“Do you have nothing better to do?”
Xiao Yi wasn’t in his wheelchair now. He reclined on a soft sofa where the sunlight fell, a collection of poetry in his hands.
His long fingertips rested lightly on the white pages. Against the paper, his hand looked cool and pale as jade, yet unmistakably strong.
Yang Xuan studied those finely defined knuckles and thought it was no wonder people were saying his employer had been targeted for his beauty.
What other tycoon looked like this?
“I’m just curious who actually attacked you.”
Rumors were circulating everywhere. Some claimed his employer had encountered a ghost; others blamed a power struggle within the Xiao family.
As an eyewitness, Yang Xuan knew that the man who had stripped his boss and the man responsible for his two broken ribs were the same person—the eighth man who had taken the Emperor’s Tear.
Yet he couldn’t say so. Keeping it to himself was unbearable.
At last, he asked, “Sir, why don’t you explain it to the police? The eighth man who took the Emperor’s Tear clearly wasn’t with those robbers.”
“Then who do you think he was with?”
“…”
Yang Xuan had no answer.
If the Xiao family’s enemies had sent him, why had he done nothing to his employer beyond taking his coat? And if he had come for the Emperor’s Tear, why had he risked getting shot to save him?
After considerable thought, he ventured, “Someone who happened to be passing by?”
Even he found that absurd.
Who would pass through that place in the middle of the night? Being soaked from head to toe was strange enough. Rushing into a robbery suggested the man wasn’t entirely right in the head.
His thoughts were still wandering when his employer asked, “What were those two arguing about outside?”
Yang Xuan immediately brightened and lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“I think they were arguing over who took Young Master Xiao Ji’s ex-boyfriend to bed.”
“…”
Xiao Yi’s fingers stilled. He looked up.
“Are you sure you heard that correctly?”
“Absolutely.”
Yang Xuan sounded certain.
“At first, Young Master Xiao Wenyu denied it. Then Young Master Xiao Ji said he had security footage, and Young Master Xiao Wenyu went quiet. It looked as though he was admitting he’d stolen Young Master Xiao Ji’s lover.”
“But that lover apparently jumped into the sea afterward. I don’t know whether he was in love with Young Master Xiao Ji or Young Master Xiao Wenyu. Of course, he might not have loved either of them. Perhaps he was simply caught two-timing.”
“…”
Xiao Yi regarded him with those deep-green eyes. After a long moment, he asked, “Yang Xun told me you studied journalism. Why didn’t you become a reporter?”
Yang Xuan sighed reflectively.
“He said I wasn’t suited to it. Jobs in journalism were hard to find anyway, so I switched fields and did a master’s in finance. I came to work for you right after graduating.”
Xiao Yi nodded.
“A wise choice. Listen to your brother. Journalism isn’t for you.”
Yang Xuan looked a little bashful.
“Do you think I’m better suited to being your assistant?”
“…”
“Sir?”
“…Did you catch the name of the man who jumped into the sea?”
“I think it was…Su Lang?”
…
Meanwhile, on the second-floor balcony, Song Liang considered for a moment before meeting Xiao Yuanchun’s searching gaze without a flicker of hesitation.
“My name is Kevin.”
【…】
Xiao Yuanchun didn’t question it.
“Your surname?”
“Song.”
“Kevin Song.”
She repeated the name. Whether she was disappointed or felt something else was difficult to tell. Turning to Manager Zhou, she said, “Find him a position.”
Manager Zhou cleared his throat.
“Boss, he’s applying to be a host.”
Xiao Yuanchun blinked in mild surprise.
Her establishment was legitimate and operated within the law, but it was still a venue for business and social networking. Certain more personal services were inevitable.
She never compelled her employees to do anything against their wishes, however. Whether they preferred ordinary service work or hoped to find a wealthy patron was entirely up to them.
The mansion welcomed plenty of rich, powerful people. A sum they barely noticed spending could sustain an ordinary person for a lifetime. Naturally, many hoped to turn an opportunity here into a shortcut to a better life.
She simply hadn’t expected this spirited young man to be one of them.
“Has the friend who brought you explained what the work involves? Hosting isn’t the same as waiting tables.”
Song Liang nodded.
“I know.”
“Good.”
Arms folded, Xiao Yuanchun studied the pale, handsome face half concealed beneath his cap.
“Then let’s see whether you have the appeal for it.”
This time, Song Liang didn’t refuse. He took off his cap, revealing a youthful face untouched by makeup.
