CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 40 SORRY

Su Qingning’s heart jolted. She had already recognized the voice as Shao Mei’er’s. Was the card really from her? She quickly turned her head and, indeed, saw Shao Mei’er, whose watery, captivating eyes were smiling at her.

As Su Qingning watched in shock, Shao Mei’er swayed her hips flirtatiously and walked up to Lin Xiao.

"Yo, Bai Chengfeng, you’re here too."

Bai Chengfeng smiled and said, "Miss Shao, long time no see!"

His smile was somewhat awkward. Although he hadn’t explicitly claimed he gave Lin Xiao the card, the implication in his words was clear. He was intentionally signaling to Su Qingning that he was the one behind it.

Shao Mei’er smiled coyly and asked, "I heard you gave this diamond card to Lin Xiao?"

"No, no, Miss Shao, I never said that. If you don’t believe me, ask Qing Ning!" Bai Chengfeng denied with a forced, hurried laugh.

"Hmm, you didn’t say so directly, but the implication was clear—you were misleading my dear Qing Ning. Tell me, Bai Chengfeng, with your family’s pathetic status, are you even qualified for our Shao Family to issue you a diamond card?" Shao Mei’er asked with a cold laugh.

It was a slap in the face. A blatant, humiliating slap in the face.

Bai Chengfeng’s face instantly flushed the color of pig’s liver, looking even more grotesque than Su Qingkun’s did that time he ate shit.

Bai Chengfeng knew that beneath Shao Mei’er’s seductive facade was an arrogant and domineering heart. He had assumed she would give him some face, considering both the Bai and Shao Families were first-tier. He never dreamed that not only would she refuse to give him face, but she would also viciously trample on the Bai Family’s dignity.

Bai Chengfeng was furious. Even if the Bai Family’s strength wasn’t on par with the Shao Family’s, his own elder brother was a major general under the War God of the Western Region. What right did she have to humiliate him like this?

Bai Chengfeng said in a particularly harsh tone, "Miss Shao, your Shao Family is indeed formidable, but our Bai Family is not to be trifled with. My elder brother is a major general under the War God of the Western Region. Aren’t you afraid your offensive words will anger my brother?"

PUFFT.

Shao Mei’er let out a seductive laugh, her delicate hand gently patting her ample bosom.

"Oh, you truly scared me to death! I almost thought your elder brother was the War God of the Western Region himself. So, it turns out he’s just a soldier under the War God’s command?"

Although she hadn’t used a single explicit word of mockery, the complete sentence was dripping with ridicule for Bai Chengfeng.

Bai Chengfeng’s face instantly turned livid.

"Fine. Miss Shao, I, Bai Chengfeng, will remember what you’ve said today."

After leaving that parting shot, Bai Chengfeng turned and walked away. Zhuo Bufan also scurried off.

"Greetings to my master and his lady!" Shao Mei’er said with a beaming smile, dipping into a slight curtsy.

Lin Xiao looked at the girl, somewhat dumbfounded. What a time to be putting on an act.

Su Qingning’s expression, however, darkened. She hated being called "his lady" by Shao Mei’er, and she hated even more that Shao Mei’er was calling Lin Xiao her "master." But Su Qingning didn’t dare lash out. She simply couldn’t afford to offend the number one belle of Jinling City.

"Miss Shao, here is your diamond card back. I will pay for whatever this meal costs," Su Qingning said indifferently.

Shao Mei’er latched onto Su Qingning’s arm and said coquettishly, "My lady, you’re wounding me by doing this! If you don’t want the card, I’ll take it back. As for the meal, please, consider it my treat for my master and his lady. Grant me this one favor, won’t you?"

Lin Xiao watched the charmer with an expression of amusement and disbelief.

Su Qingning was speechless. She didn’t even know what to say, so she subconsciously glanced at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao said with a smile, "Alright, give the card back to Miss Shao. Let’s consider this meal her treat!"

Since Lin Xiao had spoken, Su Qingning no longer insisted. She handed the diamond card back to Shao Mei’er and started walking toward the exit. Lin Xiao exchanged a brief farewell with Shao Mei’er and followed Su Qingning out of Chunyu Pavilion.

As soon as they were in the car, Su Qingning said solemnly, "I’m sorry."

Her apology struck Lin Xiao with surprising force.

"Qingning, why would you say something like that all of a sudden?"

"I should have trusted you more," Su Qingning said coldly.

"If you put it that way, I do feel a little wronged."

"So, what do you want?"

As soon as the words were out, Lin Xiao blurted, "I want to see you in a bodycon dress, black stockings, and high heels!"

Su Qingning glared at Lin Xiao, her face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. Any guilt she had felt just moments ago vanished without a trace.

"Hmph, in your dreams!"

"Dreams? If I were dreaming, you’d be wearing far less than that!" Lin Xiao chuckled.

Annoyed, Su Qingning gave Lin Xiao a light punch, and he just grinned back at her.

By the time they reached the bar, it was already past three in the afternoon. Su Qingning’s expression changed the moment she stepped out of the car. More than twenty security guards were blocking the entrance, led by none other than Xue Long.

"Xue Long, what is the meaning of this?" Su Qingning asked with a stern voice.

"General Manager Su, we demand that you fire Lin Xiao. If you don’t, we’re all going on strike."

Fire Lin Xiao? Go on strike? Su Qingning’s stunningly beautiful face was instantly covered with frost. Frankly, she hated being threatened more than anything.

"Your reason!" Su Qingning demanded coldly.

With a wronged expression, Xue Long said, "He’s arrogant and disrespectful just because he’s your husband. He only joined our security team last night, and he’s already beaten up our brothers."

As he spoke, Xue Long pulled forward two security guards with bruised and swollen faces.

"General Manager Su, look! They just made a little joke, and Lin Xiao beat them up like this!"

Su Qingning’s face darkened as her sharp gaze fell upon Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao, however, just laughed. This is such an obvious frame-up, and a despicable one at that.

"What happened?" Su Qingning demanded furiously. I sent him to the security team to get some proper experience, but I never dreamed the scoundrel would beat someone up on his very first day!

"Qingning, do you believe them?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile.

Su Qingning snorted coldly. I might not have believed one or two of them. But with so many people standing right here, all looking at Lin Xiao with such righteous indignation... I have no choice but to believe them.

"Alright, I’ll handle this," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

"Hmph, you’ll handle it? How are you going to handle it?"

"You don’t need to worry about that. If I can’t resolve this, I’ll resign voluntarily."

Su Qingning was about to speak when Xue Long suddenly interrupted, "Alright. You said it yourself."

Lin Xiao nodded. "That’s what I said," he replied with a smile. "Let’s head to the security office to discuss this."

"Fine, let’s go. As if I’m afraid of you!" Xue Long said with a sneer.