To be honest, Lin Xiao wasn't keen on having a private chat with Su Qingning. He knew what she wanted to say—it was nothing more than an apology. But Lin Xiao didn't want her to apologize right now. Besides, some things couldn't be resolved with just a few words of apology.

Yet, Lin Xiao still followed Su Qingning into the security room because her watery eyes had somehow turned a deep red. This was a tactic he simply couldn't resist, so he had no choice but to follow her inside.

The spacious security room had been tidied up and was spotless. Except for a faint acrid smell lingering in the air, there were no other odors.

The moment the door to the security room closed, Su Qingning's gaze never left Lin Xiao. Her expression was complex, containing far too many emotions, chief among them being guilt. That guilty look, coupled with her pitiful, tear-filled eyes, created a scene Lin Xiao truly didn't want to witness.

He waved his hand and said, "Qingning, it's alright. I didn't take it to heart."

"But I did!" Su Qingning choked out. "I never knew my husband possessed such incredible medical skills. The ridiculous thing is, you told me so many times, but I never once believed you. Lin Xiao, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you, and I definitely shouldn't have been so harsh."

Before she could finish, glistening tears welled up and spilled from her eyes. By the time she finished speaking, the large tears were falling like a flash flood, uncontrollable. They streaked down her cheeks, landing on her clothes, the floor, and on Lin Xiao himself.

Lin Xiao's heart ached all over again.

Dammit. Sixth Master was absolutely right. In matters of love, whoever falls first is doomed to suffer.

Without another word, Lin Xiao pulled Su Qingning into his arms. She instinctively hugged him back, burying her head in his chest as she cried.

"Alright, stop crying. If you keep this up, I'm going to start too!"

His non-threatening threat worked. Su Qingning really stopped crying. She frantically wiped away her tears and lifted her stunningly beautiful face, as if to prove to Lin Xiao that she had truly stopped.

"I'm not crying, I'm really not. Honey, please don't cry, okay?"

"Silly girl, I'm not going to cry. Okay, go on and get busy. Shao Mei'er and the others must have arrived by now."

"I just want to hug you a little longer. Just for a while, is that okay?"

"Alright, I want to hug you too," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

Yes, Lin Xiao was no longer angry. Su Qingning had apologized with such a sincere attitude that he naturally couldn't stay mad. Of course, the most important reason was that she had cried. They say tears are a woman's best weapon, and that couldn't be more true. Lin Xiao had felt quite wronged initially, but the moment Su Qingning cried, he forgot all his grievances.

Holding Su Qingning tightly, Lin Xiao spoke softly, "Trust isn't built in a day or two, so honey, there's no rush. We have all the time in the world. I believe that someday, you will trust me unconditionally, just as I trust you unconditionally."

Su Qingning nodded vigorously. She had promised not to cry again, but her tears were once more on the verge of spilling over.

She realized it had been her all along who had been in the wrong. That Lin Xiao trusted her so completely. She thought about the hurtful things she'd said to him, and her heart ached sharply. How could I have hurt him like that? He hadn't done anything wrong. He just wanted a better life for me! Thinking of this, her tears started flowing freely again. At that moment, she silently vowed to treat Lin Xiao better and never betray his deep affection for her.

"Honey, I'm really sorry!" Su Qingning said guiltily, letting the tears stream down her face.

His heart aching, Lin Xiao wiped them away for her. "We agreed no more crying. Why did you start again?"

Su Qingning quickly wiped her tears away, then looked at Lin Xiao and said, "Honey, kiss me!"

Huh? What's this all about?

"If you don't kiss me, it means you're still mad!"

Lin Xiao looked at her, half exasperated and half endeared, then leaned down and kissed her. Su Qingning responded passionately, as if trying to pour all of her guilt and remorse into that single kiss.

They kissed for who knows how long before a knock suddenly sounded at the security room door. Lin Xiao let go of Su Qingning, who turned away, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Lin Xiao opened the door to find none other than Shao Mei'er. She scanned the security room and, with a charming smile, asked, "My lord, did I interrupt something important between you and your wife?"

"Such a tease. When did you get here?"

"Just arrived!"

"Then you should head in. Xiang Xue must be bored to death by herself."

"No way, let's all go together. It's not like you and your wife were busy. Besides, we agreed to celebrate for Xiang Xue today. You have no idea how awesome last night's concert was! She was all over the trending topics, with dozens of articles uniformly praising her performance. They praised everything from her outfits and styling to the songs she sang—praise from every possible angle."

Lin Xiao asked with genuine curiosity, "What's a trending topic?"

Pfft.

Shao Mei'er giggled, her foxy eyes looking at Lin Xiao as if he were an ancient relic. Lin Xiao scratched his head in embarrassment. He didn't use the internet, so he wasn't familiar with its latest novelties.

Just then, Su Qingning turned and explained, "A trending topic is just the most popular thing people are talking about right now."

Lin Xiao's face lit up with understanding, but Shao Mei'er looked as though she'd discovered a new continent. Staring intently at Su Qingning, she asked, "Madam, why have you been crying?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I think some sand blew into my eyes. Let's go, I'll take you to Xiang Xue!"

"My lord, come with us!" Shao Mei'er said with a flirtatious smile.

"Fine, let's go. I'll have one drink, but just one. After all, I still have to work, unlike you privileged kids who only know how to indulge in a life of luxury and excess!" Lin Xiao said with feigned indignation.

Shao Mei'er was amused once again and burst into giggles. Her laughter shook her entire frame, and her voluptuous figure seemed ready to burst out of her equally provocative skirt.

Under Su Qingning's lead, the trio came into view of the crowd queuing to enter the bar, which immediately erupted into a chorus of exclamations.

"Holy crap, Su Qingning is gorgeous! She truly deserves to be Jinling City's number one beauty!"

"Holy crap, Shao Mei'er is so sexy! She's definitely Jinling City's number one siren!"

"Holy crap, who's that beggar behind them? What gives him the right to walk with two top-tier beauties? I refuse to accept this!"

"..."

A cacophony of voices flooded their ears, but Lin Xiao paid them no mind, and Su Qingning and Shao Mei'er cared even less. They entered the bar smoothly. Deafening music washed over them, so loud that Lin Xiao felt his heart couldn't take it. Shao Mei'er, however, had already started to sway her seductive body to the rhythm.

Lin Xiao glanced around the bar. Countless revelers were gyrating wildly to the music, venting their excess energy. The massive bar was packed to the point of being shoulder-to-shoulder. Under Lin Xiao's protection, the trio made their way upstairs.

Just then, a chilling glint of light suddenly shot out from the crowd, aimed straight for Lin Xiao's head.

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