coaxing a child, "Yes, yes, I''ll go to sleep right away, and you remember to sleep early too, okay?"


    "Alright, don''t be angry. Please spare Second Cousin for my sake."


    "As for the reading sses, we can go buy them when Ie back."


    "Yes, okay, I promise. I''m not lying, whoever lies is a little puppy."


    "Alright, that''s it then. Goodbye, Grandpa."


    After ending the call, Lu Haiqiao gently tossed the phone, creating a half-arc in the air, before itnded in Lu Yunge''sp.


    "Done," she said.


    Seeing her heading towards the entrance of the vi, Lu Yunge asked, "Where are you going?"


    Lu Haiqiao yawned. "It''ste. Going home to sleep."


    Lu Yunge got up. "Wait."


    Lu Haiqiao, who had reached the door, suddenly stopped.


    "I brought your good friend back with me."


    As soon as he said this, Lu Haiqiao felt something flying in her direction.


    She raised her hand and effortlessly caught it.


    At first nce, it appeared to be a high-quality aluminum alloy car model, but it was a car key.


    Lu Haiqiao''s eyes sparkled, and her lips curved slightly.


    It was a Pagani Huayra, the God of Wind.


    Indeed her ''good friend''.


    "How about going for a fewps tomorrow afternoon?" Lu Yunge extended a warm invitation.

 Chapter 19: It’s free here

    <h4>Chapter 19: It''s free here</h4>


    Lu Haiqiao thought for a moment. "Maybe another day. I have something to do tomorrow afternoon."


    Lu Yunge: "Don''t tell me you have to go to work."


    Lu Haiqiao: "Well, working is indeed one of the reasons why I''m not free."


    The main reason was she had to ''conveniently'' stop by the cafe on the way and order another iced Americano.


    Lu Yunge snorted in disdain, "Work? What''s there to do at work? Our family doesn''t rely on you to bring back honor."


    "Haiqiao, remember that your surname is Lu, not Su. Your mission in this world is to enjoy life and do what you love. For all the other annoying minor stuff, you have me, Second Brother, and even Ahyan to protect you. We''re all older than you, and it''s our responsibility to take care of you, got it?"


    Ahyan, Lu Yange, 25 years old, the youngest chief surgeon of the B City First People''s Hospital, Lu Haiqiao''s third cousin.


    Lu Yange was the one who sent her the message that read, "He''s back, just arrived." before she went into surgery.


    Lu Haiqiao pretended not to care, but her heart warmed. "Alright, I understand."


    Checking the time on her phone, she said, "It''s toote now. I''m heading back."


    Lu Yunge stopped her, "Shall I give you a ride?"


    Lu Haiqiao waved it off. "No need. If you have time, train those few subordinates you brought over. They can''t even stand up straight, like wilted chives. Boring."


    Lu Yunge: "..."


    I shouldn''t have genuinely worried that you would be in danger on the way home!


    "By the way," as she reached the door, Lu Haiqiao suddenly turned around. "I''ll leave my good friend here. Take good care of it."


    Lu Yunge: "Aren''t you driving it home?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "If I drive it back, I''ll have to pay the parking fee. It''s free here."


    Lu Yunge: ...


    Are you that short on money?


    ...


    The next day, Lu Haiqiao arrived at the cafe at noon.


    She remembered that they served light meals and desserts in the cafe, so she deliberately skipped lunch.


    To her surprise, the emptiness of the previous day had been reced by bustling activity today. As she entered the cafe, it was crowded with people, and there wasn''t an empty seat in sight.


    Even the area closest to the restroom had been temporarily set up with tables and chairs, and every seat was upied.


    Lu Haiqiao quickly surveyed the scene. The owner was not around.


    Not far away, Xie Xuan stood with his back against the bar counter as if he had no bones.


    This was the man who drew the attention of all the women in the cafe.


    However, he seemed oblivious to the admiring nces and was engrossed in ying with a Rubik''s Cube. There were four youngsters with delicate features keeping themselves busy around him.


    Seeing Zhou Nuo approaching the bar with two empty cups, Second Xie couldn''t help but lean over and ask in a hushed tone, "Brother Nuo, did the boss call us back overnight just to work here?"


    Originally, only Big Xie and Second Xie had been called back to B City. But unexpectedly, right before they boarded the ne, the long-missing Third Xie appeared.


    Third Xie, whose real name was unknown, was the General Manager of Double X Group, usually staying in F Country. He rarely met guests and was a mysterious person.


    Even he had to return. It seemed like something earth-shattering was happening.


    Big Xie and Second Xie didn''t dare to let their guard down from the moment they boarded the ne.


    Never would they have imagined that as soon as they got off the ne, they would be handed aprons.


    At that moment, a slender figure approached the bar.


    "Hello, may I have an iced Americano to go, please? Thank you."


    Upon hearing the voice, Xie Xuan, who was at thest step of solving the Rubik''s Cube, paused.

 Chapter 20: Can I add you on WeChat?

    <h4>Chapter 20: Can I add you on WeChat?</h4>


    This voice sounded familiar.


    Xie Xuan squinted his eyes and turned his head to see Little Marshmallow standing just a step away from him.


    She was stunning upfront and her side profile even more exquisite.


    Xie Xuan openly let his gaze travel from her forehead, eyes, nose, all the way down until it rested on her pretty pink lips.


    As perceptive as Lu Haiqiao was, she had noticed Xie Xuan looking at her from a distance. So, before he could withdraw his gaze, she turned her head.


    Just like that. Their eyes met.


    The young girl''s eyes were bright and her features delicate, with long, curly eyshes that fluttered.


    Lu Haiqiao''s expression revealed no hint of embarrassment or shyness. Meeting Xie Xuan''s direct gaze, she initiated a greeting, "Hello, nice to see you again."


    There was an underlying message in her words.


    He put down the Rubik''s Cube in his hand and nced towards the cafe''s entrance. "You have an appointment today as well?"


    Lu Haiqiao smiled faintly, "No, I''m alone."


    At this moment, the iced Americano that Big Xie personally prepared was ced on the pickup counter. "Order number 133."


    "Yours?" Xie Xuan asked.


    Her receipt clearly showed the number ''133''.


    She nodded. "Yes."


    Xie Xuan picked up the paper bag containing the iced Americano and then handed her a straw and two tissues.


    His hands were very beautiful, with well-maintained and clean nails, and his fingers were fair and slender.


    A bright red rope bracelet on his wrist stood out prominently.


    It was this hand that had thrown three darts at the bar yesterday.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at his hand for a moment and then pulled out her phone while taking the paper bag. "Can I add you on WeChat?"


    Although Big Xie was busy, his attention was consistently on Lu Haiqiao.


    Particrly when he heard her ask, "Do you have WeChat?" his gaze toward her became not only inquisitive but also somewhat cautious.


    The three of them were not just tasked withpleting the mission assigned by their boss; their primary duty was to ensure their boss''s safety.


    So, Big Xie picked up the cafe owner''s WeChat QR code disyed on the counter and said, "Miss, if you need anything, you can add the cafe''s We..."


    Lu Haiqiao seemed to ignore Big Xie''s words, staring at Xie Xuan''s abyss-like ck eyes. "Yours."


    Big Xie, who was ignored. "..."


    Not going to give it, for sure.


    Considering the boss''s personality, being able to exchange a few words with her was already a great honor.


    Xie Xuan looked deeply at her and then lowered his gaze.


    ¡ª¡ª Can I add you on Wechat?


    ¡ª¡ª Yours.


    This Little Marshmallow sure was bold.


    Xie Xuan stood up straight and calmly extended his hand to her. "Phone."


    Lu Haiqiao was momentarily stunned.


    Xie Xuan added, "Yours."


    Recovering her senses, Lu Haiqiao lit up her phone, unlocked it, and opened the WeChat interface before handing it over to him.


    Unexpectedly, Xie Xuan swiped his finger to exit WeChat and opened the dial pad.


    He tapped on the screen using his thumb and finally hit the green call button at the bottom.


    Shortly after, a strong vibration sounded.


    Xie Xuan retrieved his phone, staring at the eleven-digit phone number shing on the screen with a slight curl of his lips.


    He handed Lu Haiqiao''s phone back to her and leaned slightly closer, "My WeChat is the same as my phone number."


    Big Xie, who had been observing the whole time: "..."


    This guy, not only did he give her his WeChat, but also gave away his private number.


    This p in the face stung!


    Lu Haiqiao took her phone and raised an eyebrow. "Thanks."

 Chapter 21: Don’t forget to add me as a friend

    <h4>Chapter 21: Don''t forget to add me as a friend</h4>


    Lu Haiqiao was about to leave with the paper bag filled with coffee when she heard Xie Xuan''s voice. "It''s not ''thanks'', it''s Xie Xuan."


    She froze in her tracks and turned her head to look at him.


    Xie Xuan had a faint smile at the corner of his lips, his right elbow propped on the counter, and shrugged his shoulders. "You asked for my WeChat without asking for my name?"


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and embarrassment shed across her eyes.


    Not that she didn''t know, but she forgot.


    Staring at his devilishly handsome face all this time, she forgot to ask for his name.


    Well... it''s a bit awkward.


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows. "So, I took the initiative to tell you."


    "Lu Haiqiao, my name is Xie Xuan, ''Xuan'' as in fantasy."


    At that moment, Lu Haiqiao''s heart tightened inexplicably. She controlled her emotions and met Xie Xuan''s gaze. "I understand, Xie Xuan."


    Just then, her phone rang.


    At the same time, Big Xie, who was at the counter, suddenly eximed, "Boss..."


    He had only said one word when he felt Xie Xuan''s cold gaze.


    Big Xie gulped and forced himself to change his words. "Xie..."


    He had used up all the courage he had in his life to shout those two words.


    But he had just received an important message that he couldn''t afford not to report.


    Xie Xuan: "What''s the matter?"


    An unreadable emotion flickered in his exquisite eyes.


    It seemed like he was unhappy with an unexpected interruption.


    Big Xie: "..."


    So, should he say there''s something or nothing now?


    As he stared at Lu Haiqiao for a moment, he noticed that Xie Xuan''s displeasure was growing stronger. He hastily withdrew his gaze.


    "No, nothing... I was just shouting."


    Damn, he''d never been so nervous, not even when he had a gun to the back of his head.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at her phone screen and then put her phone away.


    Guessing that she was about to leave, Xie Xuan turned his head and said leisurely, "Wee back anytime."


    Then, he leaned forward, his voice lowered to a level that only the two of them could hear, "Don''t forget to add me as a friend."


    Lu Haiqiao shook the paper bag in her hand and smiled without saying anything.


    After she left, Xie Xuan resumed hiszy posture, leaning against the bar counter, and simply said, "Speak."


    Big Xie approached him and whispered, "Boss, there''s an art exhibition at the Double X Art Center the day after tomorrow at 10 a.m. Besides featuring master-level artworks, it will also exhibit ''Spring River.''"


    ''Spring River''?


    Xie Xuan squinted his eyes. "Who''s the organizer?"


    Big Xie: "It''s Mrs. Zheng."


    Mrs. Zheng, whose real name was Xie Shengnan, was Xie Xuan''s father, Xie Wensheng''s sister. ording to seniority, Xie Xuan should address her as ''Eldest Aunt''.


    Although she got married early, she had a stroke of bad luck.


    Her husband passed away in their fifth year of marriage.


    Apart from leaving behind a seemingly insignificant inheritance in the eyes of the Xie family, she had one son and one daughter.


    Her eldest son, Zheng Shaohua, and her younger daughter, Zheng Shuangshuang.


    Xie Xuan furrowed his brow. "Her?"


    Big Xie: "Yes, and not only Mrs. Zheng but Miss Xie will also attend."


    Miss Xie referred to Xie Yanan, Xie Wensheng''s younger sister, who was unmarried. To avoid confusion, she was referred to as ''Miss Xie''.


    Xie Xuan remained silent for a few seconds before nodding slightly. "I understand."


    Big Xie observed his expression. "So, should we..."


    Xie Xuan picked up the Rubik''s Cube he had ced on the bar counter earlier.


    With a slight ''click'', his alluring eyes shed with amusement. "Since she''s involved, let''s go take a look. It''s quite boring to hole up in this cafe all day.

 Chapter 22: Sweetheart

    <h4>Chapter 22: Sweetheart</h4>


    Big Xie: "..."


    There were still many ces in B city for him to go even if he couldn''t return to the Xie family. Why did he have to stay in such an inconspicuous cafe?


    He wondered for a moment, and then he saw his boss lower his gaze and start ying with the Rubik''s Cube in his hand.


    Scrambling it again, then solving it, and scrambling it once more after solving it.


    Big Xie understood.


    The reason for staying here was to y with the Rubik''s Cube without any restrictions...


    Just as he was thinking, Xie Xuan suddenly spoke, "Oh, by the way..."


    "Yes, boss!"


    Xie Xuan stopped what he was doing and nced at the neatly stacked takeaway paper cups on the counter. "How do you make that Americano?"


    Yesterday and today, whether for dine-in or takeout, Little Marshmallow had ordered Americano.


    Big Xie enjoyed alcohol but didn''t overdo it.


    Moreover, he was also an expert in tea and coffee.


    "Americano?" Big Xie was stunned, thinking he had misheard.


    Xie Xuan let out a long ''ah''. "I suddenly thought it might be interesting to learn how to make a cup of Americano coffee."


    Big Xie: "..."


    You don''t have to do it yourself even if you want to drink Americano. Just give me an order, and I''ll prepare as many cups as you want.


    Now he wants to learn it, could it be...


    He... is... not... needed?


    Big Xie panicked. "B-Boss, I haven''t done anything wrong recently."


    Xie Xuan: "..."


    It seems that I punished him quite severelyst time.


    "Forget it," Xie Xuan waved his hand. "Let''s settle the painting matter first."


    Big Xie breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, boss."


    However, three secondster, his heart, which had just returned to its normal position, jumped back into his throat.


    He heard Xie Xuan say, "Write a detailed reportter on how to make that coffee and give it to me. I''ll learn by reading."


    Big Xie: "..."


    Was it toote to retreat to guarding the winery now?


    ...


    "Don''t miss out on this opportunity! Premium handsome guy and young fresh meat, 600 yuan per session, 1,200 yuan for an all-nighter. It''s now or never. Want to have a sweet night? Contact us immediately!"


    This was the text message that Lu Haiqiao received in the cafe just now.


    It came from an unknown number and was signed ''Sweetheart''.


    Lu Haiqiao clicked her tongue in disdain and immediately called back.


    The call was answered instantly.


    Without waiting for the other person to speak, she spoke first, "Lu Xuege, that''s so boring."


    As soon as she finished speaking, there was a moment of hesitation from the person on the other end.


    Then, Lu Xuege deliberately let out an elongated ''Ah'' that entered her ear, "You''re the boring one. You always guess right every time. It''s not fun at all."


    Upon hearing this, she chuckled dryly.


    Since the first time they yed this game, his signature ''Sweetheart'' had never changed. If she couldn''t even guess this, either the person on the other end was blind or dumb.


    "Have you arrived in B City?" Lu Xuege could only be so audacious when he was out of his grandfather''s control.


    "Oh, just arrived," he replied. It seemed he was retrieving his luggage because there was a faint sound of suitcase wheels rolling from the other end.


    Lu Haiqiao switched the call to her Bluetooth earphones and took out the iced Americano she had just bought from the paper bag. She inserted a straw and took a sip.


    The unique rich bitterness of coffee passed through her throat, but after a few seconds, a distinct sweetness blossomed in her mouth, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste.


    This taste... seemed to be different from the coffee yesterday.

 Chapter 23: Or maybe I should send you back to heaven?

    <h4>Chapter 23: Or maybe I should send you back to heaven?</h4>


    With a pause, Lu Haiqiao''s thoughts shifted away from the coffee and back to the main topic. She said, "Since you''re here, help me investigate something. It''s..."


    "I''ve justnded, and you''re already ordering me to work. Baby Haiqiao, you''ve changed, you weren''t like this before!" Lu Xuegeined with dissatisfaction.


    Lu Haiqiao abruptly halted in her tracks, took another sip through the straw, and then said in an indifferent tone, "Or maybe I should send you back to heaven?"


    Lu Xuege''s face changed drastically.


    The girl he was talking to was not only his little cousin but also the apple of their grandfather''s eye.


    She could make their grandfather release him or send him back to Buddhist Hall with just one sentence.


    Thinking about the past week of penance without a phone or aputer. Even his meals were vegetarian without any meat dishes.


    Lu Xuege felt a shiver down his spine thinking about those days.


    Oh my ancestor, I can''t afford to provoke her!


    Quickly suppressing his dissatisfaction, he put on a yful smile and said, "You... Aiyo, look at you! I haven''t finished speaking. What I meant was Baby Haiqiao has changed, bing gentler, more considerate, and more understanding than before!"


    "Why are you so considerate? You know I justnded and was feeling a bit bored, so you arranged something for me to do. You''re too considerate!"


    She narrowed her eyes. "Of course, I can''t let you work for free either. You deserve to be rewarded..."


    A few secondster, Lu Xuege felt the phone vibrate in his palm.


    He took down his phone, switched to WeChat, and saw a transfer notification from Lu Haiqiao.


    0.1 yuan.


    Lu Xuege: "..."


    How is this any different from working for free?


    He forced a smile and said with a lump in his throat, "Thank you so much for this generous reward. This amount should be enough for my expenses for the rest of my life."


    Lu Haiqiao bit her straw, confidently epted his ''thanks'', and then sent him the link to the auction website to him via WeChat. "Help me find out who bought my ''Flower Moon'' and ''Night.''"


    This sentence sessfully silenced Lu Xuege.


    After about half a minute, he spoke with a serious tone, "It''s been so long, and you still can''t let it go?"


    He had hoped that with time, Lu Haiqiao could gradually forget about it, but instead, the obsession seemed to grow deeper.


    "Haiqiao, I can help you investigate this matter, but you must promise me that there can be no repeat of what happenedst time. Do you hear me?"


    On that day, that moment, when they received that news, the entire Lu family was nearly turned upside down.


    Thinking about it, Lu Xuege shook his head helplessly, realizing that most of the serious things in his life had been dedicated to Lu Haiqiao.


    This little sister had always been a handful since childhood.


    Lu Haiqiao skillfully avoided the question, "By the way, does Duoduo know you''re back?"


    Lu Xuege immediately got sidetracked, "You called me as soon as I got off the ne. I didn''t even have time to contact anyone, let alone my little disciple. Even my big brother doesn''t know I''m back."


    Hehe, you treat her like a disciple, but she treats you like a husband!


    Lu Haiqiao smirked and silently scolded Lu Xuege as a clueless guy who deserved to stay single for life.


    "Oh, and one more thing," she suddenly remembered, "Ahxue, if you have the time, can you help me investigate someone?"

 Chapter 24: Whether that happens or not in the future, it’s hard to say

    <h4>Chapter 24: Whether that happens or not in the future, it''s hard to say</h4>


    If you have the time?


    Haha.


    Since your ancestor has spoken, and even if I''m busy, I have to make time to handle things nicely for you, right?


    With a tone of both helplessness and indulgence, Lu Xuege replied, "Tell me."


    Lu Haiqiao stopped in her tracks.


    She turned around and nced at the coffee shop, which was now quite far away.


    "Xie Xuan," Lu Haiqiao said. "Xuan means fantasy. Judging from his ent, he should be a local of B City. Can you help me find out who he is?"


    There are probably many people with the same name in B City, but it shouldn''t be too difficult to narrow it down.


    Moreover, someone who could urately and powerfully hit her three darts was not an ordinary person.


    Lu Xuege asked, "Male or female?"


    His tone sounded off.


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and remained silent.


    After a few seconds, Lu Xuege followed up with, "Is he a man?"


    Lu Haiqiao mumbled a vague "Yes."


    "Boyfriend?" There was a subtle undertone of hostility in the word.


    "Not... oh, no!" Not now, but whether that happens or not in the future, it''s hard to say.


    Not waiting for his response, Lu Haiqiao impatiently said, "Just say it. Are you going to help me investigate? If not, I can do it myself."


    Although she wasn''t reliant on the Inte to make a living like Lu Xuege and Xu Duo, looking up information about someone wasn''t a difficult task for her.


    Upon hearing her say that, Lu Xuege gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I''ll investigate!"


    Once this ancestor took matters into her own hands, he wouldn''t be able to control what would happen in the future.


    By taking responsibility for this, even if he couldn''t control the whole situation, he could at least guide it in the direction he wanted.


    Despite agreeing to help, Lu Xuege still worriedly reminded her, "Haiqiao, I''m not against you dating. You''ve grown up, and sooner orter, you''ll want to settle down."


    "But let me tell you, in today''s society, there isn''t a single good man out there. Unless this person gains the approval of the entire Lu family, we won''t be at ease handing you over to him!"


    Lu Haiqiao: "..."


    Could you not lecture me like an old man?


    Besides, you''re a man too, what''s this self-deprecating talk about not being a good guy himself?


    ...


    In the afternoon, Lu Haiqiao returned to the magazine office.


    The news for the next issue had already been written and gone through the editing process. With nothing else to do, she rested her chin on her left hand and with the right hand scrolled through the auction website, page by page.


    Her phone was ced nearby, and as she scrolled through, she identally touched it. Suddenly, she remembered something.


    She casually picked up her phone, unlocked it, and went into the ''Add Friend'' section on WeChat.


    Her fingers quickly typed out eleven digits, which was Xie Xuan''s phone number. She had only nced at it once, but she remembered it well.


    Apart from having a good memory, it was also because this number was easy to remember.


    The fixed phone number prefix from the mobile operator was followed by a string of numbers simr to a birthdate.


    If it was just a coincidence, that would be one thing, but if it was indeed a birthdate, it might have been purchased intentionally.


    Would an ordinary cafe waiter go through the trouble of buying a phone number with their birthdate just for the sake of it?


    After pressing the search button, a profile with the nickname ''XX'' quickly appeared on the screen.


    Lu Haiqiao confidently typed in the verification message, saying, "Hello, I''m Lu Haiqiao."

 Chapter 25: In the entire B city, it appeared like every Xie Xuan was an old man

    <h4>Chapter 25: In the entire B city, it appeared like every Xie Xuan was an old man</h4>


    Xie Xuan seemed to be waiting for her to add him as a friend. When she sent the verification message, a chat window immediately appeared.


    ''You have added XX, and now you can start chatting.''


    With the taskpleted, Lu Haiqiao tossed her phone aside and continued browsing the web.


    He didn''t seem to have the intention to initiate a conversation. After adding him as a friend, he did not send any messages.


    She didn''t pay much attention to it. All her focus was entirely on those three paintings.


    She had been searching the web for a while but hadn''t found any useful information. Lu Haiqiao got up, holding her cup, and decided to get some water from the pantry.


    When she returned to her seat, her phone screen suddenly lit up.


    An unread WeChat message was disyed in the center.


    She quickly picked up her phone, and at that moment, an inexplicable sense of anticipation filled her.


    It was a message from Xu Duo.


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "Haiqiao, he is back, right?"


    In Xu Duo''s message, the ''he'' she referred to was none other than Lu Xuege, who had just gotten off the ne today.


    Lu Haiqiao didn''t rush to reply. Instead, she pulled out a chair and sat down. After taking a sip of her water, she looked at her phone screen again.


    Two more messages had popped up in the chat window.


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "I just called him, but he didn''t answer, so I asked you if he''s back."


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "Alright, I know you can''t be a spy for nothing. One for one. I have a secret about ''Spring River''. Do you want to know?"


    Upon reading these WeChat messages, Lu Haiqiao raised an eyebrow.


    What secret could there be about the painting, especially since she was the original artist?


    Out of curiosity, she leisurely typed the word "tell", but before she could press send, another message from Xu Duo popped up.


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "I heard this from my old man."


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "The day after tomorrow at 10 a.m., the Xie family will publicly exhibit your ''Spring River'' painting. In addition to that, there will be other famous artworks on disy."


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "It''s said that Xie Shengnan from the Xie family wants to invest in antique calligraphy and paintings, so she wants to get to know some celebrities in this circle."


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "Haiqiao, haven''t you always wanted to buy back those three paintings? This is a great opportunity."


    Peach Blossom Duo Duo Duo: "Previously, we only heard rumors, but now we''ve confirmed that the ''Spring River'' painting is in the Xie family. As long as the price is right, Xie Shengnan should be willing to sell it to you."


    After carefully reading the messages filling her screen, a smile tugged at the corner of Lu Haiqiao''s lips.


    Anything that could be solved with money wasn''t a problem.


    After some thought, she sent a WeChat message to Lu Xuege, inviting him to have dinner together tonight.


    He replied in seconds. "Tonight? Sure, I just made ns with my little disciple. Want to join us?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "..."


    If I agree to go with you, Xu Duo wille over with a knife to kill me.


    "Forget it, you guys enjoy your meal."


    Just as Lu Haiqiao was about to press send, a message from Lu Xuege appeared again on the screen.


    "Baby, is this the person you want me to investigate?"


    Below the text was an image taken from a webpage.


    She clicked to erge it.


    A picture of an old man around sixty years old, in a solo portrait.


    Lu Haiqiao: "Are you kidding me?"


    Lu Xuege: "Isn''t it him?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "Clearly, it''s not."


    I''m not a weirdo. How could I be interested in an old man?

 Chapter 26: I don’t mind fighting alone

    <h4>Chapter 26: I don''t mind fighting alone</h4>


    Lu Xuege: "It''s impossible. These are the results tracked by my self-developed search engine. In the entire B city, it appeared like every Xie Xuan was an old man, and this one appears to be the youngest among them."


    Lu Haiqiao: "..."


    A search engine developed by himself?


    Searching for what?


    Searching for old men?


    Although Lu Xuege usually appeared frivolous, she had great trust in his abilities.


    Especially inputerworking.


    This guy has been tinkering withputers since elementary school and even neglected his studies due to his obsession with the online world, but fortunately, he was brought back on track by Lu Haiqiao''s uncle.


    Perhaps it was his past mistakes that made him extremely cautious when handlingputers again.


    It must be said that he was talented, especially in this field; he could be called a genius.


    When it came to information gathering, he had never made a mistake.


    But this time...


    She nced at the absurd picture of the old man on her phone screen and narrowed her eyes.


    There were only two possibilities for a person to not have any information on the Inte.


    Either they were extremely obscure, to the point where they didn''t leave any traces online.


    Or they were extremely skilled, to the point where they neededyers of protection to keep their identity hidden.


    So, Xie Xuan, which one are you?


    ...


    It happened to be a holiday on the day of the art exhibition.


    Lu Haiqiao received a call from Lu Yunge in the morning.


    "Haiqiao, today is a holiday. Do you want to go out for some fun?"


    She was just about to head out, "Sure, I could use apanion."


    Lu Yunge''s interest was piqued. "Team battle?"


    "Something like that. With you around, it''s a team; without you, I don''t mind fighting alone," she replied casually.


    "Going solo is no fun at all," he said, "I''lle over now. See youter."


    ...


    An hourter, he arrived near a styling studio.


    He parked the car by the roadside, and as he turned his head, he happened to see Lu Haiqiaoing out of the entrance.


    Lu Yunge thought he might be seeing things and rubbed his eyes vigorously.


    She was dressed in a champagne-colored strapless gown, with her smooth long hair casually yet neatly tied up. The diamond earrings on her ears sparkled delicately in the bright sunlight.


    He lowered his head to look at his casual outfit. "Are you... going to ept an award?"


    Dressed so elegantly, it wasn''t for a car race.


    She walked over gracefully in her high heels that matched the same color. "I''m going to an art exhibition at the art center."


    "Art exhibition?" He frowned.


    He had no interest in art whatsoever. If he had known she was going to an art exhibition, he wouldn''t havee.


    "Boring. I''m not going, but I''ll drop you off at the entrance, and you can go in yourself. Call me when it''s almost over, and I''lle pick you up." Despite hisck of interest, he was willing to act as her driver.


    That would work.


    She got into his shy red sports car.


    During the journey, he casually asked, "Why are you suddenly interested in going to an art exhibition? Is it work-rted?"


    She nced out the window at the rapidly receding scenery. "It''s an art exhibition organized by the Xie family. I think it should be quite interesting."


    He frowned slightly. "Which Xie family?"


    She turned her head and looked at him strangely. "Is there any other Xie family in B City that could catch my interest?"


    His expression darkened. "Which art center is the exhibition held at?"


    "Double X Art Center." Earlier, she had only mentioned the address without specifying the name of the venue.

 Chapter 27: The Xie family is related to you?

    <h4>Chapter 27: The Xie family is rted to you?</h4>


    Double X, the Xie family''s territory.


    Lu Yunge looked meaningfully at her, "Can we not go to this art exhibition?"


    Lu Haiqiao said decisively, "Have to go."


    For the sake of the three paintings, she would even venture into a dragon''sir or a tiger''s den if needed.


    "Then wait for me for a moment." With that, he adjusted the steering wheel at the uing intersection and turned around.


    ...


    An hour and a halfter, the fiery red sports car pulled up at the entrance of the Double X Art Center.


    Lu Haiqiao, elegantly dressed in a champagne-colored gown, walked arm in arm-with Lu Yunge into the venue.


    Lu Yunge, who had changed out of his casual attire, was now d in a pure white tailored suit. He didn''t wear a tie, and the cor of his ck shirt underneath was intentionally left open with two buttons undone. Two T-brand Smile series nes, one long and one short, hung around his neck, revealing half of his corbone, subtly highlighting his carefree and rebellious style.


    When the car turned around at the intersection just now, it was to go to the styling studio that Lu Haiqiao had visited earlier to pick out clothes.


    The stunningbination of a handsome man and a beautiful woman quickly attracted attention.


    As they walked through the venue, with envious nces from others, she slightly tilted her head and asked in a hushed tone, "Hey, you weren''t interested in the art exhibition, so why did you bother changing your outfit and apanying me?"


    This exceptionally good-looking pair of cousins made their way through the long corridor adorned with a red carpet, arriving at the innermost art exhibition hall.


    It was evident that the organizers had put a lot of thought into the event.


    The entire hall was predominantly decorated in white. In the center, there were square white marble tables neatly arranged. Traditional Chinese ink paintings with ck wooden frames and calligraphy with brush strokes adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of elegance.


    In addition, transparent protective panels were ced in front of all the exhibited artworks. Warm yellow lighting shone on the paintings, enhancing the overall visual experience.


    Lu Yunge surveyed the exhibition hall before responding to her question, "I wasn''t nning toe, but since it''s organized by the Xie family, and you insisted oning, I had no choice but to apany you."


    Lu Haiqiao: "???"


    What kind of logic is that?


    After pondering for a moment, she grasped the key point and asked, "The Xie family is rted to you?"


    Lu Yunge raised an eyebrow and replied, "Of course, it''s rted. Our investor is from the Xie family."


    Lu Haiqiao immediately corrected him, "Not ''ours'', it''s yours. This so-called benefactor is yours alone, don''t drag me into it."


    The so-called ''investor'' referred to the biggest sponsor of F country''s ''Phantom'' team.


    Lu Yunge, on the other hand, was the team''s manager and responsible for its operations.


    Although he loved cars, he never participated in official races. His sole life goal was to nurture a racing superstar.


    A driver who would be revered by all.


    Considering his achievements a few years ago, it seemed like he had already achieved that goal. However, given the current circumstances, it appeared that the goal had eluded him again.


    He looked meaningfully at Lu Haiqiao and, after a moment, coaxed, "Alright, alright, consider it a slip of the tongue. Tell me which painting caught your eye today, and I''ll buy it for you.


    With that, he pointed to a prominentndscape painting hanging on the wall. "How about that one? It seems to have caught the interest of many."


    She had already noticed that painting.


    It was a masterpiece titled ''High Mountains and Lofty Peaks'' by the renownedndscape artist, Wu Sancai.


    She nced briefly at the painting and then withdrew her gaze.


    "Just because everyone says it''s good doesn''t necessarily mean it''s truly good," she remarked.

 Chapter 28: Forced to Be a ’Retard’

    <h4>Chapter 28: Forced to Be a ''Retard''</h4>


    Lu Yunge responded with a puzzled "Hmm" in English.


    The corners of Lu Haiqiao''s lips curled up. "Did you know that when this painting was first released, it was auctioned at 10 million USD? Now that more than ten years have passed, I estimate the price should have more than tripled."


    Hearing this, Lu Yunge raised an eyebrow. "If that''s the case, why aren''t you taking it?"


    Even if a masterpiece-level painting was not traded for profit, it could be kept as a collection.


    However, she shook her head, saying, "If someone were to give this to me, I would still need to rethink about epting it. I might spend 30 million USD if I''m mentally retarded."


    Although Lu Yunge didn''t have much knowledge about Chinese paintings, he had heard of the famous Wu Sancai.


    It would take someone as audacious as Miss Lu to call a masterpiece created by such a talented artist sound so worthless.


    She looked at the painting again and continued, "To be honest, the artistic skill of Master Sancai is unique in the world today, and there''s nothing to criticize about it. The reason I''m saying this painting isn''t worth much is because of the inscription in the upper right corner."


    Standing at a distance, he hadn''t noticed the inscription on the painting.


    ''Thirty-six peaks perilously crowned, ascending alone to view the clear tower a hundred feet high,'' She had seen this ''High Mountains and Lofty Peaks'' several years ago and memorized the inscription. "This verse is from the Tang Dynasty poet Wu Rong''s ''Viewing Mount Song.''"


    "The Poetry Scripture describes Mount Song as ''majestic as the highest peak, towering into the heavens.'' Since the painting depicts the ruggedness of a mountain peak, the inscription should have been written in the neat and rigorous style of regr script, rather than the more unrestrained cursive script."


    "Looking at these few words alone, there doesn''t seem to be a problem, but when paired with this painting, it does have a somewhat pretentious feel."


    "So, I suspect that these words on the painting weren''t inscribed by Master Sancai."


    A renowned Chinese painting master like him would never make such an elementary error.


    Upon hearing this, Lu Yunge couldn''t help but chuckle. "Grandpa is very picky, and he nurtured a little picky one... Not bad, not bad at all..."


    Every summer and winter vacation since she was in first grade, Lu Haiqiao would be brought to stay in F country by her grandfather, Lu Ye.


    During most of her time there, she would immerse herself in the study located on the top two floors of the Lu family''s vi.


    The study upied over 800 square meters in total, and aside from an extensive collection of books, it also housed numerous world-renowned paintings and scrolls.


    This was the restricted domain of the Old Master, and apart from himself, only Lu Haiqiao was allowed unrestricted ess.


    Lu Haiqiao, with her sharp intellect and a wealth of knowledge from her extensive reading and exposure, had developed a unique aesthetic perspective.


    Anything she favored was either already a treasure or bound to be one in the future.


    Without exception.


    After a few moments of silence, Lu Haiqiao leaned closer to him and asked in a low voice, "Did you just say that you''ll buy any calligraphy or painting here that I like?"


    He nodded.


    He did say so.


    "Tell me, which one do you like?"


    She pointed. "That one, ''High Mountains and Lofty Peaks''."


    He was taken aback, "Didn''t you just say that the painting wasn''t worth much?"


    Lu Haiqiao winked mischievously, "Yes, I did feel it wasn''t worth much. However, the market value is indeed this high, and you''re the one spending 30 million USD to acquire it, not me. Although I don''t like that inscription, Master Sancai''s paintings are still worth appreciating and collecting."


    Lu Yunge: ...


    Was I forced to be a ''retard''?

 Chapter 29: This Spendthrift Fool Is My Little Brother?

    <h4>Chapter 29: This Spendthrift Fool Is My Little Brother?</h4>


    In the end, the ''High Mountains and Lofty Peaks'' was bought by Lu Yunge for 33 million USD.


    Lu Haiqiao muttered quietly while watching several uniformed staff members dismantle the protective covering and remove the painting. "It''s a pity, if it weren''t for those few words, the price could have been even higher. But getting it for 3,300 is still good, not a loss."


    Lu Yunge: ...


    You are taking advantage of a bargain!


    ...


    On the top floor of the Double X Art Center.


    The entire floor had only one office, a spacious area covering over two hundred square meters. In this space, apart from a luxurious office desk and chair, the rest of the room was filled withputer monitors.


    Three monitors were on the desk, and five were hanging on the wall facing the desk.


    Xie Xuan sat unusually upright in his office chair. Apanied by the rapid cking of a keyboard, a series of codes appeared on one of theputer screens.


    He was in the process of tracking down the foreign IP that had intercepted ''Flower Moon'' and ''Night''.


    On the pitch-ck screen, lines of code were scrolling rapidly downwards.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.


    Upon receiving Xie Xuan''s permission, Second Xie, who was standing nearby, pulled out his phone and pressed the control button to open the door.


    The person entering was Big Xie.


    "Boss, the art exhibition on the first floor has started trading."


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan suddenly stopped typing.


    He leaned back in his chair, his long legs wrapped in light blue jeansfortably crossed.


    In just a few minutes, he returned to his rxed and casual state.


    He said with interest, "Anyone doing business with my aunt is a spendthrift fool with too much money to spend."


    He then propped up the mouse and clicked lightly. The rightmost monitor on the desk immediately disyed the art exhibition venue, which was underprehensive surveince.


    His gaze quickly scanned the screen, and it finallynded on Lu Yunge who was shaking hands with Mrs. Zheng.


    "That''s him?"


    Without waiting for Big Xie to reply, Xie Third, who was standing nearby, frowned slightly and said, "He''s back in B City too?"


    Xie Xuan turned to look at Xie Third. "You know him?"


    Even when facing his boss, Xie Third maintained his cold expression. "Manager of the Phantom Racing Team. We met during sponsorship negotiations in F Country."


    Although they referred to it as sponsorship, the actual contract was more like a partnership.


    As he spoke, Xie Third''s gaze focused on Lu Yunge in the surveince footage.


    He wondered if this guy had managed to find the driver who had won the Super Endurance Championship in F country for two consecutive years.


    Number 81, the mysterious driver who always wore a red and ck racing suit.


    This person rarely appeared and never participated in training. Whenever he did appear, he concealed most of his face with a mask and a duckbill cap, making it impossible to determine the gender.


    But what left a deep impression on Xie Third was the Super Endurance Championship three years ago.


    If it weren''t for the sudden disappearance of the day before the race this driver, Car Number 81, the team wouldn''t have had topensate for such arge sum of money due to their withdrawal.


    Although Lu Yunge took responsibility for it in the end, missing out on the championship was still a source of regret.


    Xie Xuan was also staring at Lu Yunge in the surveince footage.


    As he watched, the corners of his lips curled up devilishly. "ording to you, you''re saying, this spendthrift fool is my little brother?"


    Xie Third, who had just snapped out of his memories. "..."


    Not quite a little brother, after all, the Lu family didn''tck in money.

 Chapter 30: Go downstairs and get to know that little brother

    <h4>Chapter 30: Go downstairs and get to know that little brother</h4>


    Regarding transactions in the art exhibition, Xie Xuan didn''t have much interest. He browsed the surveince footage once again, and at that moment, the intact painting ''Spring River'' had yet to appear.


    Seizing the opportunity while the Old Master was away from B City, Xie Shengnan was ying a dangerous and clever game with his favorite painting.


    "I just don''t believe she can..."


    Xie Xuan was talking when he suddenly stopped.


    The figure of Lu Haiqiao appeared in the surveince footage.


    Little Marshmallow?


    What was she doing here?


    Furthermore...


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes dangerously as he watched Lu Haiqiao approach Lu Yunge and hold onto his arm.


    "Xie Third," he raised his hand and gestured with his index finger, "This ''little brother'', what''s his name?"


    Xie Third: ...


    Master, he is not your little brother.


    Forget it, there didn''t seem to be a need to exin that.


    Xie Third answered, "Lu Yunge."


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows. "Also surnamed Lu?"


    A few secondster, he lowered his voice and muttered to himself. "Both have the surname Lu. Could they be siblings?"


    With his sharp hearing, Xie Third immediately added, "As far as I know, Lu Yunge has a younger sister named Lu Yange."


    Xie Xuan nced at him with an expression of extreme displeasure, pursing his lips.


    After a brief pause, he pushed away the keyboard and got up, saying, "Let''s go. Go downstairs and get to know that little brother."


    Xie Third: ...


    I''ve already said, he''s not your little brother.


    ording to age, you should call him ''Big Brother.''


    Still...


    Looking at Xie Xuan''s departing figure, Xie Third, who had seen through his nature, shook his head gently.


    Getting to know the little brother is a ruse; the girl next to the little brother is your real target.


    ...


    As they watched one artwork after another being sold in the exhibition hall without the appearance of ''Spring River'', Lu Haiqiao began to lose patience.


    She gazed at Xie Shengnan, who was chatting with numerous political and business elites not far away, and said impatiently, "Why hasn''t that Xie person taken out my painting yet?"


    Standing by her side, Lu Yunge nced at her with aplicated expression.


    After a moment, he suggested, "Qiao, if you can''t wait, let''s just go back."


    She seemed to have guessed what he was going to say next and returned his gaze with a chilly look. "Xue already told me something simr. There''s no need for you to repeat it."


    Lu Yunge sighed softly and smiled helplessly. "So, there''s no room for discussion?"


    With a low and determined tone, Lu Haiqiao replied, "I''ve made up my mind, and no one can change it."


    And when she sets her mind on something, she will stop at nothing to get it. No one can stand in her way.


    Silently in his heart, Lu Yunge added his thoughts.


    "Never mind," Lu Haiqiao hadpletely lost her patience at this point, and out of consideration for the asion, she couldn''t show it too much. "I''ll wander around a bit. If the item appears, notify me immediately.


    ...


    Double X Art Center was a highly condensed culturalplex, featuring not only galleries, theaters, and cinemas for artistic exchanges but also a unique cafe.


    Located on the 25th-floor observation deck, the cafe was not only open-air but also had a ss floor, allowing people to enjoy the beautiful view of B City while experiencing the thrill of being suspended in the air.


    Following the directions, Lu Haiqiao reached the elevator. Although it''s on the 25th floor, in reality, she would have to take the elevator to the 26th floor and then descend the stairs to reach the suspended cafe.


    She was the only one at the entrance of the elevator that could reach the 26th floor.


    Lu Haiqiao carefully adjusted her skirt.


    If it weren''t for respecting the asion today, she wouldn''t have been willing to dress like this.


    With a ''ding'', the elevator arrived.

 Chapter 31: It looks like we’re fated

    <h4>Chapter 31: It looks like we''re fated</h4>


    The moment the two iron doors slowly opened, a gust of wind blew, lifting strands of hair beside her ears.


    She raised her hand to tuck them behind her ear and nced at the elevator. When she saw Xie Xuan''s face suddenly appear in her field of vision, she froze.


    Apart from Xie Xuan, there was another person beside him.


    She quickly scanned the other person.


    If she remembered correctly, he was the one who had made the Americano at the bar counter that day.


    Her gaze finally settled on Xie Xuan.


    One inside the elevator, and the other one outside. They locked eyes for a few seconds before both of them chuckled.


    Big Xie, who had used his hand to prevent the elevator doors from closing. "..."


    What''s so funny?


    "Xie Xuan? Looks like we''re fated."


    She didn''t say things like ''What a coincidence'' or ''Why are you here?'' because she found them rather overused.


    "We also have good chemistry," Xie Xuan replied with a hint ofughter in his eyes. He took a step forward, exiting the elevator and getting closer to her. "Because I was just about to say that."


    Big Xie, who had overheard their entire conversation. "..."


    Didn''t you instruct Xie Second to control the elevator''s speed so he could meet this youngdy?


    How could this be called fate?


    As they got closer, Xie Xuan tilted his head slightly and looked at Lu Haiqiao.


    He noticed the pair of hair clips by her temple were worth at least two or three hundred thousand, and her entire outfit, including the dress and other essories, must have been worth over five million.


    Little Marshmallow''s financial situation didn''t seem as tight as he had heard...


    Or was it because of Lu Yunge?


    Xie Xuan''s eyes glittered, and he casually reached into his pocket, asking knowingly, "Are you here for the art exhibition?"


    She had a guest flower wreath exclusive to the Xie Family Art Exhibition hanging on her wrist.


    She raised the corners of her lips, and her beautiful eyes sparkled like stars. "Yes."


    Xie Xuan cast a cold nce in the direction of the exhibition hall and asked in a casual tone, "You came alone?"


    It seemed like he asked this question every time they met.


    Lu Haiqiao shook her head honestly. "I didn''te alone this time."


    Xie Xuan responded with a nonchnt "Oh."


    He saw it, he saw both of them!


    He even saw you holding his hand!


    However, in the next second, she added, "I came with my cousin."


    Cousin?


    That''s right. They could be either close siblings or distant rtives with the same surname!


    Realizing this, a faint smile appeared on Xie Xuan''s lips, and the coldness that surrounded him gradually dissipated.


    He still responded with a simple "Oh."


    But it was clear that this ''Oh'' was more rxed and cheerful than the previous one.


    She had no idea about the subtle shifts in Xie Xuan''s psychology.


    "I''m heading to the cafe on the 25th floor. Since we''ve run into each other, if you have the time, why not join me?"


    Her ''join me'' included Big Xie.


    Before this, she had learned about this suspended cafe, where customers could even go behind the counter to make coffee themselves.


    She liked the Americano that Big Xie prepared, and if she could take this opportunity to ask about the type of coffee beans and brewing methods, it would be perfect.


    "The cafe is indeed worth a visit," Xie Xuan maintained eye contact with her, the smile on his lips growing deeper, "but I just left there..."


    In other words... he rejected her?


    A momentary disappointment shed across her face.


    "Well, there''s nothing to be done. We can arrange for another time..."

 Chapter 32: Having a meal is more nutritious

    <h4>Chapter 32: Having a meal is more nutritious</h4>


    Xie Xuan took out his phone and checked the time. He interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. "It''s almost noon."


    Lu Haiqiao nced in the direction of the art exhibition and frowned slightly, "Yes."


    She hadn''t received any news from Lu Yunge on her phone, indicating that the Xie family hadn''t brought out the painting ''Spring River'' yet.


    What''s going on?


    Are they trying to deceive people?


    "Hungry?"


    When Xie Xuan''s voice sounded in her ears, Lu Haiqiao turned around again. When she faced him, her brows rxed, and there was no sign of frustration. She met his gaze generously and naturally.


    "A little," she nodded.


    "Besides the suspended coffee shop, there is also a restaurant on the 25th floor," Xie Xuan leaned in closer, the faint fragrance of the youngdy lingered in his nose, "Drinking Americano for lunch isn''t healthy, so having a meal would be more nutritious."


    She blinked, "Are you suggesting you want to treat me to lunch?


    "I heard that the restaurant here is not cheap, you..."


    At this moment, Big Xie, who had remained silent, suddenly said, "Changed job, employee benefits, we get a discount."


    He stared at her with deep and cold eyes. Although his tone was polite, there was an unmistakable sense of detachment.


    Regardless of whether the person in front of him was a friend or a foe, Xie Xuan''s identity had to be kept confidential.


    If Xie Second and Xie Third encountered a simr situation, they would also react the same way.


    Before Lu Haiqiao could say anything, the phone in her bag rang.


    It was a WeChat voice message from Lu Yunge.


    "Haiqiao, thatdy from the Xie family doesn''t have the painting. It turns out her goal is the same as yours, she''s looking for it. Organizing the art exhibition was just a way to spread the message."


    "So let''s go. It''s noon now, what do you want to eat? I''ll take you out for lunch."


    While she was on the phone, Xie Xuan cast a meaningful nce at Big Xie.


    Employee benefits?


    That excuse was beyondme.


    She seemed lost in thought, holding her phone and not responding for a long time.


    Lu Yunge called out to her a few times, "Haiqiao? Haiqiao? Where are you now?"


    "Ah, oh..." She finally snapped back to reality.


    Lu Yunge: "Tell me where you are, I''lle find you."


    Upon hearing this, she lowered her gaze and said in a serious tone, "What? You met an old friend?"


    Lu Yunge, standing alone in the exhibition hall: "???"


    "Oh? Your friend invited you to have lunch? You can''t take me with you?" Lu Haiqiao looked disappointed.


    Lu Yunge was baffled.


    When did he run into an old friend?


    And his old friend invited him to lunch?


    What the heck!


    "Okay, then." She nodded thoughtfully, "You guys go ahead, I''ll figure out lunch myself..."


    On the other end of the line, Lu Yunge, who had no idea what was going on, hastily interrupted, "Hey, hey, hey, Haiqiao, when did I meet..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, the voice call was disconnected.


    When he tried calling back, a pop-up notification appeared in the middle of the screen.


    ''The other party has added you to the cklist and you cannot make voice calls.''


    Lu Yunge: "???"


    Xie Xuan looked at Lu Haiqiao as she put her phone back into her bag and casually asked, "Your cousin?"


    "Yes, he''s going to have lunch with a friend, so I''m on my own." She said with a straight face, even though she was spouting nonsense.


    Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow knowingly. "So that means..."


    She took a few steps forward to the elevator door.


    She reached out and pressed the ''upward'' button. "That means... let''s go."

 Chapter 33: My financial situation isn’t as bad as you think

    <h4>Chapter 33: My financial situation isn''t as bad as you think</h4>


    The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside, with Xie Xuan following closely behind.


    Turning around, she saw that Big Xie was still standing outside the elevator. She asked, "Aren''t youing with us?"


    Without waiting for Big Xie to exin, Xie Xuan pressed the button to close the door. "He''s starting his shift."


    Meeting her puzzled gaze, he added, "I just mentioned that we changed jobs. He''s now a security guard here."


    Upon hearing the word ''security guard'', Big Xie "..."


    You were the one who gestured for me not to follow. How did it be that I''m going to work now?


    The direct elevator didn''t require selecting a floor.


    As they ascended, she suddenly asked, "Your friend is a security guard here. What about you? Which department are you in?"


    After a few seconds of silence, Xie Xuan looked up at the reflection of her graceful figure in the polished metal doors.


    Today, she was a champagne-colored Little Marshmallow.


    Even sweeter.


    He didn''t answer directly and asked instead, "Are you testing me?"


    She raised her eyebrows slightly. "You don''t have to answer if you don''t want to."


    "Well," Xie Xuan considered for a moment, his voicezily tinged with a hint of intoxication, "my financial situation isn''t as bad as you think."


    She chuckled. "We''ve only met two or three times."


    Implicit in her words was the idea that he couldn''t possibly know what she was thinking.


    Upon hearing this, he turned slightly, locking his gaze onto her delicate side profile. "Am I not the waiter who runs back and forth in the cafe?"


    She suddenly turned her head, meeting his gaze. "Or maybe you want to tell me you''re a wealthy second-generation heir out to experience life?"


    "Second-generation heir?" He shrugged. "I am not."


    The Xie family had been the richest in B City since his great-great-great-grandfather. By his generation, they could be considered as the ''wealthy umpteenth-generation.''


    She smiled but didn''t respond further.


    Because the elevator door opened.


    Opposite the suspended cafe was a restaurant designed in the shape of a boat.


    Like the cafe, it also had a transparent ss floor.


    She walked across the transparent ss in her high heels to reach the dining terrace. She looked out at the blue sky and white clouds, imagining that during the bustling night, this ce would be like the Titanic cruising the skies of B City, with the neon lights below shining as brightly as stars.


    It would be perfect if they hade here at night ¨C a ss of wine, a gentle breeze, it would be incredibly romantic.


    Xie Xuan chose a seat in the middle of the terrace and pulled out a chair for her with gentlemanly grace.


    A waiter respectfully handed them the menu, and Xie Xuan took it but didn''t flip through it. Instead, he handed it directly to her.


    "You decide what to order."


    She took the menu and nced at Xie Xuan.


    He had an excellent aura. His simple white shirt and jeans didn''t look out of ce in this elegant restaurant. Instead, he exuded a unique and casual charm.


    Even if he wasn''t a rich second-generation heir, he had to be some family''s young master.


    She thought of a possibility.


    His surname was also Xie. Could it be...


    "Are you thinking about what to order, or are you wondering what to ask?" Xie Xuan picked up the ss in front of her. He held a ss water jug filled with mineral water and poured a ss of water for her before handing it over.


    She put down the menu and stared at him without any hesitation. "I was wondering, do you mind if there''stro in the dishes we order?"


    "..."


    Well, of all things, you had to hit upon the one thing I absolutely couldn''t eat.

 Chapter 34: He loved hearing her say the word ’too’

    <h4>Chapter 34: He loved hearing her say the word ''too''</h4>


    Xie Xuan also poured a ss of water for himself.


    He lifted the ss, took a sip, and calmly said, "Hmm, I mind, because I don''t eat."


    He didn''t want to hide anything from her.


    Lu Haiqiao looked at the menu again.


    Her slightly drooping eyshes, and her naturally pink lips curled into a faint arc. She had a yful and charming look, like a triumphant little fox.


    "That''s good because I don''t like it too," Lu Haiqiao teased.


    Xie Xuan paused for a moment, then chuckled helplessly.


    He loved hearing her say the word ''too''


    As if there was an invisible thread binding them tightly, unbreakable and inseparable.


    At this moment, she turned her head to the waiter and said, "Excuse me, I need to ce an order."


    ...


    The lunchsted about an hour.


    Although she did not mention it, Xie Xuan still discovered her unique taste preferences.


    It was unique.


    Unique to the point of liking things like bitter melon.


    She didn''t have a big appetite. After finishing her main course, she lifted her fork and reached for the appetizing sd.


    What she picked out were all vegetables like bitter melon and purple cabbage. She didn''t touch any other sweet ingredients, such as cherry tomatoes or bananas. She even refused the waiter''s suggestion of a dessert after ordering.


    Strawberry red velvet cake ice cream.


    Although it was a seasonal limited edition worth trying in the restaurant, for her, the taste must be cloyingly sweet.


    At this moment, she took out her phone and makeup bag. "I''m sorry, I need to use the restroom."


    Upon hearing this, Xie Xuan nodded in acknowledgment.


    She pushed her chair back and stood up. Almost at the same time, Xie Third walked into the restaurant from outside.


    They brushed past each other and took a couple of steps forward. Lu Haiqiao seemed to recall something and stopped.


    She nced at Xie Third and suddenly felt that the man in the ck suit looked a little familiar.


    Not wanting to draw attention, she quickly averted her gaze and continued on her way to the restroom.


    On the way, her mind raced, trying to find any trace left by that figure.


    However, she was unsessful.


    So she thought that maybe people could look alike, and she was just being overly suspicious.


    ...


    The restaurant.


    Xie Third walked over to Xie Xuan and bent down significantly, whispering a few words in his ear.


    After listening, the young man holding a crystal ss instantly wiped away the faint smile from his lips. He turned his head slightly, looking up at the seemingly close blue sky and white clouds, his expression cool and aloof.


    "Master, do you think we should..."


    Before he could finish speaking, Xie Xuan raised his hand and gently waved his index finger. "Don''t rush, I haven''t finished my meal yet."


    Xie Third''s expression was solemn. "But..."


    Xie Xuan interrupted him. "I know what I''m doing."


    Xie Third immediately fell silent.


    After a few seconds, Xie Xuan suddenly extended his index finger and motioned for him toe closer.


    Xie Third leaned forward.


    Approaching with the mindset of epting important instructions, he tensed all his nerves, afraid of missing a single word.


    To his surprise, Xie Xuan spoke in a calm and unhurried tone, saying, "Third Brother, I want you to go to the coffee shop next door and bring me the set of coffee machines specifically for brewing Americano."


    "Also, bring some Blue Mountain coffee beans while you''re at it."


    Xie Third: "???"


    So, your propriety was to move the coffee machine from next door?


    "By the way..."


    Before he could recover from his shock, Xie Xuan continued speaking.


    Xie Third, now on high alert, moved closer again.


    Xie Xuan: "Once you''ve brought the coffee machine over, ce it on the counter, and then you can leave."


    Xie Third: "..."

 Chapter 35: Since you had so much to say, I let you chat with the police.

    <h4>Chapter 35: Since you had so much to say, I let you chat with the police.</h4>


    In the restroom, Lu Haiqiao didn''t rush to touch up her makeup.


    She lit up her phone and, seeing over forty missed calls in the middle of the screen, shook her head helplessly.


    Luckily, she had set her phone to silent mode in time; otherwise, this meal would have been far from peaceful.


    Lu Haiqiao decided to return Lu Yunge''s call.


    Ignoring him like this might lead him to mobilize his men to search for her in the entire city.


    However, after unlocking her phone, she discovered that among these over forty missed calls, there was one from an unknown number.


    Moreover, this unknown number had called seven times in a row within five minutes.


    It didn''t seem like a wrong number or a telemarketer.


    At this moment, she noticed there was an unread message.


    She opened it and found that it was sent by that unknown number.


    "Lu Haiqiao, who do you think you are? Do you think we can''t find you just because you blocked all our contact methods? I warn you, if you know what''s good for you, don''t y tricks on me again, or I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"


    After reading the message, a knowing look passed through Lu Haiqiao''s eyes.


    With such an arrogant and domineering tone, who else could it be but Su Qingya?


    Lu Haiqiao deleted the message with a cold expression and simultaneously activated the call-interception function she had recently imnted in her phone for unknown numbers.


    Whenever an unknown number called more than twice, this special program she designed would automatically redirect the call to the emergency line.


    Since you had so much to say, I let you chat with the police.


    Afterpleting the operation, Lu Haiqiao finally called Lu Yunge. As she expected, Lu Yunge''s current mood was teetering on the edge of explosion.


    "Hello, Ol'' Lu, I..."


    The call connected, and Lu Haiqiao had only spoken a few words when she was met with Lu Yunge''s furious roar.


    "Lu Haiqiao! Where did you go?"


    "Do you have any idea how worried I was when you left a message like that and disappeared for an hour, thirty-two minutes, and forty-three... no, forty-four seconds?"


    Lu Haiqiao moved her phone slightly away from her ear, allowing him to vent his frustration. After he had finished shouting, she calmly said, "Calm down..."


    Lu Yunge took a couple of deep breaths to regain hisposure. "Tell me, where are you now?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "Lunch."


    Lu Yunge: "Where?"


    Lu Haiqiao: "With a friend."


    Lu Yunge: ...


    She still didn''t reveal where she was.


    Alright, if she won''t tell, I''ll ask a different question.


    Lu Yunge: "What''s your friend''s name? A guy or a girl? What does he do for a living? Where does he live? How long have you known him?How did you meet?"


    Faced with such a long string of questions, Lu Haiqiao only answered half of them. "His... surname is Xie."


    Lu Yunge paused. "Xie Xuan?"


    "Yes," Lu Haiqiao responded coldly.


    It seemed that Lu Xuege had told Lu Yunge about her investigation.


    On the other end of the phone, Lu Yunge furrowed his brow and muttered under his breath, "Someone with the surname Xie..."


    Lu Haiqiao slightly curled her lips, setting her trap. "Well, I''ve told you his name. As for who he is, what he does, where he lives, if you want to know, you can investigate it yourself."


    At her words, he scoffed, "Is he some kind of important person that I need to spend time, effort, and resources to investigate?"


    "Alright, alright, juste back quickly. Don''t make me have Second Brother track your phone''s location!"


    Lu Haiqiao nced at her phone, feeling aggrieved.


    Didn''t you already check my location long ago!

 Chapter 36: Mystery

    <h4>Chapter 36: Mystery</h4>


    Back at her seat, Lu Haiqiao noticed an extra cup of ck coffee in front of her.


    Under the sunlight, the usually dark brown liquid had a faint golden hue, and the round ice cube inside slowly swirled as it melted in the cup.


    As she sat down, she immediately caught a rich aroma.


    "If you don''t want dessert, have a cup of coffee."


    Hearing Xie Xuan''s voice, Lu Haiqiao looked up.


    "Thank you," she said.


    Xie Xuan suddenly sat up straight, his arm resting on the table, and he lifted his chin slightly. "Try it."


    Lu Haiqiao seemed to have guessed something. As she raised the cup, a slight smile yed on her lips.


    "Did you make this?" she asked.


    "Although I''ve worked in a coffee shop before, this is my first time." The implication was that he had only made coffee for her.


    After taking a sip, Lu Haiqiao provided an honest assessment, "It''s sweet, sour, and bitter."


    After taking a sip, shemented truthfully, "It tastes sweet, sour, and bitter."


    When their gazes met, Xie Xuan asked in confusion, "Then what is it?"


    Lu Haiqiao made a nonchnt sound and slowly said, "However, it''s just right."


    Huh?


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes and ran his thumb along the ss cup.


    Little Marshmallow seemed to know how to tantalize one''s taste buds.


    ...


    After finishing the coffee, Xie Xuan snapped his fingers at the waiter, indicating that he wanted the bill.


    The waiter approached and said, "Hello, the youngdy has already settled the bill.".


    Xie Xuan looked at Lu Haiqiao.


    She elegantly picked up her bag and spoke in a soft and gentle tone, "I''ll cover the bill this time. You can treat me next time."


    They would have many more next time.


    "Where are you going? I''ll send you," Xie Xuan said as he stood up, his gaze fixed on her slender figure, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.


    Lu Haiqiao clearly felt her phone vibrating in her bag twice in a row. It was a signal that her anti-tracking program had been breached.


    It took Lu Xuege a total of two hours and twenty-one minutes from the beginning to the end.


    It seemed that her anti-tracking skills had improved; she had added thirty more minutes since thest time.


    "No need," she said. "My cousin is already waiting for me downstairs."


    ...


    It was already three o''clock in the afternoon when they got home.


    She removed her hairstyle, took off her formal dress, and went to the bathroom for a rxing shower.


    As soon as she came out, she heard her phone vibrate.


    She walked to her desk, one hand drying her hair, the other picking up her phone.


    It was a WeChat message from Xie Xuan.


    XX: "Have you reached home?"


    She paused in the middle of drying her hair, her hands holding the phone.


    She was about to type a reply when her eyes caught the nickname at the top of the chat window.


    XX...


    It reminded her of solving unknowns in math ss back in the day.


    But they had already had a meal together; they shouldn''t be unknowns to each other anymore, right


    She stared at the screen for a few seconds, then tapped on Xie Xuan''s profile picture to enter the settings.


    She first typed ''Xie Xuan'' in the nickname, looked at it for a moment, then deleted it and changed it to ''Ahxuan''. After mumbling it quietly a few times, she deleted it again and changed it to ''Xuan''.


    After a few minutes of back and forth, she finally entered ''mystery'' and clicked ''Done''.


    Back in the chat window, Lu Haiqiao replied, "I''m home."


