BOOM!

Cheng Wei's face went deathly pale with fright, and he collapsed to the ground. He never would have dreamed that Shao Mei'er would act against him. Just as an indignant Cheng Wei was about to speak, the security guards pounced, dragging him straight into the private room. The moment the door slammed shut, his piercing screams echoed in the hall.

Xue Jingdong was also taken aback. He stared at Shao Mei'er in astonishment, unable to understand why she would side with a filthy beggar. Su Qingning was even more shocked than he was. She had been sure Lin Xiao was done for, never expecting that Cheng Wei would be the one to suffer.

Su Qingning knew Shao Mei'er had an interest in Lin Xiao, but Cheng Wei was still her subordinate, and the Cheng Family was a third-tier family in Jinling City. As the shock subsided, a new realization dawned on her. Shao Mei'er might genuinely like Lin Xiao. Enough to give up everything for him. At that thought, a pang of jealousy struck Su Qingning's heart. She was grateful for Shao Mei'er's intervention, of course, but thinking about how much she adored Lin Xiao left a sour taste in her mouth. Her expression dimmed, and she subconsciously glanced over at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao, however, remained perfectly calm. Such a trivial matter wasn't worthy of any reaction from him.

"Miss Shao, what's the meaning of this?" Xue Jingdong asked, forcing a smile.

Honestly, I don't care that Cheng Wei is getting beaten up. He's just a classmate, not a friend. What I'm curious about is why Shao Mei'er is siding with this filthy beggar. This is incredibly important. I swore I'd win Su Qingning back. If Shao Mei'er has some connection to this beggar, I'll have to adjust my plans.

Shao Mei'er smiled charmingly. "What, are you questioning me?"

Her voice remained seductive, but the discontent in her words was obvious even to a fool, and Xue Jingdong was no fool.

Xue Jingdong chuckled. "Of course not, I'm just a little curious!"

"Then you can keep on wondering," Shao Mei'er said with a coy smile. "Now, should I find you a new private room, or would you rather find another restaurant?"

Xue Jingdong's face darkened. Shao Mei'er was actually trying to kick him out. He was furious—utterly furious. He was the young master of the Xue Family from Jinhai City, yet she was showing him such blatant disrespect. But he couldn't bring himself to retaliate directly, nor did he dare. After all, the Shao Family was a member of the A9 Alliance.

He suppressed his rage and managed a tight smile. "So, Miss Shao, you're planning to protect this filthy beggar?"

"What's it to you?" Shao Mei'er retorted, her dismissiveness a slap in the face.

Unable to contain his fury any longer, Xue Jingdong's face turned ashen. "Shao Mei'er, the Xue Family has strong ties with the Han Family in Jinhai City. Don't you think you're going a little too far?"

"Oh? Trying to pressure me with the Han Family?" Shao Mei'er laughed, her voice still charming but now dripping with disdain and contempt. "Then do you happen to know what the relationship is between the Han Family and my Shao Family? Who do you think they are closer to—us, or you?"

Xue Jingdong felt like he was about to cough up blood. "Fine. Just fine," he seethed. "Since I'm so unwelcome, I'm not one to overstay my welcome. Farewell!"

With that, he turned to leave. As he passed Lin Xiao, he shot him a murderous glare, as if to say, *We're not done yet.*

After watching Xue Jingdong leave, Shao Mei'er's seductive smile returned. She turned to Su Qingning and said, "Madam, my apologies for frightening you!"

Su Qingning truly hated that form of address, but facing the woman who had just done her such a huge favor, she had to grit her teeth and bear it. "Thank you for what you did just now," she said in a low voice.

Shao Mei'er's foxy face was instantly a mask of theatrical panic. "Madam, you mustn't say that! You're being too kind to this humble servant. It is my honor to resolve your troubles!"

Lin Xiao chuckled. "Alright, that's enough of the period drama act. We'll leave this to you. We're going."

Upon hearing this, Su Qingning shot Lin Xiao a grateful look. She really didn't want to stay a moment longer.

Shao Mei'er, however, looked as if she had suffered a terrible injustice, her eyes welling up with tears as she gazed at them. "Sir, Madam, you came all this way but won't even have a meal here. Aren't you slapping this humble servant in the face?"

"Stop the acting," Lin Xiao said. "Go on and get back to your business. We'll come back for a proper meal when we have time."

The truth was, Lin Xiao didn't care where they ate. He could see, however, that Su Qingning didn't want to stay there for another second, which was why he declined Shao Mei'er's kind offer.

Since Lin Xiao had spoken, Shao Mei'er didn't dare to defy him. The woman who had been on the verge of tears a moment ago instantly reverted to her charming, seductive self. "Very well. Since you've said so, Sir, I will obey your wishes," she said with a coquettish smile.

Lin Xiao nodded, then turned to Su Qingning and said softly, "Honey, let's go."

Su Qingning nodded in response.

Shao Mei'er respectfully escorted them to the elevator. After she watched the pair leave, her expression shifted in an instant. The flirtatious charm vanished, replaced by an icy frost.

She strode back to the private room where Cheng Wei had been beaten to within an inch of his life. At the sight of her, the security guards finally stopped.

"Miss Shao, what are your orders?" the leader asked.

"Send him back to the Cheng Family," she commanded. "And give them a message: if they dare court death like this again, don't blame me for being merciless."

Su Qingning got into the car without a word. Sitting in the passenger seat, her face was pale and she looked terribly unwell, as if she were sick.

"Honey, are you alright?" Lin Xiao asked, genuinely concerned.

Su Qingning shook her head. "Lin Xiao, I'm sorry about tonight."

Hmm? Lin Xiao stared at her, completely puzzled. "Honey, why would you say that?"

"If I hadn't been so greedy for Xue Jingdong's investment, I never would have brought you here. Then you wouldn't have had to endure their insults." Her eyes had turned red without her realizing it.

The sight made Lin Xiao's heart ache. Still, he deliberately put on a wronged expression and nodded. "You're right, Honey. I do feel quite wronged. So... how about you give me a little reward?"

"What kind of reward do you want?" Su Qingning asked, looking straight at him. She, too, felt that she owed him something.

"How about five, six, seven, eight, or nine kisses?" Lin Xiao said with a cheeky grin.

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