Xiao Yuanchun paused.
She had met countless beautiful men and women, including people whose looks the internet praised as divine.
The man she had seen that very morning possessed a beauty most could only aspire to. Yet the young man before her still took her by surprise.
His features weren’t dramatic or lavishly striking. Nor did he have the rugged handsomeness of a conventionally masculine type.
There was something youthful about him, poised between boyhood and adulthood. Soft facial contours, fair skin, a straight, finely shaped nose. His lips were neither too full nor too thin, their corners lifting slightly even at rest. His brows and eyes appeared gentle.
Together, however, those features created a presence far beyond his years.
Composed and assured, with a faint trace of arrogance. He seemed curious about everything, yet held nothing particularly dear.
She almost felt that nothing could find its way into those slightly lowered, alluring eyes.
His gaze brought her back to herself.
“Why do you want to work here?”
Song Liang’s honest answer would have been: for fun.
That clearly wasn’t what she wanted to hear, so he chose the answer he had previously used to placate the system.
“I need money.”
Xiao Yuanchun wasn’t surprised.
Most people came here for that reason. It also explained why such a proud young man would choose this particular work.
She gave a soft laugh.
“It takes time to establish yourself here. But I could offer you a quicker route.”
“What route?”
Song Liang wasn’t especially concerned, but played along.
Xiao Yuanchun took a business card from her bag and handed it to him, her gaze meaningful.
“Come to me directly.”
Song Liang: “…”
Beside them, Manager Zhou drew a sharp breath.
Song Liang asked the system, 【Is she making me an offer?】
【To put it plainly, she wants to keep you.】
Song Liang: 【Clearly, I have a natural talent for this.】
【…】
Xiao Yuanchun didn’t press him for an answer. She told him to think it over, then left.
Song Liang made no attempt to stop her. He simply watched her go.
Manager Zhou looked torn between frustration and regret at such a wasted opportunity. He told Song Liang that he was too young to appreciate the advantages of having someone provide for him.
Did he even know who their boss was?
Her surname was Xiao. As in the Xiao family.
Song Liang glanced at the business card. Just as expected, it bore a familiar name.
Xiao Yuanchun, the Xiao family’s second young lady. Villain Number Three in The Superstar’s Secret Husband Is a Hundred-Billion CEO—two ranks above Xiao Wenyu, Villain Number Five.
3085 spoke gloomily. 【You certainly have a way of attracting villains.】
One after another. He was close to collecting the entire cast.
Song Liang: 【How embarrassing. Perhaps it’s my wicked charm.】
Now that he knew the woman was Xiao Yuanchun, he also remembered whose familiar voice he had heard speaking to her earlier.
“Xiao Wenyu.”
Manager Zhou looked surprised.
“How did you know the third young master came today?”
“Just a guess,” Song Liang answered vaguely.
Manager Zhou smiled.
“Did you guess that the fourth young master came too?”
Song Liang: “…”
“You don’t know the fourth young master, Xiao Ji?”
Song Liang thought he knew him all too well.
Inside his head, 3085 sighed.
【Time to leave.】
Kicking Xiao Wenyu was one thing. Xiao Ji was someone he absolutely couldn’t kick. If he did, they were finished.
Without hesitation, Song Liang said goodbye to Manager Zhou and headed straight for the second-floor elevator.
While waiting, he asked curiously, 【What would happen if I actually kicked him?】
【That would be a serious breach of character. You would receive a severe electric shock as a warning. After three warnings, the system would declare the mission failed and end the instance immediately. If you had insufficient points, your soul would dissipate on the spot.】
“That’s all?”
【???】
3085 was astonished.
【What do you mean, ‘that’s all’? The shock acts directly on your soul! Ordinary people can barely endure an electric shock to the body, never mind one delivered to the soul. You’d wish you were dead!】
An eager gleam appeared in Song Liang’s eyes.
“Does it only activate if I kick the main top?”
【???】
Before the system could ask what he was planning, the elevator doors slowly opened.
Through the narrow gap, a figure in a black suit came into view.
3085’s mind screamed.
Oh no!
Song Liang’s lips were already curving at the sight.
A moment later, the doors opened fully. Xiao Ji and Xiao Wenyu stood side by side inside, staring at Song Liang in astonishment.
Both froze.
Xiao Wenyu pointed at him in horror.
“Song Liang—”
Before he could finish the name, a kick sent him flying into the elevator wall.
Xiao Ji: “!!!”
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