    Mystery replied instantly, "It''s good that you''re home."


    The conversation seemed to have reached its natural conclusion.


    Xie Xuan had the same idea, so he put down his phone, his long fingers dancing gracefully on the keyboard.


    The foreign IP that bought the painting logged in just fifteen seconds before making the purchase, and the short time frame made tracking more challenging than expected.

 Chapter 37: Don’t you know the consequences when you cross the line?

    <h4>Chapter 37: Don''t you know the consequences when you cross the line?</h4>


    His attention shifted from the phone back to theputer screen, and in less than two seconds, Xie Xuan heard his phone vibrating again.


    The phone was unlocked, and the screen still disyed the WeChat conversation.


    At the top of the chat window was the nickname ''Little Marshmallow'', and not only that, in his phone contacts, her phone number was also listed under the same nickname.


    "The coffee today was very good, thank you."


    On his table was an identical cup of ck coffee.


    She had tasted it, so he wanted to try it too.


    Xie Xuan replied with a simple "Mmm" and then set his phone aside.


    He picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.


    The Blue Mountain coffee, filled with a rich aroma, blossomed in his mouth with a unique mellowness. The strong and enticing elegance of the coffee made Xie Xuan, who never drank ck coffee, couldn''t help but praise, "Not bad."


    After another sip, he ced the coffee cup back on the table.


    Savoring the unique sweetness of Blue Mountain coffee on his tongue, he pursed his lips and subconsciously smiled.


    Little Marshmallow indeed had excellent taste.


    At this moment, the code scrolling down theputer screen abruptly stopped, and the disy switched to a 3D world map, with a red dot continuously shing on it.


    Xie Xuan slid the mouse, causing the map''s scope to zoom in.


    He noticed that the red dot''s blinking speed increased as he got closer to the exact location.


    Then, all of a sudden, the red dot disappeared.


    Xie Xuan stopped abruptly.


    He released the mouse,zily leaning back in his chair, and squinted at theputer screen.


    After going around in circles using overseas servers, it unexpectedly ended up back in B City.


    Interesting!


    At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.


    Xie Xuan nced at the surveince camera and saw that it was Xie Third. He raised his arm andzily tapped the Enter key on the keyboard.


    With a ''ding'', Xie Third entered the room.


    "Master, Mrs. Zheng''s dinner party has ended, and Mr. Zheng is returning to the country today. After the dinner, Mrs. Zheng personally went to the airport to pick him up."


    Mr. Zheng, in this case, referred to Xie Shengnan''s son, Zheng Shaohua.


    After a while, Xie Xuan spoke in a low voice, "The whole family is here..."


    Xie Third: "At this critical moment, Mrs. Zheng asked Lil'' Mr. Zheng to return. I''m afraid..."


    "Don''t worry," Xie Xuan, with his head resting on the back of the chair, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "It''s a rare reunion for them, so why should we spoil their mood?"


    "Understood," Xie Third obeyed.


    Having followed Xie Xuan for so many years, he unconditionally obeyed everymand.


    But...


    It seemed like he had something to say but hesitated. After a few seconds of silence, Xie Xuan opened his eyes. "Do you have something else to say?"


    Xie Third pursed his lips and finally said, "Master, about Miss Lu..."


    At this, Xie Xuan''s gaze, which had been on him, instantly turned cold. "Huh?"


    Xie Third continued without changing his expression, "I believe that Miss Lu, while her appearance ispatible with yours, is ultimately just a decorative vase. Master has a special status, and it''s not advisable to get too close to her."


    If he got implicated by her, the consequences would be unimaginable.


    But he didn''t say thatst part.


    Some things were better left unsaid, and he didn''t need to be so explicit.


    With that, the office fell into a deathly silence.


    After about half a minute, Xie Xuan stood up.


    He walked slowly to Xie Third''s side. "Third Brother, you''ve been with me for so long. Don''t you know the consequences when you cross the line?

 Chapter 38: I’m afraid they can’t afford it

    <h4>Chapter 38: I''m afraid they can''t afford it</h4>


    The mention of ''crossing boundaries'' made Xie Third tense up.


    He stood upright on the spot, casting a respectful nce at Xie Xuan before lowering his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.


    "I made a slip of the tongue, please punish me, Master!"


    While he verbally had apse of tongue, his deeply ingrained impression of Lu Haiqiao as a decorative vase was apparent.


    "I''ll let it go this time," Xie Xuan put his right hand with the red rope bracelet behind his back. He walked back to his desk. "But if I hear it again next time, regardless of who utters them, there will be severe consequences."


    "I understand."


    "Now, leave."


    "Yes."


    After Xie Third left, silence once again enveloped the office.


    At this moment, theputer on the desk had gone into sleep mode due to prolonged inactivity.


    In the split second when the screen went dark, he reached out and grabbed the coffee cup on the desk.


    He downed the coffee in one gulp.


    After tossing the coffee cup aside, causing it to sh with the saucer, making a clear ringing sound.


    At this moment, a ray of sunlight shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling ss.


    Xie Xuan leaned against the office desk. He turned to face the somewhat ring sunlight, his thoughts unknown.


    ...


    The next day, a workday.


    Early in the morning, Lu Haiqiao went to work as usual.


    Just as she reached the main road, a green AMG GT, emitting the low roar of a sports car, smoothly pulled up in front of her.


    The car window rolled down, and Xu Duo waved at her. "Hi, beautiful, do you need a driver?"


    Lu Haiqiao walked closer, first ncing at the whole car, and then casually leaning her elbow on the roof while looking down at her. "When did you change your car?"


    She had recently bought the BMW X7.


    "Sending a beauty to work requires a new car to show my sincerity," Xu Duo pushed her oversized sunsses up to her head, revealing her exquisite face. "Let''s go. If we don''t leave now, you''ll bete."


    With that, Lu Haiqiao walked around the front of the car and got into the passenger seat.


    Once she fastened her seatbelt, she heard Xu Duo asking, "Hey, isn''t your good friend already back in town? Why aren''t you driving to work?"


    Lu Haiqiao propped her chin up with her right hand and looked at the street scene outside the window. "I''m doing this for the sake of all car owners in B City."


    Xu Duo: "???"


    What do you mean?


    "In case there are some bumps or scratches along the way, I''m afraid they can''t afford it."


    Xu Duo: "..."


    Let me know in advance when you are driving, I''ll be the first to keep my distance from you.


    ...


    Twenty minutester, Xu Duo''s car stopped in front of the ''Jolie Fille'' magazine.


    Xu Duo watched as Lu Haiqiao unfastened her seatbelt and got out of the car. Then she whistled in a flirtatious manner, "Beauty, are you free for dinner tonight?"


    Lu Haiqiao leaned into the car and asked, "Do you want to have dinner with me, or do you want to have dinner with Lu Xuege?"


    Caught off guard by the direct question, Xu Duo blinked and blushed.


    "Alright," Lu Haiqiao, who had seen through everything, straightened up. "I''ll ask Lu Xuege out when it''s almost time to get off work."


    A satisfied smile was shown on Xu Duo''s lips. "Thanks, baby!"


    Lu Haiqiao closed the car door with a backward nce. "Alright, you should leave quickly. You can''t park here, or you''ll be fined."


    Xu Duo made an ''OK'' gesture with her hand, then released the brake and drove away.


    At that moment...


    "Lu Haiqiao!" Someone suddenly called her just as she was about to walk towards the office building.


    Lu Haiqiao had no intention of stopping and continued to walk at her usual pace.

 Chapter 39: I’ve always been able to see people, I just can’t see you

    <h4>Chapter 39: I''ve always been able to see people, I just can''t see you</h4>


    "Lu Haiqiao, stop right there!"


    The person behind her shouted as she chased after her.


    During working hours, there were quite a few office workersing and going into the building.


    Everyone was attracted by this sharp cry and turned their gazes in the direction.


    At that moment, Lu Haiqiao stopped in her tracks.


    She turned around, and she saw the heavily makeup angry face of Su Qingya.


    "Lu Haiqiao, what do you mean by this?"


    "You didn''t answer my calls, ignore my messages, and even dare to block me? Let me tell you, looking for you is because I think highly of you. Acting mighty in front of me, who do you think you are?"


    Lu Haiqiao stared at her with a cold expression, not saying a word.


    At this point, Su Qingya suddenly turned her head to nce at the crossroad not far away.


    A green sports car waiting at the front of the traffic light caught her attention.


    She saw Lu Haiqiao getting out of that car. After a moment of thought, it seemed like she understood something.


    "Oh". Su Qingya said sarcastically. "No wonder you''ve be more arrogant. It turns out you''ve found yourself a sugar daddy."


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao smiled faintly. "I''ve always been able to see people, I just can''t see you."


    This was an indirect way of insulting her; she was no better than a human.


    "You..." Su Qingya was so angry that her face contorted.


    Both remained in this standoff for a few seconds.


    Su Qingya took deep breaths to calm herself down. Once her emotions gradually settled, she said, "Lu Haiqiao, I didn''te here today to argue with you. Like I said, Dad wants to see you!"


    Upon hearing this, Lu Haiqiao''s expression showed a hint of impatience. "I''ll say it again, I won''t meet him."


    At this moment, she noticed two traffic police officers walking over from the crossroad.


    "You have no say in this!" Su Qingya red at her fiercely. "Dad is busy today, so maybe tomorrow... or the day after tomorrow. At six o''clock in the evening. Be good and wait downstairs at our house. If you don''t show up, don''t me me for not considering our sisterly rtionship!"


    Just as Su Qingya was about to leave, Lu Haiqiao stopped her. "Wait".


    Su Qingya turned her head, disying a proud and disdainful attitude. "Is there anything else?"


    At this moment, two traffic police officers had approached Su Qingya''s car, which was parked haphazardly by the roadside.


    One of them examined the license te before taking out a small camera and snapping a photo of the entire car.


    The other officer, with his head down, processed something on his device. Once finished, he promptly stuck a parking ticket onto the car window.


    Witnessing the entire process, Lu Haiqiao couldn''t help but smile.


    "Oh, it''s nothing," she said.


    "Crazy!" Su Qingya, seemingly bewildered, shot her a fierce re before turning and leaving.


    One could only imagine how frustrated she must be upon seeing that parking ticket.


    However, Lu Haiqiao was not interested in this.


    As she walked into the office building, she noticed a crowd of people around the elevator. She immediately changed direction and headed for the stairs.


    The magazine office wasn''t on a very high floor, so taking the stairs might be faster than waiting for the elevator.


    She took out her phone while climbing the stairs and opened the DingTalk app. She clocked in for work with a few taps on the screen.


    Instead of putting her phone back into her pocket, she continued to stare at the screen for a few seconds. Then, she switched to the dial keypad and swiftly entered an eleven-digit phone number before pressing the call button.


    "Hello, Ol'' Lu, can you do me a favor?"


    ...


    At eight o''clock that evening, at an archery club in the suburbs of B city.


    Lu Haiqiao, dressed in red and ck sportswear, stood at a distance of thirty meters from the target.

 Chapter 40: F*ck his uncle

    <h4>Chapter 40: F*ck his uncle</h4>


    Her full attention was focused on the recurve bow she held, weighing around 20 kilograms. After some adjustments, she set it down and put on her specialized arm guard and finger tabs.


    Raising the bow again, Lu Haiqiao reached into the leather quiver hanging at her right side, retrieving a carbon arrow marked with the number ''81''.


    Nocking the arrow, drawing the bow, anchoring, and aiming at the target.


    After about three seconds, she released the arrow very steadily. As soon as she lowered the recurve bow, the big screen above disyed the result.


    Bullseye.


    At this moment, a crisp apuse came from the reclining chair behind her.


    Sitting in the chair, Lu Yunge nced at the score disyed on the big screen and couldn''t help but praise, "Haiqiao, bullseye with one shot, your skills are impressive!"


    Little did he know that not long after he spoke, she shot another arrow.


    This time, the score took a nosedive.


    Off target.


    Lu Yunge: "..."


    It seemed he praised too soon.


    Lu Haiqiao stood straight with determination, her gaze fixed firmly on the target.


    She raised the bow, removed the sight, tried the direction, and then shot five arrows steadily and smoothly.


    Bullseye, off target, bullseye, off target, bullseye.


    Lu Yunge got up from his reclining chair, and just after she shot thest arrow, he mischievously said, "I bet yourst shot was a miss."


    As he spoke, the score appeared on the big screen.


    As he expected, it was off target.


    She put down the bow, turned around, and ced one hand on her hip. "I''ll never give my opponents the chance to predict my next move, or else the battle would be half-lost even before it begins."


    "I taught you that," Lu Yunge''s meaningful gaze rested on her face, and after a few seconds, he said, "But Haiqiao, I''m not your opponent."


    "So I let you predict my next move," Lu Haiqiao removed the arm guard and finger tab, walked over to the reclining chair, and picked up a bottle of mineral water, unscrewing the cap. "Otherwise, how could you have guessed that myst shot would miss?"


    Lu Yunge: "..."


    It turned out, the clown was me.


    He looked at Lu Haiqiao, who was drinking from the water bottle. "I''ve arranged everything you asked me to do."


    At his words, Lu Haiqiao paused, her mouth still on the water bottle''s opening, and she looked back at him.


    Lu Yunge: "I booked the whole ne to pick up that person. It''s very expensive!"


    Lu Haiqiao gave him a sidelong nce and suddenly changed the subject, "Did you go to the car dealership the day before yesterday?"


    Lu Yunge was annoyed at the mention of this.


    "Let me tell you, it''s so rare for me to find a car I like. I was nning to buy it, but then the owner told me someone had booked it. So, I was thinking whoever pays first gets it. Little did I know that the brat who ordered the car transferred the money to the owner''s ount just as I was about to pay!"


    "Just one second, just that tiny second!"


    "F*ck his uncle!"


    After venting, his mood improved, and Lu Yunge remembered something.


    He took out a small, exquisite USB drive from his pocket and casually tossed it to her. "Hey, here''s what you wanted."


    Lu Haiqiao raised her hand and caught it.


    "Hey, Ol'' Lu!" She called out to him, who was heading toward the reclining chair. "I''ve got something for you too."


    Lu Yunge paused in surprise.


    She walked over to another reclining chair where she put her backpack, and retrieved something from it. She held an item in her palm.


    Returning to Lu Yunge, she released her palm, and a car key dangled on her index finger.


    "I know you like it, so I bought it for you as a gift."


    After a moment of stunned silence, Lu Yunge''s expression immediately changed.


    He smiled fawningly, although that smile looked quite cheap to her.

 Chapter 41 - 41: Thank You for the Gift

    Chapter 41: Thank You for the Gift


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    He took the car keys. ¡°Oh my, what a coincidence. I knew it. Other than me, who else has such good taste to take a fancy to that car? So it¡¯s you!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao snortedzily and pointed at himself. ¡°Rascal, thank you for the gift.¡±


    Lu Yunge was speechless.


    After returning to the recliner and sitting down, Lu Yunge leaned back and rested his head on one hand. Disdain shed in his narrowed eyes. ¡°Speaking of which, it¡¯s a good thing that Aunt didn¡¯t take away that Su woman when she divorced. Otherwise, I would have to acknowledge an idiot as my cousin now.¡±


    Back then, in order to be with Su Jinchang, Lu Wanxin fell out with her parents. Even after she got married andter divorced, she never mentioned her family.


    Even Su Jinchang thought that Lu Wanxin was just a poor and ordinary woman, let alone Su Qingya. No one expected her to be the daughter of the famous traditional art master, Lu Ye, and the sister of the richest man in Country F, Lu Jianyuan.


    ¡°But Haiqiao, aren¡¯t you a little¡­¡± Lu Yunge stared at Lu Haiqiao, who was holding a water bottle in one hand and ying with the USB drive with the other. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. Fortunately, we¡¯re not enemies. Otherwise, I really wouldn¡¯t be able to win against you.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao drank all the water in the bottle. The transparent liquid hung at the corner of her lips, sparkling and translucent.


    ¡°It¡¯s a game. It has to be simple and crude, like this!¡±


    With that, she took a few steps forward and threw the empty water bottle into the trash can in the corner.


    Just as she was about to pack her bow and arrows and leave, Lu Haiqiao felt the phone in her pocket vibrate.


    She unlocked her phone and saw that it was a message from Xie Xuan. Mystery said, ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner the day after tomorrow.¡±


    Before Lu Haiqiao could reply, a message popped up in the dialog box.


    Mystery said, ¡°Okay?¡±


    After staring at the words ¡°night after tomorrow¡± for a while, Lu Haiqiao thought for a while. She then started typing. ¡°I have something to do the night after tomorrow. Can we do it the day after that?¡±


    About 30 seconds after the message was sent, Xie Xuan replied, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    After a while, another message popped up. ¡°Remember to eat even if you have something to do. It¡¯s not healthy to just drink ck coffee.¡±


    His message sessfully made Lu Haiqiao soften her tense and cold expression. A faint smile crept up the corners of her eyes.


    Was she a little hot from exercising just now¡­


    With this thought in mind, Lu Haiqiao used one hand as a fan and fanned her pale pink cheeks a few times.


    Lu Yunge stared strangely at her for a few seconds before his gaze fell on the phone in her hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re smiling so sweetly. Who are you texting?¡± There was an obvious sense of dissatisfaction in his tone.


    As Lu Haiqiao typed, she said absent-mindedly, ¡°A friend.¡±


    As she spoke, she typed ¡°Yes, you too¡± and pressed send.


    If she could be so happy just by sending a message, it was definitely not an ordinary friend.


    Lu Yunge frowned and guessed, ¡°Is this friend Xie?¡±


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s phone vibrated.


    Xie Xuan instantly replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao picked the emoji of a little rabbit nodding its head and sent it over.


    After sending the message, she put away her phone.


    Recalling the question just now, Lu Haiqiao pursed his lips and said vaguely,


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±

 Chapter 42 - 42: Natural Law

    Chapter 42: Natural Law


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Yunge moved closer and stood in front of her. ¡°Haiqiao, this is the first andst time I¡¯m telling you. I don¡¯t care if this Xie is rted to the Xie family or not. Stay away from him. Understood?¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, you said that the Xie family in B City is your patron.¡± He had never looked so serious before, which surprised Lu Haiqiao.


    If Xie Xuan was a member of the Xie family, then her interaction with Lu Yunge¡¯s ¡°sugar daddy¡± would undoubtedly enhance their rtionship.


    If Xie Xuan wasn¡¯t a member of the Xie family, he would be an ordinary person who had nothing to do with them, then it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Lu Haiqiao to make friends with him.


    Lu Yunge snorted in disdain. ¡°B City is the Xie family¡¯s territory after all. It¡¯s only right to give him some respect.¡±


    Outside B City, it would be a different story.


    ¡°I see,¡± Lu Haiqiao replied casually.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just say that! Listen to me!¡± Lu Yunge returned to the previous topic. ¡°This Xie Xuan can¡¯t be found anywhere on the inte or the deep web. He doesn¡¯t even have basic information about his education or profession online, let alone photos. To do that, even if he has nothing to do with the Xie family, he¡¯s definitely not an ordinary person.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao fell silent.


    She looked down, hiding the seriousness that shed across her eyes.


    So what if he wasn¡¯t an ordinary person? The naturalw of birth, aging, illness, and death couldn¡¯t be escaped.


    ¡°Yunge, I need to go to the toilet. See you.¡± Lu Haiqiao, who had been listening to Lu Yunge¡¯s nagging for a long time, suddenly interrupted.


    ¡°Stop arguing and let me finish! You¡¯ve only known this Xie Xuan for a short time. We can¡¯t guarantee his identity or his character, so¡­¡±


    As Lu Yunge rambled on, he thought about it and paced around in circles.


    ¡°So, Haiqiao, for a person of unknown origin like this, you should still¡­¡± After circling around, Lu Yunge was stunned.


    There was no sign of Lu Haiqiao. Even the recurve bow she had just used was gone.


    Lu Yunge, who had spoken until his mouth was dry, was dumbfounded.


    Wait a minute, what did she just say?


    Going to the bathroom, was it?


    Lu Yunge quickly packed his things and chased after her.


    ¡°Hey, Haiqiao, Haiqiao, let me tell you¡­¡±


    In the blink of an eye, it was Friday.


    The ¡°day after tomorrow¡± that Su Qingya mentioned was today.


    After work, Lu Haiqiao turned off herputer, clocked out, and left as usual.


    Just as she stepped out of the office building, Lu Wanxin¡¯s call came in.


    ¡°Baby! Mommy is going out now. You can take care of your own dinner tonight.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled dotingly. ¡°Alright, Mrs. Lu. Don¡¯t worry and enjoy the beautiful night. I¡¯ll be fine alone.¡±


    As a piano music enthusiast, Lu Wanxin wouldn¡¯t miss the worldly renowned young pianist Zhao Jiayu¡¯s concert in B City.


    ¡°My darling, you¡¯re such a good daughter.¡± Lu Wanxin¡¯s footsteps came out of the receiver. ¡°By the way, Haiqiao, let me tell you, when you get hometer¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Lu Haiqiao heard Lu Wanxin scream.


    She was shocked. ¡°Mom..


    At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, a ck Volkswagen stopped in front of an international resort about forty minutes away from the city center.


    The middle-aged man who got out of the passenger seat stopped the hotel concierge¡¯s service. Then, he walked around to the back seat and opened the


    car door..

 Chapter 43 - 43: Who Exactly Is She?

    Chapter 43: Who Exactly Is She?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    In the middle of the backseat, Lu Haiqiao was looking down at her phone.


    A bodyguard in a ck suit sat on either side of her.


    The door opened and the bodyguards got out of the car.


    The middle-aged man who opened the back door was called Su An. He had been the butler of the Su family¡¯s vi for many years.


    He bowed slightly and said respectfully, ¡°Miss Lu, please.¡±


    Hearing the voice, Lu Haiqiao looked up. She was a little confused. ¡°Huh? We¡¯re here already?¡±


    Su An was expressionless. ¡°Yes, Miss Lu. Please get out of the car.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Lu Haiqiao waved calmly and lowered her head again. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to arrive so quickly. The game isn¡¯t over yet. Wait a moment.¡±


    Hearing this, Su An frowned and looked over.


    From where he was standing, he could vaguely see Lu Haiqiao¡¯s phone screen.


    Yellow chickens, green frogs, blue hippos, red foxes¡­


    There were also lots of squares.


    What the hell?


    ¡°Miss Lu, Mr. Su is waiting inside,¡± Su An reminded her in a more serious tone.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Haiqiao said without looking up, ¡°Then let him wait. I¡¯m already at the door. Where can I possibly go?¡±


    After a pause, she added, ¡°If you forcefully drag me out of the car, I¡¯ll scream and let all the waiters here see how Mr. Su Jinchang¡¯s subordinates bully a young woman!


    ¡°Although the waiters can¡¯t do anything to you, people talk. If word gets out,


    the one who will be embarrassed will be your great Mr. Su!¡±


    Su An was speechless.


    Although he had onlye to work after Lu Wanxin left the Su family, he had heard of the former Mrs. Su and Mr. Su¡¯s second daughter.


    Su An had never seen the former Mrs. Su, Lu Wanxin, so he couldn¡¯t form an opinion.


    But Miss Lu¡­


    Legend had it that she was timid, had a soft temper, and a weak personality. Other than not talking much, she especially liked to cry.


    Don¡¯t talk much?


    Those few sentences had already rendered the men present speechless.


    Like to cry?


    In the face of such an invitation that looked more like a kidnap, there was no trace of panic on her face, let alone tears.


    At this moment, she was still ying games leisurely¡­


    If there was anything about Miss Lu that matched the rumors, it would be her perfect face.


    At the thought of this, the frown between Su An¡¯s brows deepened.


    Who exactly was she?


    Under Su An¡¯s signal, the bodyguards didn¡¯t dare to act rashly.


    After about three minutes, Lu Haiqiao looked up. ¡°Alright, all the records have been broken. We can go now.¡±


    Su An was speechless.


    So she was not clearing the game, but breaking a record?


    Before getting out of the car, Lu Haiqiao waved her phone. ¡°Hey, you guys can y when you¡¯re free. It¡¯s a puzzle game. It¡¯ll prevent you from getting Alzheimer¡¯s.¡±


    Su An was speechless.


    One had to be blind to call Miss Lu a ¡°little weakling¡±.


    ¡°Oh right.¡± After getting out of the car, Lu Haiqiao seemed to have thought of something and raised her phone again. ¡°I forgot to show it off on my WeChat Moments.¡±


    As she spoke, she shared the game on her WeChat Moments and put away her pnone.


    Under Su An¡¯s lead, Lu Haiqiao, who was watched by two bodyguards, crossed the red carpeted corridor and arrived at the Garden View Restaurant on the fifth floor of the resort.


    The lights in the restaurant were dazzling. Su Jinchang sat in a seat at the side. It was an open area, and behind him was the starry night sky..

 Chapter 44 - 44: Release Her, Or I Destroy This Place

    Chapter 44: Release Her, Or I Destroy This ce


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°Master, Miss Lu is here.¡± Su An¡¯s voice caught Su Jinchang¡¯s attention.


    He looked up and gave a perfunctory nod.


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t waste any time. She pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. She met Su Jinchang¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    There was obvious displeasure between Su Jinchang¡¯s furrowed brows. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°It¡¯s been so many years. Has your mother only taught you to be arrogant?¡±


    Arrogant?


    She seemed to have heard this sentence somewhere before.


    Oh, right, Su Qingya seemed to have described her in the same way.


    This father and daughter were the same.


    Lu Haiqiao sighed softly and said impatiently, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk nonsense with you. Either you let her go and send us away, or I¡¯ll tear this ce down, find her, and take her away. It¡¯s up to you!¡±


    In Su Jinchang¡¯s opinion, her calm tone was simply arrogant and rude.


    He had been in the business world for many years. Although he wasn¡¯t the richest man in the country, he was at least rich enough to have a noble status. In B City, he could get whatever he wanted.


    But now, the ¡°bastard¡± he had always thought of was talking to him in such an attitude. The more Su Jinchang thought about it, the angrier he became. The corners of his tightly clenched mouth couldn¡¯t help but twitch.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, how dare you!¡± Su Jinchang gritted his teeth.


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao kicked the chair away and stood up. ¡°So you¡¯ve chosen the second option?¡±


    Su Jinchang raised his head slightly and red at her fiercely.


    Things were getting intense.


    ¡°Master, Young Master Pan has arrived.¡± Su An, who had left the dining room earlier, came in again. His voice broke the stalemate between the two people.


    At the same time, heavy footsteps entered Lu Haiqiao¡¯s ears.


    Upon hearing this, Su Jinchang¡¯s gaze went past Lu Haiqiao andnded on the person following Su An.


    ¡°Long time no see, Uncle Su.¡± After greeting him, the man turned to look at Lu Haiqiao. ¡°This must be your second daughter.¡±


    As he spoke, the man extended his hand. ¡°Hello, Miss Su. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. My name is Pan Ning.¡±


    Pan Ning?


    Who was that?


    At the same time, in the mountainous area opposite the resort, a vi was brightly lit.


    This was the property that Xie Xuan bought without telling the Xie family on his eighteenth birthday. He had also paid 10 million for an internationally famous architect to design the exterior.


    Withoutpressing the field of vision, the entire vi had a simple and neat appearance ording to the steep slope terrain. Then, it used three white steel structures to support the foundation and create a light, floating effect.


    After being kicked out by his grandfather, Xie Xuan lived here.


    At this moment, he was leaning against one of the white steel pirs, holding his phone in his hand. On the screen was his mother, Chu Xinyue.


    ¡°Alright, I understand. I¡¯ll take care of myself. I understand¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Chu Xinyue interrupted, ¡°You always say that you understand. I wonder if it¡¯s true!¡±


    Xie Xuan¡¯s low and hoarse voice sounded quitezy. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. How would T dare to lie to von? You¡¯re so wise and mighty


    ¡°Little brat!¡± Chu Xinyue scolded jokingly. ¡°By the way, I saw your father a few days ago. He¡¯s been busy these few days, so¡­¡±


    Xie Xuan suddenly smiled. ¡°Is my father busy, or are you busy, Professor Chu?¡±


    Chu Xinyue wasn¡¯t just Xie Xuan¡¯s mother, but she was also an academician at University D¡¯S School of Bioengineering..

 Chapter 45 - 45: A Painting Is More Precious

    Chapter 45: A Painting Is More Precious


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Hearing this, Chu Xinyue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°You¡¯re making fun of me again!¡±


    Xie Xuan askedzily, ¡°What did you say when you saw Dad?¡±


    Chu Xinyue¡¯s smile disappeared, and her expression became extremely serious. ¡°He asked me to pass on a message to you.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡± Xie Xuan stood up straight.


    Chu Xinyue said, ¡°He hopes you can understand Grandfather¡¯s true motive for chasing you out of the Xie family at this time.¡±


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.


    His tone was still nonchnt. ¡°What else could it be? A biological grandson is not as good as a painting.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Chu Xinyue knew that he understood, which was why he could joke so casually. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re on your own now, so you have to be careful at all times, understand?¡±


    Just as Xie Xuan was about to answer, he looked up and saw Xie Er loitering in the garden.


    He was a decisive person and rarely had such a troubled expression.


    Just as Xie Er looked over, Xie Xuan raised his hand and made a e over¡± gesture.


    Seeing this, Xie Er stiffened. He had already been discovered, so he could only


    brace himself and move closer.


    ¡°Boss!¡±


    Xie Xuan put down his phone and said calmly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Xie Er swallowed his saliva and stammered, ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Xie Xuan stared at him coldly. ¡°When did you learn to lie to me?¡±


    The temperature seemed to drop.


    After a brief struggle, Xie Er took a deep breath and said, ¡°Boss, Miss Lu¡­ I think something happened..¡±


    Xie Xuan frowned.


    The dangerous feeling in the air became stronger and stronger.


    He raised his phone again and hurriedly said, ¡°Mom, I have something to do.


    Talk to youter.¡± Then, he ended the video call.


    On the other end of the phone, Chu Xinyue clearly heard the words ¡°Miss Lu¡±.


    At the same time, she could feel the unprecedented nervousness in her son¡¯s


    tone.


    Miss Lu?


    Who was Miss Lu?


    Chu Xinyue frowned and pondered. A momentter, her eyes lit up.


    Did her son have a girlfriend?


    It waste at night.


    The bright moon was reflected in the swimming pool in the vi. The water rippled and shattered into light and shadow.


    Xie Xuan stood by the pool with one hand behind his back. The cold aura


    emitted from his body made Xie Er, who had followed him for many years, swallow.


    ¡°What the hell is going on?¡±


    Xie Er quickly exined, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s like this. In the evening, when I was cleaning the memory card of the dashcam, I identally discovered an image of Miss Lu¡­¡±


    As he spoke, he took out his phone and clicked on a video clip.


    The ck Volkswagen stopped in front of Lu Haiqiao. After a few seconds of stalemate with the three men in ck, she got into the back seat.


    Although the camera didn¡¯t capture her face, he could tell how unwilling she was from her slow movements.


    Just as the videoclip was about to reach the end, Xie Xuan seemed to have thought of something and took out his phone.


    He remembered seeing Lu Haiqiao¡¯s post on WeChat Moments before the video call with his mother. Even though it was just a game sharing, he still¡±liked¡± it.


    As expected, there was a location disy under that WeChat Moments.


    Nansha Bay International Resort.


    Xie Xuan put away his phone and walked towards the entrance of the vi. At the same time, he instructed, ¡°Get Xie Da to drive the car to the entrance and wait for me there.¡±


    Xie Er immediately replied, ¡°Yes, Boss!¡±

 Chapter 46 - 46: You Flatter Me

    Chapter 46: You tter Me


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Er stood at the entrance of the vi and watched as Xie Da drove Xie Xuan away.


    At this moment, a cold voice came from behind. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re too nosy.¡±


    Xie Er turned around and saw Xie San¡¯s tall figure.


    Although his name was ¡°three¡±, he was actually the oldest and most capable among the three of them. He had also worked for Xie Xuan for the longest time.


    ¡°I know you have a problem with Miss Lu.¡± Xie Er nced at Xie San, then turned his head and looked in the direction where the car had left. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s not good enough for our boss?¡±


    Xie San pursed his lips. After a while, he slowly said, ¡°Of course, she¡¯s not good enough, but it¡¯s not my ce to ask about Mr. Xie¡¯s private matters, so I can¡¯t say that I have any objections.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Er lowered his eyes.


    Actually, before today, he had the same thoughts as Xie San.


    Until the moment he saw the video clip¡­


    He suddenly recalled the young woman dressed in ck who stood in front of him in the casino in Country F four years ago.


    At that time, Xie Er¡¯s face was covered in blood, and he was panting as he sat on the ground. It was difficult for him to even raise his head.


    However, he still supported himself with his arm and raised his head with all his strength.


    The woman had her back to him. She was slender and had long hair that reached her shoulders. Her right hand was in her pocket, and her left hand was nimbly ying with a dart. Her voice was crisp and ethereal.


    ¡°I can hit a bull¡¯s-eye with one dart, just like I can blind you with one. Today, it¡¯s him or your eye. There¡¯s no third choice.¡±


    The reason why Xie Er had such an impression of her wasn¡¯t only because she had saved her life, but also because her tone and behavior were as arrogant as his boss.


    ¡°Third Master Xie, perhaps¡­¡± Xie Er paused.


    Xie San didn¡¯t hear him clearly. ¡°What?¡±


    After a few seconds of silence, Xie Er shook his head. ¡°No, nothing.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t sure. After all, he hadn¡¯t seen her face. His intuition alone couldn¡¯t count.


    Nansha Bay International Resort, Garden View Restaurant.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at Pan Ning¡¯s hand and looked away.


    Seeing that she had no intention of greeting him, Pan Ning¡¯s hand froze in midair, his face full of embarrassment.


    At this moment, Su An quickly came out to smooth things over. ¡°Miss Haiqiao, this is the eldest son of the Pan family in City D, Young Master Pan Ning. Young Master Pan, this is Miss Haiqiao, Mr. Su¡¯s second daughter¡­¡±


    He called her ¡°Miss Lu¡± a moment ago, but in just a short while, she had be the second daughter?


    As the way he addressed her changed, Lu Haiqiao could vaguely guess the purpose of Su Jinchang¡¯s meeting tonight.


    Hence, she interrupted him without showing any courtesy. ¡°Let me correct you.


    My surname is Lu, not Su.¡±


    Hearing this, confusion shed in Pan Ning¡¯s eyes.


    Wasn¡¯t she the second daughter of the Su family?


    Why was her surname Lu?


    Su An reacted quickly. He exined calmly, ¡°Miss Haiqiao uses her mother¡¯s surname, but she¡¯s still Mr. Su¡¯s daughter. Mr. Su dotes on her just the same.¡±


    Pan Ning understood. ¡°I see. So it¡¯s Miss Lu. Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, you just told me that you¡¯ve heard a lot about me?¡± Lu Haiqiao sneered. ¡°You don¡¯t even know my surname. I can¡¯t ept such an honor.¡±


    As soon as she said this, the warm atmosphere that had been created by Su An turned cold again.


    From the looks of it, she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave anytime soon.


    Lu Haiqiao thought for a moment and pulled out a chair to sit down..

 Chapter 47 - 47: Liked

    Chapter 47: Liked


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao crossed her arms and legs. She didn¡¯t want to pay attention to the people around her, so she turned to the other to admire the hotel garden.


    At this moment, Su Jinchang suddenly stood up.


    He frowned and looked at Lu Haiqiao. ¡°The Pan family is a prestigious family in D City. Pan Ning¡¯s father has been my good friend for many years, so Haiqiao, entertains him. Don¡¯t embarrass me, do you hear me?¡± Su Jinchang deliberately emphasized thest sentence.


    It was filled with a warning.


    At this moment, Su An stepped forward. ¡°Master, why don¡¯t you let Miss¡­¡± At this point, he paused and stole a nce at Lu Haiqiao.


    She was no longer looking at the garden and had taken out her phone. She unlocked it and swiped her thumb on the screen.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we let Miss Lu and Young Master Pan have a private chat? Young people have a lot of topics to talk about. They¡¯ll get familiar with each other as they chat,¡± Su An quickly came back to his senses and suggested.


    Su Jinchang nodded.


    Actually, even if Su An hadn¡¯t said that, he would have left.


    Lu Haiqiao still lowered her head expressionlessly, as if everything that happened around her had nothing to do with her.


    She first sent a message to Su Qingya and then clicked on WeChat.


    Seeing a red circle with the word ¡°1¡± on it, Lu Haiqiao clicked on it out of obsessivepulsive instinct.


    Xie Xuan liked her game-sharing post.


    Such posts were as boring as advertisements. Most people wouldn¡¯t care.


    However, he noticed..


    After staring at the name ¡°Mystery¡± for a while, a faint smile appeared on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s exquisite face.


    If it weren¡¯t for the interruption from the man named Pan Ning, perhaps she would have been happy for the entire night because of this ¡®like¡¯.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point.¡± Lu Haiqiao looked up.


    Her expression was as cold as before.


    Pan Ning said, ¡°When are we getting married? Set a date. I can do it anytime.¡±


    After a while, seeing that Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t react, he continued, ¡°If it¡¯s the same with you, then let my parents make the decision.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao said lightly, ¡°I didn¡¯t say I would marry you.¡±


    Pan Ning suddenly chuckled and leaned back in his chair. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Lu Haiqiao¡¯s beautiful and exquisite face. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a pity. What a pity. This face really matches the words ¡®rich youngdy¡¯. However, reality is still a little far from imagination. Don¡¯t you think so? The daughter of an ex-wife?¡±


    He especially emphasized the word ¡°ex-wife¡± as if it was such a shameful identity.


    So, he looked her up.


    Then, was the doubt he showed in front of Su Jinchang just now all an act?


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m very satisfied with you. You¡¯re pretty and have a nice body, so even if you¡¯re an ex-wife¡¯s daughter, I can ept it. After all, Uncle Su is one of us. In addition to that piece ofnd¡­


    ¡°So, I¡¯ll take you in¡­


    Lu Haiqiao looked at her phone again and ignored everything Pan Ning said.


    The message he sent to Su Qingya was like a stone sinking into the sea. There was no response at all.


    After some thought, she entered WeChat and found a video from one of the dialog boxes. She clicked on it and dragged the progress bar. Then, she paused and took a screenshot.


    After sending the picture to Su Qingya, Lu Haiqiao slowly turned off the screen and looked up at Pan Ning. ¡°You¡¯re very noisy..¡±

 Chapter 48 - 48: Hard to Get

    Chapter 48: Hard to Get


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Perhaps her voice was a little low, Pan Ning was immersed in his own world and didn¡¯t notice. He was still nagging.


    ¡°Anyway, after we get married, I won¡¯t mistreat you. You just stay at home and be a full-time housewife. Each month, I¡¯ll give you the¡­


    ¡°No, 20,000. Let¡¯s start with 20,000. If you¡¯re good enough, we can increase your allowance¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s fine to socialize with those richdies, but don¡¯t always go out. Report to me before you go out. Don¡¯t leave until I say yes¡­


    ¡°We don¡¯t need too many children. Three will do. Two sons and a daughter. ¡°But what if I have three sons? I don¡¯t mind. I can afford to raise them anyway¡­¡±


    Sighing, Lu Haiqiao muttered, ¡°Why should I waste my time here listening to a lunatic talk nonsense?¡±


    Her voice wasn¡¯t loud, but she was close enough that Pan Ning could hear her clearly.


    Although the Pan family didn¡¯t have many businesses in B City, everyone in D City knew about them.


    As the only son, Pan Ning had grown up surrounded by an indulgent environment. Among his peers, no one had ever dared to speak loudly to him, let alone look down on him.


    And now, he was actually described as a lunatic by an ¡°ex-wife¡¯s daughter¡±. Not only did Pan Ning despise her, but a strong sense of anger also rose in his chest.


    He red at Lu Haiqiao with daggers in his eyes. ¡°Do you know who I am? How dare you speak to me like that?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, there was a slight vibration.


    Lu Haiqiao took out his phone and saw that Su Qingya had replied to his message.


    ¡°Where are you now? Let¡¯s talk face-to-face!¡±


    The fact that she had used three exmation marks meant that she was really anxious.


    Perfect.


    She replied unhurriedly, ¡°You¡¯re asking the obvious. I¡¯ll give you five minutes toe to me.¡±


    Putting away his phone, Lu Haiqiaozily raised his eyelids and nced at the gloomy Pan Ning. ¡°Hey, are you done talking nonsense? If you¡¯re done, you can leave.¡±


    Her tone was arrogant and domineering.


    This woman!


    Pan Ning¡¯s right hand was tightly clenched into a fist. The veins on the back of his hand showed that he was extremely angry.


    However, he wasn¡¯t an impulsive person. After taking a few deep breaths, he gradually calmed down.


    She was the daughter of Su Jinchang¡¯s ex-wife. It was said that her life hadn¡¯t been very easy in the past few years. Now that she had met a man like him who was handsome and rich, she naturally tried her best to get close to him.


    He had to admit that this woman was quite smart.


    Obedience would seem boring, so she used the opposite way. On the surface, they pretended not to care, but in fact, every word was filled with schemes.


    She wanted him to remember her.


    Yes!


    That must be it!


    Staring at Lu Haiqiao¡¯s stunning face, Pan Ning was more and more convinced of his conclusion. With a slight nod, he smiled. It was a blindly confident smile.


    ¡°If this is your way to attract my attention, then let me tell you, you¡¯ve seeded.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was dumbfounded.


    What was that?


    A means of attracting his attention?


    How could this man be so stupid?


    ¡°I agree to this marriage. When I get back, I¡¯ll tell my parents to hold the wedding as soon as possible. As for thend your father wants, our family will give the most reasonable price for our marriage¡­¡± Before Pan Ning could finish speaking, the sound of a chair being dragged made him pause..

 Chapter 49 - 49: Afraid of Blood

    Chapter 49: Afraid of Blood


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao stood up impatiently.


    She couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk nonsense with a lunatic.


    Seeing that she was about to turn around and leave, Pan Ning stood up as well. He hurriedly reached out and tried to grab her wrist.


    Lu Haiqiao seemed to be prepared. She raised her arm slightly and avoided his touch.


    Damn it!


    She didn¡¯t want to stay here anymore.


    She thought for a moment, took out her phone, and sent a message to Su


    Qingya. ¡°Change of n. Wait for my instruction.¡±


    In any case, the thing was in her hands. It didn¡¯t matter when she solved the problem.


    Su Qingya replied instantly, ¡°Lu Haiqiao, are you kidding me?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao typed unhurriedly, ¡°So what if I am?¡±


    As soon as she pressed send, a WeChat message popped up at the top of the screen.


    Mystery asked, ¡°Are you done?¡±


    Was she done?


    Sort of, but¡­


    Just as she typed ¡°Almost¡±, Pan Ning caught up with her.


    Just as his palm was about to touch Lu Haiqiao¡¯s shoulder, he said, ¡°Stop right there. You¡¯re not allowed to leave!¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao dodged to the side. Pan Ning missed his target. The momentum made him lose his bnce and stagger a few steps forward.


    He didn¡¯t give up. After steadying himself, he turned around and pounced at Lu Haiqiao.


    He had to take this woman down today!


    Unexpectedly, Pan Ning only managed to make another few steps. Before he could get close, Lu Haiqiao raised her leg and kicked his abdomen.


    After all, he was a delicate and spoiled young man. After being kicked so hard, Pan Ning instinctively covered his abdomen and retreated in pain.


    A man like him couldn¡¯t even withstand two strikes from Lu Haiqiao.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes shed with disdain.


    ¡°Useless!¡±


    After saying this, she unhurriedly sent out the WeChat message that she hadn¡¯t had the time to send.


    A secondter, Xie Xuan¡¯s WeChat voice message came.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s cold expression softened a little. She took a deep breath when she answered the call and softened her tone. ¡°Hello?¡±


    Since she could still send WeChat messages and pick up calls, it meant that she was safe for the time being.


    ¡°I can¡¯t make an appointment for dinner. I wonder if you can give me a chance for ate-night snack?¡± He had to see her unscathed with his own eyes to bepletely at ease.


    Lu Haiqiao held her phone to her ear and walked around Pan Ning to the entrance of the restaurant.


    ¡°Late-night snack¡­¡± She moved her phone away and nced at the time. She thought that the other party probably couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore, so she asked, ¡°If we have supper together tonight, will you treat me to dinner tomorrow?¡±


    Xie Xuan chuckled. ¡°Of course. We agreed on tomorrow at the beginning.¡±


    In other words, they could see each other tonight and tomorrow.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be at¡­¡±


    Before she could tell him the location, Pan Ning, who had recovered, scolded her without caring about his image, ¡°You motherf*cker, Lu Haiqiao, let me tell you, I¡­ Ah..


    Suddenly, a cold light shed. A few secondster, there was a ng, and a steak knife fell to the ground.


    His mind went nk for a moment. When Pan Ning realized what had happened, he felt a dull pain on his left cheek, together with a strange sticky feeling.


    He subconsciously raised his hand to touch it. When he saw the blood-stained fingertips, his eyes widened in shock. ¡°Ah! Blood, it¡¯s blood! I¡­ I¡¯m bleeding!


    Help, I¡¯m bleeding!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    If blood scared him, he was no fighter..

 Chapter 50 - 50: So Uncouth

    Chapter 50: So Uncouth


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    On the other end of the phone, Xie Xuan heard the scream. His heart, which had just calmed down a little, was in his throat again.


    ¡°Who¡¯s bleeding? Are you bleeding?¡± His voice was slightly hoarse, and he spoke quickly with a hint of nervousness.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled a little and couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at the wailing Pan Ning anymore. She walked toward the dining room door.


    ¡°Someone is bleeding, but it¡¯s not me,¡± the maker of the ¡°bloodbath¡± answered honestly.


    ¡°Were you bullied?¡± Xie Xuan found her gentle and lovely. Even if she wasn¡¯t injured, she must have been shocked to see someone bleeding.


    ¡°No¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao touched the bridge of her nose in resignation.


    The person who had the ability to bully her hadn¡¯t been born yet.


    By then, Lu Haiqiao had already walked out of the restaurant.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re not bullied.¡± Xie Xuan said, ¡°See youter.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded.


    After hanging up, she realized that she hadn¡¯t even said where they were going to meet. Where would they meetter?


    Was heing to Nansha Bay Resort to pick her up?


    Lu Haiqiao blinked. In that case, then¡­


    Halfway through her thoughts, a sharp woman¡¯s voice resonated in the quiet corridor. ¡°Lu Haiqiao,e out, you little brat!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    It seemed that the problem had been taken care of over there.


    She looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman slowly walking along the gorgeous carpeted corridor. She was wearing a dark red peony dress. As she walked, she was wiping something on her face with a wet tissue.


    Lu Haiqiao sized up the woman. After a moment, she said with slight dissatisfaction, ¡°You knew that there would be a fight tonight, but you still went out in a dress. What are you doing? Do you want to have a wardrobe malfunction?¡±


    When they were close enough, she saw the wet tissue in the woman¡¯s hand was covered in thick makeup.


    ¡°They were all useless. I took care of them in a few moves. How could I let that happen?¡±


    As she spoke, the woman raised her hand and pulled off the hair clip on her head. Her thick and smooth long hair cascaded down, revealing a delicate and beautiful face.


    ¡°This is the only dress in the entire clothing store that¡¯s appropriate for the middle-aged and elderly. Moreover, you were the one who said that I had to be more conspicuous. It¡¯s red. It¡¯s conspicuous enough!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao sighed helplessly. ¡°That¡¯s true, but Yan, my mother doesn¡¯t usually dress like this.¡±


    Dark red, big peony flower¡­


    How uncouth.


    Lu Yange, whose taste had been questioned, was stubborn. ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to dress like this, but elderly¡¯s dresses are all like this. Moreover, if she dresses too fashionably, your idiot father won¡¯t fall for it.¡±


    Ever since he overheard the phone call in the cafe, Lu Haiqiao knew that she would be involved in quite some trouble recently.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Su Jinchang, Su Qingya, who only cared about eating, drinking, and having fun, wouldn¡¯t have harassed her over the phone and threatened her with text messages every other day.


    Therefore, she yed along. First, she asked Lu Yunge to hire the pianist Zhao Jiayu for the entire month. Then, she arranged for a piano concert at thest minute to lure Lu Wanxin out. Then, she let Lu Yange, who was good at makeup, disguise herself as Lu Wanxin and wait at home.


    The aunt and niece, who were rted by blood, resembled each other. With her excellent makeup skills, it was easy for Lu Yange to fool Su Jinchang, who had not seen Lu Wanxin for 20 years.


    On the other hand, Lu Wanxin¡¯s little cry during the phone call was just a slip of her foot when she was going down the stairs.


    After all this, Lu Haiqiao finally discovered Su Jinchang¡¯s goal..

 Chapter 51 - 51: You ‘re the Fool

    Chapter 51: You ¡®re the Fool


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Because of a piece ofnd, he plotted against her.


    After figuring out the whole situation, Lu Haiqiao nced in the direction where Lu Yange had just walked over.


    At this moment, her eyes were filled with hostility. ¡°Where is he?¡±


    Lu Yange understood that Lu Haiqiao was referring to her heartless father, Su Jinchang.


    She brushed her long hair off her shoulder. ¡°I went to the room where I was locked up, but I didn¡¯t see anyone after that. I guess they left.¡±


    As she spoke, Lu Yange gently nudged Lu Haiqiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey, baby, I just walked around this resort. Other than a few waiters, I didn¡¯t see any other customers. I think your idiotic father booked this ce. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I couldn¡¯t tell that he was quite willing to spend money.


    ¡°He even believed that Pan Ning could handle you and didn¡¯t leave many waiters behind. Clearly, it¡¯s convenient for Pan Ning to do whatever he wants.¡± Lu Haiqiao narrowed her eyes. ¡°If he wants to please the Pan family, he has to spend some money.¡±


    Su Jinchang had never done business at a loss, so it was easy to guess that the piece ofnd Pan Ning was talking about was very important to him.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll start with your beloved one.¡±


    At this moment, Pan Ning¡¯s wails came from the restaurant not far away. ¡°Ah! Someone, call an ambnce! Send me to the hospital. I¡¯m bleeding. I¡¯m going to die. Where¡¯s the ambnce? Where is everyone? Are you all dead?!¡± As a surgeon, Lu Yange instinctively took a step forward when she heard this.


    Lu Haiqiao quickly grabbed her arm.


    Lu Yange turned her head, puzzled. ¡°Someone¡¯s shouting that they¡¯re going to die!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao shook her head. ¡°Do you believe that someone who can shout so loudly is about to die?¡±


    The roars continued.


    ¡°F*ck, are all of you f*cking deaf? Can¡¯t you hear my voice?!


    ¡°When I return to D City, I¡¯ll fire all of you! I¡¯ll make all of you starve!¡±


    Lu Yange was speechless.


    It was better not to waste medical resources.


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s phone vibrated.


    Lu Yange was about to say something, but when she heard it, she shut her mouth and turned to look at Lu Haiqiao.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she inadvertently nced at Lu Haiqiao¡¯s phone screen.


    The vibration just now came from the chat box marked ¡°Mystery¡±.


    Mystery, the mysterious man.


    Who was this guy? Why did he have such a unique ID?


    Lu Yange looked down curiously. With her good eyesight, she nced at the row of chat boxes on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s WeChat interface.


    Mystery was the only one at the top. The following boxes were sorted by time of conversation.


    Silly Yun, Dumbo Yan, Dork Xue¡­


    Yun, Xue, and Yan?


    Weren¡¯t they the names of her and her two siblings?


    So, that silly Yan was referring to her, Lu Yange?


    Damn it!


    What was that supposed to mean?!


    ¡°You brat, exin to me why you¡­


    Lu Haiqiao had just sent Xie Xuan a WeChat message. ¡°I¡¯ll be there right away. Wait for me.¡± She was in a good mood. When she looked up at Lu Yange, her watery eyes rippled with the gentleness of spring. At the same time, she hummed in a nasal tone.


    Lu Yange was speechless.


    The little brat¡¯s harmless appearance made people unwilling to lose their temper at her no matter how angry they were.


    Lu Haiqiao stuffed her phone back into her pocket and blinked at Lu Yange.. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ah Yan?¡±

 Chapter 52 - 52: How Bold

    Chapter 52: How Bold


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Yange, whose displeasure had mostly dissipated, pouted. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­


    So be it. People who were always so smart lost more brain cells, so the probability of getting Alzheimer¡¯s was higher.


    A ck Audi S8 was stopped at the entrance of Nansha Bay International Resort.


    The waiter guarding the resort said respectfully, ¡°Hello, Sir. The resort has been booked for tonight, so we won¡¯t receive other guests. You see¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, the car window slowly rolled down, and Xie Da¡¯s hawk-like eyes met the waiter¡¯s gaze.


    He took something out of his pocket and held it in his palm. Under the light at the entrance of the resort, the waiter saw that it was a card that looked like metal.


    Xie Da¡¯s fingers skillfully blocked the center of the card, revealing only the logo in the upper right corner.


    Double X.


    The waiter held his breath and hurriedly stepped aside. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. It was my fault. Sir, pleasee in!¡±


    Staring at the Audi S8 slowly driving in, the waiter patted his chest as if he had been reborn after a disaster.


    Through his palm, he could feel his heart pounding.


    It was said that the owner of the Double X logo was a member of the Xie family, the Xie family that could change the direction of next year¡¯s economic development with a word¡­


    At the thought of this, the waiter felt his legs go weak.


    How dare anyone stop the Xie family¡¯s car? He didn¡¯t have a death wish.


    After listening to Xie Da¡¯s investigation, Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows.


    No wonder he felt that his little marshmallow¡¯s behavior was unlike that of an ordinary person. It turned out that she was Su Jinchang¡¯s daughter.


    She was the daughter of a wealthy family.


    ¡°Boss, there are also people from the Pan Family here tonight,¡± Xie Da added.


    Xie Xuan thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t think of who it was. ¡°The Pan family? Which Pan family?¡±


    Xie Da replied, ¡°The Pan Family in D City. They¡¯re in real estate.¡±


    Through the rearview mirror, he noticed that Xie Xuan was still dumbfounded, so he added, ¡°Their office building isn¡¯t even half as tall as your art center.¡±


    Xie Xuan still didn¡¯t know who that was.


    However, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he didn¡¯t know about such a small family.


    Xie Xuan frowned slightly. ¡°Since he¡¯s in City D, why did hee to City B?¡± He was bold enough to cross the city and cause trouble.


    Xie Da¡¯s lips moved. Just as he was about to answer, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s slender figure entered his sight through the clear front car window.


    Xie San¡¯s worries weren¡¯t unreasonable. Toward an unknown person, even a harmless-looking girl, one had to be extremely vignt.


    But Boss¡­


    He turned around and nced at Xie Xuan, who was sitting in the backseat. In the end, Xie Da didn¡¯t say anything.


    Forget it, he would wait and see.


    Lu Yange said that it was rare for her toe here, and her father had booked the entire resort, so she wanted to stroll around the resort as much as she could. Hence, Lu Haiqiao could only leave alone.


    When she stepped out of the door and saw the ck S8, she was perplexed.


    ¡°My financial situation isn¡¯t as bad as you think.¡±


    She remembered that Xie Xuan had once said this.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled faintly. It seemed calling him ¡°Mystery¡± was appropriate.


    Xie Da had already gotten out of the car and was waiting for her when she approached. ¡°Miss Lu.¡±


    He had doubts in his heart, but when meeting her, he still had to be polite.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded and smiled at him. ¡°Hello.¡±


    Xie Da went to the back seat and opened the car door for her respectfully to prevent her from hitting her head. He even carefully ced his hand on the roof of the car.


    As soon as she sat down, she noticed a faint grapefruit fragrance.


    It was a fragrance that she liked very much..

 Chapter 53 - 53: You ‘re Not Lying to Me, Right?

    Chapter 53: You ¡®re Not Lying to Me, Right?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Tonight, Xie Xuan was wearing a ck shirt and jeans. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his lean and muscr forearms.


    Lu Haiqiao greeted him. ¡°Good evening. We¡¯ll go¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Xie Xuan suddenly sighed and said in a deep voice, ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was momentarily stunned.


    What¡­ was he trying to do?


    Although she was dumbfounded, she still handed him her left hand.


    Her palm was facing up.


    However, Xie Xuan added, ¡°Both hands.¡±


    Hearing that, she obediently stuck out her right hand as well.


    She looked like a kid who had been caught red-handed by her parents.


    Xie Xuan lowered his gaze and studied her palm.


    The girl had fine skin, clear palm lines, and ten long, slender fingers.


    After watching for about half a minute, Xie Xuan said, ¡°Turn it over.¡±


    Turn¡­ turn it over?


    Was he frying a fish or something?


    Lu Haiqiao puffed up her cheeks. Then, she heard the man¡¯s almost coaxing tone. ¡°Be good. Turn over your hand for me to see.¡±


    When Xie Da, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, heard this, he shivered.


    Boss was coaxing a woman.


    How stingy.


    Lu Haiqiao wanted to ask him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± However, just as she was about to ask, Xie Xuan raised his eyes and met her gaze.


    His eyes were long and slender, and the tips of his eyes were sharp. His naturally curled eyshes were thick and long. Coupled with the dim light in the car, it created a unique hazy feeling. For a moment, Lu Haiqiao felt bewitched.


    It was as if she had lost her mind.


    Seeing this, Xie Xuan thought that she was frightened, so he sighed softly and reached out to flip her palms.


    His fingertips were slightly cold as he gently touched her warm palms.


    After a careful examination, Xie Xuan let go. ¡°Fortunately, your hands aren¡¯t injured.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao blinked. With a thumping heart, she barely regained her rationality.


    So he was checking if she was injured?


    Just as this thought shed through her mind, Xie Xuan¡¯s next sentence confirmed her thoughts.


    ¡°If your hands aren¡¯t injured, what about elsewhere? Do you have any other injuries? If it hurts anywhere, tell me. Don¡¯t hold it in.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and shook her head vigorously.


    ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s heart itched when she heard the question.


    She sat up straight and ced her hands on her knees. Her tone was soft. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. I¡¯m really not injured.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan looked sideways at Lu Haiqiao.


    She wore her hair in a loose top bun and was wearing an ordinary short-sleeved T-shirt. The specially designed hem was tied into a beautiful knot, and her legs, wrapped in slim jeans, were well-proportioned and slender.


    She looked so nice.


    She was apletely different person from the other day when she was wearing a champagne-colored dress.


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Xie Xuan rxed his brows and leaned back in his chair leisurely. ¡°I believe you.¡±


    Then, he asked, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao tilted her head and thought for a while. ¡°Vegetables and porridge?¡± That¡¯s it?


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows and teased, ¡°Are you trying to save money for


    For some people, even if other people didn¡¯t know his identity and background, they could still feel an unattainable noble aura from their every move.


    Xie Xuan was like this, and so was Lu Haiqiao.


    She shook her head. ¡°No. It¡¯s just toote. Greasy food will make me gain weight..¡±

 Chapter 54 - 54: Dine With Me Tomorrow?

    Chapter 54: Dine With Me Tomorrow?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The next day was a work day. In order to go home early and rest, Lu Haiqiao chose a clean and warm shop by the street and ordered two bowls of vegetable soup noodles.


    It was almost midnight when they finished eating.


    They were the only customers left in the shop. After paying the bill, the two of them walked out side by side.


    At this moment, thin raindrops fell from the sky.


    When Xie Da, who was waiting by the car, saw this, he immediately went to the back of the car and took out two umbres.


    Xie Xuan took the umbre from Xie Da¡¯s hand. The wide umbre covered Lu Haiqiao¡¯s head to block the wetness of the rain.


    ¡°What time do you get off work tomorrow? I¡¯ll pick you up.¡±


    ¡°Normally, it¡¯s five o¡¯clock. If I don¡¯t have to work overtime¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao said as she looked across the road. When she noticed a figure sh past the four-story balcony of one of the residential buildings, she frowned slightly.


    Something didn¡¯t seem right.


    When she looked over again, the balcony, which had been lit, had darkened.


    It was pitch-ck as if it had fused with the night.


    Was she overthinking?


    Just as this thought shed through her mind, Lu Haiqiao felt a cool touch on her wrist. Before she could react, Xie Xuan pulled her into his arms. Then, the sound of ss shattering shook her eardrums.


    The ss door of the small shop behind them was pierced by an arrow, and fragments fell into the shop. The owner was so frightened that his eyes widened and he dropped to the ground in a daze.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Xie Da hurried forward. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Xie Xuan looked down at the woman in his arms. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao slowly shook her head. Her face was so calm that no fear could be seen.


    Xie Da nced at the arrow that had pierced into the floor of the shop. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s¡­¡¯


    Before he could finish, Lu Haiqiao suddenly interrupted, ¡°It¡¯s a crossbow.¡± Hearing this, Xie Xuan was shocked.


    He watched as Lu Haiqiao walked into the shop and helped the boss sit down on a chair. She firstforted him and saw that the shop owner had regained his senses. Then, he squatted down and observed the broken ss and the arrow.


    Just as she was deep in thought, Xie Da stepped forward and whispered, ¡°Boss, they¡¯re back¡­¡¯


    Xie Xuan raised his hand and made a gesture to stop him.


    After a while, Lu Haiqiao got up and walked out of the noodle shop.


    Arriving in front of Xie Xuan, she looked at the residential building opposite and chuckled. ¡°I estimate that the arrow is about 50 to 60 centimeters long. After shattering the ss, the arrowhead pierced into the ground by about 10 centimeters. If it¡¯s a bow, not only will it be difficult to operate with such a short arrow, but even if it¡¯s barely shot out, it won¡¯t be so powerful, so it can only be a crossbow.


    ¡°Judging by the angle¡­¡± At this point, Lu Haiqiao paused. A few secondster, she looked up at Xie Xuan with certainty in her eyes. ¡°The target should be you, but I don¡¯t think they wanted to kill you. It was more like a warning.


    ¡°Did you¡­ offend someone?¡±


    From the moment Lu Haiqiao started analyzing, Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze never left her.


    Gradually, his expression changed from surprise to pleasure, and then from pleasure to approval.


    ¡°Probably.¡± Xie Xuan shrugged nonchntly. ¡°After all, I¡¯m not a good person. It¡¯s not strange for bows and arrows to target me.¡±


    The rain gradually stopped.


    Xie Xuan slowly put away his umbre and asked in a seemingly casual but serious manner, ¡°Do you still dare to dine with me tomorrow?¡±


    Her actions tonight surprised him, but it didn¡¯t mean that she wasn¡¯t afraid..

 Chapter 55 - 55: If She Said So

    Chapter 55: If She Said So


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    As long as she said she was afraid, he wouldn¡¯t force her.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Haiqiao puffed up her cheeks. ¡°You want to go back on your word?¡±


    ¡°Are you really not afraid?¡± Xie Xuan frowned slightly.


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and pointed at her face which was slightly wet from the rain. ¡°I¡¯m scared. Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m so scared that I¡¯m crying?¡± Xie Da was speechless.


    He thought, ¡°Miss Lu, isn¡¯t your ¡°afraid¡± a little too perfunctory?¡±


    Xie Xuan stared at her extremely serious eyes as she spoke. Two to three secondster, he rxed his brows and smiled.


    That lightughter was clear and hearty, like a clear spring flowing through the mountain, bringing afortable coolness to the skin.


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    ¡°Why are youughing? You¡¯re seducing me!¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Xie Xuan took a step forward and brushed away the moisture on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s cheeks. Then, he patted her gently on the back of her head. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Before getting into the car, Lu Haiqiao noticed that Xie Xuan deliberately paused.


    He turned his head and whispered a few words into Da Xie¡¯s ear.


    Xie Da nodded and went back into the noodle shop.


    Through the clear car window, Lu Haiqiao saw Xie Da say a few words to the shop owner. Then, he took out his phone and scanned the payment QR code on the wall.


    As the car door closed with a bang, Xie Xuan¡¯s voice followed. ¡°It¡¯s just a small business. There¡¯s no reason for them to lose money because of this.¡± Lu Haiqiao understood. ¡°So you¡­


    Did he instruct Xie Da topensate the shop owner for the ss door?


    At this moment, Xie Xuan slowly lowered the car window. A gust of wind blew past, lifting the hair on his forehead.


    In the car, a light grapefruit fragrance surged, bringing with it a charming intoxication.


    Lu Haiqiao turned her head and naturally stared at Xie Xuan¡¯s side profile.


    His attention seemed to be focused on the residential building opposite the noodle shop.


    In that case, he also¡­


    At the thought of this, Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips.


    A subtle feeling rose from the bottom of her heart. It was an excitement that couldn¡¯t be described with words.


    ¡°Xie Xuan, you¡­


    She wanted to ask who exactly he was.


    Before she could finish speaking, the door of the driver¡¯s seat in the front row suddenly opened.


    Xie Da bent down and entered the car. He turned around and reported, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s all settled.¡±


    Xie Xuan nced at him and then looked at Lu Haiqiao. ¡°What did you want to say just now?¡±


    She looked at him with clear eyes. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Come to think about it, it didn¡¯t seem to matter who he was.


    At one o¡¯clock in the morning, the car stopped outside Lu Hail s house.


    Xie Xuan followed her out of the car. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you up.¡±


    Although her ce was just upstairs, it wasn¡¯t safe for a girl to take the stairs in the middle of the night, especially on the narrow steps of an old residential building.


    Lu Haiqiao looked at him from the other side of the car. ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯ll go up myself. Go home and have some rest.¡¯


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t force her, but he asked again, ¡°Which floor?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao understood what he meant, so she smiled. ¡°Fourth floor.¡±


    After saying goodnight to each other, she turned around and walked into the building.


    At this time, Lu Wanxin, who hade back from the concert, had already taken a shower and gone to bed.


    Lu Haiqiao carefully unlocked the door and entered. After returning to the bedroom in the dark, she turned on the light.


    The moment her phone was thrown onto the bed, it suddenly vibrated.


    Xie Xuan sent a message. ¡°You¡¯re home safely?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao sat cross-legged on the bed, and there seemed to be a glint in her eyes. ¡°The room on the fourth floor that just lit up is my bedroom..¡±

 Chapter 56 - 56: You’re Right

    Chapter 56: You¡¯re Right


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Seeing the words ¡°Typing¡± on the top of the screen, Lu Haiqiao couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Mystery said, ¡°Go to bed. Good night.¡±


    He ended the conversation there.


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t reply.


    Staring at thest line of text, the smile on her face disappeared, and a faintyer of worry appeared on her delicate face.


    He had probably gone to deal with the arrow.


    After all, it was better to resolve this matter sooner rather thanter.


    Thinking back, Xie Xuan seemed to have sensed that something was wrong before her. After protecting her, he immediately looked at the building on the other side of the road.


    ¡°So, he knew who did it?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao sat on the bed with her phone in her hand and frowned in thought. At this moment, the continuous vibration of the phone pulled her back to reality.


    It was a WeChat voice message from Lu Yunge.


    ¡°Hello, Old Lu. Why are you looking for me sote at night?¡±


    Lu Yunge asked, ¡°Where are you now?¡±


    His voice was very steady, and he sounded quite calm.


    Lu Haiqiao got up and walked to the closet. She opened the door and took out her pajamas. ¡°I¡¯m at home, of course. Where else can I be?¡±


    ¡°Where did you go before you got home?¡± Lu Yunge pressed.


    Lu Haiqiao was silent for a few seconds. She avoided the main point and said, ¡°I¡­ I just walked around.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me.¡± Lu Yunge suddenly raised his voice. ¡°Where did you go in the middle of the night? Tell me honestly, who were you with?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao remained silent.


    Lu Yunge guessed it. ¡°With that Xie guy again?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Haiqiao quickly corrected her. ¡°His name is Xie Xuan. Be nice!¡±


    Lu Yunge was unconvinced. ¡°Then he¡¯s Xie. I was right!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    ¡°Alright, alright. You have a loud voice. Everything you say is right!¡±


    The two sides were in a stalemate for a few seconds. In the end, Lu Yunge was the first to break the silence.


    ¡°Haiqiao, I don¡¯t object to you making friends, but I advise you not to get too close to a person of unknown origin. What if¡­¡± As he spoke, he sighed deeply.¡± Forget it, if I say too much, you¡¯ll find me long-winded.¡±


    With her pajamas on her arm, Lu Haiqiao was leaningzily against the wall.


    ¡°If you know that I find you long-winded, why do you keep nagging?¡±


    ¡°By the way, there¡¯s something else I need to tell you.¡± Lu Yunge finally got to the point. Lu Haiqiao nodded and stood up straight.


    ¡°Yinyin will be undergoing herst surgery next week. After it¡¯s over, I n to send her back to B City to recuperate.


    ¡°It just so happens that Shuyan is graduating next month. I¡¯ll make time for them toe back together.


    ¡°After all, this is where the siblings grew up. No matter how good the medical conditions in Country F are, they are never as friendly as their hometown.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yunge felt a noticeable change in Lu


    Haiqiao¡¯s breathing frequency on the other end of the phone.


    It was heavy and oppressive.


    Two or three secondster, she said, ¡°Sure, just make the arrangements. When are theying back?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take at least two or three months.


    ¡°Yinyin misses you very much. Because she¡¯s preparing for surgery, she can¡¯t contact you.


    ¡°And today, were you going to¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Lu Haiqiao chuckled softly, revealing a self deprecating


    but helpless tone. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten. I¡¯ve always remembered it in my heart.¡±


    ¡°Hai Qiao..¡± Hearing this, Lu Yunge wanted tofort her, but after calling her name, he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    If such a burden was ced on him, it would probably be very difficult for him to let go¡­

 Chapter 57 - 57: The Pain

    Chapter 57: The Pain


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Especially since she had personally experienced it back then¡­


    In the end, Lu Yunge could only say, ¡°Go to bed.¡±


    For a long time after the call ended, Lu Haiqiao remained leaning against the wall.


    She looked up when she heard a faint sound outside the window.


    The rain that had just stopped fell again.


    The initially fine drizzle gradually turned into a downpour.


    Bean-sized raindrops pattered against the ss window, making pitter-patter sounds.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at the window for a while before turning around and entering the bathroom.


    Standing there, she turned on the shower and let the warm water wash over her body from head to toe.


    How good would it be if her memories could be washed away by water like this?


    Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t how it worked.


    Even if she didn¡¯t mention or think about them, some things would forever be imprinted in her heart like a red-hot brand.


    It hurt when she touched it.


    It was as painful as tearing flesh.


    At five o¡¯clock the next morning, Lu Haiqiao changed into a simple ck short-sleeved shirt and jeans and went out.


    After the rain, the air in B City was exceptionally fresh.


    Lu Haiqiao took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. The emotions that had been suppressed for the entire night were released for a moment.


    As she walked out of the gate, she was about to hail a taxi when she heard a honk from the other side of the road.


    She looked up and saw a ck car parked by the street.


    Lu Haiqiao took out her phone and coincidentally, a call came in.


    She picked up the call, and a hoarse voice with the characteristics of an old man came out of the receiver. ¡°Haiqiao, you¡¯re very punctual.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao straightened her back and stood rooted to the ground. Her gaze was fixed on the back seat of the ck car. Through the car window, there seemed to be figures moving.


    ¡°You¡¯re on time too.¡±


    The old man chuckled. ¡°Alright, get in the car. It¡¯s going to rain soon.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao smiled. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    ¡°Hey, why are you being so polite with me, you naughty girl!¡±


    Following the old man¡¯s voice, the driver¡¯s door of the ck car opened and a man in casual clothes got out. He went around to the back seat and opened the door. The old man sitting inside was waving at her.


    Lu Haiqiao hung up the phone and looked around before walking over.


    After getting into the car, she greeted him politely, ¡°Mr. Sancai, long time no see.¡±


    He was Wu Sancai, the author of ¡°High Ridges of Mount Song¡±, which Lu Yunge had bought for 33 million USD not long ago.


    Wu Sancai nced at Lu Haiqiao before looking away. ¡°You know it¡¯s been a long time, but you still didn¡¯t visit me.¡±


    There was a hint ofint in his voice.


    ¡°Oh, I know.¡± As the car started, Wu Sancai¡¯s voice sounded in the car. ¡°I¡¯m old and not handsome anymore, so you spent a lot of money to buy my painting, but you didn¡¯t ask me to deliver it to you personally. You even found a delivery service to pack it up. It¡¯s obvious that you don¡¯t want to see an old man.¡± Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    What package delivery? That was the delivery tform¡¯s errand service!


    Well¡­


    Lu Haiqiao thought about it and looked embarrassed.


    The two were essentially the same.


    However, at the mention of that painting¡­


    ¡°Sir, there¡¯s a question I¡¯ve wanted to ask you for a long time.¡±


    When Wu Sancai heard this, he nced at her. ¡°Huh?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°Why is the inscription of the painting ¡®High Ridges of Mount Song¡¯..


    Before she could finish, Wu San suddenly interrupted her, ¡°Hey, Xiao Chen, the road ahead is being repaired. Let¡¯s take a detour..¡±

 Chapter 58 - 58: Eighty-One

    Chapter 58: Eighty-One


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The driver, Xiao Chen, steered the steering wheel to the right.


    Lu Haiqiao spoke again. ¡°Sir, that painting¡­¡± Unexpectedly, she was interrupted again.


    ¡°Hai Qiao, you¡¯re up so early. Have you had breakfast?¡±


    Clearly, Wu Sancai didn¡¯t want to answer this question.


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and nodded tactfully. ¡°I¡¯ve eaten. Sandwiches and ck coffee.¡¯


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Wu Sancai sighed faintly. ¡°You young people are always drinking coffee. It¡¯s bitter and astringent. I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s so good about it. When you have time,e and drink tea with an old man like me for a change. Your mood will be different.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely visit you.¡±


    The ck car passed through the city center in the early morning. About forty minutester, it drove on a quiet but wide boulevard.


    After another ten minutes, the car stopped in the shade of a dense tree.


    Lu Haiqiao got out of the car first, then went to the other side and helped Wu Sancai out.


    In front of them was a long stone staircase. There were a total of 81 steps.


    A temple that didn¡¯t look very prosperous stood at the end of the steps.


    Wu Sancai, who was over 60 years old, had difficulty walking. He could barely walk on t ground with his walking stick, but he had to have help to climb the narrow steps.


    However, he said, ¡°Xiao Chen, wait here. The two of us will go up.¡±


    Xiao Chen nodded and watched the two people walk up the steps. Then, he opened the car door and sat in the driver¡¯s seat.


    He didn¡¯t believe in gods or ghosts. Instead of walking up the 81 steps under the sun, he might as well hide in the car and enjoy the air conditioner.


    Under the mottled shadows of the trees, two figures slowly walked up the steps, pausing with each step, pious and serious.


    At the entrance of the temple at the end of the stairs, two monks in yellow smocks were cleaning. When they saw the guests, they stopped and sped their hands together.


    After stabilizing himself, Wu Sancai held his walking stick with one hand and returned the monk¡¯s greeting with Lu Haiqiao.


    Looking at the simple but solemn hall not far away, Wu Sancai muttered to himself, ¡°Old friend, it¡¯s been another year. Haiqiao and I havee to visit you.¡±


    Beside him, Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes, not daring to look straight ahead.


    Her long eyshes hid the true emotions in her eyes, making her look as calm as ever.


    Wu Sancai turned his head and stared at her for a few seconds before sighing.


    ¡°Kiddo, we¡¯re arrived.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao moved her lips and said softly in a voice only the two of them could hear, ¡°Mr. Bai, Mrs. Bai.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Sancai patted the back of her hand with his rough hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go in.¡±


    The hall that was filled with the fragrance of incense was empty. Only the faint sound of wooden fish could be heard.


    Crossing the wooden railing at the entrance of the hall, Lu Haiqiao looked up and saw the Buddha statue with a peaceful expression.


    She remembered that her grandfather had said that this was a sandalwood Buddha statue.


    Legend has it that when the Buddha was still alive, the King of India made it with sandalwood ording to the Buddha¡¯s appearance and figure. His left hand was called the ¡°Imprint of Wish¡±, indicating that it could fulfill the wishes of all living beings. His right hand was stretched up with the ¡°Imprint of


    Fearlessness¡±, indicating that it could eliminate all living beings¡¯ suffering.


    Lu Haiqiao helped Wu Sancai to the prayer mat in front of the Buddha statue.


    Almost at the same time, the old and the young knelt down and kowtowed piously to the Buddha statue..

 Chapter 59 - 59: They Will Feel It

    Chapter 59: They Will Feel It


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After kowtowing three times, Lu Haiqiao helped Wu Sancai up.


    At this moment, footsteps came from behind.


    Lu Haiqiao turned around and saw the abbot of the temple.


    She turned slightly and whispered a few words into Wu Sancai¡¯s ear. Thetter pondered for a few seconds and said, ¡°If they don¡¯t ept it, don¡¯t force it.¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded. She let go of Wu Sancai¡¯s arm and walked forward.


    She looked at the abbot quietly, put her hands together, and leaned forward slightly. Then, she took out a check and handed it over.


    ¡°Master, this is a small token of my appreciation. Please ept it¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao paused for two seconds.¡± Take it as Mr. and Mrs. Bails¡­¡±


    The abbot didn¡¯t even look at the check. ¡°Miss Lu, the dead are gone.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes. ¡°I just want to do my best¡­¡±


    This way, she would feel better.


    The old abbot had a benevolent expression. ¡°It¡¯s all about sincerity. As long as the heart is there, they¡¯ll be able to sense your intentions.¡±


    The abbot had rejected her check several times already.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s hand that was holding the check froze in the air. It was obvious that she didn¡¯t want to take it back, but the abbot would definitely not ept it.


    Dazzling sunlight poured into the hall through the clouds after the rain. The abbot stood with his back to the light. A hazy circle of light enveloped him, blurring his kind features.


    ¡°Miss Lu, thest time you came, I gave you the word ¡®caught¡¯. This time, I want to change it to ¡®trapped¡¯.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression froze. She didn¡¯t expect the abbot to say such a thing.


    While she was in a daze, the abbot walked around her and walked toward Wu Sancai.


    It was unknown what they said in a low voice, but about three minutester,


    Wu Sancai walked forward with his walking stick and gently patted Lu


    Haiqiao¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Kiddo, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao turned her head and looked confused. ¡°Sir¡­¡± Wu Sancai shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You¡¯ll bete for work.¡±


    4:30 P.M., Jolie Fille Magazine.


    Afterpleting a press release, Lu Haiqiao stopped typing and picked up the ss of water on her left to take a sip.


    At this moment, she noticed a string of prayer beads hanging on her left wrist.


    108 brown-yellow dragon-eye bodhi were neatly arranged. The triangr squint on each grain symbolized wealth, auspiciousness, safety, and health.


    This was given to her by Wu Sancai after he left the temple in the morning.


    ¡°Haiqiao, the abbot asked me to give you this string of beads. This is the Dragon Eye Bodhi. It has the effect of exorcizing evil and increasing intelligence. Wear it and bless you with peace and prosperity.¡±


    Peace and prosperity¡­


    Turning misfortune into fortune¡­


    The sound of ss shattering brought Lu Haiqiao back to reality.


    She was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


    She heard Fang Chuoqi¡¯s chattering and scolding. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? You can¡¯t even hold a cup properly. You¡¯re so clumsy!¡±


    Looking over, she saw the new assistant kept apologizing.


    Fang Chuoqi ordered arrogantly, ¡°Hurry up and get the cleaningdy to clean up the fragments.¡±


    Fragments¡­


    ¡°After all, I¡¯m not a good person. It¡¯s not surprising that those bows and arrows areing for me.¡±


    These were the words that Xie Xuan had said in a nonchnt mannerst night.


    Perhaps he needed peace and auspiciousness more¡­


    In the office, the assistant was helping the cleaningdy clean up the ss shards.


    Chaotic footsteps approached the entrance of the magazine agency. A few police officers in police uniforms walked in through the clear automatic ss door..

 Chapter 60 - 60: Causing Trouble

    Chapter 60: Causing Trouble


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The police officer in the lead showed his ID in a businesslike manner. ¡°Hello, we¡¯re from the Public Security Branch of B City¡¯s Public Security Bureau. May I ask if there¡¯s a person called Lu Haiqiao here?¡±


    Perhaps because she had never seen such a big scene, Fang Chuoqi blinked in confusion. ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡±


    Upon hearing her name, Lu Haiqiao stood up. ¡°I¡¯m Lu Haiqiao. Is there anything I can help you with?¡±


    The police walked past Fang Chuoqi and strode up to her. He said sternly, ¡°Lu Haiqiao, you¡¯re suspected of being involved in a case of intentional assault.


    Come with us now.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the office instantly erupted.


    ¡°Intentionally hurt someone? No way, Lu Haiqiao? She doesn¡¯t even dare to step on ants, yet she hurts someone?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand. As the saying goes, you can¡¯t judge a book by its cover.


    How do you know that she¡¯s not a female wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s hard to say. Let me tell you, a few days ago, I saw a green sports car sending Lu Haiqiao to work. This morning, it changed to a ck one. To be able to find so many cars to pick her up, she must not be a good person.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Perhaps they didn¡¯t agree on the price, so she fought in a fit of anger. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Think about that scene. It¡¯s even more exciting than a television drama!¡±


    Just as the other colleagues were whispering, Fang Chuoqi changed her attitude toward Lu Haiqiao. She didn¡¯t say anything for a long time.


    She frowned and looked at Lu Haiqiao, but thetter remained calm and natural as if the words ¡°intentional injury¡± had nothing to do with her.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    She neither admitted nor denied it.


    Due to her cooperation, the police didn¡¯t use coercive measures. Instead, they brought Lu Haiqiao out of the magazine agency as if she was assisting in investigations.


    In the sealed interrogation room, only a tablemp emitted a blinding white light.


    Lu Haiqiao leaned against the chair calmly. Opposite her was a young police officer who was taking notes.


    ¡°Name, age, and profession.¡± The police officer¡¯s tone was businesslike. Even so, the moment he saw Lu Haiqiao, he didn¡¯t believe that such a docile-looking girl would do something like ¡°intentional injury.¡±


    However, the person who reported the case imed that there were both


    witnesses and evidence, and he went straight to the director through his


    connections in D City.


    The higher-ups were exerting pressure, so he had to take it seriously.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, 24 years old, a reporter.¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s tone was indifferent. Ordinary people would have been anxious when they encountered such a situation, but her reaction was unbelievably calm.


    Could it be that the matter really had nothing to do with her?


    Even so, she would at least show panic.


    The young police officer couldn¡¯t help but look at her again.


    She didn¡¯t seem to be pretending.


    ¡°Do you know a man named Pan Ning?¡± The young officer continued his interrogation.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao narrowed her eyes, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.


    As expected, it was him who was causing trouble.


    ¡°We¡¯ve met,¡± she said.


    Did that mean that they knew each other?


    ¡°Then were you at the South Sand Bay Resort between nine and tenst night?¡± the police officer asked again.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded without thinking. ¡°Yes.¡±


    The police officer immediately came to a conclusion. ¡°Then you admit to assaulting someone?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao ran her fingers through her long hair and crossed her legs in satisfaction. ¡°I didn¡¯t touch him.¡¯


    She really didn¡¯t do it. The steak knife did.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t touch him? Then where did the injury on the person¡¯s facee from?¡± the police officer asked..

 Chapter 61 - 61: The Boss

    Chapter 61: The Boss


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    B City Public Security Bureau.


    The man sitting behind the desk had his hairbed back in an old-fashioned style. His police uniform was straight and neat.


    Qin Liyan, 48 years old, Director of B City¡¯s Public Security Bureau.


    Although he was past the age of forty, he was still in good shape. His posture was upright, and his voice was powerful, unlike other middle-aged men who had gained weight.


    ¡°Secretary Liu, Mr. Xie, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly. If such a thing appears in a residential area and hurts someone, the consequences will be unimaginable.¡±


    The official sitting in the guest chair opposite him nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m relieved to hear that.¡±


    However, a few secondster, Liu said in a light tone, ¡°Old Qin, from what I know, you¡¯re very efficient. In the past few years, the higher-ups have been very satisfied with your work, so you can¡¯t disappoint us, understand?¡±


    Qin Liyan knew very well that Liu said this was entirely because of the young man sitting beside him.


    As expected, after obtaining the guarantee of solving the case as soon as possible, Liu smiled and turned around. ¡°Mr. Xie, please tell Young Master Xuan that I¡¯ll personally monitor this matter and give him a satisfactory answer no matter what.¡±


    Having seen too many ttering faces, Xie Er felt quite numb. Inparison, Qin Liyan was much more pleasing to the eye.


    He nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡¯


    Despite saying thank you, his tone waspletely nonchnt.


    Liu noticed it, but he still smiled apologetically. ¡°My pleasure. No matter what, we have to make sure that Young Master Xuan is satisfied, right?¡±


    Xie Er¡¯s lips curved slightly, but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    At this point, Qin Liyan understood.


    It turned out that the person in question wasn¡¯t the ¡°Mr. Xie¡± in front of him, but the ¡°Young Master Xuan¡± that Liu was talking about.


    Young Master Xuan?


    Mr. Xie?


    Why did it sound so familiar?


    When Xie Er and Liu left the office, there happened to be a police officer waiting at the door to report.


    Seeing that there was a guest, the police officer didn¡¯t say anything about the case.


    ¡°Secretary Liu, Mr. Xie, I still have something to do, so I won¡¯t send you off.¡±


    Liu nodded in understanding. ¡°There¡¯s no need to send me off. Hurry up and solve the case.¡±


    Perhaps because of the seriousness of the matter, Xie Er and Liu had only taken two steps when the police officer said, ¡°Director Qin, we found the suspect from South Sand Bayst night.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Er stopped in his tracks.


    Last night, South Sand Bay?


    Miss Lu seemed to have been to that resortst night.


    Qin Liyan remembered this case.


    At two or three in the afternoon, he received a call from the Director of the Public Security Bureau of City D, his old ssmate, asking for a favor to deal with an assault case.


    He had a rough understanding of the situation. The case wasn¡¯tplicated, and the patient¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t serious, so he arranged for his subordinates to handle it.


    It was a favor to begin with, so Qin Liyan didn¡¯t take it to heart.


    Therefore, he casually replied, ¡°Since we¡¯ve caught the person and have enough evidence, we¡¯ll do it ording to the rules.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Before the police officer could finish speaking, Xie Er returned. ¡°What¡¯s the name of the person in South Sand Bay?¡±


    The police officer was perplexed, thinking that he was asking about the injured person. ¡°Pan Ning.¡±


    Xie Er said, ¡°The one you brought back.¡±


    He didn¡¯t use ¡°arrest¡± but said ¡°bring back¡±.


    The police officer said, ¡°Uh, I think her name is¡­ Lu Haiqiao.¡±


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao? Is she a young woman?¡± Qin Liyan asked in a shocked tone.


    The police officer had never seen Director Qin so panicked..

 Chapter 62 - 62: Send Him Back

    Chapter 62: Send Him Back


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The police officer looked confused. ¡°Ah¡­ Yes¡­¡±


    Director Qin didn¡¯t look like he was going to punish the suspect severely.


    ¡°Who asked you to bring her back?¡± Qin Liyan, who had always been calm, became unexpectedly irritable. ¡°Where is she now?¡±


    The police officer stuttered in fear. ¡°T-Third floor. Interrogation. In the interrogation room.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Liyan hurriedly strode off.


    He soon stepped back and said perfunctorily, ¡°Secretary Liu, Mr. Xie, I really have an urgent matter here. Please help yourselves.¡±


    An intersection away from Jolie Fille, an Audi S8 was parked behind other cars, patiently waiting for a red light to turn green.


    Xie Da, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, nced at the rearview mirror. At this moment, Xie Xuan, who was in the backseat, leanedzily against the back of the seat with his eyes closed.


    Last night, he didn¡¯t sleep at all.


    In the pitch-ck basement, Xie Xuan, with one hand behind his back, slowly walked down the stairs. His extraordinary temperament was like a high and mighty king.


    The young man with a pained expressiony weakly on the ground. Beside him was a ck crossbow.


    Xie Xuan walked to the man¡¯s side and nced down at him. Then, he kicked the crossbow. ¡°Is this the thing that injured Bin?¡±


    There were no windows on all sides of the narrow basement, and only a 10-centimeter square vent could let out a little moonlight. Xie Da stepped forward and answered, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°How¡¯s Bin now?¡±


    Xie Da, who had just learned of the situation, reported truthfully, ¡°The arrow hit his shoulder, but it didn¡¯t hurt his vitals. Doctor Zhu is looking after him now. He¡¯s already asleep.¡±


    ¡°Very good,¡± Xie Xuan said coldly. ¡°They can¡¯t hurt me, so they hurt my people. Impressive.¡±


    ¡°Young¡­ Young Master Xuan¡­ Young Master Xuan, please let me go. I¡­ I was just following orders. I¡­ I know my mistake. I won¡¯t dare to do it again¡­¡±


    The young man tried his best to raise his hand, but his attempt to grab Xie Xuan¡¯s pants was stopped by the quick-witted Xie Da.


    He raised his leg and kicked him hard. The man rolled uncontrobly to the wall.


    ¡°Next time?¡± Hearing this, Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows with interest. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll give you a chance to do it again?¡±


    As he spoke, he raised his hand and moved his slender index finger. He instructed Xie Da, who was waiting at the side, ¡°Send him to where he came from.


    ¡°By the way, before you send him back, remember to dress him up. He¡¯ll be wearing linen mourning clothes and a white hat. Put a white belt around his waist. How about that?¡±


    Xie Da was speechless.


    This wasn¡¯t just a provocation. Xie Xuan was sending this man to his death.


    How ruthless!


    But in fact, there were simpler and faster ways to deal with such small fries.


    However, this time, not only did Boss settle the matter in private, but he also asked Xie Er to report it to the police.


    He had covered all angles.


    At the thought of this, Xie Da took a deep breath.


    It was all for Miss Lu.


    Miss Lu was there when this guy attacked. How could Boss let him off so easily when he had disturbed her?


    However, Miss Lu¡¯s reaction the night before had surprised Xie Da.


    Perhaps because he was too distracted, Xie Da didn¡¯t notice that the green light was on.


    ¡°It¡¯s the green light.¡±


    Hearing Xie Xuan¡¯s slightly hoarse voice, Xie Da came back to his senses.


    He said, ¡°Yes.¡± Then, he hurriedly started the car.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan slowly opened his eyes like a leopard that had just woken up..

 Chapter 63 - 63: Don’t Sleep Here

    Chapter 63: Don¡¯t Sleep Here


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Just as he touched the phone beside him, the screen lit up.


    The call was from Xie Er.


    After hearing this, Xie Xuan¡¯szy gaze a second ago was instantly filled with killing intent. ¡°Turn around and go to the police station.¡±


    In the interrogation room.


    In the face of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s silence, the young police officer, who had run out of patience, mmed his notebook on the table and raised his voice. ¡°Lu Haiqiao, don¡¯t think that you¡¯ll be fine if you don¡¯t say anything!


    ¡°The person who reported the case has all the evidence. You¡¯d better confess what happenedst night. Did you cause the injury on the person¡¯s face?¡±


    Everyone whomitted a crime wouldn¡¯t admit that they did it in the beginning.


    Seeing how uncooperative Lu Haiqiao was, the interrogating police officers were almost certain that she was the culprit.


    She seemed to be a nice person. Even if there was something unfair, she should find a legitimate way to resolve it. As long as she hurt someone, it would be her fault.


    Lu Haiqiao raised his hand and covered her mouth as she yawned.


    She slept tootest night and woke up too early in the morning. She was tired after a busy day.


    She propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm. Her tone was cold. ¡°Then what are we waiting for?¡± The police officer was speechless.


    What did she mean by that?


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiaozily looked up. The corners of her eyes were red, and her eyes were teary from the yawn. ¡°There are both witnesses and evidence, so let¡¯s follow the procedure. Why bother asking? It¡¯s a waste of time.¡±


    The police officer was speechless.


    Was she mocking them for being inefficient?


    Huh!


    She was still so arrogant aftermitting a crime!


    The young police officer was instantly angry.


    He knocked on the table with his index finger. ¡°Lu Haiqiao, what do you think this ce is? Do you think you can do whatever you want? Let me tell you, hurting people is a very serious crime. If your attitude is better and you cooperate, perhaps¡­¡±


    The young police officer was about to give her a long lecture, but before he could finish, there was an urgent knock on the door.


    Before the police officer could get up to open the door, a huge force pushed it open from the outside.


    The police officer blinked and was stunned.


    However, he quickly regained his senses. When he recognized Qin Liyan, he stood at attention and reported, ¡°Director Qin, the suspect in the South Sand Bay assault case is¡­¡¯


    ¡°What suspect? Nonsense!¡± Qin Liyan, who had always been stern, suddenly lost his temper. ¡°She¡¯s thest person on earth that can be a suspect!¡±


    At this moment, Xie Er, who had followed them, looked into the interrogation room.


    The scene in front of him made him widen his eyes in surprise.


    As the reprimands continued in the interrogation room, Lu Haiqiao pped the tablemp that was shing with dazzling light to the side and fell asleep with her head resting on her arm on the table.


    It wasn¡¯t until Qin Liyan approached her and carefully patted her shoulder that Lu Haiqiao slowly opened her eyes.


    ¡°Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao, it¡¯s me. Good girl, wake up.


    ¡°Come on. You can¡¯t sleep here.


    ¡°If you want to sleep, I¡¯ll send you to a hotel and check you in. You¡¯ll catch a cold if you sleep here.¡±


    His tone and attitude made him seem like a soft-hearted father.


    The young officer rubbed his eyes in disbelief.


    If not for the fact that Director Qin was still unmarried, he would have thought


    that this ¡°criminal suspect¡± was the daughter of the Qin family..

 Chapter 64 - 64: Qiaoqiao Is the Most Sensible Girl

    Chapter 64: Qiaoqiao Is the Most Sensible Girl


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao, who was woken up, opened her eyes reluctantly.


    Still leaning on the table, she puffed up her cheeks slightly and rubbed her face against her arm. She looked like a sleepy kitten.


    After two seconds, Lu Haiqiao rubbed her eyes and straightened up. When she saw Qin Liyan, she said in a nasal voice, ¡°Uncle Qin? ¡°Why are you here over such a petty matter?¡±


    A petty matter?


    To him, this was no small matter!


    Qin Liyan bent down and said apologetically, ¡°Qiaoqiao, are you awake? Come on, get up. Let¡¯s talk outside.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Haiqiao shook her head and waved her hand. ¡°I¡¯m a suspect in the assault case. There¡¯s evidence. You have to deal with it impartially.¡±


    Qin Liyan red at the police officer again, but he was the one who gave the order to arrest the suspect. Other than ring, he had no other way to vent his anger.


    ¡°What assault suspect? It¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± When he looked at Lu


    Haiqiao, Qin Liyan¡¯s expression changed and immediately became kind. ¡°Qiaoqiao, your mother has raised you so well since you were young. With such a generous and decent mother, you can¡¯t possibly do anything wrong.


    ¡°I watched you grow up. How could I not know your personality? Qiaoqiao is the most sensible girl. How could you hurt someone? There must be a mistake.¡± Lu Haiqiao blinked and confirmed again. ¡°Is it really a misunderstanding?¡±


    Qin Liyan nodded. ¡°Yes, there must be a mistake.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao looked at the door of the interrogation room tentatively. ¡°Then can I go out now?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Qin Liyan patted her shoulder gently as if he was coaxing a child. ¡°It¡¯s dark and stuffy here. Let¡¯s go out first. If your mother finds out that you¡¯re staying in such a ce, she¡¯ll be so worried!¡±


    It seemed that this was a misunderstanding.


    Secretary Liu, who had followed Qin here, lost interest. Just as he turned around and was about to leave, a tall figure walked out of the elevator and met his eyes.


    Young Master Xuan?


    Was it really Young Master Xuan?


    He actually lived to see Young Master Xuan in person?


    Liu¡¯s eyes widened as he stood rooted to the ground.


    Xie Er, who was familiar with those footsteps, turned around. When he saw Xie Xuan, his lips moved.


    However, before he could say ¡°Boss¡±, Xie Xuan shook his head gently at him.


    ¡°Young¡­¡± Secretary Liu, who had just regained his senses, had just opened his mouth when Xie Er, who was beside him, coldly said, ¡°Shut up.¡±


    Liu could only swallow his excitement and obediently move to the side to wait.


    ¡°Qiaoqiao, how¡¯s your mother recently?¡±


    ¡°I heard that she wasn¡¯t feeling well a while ago. I wanted to visit her, but I was informed at thest minute that I had to go to a meeting elsewhere, so I couldn¡¯t make it. How is she now? Is she feeling better?


    ¡°By the way, I called her yesterday afternoon. Why did she turn off her phone? I couldn¡¯t reach her for more than three hours. Where did she go?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was about to reply to Qin Liyan, but the moment she stepped out of the interrogation room, she looked up and saw Xie Xuan dressed all in ck.


    The top two buttons of his cor were unbuttoned. His cool, slicked-back hair seemed to have been deliberately styled, but it also looked as casual as if he had only stroked it.


    Although they had already agreed to have dinner together, Lu Haiqiao was surprised to meet him at the police station.


    She ignored Qin Liyan and hurried forward. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    She guessed that it was because of the arrowst night..

 Chapter 65 - 65: If You ‘re Sincere, It’ll Work

    Chapter 65: If You ¡®re Sincere, It¡¯ll Work


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes were teary, and her voice was soft and gentle.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze softened instantly.


    He shrugged, half joking. ¡°Same as you.¡±


    ¡°Did youmit a crime too?¡± A trace of doubt appeared on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s exquisite eyes.


    Xie Da was speechless.


    Xie Er didn¡¯t know what to say.


    In the entire world, only Miss Lu would dare to say that their boss hadmitted a crime.


    Xie Xuan smiled. Instead of answering, he asked, ¡°Can we go now?¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded.


    Just as she was about to leave, Qin Liyan stopped her. ¡°Hey, Qiaoqiao¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao thought about it and walked up to him. She whispered, ¡°Uncle Qin, can you not tell my mother about what happened today?¡±


    Qin Liyan hesitated. ¡°Your mother cares about you the most. Of course, I can¡¯t let her worry, but¡­¡±


    As he hesitated, he sized up Xie Xuan, who was talking to Xie Er. Seeing Xie Er¡¯s respectful and polite attitude, Qin Liyan knew that the young man was probably the ¡°Young Master Xuan¡± that Secretary Liu mentioned.


    Xie¡­ Xuan..


    Qin Liyan frowned and thought for a few seconds. Suddenly, an idea shed


    through his mind.


    By the way, wasn¡¯t Old Master Xie¡¯s precious grandson called Xie Xuan?


    Could it be¡­


    Qin Liyan was suspicious, but he wasn¡¯t sure.


    After all, Old Master Xie had protected his grandson since he was young. Very few people had seen him.


    ¡°Qiaoqiao, tell me the truth. You and this young man¡­


    Before Qin Liyan could finish his question, Lu Haiqiao interrupted him anxiously. ¡°Please keep this a secret for me. I¡¯ll think of a way to ask my mother out for a meal next Saturday.¡±


    Obviously, she didn¡¯t hear the first half of his sentence.


    But that wasn¡¯t important anymore. Qin Liyan couldn¡¯t think straight anymore.


    ¡°Really?¡± There was obvious joy in his voice.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Lu Haiqiao blinked her sparkling eyes, looking extremely sincere.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I say.¡±


    As soon as she said that, she looked at Xie Xuan and met his smiling eyes. She hurriedly said, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± She left after that.


    ¡°Are you very close to Qin Liyan?¡± Xie Xuan couldn¡¯t wait to ask the question in his heart the moment he walked out of the police station.


    When he saw her whispering to the middle-aged man just now, even though he could deduce from her expression that they were only family friends, the unusual intimacy was still an eyesore to him.


    So much so that there was an imperceptible coldness in his tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Lu Haiqiao looked around, then covered her lips with her left hand and whispered, ¡°He was my mother¡¯s high school ssmate. He started wooing my mother when he was in school. My mother has been divorced for twenty years, but he hasn¡¯t seeded.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao wrinkled her nose as she spoke, and her tone was filled with slight disdain.


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    The love and hatred of middle-aged people were reallyplicated.


    The moment he put down his hand, the heavy feeling that she had yet to get used to made Lu Haiqiao pause.


    ¡°Xie Xuan.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    She took off the Dragon Eye Bodhi that had been wrapped around her wrist several times and handed it over. ¡°Someone told me that this can bless you with peace and fortune, turning misfortune into good luck, so I¡¯m giving it to you.¡±


    On her fair fingertips, the brownish-yellow prayer beads swayed gently.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Do you believe in this?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao looked into his eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re sincere, it¡¯ll work..¡±

 Chapter 66 - 66: Exchange of Tokens

    Chapter 66: Exchange of Tokens


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan stared at Lu Haiqiao with his profound eyes.


    After a while, he reached out his left hand to her and nodded slightly.


    Lu Haiqiao was stunned. After a few seconds, she understood what he meant.


    She wrapped the string of Dragon Eye Bodhi around Xie Xuan¡¯s left wrist. When she wore it, she felt that it was a little loose, but it was just right for Xie Xuan.


    The moment she put down her hands, she heard Xie Xuan¡¯s voice in her ear. ¡°In that case, I should be sincere for once.¡¯


    She let out a confused cry and looked up to meet his eyes which were as bright as the stars.


    ¡°Your hand,¡± he said.


    Lu Haiqiao thought to herself, ¡°Is he going to check if I¡¯m injured again?¡¯ There was no need for that.


    While she was hesitating, Xie Xuan raised his right hand and untied the red bracelet hanging on his left wrist.


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao saw clearly that the sp of the bracelet was made of gold. It was extremely unique.


    ¡°Your hand,¡± he repeated what he¡¯d just said.


    So it was¡­


    Lu Haiqiao did as she was told.


    Not long after, the bracelet was tied around her wrist.


    Lu Haiqiao lowered her head, a smile in her sparkling eyes.


    Was this an exchange of tokens?


    At the same time, in the director¡¯s office, Qin Liyan and Xie Er sat opposite each other.


    ¡°Director Qin, about what happened at South Sand Bay Resortst night.. ¡®


    Qin Liyan maintained his upright posture as he sat behind his desk. He stared at Xie Er and wasn¡¯t as calm as before. Before Xie Er could finish, QIn Liyan interrupted him, ¡°Mr. Xie, I want to ask about the young man who left with


    Qiaoqiao just now, he¡­¡±


    With that question, a dangerous aura suddenly rose in the office.


    Qin Liyan could sense it, so he quickly added, Here¡¯s the thing. That girl is Lu Haiqiao. She¡¯s the daughter of an¡­ old friend of mine, so¡­¡±


    Xie Er looked at him. Even if there was a smile on his lips, he still seemed cold.


    He sat up straight and tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°Director Qin, in your position, you just have to do your best toplete the work on hand. As for other things, it¡¯s not something you should ask about.¡±


    It seemed like an understatement, but it was actually a warning.


    Qin Liyan picked up his teacup and took a sip to hide his panic.


    Initially, he thought that he was giving an old ssmate a favor. Unexpectedly, he almost caused trouble.


    He should have looked more closely at the case, but who would have thought that the suspect would be¡­


    Bah!


    What suspect?!


    The little girl was as obedient as a kitten. How could she hurt someone with a knife?


    He wondered if she would dare to pick up the knife.


    After calming himself down, Qin Liyan said, ¡°I understand what Mr. Xie means.¡±


    ¡°Director Qin, you¡¯re a smart person. You¡¯ll understand immediately.¡± Since he had brought the message, there was no need to waste time. Hence, Xie Er stood up and said before he left, ¡°Director Qin, please take care of those two cases.¡±


    Qin Liyan was stunned for a brief moment.


    Two?


    Wasn¡¯t there only one case?


    The South Sand Bay case had already proven that there was a misunderstanding, right?


    Couldn¡¯t it just end like this? Why did he have to follow up?


    After sending Xie Er off, Qin Liyan immediately returned to his office to flip through the information on the South Sand Bay case.


    The more he read, the angrier he became.


    How could that person have the cheek to report a case?


    Did he take the police for a joke?

 Chapter 67 - 67: I Don ‘t Have a Boyfriend

    Chapter 67: I Don ¡®t Have a Boyfriend


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Qin Liyan called the police chief of D City and couldn¡¯t care less about their friendship as old ssmates. ¡°Old Chen, although we haven¡¯t seen each other for more than ten years, you can¡¯t set me up like this!


    ¡°What is it? You have the nerve to ask me what it is? It¡¯s about what you told me this afternoon!


    ¡°Have you carefully investigated the situation? How dare he use someone of stabbing him when he only has a scratch on his cheek?


    ¡°He even has evidence? Bullshit!


    ¡°The witness is himself. The physical evidence is the abrasion that couldn¡¯t be found even after going to the hospital!


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re rich and powerful, you have to be reasonable, right? Good lord, there are no surveince cameras. We can¡¯t find the weapon¡­


    ¡°Is that Pan guy deliberately looking for trouble, or is he an idiot?


    ¡°Fine. No more nonsense. Think of a way to resolve this matter.


    ¡°What? The Pan Family¡¯s reputation? It¡¯s not a matter of reputation now. In short, if we don¡¯t handle it well, both of us will be buried, let alone the Pan family!¡±


    ¡°me the person that has set you up!¡±


    After hanging up, Qin Liyan threw his phone aside and heaved a sigh of relief.


    He remembered that Su Jinchang was mentioned in the information just now¡­


    After some thought, Qin Liyan opened the folder and read it again.


    Shit!


    That old bastard really was there!


    He stared at the words ¡°Su Jinchang¡± as if the man was here in person.


    That scumbag had abandoned his wife and daughter!


    Bah!


    From the moment she walked out of the police station, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s phone had been vibrating.


    Before getting into the car, the rapid vibrations started again.


    She took out her phone and saw that it was a series of messages from Su Qingya. Her eyes suddenly turned cold.


    At a quick nce, there were about 20 of them. All of them had the same content.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, let¡¯s talk face to face. Is there a point in ying dirty?¡± Lu Haiqiao thought, ¡°I only let you hang for a night. ying dirty?


    ¡°If I really want to y, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t even have bones left.¡±


    Xie Xuan noticed the change in her expression. ¡°Do you have something to do?¡± Lu Haiqiao looked up with an awkward expression. ¡°Yes, I have something on.¡±


    She decided she would deal with Su Qingya first. Otherwise, this meal won¡¯t be peaceful.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lu Haiqiao looked apologetic. ¡°I suddenly have something urgent.


    Can we change the dinner date today?¡±


    Xie Xuan habitually ced his left hand behind his back and said coldly, ¡°In that case, we can do it some other day.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, her phone vibrated again.


    There was no need to look. It was definitely Su Qingya.


    Xie Xuan pretended to casually nce at the phone in her hand. In fact, he had already noticed the vibration. ¡°Who¡¯s messaging you all the time? Is he your boyfriend?¡±


    If he were her mother or female friend, he wouldn¡¯t have felt so awkward.


    Hearing this question, Lu Haiqiao frowned in confusion.


    Why did he suddenly mention her boyfriend?


    She noticed that the moment his eyes met hers, Xie Xuan deliberately turned his face away. He raised his chin, looking rather proud.


    He even rolled his eyes slightly.


    Was he jealous?


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend yet.¡± Lu Haiqiao rubbed the tip of her nose. ¡°It¡¯s my sister.¡±


    Then, she muttered to herself in a very small voice, ¡°I¡¯ve already given you the prayer beads.. How can there be anyone else?¡±

 Chapter 68 - 68: Eye Opener

    Chapter 68: Eye Opener


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Her first sentence made Xie Xuan¡¯s gloomy expression improve for a moment.


    Thest sentence was spoken so softly that he didn¡¯t hear it at all.


    But soon, he frowned again. ¡°Is it the one sitting opposite you in the coffee shopst time?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, it¡¯s her.¡± Lu Haiqiao smiled indifferently and said casually, ¡°I just said that my mother has been divorced for 20 years. My sister¡¯s custody went to my father, so we don¡¯t have a good rtionship.¡±


    Xie Xuan thought, ¡°Even so, she still wants to meet her sister alone. How decent.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± As soon as Xie Xuan finished speaking, Xie Da had already opened the back door of the car and was waiting at the side.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡± Lu Haiqiao looked up after sending Lu Yunge a WeChat message. ¡°It¡¯s not far from here. I can go by myself.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t press. ¡°Send me a WeChat message when you¡¯re free.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was puzzled. ¡°Huh?¡±


    Xie Xuan reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t I have to arrange another time to buy you dinner?¡±


    Before leaving, he added solemnly, ¡°Be careful.¡±


    Watching the ck Audi S8 leave, Lu Haiqiao walked to the pedestrian road opposite.


    After waiting by the street for about five minutes, a red and ck Pagani sped over from afar with a roar unique to sportscars.


    With a screech, the car stopped steadily in front of Lu Haiqiao.


    Lu Yunge got out of the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Haiqiao, your car is so nice. I drove all the way here, and the other cars avoided me. It was like the road belonged to me alone. I could drive however I wanted.¡±


    ¡°You can do whatever you want, but my car is very busy. Don¡¯t bother her.¡± She bypassed Lu Yunge and got into the car.


    After fastening her seatbelt with one hand, Lu Haiqiao heard a knocking sound.


    Lu Yunge was knocking on the car window.


    As the car window rolled down, Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Lu Yunge rested his left hand on the roof of the car and looked down at herzily. ¡°Why do you suddenly want to take your car out for a ride?¡±


    It was midsummer, and the sun was still shining brightly at six in the evening.


    Lu Haiqiao opened thepartment, took out her sunsses, and put them on. ¡°I¡¯ve been a country bumpkin for the past few years, and I need an eye-opener.¡±


    Lu Yunge was speechless.


    She was driving a sports car worth more than six million dors. An eye-opener?


    Seeing Lu Haiqiao roll up the window again, Lu Yunge said, ¡°Hey, hey, hey, you asked me to drive the car over, but you don¡¯t n to give me a ride?¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± The window was half-closed, revealing only the top half of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s face beneath her sunsses.


    ¡°East Treasure Garden,¡± Lu Yunge said. ¡°I¡¯m having dinner with my sister and


    Ah Yan.¡±


    As its name suggested, East Treasure Garden, which was about a 20-minute drive away, only served top-notch members with annual VIP cards.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao picked up the phone in the front passenger seat. After tapping on it a few times, she said indifferently, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Lu Yunge was perplexed.


    At this moment, he felt a vibration from his phone.


    As he lowered his head and took out his phone, the sports car vroomed.


    Looking up, he only had time to see the back of the shy car before it disappeared at the end of the road.


    ¡°Tsk, she could just tell me she didn¡¯t want to bring me along. Why did¡­¡± As heined, Lu Yunge opened WeChat.


    Lu Haiqiao had just transferred him thirty thousand dors.


    The message read, ¡°The car fare¡¯s on me.¡±


    Lu Yunge was speechless.


    Even a trip to the end of the world wouldn¡¯t need that much money!

 Chapter 69 - 69: Basic Practices

    Chapter 69: Basic Practices


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Su Qingya arrived at the cafe half an hour before the appointed time.


    In order to prevent the waiter from wandering around, she, who was wearing a ck mask, took the initiative to go to the bar and order a caramel mhiato. Then, she picked a seat in the corner with her coffee and sat down.


    Not long after, a red and ck sports car stopped outside the cafe.


    The ear-piercing roar attracted the attention of everyone in the cafe. When the driver¡¯s door opened and Lu Haiqiao got out of the car, Su Qingya widened her eyes.


    No matter what, she was the daughter of the Su Corporation and a proper socialite. Even if she wasn¡¯t interested in sports cars, she could tell that this car was expensive.


    Why would Lu Haiqiao appear in this car?


    Was she deliberately renting it to scare her?


    But that wasn¡¯t right. She didn¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license and didn¡¯t know how to drive at all. How could she¡­


    Just as she was puzzled, the wind chime sounded at the entrance of the cafe. Lu Haiqiao slowly walked up to Su Qingya.


    ¡°Sister, how shameful is your face? Why do you wear a mask when you¡¯re out for a reunion with your own sister?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Su Qingya suppressed her anger and said,


    ¡°Cut the crap. What do you want?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao calmly walked around to the sofa opposite her and sat down.


    She crossed her legs casually with her right hand on her knee and her left hand bent over the back of the sofa. The red bracelet on her wrist was especially eye-catching against her fair skin.


    Although there was a smile on her face, the pressure still made Su Qingya feel suffocated.


    She had had enough!


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao!¡± Su Qingya gritted her teeth and whispered her name, ¡°What do you want?!¡±


    After a few seconds of silence, Lu Haiqiao stopped smiling and said coldly, ¡°For our mother¡¯s sake, I won¡¯t argue with you about the past, but you should never have tried to harm her.¡±


    If Lu Yunge and his siblings were present and saw this scene, they would only say indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s just her basic practice.¡±


    In terms of arrogance, she was even more arrogant when she blinded the bigshot¡¯s right eye with a dart in Country F.


    However, Su Qingya was extremely unfamiliar with this side of Lu Haiqiao.


    Fortunately, there was a mask covering her face. Otherwise, Lu Haiqiao would have seen the panic and embarrassment on her face.


    That thing was in her hand. She must have seen it before.


    At the thought of this, Su Qingya felt her face burn as if she had been pped. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. What do you mean by trying to harm her? She isn¡¯t worth my attention!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Lu Haiqiao narrowed her eyes dangerously. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your idea to let Su Jinchang kidnap my mother and force me to submit to him?¡±


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t spout nonsense!¡± That was a thought that shed through Su Qingya¡¯s mind when she attended a socialite banquet. At that time, she had only sent it to Su Jinchang as a suggestion.


    In front of Lu Haiqiao, Su Qingya would never admit it.


    WeChat chat records were such a private thing. As long as she didn¡¯t make it public, no matter how powerful Lu Haiqiao was, it was impossible for her to see it.


    Seeing this, Lu Haiqiao took out his phone, pulled Su Qingya back from the WeChat cklist, and sent her a screenshot.


    It was the chat log between her and Su Jinchang. Every line was there.


    Especially thest part, which came from Su Qingya.


    ¡°It¡¯s a waste for that shameless woman to live. She¡¯ll at least have some value if we can use her to make Lu Haiqiao surrender..¡±

 Chapter 70 - 70: Saying the Most Ruthless Thing

    Chapter 70: Saying the Most Ruthless Thing


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao was very protective.


    No one could say anything bad about the person she cared about, let alone hurt them.


    Therefore, to her, the word ¡°shameless¡± was extremely insulting.


    She sat up straight with her left elbow on the countertop and her chin in her palm.


    ¡°The person who executed it deserves to die. The one who came up with the idea isn¡¯t innocent either.


    ¡°Su Qingya, you¡¯ve blocked your only way out, understand?¡±


    She used the sweetest voice to say the most ruthless and fierce words. Lu Haiqiao was like this.


    Even so, Su Qingya still couldn¡¯t believe that the useless Lu Haiqiao had such ability.


    Who was helping her behind the scenes?


    At the same time, in a vi in the middle of the mountain.


    The sun was setting, and the afterglow dyed the sky a beautiful fiery red.


    In the suspended observation tform with three white steel pirs as the base, Xie Xuan satzily in a grayish-white armchair with a thinptop on his knees.


    He heard footsteps at that moment.


    He slowly looked up. Before he saw who it was, Zhou Nuo¡¯s teasing voice entered his ears. ¡°Brother Xuan, you¡¯re here? Didn¡¯t you go on a date? You¡¯re back so early!¡±


    When he got closer, Zhou Nuo threw something at Xie Xuan. ¡°Here, I just took two cans of beer from the fridge. I¡¯ll give you one.¡±


    After catching it steadily, Xie Xuan opened it with one hand. After the sizzling sound of bubbles died down, he took a sip.


    Zhou Nuo sat down on the sofa beside him. ¡°Hey, I heard that the girl you like is Lu Yunge¡¯s cousin?¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan nced at him coldly. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Zhou Nuo raised her eyebrows and snuggled into the soft sofa as if she had no bones. ¡°Who am I? I¡¯m Zhou Nuo, Young Master Zhou, the center of the global informationwork. As long as I want to know, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t find out.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile, ¡°Then why haven¡¯t we heard any news about the paintings ¡®Flower Moon¡¯ and ¡®Night¡¯? Is it because you don¡¯t want to know?¡±


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    He should have put some mute medicine in the beer to silence his hurtful mouth!


    Xie Xuan ced the beer can on the side table and picked up his charging phone without paying any attention to Zhou Nuo.


    As he moved, Zhou Nuo noticed the string of dragon¡¯s eye bodhi seeds wrapped around his left wrist.


    Upon closer inspection, he realized the red bracelet was gone.


    Zhou Nuo was shocked.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s grandmother, who passed away a few years ago, had obtained it from Guanyin Temple for him.


    The sp was customized ording to the double X symbol, and not only that, but a special chip embedded inside allowed it to sense GPS positioning and served as a pass to enter any floor of the F country¡¯s Double X Group headquarters and the branch in City B.


    From the moment he put it on, other than showering and high-intensity physical training, Xie Xuan had never taken it off.


    ¡°Brother Xuan, that bracelet of yours¡­¡±


    Xie Xuan clicked on the screen to enter WeChat, saw no messagesing in, and his eyes shed with disappointment before he put down the phone and continued typing rapidly on hisptop keyboard.


    Hearing Zhou Nuo¡¯s question, he answered absent-mindedly, ¡°Yes, I exchanged it for a string of prayer beads with someone.¡±


    Zhou Nuo sat up straight and asked seriously, ¡°Could that person be Lu Yunge¡¯s cousin?¡±


    The sound of typing on the keyboard stopped abruptly. Xie Xuan looked at him expressionlessly. ¡°You think you¡¯re quite smart, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Judging by the tone, it wasn¡¯t.


    Just as Zhou Nuo heaved a sigh of relief, he heard Xie Xuan say, ¡°But this time, you are actually correct..¡±

 Chapter 71 - 71: Protect Her

    Chapter 71: Protect Her


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    Damn it, couldn¡¯t he say everything in one go?


    Was it fun to keep people in suspense?


    ¡°It¡¯s really her?¡± Zhou Nuo stood up excitedly. ¡°Brother Xuan, let me tell you. This girl has another cousin. He¡¯s Lu Yunge¡¯s younger brother, Lu Xuege.


    ¡°This guy is an out-and-out idiot. You¡¯ll also be an idiot if you go out with his cousin!¡±


    Zhou Nuo was being polite when he called Lu Xuege an idiot.


    Zhou Nuo felt that Lu Xuege deserved to be called the worst kind of names.


    Lu Xuege had cracked the password Zhou Nuo had set and arrogantly left the words ¡°you¡¯re an idiot¡± on theputer screen. For that, he deserved the most vicious curse.


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan said coldly, ¡°So, you¡¯re drinking the beer from an idiot¡¯s fridge, does that make you an idiot?¡±


    The moment he said that Zhou Nuo finished thest bit of beer in the can. He froze on the spot with the empty can in his hand. It was extremely awkward.


    After calming down, Zhou Nuo sat down again. ¡°Brother Xuan, are you serious?¡±


    Actually, this question was unnecessary.


    No one understood the importance of that bracelet more than Xie Xuan himself.


    To have given it away, he must have thought about it carefully.


    The open-n viewing tform faced a wide swimming pool, and the sparkling water reflected a warm orange glow from the setting sun.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze stopped on the string of Dragon Eye Bodhi on his left wrist. Recalling the serious look on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s face when she put the prayer beads on him, a gentleness gradually gathered in his beautiful eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m very serious about her.¡± His tone was very soft, but it was filled with determination.


    Zhou Nuo shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not a question of whether you¡¯re serious or not. It¡¯s a question of how to proceed in the future.


    ¡°I know that the Lu family has a certain amount of power in Country F, but that¡¯s outside the borders after all. It¡¯s impossible for you not to understand the logic.¡±


    He had never seen Lu Haiqiao in person, but he had heard from Xie San that she looked like a soft and weak girl.


    If she really had such a personality, even walking with Xie Xuan would put him under unimaginable pressure, let alone join the Xie family.


    In the Xie family, other than Xie Guangde¡¯s branch, there were all kinds of coteral rtives and inws. In addition¡­


    Zhou Nuo sighed, not daring to think further.


    The observation tform fell into a strange silence.


    After an unknown period of time, Xie Xuan raised his head.


    He remembered asking her if she was afraid.


    How did she answer back then?


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m scared. Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m so scared that I¡¯m crying?¡± He was amazed that she could make a joke under such circumstances. ¡°Since I¡¯m going to be with her, I have the responsibility to protect her.¡± Zhou Nuo¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Then did you ask her if she wanted that?


    ¡°Perhaps she only wants a calm and stable life. Even if she likes you, she might not be willing to apany you through those bloody storms.¡± Even if she wanted to, she had to be able to bear it.


    If she couldn¡¯t take it, even if Xie Xuan didn¡¯t mind, he would onlv be


    protecting a burden.


    She would hold him back.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I advise you to find a time to talk to her. Once you¡¯re done, at least you won¡¯t have any regrets.¡±


    ¡°We will definitely talk about it, but now isn¡¯t the time¡­¡±


    The moment Xie Xuan finished speaking, Zhou Nuo suddenly stood up..

 Chapter 72 - 72: It Seems Too Early

    Chapter 72: It Seems Too Early


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At this moment, a ss cup ced on the coffee table wobbled and fell to the ground with a ng, shattering into several pieces.


    Zhou Nuo jumped. When he turned to look, a trace of fear shed across his face. ¡°Why did the cup fall?¡±


    ¡°You brushed against it when you passed by, ¡± Xie Xuan said without looking up. After saying that, he seemed to have thought of something and was stunned.


    ¡°Were you frightened just now?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not mentally prepared. It¡¯s normal for me to be frightened when a ss is suddenly smashed.¡± Zhou Nuo was focused on finding a servant to clean up the ss shards. ¡°Hey, Brother Xuan, where¡¯s Aunt Zhu? Is she on leave today?¡±


    Be mentally prepared¡­


    It was a normal reaction to be frightened¡­


    Xie Xuan raised his beer can and took another sip. After a few seconds of contemtion, he stopped frowning.


    It seemed too early to say some things.


    At the caf¨¦ on the other side.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, don¡¯t you just want money? Be straightforward. How much do you want?¡± Su Qingya, who was suffering from psychological torture, suddenly clenched her fists. Because of the mask, her voice was deliberately muffled.


    ¡°Do you want to give me as much as I want?¡± Lu Haiqiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°If so, then I want this number¡­¡¯


    As she spoke, she raised her right hand and spread her slender and fair fingers, waving them in front of Su Qingya¡¯s eyes.


    Five hundred thousand?


    The number softened Su Qingya¡¯s expression.


    She took out her phone and unlocked it as she whispered, ¡°Give me your bank ount number. I¡¯ll get someone to transfer five hundred thousand to your ountter.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Haiqiao snorted. ¡°In your eyes, those photos and videos are worth five hundred thousand only?¡±


    Su Qingya held her breath. ¡°How much do you want?¡±


    ¡°I want¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao smiled sweetly. ¡°500 million¡­¡±


    Upon hearing this, Su Qingya¡¯s widened eyes overflowed with resentment and disbelief. ¡°You¡­


    Lu Haiqiao slowly interrupted her. ¡°500 million¡­ I guess you don¡¯t have that much, so I was joking with you.¡±


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao!¡±


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°I was teasing you just now. Now, we have to get to the point.


    ¡°Su Qingya, I can give you the things for free. After all, 500 billion is nothing to me.


    ¡°But there¡¯s something you have to do well for me before I consider returning it to you.¡±


    Su Qingya hated him, but she had no choice but toply. ¡°Tell me, what is


    The corners of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°I want all the information about that piece ofnd that Su Jinchang has his eyes on.¡±


    ¡°The Pan family¡¯snd¡­¡± Su Qingya nced around nervously, then leaned forward and lowered her voice even more. ¡°You want me to steal Dad¡¯s¡­


    Lu Haiqiao shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s your business how you achieve your goal. I¡¯m only concerned about when I get the information.¡±


    With that, she stood up.


    Before she left, she said a few words. ¡°Take your time. There¡¯s no hurry. However, don¡¯t make me wait too long. If I could get information from your phone, I would have the ability to make these things appear on theputers of all the employees of the Su Corporation. You can decide if you want to save your dignity or protect your father.¡±


    Walking out of the cafe, Lu Haiqiao stopped in her tracks.


    Her gaze swept across the busy streets. She silently lowered her eyes and smiled a little.


    Actually, she was shocked when he saw those things..

 Chapter 73 - 73: The Only Person I Like Is Enough

    Chapter 73: The Only Person I Like Is Enough


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The check-in record of the five-star hotel, the hot dance in the ballroom of the secret club, and the suggestive moans in the dark corner¡­


    Every frame was extravagant and vulgar.


    After getting into the car, Lu Haiqiao fastened her seatbelt and sighed.


    It would be fine if Su Qingya was dating a proper boyfriend, but those men could provide any service as long as she paid enough money¡­


    No wonder Su Qingya was nervous.


    The Su Corporation¡¯s eldest daughter, who had always been high and mighty, had been caught on camera like that. In particr, she was naked in a few images. If Su Jinchang found out, he would even chase her out of the Su family.


    She hoped that Su Qingya could reflect on her past while she was thinking about it. If¡­


    When a certain thought shed through her mind, Lu Haiqiao smiled.


    In just two seconds, she suppressed the moment of weakness that attacked her.


    The cycle of karma was now stuck in a dead end. It was also the path she had chosen back then.


    Lu Haiqiao drove around the old neighborhood quite a few times but still couldn¡¯t find a suitable parking spot. In the end, she drove to the Lu family¡¯s vi in the suburbs.


    The automatic independent parking space on the third basement floor could protect her ¡°good friend¡± from the elements.


    Back home, Lu Wanxin was on the phone.


    Perhaps because she thought that Lu Haiqiao hadn¡¯t returned yet, her voice was a little loud.


    ¡°Brother, you and Dad have taken care of me for so many years. I will always remember this kindness in my heart.¡±


    Hearing the word ¡°brother¡±, Lu Haiqiao guessed that the person on the other end of the phone was her uncle, Lu Jianyuan.


    But ¡°care¡± and ¡°kindness¡±?


    They were a family to begin with. Was there a need to use such polite terms?


    Lu Wanxin continued.


    ¡°Some things can¡¯t be avoided. I guess I¡¯m just selfish. I did all this for Haiqiao.


    ¡°I know that you, Dad, and Sister-inw dote on Haiqiao, but¡­


    ¡°The only one? They¡¯re talking about that now? There are thousands of people here. Can¡¯t they even choose one person? Don¡¯t exaggerate.


    ¡°Haiqiao is the only one I have, and I¡¯m not going to say yes no matter what. ¡°I chose to stay in B City back then because Haiqiao could.. ¡®


    Lu Wanxin¡¯s eyes darkened when she heard the noise. She immediately lowered her voice. ¡°If they don¡¯t agree and insist on using Haiqiao, don¡¯t me me for being rude.


    ¡°Alright, Brother, let¡¯s leave this matter at that. Anyway, Dad has the same intention. Please handle it.


    ¡°I think Haiqiao is back. I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    After ending the call, Lu Wanxin turned around and saw Lu Haiqiao standing at the bedroom door. A doting smile appeared on her charming face.


    ¡°Baby, you¡¯re back. Have you eaten?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao stood rooted to the ground. ¡°Mom, what were you talking about with Uncle just now?¡±


    Lu Wanxin¡¯s face stiffened, but she quickly regained her smile. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing. Your uncle found a date for you in Country F. He said that he¡¯s handsome and has a good character. He wanted to arrange a time for you to meet, but I immediately rejected him.


    ¡°You have everything a woman should have, and men are lining up for you. Why do you need to go on blind dates?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Although it was the truth, there was no need to exaggerate.


    Moreover, there was only one person she liked. Too many options would be too


    annoying..

 Chapter 74 - 74: I’ll Wait for You

    Chapter 74: I¡¯ll Wait for You


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions | Editor: Henyee Trantions


    But a blind date¡­


    Lu Haiqiao gave Lu Wanxin a suspicious look.


    It wasn¡¯t that this reason didn¡¯t make sense, but when she thought about it carefully, she felt that something was wrong.


    ¡°By the way, baby, have you eaten? If you haven¡¯t, I¡¯ll make you some noodles.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao took out her phone.


    Her matter was settled, so she had to exin it to someone.


    While typing, she replied to Lu Wanxin halfheartedly, ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I¡¯m not hungry now. ¡±


    The moment she finished speaking, she sent a WeChat message.


    ¡°I¡¯m home. If you¡¯re free now, why don¡¯t we have dinner together?¡±


    It was only eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Even if he had eaten, walking together could help him digest.


    At the top of the chat box, the words ¡°The other party is typing¡± stayed there for a long time.


    The phone vibrated, and Xie Xuan replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have something urgent to attend to. Wait for me.


    Wait for me¡­


    Lu Haiqiao was moved by these three words.


    ¡°Sure!¡± She replied promptly.


    She would wait for him no matter what.


    Back to 20 minutes ago.


    Zhou Nuo, who had finished cleaning up the ss shards, was talking to Xie Xuan when hurried footsteps came from the stairs.


    After a while, Xie Er appeared at the door. When he saw Zhou Nuo, he respectfully greeted thetter and quickly walked to Xie Xuan.


    ¡°Boss, something happened to Bin.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xie Xuan stopped typing on the keyboard. The moment he looked up, a vicious aura suddenly rose between his brows.


    Zhou Nuo was one of them, so there was no need to keep things from him. Xie


    Er reported truthfully, ¡°Dr. Zhu said that Bin was fine after the anti-inmmatory injection in the evening, but he suddenly lost control of his emotions when changing the bandage just now. He¡¯s crying, making a fuss, and trembling.¡±


    Crying, fussing, and shaking all over?


    Zhou Nuo frowned. ¡°Brother Xuan, could it be¡­


    Before he could finish, Xie Xuan closed hisptop and stood up. ¡°Stop guessing. Let¡¯s go take a look.¡±


    It was about an hour¡¯s drive from the vi in the mountainous area to Dr. Zhu¡¯s clinic.


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t let Xie Er drive. Instead, he instructed him to drive another car and follow behind him.


    At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, two cars drove into the underground parking lot of the clinic.


    The elevator had just reached the third floor where the ward was when a miserable roar came from the other end of the corridor.


    It was Bin¡¯s voice.


    When he pushed open the ward door, Xie Xuan saw a mess.


    Bin, who was wearing a striped hospital gown, was tied to the bed by a thick rope. However, this confinement didn¡¯t improve his condition. Instead, it made him struggle even harder.


    ¡°Let go of me. Let go of me¡­


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be tied up. It hurts, it hurts!


    As he screamed in pain, his tears flowed uncontrobly, soaking his dark face.


    He was a tough man. Even when his shoulder was injured by the arrow, his expression didn¡¯t change, and he didn¡¯t cry out in pain.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s sharp gazended on Dr. Zhu, who was standing guard at the side.


    ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    Dr. Zhu¡¯s exnation wasn¡¯t much different from Xie Er¡¯s report.


    At this moment, Bin, who had noticed Xie Xuan¡¯s presence, seemed to have seen hope. His eyes lit up. ¡°Boss, boss!¡±


    Xie Xuan wasn¡¯t afraid of him losing control at all. He walked to the bed and said, ¡°I¡¯m here!¡±


    ¡°Boss¡­¡± Bin¡¯s tears flowed even more fiercely. His deep voice became hoarse from his roar.. ¡°Boss, I beg you, shoot me and let me die¡­¡±

 Chapter 75 - 75: Wipe Them Out

    Chapter 75: Wipe Them Out


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions | Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Bin panted and cried. As he cried, he babbled and begged.


    Xie Xuan averted his gaze and clenched his fists.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the door.


    Dr. Zhu went over to open the door. A nurse stood outside. ¡°Dr. Zhu, this is the blood test report of Patient 03.¡± 03 was the ward number of Bin.


    Dr. Zhu took the report and waved his hand. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    He closed the door and handed the report to Xie Xuan. ¡°Young Master Xuan¡­


    Just as Xie Xuan flipped open the report and quickly browsed through the contents, someone¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    Xie Er took out his phone and answered the call. He said coldly, ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±


    ¡°Boss.¡± After hanging up, Xie Er quickly reported, ¡°It wasn¡¯t the medical staff here who gave Bin the anti-inmmatory injection this afternoon.¡±


    Dr. Zhu was shocked. ¡°How is this possible?¡±


    Xie Er nced at him sharply. ¡°Although the person in the surveince camera is wearing a mask, there¡¯s no mistake afterparing the appearance and figure of all the medical staff in the clinic.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xie Xuan closed the report and threw it to Xie Er. He turned to look at Dr. Zhu. ¡°In other words, someone has sneaked in.¡±


    From his tone, he seemed to have guessed who had done it to Bin.


    Dr. Zhu was so flustered that a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.


    A few days ago, when Xie Xuan sent Bin here to recuperate, he had sworn that he would heal Bin¡¯s wound in the shortest time possible. Now that such a thing had happened, although he didn¡¯t intend to, he still had to take responsibility.


    In the silent single ward, only Bin, who was exhausted from shouting, lowered his head and trembled.


    After an unknown period of time, Dr. Zhu¡¯s trembling voice broke the stiffness in the ward. ¡°Young Master Xuan¡­ I¡¯m willing¡­ to bear all the responsibility.¡±


    If he took the initiative to admit his mistake, the punishment would be much lighter.


    Xie Xuan nced at Xie Er, who quickly understood what he meant and handed the blood test report to Dr. Zhu.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the report. I don¡¯t have to tell you what to do.¡± As he spoke, Xie Xuan walked to Bin¡¯s bed. His tone was firm. ¡°If you¡¯re a man, don¡¯t talk about wanting to die. I don¡¯t need such a useless brother!¡±


    Bin raised his head with difficulty when he heard the voice. ¡°Boss¡­¡±


    Perhaps the effect of the medicine had died down, Bin stopped struggling.


    However, he could still vaguely feel the bone-piercing pain that came in Xie Xuan patted him on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make him pay a hundred times for hurting you!¡±


    As he spoke, he straightened up and tilted his head to look at Dr. Zhu. ¡°Do you understand?¡±


    At this moment, Dr. Zhu was like a frightened bird, and he didn¡¯t dare to be negligent at all.


    He understood that the phrase ¡°repay a hundred times¡± wasn¡¯t only referring to the person who had infiltrated the clinic, but also to him.


    If Bin couldn¡¯t recover, then¡­


    At the thought of this, the cold sweat on Dr. Zhu¡¯s forehead increased.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I understand.¡± Even if he had to risk his life, he had to treat Bin.


    After telling Bin to get some rest, Xie Xuan left the ward.


    Xie Er followed closely behind.


    Before reaching the elevator, Xie Xuan stopped in his tracks.


    Xie Er understood and went forward. ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    Xie Xuan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.


    He raised his chin slightly and ced his left hand, which was wearing the Dragon Eye Bodhi, behind his back habitually. He said casually, ¡°Destroy their nest..¡±

 Chapter 76 - 76: Give Him a Wife

    Chapter 76: Give Him a Wife


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    As soon as he finished speaking, a coldness that had been suppressed for a long time appeared in Xie Er¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes.¡±


    In any case, he had done this often in the past. There was no difference in doing it again.


    ¡°Also, find the person who sneaked into the clinic, but don¡¯t kill him just yet.¡± Xie Xuan looked out of the window beside him. The moon was shining brightly tonight, but hidden behind the silence was endless killing intent.


    ¡°And..


    Xie Er was about to turn around when he heard the voice. He immediately stopped in his tracks.


    ¡°That Pan Ning¡­¡± Xie Xuan turned around and faced Xie Er. ¡°Isn¡¯t he in a hurry to find a wife? Then give him a wife. With a woman at home watching over him, he won¡¯t have the time toe to B City to cause trouble.¡±


    Xie Er, who was still filled with killing intent a second ago, blinked in confusion when he heard this.


    What¡­ was Boss trying to do?


    This was the first time he had heard such an order.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan looked up and hooked his finger at Xie Er.


    Xie Er, who was full of doubts, bent down slightly and leaned forward. ¡°How about this? Go and find such a person ording to my request¡­


    ¡°Then tell that old man from the Pan family¡­¡±


    Xie Er was dumbfounded.


    Was Boss joking or for real?


    If it was for real, it would be too despicable!


    Xie Er swallowed. He wasn¡¯t sure, so he stood rooted to the ground.


    Xie Xuan nced at him strangely. ¡°Hurry up and do it. What are you waiting


    ¡°Boss, are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡±


    His tone was light, but his expression was serious. He was definitely serious. Xie Er scratched the back of his head. ¡°Then¡­ Boss, should we first take down the nest or find that man a wife?¡±


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows. ¡°Huh?¡± Then, he asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Xie Er didn¡¯t know what to say.


    He and Xie Da would wipe out the nest, and Xie San could find that person.


    Perfect!


    For the entire night, Lu Haiqiao dawdled.


    It took her more than three hours to take a shower, apply a facial mask, and then lie on the bed after applying skincare products.


    If not for that, she would have felt that time was very, very slow.


    Lying on the bed, Lu Haiqiao stared at the ceiling in a daze. She threw her phone beside the pillow.


    Too many things had happened during the day, so much so that she felt a little tired.


    However, she was still thinking about the phone call she had identally heard when she went home.


    A favor¡­


    Running away¡­


    The only one¡­


    What did her mother mean by what she said to her uncle?


    It would have been fine if it was just a problem between the previous generation, but the topic even brought her up¡­


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s thoughts were a little chaotic. As she thought about it, she began to doze off.


    Just as she was about to fall asleep, she vaguely heard the sound of rain hitting the window sill.


    At this moment, a vibration came from the pillow.


    Lu Haiqiao woke up in a second. She narrowed her eyes and reached for her phone.


    A WeChat message popped up on the locked phone screen. The continuous vibration indicated that it was a voice call.


    Lu Haiqiao unlocked the screen and clicked on WeChat. In the background of the ck screen, the profile picture of ¡°Mystery¡± was popping up and down.


    His profile picture was very cute, which was a cartoon marshmallow with pink cheeks.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s heart was beating wildly. She took a deep breath and answered the call.


    The moment she ced the phone to her ear, Xie Xuan¡¯s voice came from the receiver.. ¡°Did I wake you up?

 Chapter 77 - 77: Haiqiao, I’m Xie Xuan

    Chapter 77: Haiqiao, I¡¯m Xie Xuan


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao suddenly sat up. She moved her phone away and cleared her throat softly, making it sound less muddled.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m still awake.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, she felt her face heat up for no reason.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, what¡¯s wrong with you? It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t taken his call before. Why are you so nervous?¡±


    While she was secretlyining, she noticed that Xie Xuan was silent for a long time after his first sentence.


    The sound of the rain entered her ears. Lu Haiqiao looked up at the window. The sound of the rain didn¡¯te from her side but from Xie Xuan¡¯s side. She made a bold guess. ¡°Are you¡­ not at home now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I just finished my business. I¡¯m not home yet.¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s voice was low and deep as if he was suppressing some kind of emotion. After a while, he suddenly said, ¡°Haiqiao¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly. This was the first time he had called her name like this.


    After about half a minute, Xie Xuan said, ¡°Haiqiao, I¡¯m Xie Xuan.¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyebrows twitched. He wasn¡¯t in the right state tonight.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said.


    There was another silence.


    After a while, Lu Haiqiao spoke first. ¡°Did something happen to you?¡± Xie Xuan suddenly chuckled and pretended to be rxed. ¡°I guess so.¡±


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been resolved?¡± If it had been, he wouldn¡¯t have sounded like that.


    Xie Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time.¡±


    Then, he seemed to have something to say, but he did not know how to say it. He was about to call her name when he changed the topic. ¡°By the way, why are you still awake sote?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao sat cross-legged on the bed and casually picked up a cushion. ¡°I have to keep my promise.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Xie Xuan asked in confusion.


    ¡°Someone asked me to wait for him, and I said yes. If I went to bed, wouldn¡¯t I be breaking my promise?¡±


    She spoke slowly with her unique childish voice. Her slightly raised tone was filled with mischief.


    Xie Xuan sat in the car and looked at the front window which was blurred by the heavy rain. For some reason, his chaotic emotions gradually calmed down. It was because of the woman on the other end of the phone.


    Lu Haiqiao definitely didn¡¯t know that Xie Xuan had hesitated for a long time before making this voice call.


    After leaving the clinic, he and Xie Er went to visit Bin¡¯s parents.


    He couldn¡¯t reveal his identity, so he could only im to be Bin¡¯s friend.


    Perhaps no one usually came to the house, the two elders were very enthusiastic when they saw the guests. They served them with tea and fruits. Before leaving, they rejected the cheque that Xie Er handed over.


    The olddy shook her head firmly. ¡°We can¡¯t ept this money. Our lives are very good now. We¡¯re very satisfied. Look, Bin bought this house for us. Just this living room is so big that there¡¯s an echo when we speak.


    ¡°Now that Bin is busy with his career outside and doing what he likes to do, the two of us will stay at home and recuperate. Only when we¡¯re healthy can we let him have no worries.


    ¡°You¡¯re Bin¡¯s friends. You¡¯ll definitely meet often. Please remind him to take good care of himself. Although he¡¯s busy, he should look after himself.¡±


    The simple words were filled with parents¡¯ love for their son.


    Xie Xuan pursed his lips and did not say anything.


    In the end, it was Xie Er who answered, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re friends. We have to take care of each other.¡±


    Xie Xuan suddenly recalled what Zhou Nuo had said earlier.


    ¡°Perhaps she only wants a calm and stable life. Even if she likes you, she might not be willing to apany you through those bloody storms..¡±

 Chapter 78 - 78: Both of Us

    Chapter 78: Both of Us


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At this moment, he was a little shaken.


    There was also worry and fear that he had never felt before.


    If she really didn¡¯t want to, or couldn¡¯t take it, what should he do?


    On the way back alone, he actually thought about this question seriously.


    If she was unwilling, he wouldn¡¯t force her.


    However, if she couldn¡¯t take it, would he bear to see her under constant, immense pressure that shouldn¡¯t have been hers?


    The answer is obviously no.


    Then what should he do if he couldn¡¯t bear to?


    What choice did he have?


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s voice woke him up from his reverie.


    ¡°Are you thinking about the unresolved matter?¡±


    Xie Xuan was stunned. ¡°Huh? Right..


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Lu Haiqiao rested her chin on the pillow. Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ear. ¡°I¡¯ve already given you my good fortune. Everything will be fine.


    She was referring to the string of dragon-eyed bodhi.


    Hearing that, Xie Xuan chuckled.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you my blessing as well?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°So we¡¯re even. We¡¯ll both be safe and lucky.¡±


    Both of us.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s toote. Go to sleep.¡± Xie Xuan gave up on the original topic and coaxed her in a soft voice.


    Actually, he wasn¡¯t prepared. If he asked rashly, he might scare her.


    Moreover, he didn¡¯t know where to start.


    But there was one thing he knew very well.


    He liked her because every time he thought of her, it was as if he had met her for the first time.


    The next morning, at 8:40 am, Lu Haiqiao went to work at the magazine agency as usual.


    When she reached the elevator, the other employees in the same building saw her.


    ¡°Look, look, it¡¯s Lu Haiqiao from the magazine agency on the same floor as us.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one who was taken away by the police yesterday. They said she hurt someone.¡±


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s only been a day. No, just a few hours. She¡¯s back already? Could there be a mistake?¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? There¡¯s really been a mistake. Why would theye to the office to arrest someone?¡±


    ¡°But I heard from their magazine agency that this Lu Haiqiao is amazing. She has a few sugar daddies and has different cars to send her to work every day. Maybe one of the sugar daddies helped her settle it.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. I really couldn¡¯t tell that such an innocent-looking person is actually like that.¡±


    ¡°What a joke. If she didn¡¯t have any connections, how could she be released so quickly?¡±


    ¡°Stay away from this kind of woman. She¡¯s the most disgusting person in the world!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled when she heard the nasty words at close range.


    It was hard to imagine the scene when she returned to the magazine agency.


    She turned around and shot an extremely cold look at the whispering people.


    They were either embarrassed by being caught gossiping or were shocked by Lu Haiqiao¡¯s gaze. All those employees immediately stopped talking. They looked at the ground, fumbled in their bags, and didn¡¯t say anything until the elevator door opened.


    As she expected, when she walked into the office, almost all the colleagues in the magazine focused their attention on Lu Haiqiao.


    They gathered in groups of twos and threes and secretly sized up Lu Haiqiao while discussing softly. The content was simr to what she had heard in the elevator.


    At this moment, she heard the sound of high heels. Her colleagues greeted the person as Miss Fang, and a woman¡¯s voice filled with mockery rang out.


    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t this Miss Lu?


    ¡°How was it? Was it fun at the police station?¡±

 Chapter 79 - 79: Just Say What You Have to Say

    Chapter 79: Just Say What You Have to Say


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Fang Chuoqi looked Lu Haiqiao up and down as she walked to her seat under her colleague¡¯s gaze. Her lips curled into a malicious smile.


    She stepped forward and ced one hand on the table to stop Lu Haiqiao from sitting down. ¡°You must have spent a lot of effort to please your sugar daddyst night. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t havee out so quickly.


    ¡°Speaking of which, your sugar daddy is really powerful. The assault case isn¡¯t a small crime. Even if someone settles it for you, it doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯re innocent.


    ¡°So let¡¯s wait for the boss to talk to you. He¡¯s such a prideful person. Do you think he¡¯ll keep you at the magazine agency?


    ¡°Maybe you have the ability to get your sugar daddy to settle the boss, or if you..


    At this point, the whispers in the office suddenly disappeared. The people gathered in twos and threes returned to their seats, not even daring to raise their heads.


    However, Fang Chuoqi didn¡¯t feel anything. She still arrogantly stretched out her other hand. When her index finger pointed at Lu Haiqiao, she even moved her finger exaggeratedly.


    ¡°You can settle the boss yourself. As for how to do that, I¡¯m sure we all know, right?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, a deep voice came from behind. ¡°You¡¯ve made yourself clear. What method is she going to use to deal with me?¡±


    Hearing this, Fang Chuoqi was shocked.


    She turned around stiffly and saw the manager standing not far behind her. Her expression immediately changed from sarcasm to ttery.


    ¡°Good morning, Mr. Song. Have you had breakfast? If not, what do you want to eat? I¡¯ll prepare it immediately!¡±


    The manager was Mr. Song. He was in his fifties and of average height. He had a middle-aged protruding belly.


    He nced at Fang Chuoqi coldly before his gazended on Lu Haiqiao.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao,e to my office.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Before entering the office, Lu Haiqiao took out her phone and quickly sent a WeChat message.


    The office door was mmed shut.


    It was obvious that the boss wasn¡¯t in a good mood today.


    Some gossipy colleagues tried to eavesdrop. The office had a good soundproofing system, and they could only hear a few incoherent words.


    When Mr. Song closed the door and turned around, he saw Lu Haiqiao taking the initiative to sit down at his desk. His expression instantly darkened.


    He didn¡¯t let her sit, but she was already seated. Did she take her boss seriously?


    Although his emotions were shown on his face, he didn¡¯t say anything. He paced slowly around Lu Haiqiao and said, ¡°I called you in to talk to you about what happened yesterday.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao continued indifferently, ¡°Mr. Song, if you have anything to say, just say it. Don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡±


    Mr. Song was embarrassed.


    ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s what you want. So be it.¡±


    Mr. Song returned to his seat, pulled out a chair, and sat down. ¡°Lu Haiqiao, we¡¯re media people. What¡¯s the first element of media people? It¡¯s to be decent and upright. If one¡¯s own actions are wrong, how authentic do you think the things reported are? Can the readers still trust us?¡±


    ¡°I agree with you.¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded casually. ¡°But I have to point out one thing. Being upright is not the first element of a media person. It¡¯s the first element of being a person. People with bad behavior, whether they are media people or not, can¡¯t survive in society..¡±

 Chapter 80 - 80: Bring Father Here to Apologize

    Chapter 80: Bring Father Here to Apologize


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Mr. Song was rendered speechless again.


    He sighed deeply and ced his palms together in an old-fashioned posture in front of the table. ¡°How about this, Lu Haiqiao? I don¡¯t care what the truth is, but it¡¯s a fact that you were taken away by the police yesterday.


    ¡°Only the people in the same office building areughing at us now, and it hasn¡¯t reached the ears of our peers yet, but in this age, some things can spread very quickly. This industry is already verypetitive. If our reputation is tarnished, our magazine agency won¡¯t be able to survive anymore.


    ¡°So, I hope you¡­ Well¡­. What about you¡­¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the office door. The people outside were all talking.


    Mr. Song said irritably, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    The assistant outside the door replied, ¡°Mr. Song, a few police officers are here.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mr. Song frowned.


    Why were the police here again?


    It must be because Lu Haiqiao¡¯s matter yesterday hadn¡¯t been resolved, so he came to arrest her today.


    As he thought about it, his face darkened, and he red at Lu Haiqiao. ¡°It¡¯s you again!¡±


    After saying this, the CEO stood up, opened the door, and walked out of the office to see what had happened.


    Lu Haiqiao followed behind expressionlessly.


    In the middle of the office area, a man in uniform stood upright with his hands behind his back. Beside him was a middle-aged man in a ck suit and a young man with his head lowered.


    There were also a few police officers at the side.


    Mr. Song recognized him at a nce. The person in the middle was the police chief, Qin Liyan.


    He immediately smiled obsequiously. He stretched out his hands and said as he walked, ¡°Wee, Director Qin. What brings you here? I¡¯m so ttered¡­¡± Hearing the voice, Qin Liyan nodded slightly and walked over at the same time.


    When Mr. Song thought they were going to shake their hands, he suddenly felt a gust of wind beside him.


    Stunned, he turned around.


    Qin Liyan had no intention of greeting him. After brushing past him, he walked straight to Lu Haiqiao.


    Mr. Song awkwardly stretched out his hand and stood rooted to the ground.


    ¡°Hello, Miss Lu. I¡¯m Qin Liyan. Mr. Pan Ning is the intiff in the assault case. This is his father, Pan Youcheng. I brought them here today to apologize to you.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was dumbfounded.


    She had sent Qin Liyan a WeChat message just now, saying that her boss wanted to cause trouble for her because of what happened yesterday, but that was only three to four minutes ago. Qin Liyan seemed to have been prepared for this¡­


    And what did he just call her?


    Miss Lu?


    Didn¡¯t he always call her Qiaoqiao in the past?


    Why was he so polite today?


    ¡°Uncle Qin, why are you here so quickly?¡± She blinked and leaned forward slightly as she whispered.


    Qin Liyan raised his eyebrows at her but didn¡¯t exin. Instead, he turned around and said to the middle-aged man in the ck suit, ¡°Mr. Pan, this is


    Miss Lu, the youngdy who was wrongfully used.¡±


    He deliberately emphasized the words ¡°wrongfully used¡±.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.


    The police chief had brought the intiff to apologize to the defendant?


    Even if they had caught the wrong person, wasn¡¯t this a little too much?


    Amidst the astonishment, Pan Youcheng walked up to Lu Haiqiao and bowed. ¡°Miss Lu, I¡¯m Pan Ning¡¯s father. I¡¯m very sorry about what happened yesterday..¡±

 Chapter 81 - 81: No

    Chapter 81: No


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°I didn¡¯t teach my son well, and Pan Ning is acting so arbitrarily.¡± As he spoke,


    Pan Youcheng turned to look at Pan Ning, and his tone suddenly became stern. ¡°What are you waiting for, you brat? Come over and apologize to Miss Lu.¡± Pan Ning, who had been scolded, dragged his feet forward unwillingly like a defeated rooster.


    When he saw Lu Haiqiao, he recalled the embarrassment that this woman had caused him at the Garden View Restaurant that day. Even if no one had seen it at that time, he still couldn¡¯t get over his frustration.


    While he hesitated, Pan Youcheng¡¯s tone turned stern. ¡°Pan Ning! Have you forgotten what I said before we came?¡±


    Pan Ning pursed his lips in grievance and didn¡¯t say anything.


    Pan Youcheng couldn¡¯t help but step forward and kick him in the back of his knee. ¡°I told you to apologize. Why? Are you mute?¡±


    Pan Ning, who waspletely unprepared, felt a piercing pain. At the same time, he lost his bnce and knelt on one knee.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, I¡­¡±


    He had just opened his mouth when Pan Youcheng hit the back of his head again.


    ¡°Is that how you¡¯re supposed to address Miss Lu?¡± Pan Ning¡¯s eyes were filled with anger, but he had no choice but to remain humble. He pursed his lips tightly. After a few seconds of internal struggle, he said in a low voice, ¡°Miss Lu, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Pan Youcheng¡¯s voice exploded in his ear. ¡°Is that an apology? What are you sorry for?¡±


    Damn¡­


    Due to his father¡¯s presence, Pan Ning maintained his kneeling posture.


    He clenched his fists by his side and gritted his teeth. ¡°That night was a misunderstanding. You didn¡¯t hurt me. I wanted to hurt you and identally hurt my face. Later, I was indignant and wanted to take revenge, so I used my connections to falsely use you. That¡¯s all!¡±


    At this moment, a nosy colleague stuck her head over to observe Pan Ning¡¯s face.


    There was a thin scar on his cheek. If one didn¡¯t look carefully, they wouldn¡¯t notice it at all.


    That colleague nudged the people around her and discussed among themselves. ¡°Is he a man or not? He called that an injury?¡±


    ¡°I think he must have found Lu Haiqiao pretty and wanted to force himself on her. However, she refused, so he tried to get back at her. How shameless, doing that to a woman.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao smiled sarcastically.


    What a bunch of fence-sitters.


    Ignoring the discussions of others, Pan Youcheng looked at Lu Haiqiao sincerely. ¡°Miss Lu, look, Pan Ning has apologized and everything has been exined clearly. Why don¡¯t we just let it go? Please forgive him. I promise there won¡¯t be a next time.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes and nced at Pan Ning. Then, she smiled and said slowly, ¡°No.¡±


    Pan Youcheng didn¡¯t expect such an answer. The speech that he had thought of was stuck in his throat. He didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Hearing this, Pan Ning couldn¡¯t hold back his anger. ¡°Lu Haiqiao, don¡¯t be so shameless. You¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Pan Youcheng pped him and interrupted him.


    Lu Haiqiao wasn¡¯t in the mood to watch their show.


    She looked down at her neatly trimmed fingernails. ¡°Mr. Pan, I¡¯m the victim in this matter, but because of your son, everyone around me now treats me as a vicious criminal. Moreover, I¡¯m a media person.. If a media person is thought to have misconduct, would anyone believe what I report?¡±

 Chapter 82 - 82: Unless Miss Lu Haiqiao Can Forgive Pan Ning

    Chapter 82: Unless Miss Lu Haiqiao Can Forgive Pan Ning


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Mr. Song, who had said the exact words, looked embarrassed.


    She was indeed beautiful, but she was also quite arrogant. Not only was she distant, but she also didn¡¯t listen to orders.


    Although she had never made a mistake in her work, he couldn¡¯t put on the airs of a boss in front of her. It really frustrated him.


    This morning, he really wanted to kick Lu Haiqiao out of the magazine agency, but he didn¡¯t expect the situation to suddenly turn around.


    Pan Youcheng¡¯s face turned pale. He thought that by apologizing sincerely, this matter would be over. He didn¡¯t expect the seemingly gentle and weak girl to be so stubborn.


    He sighed deeply.


    Pan Youcheng¡¯s stomach tightened when he recalled the phone call he received when he returned homest night.


    It was almost nine o¡¯clock at that time.


    Feeling the vibration, Pan Youcheng took out his phone from his suit pocket.


    Seeing that it was an unknown number, he wanted to hang up, but when he identally saw the phone numbers on the screen, he was stunned.


    The caller ID showed that the phone number belonged to B City.


    It was the most unusual number.


    Could it be an advertisement or a scam number?


    Who would want to run a scam at this hour?


    Pan Youcheng picked up the phone.


    ¡°Mr. Pan, your son has caused trouble in B City, so you have to make a trip to clean up his mess.¡±


    That sounded a lot like a scam call.


    Pan Youcheng smiled nonchntly.


    Scammers nowadays were really amazing. They could use the Inte to create such a rare number to scare people.


    Unfortunately, he had been in the industry for decades and wasn¡¯t one of those potential victims.


    Pan Youcheng didn¡¯t think much about it and didn¡¯t even bother to reply. He simply hung up.


    However, he did not expect there to be a follow-up to this matter. In the wee hours of the morning, he was dreaming when his wife suddenly kicked him hard.


    Waking up, he heard Mrs. Pan¡¯s dull and irritable voice say, ¡°Your phone has been ringing for a long time!¡±


    Mrs. Pan was a light sleeper, so she couldn¡¯t bear any noise.


    Pan Youcheng hurriedly reached for his phone. In order not to disturb Mrs. Pan, he could only get out of bed and tiptoe out of the bedroom.


    The call was from his secretary.


    It rang for a long time, but he didn¡¯t pick up, so the secretary called again.


    It seemed to be an urgent matter.


    Pan Youcheng picked up the call and scolded his secretary. When his anger subsided, he said, ¡°Why are you calling me in the middle of the night?¡±


    The secretary felt aggrieved, but he still reported truthfully, ¡°Mr. Pan, ourpany¡¯s financial system has been hacked!¡±


    Pan Youcheng was shocked. ¡°What?¡±


    The secretary continued, ¡°Also, Double X Group is purchasing shares from other shareholders. I heard, I heard..


    Pan Youcheng panicked. ¡°What did you hear?¡±


    The secretary gulped. ¡°I heard that they want to kick you out of the Pan Corporation.¡±


    Pan Youcheng, who was still in a daze, suddenly sobered up.


    He thought of the call he had received earlier.


    After ending the call with his secretary, Pan Youcheng found Pan Ning¡¯s phone number and dialed it.


    After understanding the whole matter, he pped his thigh and shouted, ¡°Oh no!¡± Then, he bought the earliest ne ticket and flew to B City.


    ¡°The other party said that if you want the Pan Corporation to live in peace, Miss Lu Haiqiao had to forgive Pan Ning.¡±


    This was what the police chief, Qin Liyan, had told Pan Youcheng..

 Chapter 83 - 83: Cunning Woman

    Chapter 83: Cunning Woman


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Between his dignity and thepany he had worked for for decades and the son he had raised painstakingly, Pan Youcheng still chose thepany and his son without hesitation.


    He felt that this was the first time in his life that he had been so embarrassed.


    ¡°Miss Lu, Pan Ning was too reckless this time. I¡¯m an old man, but I rushed over from D City before dawn to deal with this matter. That¡¯s how sincere we are. Please forgive him this time.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao thought, ¡°Heh, you¡¯re starting to take advantage of your seniority.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll give you a way out in front of so many people?¡±


    However¡­


    Lu Haiqiao smiled coldly. ¡°Alright, I guess I can forgive him.¡±


    Pan Youcheng¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard that there was hope. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Miss Lu can ask for anything. We¡¯ll try our best to meet your request.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Pan Youcheng nodded repeatedly. ¡°Of course. If we can do it, we will.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll definitely be able to do it.¡± After standing for a long time, Lu Haiqiao was a little tired. She moved his ankles and crossed her arms. ¡°Firstly, it¡¯s not enough for Pan Ning to apologize to me here. I want him to write an apology letter by hand. After getting the approval of the office building¡¯s property management, he¡¯ll post it outside the elevator on the first floor. As for the second..


    She walked forward and said to Pan Youcheng in a low voice, ¡°Immediately terminate all contracts with the Su Corporation, especially that piece ofnd in D City.


    ¡°Actually, the first request isn¡¯t all that important, but if you can¡¯t meet the second one, we¡¯ll talk about forgivenesster.¡± Pan Youcheng was speechless.


    He really wanted to strangle Su Jinchang.


    He was the one who said that although this daughter of his was a little nonchnt, she was as obedient as a cat. After marrying into the Pan family, not only would she take good care of Pan Ning, but she would also serve the two elders well.


    They had only met once, but the Pan family had already been humiliated.


    Now, he even had to terminate the project worth 500 million dors. Even though he could save thepany, he still had to suffer a loss.


    ording to the terms of the contract, an early termination would require arge sum ofpensation for breach of contract.


    ¡°Damn it, the old man must have sent his daughter to me as a spy!


    ¡°Did he want to destroy the Pan Corporation?


    ¡°She¡¯s so cunning!¡±


    ¡°As for me and your son¡­¡¯


    Pan Youcheng understood that she was referring to the arranged marriage. Before she could finish, he quickly added, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s canceled. We¡¯ll never force you, Miss Lu¡­¡±


    He thought, ¡°Damn it, wouldn¡¯t such a daughter-inw tear down the roof of my house?¡±


    At this moment, Qin Liyan walked over and said firmly, ¡°Alright, since the two sides havee to an agreement, this matter will be resolved sessfully.¡± Pan Youcheng looked at Lu Haiqiao, who had a sweet smile on her face, and subconsciously covered his chest with his hand.


    Yes, perfect!


    It was so perfect that he was about to have a heart attack.


    Seeing that Pan Youcheng was panting non-stop, Pan Ning immediately got up. After calming down and holding his father¡¯s arm. ¡°Dad, Dad, are you alright¡­¡±


    To save what was left of his dignity, Pan Youcheng took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.


    He looked at Lu Haiqiao, then nced around. ¡°Miss Lu, everyone, I won¡¯t take up your time anymore. Goodbye.¡±


    With that, Pan Youcheng shook off Pan Ning¡¯s hand and left the magazine agency alone.


    ¡°Hey, Dad, Dad¡­¡± Pan Ning, who couldn¡¯t catch up in time, shouted. Frustrated,he turned his head and red at Lu Haiqiao.. ¡°Just you..¡±

 Chapter 84 - 84: There’s Nothing I Can ‘t Handle

    Chapter 84: There¡¯s Nothing I Can ¡®t Handle


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Haiqiao raised her hand expressionlessly.


    Looking at her slender fingers, Pan Ning suddenly thought of that night at Garden View Restaurant.


    It was this hand that picked up the steak knife on the table and threw it at him.


    And the murderous intent hidden under those seemingly clear eyes¡­


    Pan Ning swallowed involuntarily and took two steps back. He turned around and chased after his father out of the magazine agency. ¡°Dad, Dad, hey, Dad, wait for me¡­


    After the two left, Qin Liyan walked over. ¡°Qiaoqiao, were you scared?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao looked up and saidzily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me Miss Lu just now?


    Now I¡¯m Qiaoqiao again?¡±


    Hey!


    This girl was still venting her anger like a child.


    Qin Liyan rubbed his hands. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to bring you more trouble. By the way¡­¡±


    He wanted to ask why Lu Haiqiao knew Xie San from Double X Group.


    In the morning, Xie San called him and said that Pan Ning and his father would apologize to Lu Haiqiao. Qin Liyan should be there as a witness.


    Xie San reminded Qin Liyan of the outstanding young man he saw yesterday afternoon.


    Young Master Xuan


    Xie San must have been sent by him.


    Unexpectedly, before he could finish, Lu Haiqiao narrowed his eyes. ¡°Uncle Qin, it¡¯s 12 noon this Saturday.¡±


    Qin Liyan was stunned. After a few seconds, his eyes lit up as he understood what she meant. ¡°You made it.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao rubbed the tip of her nose. ¡°Of course. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle.¡±


    After all, there were other people around. Qin Liyan tried his best to restrain the smile on his face and maintain his serious tone. ¡°Alright, since the matter is clear, we won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡±


    Seeing that he was about to leave, Mr. Song, who had yet to speak, seized the opportunity to step forward. ¡°Director Qin, you¡¯re leaving already? I haven¡¯t served you tea yet. Really¡­ Please forgive me¡­¡±


    Qin Liyan did not even look at him. He said, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± and left the magazine agency.


    It was only when the car arrived at the entrance of the police station that he remembered something.


    He had been thinking about Saturday¡¯s appointment and had forgotten to ask Lu Haiqiao how she knew Xie Xuan.


    Also, what did she say to Pan Youcheng just now? How could she scare an old fox like that?


    After Qin Liyan left, the colleagues in the office who were watching the show dispersed and returned to their seats to continue their work.


    Mr. Song stood at the door and watched Qin Liyan enter the elevator. When Qin Liyan waspletely out of sight, Mr. Song turned around and walked toward the office.


    His gaze swept across Lu Haiqiao, who looked as if nothing had happened, and he stopped in his tracks.


    From the looks of it, she seemed to be very familiar with Qin Liyan. It would be a little difficult to kick her out.


    At this moment, Fang Chuogi appeared out of nowhere with a cup of steaming tea in her hand and followed him into the office.


    She ced the teacup on the table and smiled apologetically. ¡°Mr. Song, your favorite tea¡­


    The boss nced at her.


    Thinking of what Fang Chuoqi said earlier, he snorted unhappily.


    ¡°Mr. Song, I¡¯m a person who says the wrong thing when I¡¯m agitated. Previously, I also thought that Lu Haiqiao had ruined the magazine¡¯s reputation, so I couldn¡¯t help butin about her. Somehow it offended you.. You¡¯re a magnanimous person, so don¡¯t hold it against me, okay?¡±

 Chapter 85 - 85: SVIP Card

    Chapter 85: SVIP Card


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Her attitude was humble enough. Mr. Song, who had regained his dignity, raised his chin and said, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time!¡±


    Fang Chuoqi thought, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time. Even if there is, I won¡¯t say it in front of you.¡±


    Mr. Song sank into the office chair as he stared in the direction of the door.


    After a few seconds of contemtion, he said, ¡°Are we doing a column on celebrity biography recently?¡±


    Fang Chuoqi was stumped.


    She was from the administrative department and didn¡¯t know much about business.


    Mr. Song frowned in disdain and waved his fat hand. ¡°Fine. Get out!¡±


    Fang Chuoqi rolled her eyes in her heart, but she still smiled. ¡°Of course. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore. Just let me know if you need anything.¡± The office door opened gently and closed again.


    Mr. Song sighed deeply, and his frown gradually rxed.


    His gaze moved up and froze on the ceiling.


    A biography of a celebrity¡­


    He kept muttering these words, and a profound smile appeared on his face.


    Before getting off work, Lu Haiqiao looked at the email content disyed on theputer screen and shook her head in boredom and resignation.


    That Song suddenly handed over the biography section to her. He was definitely up to no good.


    She looked at the interview list that had already been drafted.


    The rising star pianist, Zhao Jiayu; the person-in-charge of the Xu


    Corporation¡¯s cloud technology team, Xu Duo; the chief surgeon of the First


    Hospital, Lu Yange; and the senior Chinese art master, Wu Sancai¡­


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    They were her ssmate, best friend, cousin, and teacher respectively¡­


    She seriously suspected that the person who drew up this interview list had secretly investigated herwork.


    They were all her old acquaintances. She could write a manuscript with more than 10,000 words without conducting an interview, and she didn¡¯t need to make anything up.


    She kept looking down. When she saw thest name, she was perplexed.


    Zhou Nuo, Chief Technical Officer of Double X Group.


    This might be a little more difficult.


    Thinking that she would give it a try, Lu Haiqiao nned to make a trip personally. Perhaps she could meet Zhou Nuo¡¯s assistant and arrange an interview time.


    The Double X Group was headquartered in Country F. Thepany in the eastern business park of B City was only a branch.


    The branch consisted of twelve single buildings and three parking buildings, including the staff¡¯s main office area, canteen, gym, lecture hall, and film and television theater. The total building area was about 260,000 square meters, enough to amodate 15,000 employees.


    To make an easy ess to the business park in the east of the city, Lu Haiqiao drove her ¡°good friend¡±.


    At nine o¡¯clock the next morning, after she went to the magazine agency to sign in, she arrived at the entrance of the business park in the east of the city at about ten o¡¯clock.


    The Pagani was blocked outside the smart gate system. Lu Haiqiao rolled down the window and was about to press the ¡°visitor¡± button on the LCD screen, but before her fingertips could touch the screen, the gate suddenly opened with a beep. Then, the words ¡°SVIP card, please pass as you please¡± jumped on the


    LCD screen.


    Lu Haiqiao was dumbfounded.


    It opened just like that?


    Fine.


    There was no reason for her not to take the ready-made path.


    Entering the park, Lu Haiqiao followed the signboard to Parking Building A.


    She found a rtivelyrge parking space and parked the car. On the way to the elevator, she looked around casually.


    BMW M8, GTR, Mercedes- Benz S-ss AMG¡­


    At a nce, there were all sorts of luxury cars.


    There was also a power station in the corner that could charge ten electric cars at the same time.


    It seemed that Double X¡¯s employees were treated quite well, Lu Haiqiao thought..

 Chapter 86 - 86: Your Favorite Lu Haiqiao

    Chapter 86: Your Favorite Lu Haiqiao


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After passing through the ss revolving door, Lu Haiqiao stepped on the smooth marble floor and entered thepany¡¯s main office building.


    The four pretty receptionists stood up politely when they saw that there was a guest.


    Before they could ask, Lu Haiqiao introduced herself. ¡°Hello, my name is Lu Haiqiao. I¡¯m a reporter from Jolie Fille magazine. I took the liberty toe here to contact CEO Zhou¡¯s assistant.¡±


    She had exquisite features and a perfect manner of speech. One of the sharp-eyed receptionists recognized the watch on her left wrist. It was a Rolex diamond-encrusted female mechanical watch.


    She paused, then asked, ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao shook her head. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t.¡±


    The receptionist didn¡¯t dare to make a decision on her own. After all, a female reporter who could wear a ten-thousand-dor watch shouldn¡¯t be an ordinary person.


    ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯ll make some calls.¡± The receptionist dialed an internal number as she spoke.


    Zhou Nuo slowly walked out of the office while chewing gum. He wanted to ask his assistant to buy him a cup of coffee, but when he saw that the assistant wasn¡¯t around, he turned around and returned.


    At this moment, the internal line on the assistant¡¯s desk rang.


    He picked it up.


    After hearing the receptionist¡¯s words, Zhou Nuo was at a loss.


    A female reporter?


    Instead of looking for him, she was looking for his assistant?


    What for?


    As he thought about it, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the reporter¡¯s name?¡±


    The receptionist replied, ¡°She¡¯s from Jolie Fille magazine. Her name is Lu


    Haiqiao.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao?


    Hearing this, Zhou Nuo¡¯s lips curled into a meaningful smile.


    If he hadn¡¯t seen the girl¡¯s resume, he would have thought that it was just a coincidence.


    After thinking for a moment, he instructed the receptionist, ¡°Tell her to wait. Tell her that my assistant is in a meeting and wille back in about two hours.¡±


    The assistant, who had just returned from the washroom, happened to hear this.


    He blinked in confusion.


    What was that?


    A meeting?


    For two hours?


    Hearing the receptionist¡¯s reply, Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait.


    However, I wonder if I¡¯ll be in the way if I wait in the lobby?¡±


    The receptionist smiled and pointed in a direction. ¡°You can wait in the VIP waiting area over there.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thanks.¡±


    Seeing that the clock on the table was about to hit twelve, Zhou Nuo pushed away the keyboard on the desk and picked up the phone beside her.


    He called Xie Xuan.


    ¡°Hey, Brother Xuan, what are you doing?¡±


    Xie Xuan¡¯s impatient deep voice came from the phone. ¡°If you have something to say, say it.¡±


    Zhou Nuo stood up and walked to the wide window. He looked up at the pure blue sky and white clouds. ¡°Oh, I just wanted to tell you that I miss you.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a reply. ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Zhou Nuo clicked his tongue and said, ¡°Don¡¯t get it wrong. I¡¯m not referring to me, I¡¯m talking about¡­¡±


    He deliberately dragged his tone and paused for three seconds before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m referring to Lu Yunge¡¯s little cousin, your favorite Lu Haiqiao.¡±


    ¡°You saw her? From where?¡± The disdainful tone was gone, reced by a kind of excitement and nervousness.


    Shit!


    Even his tone changed when he heard the girl¡¯s name.


    He would forget his friends for a woman!


    Zhou Nuo shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s in the lobby on the first floor. I deliberately made her wait for more than an hour just to¡­¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Xie Xuan hung up.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless..

 Chapter 87 - 87: He’s Blocked

    Chapter 87: He¡¯s Blocked


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The call¡­


    Xie Xuan had hung up?


    Wait, he hadn¡¯t finished yet!


    He had specially left her in the lobby until noon to create an opportunity for Xie Xuan to have lunch with her.


    Although Zhou Nuo had reservations about Lu Haiqiao, since his brother liked her, he had to help.


    In the end, Xie Xuan only heard half a sentence!


    Now, he must have thought that Zhou Nuo was making things difficult for that girl.


    The word ¡°damn¡± was running through Zhou Nuo¡¯s mind.


    Without wasting a second, Zhou Nuo called Xie Xuan again.


    ¡°The number you have dialed is temporarily unavable. Please try againter¡­¡±


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    Damn you!


    Xie Xuan had blocked his number!


    While waiting, Lu Haiqiao made herself busy.


    She chose a rtively quiet seat and sat down. Then, she took out her tablet from her bag. After putting on her Bluetooth earpiece, she called Xu Duo.


    Xu Duo¡¯s name was on the interview list. In order to save time, she could start writing the script after asking a few questions.


    Xu Duo was amused by her words.


    She was probably busy. From time to time, Lu Haiqiao could hear the sound of typing.


    Xu Duo said, ¡°Why bother asking? Is there anything between us that the other party doesn¡¯t know?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao thought, ¡°There¡¯s really something you don¡¯t know right now.¡±


    Xu Duo: ¡°If it were anyone else, I might have to reconsider it. But if it¡¯s you, you can write whatever you want. Just don¡¯t write about me sleeping with a pacifier in mv fifth year of elementary school. That¡¯s too embarrassing.¡¯


    The two assistants standing beside her were speechless.


    It was already embarrassing.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled in resignation. ¡°Alright, in short, I¡¯ll do as you ask¡­¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, a shadow suddenly fell on the tablet on her knees. Sensing that someone was beside her, she instinctively raised her head.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw who it was.


    Xie Xuan, who was wearing a white shirt, stood beside her. His gray tie hung loosely around his neck. It was formal and casual at the same time.


    On the other end of the phone, Xu Duo¡¯s voice continued, ¡°Wait. Lu Xuege will read the interview script you wrote, right? Then you¡¯re not allowed to write about me beating up two boys from the next ss when I was in junior high.


    That would be very udylike. Also¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s gaze was already glued to Xie Xuan.


    She tried her best to restrain the smile on her face and said perfunctorily, ¡°Then think about how to write it yourself. Write a draft. I have something to do. I¡¯ll hang up first.¡±


    Before Xu Duo could finish her ¡°yes¡±, the call was cut off.


    About a minute after ending the call, she finally realized something.


    Wasn¡¯t the interview Lu Haiqiao¡¯s job? Why did she have to draft it herself?


    Lu Haiqiao quickly packed up the tablet and stood up.


    ¡°You¡­¡± She had only said one word before she stopped.


    He remembered Lu Yunge saying that Double X was the Xie family¡¯s territory, and Xie Xuan¡¯s surname was also Xie. Could it be¡­


    As she pondered, Xie Xuan sized her up from head to toe.


    She was wearing a simple short-sleeved white T-shirt. The hem was tucked into her high-waisted denim shorts, revealing a pair of slender and straight legs.


    ¡°You¡¯re here on business?¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s tone was very calm.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°I want to interview Zhou Nuo, so I came here to make an appointment with his assistant.¡±


    She remembered that she had never talked about her profession, so she took out her reporter certificate from her bag. ¡°I¡¯m a reporter for a magazine.¡±

 Chapter 88 - 88: Helpless Office Worker

    Chapter 88: Helpless Office Worker


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Then, she asked, ¡°Have you changed your job again? Are you working here now?¡±


    Xie Xuan nced at Lu Haiqiao with an indifferent expression. ¡°Yes, I work here.¡±


    Just work here?


    Seeing Lu Haiqiao¡¯s puzzled gaze, Xie Xuan shrugged calmly.


    The word ¡°work¡± was quite urate.


    After all, the executive chairman of the board and the chief financial officer were just titles. Strictly speaking, he was also a helpless office worker.


    At this moment, in a spacious corridor facing the VIP lounge, the elevator door to the top floor opened, and Zhou Nuo was walking over in a hurry.


    ¡°Brother Xuan!¡±


    Zhou Nuo nced at Xie Xuan before his gazended on Lu Haiqiao.


    The gentle and weak girl that Xie San had mentioned was here in person today.


    The girl was tall and had a small frame. She was slender but not too thin. She was the type with the right proportions.


    Her facial features were exquisite, and her skin was fair. Her eyes were especially big and bright. The corners of her eyes were slightly upturned, making her look lively and charming.


    No wonder Brother Xuan liked her so much. She was so good-looking.


    However, just as he looked away, he somehow felt a gust of cold wind surrounding him.


    He looked up and met Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze.


    Zhou Nuo immediately understood where the cold wind came from.


    Was it toote to dig out his own eyeballs to apologize?


    ¡°Um¡­ Brother Xuan, let me exin. Actually, I¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Xie Xuan cut him off. ¡°Why would your magazine want to interview Zhou Nuo?¡±


    He was talking to Lu Haiqiao.


    The strap of her bag slipped off her shoulder at that moment. Lu Haiqiao wanted to pull it up again, but Xie Xuan reached out his hand. Before she could move, he took over the tablet¡¯s bag.


    ¡°The name list was set by the boss,¡± she said. ¡°I heard that Mr. Zhou Nuo is the freest and easiest person to make an appointment within Double X¡¯s management team, but I¡¯ve been waiting here for almost two hours. His assistant hasn¡¯t finished his meeting yet. It seems that it¡¯s not as easy to make an appointment with him as the rumors say.¡±


    Zhou Nuo, who clearly heard this, was speechless.


    He thought, ¡°If you¡¯reining, so be it. Why are you insulting me?


    ¡°What do you mean by the freest?


    ¡°I¡¯m a busy man!¡±


    ¡°Actually, I am¡­¡¯


    Zhou Nuo¡¯s second interruption was cut off again.


    It was Lu Haiqiao who interrupted him this time.


    ¡°May I ask who he is?¡± Her gaze was fixed on Xie Xuan. From the beginning to the end, she had only quickly nced at Zhou Nuo when he arrived.


    He called Xie Xuan ¡°Brother Xuan¡±, so they had to be close.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    After all, he was an outstanding, handsome young man. Was he that invisible?


    Xie Xuan raised his chin and nced at Zhou Nuo. ¡°He¡¯s Zhou Nuo.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lu Haiqiao quickly apologized. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that, so I spoke without thinking. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    When she said ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±, she was magnanimous and sincere. She didn¡¯t seem timid at all.


    Zhou Nuo had a bitter expression on his face as he forced a smile. ¡°You tter me. I¡¯m sorry¡­¡¯


    Lu Haiqiao was dumbfounded.


    This was the first time they met. Why was he apologizing?


    ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting for so long. Are you hungry?¡± Xie Xuan looked at her.


    Although his tone was gentle, he deliberately emphasized the word ¡°wait..¡±

 Chapter 89 - 89: Like It Or Not

    Chapter 89: Like It Or Not


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Zhou Nuo felt even more guilty.


    ¡°Damn it. Why did I say that? I should have exined my purpose right away.


    What was wrong with me?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry. I wonder if I can eat at yourpany¡¯s canteen.¡±


    As she spoke, she turned to look at Zhou Nuo. ¡°Mr. Zhou, since we¡¯re lucky enough to meet, can we arrange an interview in the afternoon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course. Anytime.¡± Zhou Nuo straightened his back and smiled obsequiously.


    How could he give up such a chance to make up for his mistakes?


    Even if he hadn¡¯t made her wait for more than an hour in vain, as long as she asked, he had to agree.


    He didn¡¯t have a choice. Lu Haiqiao was Xie Xuan¡¯s favorite!


    Thinking of this, Zhou Nuo looked at Xie Xuan with a resentful gaze.


    However, thetter didn¡¯t even look at him. All his attention was focused on Lu Haiqiao. ¡°Let¡¯s go get some lunch.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± When he turned around, Lu Haiqiao followed him.


    Standing at the elevator, she turned to look at Xie Xuan curiously. ¡°Is yourpany¡¯s canteen upstairs?¡±


    She remembered driving into the park and passing a stylishly decorated building with a ¡°restaurant¡± sign above it.


    Xie Xuan tilted his head slightly and looked down, his gaze lingering on her slender ankles.


    She was wearing a pair of white sneakers today. The fruit-greences on the shoes were tied into a bow shape, making her look even more lively.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to the canteen.¡± There were so many people in the canteen.


    He pointed at Zhou Nuo, who was following closely behind him. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat in his office.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    He knew nothing good would happen when his name was suddenly mentioned.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao looked puzzled.


    However, Xie Xuan then exined, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to interview him? It¡¯s easier to work in the afternoon if we eat there.


    That was true, but..


    Lu Haiqiao was sensitive enough to sense that when Xie Xuan said those words just now, his mood had changed.


    It was as if rain wouldn¡¯t fall, and the air felt stuffy.


    Did she make him angry


    Why?


    Thinking of this, Lu Haiqiao blinked and took a step to the side. ¡°Xie Xuan, well¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Xie Xuan suddenly asked, ¡°Are you cold?¡±


    Cold?


    Was she cold?


    Lu Haiqiao rubbed the tip of her nose and told the truth, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t feel cold.¡±


    Xie Xuan nodded.


    When the elevator arrived, he moved aside to let Lu Haiqiao get in first.


    Zhou Nuo didn¡¯t follow him in.


    Seeing Xie Xuan¡¯s meaningful gaze, he seemed to understand something.


    When the elevator door closed, Zhou Nuo quickly took out his phone and started typing.


    ¡°Brother Xuan, I¡¯ll immediately tell my assistant to lower the temperature of the air conditioner in my office.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to your ce and bring your jacket.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already ordered takeout from Dongbao Garden. It¡¯s on the coffee table in the office. You guys eat. I¡¯ll go to the canteen.¡±


    Three WeChat messages were sent, and Zhou Nuo nodded in satisfaction.


    They were both men, so he knew what Xie Xuan was thinking.


    Just as he was feeling smug, a message popped up in his WeChat chat.


    It was from Xie Xuan.


    ¡°Bitter gourd sd, red wine pear, steamed shrimp, and six fungi soup.¡±


    Zhou Nuo asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°She likes those dishes.¡±


    Zhou Nuo wrote, ¡°Didn¡¯t I already order you guys lunch?¡±


    ]Xie Xuan said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t like those dishes.¡± Zhou Nuo was speechless..

 Chapter 90 - 90: An Emotionless Servant

    Chapter 90: An Emotionless Servant


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯m just an emotionless servant today.¡±


    Zhou Nuo made a call to Dongbao Garden to order food. When he passed by the front desk, he identally overheard the conversation between the two receptionists.


    ¡°Did you see the female reporter who went upstairs with Mr. Xie just now?¡± ¡°Is she the one who came to ask CEO Zhou¡¯s assistant for an interview?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s her. Did you see the watch she was wearing?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡±


    ¡°The limited edition of Rolex. I saw it in a magazine a long time ago. At that time, it cost hundreds of thousands of dors.


    ¡°Are you serious? Can it be a knock-off?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯ve been staring at it just now. It¡¯s the real deal. Moreover, this model is no longer avable. It¡¯s priceless. Some people offered a million the other day but still couldn¡¯t get one!¡±


    ¡°Holy crap, who is this reporter? Why is she wearing such an expensive watch?¡± ¡°I heard that only supreme VIPs could buy it, and..


    Just as they were chatting happily, the receptionist saw Zhou Nuo and quickly lowered her head. Then, they greeted him in unison, ¡°Director Zhou¡­¡±


    Zhou Nuo raised her eyebrows and nodded.


    After a few seconds, he asked, ¡°Are you sure about that watch?¡±


    The receptionist asked, ¡°Huh? Director Zhou, what do you mean?¡±


    Zhou Nuo said ¡°That reporter¡¯s watch.¡±


    The reason why he asked this was because he was a die-hard fan of the Rolex mechanical watch.


    Some time ago, he had taken a fancy to a calendar-type square diamond mechanical watch. Unexpectedly, he was told that someone had bought it when he booked it.


    If Lu Haiqiao could¡­


    Thinking of this, Zhou Nuo was stunned for a moment.


    Wait. That wasn¡¯t right.


    Although Lu Haiqiao was the daughter of the Su family, she had lived with Su Jinchang¡¯s ex-wife for 20 years. Logically speaking, Su Jinchang wouldn¡¯t be so generous to her.


    Moreover, Su Jinchang didn¡¯t have the power to book the limited edition Rolex before Zhou Nuo.


    Or was it because of the Lu family?


    It was also impossible.


    As far as he knew, the Lu siblings weren¡¯t interested in watches and wouldn¡¯t spend a lot of money to snatch them from him.


    Confused, Zhou Nuo stroked his chin.


    What did the business manager of the Asian region say to him at that time?


    ¡°Mr. Zhou, I¡¯m sorry. This batch of new products has to be chosen by our supreme VIP customers first. Coincidentally, the one you like has already been chosen by one of those customers. Would you like to look at something else?¡± Forget it.


    If he could like anything else, he would have bought it long ago. Did he have to keep thinking about that specific model?


    ¡°Could you tell me the contact information of that client? I want to discuss it with him and see if he can sell it to me.¡± Zhou Nuo wouldn¡¯t give up.


    The business manager shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Zhou. The Supreme VIPs are top members of mypany. All the information is confidential. Please forgive me for not being able to tell you.¡±


    Hearing this, Zhou Nuo curled her lips.


    He roughly estimated that he had spent tens of millions on Rolex¡¯s mechanical watches over the past few years. However, he was only a fifth-rank gold-card VIP.


    Wouldn¡¯t it cost a billion to reach the supreme VIP level?


    Forget it. He didn¡¯t spend as much money. It was useless to say anything else.


    After thinking for a while, Zhou Nuo took out his phone and opened the photo album to find the picture of the calendar-type square diamond mechanical watch.


    Wasn¡¯t there an interview in the afternoon? He would find an opportunity to ask that girl.


    She might have seen the supreme VIP of Rolex during an interview.


    They pushed open the door to Zhou Nuo¡¯s office, and a cool breeze blew against their faces.


    Lu Haiqiao shuddered, and goosebumps crawled all over her skin. Although it was hot, the air conditioner didn¡¯t have to be set so low!


    ¡°Are you cold?¡± Xie Xuan asked..

 Chapter 91 - 91: The Password Is Your Name

    Chapter 91: The Password Is Your Name


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao hunched her shoulders and nodded honestly.


    Xie Xuan walked straight to the desk, picked up the remote control ced at the corner of the desk, and raised the temperature of the air conditioner.


    He stood sideways in front of the floor-to-ceiling ss window. The dazzling golden sunlight cast a dreamy halo on half of his face. He was like a deity who had fallen into the mortal world, dazzling to the extreme.


    With the sound of the remote control, Xie Xuan said, ¡°Don¡¯t wear so little next time. Although it¡¯s hot outside, the air conditioner will be turned on indoors.


    It¡¯s easy to catch a cold.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao puffed up her cheeks and replied obediently, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Zhou Nuo¡¯s assistant was quite efficient. At this moment, Xie Xuan¡¯s suit jacket was already neatly draped over the office chair.


    He nced at it and picked up his jacket. He walked to Lu Haiqiao, who was already sitting on the sofa and covered her fair and slender legs.


    At first, she thought that the jacket belonged to Zhou Nuo, so she tried to turn down the offer. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I¡­¡±


    Xie Xuan looked up at her and coaxed her in a soft tone, ¡°The jacket is mine. You won¡¯t catch a cold if you cover your legs.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.


    It was his.


    Then there would be no problem.


    ¡°You seem to be very familiar with Director Zhou.¡± Lu Haiqiao raised her head and stared at Xie Xuan, who had his back facing her and was putting down the remote control for the air conditioner on the desk.


    ¡°Just call him Zhou Nuo.¡± Xie Xuan turned around to face her. ¡°I¡¯ve known him for more than twenty years. We¡¯ve yed together since we were young.¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded.


    Just as she was about to find another topic to talk about, her phone suddenly rang.


    It was the magazine¡¯sndline.


    She picked it up immediately. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s me. What¡¯s wrong?


    ¡°Ah? The script needs editing?


    ¡°Then I¡­ How about this? Give me his contact information. I¡¯ll call him and ask him about it. Then, I¡¯ll edit it immediately and send it to you by email. That way, we¡¯ll have enough time to set type in the afternoon.¡±


    After reciting the phone number in her head, Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll contact him now.


    ¡°Wait for my emailter.


    ¡°It¡¯s twelve-thirty. I¡¯ll try to get the manuscript done in two.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it.¡±


    After ending the call, she took out her tablet from her bag and clicked on the Inte connection. Seeing that the list was filled with encryptedworks, she looked up at Xie Xuan. ¡°I have some work to do. Can I use the wifi here?¡±


    Xie Xuan took out his phone from his pocket and unlocked it. ¡°Just use the hotspot of my phone.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao saw awork named ¡°XX¡± on the wireless local areawork search page.


    ¡°The password is your name,¡± Xie Xuan added.


    ¡°Your name.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao felt her heart suddenly beat faster.


    She blinked and asked tentatively, ¡°Lu Hai Qiao?¡±


    Her voice sounded awkward andical, but Xie Xuan found her extremely cute.


    He smiled gently, walked to the armchair on the other side, and sat down.


    ¡°Otherwise, do you have a second name?¡±


    With a smile on his face, his eyes were filled with brilliance. It was as if the snow had melted and the flowers were blooming.


    Lu Haiqiao immediately lowered her head and tapped the tablet to connect to his hotspot.


    Her cheeks slowly turned pink.


    Damn it!

 Chapter 92 - 92: What Misery Is This!

    Chapter 92: What Misery Is This!


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    When Zhou Nuo walked into the office with the takeaway box from Dongbao Garden, he saw such a scene.


    Lu Haiqiao, who had a Bluetooth earpiece in her ear, sat on the soft sofa. Her legs were covered by a suit jacket, and there was a tablet on the coffee table in front of her.


    She was probably talking on the phone. From time to time, she would say a few words. The smart capacitor stylus in her hand was writing and drawing on the tablet screen.


    Then, he looked at Xie Xuan.


    He was¡­ he was¡­


    Zhou Nuo¡¯s gaze swept across the bar counter and finally caught Xie Xuan¡¯s shadow.


    He was pouring coffee with a serious expression on his face.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that the youngdy on the sofa talking on the phone was the boss!


    Forget it, this kind of thing might happen often in the future.


    Zhou Nuo sighed and cleared her throat. ¡°Brother Xuan..


    Xie Xuan raised his head and looked at the door. Just as Zhou Nuo was about to say something, Xie Xuan made a gesture.


    He ced his index finger on his lips and nced in Lu Haiqiao¡¯s direction.


    It meant that she was busy, so he had to be quiet.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    He didn¡¯t know what to say.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan walked around the bar counter and slowly walked to the door.


    He didn¡¯t say anything and took the takeout box from Zhou Nuo.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey.¡± Zhou Nuo stopped him. ¡°Your food has been delivered. Where¡¯s mine?¡±


    Xie Xuan: ¡°Change the wifi name of your office when you have time.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was dumbfounded. Xie Xuan said, ¡°Zhou Nuo is a super¡­¡±


    Zhou Nuo said, ¡°Handsome guy?


    The name of the wifi in his office was ¡°Zhou Nuo is a super handsome man¡±.


    Xie Xuan snorted coldly. ¡°You idiot.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    ¡°Brother Xuan, where¡¯s the food I ordered?¡± He needed food when it was time!


    Xie Xuanzily raised his eyes and looked at him. ¡°I gave it to your assistant.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was dumbfounded.


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°He¡¯s usually busy and listens to your orders. It¡¯s not too much to eat a good meal asionally.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was shocked.


    The deluxe stew in Dongbao Garden was only avable at noon, and it was limited to five servings. He had tried very hard to get it!


    Forget it. He had deliberately made Lu Haiqiao wait for more than an hour. If he didn¡¯t have anything to eat, it would be his punishment.


    ¡°If you go to the staff restaurant now, you should be able to get a bowl of egg-fried rice,¡± Xie Xuan said indifferently.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    Knowing he was in the wrong, he sighed aggrievedly.


    The deluxe stew had turned into egg-fried rice. What misery!


    Before turning around, Xie Xuan added, ¡°Also, the coffee machine here isn¡¯t working. When you go to the restaurantter, remember to ask the barista to make an iced Americano and send it over. Don¡¯t add sugar.¡±


    ¡°Then 1¡­¡±


    Zhou Nuo wanted to ask when he could get the office back.


    However, before he could finish speaking, the door closed with a bang.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    ¡°Xie Xuan, are you even human?!


    Why do you want to upy my ce for your date?¡±


    Xie Xuan carried the takeaway box to the coffee table and put it down. Then, he carefully opened the lid.


    Lu Haiqiao was attracted by the fragrance of the food. As she spoke on the phone, she nced at the lunch box.


    Bitter gourd, purple kale, basal shrimp, and various mushrooms¡­


    They were all her favorites.


    Looking up at Xie Xuan, Lu Haiqiao smiled sweetly at him.


    At this moment, the person on the other end of the phone must have said something important. She immediately stopped smiling and put on an extremely serious expression as she lowered her head.


    ¡°Okay, go ahead¡­


    ¡°Here¡­ can you change it like this?¡±

 Chapter 93 - 93: Feed Her

    Chapter 93: Feed Her


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Xuan focused his gaze on Lu Haiqiao.


    Today, she hadbed her hair into a loose bun. Her small earlobes were pinned with pearl earrings of the same style as the hairpins at her temples. When she lowered her head, there were still strands of hair falling. She subconsciously raised her hand to tuck them behind her ear.


    Well, how should he put it?


    She was really eye-catching.


    Xie Xuan swallowed as he sat down beside her.


    Putting on disposable gloves, he picked up the takeaway box containing the prawns and slowly began to peel them.


    Beside him, Lu Haiqiao was focused on her work.


    ¡°Yes, okay, I know. Can I change it like this? I..


    Perhaps because she waspletely focused on the script, when something soft touched her lips, she didn¡¯t think too much about it or look at it. She opened her mouth and ate it without hesitation.


    ¡°Then there¡¯s no problem with this part. Let¡¯s look over here¡­¡¯


    After chewing for a little while, Lu Haiqiao felt that something was wrong.


    Her gaze shifted from the densely packed words on the tablet to Xie Xuan. At that moment, he had peeled another shrimp and put it in her mouth.


    Her beautiful eyes flickered. ¡°You..


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows at her. At the same time, he stretched out his hand that was holding the peeled prawn. ¡°I know you¡¯re busy, but you have to eat.¡±


    At this moment, the person on the other end of the phone urged, ¡°Miss Lu? Are you still there?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao snapped back from her amazed state. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m right here. I was just revising the manuscript. Sorry.¡±


    She bit into the prawn that Xie Xuan had brought to her mouth. As she chewed, she said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Xie Xuan leaned forward slightly and supported his knees with his elbows. He continued to peel the prawns. ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡±


    When Zhou Nuo pushed open the office door with a cup of iced Americano, he saw a scene even more horrifying than the previous one.


    Young Master Xuan, who had never done any housework, held a takeaway box in one hand and a spoon in the other. He carefully fed Lu Haiqiao, who was working with her head lowered.


    It was only when he heard Lu Haiqiao say, ¡°I¡¯m full¡± that Xie Xuan moved the remaining half bowl of soup away from her and finished what was left in the bowl.


    Zhou Nuo, who had seen everything, was speechless.


    Young Master Xuan, who had been pampered since he was young, had never eaten anything left behind by others.


    Not to mention the cutlery that had been used.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan had just finished thest bit of food in the takeaway box.


    He ate all of them. There was no waste.


    Zhou Nuo took a deep breath. After calming himself down, he walked into the office.


    The two of them were very neat. Other than a few empty takeaway boxes on the rosewood coffee table, everything was quite clean. Even the peeled prawn shells were neatly ced in an empty meal box and tightly covered.


    Zhou Nuo saw that these were all cleaned up by Lu Haiqiao.


    He had to admit that the two of them werepatible in terms of looks, temperament, and habits.


    They were a match made in heaven!


    Thinking of this, Zhou Nuo pursed his lips. Even an arrogant brat like Xie Xuan could find a partner. When would he be able to get a girlfriend?


    ¡°Here, the ck coffee you wanted!¡± Feeling aggrieved, he didn¡¯t sound too nice.


    Xie Xuan nced at him indifferently before his gazended on Lu Haiqiao.. ¡°Do you want to drink now or wait a while?¡±

 Chapter 94 - 94: How Petty Are You

    Chapter 94: How Petty Are You


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes were fixed on the tablet. She was thinking about the wording of a certain paragraph in her mind, so she replied casually, ¡°I¡¯ll drink now.¡± She was a little thirsty.


    Xie Xuan nodded and took out a straw from the bag. After tearing open the packaging, he poked it into the cup and handed it over.


    As if sensing something, Lu Haiqiao looked up as he handed her the cup. The moment their eyes met, they both smiled.


    Lu Haiqiao took the ck coffee, took a sip, and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Xie Xuan stared at her with gentle and doting eyes. ¡°Just focus on your work.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Haiqiao sipped coffee and lowered her head again.


    Zhou Nuo didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey, I¡¯m still here. Can you not treat me as if I don¡¯t exist?¡±


    At 1:30 p.m., Lu Haiqiao sent the revised manuscript to her colleagues in the form of an email.


    With a strict attitude, she made a call back to the magazine agency to remind her colleagues to check their email.


    After dealing with this matter, it was time for Zhou Nuo¡¯s interview.


    She took out a recording pen from her bag. Before turning it on, she asked,


    ¡°Director Zhou, do you mind if I¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Xie Xuan suddenly interrupted, ¡°Zhou Nuo.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Haiqiao turned to look at him.


    Xie Xuan leaned against the sofa. He held a bottle of water and slowly twisted the lid open. ¡°Call him Zhou Nuo.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Nuo, who was sitting in the armchair, smiled obsequiously. ¡°Yes, yes. Director Zhou sounds too formal. Let¡¯s be more friendly. Ah Zhou, Brother Nuo, and Ah Nuo are all fine. We¡¯re all on the same side¡­¡±


    ¡°In that case, Zhou Nuo,¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression was indifferent, ¡°I wonder if you mind if I turn on the recording pen to record the interview?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all.¡± Zhou Nuo waved his hand obsequiously. ¡°It¡¯s dear


    Haiqiao¡¯s request. You can even make a video, let alone recording my voice!¡±


    Dear Haiqiao¡­


    That sounded really awkward.


    Suppressing her displeasure, Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Then can we start?¡±


    Zhou Nuo stopped grinning. Just as he was about to begin, he seemed to have thought of something and was stunned for a second.


    ¡°By the way, Sister Haiqiao¡­¡±


    At this point, a cold voice interrupted.


    ¡°You¡¯re an only child. Where did you get a sister?¡±


    It was Xie Xuan.


    Perhaps it was because he had just drunk water, his voice was hoarse and carried a hint of displeasure.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    It¡¯s just a form of address, and he was already unhappy about it. How petty was


    ¡°Fine. Lu Haiqiao, it is.¡± After looking at him for a second, Zhou Nuo immediately lost the staringpetition. ¡°Um, I want to ask you, where did you get that watch you¡¯re wearing?¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao raised her wrist. ¡°You¡¯re talking about this?¡±


    A ray of sunlight shone in through the window. The dial surrounded by 31 exquisitely cut sapphires reflected light as Lu Haiqiao shook his wrist slightly.


    Zhou Nuo nodded. ¡°As far as I know, this is a limited edition of Rolex. You can¡¯t buy it anywhere now.¡±


    His words sounded like a question, but he was probing.


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao muttered. ¡°I didn¡¯t know this model was no longer avable. I¡¯ll wear another one next time.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was dumbfounded.


    ¡°Could you please answer my question seriously?¡±


    Clearing her throat, Zhou Nuo said straightforwardly, ¡°Only the Rolex¡¯s supreme VIP can buy this model..¡±

 Chapter 95 - 95: I’ll Buy It For You

    Chapter 95: I¡¯ll Buy It For You


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao bit the straw and took a sip of ck coffee without saying anything. Her expression seemed to be saying, ¡°I see, so what?¡±


    Zhou Nuo clicked his tongue and drew circles in front of him in frustration.


    This girl didn¡¯t seem to get his point.


    ¡°I mean, are you a supreme VIP? Or¡­¡±


    Did she know a supreme VIP that could pull strings for her?


    Otherwise, how could she have bought the discontinued authentic product?


    Lu Haiqiao suddenly understood and said, ¡°Right! Yes, I¡¯m a member. I¡¯ve been a member since a long time ago, but I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m a supreme VIP.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was dumbfounded.


    What did she mean by that?


    The next second, Lu Haiqiao exined, ¡°I don¡¯t have a thing with watches. Usually, I buy them when I see something pretty. However, my mother¡¯s brother and father like them, so I order a bunch of watches for them every year. My ount has probably upgraded after all this time.


    ¡°The salesperson who brings me the catalog every time never tells me about the level of my ount. I¡¯ll ask him the next time we meet.¡±


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    A salesperson?


    To be able to receive a supreme VIP, one had to be at least at the level of the vice president of the group. You actually called the vice president a salesperson?


    ¡°Hey, are you also a supreme VIP of this brand as well? Have they released a new design recently? If it looks good, share it with me. I¡¯ll buy it for my grandfather and uncle.¡±


    With that, Lu Haiqiao tilted her head slightly and nced at Xie Xuan from the corner of her eye. ¡°Do you like this watch? If you like it, I¡¯ll buy it for you in the future.¡¯


    The same sentence revoked two different reactions from Xie Xuan and Zhou Nuo.


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows in a good mood.


    Although he wasn¡¯t interested in watches, the feeling of being ¡°kept¡± by someone once in a while¡­


    He liked the feeling.


    ¡°I like everything you give me.¡± Xie Xuan sat up straight and met Lu Haiqiao¡¯s furtive gaze.


    However, Zhou Nuo¡­


    Zhou Nuo covered her eyes with her hand and sighed in resignation.


    Not only did he have to watch the love birds, but his dignity had also suffered a heavy blow.


    With his Rolex membership level, he wasn¡¯t qualified to see thetest model. He only identally saw that calendar-type square diamond mechanical watch through a glimpse at the catalog that the Asian business manager was holding.


    However, a new question appeared in Zhou Nuo¡¯s head.


    Based on his many years of research on Rolex watches, the one Lu Haiqiao was wearing was definitely the real deal.


    The problem was that she was only the youngest daughter who had lived with the former wife of a wealthy family. Moreover, from the information, she hadn¡¯t been well-off since she was young.


    Even if her uncle, Lu Jianyuan, was the richest man in Country F, she was only his niece. Moreover, he had three children of his own. No matter how much he doted on his niece, it was impossible for him to give her so much money.


    Moreover, she had just said that she had bought the watches for her grandfather and uncle¡­


    Her casual tone was as if she was talking about something ordinary.


    Zhou Nuo pursed her lips and looked at Lu Haiqiao, who was adjusting the recording pen and fell into deep thought.


    This girl had a lot of secrets. If she was with one of the enemies¡­


    ¡°Zhou Nuo? Zhou Nuo?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao called his name twice, but before he could respond, Xie Xuan kicked him.


    Zhou Nuo, who was in pain, regained his senses.


    He looked up and saw that the two people in front of him were frowning slightly, and there was a faint coldness in the air.


    Zhou Nuo was speechless.


    The two of them weren¡¯t together yet, right? Did they have to look so married?

 Chapter 96 - 96: Amazing

    Chapter 96: Amazing


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Everyone knew what such famous biographies were like. The unspeakable content wouldn¡¯t be written, and some smart reporters wouldn¡¯t even ask the questions.


    Beforeing, Lu Haiqiao had searched for some relevant information.


    Zhou Nuo, 26 years old, had a Master¡¯s degree in Communications and Information Systems from D University¡¯s School of Electronic Engineering. He was the Chief Technical Officer of Double X Group and the heir of Zhou Technology Co., Ltd.


    Well, to put it simply, he was the son of a mobile phone seller. After graduating, he became the head of an online managementpany.


    The interviewsted about an hour.


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t ask many questions. In the end, she left a small amount of time for recording.


    In the end, she handed over the content that she had organized to Zhou Nuo for him to take a look at. ¡°If there are no problems, I¡¯ll start writing ording to this first draft. Don¡¯t worry, the final content will definitely not exceed the scope of these questions.¡±


    Zhou Nuo held Lu Haiqiao¡¯s tablet and scrolled through it.


    Although it was just a few questions, the framework of the interview manuscript was already there.


    Zhou Nuo nodded slightly. ¡°Nice. It¡¯s written quite well.¡±


    As he spoke, he handed the tablet to Xie Xuan. ¡°Take a look.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t take it. Instead, he turned to look at Lu Haiqiao.


    From his eyes, she could read his thoughts.


    The corners of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s lips curled up slightly. She tilted her head and whispered, ¡°Can you give me some pointers?¡±


    After getting her permission, Xie Xuan took the tablet and nced at it.


    Her words were concise and sharp. Although there were additional annotations added to the paragraph, the page was very neat. It was really pleasing to the eye.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± he said.


    The main character of the interview, Zhou Nuo, was speechless.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you use a normal tone? Why are you so clingy? What do you want?¡±


    After the interview, Lu Haiqiao had to return to the magazine agency toplete some misceneous work.


    Before she left, Xie Xuan stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you back.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao shook his head. ¡°I drove here myself.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t force her. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you downstairs.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded.


    The moment she reached the elevator, she suddenly thought of something.


    From their previous interaction, Lu Haiqiao was certain that Xie Xuan had a good impression of her.


    As for how much he liked her, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    Some feelings could turn into something else, but some favorable impressions stop at friendship.


    She knew very well that she wanted more than to be Xie Xuan¡¯s friend.


    Perhaps at first, she was only interested in the person who shot down her darts, but as time passed, she knew that regardless of whether he shot down the three darts that night, the person she liked was the person in front of her.


    It was Xie Xuan.


    He was very mysterious.


    He was so mysterious that even an expert like Lu Xuege couldn¡¯t find any traces of his information online.


    However, the more it was like this, the more Lu Haiqiao liked him.


    To her, the process of solving a puzzle fascinated her, and she couldn¡¯t have enough of it.


    After confirming her own feelings, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t want to dy any longer.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s behavior during lunch indicated that he also didn¡¯t treat her as an ordinary friend.


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t know if her first crush would have a good ending, but she knew that if she missed it, she would definitely regret it.


    She could ept a rtionship that didn¡¯t end well, but she wouldn¡¯t allow herself to regret many yearster that she didn¡¯t make a move now..

 Chapter 97 - 97: Looks Like We Can’t Wait

    Chapter 97: Looks Like We Can¡¯t Wait


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At the thought of this, she raised her head and slowly said, ¡°Xie Xuan, I¡­¡±


    At the same time, Xie Xuan lowered his head.


    The moment their eyes met, Lu Haiqiao froze for a second.


    Xie Xuan seized the opportunity to speak first.


    ¡°You have something to tell me?¡± he asked.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded firmly.


    Her warm and direct gazended on Xie Xuan¡¯s beautiful face. She watched as the corners of his lips curled up bit by bit, and his eyes narrowed into a beautiful arc.


    ¡°It just so happens that I have something to tell you too. I had nned to tell you when you get off work for dinner.¡± As he spoke, Xie Xuan leaned forward slightly and gently caressed the back of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s head. The moment he leaned over, his voice softened. ¡°But now, it seems like we might not be able to wait until this evening.¡±


    His eyes were like a vortex with a powerful attraction, sucking away Lu Haiqiao¡¯s soul.


    It was very quiet in the elevator. She was so nervous that she could hear her heartbeat.


    ¡°Yes, and I¡¯m guessing that we¡¯re talking about the same thing.¡± Xie Xuan paused and looked at her with a smile in his gentle eyes. ¡°Am I right?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao blushed and pretended to be calm. ¡°Then tell me. We¡¯ll know if it¡¯s the same thing if you tell me.¡±


    Since he wanted to take the initiative, she would give him the opportunity. Xie Xuan lowered his eyes slightly, and his gazended on her left hand, where the red bracelet was.


    After looking at it for two seconds, he held her left hand, and their fingers interlocked. Then, slowly, he pressed them against his chest.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, listen carefully. I want to tell you¡­¡± At this point, he stopped.


    The elevator door had opened at some point.


    With a gust of wind, Xie San walked out of the elevator.


    ¡°Master!¡±


    Xie San was stunned when he saw the two of them holding hands.


    Xie Xuan, who was interrupted, looked up unhappily.


    He stood straight but kept a firm grip on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Yes?¡±


    His tone was very cold.


    Even though he knew that he had shown up at the wrong time, Xie San still took a step forward. He nced at Lu Haiqiao warily. ¡°Master, let¡¯s talk in private.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Xie Xuan pulled Lu Haiqiao behind him to protect her. ¡°Just say


    it.¡±


    He was telling Xie San that Lu Haiqiao was one of their own and that there was no need to avoid her.


    Xie San pursed his lips and deliberated for a moment before saying, ¡°Master, I just received news that Old Master is not feeling well. He has been hospitalized. ¡±


    He was referring to Xie Xuan¡¯s father, Xie Wensheng.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The gentleness was gone, and Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze turned cold. Feeling unwell was just a vague description, but the truth was far more than that.


    Xie San lowered his eyes and didn¡¯t speak.


    Behind Xie Xuan, Lu Haiqiao understood very well that because she was present, Xie San couldn¡¯t say certain things.


    So she let go of Xie Xuan¡¯s hand.


    Feeling her moving away, Xie Xuan turned around nervously.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at him with her beautiful eyes. ¡°Go ahead. Deal with the urgent matter first.¡±


    Xie Xuan held her shoulders with both hands. ¡°Then do you understand what I didn¡¯t get to finish just now?¡±


    She was so smart that it was impossible for her not to understand.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao smiled mischievously. Then, she puffed up her cheeks a little. ¡°You haven¡¯t finished. How can I understand, so¡­


    She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, ¡°Tell me when you¡¯re done, okay?¡±

 Chapter 98 - 98: I Can’t Let Her Get Injured

    Chapter 98: I Can¡¯t Let Her Get Injured


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao went to get the car alone and didn¡¯t let Xie Xuan walk her out.


    After she left, Xie San immediately reported, ¡°Master, Old Master was attacked in Country M.¡±


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°What?¡±


    Xie San¡¯s expression was filled with worry. ¡°This morning, the old master arranged to meet a friend. On the way to the appointment, he was attacked. The bullet grazed his arm. Fortunately, it was only a superficial wound.¡±


    ¡°Who did it?¡± Xie Xuan walked to the wide window and took in the entire map of the eastern business park.


    Xie San was here to report this, so they must have found out something.


    Xie San said, ¡°All the attackers were killed, but..


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°But what?¡±


    Xie San said ¡°The other party used Colt M2000, so I guess they¡¯re the same group of people who injured Bin.¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°Are you saying that some of them got away?¡±


    Hearing this, Xie San lowered his head. ¡°Please punish me, Master!¡±


    Back then, the order was to ¡°wipe out their nest¡±. Now that someone had escaped, it meant that the mission had failed, and they had to be punished.


    ¡°Forget it.¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s voice sounded very calm. ¡°Go and get prepared. Inform


    Xie Da and Xie Er to set off for Country M immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Xuan called out to him, ¡°San.¡±


    Xie San stopped in his tracks and turned around. ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    With one hand behind his back, Xie Xuan stared at him for a while and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to go this time. Stay in B City.¡±


    Xie San was stunned. ¡°Master!¡±


    This trip to Country M would definitely be dangerous. How could he not go?


    ¡°You stay here and protect Haiqiao.¡±


    As soon as these words were spoken, Xie San widened his eyes in disbelief. ¡°Master, if I make a mistake, you can punish me. No matter how harsh it is, I won¡¯tin!¡±


    However, he couldn¡¯t protect that girl.


    Xie Xuan slowly approached him. ¡°This isn¡¯t a punishment. It¡¯s an order. If they cany their hands on my father, they¡¯ll find out about my rtionship with Haiqiao. I can¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡±


    Not even the slightest bit!


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Without waiting for Xie San to finish, Xie Xuan looked straight at him with a cold gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t need to repeat myself, right?¡±


    Those words meant that he was really angry.


    Xie San didn¡¯t dare to say anything else. He lowered his head and replied reluctantly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to ruin her usual lifestyle, so don¡¯t let her know that someone is secretly protecting her,¡± Xie Xuan added.


    Lu Haiqiao drove away from the park. She gradually slowed down when she saw the traffic light at the intersection ahead turn red.


    She stepped on the brakes and stopped behind a white car. While waiting, she looked out of the car window.


    She thought back to what happened just then.


    She walked into the elevator. Just before the doors closed, Xie Xuan looked at her and moved his lips. At the same time, he ced his hand on his chest.


    The words weren¡¯tplicated. Lu Haiqiao could easily tell that he was asking her, ¡°Got it?¡±


    So was there another meaning to the action of cing his hand over his heart?


    Was it ¡°you¡¯re in my heart¡±?


    Or ¡°I have you in my heart¡±?


    Either way seemed to make sense, but when she thought about it carefully, neither seemed right.


    So what was it?


    Lu Haiqiao frowned in distress.


    At this moment, her phone, which she had thrown in the passenger seat, suddenly rang.


    An unread WeChat message popped up on the bright screen.


    The red light still had over 20 seconds left. Lu Haiqiao picked up her phone and


    unlocked it..

 Chapter 99 - 99: An Adult Needs a Ritual

    Chapter 99: An Adult Needs a Ritual


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Mystery said, ¡°I know you¡¯re driving. You don¡¯t have to reply.


    ¡°I have something on at thest minute and have to go to Country M. I¡¯ll be back as soon as possible.


    ¡°Also, it¡¯S a little regretful that I didn¡¯t finish my little speech today, but an adult needs a sense of ceremony. Wait for me.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes shed.


    Oh, so what he really wanted to say was a confession of love.


    However¡­


    The smile on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s lips faded when she thought of the hostility Xie San had shown just now.


    It was a kind of pure loyalty. Unless he approved of it, all other people were enemies.


    At this moment, the traffic light turned green. As the car moved, Lu Haiqiao ced the phone back on the passenger seat, released the brakes, and slowly started the car.


    Xie San¡­


    She still felt that she had seen this person somewhere before, but it was strange. She couldn¡¯t remember where.


    At five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Xie San, who had just sent Xie Xuan off, drove back to the city east business park.


    On the way, a red and ck private car suddenly drove over.


    He nced at it, then quickly retracted his gaze and looked straight ahead.


    He suddenly remembered what Xie Er had said to him before he left.


    ¡°Did you argue with the Boss for Miss Lu again?¡± Otherwise, why would Xie San be left behind?


    It was obvious that Boss was angry.


    Hearing this, Xie San pursed his lips. After a few seconds, he said in an extremely cold tone, ¡°No.¡±


    Even if he was dissatisfied, as a subordinate, he didn¡¯t dare to fight his master head on.


    He still had to have the attitude that he should have.


    At this moment, Xie Er took out his phone from his pocket. After clicking into the photo album, he found a photo.


    In the background of the photo was a parking building in the City East Business Park. A red and ck Pagani sports car was in the middle of the screen.


    ¡°What¡­¡± Xie San, who was attracted by the photo, looked surprised.


    Driver 81, who had won the F Nation¡¯s Super Endurance Championship for two consecutive years and had once brought unlimited glory to the ¡°Phantom¡± team, was driving such a car.


    He had only seen it twice.


    It was too eye-catching, and people couldn¡¯t help but notice it.


    ¡°Surprised? This is a photo I collected from the board of directors¡¯ secretary¡¯s work group,¡± Xie Er said. ¡°When I saw it, I was also very surprised, so I checked the surveince cameras in the parking lot. Guess what?¡±


    Xie San couldn¡¯t be bothered to guess. ¡°Who¡¯s the owner?¡±


    Xie Er narrowed his eyes mysteriously. His fingers slid across the screen, and the static photo instantly turned into a video.


    He threw the phone to Xie San and said, ¡°See for yourself.¡±


    The video was taken from the surveince camera in the parking lot.


    From the moment the car entered the parking lot and reversed into the parking


    space to when the owner finally got out of the car, the surveince camera captured everything clearly.


    Xie San gripped his phone tightly. ¡°This¡­ is impossible!¡±


    Although she wasn¡¯t facing the surveince camera, she had a slender figure and was dressed casually. It had to be Lu Haiqiao.


    ¡°The truth is right in front of you. You have no choice but to believe it.¡± Xie Er took his phone back and locked the screen. ¡°Actually, I wanted to tell youst time that Miss Lu might not be as weak as she looked. In some aspects¡­¡± Xie Er paused.


    After a moment of deliberation, he still said what was on his mind. ¡°In some aspects, she might be outstanding enough to beparable to Boss.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much.¡± Even if the owner of the car was really her, it didn¡¯t mean anything.


    Moreover, there was no evidence to prove that the car was hers..

 Chapter 100 - 100: Praise

    Chapter 100: Praise


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Perhaps she knew the owner of the car and borrowed it to show off.


    Therefore, in Xie San¡¯s opinion, these words didn¡¯t make sense at all.


    As if reading his mind, Xie Er smiled indifferently. ¡°I knew this would be your reaction, so I sent someone to investigate the origin of the car in addition to the surveince cameras in the parking lot.


    ¡°Lu Yunge transported it back from F Country not long ago. The name on the car registration is Lu Haiqiao.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to tell you who Lu Yunge is, right?¡±


    Seeing that they were about to board the ne, Xie Er patted Xie San¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence that some things happen once, but it¡¯s not a coincidence that they happen over and over again.


    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t necessarily need you to agree with me when I tell you this.


    ¡°Miss Lu is the person Boss likes. Since we¡¯ve sworn to be loyal to the Xie family for the rest of our lives, shouldn¡¯t we maintain the minimum respect for her?


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that Boss sent you to protect Miss Lu as a punishment. I think it¡¯s because Boss trusts you that he handed over the person he values the most to you.


    ¡°lif you calm down, you might be able to obtain something different.¡±


    Something different?


    Recalling this, Xie San smiled stiffly.


    So what if the mysterious driver was really Lu Haiqiao? This could only mean that she was good at racing.


    When the time came for a group attack, what was the use of just driving a fast car? His master was not someone who would run away. Wouldn¡¯t bringing her along still be a burden?


    When they returned to the magazine agency, Lu Haiqiao immediately sent Xie Xuan a WeChat message saying that she had arrived.


    After waiting for a while, he still didn¡¯t reply.


    She guessed that he was busy, so she locked the screen and threw the phone aside.


    After putting all your heart and soul into work, time would pass especially quickly.


    In the blink of an eye, it was 4:30 pm. When she heard the phone vibrating at the corner of the table, Lu Haiqiao looked up.


    It was Lu Wanxin.


    ¡°Baby, I¡¯m meeting someone for dinnerter. Can you look after yourself after work?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s gaze was glued to theputer screen as she replied absent-mindedly.


    After two seconds, she asked, ¡°Who are you meeting?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lu Wanxin hesitated. ¡°It¡¯s just a friend.¡±


    She specially emphasized ¡°just¡±, and she was stuttering. She was hiding something.


    Lu Haiqiao raised her eyebrows and guessed, ¡°Is it Uncle Qin?¡±


    Lu Wanxin didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Sometimes, it wasn¡¯t a good thing to have a daughter who was too smart.


    Lu Haiqiao took her silence for a yes.


    ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± She held the phone with one hand and ced the other on the counter. ¡°Go ahead. Uncle Qin has finally asked you out. Remember not toe back too early.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to bete. I need to go!¡± With that, Lu Wanxin hung up.


    After ending the call, Lu Haiqiao smiled.


    She wasn¡¯t an old-fashioned person. She felt that everyone had the right to pursue their own happiness.


    It would be great if her mother could meet someone who took care of her at this age.


    Since she would be alone when he got home, Lu Haiqiao wanted to find a ce to exercise after work.


    As night fell, a high-level gym in downtown B City was brightly lit.


    Dressed in a professional singlet and shorts, Lu Haiqiao stood under the boxing ring and skillfully wrapped a hand bandage around her hand..

 Chapter 101 - 101: Just for Fun

    Chapter 101: Just for Fun


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After all the preparations were done, Lu Haiqiao bumped her fists together. When she felt that everything was ready, she jumped onto the boxing ring.


    She looked calmly at the muscr man opposite her. He was the boxing coach of the gym.


    It was said that he had once trained in a professional boxing team and was famous for his fast, ruthless, and urate punches. Later, for some reason, he retired and came to this gym to be a coach.


    After bowing to each other, Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±


    One roundsted three minutes.


    In less than two minutes, with a bang, the coach was hit hard in the side of his face. Without a helmet, he felt dizzy. He lost his bnce, took a few steps back, and fell on the rope.


    At this moment, a crisp voice sounded in his ears.


    ¡°Three, two, one!¡±


    After the countdown, the coach slid down the rope and sat on the floor of the boxing ring.


    He shook his head to alleviate the dizziness. Then, he looked up at Lu Haiqiao, who was standing with her hands behind her back. ¡°You¡¯re quite good at this. Are you a professional?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that he had never fought with a woman before, but this was the first time he had been beaten so badly.


    Lu Haiqiao took steady steps forward.


    She reached out and made an inviting gesture with her gloved hand.


    The coach immediately understood. He extended his hand, and Lu Haiqiao pulled him up from the ground.


    When the coach regained his bnce, she lowered her head and asked in an extremely calm tone, ¡°Do you want another round?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯ll still lose.¡± The coach used his teeth to open the strap of the boxing glove. His tone was probing. ¡°I heard that before I came, you had already knocked out three or four people?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nced at him. ¡°I¡¯m just doing it for fun.¡±


    The coach was speechless.


    She was already so ruthless when she was doing it for fun. If she was serious, wouldn¡¯t she kill her opponent?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fight, I¡¯m leaving.¡± With that, Lu Haiqiao jumped off the boxing ring.


    Gazing at her slender figure, the coach invited her, ¡°Hey, how about we have dinner togetherter?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao carried her bag and didn¡¯t even turn around. ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± When Lu Haiqiao walked out of the changing room with half-dried hair, it was already past nine in the evening.


    When she reached the door, she saw the boxing coach again.


    He was still wearing the clothes he had worn during the fight and a pair of flip-flops. He leaned against the front desk. ¡°You¡¯re leaving already? Aren¡¯t you going to y for a while more?¡±


    He sounded like a hooligan.


    Lu Haiqiao tugged at her bag strap and ignored him.


    Coincidentally, her phone rang at this moment. She took it out and saw that it was a call from Lu Yange.


    ¡°Hello, Yan?


    ¡°Right. I just finished my exercise.


    ¡°Sure. See youter.


    ¡°It¡¯s the one you came to before, but the road outside is under construction now. Why don¡¯t youe to the back door? I¡¯ll wait for you there.


    ¡°Lu Yunge drove my car back. It saved me the trouble of walking around.¡±


    At this point, she looked up inadvertently and identally met the coach¡¯s gaze.


    However, the eye contactsted less than a second. The coach looked away.


    He seemed awkward and guilty as if he had been caught red-handed.


    Lu Haiqiao narrowed his eyes and said slowly, ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Drive carefully. I can wait for you if you¡¯rete.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    After the call ended, she nced at her phone. At this moment, a WeChat notification popped up at the top of the screen.


    The moment she opened the chat box and saw the message, she felt she was in a good mood again.


    Mystery asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡±

 Chapter 102 - 102: Angels and Demons

    Chapter 102: Angels and Demons


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao held her phone with both hands and walked into the elevator. She typed as she walked.


    She asked, ¡°You arrived already? That was fast.¡±


    It would take at least 20 hours to fly from B City to Country M. Only four hours had passed since he got on the ne.


    Mystery said, ¡°There¡¯s no direct flight. It¡¯s a transit in Country A.¡±


    Seeing this, Lu Haiqiao immediately opened the ticketing software and began to search for the transit flight number from Country A to Country M.


    She would feel more at ease knowing what time he would arrive at his destination.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s flight took off at five in the afternoon. However, ording to the time, she didn¡¯t find a flight number that met the criteria.


    Then, she clicked on the custom search, wanting to screen from the transit city.


    She typed ¡°Country A¡± and clicked confirm. The words ¡°Sorry, no results from the search¡± popped up on the page.


    How could there not be any result?


    While she was in a daze, the elevator reached the first floor.


    The moment she stepped out of the door, her phone suddenly vibrated.


    It was Xie Xuan¡¯s WeChat voice call.


    She pressed the answer button, and the announcement of boarding at the local airport came from the other end of the phone.


    Lu Haiqiao heard every word of the announcement. From the broadcast, she was certain that Xie Xuan was indeed in Country A.


    But why wasn¡¯t there a flight number on the ticketing software?


    Logically speaking, there would be the same flight to Country M the next day. Unless he was on a private jet.


    After not hearing her voice for a long time, Xie Xuan said nervously, ¡°Haiqiao?


    Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao woke up from her reverie and pretended to be calm. ¡°Yes? I¡¯m here.


    What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°Where are you now?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said ¡°I just finished working out. I¡¯m going to grab some dinner.¡± Hearing the word ¡°exercise¡±, Xie Xuan chuckled.


    At first, he thought that she was the kind of girl who would use all kinds of excuses like stomach ache to avoid the PE tests, but now it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case.


    His voice was low, and hisughter was short, but Lu Haiqiao still heard it.


    ¡°What are youughing at?¡± she asked.


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Get something to eat and go home. It¡¯s dark in B


    City now. It¡¯s not safe on the road.¡±


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao had already turned into a nearby path.


    There were no streetmps, and it was pitch-ck, but she wasn¡¯t afraid at all.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I used to jog with my brother until past midnight.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan fell silent.


    A few secondster, he asked, ¡°You mean Lu Yunge?¡±


    She only had a sister, so the so-called ¡°brother¡± was naturally her cousin.


    Lu Haiqiao said yes.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s tone was casual. ¡°Where do you usually jog? I¡¯ll join you next time.¡±


    Where¡­


    Lu Haiqiao was a little perplexed.


    In the southwest of Country F, there was a curved track known as ¡°Angels and Demons¡±.


    The reason was that the curved track was formed by highways and city roads. Most of them were closed highways. The straight roads were stable and the bends were rugged. There was no buffer position to connect them. As the car drove at high speed, idents could happen if one wasn¡¯t careful.


    However, once they broke through this barrier, the car at the frontmost was the center of everyone¡¯s attention like an angel!


    Back then, Lu Yunge had trained her here in a way that was almost cruel.


    ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll run together if there¡¯s a chance in the future.¡± But there probably wouldn¡¯t be such a chance.


    Because there was the memory of her bing a demon..

 Chapter 103 - 103: So Adorable

    Chapter 103: So Adorable


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Xuan said yes, and there were more broadcasts in the background.


    ¡°Haiqiao, my flight is boarding.¡± There was reluctance in his tone. ¡°Be careful and take good care of yourself. I¡¯ll be back as soon as I¡¯m done with my father.¡±


    That was a very ordinary sentence, but for some reason, Lu Haiqiao found it strange.


    Every time they parted, he would tell her to be careful as if he had a premonition that something would happen to her.


    ¡°Alright, you be careful too.¡± Lu Haiqiao hesitated for two seconds before calling out to him, ¡°Xie Xuan¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ I want to¡­¡±


    She stopped after saying a few words.


    It was the old question.


    ¡®Who on earth are you?¡¯


    Ever since she made up her mind to be with him, she had wanted to know more about him.


    It wasn¡¯t that she cared about his identity or background, but she just wanted to know more about him. She even wanted to be part of his history.


    But after some thought, she gave up.


    It was difficult to exin everything clearly in the voice call. In addition, he was in a hurry to board the ne and had something urgent to do when he arrived at his destination. It was better for the two of them to talk face-to-face when he returned.


    ¡°Haiqiao?¡±


    ¡°Right. It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to ask you why you¡¯re being so nice to me.¡±


    She had wanted to brush it off with a random sentence, but unexpectedly, Xie Xuan suddenly fell silent on the other end.


    After a few seconds, he said in a very serious tone, ¡°Why do I treat you so well?


    I¡¯m in love with you, little dummy.¡±


    The ¡°little dummy¡± sounded a little aggrieved and a little cute.


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    That was adorable.


    She smiled uncontrobly, and even her voice became soft. ¡°Alright, alright. Don¡¯t waste time. Hurry up and board the ne.¡±


    ¡°Hey, that doesn¡¯t count.¡± Xie Xuan had already walked to the bridge, and there was a special echo in the receiver. ¡°I said I needed some kind of ceremony.


    What happened just now was just a preview.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Listening to that. Was he even an adult? He sounded like a child.


    ¡°Alright, I understand. Time to hang up. After taking off, close your eyes and rest for a while.


    ¡°No, you hang up first,¡± Xie Xuan said willfully.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m hanging up. Get some sleep.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, she cut off the voice call without dy.


    Just as Lu Haiqiao was about to stuff her phone back into her bag, she suddenly heard sinisterughtering from a dark corner not far away.


    ¡°Hey, youngdy, don¡¯t go¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s chat. We¡¯re very familiar with your brother.¡±


    ¡°Why are you running away? We¡¯re all your brother¡¯s friends. In that sense, we¡¯re also your brothers, right?¡±


    Amidst the evilughter, a young woman was pleading.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m begging you. Don¡¯t do this!


    ¡°It¡¯s my brother who owes you money. Go find him. Let me go. I beg you!


    ¡°Ah¡­ No, let go of me!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao wasn¡¯t a busybody, but she couldn¡¯t stand it when a few men bullied a young woman.


    So she walked in the direction of the noise.


    At this moment, the woman found an opportunity to run away from those men. As she ran, she shouted desperately, ¡°Help, help¡­¡±


    When she realized that there was someone ahead, her eyes lit up as if she had seen her savior.


    She pounced over and grabbed Lu Haiqiao¡¯s arm with both hands. ¡°Miss, I beg you. Help me.. They, they¡­¡±

 Chapter 104 - 104: Let Go

    Chapter 104: Let Go


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Under the faint light of the neon lights on the surrounding tall buildings, Lu Haiqiao could see the young woman clearly.


    Her face was pretty, but she was in a sorry state.


    The shoulder of her short-sleeved shirt was torn.


    The men chasing after the woman suddenly stopped in their tracks.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at the group of people. Then, she grabbed the woman¡¯s wrist and pulled her behind her.


    The men were all dressed in tight singlets and loose jeans. Their thick arms that were exposed had all kinds of tattoos on them.


    From the looks of it, they were some sort of gangsters.


    ¡°Oh my, there¡¯s another girl.¡± At this moment, the leader with a buzz cut took a step forward. He had a cigarette in his mouth, and the scarlet mes flickered in the dark path. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, brothers, she¡¯s even a beauty!¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, wretchedughter rang out.


    The young woman was really frightened. When she heard the men¡¯sughter, she curled up into a ball and trembled.


    ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry. Why don¡¯t you get out of here? I¡­ They¡¯re after me. I¡­ I don¡¯t want to implicate you.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao tilted her head slightly and nced at the hand on her arm.


    ¡°You say you want me to leave, but you wouldn¡¯t let go of my arm.¡±


    ¡°Hey, little beauty, what¡¯s your name? Are you afraid of walking alone at night? Do you want me to send you home?¡± The man with the buzz cut walked toward them step by step.


    As the man¡¯s voice got closer and closer, the girl tightened her grip on Lu Haiqiao¡¯s arm.


    When the man with the buzz cut saw Lu Haiqiao, he was stunned for a moment before revealing a greedy and evil gaze.


    ¡°Yo, guys, we¡¯re in luck tonight!


    ¡°She¡¯s so hot!¡±


    She was more exquisite than any woman he had ever seen!


    And her figure¡­


    The man with the buzz cut looked Lu Haiqiao up and down.


    She had a slender waist and long legs.


    How nice!


    Lu Haiqiao turned around and pulled the girl¡¯s hand off her arm.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± She looked calm as if the burly men in front of her didn¡¯t exist.


    The girl nodded timidly. In a situation where there was no way out, she could only trust Lu Haiqiao.


    However, they only managed to take two steps when the man with the buzz cut stepped forward and blocked their path.


    ¡°Hey, beautiful, don¡¯t be so cold. I¡¯ve greeted you so many times. At least say something!¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao used up her patience. ¡°Get lost!¡±


    The buzz cut man was displeased when he heard that. ¡°Heh, the beauty sure talks big.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Don¡¯t force me to hurt you.¡±


    ¡°Hurt me?¡± The man with the buzz cut put his hands on his hips and turned around to smile mockingly at the other men. ¡°Hey, guys, this beauty said she wanted to fight us¡­¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, there was moreughter.


    ¡°Hey, you said you wanted to fight. Is that a one-on-one fight or a group fight?¡± The man with the buzz cut leaned forward slightly and said frivolously, ¡°If it¡¯s a one-on-one fight, then I¡¯ll go. If it¡¯s a group fight, then my buddies and I will go together!


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. You¡¯re so thin. If I were you, I would choose to fight one-on-one. Let me look after you. If you fight in groups, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to take it. Hahahaha¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao sighed softly.


    The night wind was a little strong, blowing the trash in the trash cans into the street..

 Chapter 105 - 105: I Don’t Want to Sweat

    Chapter 105: I Don¡¯t Want to Sweat


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao turned her head slightly and said to the young woman behind her, ¡°Hey, stand aside, and don¡¯te over. Do you hear me?¡±


    It seemed like she was ready to fight.


    The girl lowered her eyes. Her bangs fell, hiding the unreadable emotions in her eyes.


    ¡°Miss, be careful. I¡­ I¡¯ll help you carry your bag, okay? Why don¡¯t you wait a


    while? Maybe¡­¡¯


    Her voice became softer and softer, and her head lowered. She hunched her shoulders and looked pitiful.


    Lu Haiqiao raised her eyebrow and tugged at her bag strap without saying a


    word.


    At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out behind them.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, you little brat, I¡¯ve finally found you!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao turned around and saw a familiar figure approaching.


    How many times did she have to tell Lu Yange not to call her ¡°little brat¡±?


    Lu Yange, who was tall and slender, walked quickly to Lu Haiqiao.


    She gently tapped Lu Haiqiao¡¯s shoulder a few times and then scolded thetter, ¡°Who told me that I could drive into a small alley, huh?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao blinked and looked behind her.


    She didn¡¯t see a car.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your car? You left it outside?¡± she asked.


    Lu Yange snorted angrily. ¡°Look for yourself. There¡¯s such a big cement column blocking the door. How can I drive in?


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t gotten out of the car ande over to take a look, how long would you have made me wait? A century?¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao smiled ingratiatingly. ¡°Hehe, I didn¡¯t notice. Besides, something happened here¡­¡±


    ¡°You mean them?¡± Lu Yange pointed her thumb at the group of men, and there was disdain in her eyes.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°Yes, they are picking on me.¡±


    As she spoke, she grabbed Lu Yange¡¯s arm and shook it gently. ¡°Yan, can you help me teach them a lesson?¡±


    Her fingertips were warm, and her palms were soft. As she shook Lu Yange¡¯s arm, her body swayed slightly, and her cheeks puffed up at the same time. She looked like a little bunny who had been wronged.


    However, Lu Yange seemed to have been offended by the cement column today. She didn¡¯t fall for Lu Haiqiao¡¯s coquettish act at all. ¡°There are only a few of them. Can¡¯t you handle them?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao blinked. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a shower. I don¡¯t want to sweat again.¡± Lu Yange was speechless.


    If she had known earlier, she would have gone home to take a nice shower beforeing here.


    Lu Yange sighed helplessly. ¡°You brat, move aside. Don¡¯t get in my way.¡± In fact, she was just saying it. She never intended to let Lu Haiqiao do it.


    Lu Haiqiao took a step back and pped with a smile. ¡°Yan, you¡¯re so awesome!¡±


    Lu Yange was speechless.


    She quite liked this side of Lu Haiqiao. She turned around and stood facing the men. ¡°Who are you people?¡±


    The man with the buzz cut was speechless.


    ¡®Finally noticed us?¡¯


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao came over and said, ¡°They¡¯re some losers.¡± Lu Yange was speechless.


    The little brat even learned how to answer for the other party?


    The man with the buzz cut, who was despised by the women, revealed a ferocious expression. ¡°Let me tell you, none of you can leave today!¡±


    He didn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t deal with a few women with so many people on his side!

 Chapter 106 - 106: Good Acting

    Chapter 106: Good Acting


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    As soon as he finished speaking, those men rushed forward.


    Lu Haiqiao stood at the side and watched indifferently.


    At this moment, the young woman beside her suddenly said, ¡°Miss, thank you so much for today. If it weren¡¯t for you, I..


    Lu Haiqiao watched the battle and nodded casually.


    Lu Yange, who had received professionalbat training in Country F since she was young, was hundreds of times better than those useless people in terms of her moves and speed.


    In less than three minutes, the oue was obvious.


    Apart from the man with the buzz cut who could barely get up, the others all fell.


    They moaned and rolled around.


    The man with the buzz cut spat on the ground. ¡°Damn it, you woman, you..


    Before he could finish, Lu Yange grabbed the man¡¯s singlet and picked him up. As she threw him on the ground, she kicked him hard in the stomach.


    The man lost his bnce and staggered to the wall.


    His back hit the hard concrete wall, and it hurt.


    Lu Yange clicked her tongue. ¡°You can¡¯t even beat a woman. What else can you do? You¡¯re too weak even to work in a factory!¡±


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao, who had been silent all this while, suddenly said, ¡°He¡¯s a little lousy at fighting, but his acting isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    As she spoke, she dragged the young woman up.


    Panic shed in the woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Miss, I¡­ you¡¯re hurting me¡­¡¯


    Lu Haiqiao dragged her closer. ¡°I saw that my bag was unzipped. What were you trying to do? Steal something?¡±


    The woman shook her head vigorously. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. Miss, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I¡­ I saw that the zipper wasn¡¯t closed and was afraid that you would drop your things, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that!¡± Lu Haiqiao suddenly let go. The woman staggered and took a few steps back.


    She then lost her bnce and fell to the ground.


    She looked up with tears in her eyes. ¡°Miss, I really didn¡¯t.. ¡®


    Things have taken a huge turn. Lu Yange blinked in confusion.


    She walked to Lu Haiqiao¡¯s side and bumped her shoulder lightly. ¡°Little brat, what¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t she a victim?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled and approached the woman. ¡°I had thought that she was the victim, but on second thought, the opposite direction of this path is the main road. If she really wanted to ask for help, just find an opportunity to run in that direction. After all, it¡¯s a public ce. Even if these men are fierce, there will always be someone to stop them. Why run to a dark dead end?


    ¡°Unless, of course, she knew someone wasing, and that person was me.


    ¡°Of course, this is only one of the suspicious points. The second is what you said just now. You have offered to carry my bag for me.


    ¡°Hey, this is the first time we¡¯ve met, right? Even if I said I wanted to fight, how did you know that I would definitely win?


    ¡°The only exnation is that you knew who I was beforehand, and you colluded with those losers to lure me in, right?


    ¡°Finally¡­¡±


    At this point, Lu Haiqiao narrowed her eyes in dissatisfaction. ¡°You call me Miss? Do I look older than you? Although I¡¯m only 24 years old, everyone I know says I¡¯m always 18. Don¡¯t you have any manners?¡±


    Lu Yange was speechless.


    That final point didn¡¯t seem to have much to do with the whole thing..

 Chapter 107 - 107: You ‘re Too Inexperienced to Fight Me

    Chapter 107: You ¡®re Too Inexperienced to Fight Me


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao moved her backpack behind her and squatted down. She leaned forward and stared at the woman. ¡°Hey, tell the person behind you that I¡¯m giving her time to consider, not a chance to y tricks.


    ¡°She has onest day left. At this time tomorrow, either give me the thing or I¡¯ll send her to the trending searches. Which path will she choose? After thinking for so long, she should have an answer.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Lu Haiqiao took out her phone from her bag and waved it in front of the woman. ¡°You reached into my bag just now. Did you want to take my phone?


    ¡°Go tell her that my phone is used to store beauty pictures and show off photos, not to save some dirty things.¡±


    As she spoke, she patted the woman¡¯s cheek with the back of her phone. Her tone was cold and arrogant. ¡°You¡¯re too inexperienced to fight me.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao stood up after that.


    She raised her eyebrows at Lu Yange, who was beside her, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Lu Yange, who was still in a daze, hurriedly followed her. ¡°Hey, little brat, what happened? Is that woman a viin?¡±


    As Lu Haiqiao walked toward the main road, she stroked her long hair that had already dried. ¡°With her IQ she¡¯ll be dead in less than three minutes if she wants to be the viin.¡±


    When she passed by the building where the gym was, she stopped and looked up.


    Lu Yange was curious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled mockingly. ¡°To make it seem like she was bullied, that woman deliberately tore a hole in her sleeve. That¡¯s how I saw the tattoo on her arm. It¡¯s the same as the one on the boxing coach in the gym.


    ¡°Two people with the same type of tattoo, and they were so close to each other.


    It could be a coincidence, but it¡¯s more likely to be deliberately arranged.¡±


    She had found the boxing coach looking familiar. Now that she thought about it, he looked a little simr to one of the men in Su Qingya¡¯s unsightly photos.


    Su Qingya could mess around, but she wouldn¡¯t share the same man with another woman. In addition, the girl said that her brother owed money, so Lu Haiqiao guessed that the boxing coach and the girl should be siblings.


    No wonder the coach kept ncing at her when she left just now. It turned out that he had calcted the time and made this show start on time.


    As for Buzz Cut and the others, they were probably extras hired with money. They had to be the most unlucky extras in history. They didn¡¯t earn much money and even got beaten up.


    The more she spoke, the more confused Lu Yange became. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nced at her. ¡°I said, one of the folders on myputer is filled with photos of muscr men. Do you want to see them?¡±


    Lu Yange was speechless.


    Hadn¡¯t she spent enough time in the hospital every day studying human anatomy?


    Muscle men?


    Forget it. To her, a skull was prettier.


    10:30 p.m. local time in Country M.


    Xie Xuan had just left the airport when he saw the servants of the Xie family waiting at the exit.


    Seeing him, the servant bowed. ¡°Young Master.¡±


    Xie Xuan ced one hand behind his back and walked forward steadily. ¡°How¡¯s my father now?¡±


    The servants followed beside him, and behind them were Xie Da and Xie Er, who were carrying their luggage.


    ¡°Old Master has been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating in the old vi. The doctor said that his injuries weren¡¯t serious. Young Master, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    The car was parked in the parking lot on the second underground floor of the airport.


    Just as he stepped out of the elevator, Xie Xuan stopped in his tracks..

 Chapter 108 - 107: You ‘re Too Inexperienced to Fight Me

    Chapter 107: You ¡®re Too Inexperienced to Fight Me


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao moved her backpack behind her and squatted down. She leaned forward and stared at the woman. ¡°Hey, tell the person behind you that I¡¯m giving her time to consider, not a chance to y tricks.


    ¡°She has onest day left. At this time tomorrow, either give me the thing or I¡¯ll send her to the trending searches. Which path will she choose? After thinking for so long, she should have an answer.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Lu Haiqiao took out her phone from her bag and waved it in front of the woman. ¡°You reached into my bag just now. Did you want to take my phone?


    ¡°Go tell her that my phone is used to store beauty pictures and show off photos, not to save some dirty things.¡±


    As she spoke, she patted the woman¡¯s cheek with the back of her phone. Her tone was cold and arrogant. ¡°You¡¯re too inexperienced to fight me.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao stood up after that.


    She raised her eyebrows at Lu Yange, who was beside her, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go eat. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Lu Yange, who was still in a daze, hurriedly followed her. ¡°Hey, little brat, what happened? Is that woman a viin?¡±


    As Lu Haiqiao walked toward the main road, she stroked her long hair that had already dried. ¡°With her IQ she¡¯ll be dead in less than three minutes if she wants to be the viin.¡±


    When she passed by the building where the gym was, she stopped and looked up.


    Lu Yange was curious. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled mockingly. ¡°To make it seem like she was bullied, that woman deliberately tore a hole in her sleeve. That¡¯s how I saw the tattoo on her arm. It¡¯s the same as the one on the boxing coach in the gym.


    ¡°Two people with the same type of tattoo, and they were so close to each other.


    It could be a coincidence, but it¡¯s more likely to be deliberately arranged.¡±


    She had found the boxing coach looking familiar. Now that she thought about it, he looked a little simr to one of the men in Su Qingya¡¯s unsightly photos.


    Su Qingya could mess around, but she wouldn¡¯t share the same man with another woman. In addition, the girl said that her brother owed money, so Lu Haiqiao guessed that the boxing coach and the girl should be siblings.


    No wonder the coach kept ncing at her when she left just now. It turned out that he had calcted the time and made this show start on time.


    As for Buzz Cut and the others, they were probably extras hired with money. They had to be the most unlucky extras in history. They didn¡¯t earn much money and even got beaten up.


    The more she spoke, the more confused Lu Yange became. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nced at her. ¡°I said, one of the folders on myputer is filled with photos of muscr men. Do you want to see them?¡±


    Lu Yange was speechless.


    Hadn¡¯t she spent enough time in the hospital every day studying human anatomy?


    Muscle men?


    Forget it. To her, a skull was prettier.


    10:30 p.m. local time in Country M.


    Xie Xuan had just left the airport when he saw the servants of the Xie family waiting at the exit.


    Seeing him, the servant bowed. ¡°Young Master.¡±


    Xie Xuan ced one hand behind his back and walked forward steadily. ¡°How¡¯s my father now?¡±


    The servants followed beside him, and behind them were Xie Da and Xie Er, who were carrying their luggage.


    ¡°Old Master has been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating in the old vi. The doctor said that his injuries weren¡¯t serious. Young Master, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    The car was parked in the parking lot on the second underground floor of the airport.


    Just as he stepped out of the elevator, Xie Xuan stopped in his tracks..

 Chapter 109 - 109: Yes, I Have Someone

    Chapter 109: Yes, I Have Someone


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Wensheng¡¯s gaze remained on the string of dragon-eyed bodhi. ¡°That¡¯s not what I want to say. I just want to ask, why aren¡¯t you wearing the bracelet


    Grandma gave you?¡±


    ¡°I gave it to someone,¡± Xie Xuan replied indifferently.


    As soon as he finished speaking, his phone vibrated.


    There was a reply to the WeChat message he had sent to Lu Haiqiao.


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°I was in a meeting just now and didn¡¯t bring my phone. It¡¯s veryte in Country M now, right? You should rest well when you get there and before dealing with things.¡±


    Xie Xuan quickly typed a reply. ¡°Yes, have you eaten?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao replied, ¡°Not yet. I have something to take care of first.¡±


    Seeing this, Xie Xuan exited the app and called the takeout number of Donghao Garden in B City.


    He quickly ordered some dishes and said, ¡°That¡¯s all. Please deliver as soon as possible.¡±


    After receiving a guarantee that it would be delivered within half an hour, Xie Xuan nodded and hung up.


    Returning to WeChat, he sent a message to Lu Haiqiao. ¡°I ordered lunch for you. It¡¯ll arriveter.¡±


    She was probably busy and didn¡¯t reply.


    Xie Xuan put away his phone. The moment he looked up, he met Xie Wensheng¡¯s probing gaze.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± he asked.


    Xie Wensheng narrowed his eyes and asked as if he had already seen through everything, ¡°Do you have someone you care about?¡±


    Other than ying games, he had never seen his son look at his phone so often and even order food for others. If he hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn¡¯t have believed that this kid could be so meticulous.


    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Xie Xuan admitted frankly. Xie Wensheng was slightly surprised. ¡°Male or female?¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    He didn¡¯t expect his father to be so trendy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a she!¡± It was a girl he liked very much.


    Xie Wensheng dragged out his words and said, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried. At first, I thought you would partner up with that kid from the Zhou family for the rest of your life.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°Should I say that your thoughts are trendy, or that you¡¯re too blind?¡±


    Xie Wensheng said, ¡°Since you have someone you care about, bring her back home another day.¡±


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°Why? Has Grandpa given in?¡±


    Xie Wensheng said, ¡°No, but if you bring your girlfriend home, your grandfather will be very happy to see her.¡±


    However, after a few seconds, he added, ¡°I can¡¯t rule out the possibility that he¡¯ll let the youngdy and kick you out of the house.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°By the way, what¡¯s her name?¡± Xie Wensheng asked curiously.


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°She¡¯s Lu Haiqiao, Lu Jianyuan¡¯s niece.¡±


    ¡°Lu Jianyuan from Country F?¡± Hearing this, Xie Wensheng seemed to remember something.


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°You know him?¡±


    With that, the bedroom fell into a strange silence.


    ¡°Dad?¡± Xie Xuan called out.


    Xie Wensheng came back to his senses. ¡°What? Right, Lu Jianyuan¡¯s niece¡­


    That little girl¡­¡±


    His tone made it seem like Lu Haiqiao was an old friend he had known for many years.


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    Xie Wensheng lowered his eyes and sighed meaningfully. ¡°If it¡¯s that youngdy, then treat her well. Don¡¯t let anyone hurt her. This is your responsibility as a man.¡±


    Hurt her?


    There was something wrong with that statement.


    Why did his father think someone was going to hurt her?


    And from his tone, he seemed to know who that person was, but he couldn¡¯t say it out loud.


    With that thought in mind, Xie Xuan said, ¡°Dad¡­¡±


    He had to ask.


    However, Xie Wensheng waved his hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. I have to rest. I promise your mother to go back as soon as possible. I can¡¯t exhaust myself anymore..¡±

 Chapter 110 - 110: Drop Hints

    Chapter 110: Drop Hints


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    It was obvious that Xie Wensheng was unwilling to continue.


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t say anything else. He ced the chair back and said, ¡°Dad, have some rest.¡± Then, he left the room.


    A servant was waiting at the bedroom door.


    Xie Xuan nced at him and casually asked, ¡°By the way, I heard that Father was ambushed on his way to the appointment. What about his friends? Did you inform the other party? Did you keep them waiting?¡±


    This was Xie Wensheng¡¯s old servant who had followed him for many years. He was the right person to ask


    The servant bowed. ¡°Young Master, are you referring to Mr. Lu?¡± Hearing this, Xie Xuan frowned. ¡°Which Mr. Lu?¡±


    The servant replied, ¡°Mr. Lu Jianyuan, the richest man in Country F.¡±


    Xie Xuan was surprised


    So his father knew Lu Jianyuan.


    But that wasn¡¯t right.


    He mentioned Lu Jianyuan in the conversation in the room just now, but his father¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t seem like he knew the man.


    ¡°Did you inform Mr. Lu?¡± Xie Xuan asked.


    The servant nodded. ¡°Mr. Lu came to visit after knowing that something had happened to the Master. He must have something urgent. He only stayed for a while before leaving.¡±


    ¡°Is he still in Country M?¡± Xie Xuan asked again.


    The servant shook his head gently. ¡°I heard that he returned to Country F in the afternoon.


    Why was he in such a hurry?


    After thinking for a moment, Xie Xuan waved his hand. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡±


    The servant said respectfully, ¡°Young Master, please have some rest. I will watch over your father. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Xie Xuan¡¯s bedroom was opposite Xie Wensheng.


    The moment he pushed the door open, he felt his phone vibrate.


    He took it out and saw a WeChat message from Lu Haiqiao.


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Thank you for the food. I like it very much.¡±


    He nced at the time on the upper left corner of the screen. It was less than half an hour before they delivered.


    Very efficient.


    He then pressed the voice call button. The special ringtone rang for two seconds before the girl¡¯s crisp voice came out of the receiver. ¡°Xuan, why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡±


    Although Lu Haiqiao¡¯s voice was low, her tone was soft and sweet. It warmed Xie Xuan¡¯s heart.


    ¡°You¡­ What did you call me?¡± This was the first time he heard her call him that, and Xie Xuan felt like he was in a dream.


    Lu Haiqiao chuckled. ¡°Xuan, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    ¡°You can call me whatever you want. I like whatever you saye.¡± He remembered that Zhou Nuo was also used to calling him ¡°Xuan.¡± When he returned this time, he would definitely get that Zhou guy to change the way he addressed him.


    Lu Haiqiao took a sip of water.


    The time disyed in the bottom right corner of the officeputer was 12:30


    p.m.


    Counting the time difference, it was alreadyte at night in Country M.


    She went back to the original topic. ¡°You¡¯ve been flying for so long. Why aren¡¯t you resting?¡±


    Xie Xuan walked to the bed and sat down.


    He leaned against the head of the bed and crossed his legs, his posturezy and casual.


    ¡°I just talked to my dad.¡±


    ¡°Is your father alright? Is he feeling better?¡± Lu Haiqiao asked.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s hoarse voice was filled withughter. ¡°If my father knows that his son¡¯s girlfriend is asking after him, I think he¡¯ll recover very quickly.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao quickly corrected him. ¡°Hey, Mr. Xie, I need to remind you that before you officially say those words, we¡¯re not a couple yet. Girlfriend? Who are you referring to? So you already have a girlfriend?¡±


    One could imagine how mischievous and adorable Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression was when she said those words.


    Xie Xuan smiled.. ¡°So you¡¯re hinting for me toe back quickly and confess my love to you?¡±

 Chapter 111 - 111: Stay Where You Are

    Chapter 111: Stay Where You Are


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯te back,¡± Lu Haiqiao said. ¡°I¡¯ll find you, and I¡¯ll definitely find you.¡±


    From her tone, Xie Xuan could hear a strong sense of confidence.


    It was the kind of confidence that she could get anything she wanted. Xie Xuan¡¯s eyes were filled with love. ¡°You just stay where you are and don¡¯t move. Let me walk the rest of the way.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a very manly remark?¡± Lu Haiqiao retorted.


    Xie Xuan chuckled. ¡°Then after the confession of love, you¡¯ll have the final say in everything, okay, my future girlfriend?¡±


    He emphasized the word ¡°future¡± , not giving Lu Haiqiao any chance to exploit any loopholes.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, I won¡¯t get to decide anything before your confession of love.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Not only was Lu Haiqiao mischievous, but she was also smart.


    She could really take advantage of any loophole.


    ¡°Alright, alright. You have the final say even before that. I¡¯ll do anything you say.¡± What should he do with the girl he liked? Dote on her.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Haiqiao suddenly became serious. ¡°Since you¡¯ll listen to me, hang up immediately. Put down your phone, clean up, and go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I slept on the ne¡­¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Xie Xuan heard Lu Haiqiao¡¯s protest from the other end of the phone.


    Alright, alright. He would listen to her. Hence, he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll hang up now. Be careful.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Okay, good night.¡±


    At seven in the evening, Lu Haiqiao, who had already returned home, received a message from an unknown number.


    There was only one word in the message. ¡°Downstairs.¡±


    Finally, there was a reaction.


    The corners of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s lips curled up as she slowly changed her shoes and went out.


    On the road outside the old-fashioned neighborhood, a familiar Mercedes-Benz was parked there.


    Su Qingya, who was sitting in the car, saw Lu Haiqiao appear. She picked up the mask and hat on the passenger seat, wrapped herself up tightly, and got out of the car.


    Lu Haiqiao walked leisurely to the car with her hands in her pockets.


    She raised her chin at Su Qingya and asked coldly, ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao noticed that Su Qingya¡¯s hand was hidden behind her back as if she was hiding something.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, will you keep your word?¡± Suppressing her uneasiness, Su Qingya asked in a trembling voice.


    Lu Haiqiao shrugged. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then¡­¡± Su Qingya looked around. Although no one was paying attention, she still said in a panic, ¡°Can we¡­ get in the car first?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao refused without thinking. ¡°No.¡±


    She tilted her head and nced at the passenger seat. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many men have sat in that car of yours. It¡¯s gross.¡±


    Hearing this, Su Qingya was furious. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Haiqiao grew impatient. ¡°Are you going to give it to me, or do you want me to send you to the trending searches?¡±


    As she spoke, she smiled devilishly. ¡°Sister, you have to believe that I have the ability to make a post about you on the trending searches for an entire week.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be the first topic that everyone sees!


    ¡°Ah, what kind of tag do you think I should use?


    ¡°The CEO¡¯s daughter meets many men at night? The socialite Su Qingya goes to a hotel with many men?¡±


    Su Qingya was shocked.


    Lu Haiqiao had a harmless face, but the coldness in her eyes made Su Qingya feel helpless and hopeless..

 Chapter 112 - 112: You Can’t Beat Me

    Chapter 112: You Can¡¯t Beat Me


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Why?


    How did it be like this?


    Hadn¡¯t Lu Haiqiao always been weak and useless?


    Even their father said the same thing about her.


    ¡°She¡¯s as quiet as a cat that doesn¡¯t know how to bark. She¡¯s useless!¡±


    That¡¯s right. She should be a cat that didn¡¯t know how to bark and was at the mercy of others!


    In her extreme anger and unwillingness, Su Qingya¡¯s breathing quickened. The grayish-yellow brown paper bag she hid behind her hand had a deep crease because she held it too tightly.


    Seeing this, Lu Haiqiao sighed. ¡°Looks like you still need time to consider.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Su Qingya looked up.


    Was there still room for discussion?


    Just as this thought shed through her mind, she heard Lu Haiqiao say indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ll give you three more seconds.¡±


    Su Qingya didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Lu Haiqiao crossed her arms in front of her and looked away.


    ¡°Three¡­¡¯


    The moment the countdown started, Su Qingya felt her heart sink.


    ¡°Two¡­¡±


    She tightened her grip on the brown paper bag.


    Without waiting for the ¡°one¡±, Su Qingya hurriedly took out the brown paper bag. ¡°The information you want is all here¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao rxed her browns and reached out to take the bag.


    However, Su Qingya was holding onto the corner of the paper bag as if she was struggling on the verge of death.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes turned cold, and she pulled hard.


    Just as she opened the brown paper bag to check if the information was real, Su Qingya said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t fake what I promised to exchange with you. I took these photos with my phone. If I print them out, I might be discovered.¡±


    Satisfied, Lu Haiqiao put the documents back. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so smart.¡±


    Su Qingya wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen to her praise. ¡°Where are my things?¡±


    ¡°Here.¡± As soon as she said that, Lu Haiqiao held a small USB sh drive between her fingers as if she were performing magic.


    Su Qingya reached out to grab it, but the USB sh drive suddenly disappeared.


    When Su Qingya realized that she had missed the target, she looked up angrily.


    Lu Haiqiao yed with the USB drive casually. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? I haven¡¯t finished yet.¡¯


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, you¡­¡± Su Qingya felt like a clown that had been yed.


    ¡°You can have it back, but listen, don¡¯t y tricks behind my back.¡± Lu Haiqiao held the USB in one hand and opened Su Qingya¡¯s palm with the other. She loosened her fingers, and the USB fell into Su Qingya¡¯s palm. ¡°You¡¯re not my match.¡±


    Su Qingya calmed down a little after she got the USB drive.


    Before turning to leave, Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°I forgot to tell you that I¡¯ve copied all the contents of the USB drive to myputer. It¡¯s double insurance in case I can¡¯t find it in the future.


    Su Qingya, who had yet to regain her arrogance, fell into panic again. ¡°Lu


    Haiqiao, you¡¯re despicable!¡±


    Although Lu Haiqiao said that she would return the item to Su Qingya, he had actually made a copy so that she could threaten Su Qingya in the future.


    Lu Haiqiao ignored her exasperated expression and casually waved the brown paper bag in her hand. ¡°As long as you¡¯re not despicable first, as your sister, I¡¯ll show you mercy.


    ¡°But if you don¡¯t like yourfortable life and want to cause trouble, then I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll hand over the photos and videos to the old man and let him see what kind of a person the daughter he raised for more than twenty years is.¡±


    As soon as she heard that, Su Qingya weakly leaned back onto the car.


    She had never expected that Lu Haiqiao would have so many things to threaten her with..

 Chapter 113 - 113: Be My Boss

    Chapter 113: Be My Boss


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At the same time, Country M had a twelve-hour time difference with City B.


    Xie Xuan, who woke up early, got dressed and walked out of the bedroom.


    The hem of his ck shirt was tucked into his trousers of the same color, and there was a limited edition V&A belt around his waist.


    Xie Da and Xie Er were waiting at the door. Xie Xuan asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my dad?¡±


    Xie Er said, ¡°The old master is still resting.¡±


    Xie Xuan said. ¡°Let him sleep. Don¡¯t disturb him.¡±


    When they reached the first floor, the servant saw Xie Xuan and greeted him. ¡°Good morning, Young Master.¡±


    Xie Xuan rolled up his sleeves and nced at him. ¡°Morning.¡±


    The servant said, ¡°Young Master, your breakfast..


    Before he could finish, Xie Xuan shook his head. ¡°I heard that there¡¯s a new dim sum restaurant in Chinatown.¡±


    The servant was surprised. ¡°Well, yes¡­¡±


    Xie Xuan nodded slightly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have my breakfast there.¡±


    The servant instantly understood what he meant. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call over to order food first. Young Master, do you think one serving of shrimp dumplings, one serving of steamed pork dumplings, and one serving of barbecued pork bun is


    enough?¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan licked his lips. ¡°Do as you see fit. Anyway, you know my


    taste. ¡±


    The servant smiled and bowed. ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely make proper arrangements.¡±


    On the square dining table was a piece of toast and a cup of ck coffee.


    Xie Xuan leaned back in his chair and looked down at his phone. Xie Da and Xie Er stood quietly behind him.


    Although they were facing forward, the phone vibrated again and again, attracting their attention to Xie Xuan¡¯s phone screen.


    They could see the screen clearly.


    It was nighttime in B City.


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°I¡¯m up. It¡¯s time for breakfast.¡± Lu Haiqiao wrote, ¡°Get off work. I¡¯m home.¡±


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°Have you eaten dinner?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°ck coffee.¡±


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°That¡¯s all?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°I¡¯m drinking coffee and thinking about you. That¡¯s enough.¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°Good. Think well.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°What?¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°I¡¯ll only give you one chance to miss me like this because I¡¯ll bring you along when I go on business trips in the future.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Don¡¯t the poor working-ss people have any holiday time?¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°Thene and be my boss. I love taking orders from you.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°No problem.¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°Be good. I¡¯ll be back in a few days.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°You too. I¡¯ll wait for you toe back in a few days.¡±


    Xie Da and Xie Er, who watched the whole thing, fell silent.


    Why did they have to watch them chat?!


    They were now envious.


    While Xie Xuan was typing, there was amotion at the entrance of the restaurant.


    The corners of his lips curled up slightly as he continued to look at his phone as if no one was around.


    With a bang, a man¡¯s cold voice rang out.


    ¡°Xie Xuan, what the f*ck are you doing?¡±


    As soon as he said that, one of his subordinates pulled out the chair opposite Xie Xuan. The man who spoke nced at it and sat down.


    Xie Xuan acted as if he didn¡¯t hear the man. After sending Lu Haiqiao onest emoji, he slowly put down his phone, picked up his cup, and took a sip.


    Leaning back, he turned to Xie Da and Xie Er. ¡°Hey, the coffee here isn¡¯t as good as in B City. It¡¯s too bitter.¡±


    Xie Da and Xie Er were speechless.


    How could it not be bitter without Miss Lu¡¯spany?


    Seeing this, the customers at the surrounding tables ate faster. After that, they quickly left the restaurant.


    Soon, only Xie Xuan¡¯s table was left. A strange atmosphere spread in the air..

 Chapter 114 - 114: So Wicked

    Chapter 114: So Wicked


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After a while, there was another dull thud on the table.


    ¡°Xie Xuan, stop putting on an act with me. You messed with my ce the moment you arrived. What do you want?¡±


    At this moment, Xie Xuan slowly turned around to face that person.


    The person in front of him had deep-set eyes and a well-defined nose. Other than the fact that his right eye was blind and covered by a ck blindfold, he was rather good-looking.


    However, such a good-looking man seemed very hostile.


    Compared to Xie Xuan, who was full of nobility, he was much worse.


    And he actually had a rather nice name.


    Yan Lu.


    ¡°I thought that you would be more obedient after I chased you out of Country F. I didn¡¯t expect you toe out and court death again before you could settle down.¡±


    Xie Xuan¡¯s slender fingers tapped on the table in an extremely regr rhythm. His gaze, when he looked straight at Yan Lu, was arrogant and ruthless. ¡°Or do you want me to blind your other eye to teach you a lesson?¡±


    Obviously, the eye was Yan Lu¡¯s taboo.


    When he heard this, he subconsciously clenched his fists, and he seemed to be unable to control his emotions.


    Because of this eye, he lost the right to fight for his happiness.


    A one-eyed person wasn¡¯t worthy of her at all!


    ¡°If you have the guts, try it!¡± Yan Lu gritted his teeth and growled.


    Ever since he received news that Xie Xuan had arrived in the country yesterday, his subordinates had beening over to report one after another. As long as it was under Yan Lu¡¯s name, be it the dance hall, karaoke, bars, or restaurants, all of them were upied by beggars and homeless people on the streets.


    They spend money there but not much. Their dirty appearance and smell made other customers unable to stand it, so they left one after another. When the passersby saw this scene, they all gave up on the idea of entering.


    In just one night, Yan Lu had suffered heavy losses.


    And all of this was thanks to Xie Xuan.


    This brat was despicable!


    Xie Xuan knew that Country M wasn¡¯t his territory, so he didn¡¯t use force. However, there was always a way to make people feel so aggrieved that they wanted to die.


    He took two deep breaths to calm himself down.


    Being irritable now wouldn¡¯t do him any good.


    ¡°Tell me, what exactly do you want?¡± he demanded.


    At this moment, a subordinate came in from outside and walked to Yan Lu¡¯s side. He bent down and whispered into Yan Lu¡¯s ear.


    After hearing this, Yan Lu red up.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± He mmed the table and stood up. ¡°Xie Xuan, you kidnapped my entire family!¡±


    Xie Er immediately replied coldly, ¡°Mr. Yan, please be more precise. It¡¯s not kidnapping but an invitation. Boss said that we had to be polite to your parents and sister. If they didn¡¯t want toe with us, we couldn¡¯t force them.¡±


    Xie Xuan raised his hand casually. ¡°er, you don¡¯t have to have such high expectations for people who haven¡¯t had much education.¡±


    Xie Er smiled. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Xie Xuan raised his chin and looked at Yan Lu. ¡°Yan Lu, in the past, you were a loan shark in Country F. You also ran brothels and bars, and I would turn a blind eye to it.


    ¡°But you harmed my father and my subordinates. Now, I¡¯m just returning the favor by inviting your parents and sister over.


    ¡°Or maybe you think that¡¯s not enough and want to make a bigger fuss. Then I don¡¯t mind giving you a heavier gift.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if you have the guts to ept this gift.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, there was silence in the restaurant.


    Until the vibration broke the tense atmosphere. Xie Da picked up the phone. ¡°Alright, I see..¡±

 Chapter 115 - 115: His True Target Is Not Me

    Chapter 115: His True Target Is Not Me


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°Boss,¡± he reported after ending the call, ¡°the old master is up and asking when you¡¯re going back.¡±


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows. ¡°Now.¡±


    When Xie Xuan passed by Yan Lu, he deliberately stopped in his tracks.


    ¡°Hey, this restaurant is yours too, right?


    ¡°The food is bad and expensive. Only people here who don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them will buy it.


    ¡°Or you can consider changing to another chef. If you really can¡¯t find anyone who knows how to cook, you might as well close down this restaurant.


    Anyway, you don¡¯t seem like someone who knows how to do serious business.¡±


    Yan Lu didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Why wouldn¡¯t this man leave? He was so annoying!


    At ten in the morning, Xie Xuan returned to the vi.


    Xie Wensheng removed the gauze wrapped around his arm and only wore a simple hemostatic medicine sticker.


    He was eating breakfast at the dining table when he heard footsteps and looked up.


    It was only when Xie Xuan walked over and pulled out a chair to sit down that Xie Wensheng said, ¡°I heard that the Pan family in D City has made you unhappy again?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xie Xuan replied indifferently, then lowered his head to look at his phone.


    Xie Wensheng frowned. ¡°Was it for Miss Lu?¡±


    If they had only made Xie Xuan unhappy, he wouldn¡¯t have let an ugly, rude, and unreasonable woman enter the Pan family as a daughter-inw.


    The son of the Pan family must have tried to do something to that Miss Lu, which was why Xie Xuan was so ruthless and relentless.


    Xie Xuan crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair in an extremely elegant manner. ¡°She¡¯s Su Jinchang¡¯s youngest daughter.¡±


    Xie Wensheng understood what she meant.


    If not for this blood rtionship, Xie Xuan wouldn¡¯t have let the Su family off either.


    ¡°But, Xuan, you¡­¡± Xie Wensheng stopped after saying a few words.


    He wanted to remind Xie Xuan that this was a critical period. If he was too ostentatious, it would be easy for people with ulterior motives to criticize him.


    Moreover, that youngdy was a little special.


    However, on second thought, if something simr happened to Xie Wensheng¡¯s wife, perhaps he would make the same choice.


    Or even more ruthless.


    With a heavy sigh, Xie Wensheng said, ¡°I¡¯ve never interfered with your decisions, but you have to know your limits.


    ¡°Also, be careful. Those coteral rtives and some inws have always disliked you. Once you¡¯re caught red-handed, I believe they¡¯ll take action soon.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only son your mother and I have. Nothing must happen to you before you leave us with some grandchildren.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Did that mean that after he had a son and a daughter, he could do whatever he wanted?


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s more,¡± Xie Wensheng said after swallowing the food in his mouth.


    ¡°Next time, if you want to transfer my people away, just do it openly. What was with shrimp dumplings and barbecued pork buns? So in your eyes, my people can only be a few dishes?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not me. It¡¯s Uncle Fan¡­¡± Xie Xuan nced at the servant standing at the side. After breakfast, Xie Wensheng wiped his mouth. ¡°Only you can say such baffling words. How can you me others?¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Could he do a paternity test?


    He suspected that he wasn¡¯t his father¡¯s biological son.


    At this moment, the servant suddenly said, ¡°Master, the luggage is packed. We can set off in the afternoon.¡±


    Xie Xuan was stunned. ¡°Dad¡­¡±


    Xie Wensheng stood up. ¡°My injuries are fine, so I n to return to B City in the afternoon.¡±


    When he passed by Xie Xuan, he stopped in his tracks. ¡°Let Yan Lu¡¯s parents and sister go.


    ¡°This time, it was just an ident. His real target wasn¡¯t me.¡±

 Chapter 116 - 116: Two Rhetorical Questions

    Chapter 116: Two Rhetorical Questions


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    Xie Wensheng pursed his lips and looked sideways at the servant.


    The servant who received the signal hurriedly went forward and replied, ¡°Master, the things prepared for Madam have been delivered. Do you want to take a look now?¡±


    The intention of changing the topic was obvious.


    Xie Wensheng smiled. ¡°Already? Alright, let¡¯s go take a look.¡±


    Xie Xuan, who was sitting sideways, stared at his father as he walked up to the second floor. Sincest night, he had been talking in riddles.


    ¡°I¡¯m not his real target.¡±


    So who was the real target?


    Other than his mother, who else in the world would his father take a fall for?


    Two dayster, at four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Lu Haiqiao called Wu Sancai.


    Zhou Nuo¡¯s interview was over. Next was Mr. Sancai.


    She nned to arrange a time to meet. Other than an interview, she mainly wanted to catch up.


    The phone rang for a long time, but no one picked up. Just as Lu Haiqiao moved the phone away and was about to redial, a woman¡¯s voice came out of the receiver. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao immediately moved the phone back. ¡°Is Mr. Sancai there?¡± As soon as she said that, Lu Haiqiao felt that something was wrong.


    She had just called Mr. Sancai¡¯s cell phone. Why did a woman answer it?


    The woman hesitated for a few seconds before answering hurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you dialed the wrong number.¡±


    With that, the call was cut off.


    After taking a look at the call log and confirming that the number was correct, Lu Haiqiao called again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavable. Please try againter¡­¡±


    Unavable?


    She tried a few times in a row, but the call couldn¡¯t get through.


    She remembered that other than the part-time workers who came to the house to clean from nine to eleven in the morning, Mr. Sancai would stay at home alone if he didn¡¯t go out the rest of the time.


    Could something have happened?


    It wasn¡¯t impossible.


    If he was alone at home, no one would know what would happen.


    The more Lu Haiqiao thought about it, the more worried she became. Just as she was about to visit Wu Sancai, her phone suddenly vibrated.


    The words ¡°Mr. Sancai¡± jumped on the screen.


    She picked it up immediately.


    ¡°Haiqiao, did you call me?¡±


    Hearing Wu Sancai¡¯s voice, Lu Haiqiao finally calmed down.


    ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡±


    Wu Sancai paused for two seconds before chuckling. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Everything¡¯s fine. What can happen to me, silly girl?¡±


    He sounded a little out of breath, but on the whole, there was nothing out of the ordinary.


    After some thought, Lu Haiqiao went straight to the point and asked, ¡°Then why did a woman answer the call just now?¡±


    ¡°A woman? What woman? There was no woman. My cleaner went back after eleven o¡¯clock. There¡¯s no woman¡­¡±


    Two rhetorical questions. Something was wrong.


    Lu Haiqiao said without batting an eyelid, ¡°I see. Maybe I dialed the wrong number.¡±


    Wu Sancai didn¡¯t linger on this topic. ¡°By the way, Haiqiao, why are you looking for me?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. I just wanted to ask when you¡¯re free. I want to have some tea with you.¡±


    ¡°Tea?¡± Wu Sancai said hesitantly, ¡°How about another day? I don¡¯t really want to go out these days. It¡¯s too hot. I¡¯m old and can¡¯t take it.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao yed along. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you don¡¯t want to go out, I¡¯ll visit you. Anyway, you have top-notch tea sets. The tea brewed won¡¯t taste worse than the teahouse outside..¡±

 Chapter 117 - 117: There Must Be Something Wrong

    Chapter 117: There Must Be Something Wrong


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    As soon as she finished speaking, there was silence on the other end of the phone.


    Lu Haiqiao held her phone and waited patiently.


    After two minutes, Wu Sancai sighed. ¡°Haiqiao, can you not interfere in this matter? I¡­ In short, I can¡¯t exin it.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pondered for a moment. ¡°Does it have something to do with that woman?¡±


    Wu Sancai fell silent again.


    It seemed that she was right.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Haiqiao agreed. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to talk about it, I won¡¯t force you, but if I find out that that woman hurts you, I won¡¯t let her off no matter if it¡¯s verbal or physical damage.¡±


    She guessed that the woman was by Wu Sancai¡¯s side at this moment. No matter if she could hear her words, Wu Sancai would always know what to do.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡­¡± Wu Sancai paused and continued after a few seconds, ¡°She won¡¯t¡­ right?¡±


    He said thest word very softly.


    But Lu Haiqiao still heard it.


    It was a question.


    Did that mean he wasn¡¯t sure?


    Lu Haiqiao narrowed her eyes.


    She wasn¡¯t someone who woulde to remedy an ident. If she realized that something might happen in the future, then taking precautions was the best way to deal with it.


    Wu Sancai knew her too well.


    When she was obedient, she was very obedient, but when she was ruthless, she was really ruthless.


    The kind of ruthlessness that could risk one¡¯s life.


    After some thought, he said, ¡°Haiqiao, I know you¡¯ll definitely think of ways to protect me. Actually, there¡¯s no need. There¡¯s really no need because¡­¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Wu Sancai finally revealed his rtionship with that woman.


    ¡°Because she¡¯s my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Daughter?¡± Lu Haiqiao blurted out in surprise.


    She knew that her teacher had a son, but they hadn¡¯t contacted each other for many years.


    His daughter¡­ She had never heard of her before.


    ¡°Uh, yes. My daughter wasn¡¯t in good health when she was young, so I sent her overseas to recuperate. She only came back in the past few days.


    ¡°After all, we haven¡¯t seen each other for so many years. It¡¯s inevitable that we¡¯re a little distant. When we get along better, I¡¯ll introduce her to you.¡±


    This exnation sounded reasonable. Although Lu Haiqiao was still a little worried, she couldn¡¯t say anything else.


    ¡°Alright, I understand. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore. We¡¯ll have tea together some other day.¡±


    After saying goodbye, Lu Haiqiao ended the call.


    It was already past time to get off work.


    The colleagues in the office left one after another.


    Lu Haiqiao had no intention of leaving until she was alone in the office.


    She sat with her long legs crossed and her left wrist against the countertop, turning a pen in between her fingers.


    He was still thinking about Wu Sancai.


    At this moment, her phone screen suddenly lit up. Her phone vibrated, and the ringtone unique to WeChat rang out.


    Lu Haiqiao picked it up.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s voice came from the other end. ¡°If you¡¯re not enthusiastic about getting off work, there must be a problem. Tell me, why aren¡¯t you leaving at this time?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was stunned. ¡°How do you know I haven¡¯t left?¡±


    Then, she thought of a possibility. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Xie Xuan said. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear any background voice from your end, so I guess you¡¯re still in the office.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Hearing his words, Lu Haiqiao was disappointed.


    Her voice was upset, and she wasn¡¯t in a good mood.


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°Are you unhappy because I didn¡¯te back?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Haiqiao got up and walked to the window. She looked up at the sky that was stained red by the sunset. ¡°You¡¯re busy. I understand..¡±

 Chapter 118 - 118: I Want to Be Alone With You

    Chapter 118: I Want to Be Alone With You


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°No matter how busy you are, you still have to eat, ¡± Xie Xuanrou said gently.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get Xie San to take you to a restaurantter.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and said disinterestedly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat alone. I might as well go home and eat ramen.¡± ¡°What if I¡¯m with you? Will you go?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was stunned.


    Although the voice came from the receiver, for some reason, she could also hear his seductive voice nearby.


    ¡°Hey, what are you thinking?¡±


    Realizing that there was someone on her left, Lu Haiqiao suddenly turned her head.


    Before she could see the person clearly, something soft touched her lips.


    Lu Haiqiao was shocked. She widened her eyes and leaned back.


    At this moment, she saw Xie Xuan¡¯s delicate face with a faint smile.


    So just now¡­


    Did she touch his cheek?


    Was that a kiss?


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you weren¡¯t back yet?¡± Her face was flushed with shyness, and her tone was filled with surprise and joy.


    Xie Xuan took her hands. ¡°Silly girl. I¡¯m only back when I¡¯m right in front of vou.¡±


    What he meant was, ¡°I belong to you. If I don¡¯t see you, I¡¯m not back.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao realized what he meant, and her face burned even more.


    Her heart was immersed in the joy of suddenly seeing him.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan gently pulled her into his arms. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you for many days. Let me hold you for a while.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao wrapped her arms around his waist and asked in a muffled voice, ¡°When did youe back?¡± ¡°Arrived at the airport an hour ago.¡±


    No wonder he looked tired.


    Just as he said, the hugsted for a while before he let go of her


    Xie Xuan held her shoulders with both hands and leaned forward. His gaze met hers. ¡°Now that I¡¯m back, do you still want to have dinner?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao studied him.


    The face that was so close to her was still so perfect that it made her heart beat faster. However, if one looked carefully, one would notice that the corners of his eyes were red from not resting for a long time.


    ¡°Do I get to eat whatever I choose?¡± Lu Haiqiao asked.


    Xie Xuan nodded. ¡°Of course. Whatever you say.¡±


    Actually, he just wanted to be with her. He really didn¡¯t have much thought about what to eat.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°Then can you let him go home? I want to be alone with you today.¡±


    She was referring to the Xie San that Xie Xuan mentioned earlier.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± She tapped the tip of Xie Xuan¡¯s nose. ¡°You sit in the passenger seat.¡± Xie Xuan had agreed to listen to her and could only follow her instructions.


    Ten minutester, the two of them left the office building and arrived at the car.


    ¡°San, you can go home.¡±


    Hearing that, Xie San frowned and nced at Lu Haiqiao, who was holding Xie Xuan¡¯s hand.


    Knowing that he couldn¡¯t disobey the order, he hesitated a little before lowering his head and replying, ¡°Yes.¡±


    At this moment, there was an extremely ordinary-looking business car parked on the other side of the road.


    Xie Wensheng sat in the car. From the moment Xie Xuan led Lu Haiqiao out of the office building, his gaze had never left the two of them.


    ¡°Fan.¡± Suddenly, he called out to the servant sitting in the driver¡¯s seat.


    The servant replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Xie Wensheng smiled. ¡°Did you see that? That youngdy was still a baby when I first saw her. In the blink of an eye, she¡¯s grown up.¡±


    Only then did the servant dare to look up. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re right. Miss Lu and Young Master Xie are a good match..¡±

 Chapter 119 - 119: This Could Be Fate

    Chapter 119: This Could Be Fate


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Wensheng leaned back into the car seat.


    There was a smile in his eyes as he said meaningfully, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Xuan to be in love with her.¡±


    The servant said, ¡°Master, this might be fate.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xie Wensheng muttered, ¡°It¡¯s destined¡­ Yes, it¡¯s destined¡­¡±


    After getting into the car, Xie Xuan turned his head and stared at Lu Haiqiao.¡±


    Before the car started, he gently stroked the back of her head. ¡°Be careful, okay?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao fastened her seatbelt and raised her eyebrow at him. ¡°Do you think


    I¡¯m a newbie?¡±


    Xie Xuan chuckled and said indulgently, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll drive too fast.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao looked up at the rearview mirror.


    Behind them, another car was ready to start.


    Xie San went back, and Xie Er was still there.


    Forget it. As long as he didn¡¯t disturb them, she would let him follow.


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips. ¡°With you around, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    As she said, she drove at a speed of 30 to 40 km/h.


    So much so that even if the electric scooter on the slowne speed up a little, it could leave their car far behind.


    ¡°Where do you want to eat?¡± Xie Xuan tilted his head and looked at Lu Haiqiao.


    She held the steering wheel with one hand and leaned against the back of the chair in a rxed posture. The Audi S8 was like a toy in her hand.


    ¡°There¡¯s still a long way to go.¡± Lu Haiqiao looked straight ahead. ¡°Why don¡¯t you rest for a while? I¡¯ll wake you up when we get there.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll keep youpany.¡± It would be boring to drive alone.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled and didn¡¯t reply.


    They were silent for a while.


    Maybe the atmosphere was toofortable, or maybe Xie Xuan was really tired. When Lu Haiqiao turned to look at Xie Xuan, she realized that he had already fallen asleep.


    She slowed down the car again and adjusted the temperature of the air conditioner so that the cold wind wouldn¡¯t blow at him and make him sick.


    An hourter, the car stopped at the pier of the Yacht Club in B City.


    It was already dark. When Xie Xuan woke up, he saw the starry sky outside.


    Through the front ss, he saw a familiar figure standing outside the fence.


    Lu Haiqiao had deliberately driven slowly and taken a detour so that he could rest for a while.


    Xie Xuan was touched, and he immediately got out.


    Lu Haiqiao turned around and saw that it was Xie Xuan. She smiled sweetly. ¡°Do you feel much better after resting for a while?¡±


    Xie Xuan wrapped his arm around her waist and hugged Lu Haiqiao from behind.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He pressed her forehead so that she could lean back and rest her head on his shoulder.


    ¡°What are you thanking me for?¡± Lu Haiqiao patted his arm around her waist. ¡°I just drove for a while.¡±


    As soon as she said that, he hugged her even tighter as if he wanted to fuse her into his bones and blood.


    ¡°The fact that you¡¯re willing toe to my side is the greatest gift the heavens have given me. I¡¯m eternally grateful.¡±


    After a while, Xie Xuan suddenly let go.


    Feeling the emptiness behind her, Lu Haiqiao subconsciously straightened her back.


    She turned and looked up at him.


    The man in front of her took a deep breath and stared at her with eyes as deep as the night sky.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao.¡± He called her name as solemnly as if he had made a promise..

 Chapter 120 - 120: We’ll Be Together For As Long As My Heartbeats

    Chapter 120: We¡¯ll Be Together For As Long As My Heartbeats


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    She immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°My name is Xie Xuan. I¡¯m 26 years old. I¡¯m not a cafe waiter. The people around me aren¡¯t my colleagues or friends. They¡¯re my brothers who have risked their lives with me. Haiqiao, do you understand?¡±


    Although he wasn¡¯t that straightforward, he believed that Lu Haiqiao was smart enough to understand.


    Lu Haiqiao looked down.


    She was once someone who had stepped into hell. How could she not understand the meaning of ¡°risk their lives¡±?


    ¡°So, Haiqiao, think about it carefully. It¡¯s not toote to turn back now.¡±


    But it was toote for him.


    Under the night sky, rows of faint yellow lights lit up on both sides of the yacht dock. From afar, it looked like a sky full of stars had descended on the mortal world. It was colorful and dreamy.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled slightly. ¡°My name is Lu Haiqiao. I¡¯m twenty-four years old this year, and I¡¯m a reporter for a magazine. I¡¯m also my grandfather¡¯s granddaughter, uncle¡¯s niece, mother¡¯s obedient daughter, and¡­ Xie Xuan¡¯s girlfriend!¡±


    As soon as she said that, Xie Xuan stared at her.


    After a long time, he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°You really don¡¯t regret it?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes were filled with determination and a hint of arrogance. She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t regret it, and I won¡¯t turn back. I only want you.¡±


    He was the person she thought about day and night. Even if he was a demon from hell, she was willing to sink into oblivion with him.


    ¡°But Xuan, promise me that from now on, I¡¯ll also be the one who will risk my life with you!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s palm moved to his heart. Through his firm chest, she could vaguely feel his heartbeat.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who said that we¡¯ll be together for as long as our hearts beat.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan was stunned.


    Then, his expression rxed, and he smiled dotingly at her.


    Lu Haiqiao was really smart.


    Whether it was said or not, she understood everything.


    He had wanted to have dinner with her, create a romantic environment, and then confess his love.


    Unexpectedly, the n couldn¡¯t keep up with the changes. With his nap on the way, all the arrangements were disrupted.


    However, the sense of ceremony and romance were no longer important at this moment.


    She was his sense of ritual. She was all his romance.


    Suddenly, Lu Haiqiao opened her arms to him. ¡°Xuan, give me a hug.¡±


    No matter how smart and quick-witted she was, she was still that lovely girl deep down.


    Xie Xuan pulled her back into his arms.


    He hugged her and buried his nose into her soft hair. He could vaguely smell the fragrance of grapefruit in the car.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, I¡¯m in love with you.


    ¡°You¡¯re the first girl I¡¯ve loved in my life.¡±


    He had thought that Lu Haiqiao should have responded to such a passionate confession in the same manner.


    However, she nestled in his arms and smiled naughtily in a corner that he couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°I see. So, you¡¯ve only been in love with men before?¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Lu Haiqiao couldn¡¯t stay romantic for more than three seconds before she started being naughty again.


    Since she wanted to be naughty, he would be naughty with her.


    He let go of her and stared at her with his enchanting eyes.


    Suddenly, Xie Xuan reached out and gently pinched her nose after caressing her cheek. ¡°My grandfather and father can barely be considered the men I love..¡±

 Chapter 121 - 121: Not Always Calmness

    Chapter 121: Not Always Calmness


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao paused. ¡°Your grandfather?¡±


    Xie Xuan introduced his family without hesitation. ¡°Xie Guangd is my


    grandfather, and Xie Wensheng is my father.¡±


    In B City, no matter how uninformed one was, they had more or less heard of the name of the richest man, Xie Guangde.


    Moreover, Lu Haiqiao was in the media.


    These two names were naturally familiar to her.


    He was really a member of the Xie family.


    Then could she ask him about Spring River¡­


    A few secondster, Lu Haiqiao gave up on the idea.


    She didn¡¯t want to add anything else to this rtionship.


    Even if she wanted to take back the three paintings, she had to do it with her own ability.


    As she thought about it, Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes and didn¡¯t reply.


    Xie Xuan quickly exined, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve wanted to tell you for a long time, but I didn¡¯t have the chance. Now that you¡¯re my girlfriend, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t tell you about. However, I think there are some things that can¡¯t be exined in words. You¡¯ll see what kind of person I am in the future.


    ¡°But there¡¯s one thing you have to be clear about. You¡¯ve already said yes. It¡¯s impossible for me to let go of you again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to spoil you and dote on you. Even if you know that I might not be so perfect in the future, you won¡¯t be able to leave me.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was stunned for a few seconds before she smiled faintly.


    As he said, there were some things that couldn¡¯t be exined with words. Love was one of them.


    From the moment she first saw him, to the moment she was attracted to him, she couldn¡¯t exin anything.


    In short, he was outside of her calmness zone.


    She wanted to be with him, and she didn¡¯t need to think about why or what to do.


    As she thought about it, Lu Haiqiao grabbed Xie Xuan¡¯s wrist and locked her fingers with his.


    ¡°Then you have to hold on tight. Don¡¯t ever let go!¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    How flirtatious.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    With that, Xie Xuan held her hand and slowly walked to the car.


    When they were more than ten meters away from the car, there was a sudden p of thunder in the sky. Then, the dark night was split open by a sh of lightning.


    Lu Hai stopped in his tracks. A few secondster, heavy rain poured down.


    Xie Xuan held her hand tightly and started jogging. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Get in the car.¡± When they hurriedly got into the car, the two of them were already drenched.


    Her wet clothes clung to her skin. When the car started and the air conditioner started blowing, Lu Haiqiao couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    Xie Xuan immediately turned off the air conditioner and took out a few tissues to wipe the rain off her face.


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao looked up and met Xie Xuan¡¯s beautiful eyes.


    There was a deep affection in his eyes that she could read, and it was bing more and more direct and passionate.


    Suddenly, Xie Xuan bent down and kissed her cheek lightly. ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold if you wear wet clothes. Go home and tidy up, okay?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was so embarrassed by the sudden kiss that her eyes widened. Her mind went nk and she blurted out, ¡°Your ce or mine?¡±


    Xie Xuan stared at her pink cheeks and chuckled. ¡°Ours.¡±


    Xie Xuan drove them back.


    Xie Er was still driving behind them.


    An hourter, Lu Haiqiao turned sideways and looked at the mountain road that spiraled up.. She asked casually, ¡°Do you live here?¡±

 Chapter 122 - 122: I Don’t Think You ‘Il Let That Accident Go

    Chapter 122: I Don¡¯t Think You ¡®Il Let That ident Go


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Xuan nodded slightly. ¡°For the time being, I used to live in the Xie family¡¯s old residence.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°Then why did you move out?¡±


    Xie Xuan was stunned for a moment before he smiled. ¡°It¡¯s easier for me to see you here. My grandfather is at the old residence. We won¡¯t be able to enjoy our time alone.¡±


    Although he said that, his stomach lurched a little.


    He couldn¡¯t possibly tell his girlfriend that he had used his grandfather¡¯s ¡°Spring River¡± to make a paper airne. When the old man discovered it, he kicked Xie Xuan out.


    Apart from that, his grandfather did have other ns.


    Lu Haiqiao leaned against the car window. Even though the rain had blurred the ss, he could still see the rough outline of the entire vi.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite nice here¡­¡± she muttered softly.


    Not long after, the car drove into the vi halfway up the mountain.


    Lu Haiqiao followed Xie Xuan up the elevator in the underground parking lot.


    As soon as the elevator door opened, a middle-aged woman in her fifties held arge white towel in her hands.


    Xie Xuan opened the towel and draped it over Lu Haiqiao. ¡°Thank you, Auntie


    Zhu.¡±


    The middle-aged woman smiled at the two of them and gestured with her hands. Then, she heard Xie Xuan say, ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± Then, she turned around and left.


    Lu Haiqiao sat on the sofa with a towel wrapped around her. ¡°She said that since it¡¯s raining so heavily, I¡¯ll make some ginger water to ward off the cold.¡± Xie Xuan looked at her in surprise. ¡°You can read signnguage?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡± Lu Haiqiao smiled at him. ¡°I interviewed a deaf person once. I bought a month¡¯s worth of courses online so that we couldmunicate better.¡¯ Xie Xuan walked slowly to the wide floor-to-ceiling window.


    With the rumbling thunder, bean-sized raindrops pattered on the transparent ss.


    After a long time, Xie Xuan said, ¡°Auntie Zhu is the mother of one of my buddies. Because of an ident, he passed away, so I brought Auntie Zhu here. She usually helps with simple family matters so that she¡¯ll have something to live for.¡¯


    ¡°What about the ident? What happened in the end?¡± Lu Haiqiao had stopped smiling and stared at him with a serious expression.


    At this moment, she felt that he was indescribably lonely.


    Even though he had been smiling at her since just now.


    It was a very gentle and affectionate smile.


    She knew he meant it, but¡­


    ¡°Do you want to know?¡± Xie Xuan turned around, his brooding gazending on her face.


    Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes and said calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll let that ident go, right?¡±


    After a few seconds of silence, Xie Xuan saw Auntie Zhuing down from the second floor. He smiled and said, ¡°Go take a shower first. Don¡¯t catch a cold.


    After you shower, let¡¯s have dinner together.¡±


    In the end, he was still afraid of scaring her.


    That could wait.


    Or he could tell her when he had the chance.


    Anyway, she would find out sooner orter.


    Lu Haiqiao stood up from the sofa. Seeing Aunt Zhu¡¯s gesture, she smiled and nodded.


    Before she went upstairs, she stopped.


    ¡°Xuan.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°When we were at the yacht pier, you said that there were some things that couldn¡¯t be exined with words. I¡¯ll gradually understand what kind of person you are in the future.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Lu Haiqiao had a good memory.


    ¡°Now I want to say the same thing to you. One day, you¡¯ll know what kind of person I really am. I think you¡¯ll like me even more than you do now.¡±


    When she said this, her tone was very certain. There was a confident smile on her lips..

 Chapter 123 - 123: I Can ‘t Eat Sweet Things

    Chapter 123: I Can ¡®t Eat Sweet Things


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After Lu Haiqiao entered the guest room, the living room fell silent.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze fell on the floor-to-ceiling window that was mottled by the rain. After looking at it for a while, he silently lowered his eyes.


    At this moment, Xie Er entered the living room.


    He looked up in the direction of the second floor. After confirming that there was no one, he whispered, ¡°Boss, Yan Lu promised to hand over the person who attacked Bin, so should we let his parents and sister go?¡±


    ¡°Ha.¡± Xie Xuan smiled sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯ve never believed his verbal promises.


    We¡¯ll talk about it after he sends that person to us.¡±


    Xie Er replied, ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    Seeing that he hadn¡¯t left, Xie Xuan turned around. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Noticing that Xie Er¡¯s hands were clenched into fists, he went forward and patted Xie Er¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I won¡¯t let go of Bin¡¯s matter. Keep sending people to Yan Lu¡¯s ce. No matter where he goes, I¡¯ll make sure he doesn¡¯t have a good life.


    Xie Er nodded. ¡°Yes!¡±


    Half an hourter, Lu Haiqiao came downstairs in an oversized white T-shirt and knee-length sports shorts.


    Before leaving the bedroom, Aunt Zhu told her through signnguage that there were no female clothes in the entire vi, so the young master found a set of his own clothes and asked her to make do with it first. The wet clothes would be immediately washed and dried, so there was no need to worry.


    In the living room, Xie Xuan, who had also taken a shower, sat on the sofa.


    His hair was half-dry, and as he lowered his head, the hair on his forehead fell. He looked rather docile.


    Hearing footsteps, looked up from his phone. When he saw Lu Haiqiao, he stood up and walked over. He took her hand and led her to the dining room.


    There was ginger water that Auntie Zhu had just made on the dining table.


    Xie Xuan picked up one of the bowls and felt that it had cooled down enough, so he handed it to Lu Haiqiao. ¡°Drink it all.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao puffed out her cheeks. ¡°You have to change your chauvinistic tone.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xie Xuan leaned forward slightly, his head close to her face. ¡°How about


    He said gently, ¡°Be a good girl and drink the ginger water. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be in misery if you catch a cold.¡±


    Xie Xuan¡¯s handsome face was right in front of her. His skin was fair, and it glowed under the light.


    Lu Haiqiao stared at him unblinkingly as if she was possessed.


    ¡°How could there be such a good-looking person?¡± she thought.


    At this moment, the mist of the hot ginger water floated over and blurred Lu Haiqiao¡¯s vision.


    She blinked subconsciously and quickly took the bowl from Xie Xuan.


    She sniffed gently. Other than the unique spicy smell of ginger, there was also a faint sweetness.


    Lu Haiqiao frowned. ¡°Is there sugar in it?¡±


    Xie Xuan picked up the other bowl on the table and took a sip. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a little sweet.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao quickly put down the bowl and shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t eat sweet food.


    Xie Xuan was puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Under the dim light, her skin was so fair that it was almost transparent.


    ¡°To be precise, I can¡¯t eat anything that contains sugar.¡± She reached out and touched the tip of her nose, feeling quite aggrieved. ¡°I¡¯ve been allergic to sugar since I was young. I have rashes all over my body whenever I eat food with high sugar content. In the worst case, I even fainted and was sent to the hospital.¡± So it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t like sweets, but that she couldn¡¯t eat them at all.


    No wonder she didn¡¯t even touch any fruit..

 Chapter 124 - 124: I’m Thinking About Something

    Chapter 124: I¡¯m Thinking About Something


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Xuan moved the bowl away from Lu Haiqiao.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get Auntie Zhu to get you some with no sugar.¡±


    The moment he spoke, Lu Haiqiao shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a little rain. I won¡¯t catch a cold.¡±


    The main reason was that she didn¡¯t like the taste of ginger. Without any sugar, it would taste even worse.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be toote if you catch a cold.¡± Auntie Zhu quickly brought over another bowl of ginger. Xie Xuan took it and waved it in front of Lu Haiqiao. ¡°Alright?¡±


    His tone was filled with gentle dominance.


    Lu Haiqiao looked up helplessly. ¡°Ah, alright, alright. I¡¯ll drink it!¡±


    A few secondster, she picked up the bowl and pursed her lips. Then, she held her breath, raised her head, and drank the ginger water in one go.


    After drinking it, Lu Haiqiao couldn¡¯t help but squint and wrinkle her nose. Then, she stuck out her tongue to relieve the difort brought about by the spiciness.


    Seeing this, Xie Xuan nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good. You¡¯re such a good girl.¡¯ Lu Haiqiao was touched.


    ¡°Wait here for a while. I need to make a phone call.¡± Xie Xuan stroked the top of her head and went to the living room.


    The call was to Xie Da.


    ¡°Cancel the food I just ordered and change to something else. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all. Remember to tell the chef not to put sugar in it.


    ¡°Not even a little bit.


    ¡°Yes, send it over as soon as possible.¡±


    After the call, he turned around and looked at Lu Haiqiao who was sitting at the dining table.


    She rested her chin on her palm and lowered her head. Her gaze fell on the phone on the table.


    Sugar allergy?


    Xie Xuan smiled.


    It sounded quite unbelievable.


    However, when he found out about this, he wasn¡¯t surprised.


    He remembered hearing something simr many years ago.


    ¡°The old master is allergic to sugar. He doesn¡¯t eat anything sweet. Not only that, but his entire family¡­ No, it is the sessors of his family. They have been like this for generations. They have rashes when they eat food with sugar, and the rashes are red and swollen. It¡¯s extremely ufortable.¡±


    At that time, he felt that it was a little ridiculous.


    How could anyone be allergic to sugar?


    He didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen to his girlfriend.


    What was that called?


    There were all kinds of strange things in the boundless world.


    It was almost half past nine after dinner.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s clothes were washed and dried by Aunt Zhu and sent over. She put them on again and was covered in a faint fragrance of detergent.


    It was grapefruit-vored, just like his.


    Realizing this, Lu Haiqiao smiled, and even her footsteps became lighter.


    In the living room, Xie Xuan had changed his clothes and was waiting.


    The rain had stopped. The wide French windows were open, and a bright moon hung in the sky.


    The sky is so beautiful after the rain.


    Perhaps¡­


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s eyes shed, and an idea slowly grew in her mind.


    ¡°You still have to work tomorrow. I¡¯ll drive you back.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. ¡±


    The elevator went down to the underground parking lot. After getting into the car, Xie Xuan turned around and helped Lu Haiqiao fasten her seatbelt. He also carefully lifted her long hair that was pressed down by the seat belt.


    After doing all this, he did not sit up straight immediately. Instead, he stared at her without blinking.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± Lu Haiqiao turned her head and met his gaze boldly.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about something¡­¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s expression and tone were extremely serious..

 Chapter 125 - 125: Kiss

    Chapter 125: Kiss


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    He deliberately dragged his tone and didn¡¯t finish his sentence as if he wanted to pique Lu Haiqiao¡¯s interest.


    Naturally, he seeded.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s curiosity was piqued, and she leaned closer to him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m wondering how there can be such a beautiful girl like my girlfriend in the world.¡± At first, he was only trying to tease her, but this praise came from the bottom of his heart.


    He remembered that the first time he saw her, he had told the caf?@ owner that she was very beautiful.


    ¡°I see.¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded seriously. Then, her gaze moved away trom his smiling eyes and slowly slid down to his lips. ¡°So?¡±


    Before Xie Xuan could finish, Lu Haiqiao suddenly stretched out her right hand and imitated the scene in the television drama. Her thumb and index finger pinched Xie Xuan¡¯s chin as she brought him forward.


    Just as the distance between them reached the point where their noses touched, she said in a low voice, ¡°So I have to thank you for praising me so bluntly, boyfriend.¡±


    Then, Lu Haiqiao leaned forward and put her soft lips on his.


    She was inexperienced. After a light kiss, she wanted to let go.


    When she watched it on television, she felt that kissing was very simple. In reality, other than having to withstand the strong beating of her heart, she didn¡¯t know how to proceed.


    Hence, when she couldn¡¯t continue, Lu Haiqiao subconsciously leaned back.


    To her surprise, Xie Xuan pounced on her as she leaned back. He was unwilling to let go of her.


    He ced his hands on either side of her head and took the initiative. With restrained emotions, he only kissed her lips.


    At the same time, Xie Da, who was passing by the surveince room, couldn¡¯t help but walk in after hearing the whispers of the bodyguards.


    When he saw the erged image on the LCD screen, he was stunned.


    What¡­


    The person in the car who was clinging onto Miss Lu and kissing her like a dog biting a bone was his boss.


    He quickly took out his phone and called Xie Er and Xie San in less than a minute.


    ¡°Er,e to the surveince room now!


    ¡°San, it¡¯s important. It¡¯s urgent. I¡¯m waiting for you in the surveince room.¡±


    Not long after, the monitor screen in the surveince room was surrounded by people.


    Xie Er and Xie San, who were rushing over, were speechless.


    The two of them red at Xie Da at the same time before their gazesnded on the screen.


    At this moment, everyone should be thinking the same thing.


    They had just be a couple. Did Boss have to be so eager?


    After returning home, Lu Haiqiao said to Lu Wanxin, ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to bed.¡± Then, she ran into her room.


    She leaned against the door and raised her hand to her chest.


    In the quiet bedroom, she could hear her heart beating so fast that it felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.


    The kiss in the car appeared in her mind again.


    Lu Haiqiao subconsciously pursed her lips.


    Thinking back, the two of them did not speak along the way, but from time to time, they would turn their heads and steal nces at each other.


    The moment their gazes met, the mood in the car changed. In the next second, the two of them chuckled at the same time.


    At the thought of him, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t stop it.. It was simply killing her!

 Chapter 126 - 126: He’s in My Heart

    Chapter 126: He¡¯s in My Heart


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao knew that Xie Xuan was driving, so she resisted the urge to send him a message. She sat down, leaned back, andy t on the bed.


    She stared at the ceiling in a daze for a while before she heard her phone vibrate.


    It was Lu Xuege.


    A call at this hour couldn¡¯t be a good thing.


    Lu Haiqiao hesitated for a few seconds before picking up the phone.


    She heard Lu Xuege¡¯s extremely coquettish voice. ¡°Hi, sweetheart. Good evening. What are you doing?¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao sighed silently.


    In the past, she thought that Xu Duo would be a mature and steady man. Who would have thought that by chance, she would fall in love with Lu Xuege at first sight? From then on, it was out of control.


    Lu Xuege was nothing but good-looking.


    However, that was hardly worth mentioning. All members of the Lu family were very good-looking. Lu Xuege¡¯s good looks were only expected, and it meant that he didn¡¯t embarrass the family.


    As she was deep in thought, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t reply right away. She only reacted after Lu Xuege called her a few times.


    ¡°Right. Why are you calling me sote?¡±


    Lu Xuege sounded very excited when they got to the point. ¡°Haiqiao, guess what? I found something!¡±


    As soon as he said that, Lu Haiqiao got up from the bed nervously. She thought that there was news on Flower Moon and Night.


    ¡°You mean my two paintings¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Lu Xuege said, ¡°No, you asked me to investigate the old man. Bah, not the old man. I have news about that Xie Xuan.¡±


    Then, as if he was asking for credit, he said in an ostentatious tone, ¡°You know, I spent a lot of effort searching the dark web and found a photo of Xie Guangde attending an international financial conference a few years ago. The kid beside him is Xie Xuan!


    ¡°You know Xie Guangde, right? The richest man in B City. It turns out that Xie Xuan is Xie Guangde¡¯s grandson¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    She thought, ¡°I¡¯ve already guessed what you spent a lot of effort to find out, and I¡¯ve personally confirmed it not long ago.¡±


    ¡°Other than that, do you have anything else to tell me?¡± Lu Haiqiao cut him off.


    If she didn¡¯t interrupt him, he would probably talk about how to get into the dark web, how to crack the password, how to search for photos, and so on for the entire night.


    On the other end of the phone, Lu Xuege was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s all for now. You don¡¯t know how deep that kid¡¯s hiding. I¡­


    Lu Haiqiao nodded and interrupted him for the second time. ¡°The kid you said was hiding very well is now my boyfriend. Please be more polite when you mention him in the future.¡¯


    Lu Xuege, who was immersed in her own thoughts, didn¡¯t realize what she said at first.


    ¡°Right, boyfriend. That¡¯s true. You should have a boyfriend at your age. But again, if you have a boyfriend, you have to¡­¡±


    He paused all of a sudden.


    A few secondster, his screaming voice came out of the receiver.


    ¡°Wh-wh-what? Boyfriend? Lu Haiqiao, you have a boyfriend? Xie Xuan is your boyfriend? When did this happen? How did you two meet? Where did you meet? Who wooed who first?


    ¡°Wait a minute, Lu Haiqiao. If I remember correctly, you¡¯ve said since junior high that all men are retarded in your eyes. Now, you actually found a retarded boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did say that,¡± Lu Haiqiao said frankly. ¡°But Xie Xuan is different. He¡¯s not in my eyes but in my heart..¡±

 Chapter 127 - 127: Single People Alliance

    Chapter 127: Single People Alliance


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Xuege was speechless.


    He regretted making this call.


    While he was speechless, Lu Haiqiao said in annoyance, ¡°Hey, do you have anything else to say other than this? I¡¯ve been busy all night. I¡¯m so tired. I want to sleep.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Xuege was shocked.


    Busy all night?


    She was so tired and wanted to go to bed?


    It made his imagination run wild.


    After quickly calming herself down, Lu Xuege stopped fooling around and asked seriously, ¡°Haiqiao, tell me honestly, where are you now?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was baffled. ¡°Are you crazy? Of course, I¡¯m at home at this hour.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lu Xuege was skeptical.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Lu Haiqiao yawned. ¡°Do I need my mother to answer the phone before you believe me?¡±


    Since she had mentioned her mother, she should be at home.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that I don¡¯t believe you. Seriously, we¡¯re a family. Don¡¯t talk like a stranger.¡± Lu Xuege pretended to be rxed. ¡°But Haiqiao, let me tell you. It¡¯s fine for you to have a boyfriend, but this Xie Xuan is really not simple. You know that, right? He¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, there was silence on the other end of the phone.


    Then, there was the sound of even and calm breathing.


    Was she¡­ asleep?


    Then¡­


    Lu Xuege seemed to have thought of something, and his heart suddenly tightened.


    How tired had she been the entire night? She could actually fall asleep on the phone?


    ¡°Hai


    Lu Xuege stopped abruptly.


    Forget it. If it was really as he thought, what had happened had already happened. It was useless to wake her up now. He would let her sleep.


    He would wait until she woke up the next day.


    After hanging up, Lu Xuege patted his chest and took deep breaths to calm himself down.


    And yet..


    He threw down his phone and opened the bedroom door. As he walked to the living room on the first floor, he shouted, ¡°Big Brother, call Yan and tell her that our precious Haiqiao has been seduced by a bastard!¡±


    The next morning, Lu Haiqiao woke up and was surprised to find that her phone was out of battery.


    After plugging in the charger, she went to wash up.


    When she was done, she switched the phone on, and WeChat messages began to pop up.


    Apart from a few messages from Xie Xuan, the rest were all from a WeChat group called ¡°Single People Alliance¡±.


    Lu Haiqiao first sent Xie Xuan a ¡°Good morning, I¡¯m up¡± message. After waiting for a while and seeing that he hadn¡¯t replied, she tapped on the WeChat group that had suddenly appeared.


    She clicked on it and saw that the group leader was Lu Yunge. Other than him, there were also Lu Xuege and Lu Yange.


    For the entire night, there were more than a thousand unread messages in the group.


    After browsing through them, Lu Haiqiao saw that the content was nothing more than things about Xie Xuan: Xie Xuan was too mysterious and difficult to deal with; don¡¯t get close to him; the Xie family was tooplicated, like a quagmire; if she went in, she wouldn¡¯t be able toe out.


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    She had long known that telling Lu Xuege about this was equivalent to announcing it to the entire world.


    However, these three people were quite interesting. She, the main character, wasn¡¯t around, but they could actually chat happily.


    Lu Haiqiao unplugged the plug and charged it with a portable charger.


    She held her phone and typed as she walked.


    She first sent a smiling emoji in the group chat, then changed the group name.


    Three Tragic Single People.


    Finally, she set the mode to ¡°don¡¯t send notification¡±.


    After that, Lu Haiqiao put down the phone and went to eat breakfast..

 Chapter 128 - 128: I Can Buy Your Company

    Chapter 128: I Can Buy Your Company


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The bright sunlight created dappled shade on the cement floor of the old-fashioned neighborhood. After the rain, the air in B City became exceptionally fresh, and there was a faint fragrance of grass mixed in.


    Lu Haiqiao carried her bag and walked down the stairs. When she reached the first floor, she pushed open the rusty iron door.


    She walked along the old cement road to the entrance of her gatedmunity.


    In the distance, she saw a familiar ck car parked by the side of the road.


    An Audi S8.


    Lu Haiqiao walked with her hands behind his back. The door of the Audi opened, and Xie Xuan stepped out. Lu Haiqiao couldn¡¯t help but quicken her pace. In the end, she jogged over to him.


    She smiled, and there were dimples on her pink cheeks. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me before you came?¡±


    Xie Xuan reached out and tucked her loose hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m already here.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao tilted her head. She had put on eye makeup today, making her already beautiful eyes look even more charming. ¡°That¡¯s different. If I knew you wereing, I would have gone downstairs earlier so that you wouldn¡¯t have to wait.¡±


    ¡®And I¡¯ll get to see you sooner.¡¯


    ¡°Alright, get in the car. It¡¯s hot outside. You¡¯ll get a sunburn.¡± As he spoke, Xie


    Xuan took her bag and ced the back of his hand on the roof of the car to let


    Lu Haiqiao get in first.


    The driver today was Xie San.


    Not long after the car started, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s phone rang.


    She nced at it and saw that it was a call from Xu Duo. She could roughly guess what it was about.


    As expected, the first thing she heard was, ¡°Lu Haiqiao, we¡¯ve been best friends for so many years, but you didn¡¯t tell me you found a boyfriend!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    She nned to order a loudspeaker online for Lu Xuege when she arrived at the office.


    Lu Haiqiao opened her mouth and was about to speak when she identally met Xie Xuan¡¯s gaze.


    There was a smile on his face, but it was unfathomable.


    On the other end of the phone, Xu Duo¡¯s voice continued, ¡°Hello, Lu Haiqiao. I¡¯m asking you a question. Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded absent-mindedly. ¡°What loan? I have so much money that I can buy yourpany. I don¡¯t want a loan!¡±


    With that, she hung up.


    Xu Duo was speechless.


    What the hell was all that?


    At this moment, Xie Xuan gave her a teasing nce. ¡°Buy theirpany?¡± Lu Haiqiao looked back at him. ¡°Why? You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    Xie Xuan lowered his eyes and gently squeezed her slender and soft fingers. ¡°I do.¡±


    The Lu family doted on her so much that she could still afford a few houses.


    Besides, what was his was hers. As long as she asked, he could satisfy her unconditionally.


    ¡°You¡¯re not being sincere.¡± Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao wrinkled her nose. ¡°But you¡¯ll know soon enough.¡±


    Xie Xuan¡¯s tone rose slightly. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Lu Haiqiao shook her head.


    The moment she looked up, she identally caught a glimpse of the rearview mirror in front of her.


    Xie San¡¯s cold eyes were reflected in the mirror.


    There was suspicion, alienation, and wariness in his eyes.


    Lu Haiqiao knew that Xie San was looking at her, so she deliberately smiled and raised her eyebrows provocatively in the direction of the rearview mirror..

 Chapter 129 - 129: You Don ‘t Like Me

    Chapter 129: You Don ¡®t Like Me


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    When the car was about to reach the magazine agency, Lu Haiqiao suddenly said, ¡°Can we pull over?¡±


    She looked out the window and pointed to a convenience store on the street. ¡°Just over there.¡±


    However, Xie San didn¡¯t seem to hear him. He stepped on the elerator and continued forward.


    It wasn¡¯t until Xie Xuan said ¡°Stop the car¡± that he slowed down and stopped in a parking space.


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Wait for me in the car. I¡¯ll go get a cup of coffee.¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. It¡¯s so hot outside. You¡¯ll get a sunburn.¡±


    In the end, Xie Xuan stayed in the car.


    But Xie San followed.


    That was because Xie Xuan had given the order to ¡°protect her¡±.


    After entering the convenience store, Lu Haiqiao stood in front of the shelves and scanned the rows of bottled ck coffee.


    Suddenly, she turned to look at Xie San and said calmly, ¡°Have I met you somewhere before?¡±


    Although Xie San¡¯s expression was cold, from his deliberate act of looking away, it was obvious that he was very resistant to talking to Lu Haiqiao.


    However, he remembered Xie Er¡¯s reminder.


    Miss Lu was the person Boss liked. Now that the two of them had confirmed their rtionship, Xie San had to be polite in front of her.


    Hence, he asked, ¡°Why do you say that, Miss Lu?¡±


    Her fingers brushed past the row of bottles on the top shelf. Finally, Lu Haiqiao chose the bottle ced in the corner.


    She checked the ingredients list, and there was only water and ck coffee.


    After making her decision, she turned sideways. When she brushed past Xie


    San and went to the cashier, she said, ¡°I think you don¡¯t like me.¡±


    There weren¡¯t many people at the cashier. Xie San followed and stood beside Lu


    Haiqiao. He said, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Xie San didn¡¯t like to talk, but as long as he answered, he would definitely tell the truth.


    When it was Lu Haiqiao¡¯s turn, she handed over the coffee. After the scanner beeped, she asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Xie San didn¡¯t reply immediately.


    When he followed Lu Haiqiao out of the convenience store, he said, ¡°A rich youngdy who needs the protection of the people around her isn¡¯t worthy of being Master¡¯s future partner.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao stopped in her tracks.


    Need the protection of the people around her?


    It was very obvious who he was talking about.


    She stayed where she was, unscrewed the cap of the ck coffee, and took a sip.


    ¡°So, you were there that night?¡± She referred to the night when she encountered the hooligans outside the gym.


    Xie San lowered his eyes and didn¡¯t answer.


    Lu Haiqiao knew that she had guessed correctly.


    She nced at the Audi S8 parked not far away. ¡°Did Xuan ask you to follow


    Xie San still didn¡¯t answer her.


    After a few seconds, Lu Haiqiao smiled. Then, she said slowly, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I can¡¯t let my future partner wait too long.¡±


    Xie San, who was looking at her, was speechless.


    Just now, he deliberately said the word ¡°not worthy¡± to give this youngdy some pressure.


    Unexpectedly, she didn¡¯t seem to care at all, or perhaps she didn¡¯t realize what kind of background the person she called her ¡°future partner¡± had.


    Thinking of this, Xie San frowned slightly.


    She was a weak woman who knew how to race well, but she was still a little too naive.


    After work, Lu Haiqiao told Xie Xuan that she would go home for dinner. Then, she packed his things and left the office building.


    Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she received a call from Lu Yunge.


    She thought he would probably talk about Xie Xuan again, so when she picked it up, she said impatiently, ¡°Hey, what are you trying to say this time?¡±

 Chapter 130 - 130: Very Rational

    Chapter 130: Very Rational


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Unexpectedly, Lu Yunge¡¯s tone was very serious, and he didn¡¯t beat around the bush like in the past. ¡°Haiqiao, Xuege, Yan, and I are going back to Country F.


    Be careful in B City.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao froze.


    Lu Yunge and Lu Xuege had been living in Country F, so it wasn¡¯t strange for them to go back. However, Lu Yange had grown up in B City and wouldn¡¯t go back unless it was an emergency.


    As she thought about it, she asked, ¡°When are you leaving?¡±


    She heard the sound of a suitcase rolling on the other end of the line, and Lu


    Yunge said, ¡°Right away.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao frowned unconsciously. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Yunge suddenly softened his tone. ¡°Yan said that she hadn¡¯t seen Grandpa and our parents for a long time. The hospital let her take a holiday, so she asked us to go back with her.¡±


    This exnation seemed reasonable.


    Speaking of which, Lu Yange had indeed not been back for a few years.


    However, for some reason, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t believe him.


    She didn¡¯t voice her doubts because Lu Yunge wouldn¡¯t tell her even if she asked.


    Including Lu Xuege and Lu Yange.


    Since the three of them were together, they would definitely say the same thing. No matter which one she asked, the answer would be the same.


    ¡°Alright, be careful on the road. Send me a message when you arrive.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao heard the car door close.


    Her words reminded Lu Yunge.


    ¡°By the way, Haiqiao, I haven¡¯t asked you. When did you get together with that kid from the Xie family?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Fine, she thought that they wouldn¡¯t talk about this topic. ¡°There we go.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the Xie family is your sugar daddy? Shouldn¡¯t you be happy that I¡¯m with your sugar daddy¡¯s son now?¡± With such a rtionship, their cooperation would be even more stable. To his surprise, Lu Yunge spat. ¡°Happy my ass!¡±


    ¡°Do you know what he is? Do you know what his personality is like? Will you get along with him?¡±


    His three consecutive questions could basically be countered with one sentence.


    Lu Haiqiaowas about to speak, but Lu Yunge interrupted her. ¡°Alright, alright.


    I¡¯m in a hurry to go to the airport now. I won¡¯t talk to you about that now.


    When Ie back, I¡¯ll settle the score with you¡­ Bah, no, with him!¡±


    ¡°If you want to settle the score, so be it. Anyway, you definitely can¡¯t beat him,¡± Lu Haiqiao thought to herself.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Lu Yunge seemed to have thought of something important. His tone was even more serious than before. ¡°I heard from Xuege that you and that brat¡­ um, that, um¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was confused. ¡°Huh? What do you mean? What are you trying to say?¡±


    Lu Xuege and Lu Yange should also be in the car. She could vaguely hear some discussion.


    Lu Yunge gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Anyway, let that brat wait. After what happened, even if B City is his territory, I¡¯ll still castrate him!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was dumbfounded.


    Castration¡­


    Did it have to be so serious?


    Had he misunderstood something?


    After some thought, Lu Haiqiao understood.


    ¡°Screw you, Lu Xuege, how dare you create a rumor about me!¡± She quickly exined, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not like that. Listen to me. We didn¡¯t.. ¡®


    Nothing had happened yet!


    Before she could finish her sentence, the call was cut off.


    The car had probably driven into a tunnel or somewhere.


    Lu Haiqiao looked at the phone screen and smiled in resignation.


    ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll exin when they get to Country F..¡±

 Chapter 131 - 131: I Can Smell It Over the Phone

    Chapter 131: I Can Smell It Over the Phone


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    However¡­


    Standing by the roadside, Lu Haiqiao looked at the carsing and going and fell into deep thought.


    Her mind was always revolving around one question.


    Why were the three of them in a hurry to return to Country F?


    Thest time Lu Yange went back was because her grandfather, Lu Ye, was celebrating his sixtieth birthday.


    However, it was neither her grandfather¡¯s birthday nor her uncle¡¯s or aunt¡¯s birthday. In addition, she had just contacted Country F the day before yesterday and didn¡¯t find anything unusual. Why would Yan suddenly want to go back and take a look?


    Lu Haiqiao narrowed her eyes and carefully recalled what Lu Yunge had said. She even imagined his expression when he said those words.


    What did she miss?


    And the phone call between her uncle and mother earlier¡­


    ¡°There are all the people out here. Can¡¯t they just choose one person?¡±


    That was what her mother said.


    But what did it mean?


    Who were ¡°all the people¡±?


    Choose what?


    And she also said, ¡°They wouldn¡¯t allow it.¡± Was she referring to ¡°all the people¡±?


    Or was it some other group of people?


    A series of questions baffled Lu Haiqiao. Even someone as smart as her could not figure it out.


    However, she had a feeling that their departure must be rted to the mysterious call from her uncle.


    At this moment, the phone in her palm vibrated.


    Lu Haiqiao looked down. It was Wu Sancai.


    She quickly picked it up. ¡°Hello, Mr. Wu.¡±


    Wu Sancai said happily, ¡°Haiqiao, didn¡¯t you say that you wanted to have tea? How about this Saturday? I¡¯ve seen the weather forecast. It¡¯s sunny and suitable for going out.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao said meaningfully, ¡°Don¡¯t you have to stay with your long-lost daughter?¡±


    Wu Sancai could smell the sarcasm even through the phone.


    He refused to talk about that woman. ¡°Just say it. Will you have tea with me on Saturday?¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve spoken, how can I say no?¡± Lu Haiqiao replied indifferently.


    She wasn¡¯t jealous, but her intuition told her that her teacher¡¯s so-called ¡°daughter¡± was up to no good.


    Seeing that she had agreed, Wu Sancai said, ¡°Then let¡¯s meet at the teahouse at ten o¡¯clock on Saturday morning.¡±


    The ¡°teahouse¡± he mentioned was actually a teahouse that sold high-quality tea leaves.


    To provide a ce for its customers to have tea andmunicate, the teahouse had set up three elegant private rooms. They were named Inaction, Delusion, and Formless.


    Wu Sancai was a regr customer there. In addition, the boss also believed in Buddhism, so they became close after a while.


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, she hung up.


    Staring at the phone screen, she sighed.


    Wu Sancai was an elder. Sometimes, his temper was even harder to deal with than a child¡¯s.


    After a day of work, Lu Haiqiao drove to the archery club in the suburbs alone after learning that Xie Xuan was in a meeting.


    She was especially frustrated today, and archery was the best way to vent it.


    Reluctant to take out her ¡°good friend¡±, Lu Haiqiao chose a Lutes Evija in the underground parking lot of the Lu family vi.


    The silver-white car was a little inferior to the red and ck car, but it would do.


    After driving for about ten minutes, Lu Haiqiao suddenly realized that a car was following her.


    Not only that, but when she elerated, the car behind her would also elerate. When she slowed down, the car slowed down as well. Even when she stopped by the side of the road, the car following her also pulled over..

 Chapter 132 - 132: Troublemaker

    Chapter 132: Troublemaker


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    It was a ck Audi S8.


    Lu Haiqiao thought that it was probably because Xie San was secretly protecting him under Xie Xuan¡¯s orders, so she didn¡¯t think too much about it.


    But then again, could his protection really be called ¡°secret¡±?


    Since he was discovered so easily, his tracking skills needed some improvement.


    Or perhaps he had deliberately let her discover it.


    Initially, the air conditioner in the car was set quite low. Now that the temperature in the car had dropped, Lu Haiqiao wanted to turn the temperature up.


    At this moment, she identally caught a glimpse of the rearview mirror.


    A ck car suddenly appeared in the leftne, and it was getting faster and faster. Just as it overtook Xie San¡¯s Audi S8, it was on par with her Lutes Evija. The suburban road was revamped a few years ago. The road was very wide, and there were few cars on the road at this time.


    However, the ck car leaned to the right bit by bit like a newbie as if it wanted to force Lu Haiqiao¡¯s car into the oppositene.


    Lu Haiqiao was angry.


    She was a wild driver to begin with. If the other party was tough, she would rather fight head-on than take a step back.


    But today was different.


    She only bought the Lutes Evija a little while ago. It would be a pity to send it to the repair shop.


    As she thought about it, for the first time, Lu Haiqiao went against her heart and turned the steering wheel to make way for the ck car.


    However, that wasn¡¯t enough.


    At this moment, she noticed three cars driving over from the oppositene.


    Two cars were side by side, with the other car following behind.


    When there was still more than ten meters between them, the three cars in the oppositene suddenly pressed over. Together with the car in the leftne, they sandwiched Lu Haiqiao¡¯s Lutes Evija in the middle. She was forced to stop the car, along with Xie San¡¯s Audi S8.


    They didn¡¯t seem to have good intentions.


    Lu Haiqiao unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. At the same time, the door of the other party¡¯s car opened, and Su An got out. Following him were a few men dressed as bodyguards.


    So, it was him.


    Su Jinchang¡¯sckey.


    In the car, Xie San sat upright in the driver¡¯s seat and witnessed everything through the front window.


    He quickly nced at those people. They looked unfamiliar and probably weren¡¯t here for him.


    If they weren¡¯t after him, they should be targeting Miss Lu.


    Xie San frowned.


    This gentle and weak girl was a troublemaker.


    Forget it.


    Xie San, who didn¡¯t want to meddle in other people¡¯s business, sighed silently.


    Just now, he received news that the three siblings of the Lu family had already boarded a flight to Country F. Now, there was no one to protect this girl. If anything happened to her, the one in trouble would be Xie Xuan.


    As he opened the car door, he heard Lu Haiqiao¡¯s voice.


    He looked up and saw Lu Haiqiao leaning against the car casually. When she spoke, her tone was cold and arrogant, which reminded Xie San of Xie Xuan.


    ¡°Does the Su family have nothing better to do? You¡¯re after me all the time.


    What? You won¡¯t learn unless you get beaten up, right?¡±


    Seeing Lu Haiqiao¡¯s frustration, Su An still looked respectful. ¡°Miss Lu, we don¡¯t want to disturb you, but regarding thend in City D, Mr. Su wants a reasonable exnation.¡±


    So, the old man knew.


    Alright, she didn¡¯t want to hide it from him anywvay.


    ¡°The old man is quite well-informed,¡± Lu Haiqiao said unhurriedly. ¡°Yes, I snatched that piece ofnd.. So what?¡±

 Chapter 133 - 133: Miss Lu Is Really Like His Master

    Chapter 133: Miss Lu Is Really Like His Master


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Upon hearing this, Su An said calmly, ¡°So, Miss Lu, pleasee with us. This is


    Mr. Su¡¯s order. I hope you can understand.¡±


    In other words, he meant, ¡°We¡¯re just doing our job. Please do us a favor and don¡¯t make things difficult for us.¡±


    How could someone as smart as Lu Haiqiao not understand what he meant?


    However, she hated moral kidnapping.


    Doing a job or not, even if he was only following orders, he would still get paid.


    He wasn¡¯t doing it for nothing and wasn¡¯t innocent.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of nagging?¡± Lu Haiqiao frowned with impatience. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m here. If you want to fight, just fight. Don¡¯t waste time.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie San couldn¡¯t help but nce at her.


    Was it because the three siblings of the Lu family had protected her too well, or was it because she was certain that he would help her?


    She was simply courting death by spouting such boastful words when she was outnumbered.


    Thinking of this, Xie San sighed.


    Just as he was about to deal with the bodyguards, Lu Haiqiao suddenly raised her slender arm in front of him.


    ncing sideways at Xie San, she asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Xie San said, ¡°Let¡¯s get it over with.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao frowned in disdain. ¡°These people are here for me. What does it have anything to do with you? Get out of the way!¡±


    Xie San was dumbfounded.


    Other than his master, no one else dared to speak to him in such a tone.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t move, Lu Haiqiao clicked her tongue impatiently. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Move aside!¡±


    After a pause, she lowered her voice and said, ¡°Let me tell you, if you get in my way, I¡¯ll tell Xuanter that you knocked over my coffee. Then, I¡¯ll punish you to drink twenty cups of 500ml of ck coffee in one go and make you unable to sleep tonight!¡±


    Xie San was speechless.


    Twenty cups of 500 ml of ck coffee in one go?


    Heh.


    He might be able to sleep, but his dder would definitely explode.


    Xie San pursed his lips tightly and looked away after ncing at Lu Haiqiao. At the same time, he took two steps back.


    He thought to himself that Miss Lu was reallyparable to his master if she coulde up with such a despicable punishment.


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao removed a ck rubber band from her wrist. As she walked forward, she skillfully tied her long hair into a ponytail.


    Su An stared at Lu Haiqiao, who was slowly approaching and shook his head in resignation. ¡°Since Miss Lu refuses to cooperate, I¡¯ll offend¡­¡±


    Before he could finish thest word, Lu Haiqiao, who was already in front of him, reached out and grabbed one of the bodyguards by the cor.


    She kicked hard, causing the bodyguard to lose his bnce and fall to the ground.


    Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes and nced at him. The disdain in her eyes was obvious. ¡°You¡¯re indeed the old man¡¯s subordinate. You¡¯re useless.¡±


    When the other bodyguards saw this, their expressions changed.


    That was the tallest and strongest among them. He was kicked to the ground just like that and couldn¡¯t even stand up.


    Su An was also extremely surprised when he saw this.


    He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Then, he ordered, ¡°Get Miss Lu into the car.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, the bodyguards at his side rushed forward.


    However, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t face them head-on. Instead, she turned sideways, leaned back, and bent over, nimbly dodging the bodyguards¡¯ attacks.


    At this moment, a bodyguard swung a steel pipe in Lu Haiqiao¡¯s direction.


    Sensing the danger, the girl changed her style. She suddenly reached out and grabbed the bodyguard¡¯s wrist firmly. Then, she exerted force..

 Chapter 134 - 134: Pretentious

    Chapter 134: Pretentious


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    With a tooth-numbing click, the bodyguard¡¯s wrist drooped like a frosted eggnt. At the same time, he loosened his grip, and the steel pipe fell.


    Just before the steel pipe fell to the ground, Lu Haiqiao caught it. Then, she quickly raised her hand, and the tip of the steel pipe was pressed against Su An¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡± The cold steel pipe pressed against his warm neck. In the face of death, even Su An, who had been through a lot, couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


    As soon as he spoke, the bodyguards stopped moving.


    Except for the one lying on the ground and the one whose wrist was broken.


    Lu Haiqiao raised the steel pipe and forced Su An into the car. ¡°How is it? Are you still going to fight?¡±


    Su An swallowed nervously.


    Although he had long felt that Miss Lu wasn¡¯t a ¡°weakling¡±, he had never thought that she would be so fierce when she fought.


    Xie San, who was standing at the back, immediately stood up straight after witnessing the scene just now.


    Was this¡­ really Miss Lu?


    With such skills, why did the Lu siblings protect her around the clock?


    Was she trying to act cool?


    Suppressing her rapid heartbeat, Su An said with trembling lips, ¡°Miss Lu, I advise you not to be rash.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao raised her eyebrows and clicked her tongue. ¡°What can you possibly do to me?¡±


    These words rendered Su An speechless.


    His life was in her hands now. All the threats he made were like a punch to the cotton and werepletely useless.


    Lu Haiqiao held the steel pipe and moved it slightly as if she was ying.


    However, this move made Su An¡¯s heart jump to his throat.


    The tip of the steel pipe was sharp. If he wasn¡¯t careful, his throat would be pierced.


    ¡°Lu, Miss Lu..


    ¡°Hey.¡± Lu Haiqiao raised her chin with a mboyant expression. ¡°Since you¡¯re just doing your job, I¡¯ll let you off today. Go back and tell that old man that I had wanted to spend a billion to buy that piece ofnd. Perhaps the Pan family was afraid of me and refused to ept the money. I have no choice but to ept it for free.


    ¡°If Su Jingchang wants it, he¡¯ll have to pay me five billion, not a penny less.


    ¡°If he can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t bother me in the future. Otherwise, the next time this steel pipe is aimed at the old man¡¯s throat.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be so soft-hearted with him. I can¡¯t guarantee that I won¡¯t identally pierce his neck.¡±


    Just as Su An thought that Lu Haiqiao would let go, she suddenly moved the steel pipe forward.


    ¡°Hey, get your useless men and remove the dash cams from the cars and pull out the SD cards inside.¡±


    ¡°Miss Lu, you¡­¡± Before Su An could finish, he heard Lu Haiqiao grunt unhappily.


    It was full of threats.


    Su An didn¡¯t dare to dy any longer and quickly said, ¡°Take down the


    dashcam now.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded in satisfaction as she watched the dashcams and corresponding SD cards being removed and thrown on the ground.


    She put down her hand and casually threw the steel pipe into the arms of one of the bodyguards.


    Before the bodyguard could move, Lu Haiqiao said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t think that you can hurt me just because you have a weapon. You guys don¡¯t even have the right to practice with me.¡±


    Before she left, she picked up the dashcams and the SD cards.


    After throwing them all to Xie San, Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Snap those cards and sell the dashcams. Keep the money and buy yourself some coffee..¡±

 Chapter 135 - 135: So Ruthless

    Chapter 135: So Ruthless


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie San was speechless.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t talk about coffee. It makes me want to use the bathroom.


    However¡­


    Xie San looked at Lu Haiqiao in disbelief.


    At this moment, he remembered something Xie Er had said.


    If something happened once, it was a coincidence, but if it happened over and over again, it could only be a fact.


    From the moment the incident happened to when it was resolved, she was unbelievably calm. This kind of reaction wasn¡¯t something that could be trained overnight.


    In the end, she even asked the other party to dismantle the dash cam and leave no video evidence.


    At this point, Xie San felt that not only was Lu Haiqiao good at fighting, but she was also meticulous enough.


    But she still missed one tiny aspect.


    At this moment, he heard Lu Haiqiao say, ¡°Hey since I¡¯m buying you coffee, can you do me a favor?¡±


    Xie San was speechless.


    ¡°Can we not talk about coffee?¡±


    Frowning, he asked coldly, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao looked up at the surveince camera not far away. ¡°Can you do that?¡±


    Even though he was expressionless, Xie San was still surprised by her words.


    This was what he was referring to just now.


    Although no other cars passed or approached the scene of the fight, this road was newly built, and there would be many surveince cameras along the way. The scene just now should have been recorded.


    If they didn¡¯t deal with it in time, the matter would easily escte. When it really blew up, it would be difficult to deal with.


    Xie San lowered his eyes in silence, not knowing how to respond.


    Perhaps, he was really wrong.


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t know what Xie San was feeling at that moment, nor did she want to guess.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re Xie San. Don¡¯t say that you can¡¯t handle such a small matter.¡±


    Hearing this, Xie San asked in an obscure tone, ¡°You know me?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pulled off the rubber band. As she did so, her long hair fell on her shoulders.


    She brushed the hair off her forehead and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not very familiar with you, but since Xuan can bring you along, it means that you¡¯re more or less capable. You should be able to settle things like surveince cameras, right?¡±


    Xie San was speechless.


    Before getting into the car, Lu Haiqiao thought of something. ¡°Hey, you have to promise me that you won¡¯t tell Xuan about what happened just now. I don¡¯t want him to worry.¡±


    Xie San¡¯s face darkened.


    He would never lie or hide anything from his master.


    But if the Master knew that Miss Lu fought some men today while he stood at the side and watched, perhaps..


    Xie San swallowed.


    Even if he received the most severe punishment, he would never lie to his master.


    Unexpectedly, just as he made up his mind, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s threatening voice rang out. ¡°If you dare to say a word to Xuan, you¡¯ll drink twenty cups of ck coffee!¡±


    Xie San was speechless.


    Could she not be so mean? He didn¡¯t want his dder to explode.


    Thirty minutester, Xie Xuan¡¯s car stopped outside the archery club in the suburbs.


    ording to Lu Haiqiao¡¯s WeChat, he arrived at the VIP venue on the second floor.


    As soon as he entered, Xie Xuan saw Lu Haiqiao standing 30 meters away from the target.


    With her hair in a ponytail, she held a recurve bow in her hand. With the blindfold covering her eyes, she aimed at the target and released an arrow.


    Blind shooting was something she often did in the past, but she had not tried it since she left Country F.


    For some reason, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t dare to take off her blindfold to look at the results.


    She just stood there quietly, her hand holding the recurve bow by her side, trembling slightly..

 Chapter 136 - 136: Are You Happy to See Me Jealous?

    Chapter 136: Are You Happy to See Me Jealous?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The darkness made Lu Haiqiao feel like she was in another world.


    A stern voice kept ringing in her ears.


    ¡°Yes, you didn¡¯t hear me wrong. Today¡¯s target is 30 km.


    ¡°You think it¡¯s a lot? It¡¯s not muchpared to what we¡¯ll face in the future.


    ¡°Are you tired? It¡¯s good to be tired.


    ¡°Lu Haiqiao, get up!


    ¡°Do you know what training is? This is it! Training your physical fitness and training your heart are both indispensable!


    ¡°Hands! Don¡¯t tremble!


    ¡°Hold it steady! Do you hear me!¡±


    The dazzling sunlight, the blue sky, the scorching curved track, and drops of sweat and blood..


    These were all steps that she had taken step by step to reach the top.


    But¡­


    Lu Haiqiao seemed to have thought of something, and her hand stopped trembling. She tightened her grip on the recurve bow.


    At this moment, she heard light footsteps approaching from afar.


    Lu Haiqiao frowned warily, but when she smelled the familiar fragrance of grapefruit, her expression instantly rxed.


    She was about to remove the blindfold that covered her entire vision when a warm hand was on her wrist.


    ¡°Shooting an arrow blindfolded indicates either self-confidence or fear. In your state just now, you were both self-confident and afraid. This is uneptable.¡± That warm and soft touch moved from her wrist to her hand.


    Immediately after, Lu Haiqiao felt like she was a puppet on a string. Xie Xuan controlled her hand and sent the arrow on the string out.


    The moment she let go, she couldn¡¯t wait to pull off the blindfold.


    There were two results on the disy above her head.


    Nine points, ten points.


    It wasn¡¯t as bad as she thought.


    Lu Haiqiao turned to look at Xie Xuan.


    As expected of the person who knocked out three darts from her. Even though her posture just now was very inurate, she could still score ten points.


    Xie Xuan nced at the screen and fixed his gaze on Lu Haiqiao. ¡°Have you been trained in archery before?¡±


    He used ¡°trained¡±.


    To be able to score nine points blindfolded, it was impossible to reach this level just by casual practice.


    Lu Haiqiao hummed faintly.


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan pursed his lips. After a moment, he asked with obvious displeasure, ¡°With Lu Yunge again?¡±


    He deliberately emphasized the word ¡°again¡±.


    Lu Haiqiao was slightly stunned. After thinking about it carefully, she finally understood what he meant.


    She suppressed the urge tough and deliberately said seriously, ¡°Not with him this time.¡±


    When she noticed his rxed expression, Lu Haiqiao added, ¡°It was with Lu Xuege, my other cousin.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    That was still a man!


    Xie Xuan puffed up his cheeks and pretended not to care. Lu Haiqiao took a step forward and gently bumped his shoulder. ¡°My uncle and aunt only wanted to have a daughter, but their first two children were all sons. Fortunately, the third child was a daughter. Otherwise, I would have even more male cousins.¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°You clearly know that I¡¯m jealous, but you¡¯re still saying such things!¡±


    Fine!


    Lu Haiqiao had a mischievous look on her face. Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes and suddenly held the back of her head with his palm. With a little force, he brought her closer.


    He leaned over and smiled. ¡°Are you happy to see me jealous?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao blinked.. ¡°Gosh, Yun and Xue are my cousins, my biological cousins!¡±

 Chapter 137 - 137: Still Jealous

    Chapter 137: Still Jealous


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    ¡°So what? He¡¯s still a man. It doesn¡¯t stop me from being jealous.¡±


    His unreasonable tone made Lu Haiqiao not know whether tough or cry.


    How could anyone say the word ¡°jealous¡± so self-righteously?


    Feeling resigned, Lu Haiqiao took his rolled-up sleeve and shook it in a fawning manner. ¡°Although they¡¯re also men, they¡¯re only cousins. You¡¯re different. You¡¯re my favorite. You¡¯re unique. No one canpare to you.¡±


    That should do the trick, right?


    Lu Haiqiao observed Xie Xuan¡¯s expression without blinking. Unexpectedly, his


    cold expression didn¡¯t soften at all.


    Still no?


    While she was in a daze, Xie Xuan said. ¡°Just your favorite?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Why did he care about the wording so much?


    Lu Haiqiao chuckled. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®just¡¯? You¡¯re my favorite person on earth!¡±


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t reply, but his expression clearly rxed.


    Seizing the opportunity, Lu Haiqiao tiptoed and was about to peck his cheek when Xie Xuan happened to turn around.


    She lost her bnce, fell forward, and kissed him on the lips.


    Xie Xuan took advantage of the situation and held her waist, turning this unexpected kiss into a passionate one.


    His kiss was a little aggressive, and the force from above forced Lu Haiqiao to raise her head.


    When Xie Xuan let go, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s face turned red, and she panted heavily. When she finally stabilized her breathing and heartbeat, she moved her neck to ease some of the difort.


    Xie San spoke in his usual cold voice. ¡°Master, here¡¯s the ice Americano you ordered.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Although it was a VIP venue, people would still pass by.


    Compared to Lu Haiqiao¡¯s embarrassment, Xie Xuan waved his hand without changing his expression. ¡°Leave it there.¡±


    Xie San left the venue after cing two sses of iced Americano on the table in the resting area.


    Lu Haiqiao picked up one of the sses to take a sip. When the blush on her cheeks faded, she challenged Xie Xuan, ¡°Why don¡¯t we have a game?¡±


    She had always wanted to find an opportunity topete with him.


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan looked at her confident eyes with interest. ¡°How do you want to do it?¡±


    ¡°Best of five,¡± Lu Haiqiao said. ¡°If the gamees to a draw, we¡¯ll have another round. The winner will be the one closer to the bullseye.¡±


    Xie Xuan nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±


    In the next hour, Lu Haiqiao and Xie Xuan each shot fifteen arrows.


    Every one of them was in the ten-point circle.


    ording to what they had agreed on previously, the winner would be decided by an additional match.


    Lu Haiqiao thought that she would definitely lose, but the oue was very surprising.


    Her arrow was closer to the bull¡¯s eye than Xie Xuan¡¯s, and she won by a very slight margin.


    Putting down his bow, Lu Haiqiao stared at the results on the disy in disbelief. ¡°You let me win?


    Xie Xuan looked at her beautiful side profile with admiration in his eyes. ¡°No matter who the opponent is, as long as it¡¯s apetition, I won¡¯t give in. This is respect for myself and my opponent.¡±


    This was the truth.


    He was distracted for a moment just now because his gaze had been glued to Lu Haiqiao.


    She was his little marshmallow.


    She was gentle, obedient, confident, and charming.


    The more he looked at her, the more he was in love with her.


    Lu Haiqiao smiled. ¡°So I won?¡±


    Xie Xuan patted the back of her head gently. ¡°I definitely won¡¯t lose to you next time..¡±

 Chapter 138 - 138: I Think You’re Right

    Chapter 138: I Think You¡¯re Right


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao turned her head excitedly, her beautiful eyes shining with


    mboyance. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you to challenge me.¡±


    Outside the VIP venue.


    Xie San stood in one of the corners with his phone.


    The call was to Xie Er.


    ¡°Er, although I still don¡¯t quite believe it, I think you¡¯re right¡­¡±


    When they walked out of the archery range, it was already dark.


    Xie Xuan held Lu Haiqiao¡¯s hand and stopped at the door.


    Looking at the road in the distance, he suddenly asked, ¡°Did anything happen on your way here?¡±


    For him to ask that, meant that he knew something.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded calmly. ¡°It was just a small matter. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xie Xuan looked at her carefully.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. Look, I just beat you. If it was a big deal, would I have been so calm?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Xuan held her hands and interlocked their fingers. ¡°In short, be careful. No matter what happens, you mustn¡¯t get injured, understand?¡±


    In fact, he didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened. He only heard that there had been a fight on this road.


    Xie San didn¡¯t report anything, so Xie Xuan naturally thought that it had nothing to do with Lu Haiqiao.


    He only asked because he didn¡¯t want Lu Haiqiao to be scared.


    Lu Haiqiao gently scratched his palm. ¡°Okay, I know. I won¡¯t let myself get hurt.


    Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Two dayster was Saturday.


    It was also the day Lu Haiqiao agreed to have tea with Wu Sancai.


    During dinner the night before, Xie Xuan said that he would go to T City for a meeting the next day.


    At seven in the morning, Lu Haiqiao sent him to the airport. Then, she returned home to have some rest. When the clock on the wall rang at nine o¡¯clock, she went out.


    Led by the shop owner, she arrived at the private seat that Wu Sancai had reserved.


    The boss served a pot of top-notch green tea and said, ¡°Miss Lu, please wait here. Mr. Wu will arrive around ten.¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡±


    Seconds ticked by.


    When Lu Haiqiao exited the Happy Erasers interface and nced at the time on the top left corner of the screen, she realized that it was already eleven o¡¯clock.


    Beingte for almost an hour wasn¡¯t like Wu Sancai at all.


    After some thought, Lu Haiqiao called Wu Sancai.


    Unexpectedly, the call was hung up after two rings.


    She frowned in confusion. Almost subconsciously, she thought of the daughter that Wu Sancai had mentioned.


    As she was thinking, her phone began to vibrate.


    Lu Haiqiao looked down and saw that it was a call from Wu Sancai¡¯s driver, Xiao Chen.


    As soon as she picked it up, she heard Xiao Chen¡¯s panicked voice. ¡°Miss Lu,e to the hospital quickly. Mr. Wu fell down the stairs and is unconscious now!¡±


    Unconscious?


    Lu Haiqiao immediately stood up and asked anxiously as she walked toward the door, ¡°How did this happen?¡±


    Xiao Chen exined that because he knew Mr. Sancai¡¯s schedule, he arrived early today and waited at the door.


    They said that they would leave at 8:30 pm, but after waiting for a long time, Mr. Sancai still hadn¡¯te out.


    The more Xiao Chen thought about it, the more worried he became. He got out of the car and went inside.


    When he arrived at Mr. Sancai¡¯s house, he found that the door was open and the house was in a mess as if it had been robbed.


    Xiao Chen panicked when he saw this and quickly contacted the security guards in the neighborhood to help look for the old man.


    In the end, he found the unconscious Wu Sancai on the stairs leading to the fire exit.


    At this moment, Xiao Chen remembered that Mr. Sancai had an appointment with Lu Haiqiao that day. In a moment of desperation, he could only call her..

 Chapter 139 - 139: I Think It’s Serious

    Chapter 139: I Think It¡¯s Serious


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After listening to Xiao Chen¡¯s description, Lu Haiqiao asked calmly, ¡°Which hospital is he in?¡±


    Xiao Chen replied, ¡°The First People¡¯s Hospital.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao took out her car keys and pressed the unlock button. ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle over now.¡±


    As she opened the car door, she suddenly thought of something. ¡°Do you have the contact information of Mr. Sancai¡¯s daughter?¡±


    With such a big incident happening, his daughter, should be by Wu Sancai¡¯s side.


    However, Xiao Chen asked, ¡°What daughter?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao got into the car. ¡°Mr. Sancai¡¯s daughter has recently returned from overseas. Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard Mr. Wu mention any daughter,¡± Xiao Chen answered honestly.


    ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and said, ¡°Forget it. Wait at the hospital. I¡¯lle over now.¡±


    Half an hourter, Lu Haiqiao saw Xiao Chen in the corridor outside the resuscitation room.


    She nced at the resuscitation room and saw a few doctors surrounding the bed. She was worried.


    ¡°Miss Lu.¡± Seeing that she had arrived, Xiao Chen felt a little more at ease.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡±


    Xiao Chen lowered his head in frustration.


    Although he was only an employee, Mr. Wu had always treated him well. If he had gone to look for Wu Sancai earlier, this ident might not have happened.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t answer, Lu Haiqiao nced at Xiao Chen. ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time to me yourself.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not too sure either. When Mr. Wu was sent in, he went straight to the resuscitation room. I asked the doctor how he was, but he said a bunch of things I didn¡¯t understand. Anyway¡­ I think it¡¯s very serious¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao sighed faintly.


    Xiao Chen didn¡¯t have much education. If there was something academic in the doctor¡¯s words, it was normal for him not to understand.


    However, Lu Yange was not in B City at the moment¡­


    Lu Haiqiao frowned and sat down on the bench in the corridor.


    There seemed to be no other way but to wait.


    Not long after, the doctor in the resuscitation room came out.


    Seeing this, Lu Haiqiao quickly stood up. ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s the patient?¡±


    The attending doctor¡¯s voice was a little muffled through the mask, but Lu Haiqiao still heard it clearly.


    ¡°ording to the X-rays, the patient has a double fracture of the right tibia and fib. In this case, it¡¯s possible to perform an intramedury nail reset surgery or a steel te surgery. The wound in the medury nail is rtively small. It¡¯s considered a minimally invasive surgery. As for steel te fixing, it¡¯s a traditional surgery.


    ¡°My personal suggestion is to perform a steel te internal fixation surgery.


    The double fractures of the tibia and fib are rtivelyrge fractures. Compared to minimally invasive surgery, the effect of traditional surgery might be better.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯ll depend on the patient and his family. Both treatment ns are fine.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression was solemn.


    After a moment of silence, she looked past the doctor and into the resuscitation room.


    At this moment, the doctors and nurses left one after another. Wu Sancaiy on the bed with his eyes closed, his face as pale as a piece of paper.


    ¡°Doctor, when will the patient wake up?¡± Even though Lu Haiqiao was Wu Sancai¡¯s proudest student, she still had no right to make a decision regarding the surgery n.


    The doctor turned his head and took a look. ¡°He¡¯s on anesthesia. He won¡¯t wake up so quickly.¡±


    ¡°Can we talk about the surgery nter? I want to discuss it when he wakes up.¡±


    The doctor nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go through the hospitalization procedures first. When the n is finalized, we¡¯ll arrange the surgery time..¡±

 Chapter 140 - 140: Just Pain, Not Amnesia

    Chapter 140: Just Pain, Not Amnesia


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    When Wu Sancai woke up, Lu Haiqiao was standing outside the ward talking to the deputy director of the First People¡¯s Hospital.


    In the afternoon, she called Lu Yange on WeChat and roughly exined the situation. Then, her reliable cousin found the associate hospital director, who was an orthopedic specialist, to be in charge of Wu Sancai¡¯s surgery.


    Lu Haiqiao heard movement in the ward and hurriedly pushed open the door that was ajar.


    Seeing that Wu Sancai had woken up, she turned to the deputy director and said, ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it with my teacher first. We¡¯ll talk about it after the n is decided.¡±


    The deputy director nodded and said, ¡°Rest well.¡± Then, he left.


    Wu Sancai, who had woken up, was very weak. When he saw Lu Haiqiao, he squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying. ¡°Haiqiao, sorry to trouble you¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pulled a chair from the side and sat down without saying a word.


    Meeting her gaze, Wu Sancai turned his head guiltily.


    In the VIP ward, only the air conditioner made a buzzing sound.


    A few secondster, Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    Wu Sancai kept looking at the other side. ¡°My legs hurt, my waist hurts, my head hurts¡­ Well, my entire body hurts.¡±


    From his tone, he seemed to be in good spirits.


    Lu Haiqiao deliberately dragged out her tone. ¡°It¡¯s just pain. You didn¡¯t lose your memory, right?¡±


    Hearing this, Wu Sancai was stunned.


    What was wrong with this girl? If he had lost his memory, would he still call her ¡°Haiqiao¡± when he woke up?


    Without waiting for him to reply, Lu Haiqiao dragged the chair forward. ¡°Since you haven¡¯t lost your memory, give me your daughter¡¯s contact information. I think she should be by your side at this time.¡±


    Hearing the word ¡°daughter¡±, Wu Sancai panicked.


    After a few seconds of silence, he stammered, ¡°My daughter, she¡­ she¡­ she went back. She¡¯s not in the country now. Even if I tell her, she won¡¯t be able to rush back right away. Forget it, don¡¯t say anything. I don¡¯t want her to worry.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then we won¡¯t tell her.¡± Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t linger on this topic. Instead, she changed to the next subject. ¡°Do you know that you have a double fracture of the tibia and fib on your right side? We¡¯re going to arrange for surgery now. The doctor is asking you if you want to use an endothelial nail or a steel te surgery?¡±


    ¡°So O broke his leg¡­¡± Wu Sancai muttered. ¡°No wonder my legs hurt so much..


    ¡°Yes, you broke your legs.¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s voice was neither warm nor cold. ¡°We were going to have tea, and there¡¯s an elevator in your building. How did you fall down the stairs?¡±


    Wu Sancai looked up at the ceiling. ¡°I took the stairs because the elevator suddenly lost power. I¡¯m old and my legs aren¡¯t flexible. I identally tripped.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao nodded as if she understood.


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t look suspicious, Wu Sancai quickly said, ¡°That¡¯s it. It was an ident¡­¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°What about your walking stick?


    ¡°In the afternoon, I went to your house to take a look. The walking stick you usually use is in the corner of the living room. Don¡¯t tell me that after you fell down the stairs, the walking stick ran home on its own?


    ¡°Or perhaps you suddenly don¡¯t need a walking stick to help you walk?


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m twenty-four years old, not four!¡± Wu Sancai was speechless.


    This girl was so smart that it was scary!

 Chapter 141 - 141: Not An Accident

    Chapter 141: Not An ident


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao suddenly made a move.


    Wu Sancai turned around with difficulty, only to see her open the backpack on her shoulder, take out something, and ce it on the bedside table.


    It was a phone.


    Wu Sancai¡¯s chest tightened.


    Immediately after that, Lu Haiqiao said unhurriedly, ¡°You forgot your phone in the living room. I brought it over when I went to your house this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    Under normal circumstances, she definitely wouldn¡¯t look at things that didn¡¯t belong to her, especially things like phones that involved someone¡¯s privacy.


    Hearing this, Wu Sancai rxed.


    Thepletely different reactions made Lu Haiqiao suspicious.


    Could it be that her teacher¡¯s sudden fall had something to do with this phone?


    At this moment, Wu Sancai¡¯s left hand, which didn¡¯t have an IV drip, reached out from under the nket.


    He wanted to get his phone.


    Lu Haiqiao quickly got up, picked up the phone, and stuffed it into his palm.


    She then noticed a faint red mark on Wu Sancai¡¯s left wrist.


    It was as if someone had forcefully pulled him by his wrist.


    This time, Lu Haiqiao could almost connect the dots.


    It wasn¡¯t an ident that her teacher fell.


    There must be another person at the scene.


    That person first quarreled with Wu Sancai, then pulled his wrist hard and dragged him.


    The person didn¡¯t dare to take the elevator because they didn¡¯t want to rm the neighbors. When they reached the stairs, the person couldn¡¯t hold Wu Sancai back because of his struggle, so Wu Sancai fell.


    This also exined why the house was in a mess and why he didn¡¯t use a walking stick or even bring his phone.


    ¡°Sir,¡± Lu Haiqiao said with a serious expression, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. If anyone hurts you, be it a physical collision or verbal injury, I won¡¯t let them off, even if that person is your daughter.¡±


    Hearing this, Wu Sancai suddenly tightened his grip on his phone.


    After a long silence, he said with difficulty, ¡°Haiqiao, I know you have the ability¡­¡±


    After all, she had the entire Lu family behind her.


    ¡°But it¡¯s aplicated matter. Anyway, give me some time to think about it. I¡¯ll tell you when I¡¯ve thought it through.¡±


    Wu Sancai had his own concerns.


    Firstly, he knew that the three siblings of the Lu family had recently returned to Country F, and Lu Haiqiao was on her own. If she really caused trouble, she would definitely not be able to gain an advantage. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want to rm the Lu family.


    Secondly, this was his family matter. No matter what, that person was his family. He really couldn¡¯t bear to be so ruthless.


    Thinking of this, Wu Sancai sighed deeply.


    At this point, Lu Haiqiao felt that there was no need to ask further.


    She nodded. ¡°Alright, since you have a n, I won¡¯t ask. When you¡¯ve thought it through and want to talk about it, I¡¯ll be listening.¡±


    After leaving the ward, Lu Haiqiao went to the nurses¡¯ station to make arrangements before leaving the hospital.


    It was already dark. She didn¡¯t know when it had rained, but the air pressure


    was very low. Just like her current mood, there was an indescribable pressure.


    As she drove out of the hospital, she saw a convenience store on the way. She slowed down and parked the car by the roadside.


    She hadn¡¯t eaten anything since that morning.


    Walking into the convenience store, Lu Haiqiao bought a ready-to-eat sd without sauce. After heating it in the microwave, she sat by the window.


    Although she was hungry, she didn¡¯t have an appetite..

 Chapter 142 - 142: Nanny Face

    Chapter 142: Nanny Face


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao poked the lunch box with her fork a few times. Seeing that the small piece of cucumber was about to break, she picked it up and stuffed it into her mouth.


    At this moment, a unique ringtone that belonged to WeChat voice calls came from the phone in her bag.


    Lu Haiqiao took it out and saw that it was a voice call from Xie Xuan.


    She picked it up andzily said, ¡°Hello.¡±


    Then, Xie Xuan reported a series of itineraries. ¡°Haiqiao, I just finished a meeting. I was going to the cocktail party, but I didn¡¯t like it, so I went back to the hotel first.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao poked a small broli and stuffed it into her mouth. After swallowing it, she said, ¡°Is it okay not to go to the cocktail party?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all boring ttery. It¡¯s a waste of time to go.¡± Xie Xuan asked, ¡°What about you? What are you doing? Have you eaten?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao put down the lunch box and bought a cup of ck coffee. After taking a sip, she said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m eating.¡±


    ¡°Why are you eating sote?¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s deep voice was filled with worry. ¡°Did something happen that dyed you?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao returned to her seat and said seriously, ¡°I was indeed dyed.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, she continued, ¡°Xuan, have you ever heard of the phrase ¡®can¡¯t be bothered to eat¡¯?


    ¡°It¡¯s precisely because you¡¯re not around that I¡¯m not eating on time.¡±


    What a sweet-talker.


    Xie Xuan smiled dotingly. ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s all my fault. Now, be a good girl. When this is over, I¡¯lle back immediately.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll eat with you every day, okay?¡±


    These few words shook Xie Er, who was driving, goosebumps.


    Unable to take it anymore, he looked up and stole a nce at the rearview mirror.


    Then, he saw his boss holding his phone in an extremelyzy posture. His expression¡­ Well, how should he put it? It was a little hard to exin.


    After thinking for a long time, an expression popped up in Xie Er¡¯s mind.


    He had the face of a nanny.


    Yes, he had the face of a nanny.


    Once he realized that, Xie Er felt that his boss was a little dumb.


    The person he was talking to was his girlfriend, an adult girl. Should he coax her like a baby?


    Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that the person on the other end of the phone was his daughter!


    ¡°Alright, then don¡¯t stay upte, okay?


    ¡°If you can¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll chat with you.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to chat, how about I tell you a story?


    ¡°Cindere or Chibi Maruko?¡±


    Hearing this, Xie Er couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    Even though he held back hisughter, it still attracted Xie Xuan¡¯s attention.


    At this moment, his cold eyes were reflected in the rearview mirror.


    It was full of warnings.


    Xie Er didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll drive properly. I won¡¯t eavesdrop anymore!¡±


    The next morning, Lu Haiqiao thought that Mr. Sancai should be in better spirits after a night of rest, so she nned to go to the hospital to discuss the surgery n with him.


    Today¡¯s breakfast was soy milk and two boiled eggs.


    Lu Haiqiao was the same as Lu Wanxin. When she ate food with high sugar content, she would haverge rashes. It was very ufortable. Therefore, Lu Wanxin paid a lot of attention to her daily diet..

 Chapter 143 - 143: Kill Every One That Comes

    Chapter 143: Kill Every One That Comes


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    But strangely, Su Qingya was also Lu Wanxin¡¯s biological daughter, but she didn¡¯t have such a problem.


    She could eat as many sweets as she wanted.


    Some things might really be fated. Even if Lu Wanxin tried her best to avoid it, she couldn¡¯t avoid it in the end.


    Thinking of this, Lu Wanxin frowned and sighed heavily.


    ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Haiqiao, who had just finished her soy milk, looked up in confusion.


    After a few seconds of silence, Lu Wanxin asked, ¡°Sweetheart, be honest. Have you ever med Mommy?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao looked at her in confusion. ¡°Why should I me you?¡±


    ¡°me me¡­¡± Lu Wanxin paused. ¡°me me for not being able to give you aplete family and inheriting my physique¡­ I know that most young girls like to eat sweet food, but you can¡¯t eat it. Not only that but there are also many things that you can¡¯t even touch. You eat nd food all day¡­¡¯


    Although Lu Wanxin had a doting smile on her face, her eyes were filled with self-reproach.


    Lu Haiqiao put down the boiled egg in her hand. ¡°Mom, why are you saying such things?


    ¡°We¡¯ve had a good life. We don¡¯t have to worry about food or clothes. I see you every day and, and we¡¯re very close. I feel very happy and satisfied. I¡¯ve neverined about anything. Not for a second.


    ¡°As for not being able to eat sweets, it¡¯s actually not too bad. Eating too much sugar will elerate aging. It¡¯s precisely because we can¡¯t eat sugar that we can dy aging and maintain our youth!¡±


    As she spoke, she leaned forward and reached out to stroke the skin on Lu Wanxin¡¯s cheek. ¡°Look, this is the effect. Your skin is really fair and tender. You look like a youngdy in her twenties. How good is that?¡±


    Her words sessfully amused Lu Wanxin. ¡°You know how to make me happy.¡± Hearing someone praise her for being young, beautiful, and having good skin, no woman would be unhappy.


    Lu Haiqiao stuffed the remaining half of the boiled egg into her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re in a good mood, right? Now, you can¡¯t let your imagination run wild.¡±


    ¡°Alright, are you the mom here or am I?¡± Lu Wanxin gently pinched her cheek. ¡°If you¡¯re busy, go to work. When you¡¯re done,e home. I¡¯ll make prawns for you tonight.¡±


    Prawns were one of the few ingredients that could be made delicious without sugar.


    Lu Haiqiao nodded excitedly. ¡°Okay, thank you, Mom.¡±


    Carrying her bag. she out on her shoes. waved goodbye. and left.


    The moment the door closed, Lu Wanxin¡¯s smile disappeared.


    At this moment, the phone on the table rang.


    She looked down at the caller ID and answered the call.


    The call was from Lu Jianyuan.


    Lu Wanxin slowly walked to the balcony with her phone.


    There was a cold glint in her eyes. She waspletely different from her usual gentle and graceful image.


    ¡°Is that so? Dead? Just now?


    ¡°It¡¯s really¡­ God¡¯s will¡­


    ¡°Brother, no matter what, I won¡¯t let Haiqiao go back, let alone let her know about this.


    ¡°If they insist on doing so, it¡¯s not impossible to use some force if necessary.


    ¡°In short, we can¡¯t let theme to B City and disturb Haiqiao¡¯s life! ¡°If onees, I¡¯ll kill one. If twoe, I¡¯ll kill them both!¡±


    On her way to the hospital, Lu Haiqiao passed by a very famous dim sum restaurant.


    That was also one of Wu Sancai¡¯s favorite ces to go..

 Chapter 144 - 144: Investigate Who the Car Owner Is

    Chapter 144: Investigate Who the Car Owner Is


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Lu Haiqiao parked the car in the parking line by the roadside.


    She remembered that Mr. Sancai liked the seafood porridge from this ce the most. Now that the situation was special, she could forget about the seafood porridge. He could only have some in porridge to fill his stomach.


    However, when she got out of the car, a loud whistle came from a sports car parked at the back.


    Then, someone teased her with ill intentions.


    ¡°Hey, sweetheart, do you have time to have breakfast together?


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you, the one who drives a Volkswagen!¡±


    Because she was going to the hospital, Lu Haiqiao chose a rtively low-key car in her underground garage.


    It was a Volkswagen.


    She knew that the man was teasing her, so she usually responded with silence.


    However, the more it was like this, the more excited the man became.


    ¡°Looks like she¡¯s ying hard to get!


    ¡°Sure, I like this kind of woman the most. It¡¯s challenging!¡±


    The man had a Bluetooth earpiece on his ear. He must have been showing off to someone.


    ¡°Just you wait. Watch me take down that beauty!


    ¡°Trust me, she¡¯s top-notch. Not only is she beautiful, but her figure¡­ is amazing!


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. That girl is out. Three minutes is enough. Damn it, if I can¡¯t get her, I¡¯ll f*cking take your surname!¡±


    The man hung up the phone, opened the car door, and quickly stepped forward to stop Lu Haiqiao.


    As he got closer, he saw her face clearly.


    The word ¡°beautiful¡± alone wasn¡¯t enough to describe her appearance.


    However, other than ¡°beautiful¡±, he couldn¡¯t think of another word to describe the girl in front of him.


    The man narrowed his eyes and smiled wickedly. ¡°Little beauty, why did you ignore me just now?¡±


    He was blocking the car door, obviously not letting her get in.


    Lu Haiqiao was holding the porridge and side dishes she had just bought. Her eyes were filled with disgust. ¡°Move.¡±


    Hedonistic sons were one of the people she hated the most.


    They were in good health and had good family backgrounds, but they refused to work honestly and give back to society.


    They wandered around aimlessly all day long. They didn¡¯t do any good things and had a lot of bad things to do.


    Scumbags!


    ¡°Yo, I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a hot temper!


    ¡°But I like¡­¡¯


    Before he could say thest word, he was grabbed by the cor.


    Before he could react, he was flung away by a powerful force.


    Losing his bnce, the man took two steps back and sat on the road.


    Lu Haiqiao gently shook the hand that had grabbed the man¡¯s cor just now as if she had touched something dirty.


    ¡°I told you to move aside, but you forced me to do it.


    ¡°How despicable!¡±


    After saying those words, she opened the car door and carefully ced the packed porridge and side dishes on the passenger seat. She took a wet tissue and carefully wiped her hands before starting the car.


    The man happened to be sitting at the back of her car.


    Lu Haiqiao deliberately stepped on the elerator. The exhaust fumes made the man cough a few times.


    ¡°F*ck!¡± He gritted his teeth and stood up. The expression on his face changed from unwillingness to ferocity. ¡°I, Zheng Shaohua, have been around for so long, but this is the first time I¡¯ve been thrown to the ground by a woman!¡± Back in the car, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.


    Furious, Zheng Shaohua made a call. ¡°Hello! There¡¯s a license te number.


    Help me find out who the owner is! Hurry up, do you hear me?!¡±


    Twenty minutester, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s car drove into the parking lot near the inpatient department..

 Chapter 145 - 145: What Can I Say

    Chapter 145: What Can I Say


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After passing through a long corridor, Lu Haiqiao pushed open the door and entered the VIP ward of the Orthopedics Department.


    With the help of the nurse, Wu Sancai could already sit up.


    There was a fluffy pillow behind his waist, and his phone was ced on the bedside table.


    At this moment, it was ying an audiobook.


    ¡°A man doesn¡¯t contribute to the country. Instead, he sighs here. What is a man¡­¡±


    It was a Romance of the Three Kingdoms.


    Wu Sancai was immersed in the story and didn¡¯t notice that someone had entered the ward. He only opened his eyes when he smelled a unique fragrance of rice.


    ¡°Haiqiao, you¡¯re here.¡± Wu Sancai nced at the takeaway box and recognized the familiar logo. He beamed. ¡°You even brought me food.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao walked to the cab and opened the outer packaging with her eyes lowered. ¡°You¡¯re injured, so I naturally have to take care of you. Do you expect your daughter, who¡¯s far away from home, toe over and look after you?¡± Wu Sancai was speechless.


    Lu Haiqiao either didn¡¯t say anything, or she would say something that other people didn¡¯t know how to respond to.


    There was a strange silence in the ward for a short time.


    Wu Sancai picked up his phone and turned off the audiobook.


    After a few seconds of silence, he sighed. ¡°Haiqiao, actually, she has her own difficulties. Please don¡¯t me her.¡¯


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even met her. How can I me her?¡± Lu Haiqiao opened the lid of the takeaway box and put some side dishes on the porridge. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s your daughter. If you don¡¯t mind, what else can I say?¡±


    She then walked to the bed with the porridge.


    Wu Sancai was about to take the bowl when Lu Haiqiao moved back.


    She pulled a chair over and sat down. She held the porridge in one hand and a spoon in the other. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao scooped up a spoonful of porridge and carefully blew at it. Wu Sancai¡¯s throat tightened. He had many things to say, but he didn¡¯t know where to start. He could only shake his head and smile bitterly through his sore eyes.


    Feeling that the porridge was already at an eptable temperature, Lu Haiqiao looked up and reached out.


    She brought the spoon to Wu Sancai¡¯s mouth. Seeing that he didn¡¯t move, she said in a casual tone, ¡°Get better first. We¡¯ll talk about the restter.¡¯


    After feeding him the porridge, Lu Haiqiao tidied up the takeaway box. Recalling what the deputy director had said yesterday, she asked, ¡°Sir, have you thought of which treatment n to use?¡±


    Wu Sancai, who was filled with worries, didn¡¯t have the energy to think about these things.


    He waved his hand. ¡°You decide. I have no problem with that.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll discuss it with the deputy director. I¡¯ll tell you when there¡¯s a result.¡± Lu Haiqiao threw the takeaway box and other trash into the trash can. When she returned, she suddenly asked, ¡°Sir, why didn¡¯t I see the ¡®High Mountains¡¯ when I went to your house to pack yesterday afternoon?¡±


    Hearing this, Wu Sancai subconsciously curled his fingers under the nket.


    Was she not even willing to leave something that was behind? That was his only souvenir.


    After chatting with Wu Sancai for a while, Lu Haiqiao went to the Deputy Director¡¯s office.


    In the end, they decided to use steel te internal fixation surgery.


    She wanted to tell Wu Sancai the results, but when she returned to the ward, she bumped into the nurse who had just walked out.


    Upon hearing that Wu Sancai had fallen asleep, Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t disturb him. She gave the nurse some instructions and left the hospital.


    As soon as she got into the car, she received a WeChat voice message from Xu Duo.


    Feeling a little hungry and having not seen each other for a long time, Lu Haiqiao agreed..

 Chapter 146 - 146: You Have a New BFF

    Chapter 146: You Have a New BFF


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Half an hourter, under the lead of the waiter, Lu Haiqiao passed through the long VIP passageway and entered the SVIP room in Dongbao Garden.


    Not long after, Xu Duo arrived.


    As soon as the door was pushed open, she said loudly, ¡°Lu Haiqiao, you¡¯re awesome. You actually booked an SVIP ce here!¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao was bewildered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you book it?¡±


    When she entered, the waiter confirmed her identity and said that the private room had been booked.


    Lu Haiqiao, who had wanted to sit in the hall, naturally thought of Xu Duo. After all, only the two of them knew about the meal.


    ¡°You think too highly of me. With my status, how can I book an SVIP room here?¡± After sitting down, Xu Duo approached Lu Haiqiao excitedly. ¡°To be honest, even if my old manes personally, he can only eat in the hall here. He doesn¡¯t even have the right to enter a VIP room.¡±


    As she spoke, Xu Duo took out her phone from her pocket and took photos of the tables, chairs, murals, screens, and so on in the SVIP room.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show off to my old man tonight. Let him see how sessful his daughter is. She can enter the SVIP room of Dongbao Garden!


    ¡°Hey, Lu Haiqiao, did you know? Ever since junior high school, I¡¯ve been praying to God every day, hoping that my best friend would be rich overnight and then provide for me. Now, this wish has finallye true!¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not you, then¡­¡± After some thought, Lu Haiqiao opened her WeChat and sent a message to Xie Xuan.


    Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°Xuan, were you the one who reserved a private room for me in Dongbao Garden?¡±


    At this moment, Xie Xuan was sitting in the business hall of a five-star resort in T City, conducting the third part of the big data intelligence management and development conference.


    Feeling the vibration, he immediately took out his phone, unlocked it, and clicked on WeChat.


    He quickly typed a line of words and pressed send.


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°It¡¯s not a reservation. This private room is reserved only for you. You can go whenever you want.¡± Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Thank you!¡±


    Xie Xuan asked, ¡°Who did you go with?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Duoduo, my best friend, a woman.¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°You¡¯re eating on time today. Good girl.¡¯


    Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°What about you? Haven¡¯t you eaten yet?¡±


    Xie Xuan said, ¡°The meeting isn¡¯t over. I¡¯ll eatter.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Then go ahead. Don¡¯t reply. We¡¯ll talk when you¡¯re free.¡± Seeing this message, Xie Xuan did as he was told.


    Just as she put down her phone, she heard a voice. ¡°Who are you texting?¡±


    Before she could answer, Xu Duo said seriously, ¡°Lu Haiqiao, you have a new BFF!


    Lu Haiqiao nced at her and replied calmly, ¡°Nonsense. He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡±


    ¡°By the way, we haven¡¯t finished talking about what happened on the phonest time.¡± The dishes weren¡¯t served yet, so Xu Duo asked seriously, ¡°When did you get a boyfriend? Why didn¡¯t I hear anything? Who is he? What does he do?


    ¡°That night, Lu Xuege called me and told me about this. You don¡¯t know how angry he was. He kept shouting at the top of his lungs for half an hour. ¡°If he hadn¡¯t been in a hurry to return to Country F, I think your boyfriend would have been¡­¡±


    As she spoke, Xu Duo narrowed her eyes and put a finger across her neck.


    ¡°Impossible.¡± Lu Haiqiao elegantly picked up the ss of water and took a sip.


    ¡°He and his brotherbined won¡¯t be Xuan¡¯s match..¡±

 Chapter 147 - 147: I Found Something About Lu Haiqiao

    Chapter 147: I Found Something About Lu Haiqiao


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xu Duo looked confused. ¡°What? Xuan?¡±


    After being stunned for a few seconds, she reacted. ¡°Wait a minute, Lu Haiqiao. You said that the two of thembined can¡¯t beat him. Hey, it seems like your boyfriend is very violent. I advise you not to be with him. Won¡¯t you be at a disadvantage if you guys fight one day?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao rested her elbows on the table. She held her phone in her palm and slid her thumb across the screen. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him fight.¡±


    Xu Duo blinked. ¡°Then you just said¡­¡¯


    ¡°Right, that¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao scrolled through her WeChat Moments and exined casually, ¡°Because they can¡¯t beat me. Of course, they can¡¯t beat him.¡±


    Xu Duo was speechless.


    That didn¡¯t sound right


    ¡°Hey, you haven¡¯t told me. What¡¯s your boyfriend¡¯s name? What Xuan?¡± Xu Duo asked curiously.


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°Xie Xuan.¡±


    Hearing this name, Xu Duo suddenly raised her voice. ¡°Xie Xuan?¡±


    At the same time, in the parking lot on the second underground floor of Dongbao Garden.


    Zheng Shaohua had a Bluetooth earpiece on his ear, and his tone was filled with disdain. ¡°I thought she was the daughter of some rich family. I¡¯ve never even heard of the name Lu Haiqiao!


    ¡°Lu? There¡¯s no one with the surname Lu in B City who¡¯s powerful enough.


    Damn it, how dare she reject me? That woman is so dead!¡±


    When the person on the other end of the phone heard this, he stammered, ¡°But


    Mr. Zheng, I found out something about Lu Haiqiao¡­¡±


    Zheng Shaohua closed the car door with a bang. ¡°Speak!¡±


    The subordinate paused, still in disbelief. ¡°The car under this person¡¯s name¡­¡±


    Pagani Wind God, Lutes Evija, Aston Martin DBS, Ferrari 812, Koenigsegg Agera, Lamborghini Aventador¡­


    He counted a total of 170 sports cars and 12 SUVs. Every one of them was top-quality. There were even a few with the exact same configuration, except that they were of different colors.


    After hearing his subordinate¡¯s report, Zheng Shaohua was stunned for a moment.


    As far as he knew, there was no one else in B City who had the money and ability to collect so many supercars other than his cousin, Xie Xuan.


    Even he, the son of the Xie family¡¯s eldest daughter, Xie Shengnan, didn¡¯t have the financial ability.


    He had only seen pictures of some of the car models reported by his subordinates on the Inte and had never seen the real thing.


    Where did this womane from?


    Zheng Shaohua took a deep breath to calm himself down. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    The subordinate answered honestly, ¡°Nothing else. Other than the car registration, I can¡¯t find anything else.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t find anything?¡± Zheng Shaohua raised his voice, ¡°Why did I even hire you? You can¡¯t even find a woman! Useless!¡±


    The subordinate who was scolded felt quite wronged.


    It was obvious that such a person with so many luxury cars wasn¡¯t to be trifled with. It was normal for him not to be able to find any information.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more day. You must find out who that woman is!¡± Zheng Shaohua warned in a deep voice as he walked into the elevator. ¡°If you can¡¯t find out, get lost!¡±


    The subordinate quickly exined, ¡°But Mr. Zheng, this person..


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t find any other information. If you still can¡¯t find her, search the entire city and find her. Follow her home and see where she lives. Will you?¡±


    The subordinate replied, ¡°Yes, yes, yes.. I¡¯ll do it now!¡±

 Chapter 148 - 148: Does He Want to Die?

    Chapter 148: Does He Want to Die?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    However, after hanging up, his subordinate was dumbfounded.


    Search the entire city in a day?


    B City was so big, and he wasn¡¯t a radar.


    ¡°Forget it, I should pack up and get ready to scram.¡±


    In the SVIP room.


    Lu Haiqiao looked at Xu Duo strangely. ¡°Why? Do you know him?¡±


    Xu Duoughed dryly, and her expression changed from deliberate astonishment to calm. ¡°Who is he?¡±


    The name was a little familiar, but she couldn¡¯t remember where she had heard it before.


    Lu Haiqiao looked up at the ceiling and said, ¡°Xie Xuan from the Xie family.¡±


    Xu Duo¡¯s shocked voice began to tremble. ¡°You, you, you¡¯re talking about Xie


    Xuan. Is, is he the grandson of the richest man in B City, Xie Guangde?¡±


    At this moment, the dishes were served. Lu Haiqiao picked up a piece of bitter gourd and stuffed it into her mouth.


    Afterward, she nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s him.¡±


    ¡°Wow, the Xie family. Baby, you¡¯re rich!¡± Xu Duo nudged her with her elbow. ¡°The grandson of the richest man. He has so much money that he won¡¯t be able to finish spending it in a few lifetimes!¡±


    Meeting Lu Haiqiao¡¯s yful gaze, she smiled obsequiously. ¡°Of course. I know you have money that can¡¯t be used up in dozens of lifetimes. ¡°By the way, Haiqiao, I¡¯ve heard some things about your boyfriend.¡±


    This was what her gossipy father had said.


    Lu Haiqiao raised her eyebrows. ¡°Huh?¡±


    As Xu Duo chewed on the beef ball, she said, ¡°I heard that he¡¯s been in poor health since he was young, so Old Master Xie protected him from outsiders. He was afraid that there would be some bacteria or virus that would make their grandson fall sick. Because of this, the Xie family has 20 to 30 air purifiers in the living room alone, and they¡¯re the most advanced models.


    ¡°The vegetables, meat, and fruits he usually eats are checked by special people. They don¡¯t dare to be careless at all.


    ¡°But it¡¯s no wonder. He¡¯s the heir to the estate set by the old man. It¡¯s normal to be more careful.


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Xie Xuan had been¡­ unwell since he was young?


    Who spread these rumors?


    ¡°Also,¡± Xu Duo continued, ¡°although everyone knows that Xie Xuan will inherit the Xie family¡¯s assets, once people stand on high ground, there will always be people below who are unconvinced. This person is Xie Xuan¡¯s aunt, Xie


    Shengnan.¡±


    Xie Shengnan?


    Lu Haiqiao thought for a while before remembering that it was the one who held the art exhibition at the Double X Art Center.


    ¡°Speaking of this Xie Shengnan¡­¡± Xu Duo clicked her tongue in an old-fashioned manner. ¡°She¡¯s a powerful woman. She¡¯s scheming, capable, and ambitious. She¡¯s not easy to deal with.¡±


    As she spoke, she patted Lu Haiqiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, Sister, after you join the Xie family, you¡¯ll have to fend for yourself in the future.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled and didn¡¯t reply.


    If that day really came, she wouldn¡¯t be the one who was worried.


    At two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the third part of the meeting ended.


    As soon as he walked out of the business hall, Xie Xuan heard Xie Er¡¯s report.


    ¡°Boss, ording to the news from Xie San this morning, Mr. Zheng is sending people to investigate Miss Lu.¡±


    At this moment, Xie Xuan was wearing a pair of sses. His well-tailored ck custom-made suit exuded a cold and noble aura.


    Hearing this, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. The yellow light from the crystalmp hanging from the ceiling shone into the lens, reflecting a cold light.


    ¡°Does he have a death wish?¡± The simple question was filled with undisguised killing intent..

 Chapter 149 - 149: Quite Naughty Sometimes

    Chapter 149: Quite Naughty Sometimes


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Er sized up his boss¡¯s expression and deliberated for a while before saying, ¡°Miss Lu met Mr. Zheng this morning when she was buying breakfast. Mr.


    Zheng went forward and teased her. Then¡­ then he was beaten up by Miss Lu¡­


    No¡­ I think she pushed him¡­¡±


    ording to Xie San¡¯s description, she only pushed him back then. It wasn¡¯t a beating.


    Xie Er, who felt that his words were very urate, nodded. ¡°Yes, she just pushed him.¡±


    Xie Xuan narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°Is Zheng Shaohua tired of living?¡±


    Seeing this, Xie Er subconsciously swallowed.


    Oh no, Boss was angry.


    However, after a few seconds of silence, a trace of doubt shed across Xie Xuan¡¯s cold face.


    He looked at Xie Er. ¡°Who did you say pushed who?¡±


    Xie Er blinked in confusion. After Xie Xuan¡¯s question, he also suspected that there was something wrong with his expression just now.


    He organized his words in his mind and confirmed that there was no problem before saying, ¡°Yes¡­ Miss Lu pushed Mr. Zheng. I heard that he fell to the ground.¡±


    When he heard Xie San mention this, Xie Er was very calm.


    He had a feeling that this was something Miss Lu would do.


    Xie Xuan¡¯s tense expression gradually rxed. He straightened his back and smiled, as if he was muttering to himself, ¡°My girl is quite naughty sometimes!¡±


    Xie Er didn¡¯t know what to say.


    In the past, he had heard that men in love were lunatics. At first, he didn¡¯t believe it, but seeing Boss like this, he really couldn¡¯t help but believe it.


    Wasn¡¯t he like a lunatic?


    Xie Er thought about it carefully and felt that it wasn¡¯t that simple. ¡°Boss, do you think Mr. Zheng already knows about your rtionship with Miss Lu?¡± Otherwise, why would they meet at the entrance of a breakfast ce?


    Speaking of which, Zheng Shaohua was used to enjoying himself. His food, clothing, amodation, and transportation were all top-notch. Logically speaking, he wouldn¡¯t go to such a ce for breakfast.


    The only possibility was that he was following Miss Lu on purpose.


    ¡°They¡¯ll find out sooner orter.¡±


    As he spoke, Xie Xuan took off his sses and handed them over.


    Xie Er took the sses and carefully wiped the lenses before putting them into the sses box.


    ¡°Tell Xie San to send someone to protect Haiqiao.¡± Xie Xuan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He looked up slightly at the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. ¡°As for Zheng Shaohua, don¡¯t touch him for the time being. If he wants to investigate, let him investigate as much as he wants. Anyway, he¡¯s bored. Let¡¯s find something for him to do.¡±


    He turned to look at Xie Er. ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡±


    Xie Er pursed his lips and thought to himself, ¡°Boss is plotting against someone again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I understand. I¡¯ll do it now.¡±


    After lunch, Lu Haiqiao and Xu Duo went separate ways.


    In the evening, Lu Haiqiao remembered that she had promised her mother that she would go home for dinner today, so she bought dinner in advance and sent it to the hospital.


    When the car reached the entrance of the hospital, a suddenmotion attracted Lu Haiqiao¡¯s attention.


    She was far away and couldn¡¯t hear the conversation clearly. She could only see an old woman arguing with a young man.


    There were many people watching nearby.


    With the help of the hospital security guards, the car slowly drove forward. At this moment, Lu Haiqiao could vaguely hear some content of the argument.


    The young man said, ¡°Old hag, is there something wrong with you? I¡¯m in a hurry to take care of my wife and child. Can you please make way?¡±


    The old woman said, ¡°You¡¯re heartless. My daughter and grandson have only been dead for two years.. You¡¯ve already married someone else and had children!¡±

 Chapter 150 - 150: Not White, Not Black

    Chapter 150: Not White, Not ck


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    The young man said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Whichw says that I can¡¯t remarry after my wife died? There¡¯s none, right?¡±


    The old woman said, ¡°But you hooked up with that woman during the investigation of Fen¡¯s case. Do you have a heart? Don¡¯t you feel ashamed?¡±


    The young man said, ¡°You said it was during the investigation of the case. At that time, Fen was already dead. Why couldn¡¯t I find another woman? Do you want me to live with a memorial tablet for the rest of my life?¡±


    The old woman said, ¡°But you can¡¯t take all my daughter¡¯spensation. My husband doesn¡¯t have money for surgery now so thatpensation¡­¡±


    The young man said, ¡°Look. Your true nature has been exposed, right? At the end of the day, you still want money!¡±


    The old woman said, ¡°That money can save a life!¡±


    The young man said, ¡°It¡¯s your old man¡¯s life, not mine. Besides, you¡¯re no longer my inws. I missed the part where that¡¯s my problem?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t hear the rest.


    Her car drove into the parking lot, and all the arguments were blocked outside the concrete wall.


    When she got out of the car, Lu Haiqiao was still thinking about the argument between the two.


    Especially when she thought of the old woman¡¯s final scolding, ¡°You¡¯re despicable.¡±


    It was true that the man¡¯s behavior was wrong. His wife had just passed away, and he had already found a second woman and had children.


    However, he was right. There was indeed no clear time limit in thew for remarriage after the death of the spouse.


    Even if he remarried on the day of his wife¡¯s death, as long as the procedures wereplete, no one could interfere.


    Thinking of this, Lu Haiqiao sighed.


    Most things in the world were like this. It wasn¡¯t ck and white but gray.


    Although he didn¡¯t break thew, it didn¡¯t feel moral.


    Other than public opinion, there was nothing she could do about such people.


    In addition, there was really too much simr news. Strange things happened in every corner of the world at all times. Once the novelty passed, this news would pass like flipping through a book. Those who were morally condemned could still live a carefree life.


    So, at this time, as a reporter, was it her responsibility to do something for these aggrieved people?


    Just as the elevator slowly went up, Lu Haiqiao suddenly pressed the button for the first floor.


    Without waiting for the elevator door to openpletely, she walked out hurriedly and passed through the crowd to the ce where the argument had just taken ce.


    Unfortunately, the old woman and young man were no longer around.


    At this moment, a hospital security guard passed by.


    Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°Sir, may I ask where the two people who were arguing here just now went?¡±


    The security guard casually pointed in a direction. ¡°They left.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°Then where did they go?¡±


    The security guard said, ¡°I don¡¯t care. Anyway, they can¡¯t argue at the entrance of the hospital. It¡¯s not appropriate.¡±


    As he spoke, the security guard sized up Lu Haiqiao. ¡°Do you know those two people?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao shook her head. ¡°No.¡±


    The security guard clicked his tongue. ¡°If you don¡¯t know him, don¡¯t be a busybody. As the saying goes, it¡¯s difficult for an honest official to resolve family matters. They can¡¯t even figure it out themselves. Outsiders can just watch the show.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao lowered her eyes and was silent for a few seconds before looking up again.


    The people wereing and going. Although their identities and backgrounds were different, they were definitely traveling in the hospital for their lives and health..

 Chapter 151 - 151: Demon

    Chapter 151: Demon


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    With a regretful smile on her face, Lu Haiqiao nced at the hospital door, then turned around and walked towards the elevator.


    For the next three days, Lu Haiqiao wasn¡¯t in a good mood.


    She didn¡¯t know if it was because the weather had been gloomy these few days or because of the scene at the hospital entrance.


    asionally, she thought that if she stopped the car immediately and walked over, she might not miss it.


    She didn¡¯t know that olddy¡¯s name or address, and she didn¡¯t even know if she was local. If she was from another city, she might have returned to her hometown.


    In fact, she had only seen the olddy¡¯s side profile from afar when she was sitting in the car.


    It was almost impossible to find that olddy.


    And Mr. Sancai¡­


    Lu Haiqiao held the pen in her right hand and was silent for a long time. There was obvious frustration on her exquisite face.


    At this moment, there was the sound of high heels clicking.


    Lu Haiqiao could tell that it was Fang Chuoqi¡¯s footsteps.


    Sure enough, a few secondster, she heard the woman¡¯s sharp voice.


    ¡°Some people usually run faster than anyone after work. When the boss is around, they pretend to work hard. What¡¯s this called? Hypocritical!¡±


    In the past, Lu Haiqiao wouldn¡¯t have bothered with her.


    She could say whatever she wanted.


    But today, Lu Haiqiao happened to be in a bad mood and it was Fang Chuoqi¡¯s unlucky day!


    Lu Haiqiao stood up expressionlessly and walked up to her. Her gaze was cold and irritable. ¡°Move.¡±


    Fang Chuoqi crossed her arms. ¡°No!¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. At the same time, she reached out at an extremely fast speed. She grabbed Fang Chuoqi¡¯s chin and forced Fang Chuoqi to look up at her.


    ¡°I told you to move, didn¡¯t you hear me?¡± She deliberately slowed down her speech, her voice low and cold. ¡°If you didn¡¯t hear me, I¡¯ll help you and let you hear me carefully.¡±


    Fang Chuoqi looked at the stunning girl in front of her. She was clearly her colleague, but for a moment, Lu Haiqiao felt like a stranger.


    She was still the same person, but there was an unstoppable viciousness in her eyes as if she would crush her chin in the next second. At this moment, a word appeared in Fang Chuoqi¡¯s mind.


    Demon.


    Seeing that she was in a daze, Lu Haiqiao exerted more strength. ¡°Huh?¡± Fang Chuoqi felt like her jaw was about to shatter.


    She nodded wildly. When she met Lu Haiqiao¡¯s cold gaze, she trembled. ¡°I-I understand. I-I¡¯ll just move aside¡­¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Haiqiao let go.


    She had used too much strength just now. Even after she let go, Fang Chuoqi could still feel the pain.


    Lu Haiqiao gracefully tidied up Fang Chuoqi¡¯s loose hair. In the eyes of her colleagues, this scene was as if the two of them were close friends who had been together for many years.


    Her delicate fingers slowly moved down the side of Fang Chuoqi¡¯s face, and she spoke in a cold and warning voice. ¡°If you had been so obedient earlier, everything would have been fine.


    ¡°If you say anything else in the future, I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart. Do you hear me?!¡±


    With that, Lu Haiqiao grabbed two tissues from her desk. After carefully wiping her hands, she threw them into the trash can.


    She took out her phone and clocked off. Then, she smiled sweetly at Fang Chuoqi. ¡°Miss Fang, it¡¯s time to get off work. See you tomorrow.¡± Fang Chuoqi was speechless..

 Chapter 152 - 152: So Many Third-Wheelers

    Chapter 152: So Many Third-Wheelers


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Walking out of the office building, Lu Haiqiao smoothed her long hair that had been messed up by the wind.


    She stood on the spot and looked at the busy scene in front of her. Her expression gradually became deste.


    Feeling a little tired, Lu Haiqiao moved her sore ankle, took out her phone, and sent Xie Xuan a WeChat message.


    She typed a few words in the text box. Feeling that it was inappropriate, she deleted it.


    After typing a few more words, she didn¡¯t like what she wrote and deleted it again.


    After repeating this a few times, Lu Haiqiao was tired, so she chose an emoji and pressed send.


    She wrote, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    There was an emoji on WeChat. Besides the little yellow face, there was a ¡°Yeah¡± sign on both sides.


    After waiting for a while, Xie Xuan didn¡¯t reply.


    Lu Haiqiao thought that he might be busy, so she didn¡¯t mind. After stuffing her phone into her pocket, she walked slowly along the street.


    She passed by a convenience store and went in to buy a bottle of mineral water. Then, she continued walking and drank as she walked.


    By the time she finished the bottle of water, half an hour had passed.


    Lu Haiqiao took out her phone and looked at it, but Xie Xuan still didn¡¯t reply.


    What the hell?


    No matter how busy he was previously, he would reply when he had the time.


    After some thought, she sent another emoji.


    She said, ¡°I understand. I¡¯m a dispensable online friend.¡±


    It was still a small yellow face, but the face was a little bigger. The drooping eyes and the corners of the mouth revealed a deep grievance.


    After the message was sent, the word ¡°Typing¡­¡± immediately appeared at the top of the screen.


    However, it disappeared after a while, and the nickname appeared at the top of the dialog box again.


    Lu Haiqiao waited patiently for a while.


    After more than ten minutes, thest message in the chat box was still the emoji she had sent to Xie Xuan.


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Therefore, even though he saw the message, he deliberately didn¡¯t reply.


    Lu Haiqiao suppressed her anger and took a deep breath. Just as she was about to go home, a ck S8 suddenly sped over from the intersection ahead. A few secondster, it stopped steadily by the roadside.


    The driver¡¯s door opened, and Xie Xuan got out of the car.


    ¡°I rushed to see you as soon as I got off the ne. You¡¯re using me of neglecting you. ¡±


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and looked in the direction of the car.


    ¡°Did you drive here yourself?¡± Usually, Xie Da, Xie Er, and Xie San were the ones driving.


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan leaned forward and stared at Lu Haiqiao with her cheeks puffed up. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out and gently pinch the tip of her nose. ¡°I¡¯m here to see my girlfriend. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too much to bring so many third wheels?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, there was the sound of a speeding engine. Not long after, three Audi S8s parked behind Xie Xuan¡¯s car.


    ¡°Maybe they don¡¯t think like that.¡± Lu Haiqiao lightened up and joked casually.


    Xie Xuan didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell them to go back?!¡±


    Lu Haiqiao withdrew her gaze from the three cars and looked up at Xie Xuan. ¡°When did youe back?¡±


    ¡°An hour and a half ago.¡± Xie Xuan held her hand and gently pinched her soft fingers.


    So he didn¡¯t reply to her message just now because he was driving. Lu Haiqiao turned to look at the sign by the road. ¡°By the way, how did you know I was here?¡±


    As soon as she asked, she regretted it.


    With Xie San ¡°secretly¡± protecting her, it was easy for him to know where she was..

 Chapter 153 - 153: Just to Make Her Happy

    Chapter 153: Just to Make Her Happy


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Xuan looked down at Lu Haiqiao.


    He hadn¡¯t seen Lu Haiqiao for a few days and missed her very much.


    Therefore, when thest part of the meeting was over, he immediately bought a ne ticket and flew back to B City.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that his father hadn¡¯t recovered from his injuries and couldn¡¯t attend the meeting, he wouldn¡¯t have been willing to leave Lu Haiqiao for so many days.


    Under the orange sunset, half of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s face had a rosy color, making her already good-looking profile look even gentler.


    Xie Xuan couldn¡¯t help but reach out to caress her cheek, his eyes filled with love. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat, okay?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao had been preupied for the past few days and felt that she didn¡¯t have much of an appetite, so she naturally didn¡¯t eat much.


    It was the same now.


    However, she remembered that Xie Xuan had just gotten off the ne and probably hadn¡¯t eaten much, so she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Donghao Garden.¡± Xie Xuan held her hand and sent her to the passenger seat. Then, he walked around the car and got in.


    The ck Audi S8 entered the main road not long after. Xie Xuan controlled the steering wheel with his left hand and held Lu Haiqiao tightly with his right.


    Suddenly, Lu Haiqiao seemed to have thought of something and eximed,


    ¡°Oh no, Mr. Sancai¡­ Gosh, I forgot¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Xie Xuan, who was looking straight ahead, said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already made arrangements in the hospital. Your teacher won¡¯t starve.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was stunned, her eyes filled with surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve arranged it?¡± Didn¡¯t he just get off the ne?


    However, Xie Xuan¡¯s next words made Lu Haiqiao even more surprised. ¡°The orthopedic experts from Country F will arrive in B City the day after tomorrow. Your teacher¡¯s leg has been injured before. Although steel te fixing surgery isn¡¯t difficult, we still have to get a few experts to check and see if they can treat his old injuries.¡±


    Taking advantage of the red light at the intersection ahead, Xie Xuan stopped the car and turned to look at her. ¡°Wu Sancai is your respected teacher. If we can cure his old illness, you¡¯ll definitely be very happy.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao looked up.


    The moment their eyes met, she tightened her grip on his fingers. ¡°Xuan, thank you.¡¯


    He thought of what she had and hadn¡¯t thought of.


    And all of this was just to make her happy.


    A second before the traffic light turned green, Xie Xuan turned around and gently scratched the tip of Lu Haiqiao¡¯s nose. ¡°Little fool, it¡¯s what I should do.¡± He thought, ¡°As long as I make you happy, you¡¯ll never leave me.¡±


    An hourter, the car drove into the underground parking lot of Donghao Garden.


    Just as Xie Xuan and Lu Haiqiao stepped into the exclusive SVIP elevator to the private room, Zheng Shaohua stood in the middle of another elevator that led to the VIP room, holding his phone and cursing.


    ¡°What? Another twenty minutes?


    ¡°What the hell are you doing? You actually want me to wait for you? ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about men waiting for women. It doesn¡¯t work with me!


    ¡°Zheng Shuangshuang, I¡¯m your older brother, your biological brother. You want me to wait for you for twenty minutes? Who do you think you are?


    ¡°It¡¯s useless even if youin to Mom. Ever since I was young, Mom has always helped me. If youin, you¡¯ll only embarrass yourself!


    ¡°Then, let me tell you. Don¡¯t say that I¡¯m bullying you. Five minutes. I¡¯ll wait for you for five minutes. When the five minutes are up, I¡¯ll leave immediately.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    After ending the call, Zheng Shaohua muttered disdainfully, ¡°Tsk, women are so f*cking troublesome!¡±

 Chapter 154 - 154: Deal With Xie Xuan

    Chapter 154: Deal With Xie Xuan


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Ten minutester, the door of the VIP room was opened from the outside.


    Zheng Shaohua, who had been waiting impatiently, looked up. ¡°Zheng Shuangshuang, are you f*cking ignoring my words? I said I would only wait for you for five minutes. Look at the time.¡±


    Unexpectedly, other than Zheng Shuangshuang, there was also a beautiful woman in gorgeous clothes.


    Seeing her, Zheng Shaohua¡¯s arrogance was immediately suppressed.


    ¡°Mom.¡±


    Xie Shengnan walked into the private room with her daughter, Zheng Shuangshuang. After sitting down, she nced at Zhang Shaohua. ¡°Are you getting impatient after waiting for another five minutes?¡±


    Zheng Shaohua nced at Zheng Shuangshuang resentfully. ¡°We agreed on five minutes! ¡±


    ¡°Agreed on?¡± Xie Shengnan sat elegantly and slowly crossed her legs. ¡°Only your sister will say yes to you. If an outsider says that, there¡¯s a possibility of them going back on their word at any time. If you don¡¯t even have this bit of patience, Shaohua, how are you going to do big things in the future?¡±


    Perhaps because of Xie Shengnan¡¯s support, Zheng Shuangshuang raised her eyebrows smugly. ¡°You only know how to shout at me. No wonder you can¡¯tpare to Cousin Xuan!¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°Cousin Xuan¡± , Zheng Shaohua felt as if he had been pricked by a needle.


    He angrily pointed at Zheng Shuangshuang. ¡°You¡­ are you helping an outsider?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts. If you had been more promising today, Mom wouldn¡¯t havee forward to help you so much.¡± Zheng Shuangshuang rolled her eyes at him and casually admired her new manicure.


    Zheng Shaohua was furious. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Xie Shengnan¡¯s sharp voice interrupted their bickering.


    ¡°Shuangshuang, no matter what, he¡¯s still your big brother. Be more respectful when you speak.¡±


    Zheng Shuangshuang¡¯s face fell, and she reluctantly said, ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°And you.¡± Xie Shengnan turned to look at Zheng Shaohua with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. ¡°Your sister is right. If you continue to fool around, you¡¯ll never be able topare to Xie Xuan!¡±


    Zheng Shaohua was unconvinced. ¡°But Grandpa has already chased him out!¡±


    Zheng Shuangshuang couldn¡¯t help but interrupt, ¡°So what if he¡¯s chased out? As long as Grandpa doesn¡¯t change his will, Cousin Xuan will still be the only heir of the Xie family. We won¡¯t get a single cent.¡±


    Her words clearly hit home.


    Xie Shengnan leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She nodded thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s right. If he doesn¡¯t change the will, it¡¯s useless no matter how much we do. The old man only cares about Xie Xuan and doesn¡¯t care about us at all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s simple. If you can¡¯t deal with the old man, then deal with Xie Xuan.¡± Zheng Shaohua moved his chair closer to Xie Shengnan. ¡°Mom, I received news that a while ago, My Uncle was injured in Country M. Yan Lu did it.¡±


    ¡°I know about this.¡± Even though Xie Wensheng hid it very well, a shrewd person like Xie Shengnan could still see some clues from his movements.


    After some investigation, it wasn¡¯t difficult to find out what happened.


    ¡°But there¡¯s something you definitely don¡¯t know.¡± Zheng Shaohua deliberately lowered his voice. ¡°Yan Lu is¡­ on their side¡­¡¯


    After hearing this, Xie Shengnan looked happy. ¡°Really? That¡¯s an opportunity.¡± However, in the next second, she asked cautiously, ¡°Is the source reliable?¡± Zheng Shaohua said confidently, ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve confirmed it again and again.¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡± Xie Shengnan¡¯s eyes were filled with approval. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this to you.. You must do it well, understand?¡±

 Chapter 155 - 155: Faster and Richer

    Chapter 155: Faster and Richer


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Zheng Shaohua nodded vigorously at Xie Shengnan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. As long as I get rid of Xie Xuan, I¡¯ll be the heir. I won¡¯t be careless about this.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Shuangshuang, who hadn¡¯t said much, nced sideways at him.


    Her expression was filled with cold disdain.


    ¡°With you, the Zheng family can forget about inheriting Grandpa¡¯s inheritance for a few lifetimes.


    Zheng Shuangshuang couldn¡¯t be bothered to look at Zheng Shaohua¡¯s smug face anymore. She lowered her eyes and looked at her phone.


    She swiped her finger across the screen and suddenly paused.


    Looking at her mother and brother beside her, Zheng Shuangshuang slowly curled her lips.


    At noon, Lu Haiqiao arrived at the hospital.


    When she found out that there was a 60% chance of curing Wu Sancai¡¯s old illness, she was quite relieved.


    After chatting with Wu Sancai for a while, Lu Haiqiao left the hospital about half an hourter.


    On the way back to the magazine agency, her phone rang.


    Taking advantage of the red light ahead, Lu Haiqiao put on her Bluetooth earpiece and answered the call.


    A low and respectful man¡¯s voice came from the receiver. ¡°Miss Lu, the new pieces you ordered from the Rolex have arrived. Do you want toe to the South Mountain Vi to have a look?¡±


    South Mountain Vi upied an area of one million square meters and was located on the north side of Nanshu Road in the center of B City and on the west side of Central Park. There was a CBD business district. Although it was the core area of the city, eighty single-family vis were dotted between forests, rivers, and valleys. The residents didn¡¯t feel the hustle and bustle of the city at all. Instead, they felt like they were in paradise.


    One of the vis in the middle was about 1,950 square meters. Lu Haiqiao bought it when the real estate was open for sale. She hadn¡¯te over to stay because she had nned to use this vi as a warehouse.


    Watches, jewelry, gowns, calligraphy, paintings, antiques¡­


    She had bought too much, and she had to find a ce to store them.


    At this moment, the middle-aged man she was talking to was the vi¡¯s¡­ no, the warehouse manager, Uncle Zhang.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao nodded. ¡°Their express delivery is quite efficient¡­¡± Uncle Zhang was speechless.


    The person who delivered the package wasn¡¯t a courier, but the assistant of the vice president of Rolex.


    Lu Haiqiao thought for a moment. ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle overter. Send the ones


    I¡¯ve chosen to Country F as soon as possible.¡±


    Uncle Zhang nodded and paused for a few seconds. ¡°Miss Lu, there¡¯s something¡­


    While hesitating, Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Uncle Zhang?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like this. Some time ago, I met a few experts and heard one of them talk about ¡®Flower Moon¡¯¡­¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡®¡±Flower Moon¡¯? Have any of them seen it? What about ¡®Night¡¯? Are the two paintings together?¡±


    Uncle Zhang said, ¡°I knew that you were looking for these paintings, so I got someone to ask about it. However, he couldn¡¯t exin the process clearly. I only knew that at a banquet, a young man said that he had bought ¡®Flower Moon¡¯ and ¡®Night¡¯. At that time, he even took out the photos on his phone to show others. As he hadn¡¯t seen the real thing, he couldn¡¯t verify them.


    ¡°By the way, Miss Lu, I heard that there¡¯s another group of people looking for these two paintings. If you¡­¡±


    Lu Haiqiao pondered for a few seconds before continuing, ¡°If I want it, not only must I act faster than others, but I also have to offer a higher price than the other party.¡±


    Uncle Zhang agreed. ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Zhang, how much money is left in the ount?¡± That was the ount she especially used to buy antique calligraphy and paintings. Uncle Zhang had full authority over it..

 Chapter 156 - 156: Am I That Petty?

    Chapter 156: Am I That Petty?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At this moment, Uncle Zhang took the phone away from his ear, tapped the screen, and entered the bank ount information.


    After checking it, he replied, ¡°Miss Lu, there¡¯s still 320 million in the ount after paying off Rolex. ¡±


    ¡°Please help me keep an eye on this matter. As long as you find the young man who bought the painting, you have to buy it back for me no matter how high the price is. If you don¡¯t have enough money, tell me, and I¡¯ll transfer the money immediately.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao¡¯s expression was calm, and there was a hint of determination in her tone.


    ¡°Yes, Miss Lu.¡±


    Twenty minutester, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s car drove into the vi.


    She wandered around the vi¡­ No, the warehouse for almost half an hour. She picked a few new goods from the batch sent by Rolex and handed them to Uncle Zhang.


    Before leaving, Lu Haiqiao nced at a man¡¯s watch ced in the middle of the disy cab.


    She pointed and asked Uncle Zhang, ¡°When did I buy this?¡±


    There were artificially carved dragon patterns on the dial. It was low-key and luxurious.


    Uncle Zhang took a look. ¡°Miss Lu, you bought this at an auction two years ago. It¡¯s a ssic collection from VC. There are only three in the world.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Despite the reminder, she couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°How much did I buy it


    Uncle Zhang thought for a moment. ¡°In the end, it was sold for 170 million.¡±


    Actually, this watch wasn¡¯t worth this price, but one of the bidders was Miss Lu¡¯s good friend¡¯s nemesis.


    Uncle Zhang clearly remembered what Miss Lu had said at that time. ¡°I¡¯ll pay three times what she offered. I just don¡¯t want her to feel good!¡±


    In the end, all the items that the bidder saw were bought by Miss Lu. Other than this watch, the rest were sent to Miss Xu Duo¡¯s house.


    At the thought of this, Uncle Zhang added, ¡°Previously, Young Master Lu wanted to ask you for this watch, but you never gave it to him.¡± He was referring to Lu Yunge.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao looked confused. ¡°Am I that petty?¡±


    Uncle Zhang was speechless.


    It wasn¡¯t a matter of being petty. Even though Lu Yunge was her biological cousin, she couldn¡¯t give away a watch worth 170 million, right?


    Without any hesitation, Lu Haiqiao pointed at the disy cab. ¡°Uncle


    Zhang, wrap up the watch. I want to take it away.¡±


    Uncle Zhang was speechless.


    The watches in this disy cab were all precious items that Miss Lu had bought at a high price from the auction. Ever since she bought them, she hadn¡¯t touched them. Why was today¡­


    Uncle Zhang came back to his senses and nodded. ¡°Right, of course.¡±


    Could it be that Miss Lu had changed her mind and was nning to give the watch to Young Master Lu?


    Uncle Zhang clicked his tongue inwardly.


    It was a watch worth 170 million. Someone would chop off a hand for that.


    In the business park in the east of the city.


    Lu Haiqiao arrived at the main building of Double X Group.


    She approached the front desk and asked politely, ¡°Is President Xie Xuan here?¡±


    The receptionist immediately recognized her.


    It was the female reporter wearing a multimillion-dor watch.


    The receptionist¡¯s lips moved. Just as she was about to reply, Xie San¡¯s voice came from the right side of the lobby.


    ¡°Miss Lu.¡±


    There was still no emotion in his voice, but his tone seemed to be much gentler than before.


    Lu Haiqiao walked over. At this moment, the gate seemed to have sensed something. Before she could approach, it opened automatically.


    ¡°Master knows that you¡¯re already here, so he sent me down to bring you up.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, there was the sound of high heels clicking on the ground, and a sharp woman¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°Xie San!¡±

 Chapter 157 - 157: How Could I Bear to Let You Wait

    Chapter 157: How Could I Bear to Let You Wait


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao turned around.


    It was a pretty young woman.


    Her slightly curled long hair made her chubby face look exceptionally cute. She was rtively thin, but her eyes and nose were round. She was wrapped in a girlish dress, and she looked as exquisite as a beautiful doll.


    Lu Haiqiao nced at the girl and looked away.


    She turned to look at Xie San. ¡°Hey, is that your girlfriend?¡±


    Xie San was speechless.


    Apart from having a lot of tricks up her sleeve, Miss Lu was also quite good at picking out the wrong couple.


    Shaking his head slightly, Xie San called out to the girl walking over, ¡°Miss Zheng. ¡±


    Zheng Shuangshuang, who was blocked outside the gate, quickly sized up Lu


    Haiqiao. A few secondster, she looked at Xie San. ¡°Hey, when will Cousin Xuan be free? The receptionist said that he was in a meeting. What is so important? Why isn¡¯t it over yet?¡± Cousin Xuan?


    Could she be Xie Xuan¡¯s cousin?


    Was she Xie Shengnan¡¯s daughter?


    Lu Haiqiao pursed her lips and didn¡¯t say anything.


    At this moment, Xie San replied calmly, ¡°Master is in a meeting. Miss Zheng, please wait a moment.¡±


    ¡°Wait?¡± Zheng Shuangshuang raised her voice. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for two hours. Why should I wait?¡±


    Xie San said expressionlessly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master doesn¡¯t like outsiders disturbing his work.¡±


    Hearing this, Zheng Shuangshuang pointed at Lu Haiqiao with a tense expression. ¡°What about her? Who is she? I¡¯m his sister. Even I can¡¯t go up, how can she go up?¡±


    Xie San¡¯s head hurt from her sharp voice.


    He couldn¡¯t be bothered with Zheng Shuangshuang anymore. He turned to look at Lu Haiqiao and bowed respectfully. ¡°Master, please.¡±


    Hearing this form of address, other than Lu Haiqiao, Zheng Shuangshuang was also shocked.


    Xie San had the most unyielding temper and the coldest personality among the servants of the Xie family. There was no one else who could make him call them ¡°Master¡± other than Xie Xuan, his father, and his grandfather.


    Now, he actually called an ordinary girl ¡°Master¡±?


    Who exactly was she?


    As she was thinking, Zheng Shuangshuang suddenly looked up. When she saw Xie Xuan walking over from the elevator, a smile immediately appeared on her face.


    ¡°Cousin Xuan!¡± She called out sweetly.


    Xie Xuan acted as if he didn¡¯t hear or see anything. From the beginning to the end, his gaze was focused on Lu Haiqiao.


    He stretched out his hand to Lu Haiqiao. ¡°I waited up there for a while. Seeing that you weren¡¯t here yet, I came down here to look for you.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you in a meeting? Why are you here?¡± Lu Haiqiao ced her hand in his palm and asked with a smile.


    Xie Xuan looked down at her. A few secondster, he leaned down and whispered into Lu Haiqiao¡¯s ear, ¡°How can I bear to let you wait? Anyway, it¡¯s not an important meeting. We¡¯ll hold itter.¡±


    Even though his voice was deliberately lowered, Zheng Shuangshuang, who was standing not far away, still heard it.


    ¡°Cousin Xuan!¡± she shouted again.


    At this moment, Xie Xuanzily looked up and nced at her. ¡°Huh?


    Shuangshuang, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting here for two hours!¡± Zheng Shuangshuang pouted aggrievedly.


    Xie Xuan pretended to think for a moment, then let out a very perfunctory ¡°I see.¡±


    Zheng Shuangshuang was speechless.


    That¡¯s it?


    Xie Xuan ignored the angry Zheng Shuangshuang and held Lu Haiqiao¡¯s hand as they walked to the elevator.


    As he turned around, he heard Zheng Shuangshuang¡¯s question.. ¡°Who is she?¡±

 Chapter 158 - 158: She’s My Girlfriend

    Chapter 158: She¡¯s My Girlfriend


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Xie Xuan stopped in his tracks.


    He leaned forward slightly and approached Lu Haiqiao. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he asked, ¡°Can I tell her?¡±


    He was afraid that she would be unhappy if he said it out loud.


    Lu Haiqiao raised her eyebrows. ¡°It¡¯s up to you. Tell her if you want to.¡±


    As if he had received a pass, Xie Xuan smiled and held Lu Haiqiao¡¯s hand even tighter. ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend.¡±


    As he said this, he didn¡¯t turn to look at Zheng Shuangshuang. From the beginning to the end, he didn¡¯t even look at her. When he finished speaking, he winked at Lu Haiqiao, who was standing opposite him.


    ¡°Thank you, for finally agreeing to let me go public.¡±


    At this moment, Zheng Shuangshuang, who was still blocked by the gate, put away her arrogance and willfulness.


    She put her hands behind her back and shrugged, pretending to be cute. ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s your girlfriend.¡±


    As she spoke, Zheng Shuangshuang¡¯s gaze moved from Xie Xuan to Lu Haiqiao.


    She was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and niche jeans. Even the backpack slung over her shoulder looked like it had been bought from a small shop on the street. Girlfriend?


    Hmph!


    Zheng Shuangshuang didn¡¯t show her disdain. Instead, she said in a sweet and soft voice, ¡°My name is Zheng Shuangshuang. I¡¯m Xie Xuan¡¯s cousin. Nice to meet you, big sister.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Xuan smiled mockingly and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hey, my girlfriend is only 24 years old. You¡¯re already 25, yet you still call her ¡®big sister¡¯. Are you pretending to be young?


    Zheng Shuangshuang was speechless.


    She was only a year older than her. Was there a need to be so serious?


    When Lu Haiqiao heard this, she held back the urge tough and secretly squeezed Xie Xuan¡¯s hand.


    What she meant was that he should save some face for her in public. After all, she was the daughter of his aunt.


    Unexpectedly, Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow at her and continued, ¡°Also, I¡¯m not very familiar with your family, so save the pleasantries. It¡¯s too hypocritical.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Her boyfriend¡¯s train of thought was quite strange sometimes.


    Seeing that Zheng Shuangshuang was still standing there with no intention of leaving, Xie Xuan said impatiently, ¡°Is there anything else? If there¡¯s nothing else, please leave. I have to be with my girlfriend. I don¡¯t have time to entertain you.¡±


    Zheng Shuangshuang, who had been rebuked several times, almost couldn¡¯t maintain her smile.


    However, she still held onto a trace of hope and looked at Xie Xuan. ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.


    ¡°But Cousin, I didn¡¯t drive over today. My car has been sent for maintenance, and it¡¯s difficult to get a taxi at the entrance of yourpany, so can you give me a ride?¡±


    ¡°Then whv don¡¯t von hilV another car?¡± Xie Xnan said hlnntlv- ¡°That wav. when your car breaks down, is under maintenance, or if there¡¯s an ident, there¡¯ll be a backup. You shouldn¡¯t trouble others. It¡¯s quite annoying.¡±


    Zheng Shuangshuang couldn¡¯t pretend anymore.


    She red at Lu Haiqiao with a dark expression.


    After a while, Zheng Shuangshuang took a deep breath and turned to leave without even saying goodbye.


    As she turned around, she gritted her teeth and a dark expression appeared on her face.


    Girlfriend?


    ¡°You treasure your girlfriend so much, don¡¯t you? When I seize the opportunity, the first person I¡¯ll kill will be your girlfriend!¡±


    After taking two steps, Zheng Shuangshuang suddenly stopped.


    She turned her head and looked at Lu Haiqiao and Xie Xuan walking towards the elevator. She pursed her lips tightly.


    Killing that woman, who only knew how to hide behind Xie Xuan, should be easier than crushing an ant..

 Chapter 159 - 159: That Girl Is Super Beautiful!

    Chapter 159: That Girl Is Super Beautiful!


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    After Zheng Shuangshuang left, Xie Xuan pulled Lu Haiqiao into the elevator.


    He didn¡¯t say a word. His expression was tense, and he almost engraved the word ¡°displeased¡± on his forehead.


    Lu Haiqiao leaned closer and nudged him with her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Xie Xuan turned to look at her, and his tightly furrowed brows gradually rxed. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao thought for a moment and asked, ¡°Is it because of your cousin?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that Xie Xuan¡¯s eyes, which had just calmed down, were filled with killing intent again.


    At this moment, the elevator door opened, and employees passed by. When they saw Xie Xuan, they stopped and greeted him respectfully, ¡°Mr. Xie.¡± The moment they looked up, their gazes stopped on Lu Haiqiao.


    Some of the employees who had seen her recognized her as the female reporter who hade to interview Zhou Nuost time. However, at this moment, this young woman who dressed inly was holding hands with their president.


    It wasn¡¯t difficult to guess their rtionship.


    Xie Xuan responded indifferently and brought Lu Haiqiao to the office. Some gossipy employees were curious, and their eyes followed the two of them.


    It was only when the office door closed with a bang that they turned around in disappointment.


    However, in the next second, the topic exploded in the work group of the various departments without a leader.


    ¡°Mr. Xie is holding a girl¡¯s hand and entering the office!¡±


    ¡°That girl is super beautiful!¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be his girlfriend. Didn¡¯t they say that Mr. Xie¡¯s cousin was waiting downstairs in the lobby? Is she his cousin?¡±


    ¡°Do you and your cousin walk down the street with your fingers interlocked?¡±


    ¡°I remember. I heard from Lisa at the front desk. She¡¯s a reporter. She came over to interview Mr. Zhoust time.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s only here for an interview this time?¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid? When did Mr. Xie have the patience to entertain reporters?¡±


    ¡°No pictures, no truth. Noment.¡±


    In the office, Xie Xuan brought Lu Haiqiao to the sofa to sit down, but he went to the bar not far away.


    Not long after, the sound of a machine operating could be heard.


    Lu Haiqiao looked up and saw a silver coffee machine slowly grounding the coffee beans.


    At this moment, Xie Xuan, who was standing in front of the coffee machine, suddenly asked, ¡°Haiqiao, what do you want to eat tonight?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao took out a dark red watch box from her bag. On the top was a logo unique to VC.


    ¡°I have to go back to the magazine agencyter. I can¡¯t stay any longer.¡± Xie Xuan said, ¡°You can still have dinner. I¡¯ll pick you up after work.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao stood up and shook her head. ¡°Not today. I¡¯m busy.¡±


    She had an article that needed editing, and it was very urgent.


    She ced the watch box on the bar counter and wrapped her arms around Xie


    Xuan¡¯s neck. She looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯ll call you when I¡¯m done, okay?¡±


    Nie xuan could onlypromise. ¡®¡±l¡¯nen 100K arter yourself. Don¡¯t De toote.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded and pushed the watch box over. ¡°This is for you.¡±


    ¡°A watch?¡± Xie Xuan nced at the box with a smile in his eyes.


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t move, Lu Haiqiao asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡±


    Xie Xuan patted the back of her head. ¡°I like everything my girlfriend gives me.¡± After that, Lu Haiqiao heard a phone vibrate.


    Xie Xuan took out his phone and looked at the caller ID. Without thinking, he immediately hung up.


    A few secondster, the call came in again.


    Simrly, he moved his finger to the red hang-up button and pressed it.


    Lu Haiqiao clearly saw the words ¡°Aunt¡± on the phone screen..

 Chapter 160 - 160: Childish Boyfriend

    Chapter 160: Childish Boyfriend


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    Seeing him throw his phone on the bar counter and pick up a cup of ck coffee, Lu Haiqiao was puzzled, so she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer the call?¡±


    Xie Xuan handed over the ck coffee and said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t want to take it. It¡¯s annoying.¡±


    ¡°It seems like your cousin is quite quick toin.¡± Lu Haiqiao took the coffee cup and sipped the warm Americano.


    Hearing this, Xie Xuan looked at Lu Haiqiao beside him with an extremely worried gaze. ¡°She¡¯s not as silly and sweet as you saw just now.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao understood this.


    She was born into a family that fought openly and secretly. Even though she had been raised to be a little arrogant, she was definitely not stupid.


    However, in the next second, she heard Xie Xuan say disdainfully, ¡°But it¡¯s about the same. In my opinion, she¡¯s a fool.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    ¡°After all, she¡¯s your biological cousin. You¡¯re rted by blood. Take it easy.¡±


    ¡°Now that Zheng Shuangshuang knows about our rtionship, my aunt must know too.¡± Xie Xuan leaned back against the bar counter, his elbow leaning back against the counter. ¡°I¡¯ve always been at odds with them, and you might be one of their targets.¡±


    After thinking for a moment, Lu Haiqiao smiled. ¡°In that case, the call just now might not be a condemnation, but a test?¡±


    Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows in agreement.


    After finishing the coffee, Lu Haiqiao put down the cup.


    She tilted her head and stared at Xie Xuan¡¯s worried face. She smiled indifferently. ¡°Alright, I know what you want to say. You want me to be careful, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Sometimes, it takes a woman to deal with a woman. Perhaps I¡¯m the woman who can deal with your aunt?¡±


    ¡°Are you that confident?¡± Xie Xuan smiled and looked at her from afar.


    Lu Haiqiao tilted her head and nodded. ¡°I was just joking. Your aunt is an elder.


    I can¡¯t be rude.¡±


    As she spoke, she recalled Xu Duo¡¯s evaluation of Xie Shengnan.


    ¡°That¡¯s a powerful woman. She¡¯s scheming, resourceful, and ambitious. She won¡¯t be easy to deal with.¡±


    Just because she wasn¡¯t easy to deal with didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t be dealt with.


    Lu Haiqiao didn¡¯t have many merits, but she liked to challenge difficulties.


    Half an hourter, it was almost three in the afternoon. Lu Haiqiao waved goodbye to Xie Xuan.


    At the door, she turned around and looked at him with reluctance. ¡°I¡¯ll be very busy when I get back. Have something to eat after work, alright?¡±


    Xie Xuan brushed the hair off her forehead. ¡°You mean I won¡¯t be able to see you today?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao tapped the tip of his nose with her soft fingertips as if she was coaxing a child. ¡°That¡¯s why I took the time toe over in the afternoon.¡±


    As she opened the door, Lu Haiqiao said, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t send me off. Don¡¯t you have a meeting? Go quickly. Don¡¯t dy it.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, a force suddenly wrapped around her slender waist.


    Before Lu Haiqiao could react, she was pulled back by the force and fell into a warm embrace.


    Xie Xuan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and whispered into her ear, ¡°Hug me for a while.¡± Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Her boyfriend was so childish.


    But she liked it very much.


    After a while, Lu Haiqiao patted the back of Xie Xuan¡¯s hand. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a thin and moist sensation at the tip of her ear.


    She subconsciously froze.


    Then, that moist and warm touch slowly slid down from the tip of her ear, along her cheek, to the back of her neck.


    She couldn¡¯t help but tremble slightly..

 Chapter 161 - 161: Let’s Kiss

    Chapter 161: Let¡¯s Kiss


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    At this moment, Xie Xuan¡¯s hoarse voice entered Lu Haiqiao¡¯s ears.


    ¡°I¡¯ve hugged you. Now let¡¯s kiss.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Not only was her boyfriend childish, but he was also very flirtatious.


    Just as Xie Xuan was trying his best to kiss her, hurried footsteps sounded in the quiet corridor.


    In the next second, Zhou Nuo¡¯s voice came from not far away. ¡°Hello, Bro¡­¡±


    He was about to call him ¡°Brother Xuan¡±, but he remembered Xie Xuan¡¯s warning, so Zhou Nuo quickly changed his words. ¡°Boss Xuan, why didn¡¯t you..


    At this point, he looked up and stopped mid-sentence.


    Zhou Nuo was shocked.


    What did he see?


    Xie Xuan hugged Lu Haiqiao and kissed her casually at the office door!


    Out in the open!


    Why did he do that?!


    Hey, wait.


    He had settled the deal with the girl?


    Was it that fast?


    Zhou Nuo, who was shocked, straightened his back and stood rooted to the ground.


    Lu Haiqiao, who had already noticed the presence of others, struggled in panic.


    ¡°Let go, let go. Someone¡¯s watching¡­¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of nervous trembling. When it entered Xie Xuan¡¯s ears, it was like a kitten¡¯s ws gently scratching his heart.


    He lowered his head and kissed the back of her neck again before reluctantly letting go.


    Lu Haiqiao, who had regained her freedom, tried her best to regain her bnce and not let her legs go.


    Perhaps because it was too awkward to be bumped into, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s ears, cheeks, and even the back of her neck, which had just been kissed, all turned a beautiful pink.


    She lowered her eyes and stammered, ¡°I¡­ I have something to do¡­ I need¡­ to run. I¡¯ll call you¡­ter.¡±


    With that, Lu Haiqiao scratched the back of her head, grabbed her bag, and hurriedly ran toward the elevator.


    Only when Lu Haiqiao¡¯s figure disappeared from his sight did Xie Xuan look away.


    He pursed his lips and turned to walk into the office without saying a word.


    Zhou Nuo, who hade back to his senses, quickly followed.


    ¡°Hey, Boss Xuan, you and that girl, you¡­¡± Zhou Nuo gestured with both hands.


    ¡°You hooked up just like that?¡±


    Xie Xuan walked around the counter, picked up the dark red watch box, walked to the desk, and put it down.


    He turned to look at Zhou Nuo with displeasure in her eyes. ¡°Hey, what are you doing here?¡±


    Zhou Nuo was about to exin when his attention was suddenly attracted by the watch box.


    Upon closer inspection, he recognized it.


    This was a box custom-made from a ssic VC collection watch auctioned two years ago. There was a factory serial number on it, and it was unique in the world.


    He tilted his head and nced at it. Thest five serial numbers on the side of the box were VC001.


    So, it was that watch that sold for 170 million?


    Zhou Nuo was shocked.


    ¡°F*ck! Brother Xuan, no, Boss Xuan, when did you buy this watch? Why didn¡¯t I know?¡±


    The corners of Xie Xuan¡¯s lips curled up slightly. He deliberately moved the watch box away from Zhou Nuo, as if he was afraid that Zhou Nuo would reach out and snatch it away in the next second.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t buy it. My girlfriend gave it to me.¡±


    For some reason, Zhou Nuo felt that Xie Xuan was bragging.


    ¡°Tsk, so what if you have a girlfriend? I just don¡¯t want to find one. If I really want to, girls will line up from the east to the west..

 Chapter 162 - 162: Has She Ever Listened

    Chapter 162: Has She Ever Listened


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    However¡­


    Zhou Nuo leaned against the desk and tilted his head back slightly. His gaze was fixed on the dark red watch box.


    He had heard about this watch from his friends in the industry.


    Although it was priceless, it was definitely not worth as much as 170 million.


    Therefore, when the watch was sold at this price, everyone was more or less a little surprised. They were even more curious about the person who had paid a high price for this watch.


    Unfortunately, until the end of the auction, this buyer with too much money never showed up.


    Zhou Nuo never expected that the ¡°fool¡± who had been mocked for a long time was actually that cute little girl that Xie Xuan was dating.


    Thinking of this, he narrowed his eyes.


    This Lu Haiqiao wasn¡¯t all that simple.


    As soon as Lu Haiqiao got into the car, she called Lu Xuege.


    It was 3:30 PM in B City, which corresponded to 9:30 AM in Country F.


    After making the call, Lu Haiqiao put on the Bluetooth earpiece and started the car.


    What was strange was that Lu Xuege, who had always stayed upte and slept in, actually picked up the phone.


    His voice was very clear, so he hadn¡¯t been woken up.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, my precious sweetheart?¡± He was as indecent as ever. Lu Haiqiao said solemnly, ¡°Lu Xuege, help me investigate someone.¡±


    Every time she called out his full name, it meant that this matter was very important.


    Lu Xuege stopped smiling. ¡°Huh? Tell me, who offended you this time?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao smiled and stressed each word, ¡°Zheng, Shuang, Shuang.¡±


    She had wanted to skip this ¡°silly girl¡± and directly get Xie Shengnan¡¯s information, but when she thought about how she had called him ¡°Cousin Xuan¡± in the hall just now and even rolled her eyes at her, even though Xie Xuan retorted on the spot, Lu Haiqiao still felt unhappy.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped. She was the kind of person who would hold a grudge.


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Lu Xuege dragged out his tone. ¡°My baby Haiqiao has spoken. I have to do it no matter what.¡±


    Not long after, there was the sound of typing on the keyboard.


    Lu Xuege must have put his phone on speaker and ced it on the table. At this moment, his voice sounded a little distant.


    ¡°Zheng Shuangshuang, 25 years old, daughter of Xie Shengnan of the Xie family in B City¡­¡±


    Lu Xuege paused.


    Then, he raised his voice. ¡°Lu Haiqiao, what¡¯s wrong with you? My brother and I repeatedly told you not to get involved with the Xie family. Now, you¡¯re investigating the Xie family¡¯s information as soon as we¡¯re away. Why? Our words don¡¯t matter anymore, right? Have you stopped listening?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao was speechless.


    Had she ever listened?


    ¡°Are you going to investigate? If not, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Lu Haiqiao¡¯s tone was indifferent.


    Lu Xuege was silent for a few minutes. One could imagine how terrible his expression was on the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll do it!¡± In the end, hepromised.


    Because Lu Haiqiao had said something during his silence.


    ¡°Even if you change the password, I can hack into yourputer. It shouldn¡¯t be difficult to use your IP address to check someone¡¯s information.¡± ¡°Gosh, if you do it yourself, you might cause more trouble.¡±


    With a heavy sigh, Lu Xuege continued, ¡°Zheng Shuangshuang entered T


    University¡¯s Junior ss at the age of fourteen, then transferred to Columbia Business School to study international business. She graduated two years ago¡­


    Heh, she¡¯s a straight-A student!¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao adjusted the sunsses on her nose.


    Judging by this, Zheng Shuangshuang was indeed not a brainless person, and she was very smart..

 Chapter 163 - 163: Marriage?

    Chapter 163: Marriage?


    Trantor: Henyee Trantions Editor: Henyee Trantions


    However, what Lu Xuege said was only a part of Zheng Shuangshuang¡¯s resume.


    While at school, she participated in various extracurricr activities.


    Rock climbing, dancing, shooting, violin¡­


    Surprisingly, she was able to achieve good results in all thesepetitions. It wasn¡¯t too much to call her an all-around genius.


    Lu Xuege stared at the information on theputer screen. He leisurely crossed her legs on the counter and leaned back in his chair. ¡°I have to say, the people brought up by the Xie family are quite talented.¡±


    Lu Haiqiao nodded indifferently and didn¡¯t reply.


    Lu Xuege must have picked up the phone and ced it by his ear. The distant voice suddenly became clear.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you wanted to see me about?¡±


    Lu Haiqiao said calmly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then you¡¯re done, right? Now, it¡¯s my turn to talk.¡± Lu Xuege sat up straight and said seriously.


    Lu Haiqiao looked straight ahead. After estimating the distance to the magazine agency, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll reach the magazine agency in five to six minutes, so please make it short.¡±


    Lu Xuege was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re not at the magazine agency? Where did you go?¡¯ There was silence on the other end of the phone.


    ¡°Did you go to see Xie Xuan?¡± After thinking about it, there was only one possibility that made her fall silent.


    Hearing this, Lu Haiqiao hummed perfunctorily.


    ¡°Sister,¡± Lu Xuege sighed and said earnestly like an old father, ¡°Although you¡¯ve never listened to me since you were young, I¡¯ve always listened to you.


    asionally, when I get into trouble, I need you to put in a good word for me to Grandpa. But this time, you really have to listen to me. That Xie Xuan¡­¡±


    After a pause, he nced at theputer screen and fixed his gaze on thest two lines of the text.


    He didn¡¯t tell her everything about Zheng Shuangshuang.


    She, who had a helicopter pilot¡¯s license, was actually a C-rank member of the Gulf Corporation.


    ¡°In short, you can¡¯t be with Xie Xuan.¡± Lu Xuege got up and paced back and forth in the room in frustration. ¡°Sister, if you want to date, I¡¯ll introduce other men to you. They¡¯ll be handsome and rich. They¡¯ll be good to you. You can choose any type!¡±


    At this moment, Lu Haiqiao¡¯s car had already driven into the parking lot of the office building.


    With a beep, the gate opened. She stepped on the elerator unhurriedly, looking for a parking spot.


    At the same time, she shut Lu Xuege up. ¡°I like Xie Xuan. No matter how good others are, they¡¯re not Xie Xuan. I don¡¯t want them.¡±


    With that, she stepped on the brakes and steered the steering wheel. She skillfully and nimbly parked the car in one go.


    ¡°I think you should get to know him sometime.¡±


    Lu Xuege snorted. ¡°Why do I want to know him?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be very familiar with him. It¡¯s fine as long as you get to know him.¡± Lu Haiqiao pushed the door open and got out of the car. As she walked to the elevator, she yed with her car keys. ¡°After all, he¡¯s your future cousin-inw. We¡¯ll have to meet every festive asion. It¡¯ll be so awkward if you don¡¯t even know who he is.¡±


    Lu Xuege was speechless.


    How far had they gotten to? She had even thought of marriage?


    What kind of bewitching potion did that bastard Xie Xuan give her?!


    Lu Xuege took two deep breaths to calm himself down.


    At this moment, a servant¡¯s voice came from outside. ¡°Mr. Xie, it¡¯s time for breakfast..¡±


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