Pei Donglai nodded.

"Captain, I told my sister about my recovery today, and she was thrilled. When she found out you were the one who saved me, she insisted I treat you to a meal tomorrow at noon. Of course, that's what I want to do as well."

"A meal isn't necessary. It was nothing, so don't worry about it."

Pei Donglai's eyes reddened.

"It may have been nothing to you, Captain, but to my sister and me, it was an incredible kindness. Please, Captain, give me this opportunity!"

Seeing the hopeful expression on Pei Donglai's face, Lin Xiao couldn't bear to disappoint him. He sighed in resignation.

"Can you cook?"

Pei Donglai nodded profusely.

"Yes, Captain, I can!"

"Alright then. We'll have lunch at your place tomorrow. Just the two of us, we can have a few drinks."

Seeing Lin Xiao agree, Pei Donglai nodded excitedly.

"Oh, right, Pei Donglai. There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Ask away, Captain!"

"Now that your cultivation has not only recovered but has even broken through to a new level, let me ask you: do you still want to go back to the army?"

Pei Donglai froze. A fervent light flashed through his eyes. Although Pei Donglai hadn't answered yet, Lin Xiao already knew what he would say.

He smiled and was about to speak when Pei Donglai shook his head. "Captain, I want to go back, but I can't right now."

"You have to take care of your sister?" Lin Xiao asked.

Pei Donglai nodded.

"My parents passed away when I was young, and I spent all those years in the army. It wasn't until after I was discharged that I found out how miserable my sister's life has been. I always thought my second uncle and aunt would treat her well, but I never dreamed they were complete monsters. They never gave her a single cent of the money I sent home each month. Not only did they often let her go hungry, but they would also beat and curse at her.

"It might sound ridiculous, Captain, but when I came home from my service and saw her, just skin and bones... I actually cried. I swore in that moment that I would take care of her for the rest of my life."

Lin Xiao's heart ached. Even though he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he could vividly imagine how much Pei Donglai's sister must have suffered over the years just from his description.

Looking at Pei Donglai's red-rimmed eyes, Lin Xiao knew he was in pain and offered some comfort. "I understand. Some people are born human, but they act worse than beasts. Fortunately, you're back now. It's all over."

Pei Donglai nodded. "So, Captain, it's impossible for me to return to the army for the time being."

"Understood. Alright, go get something to eat."

Pei Donglai acknowledged and got up to leave. Lin Xiao also stood and went to find Su Qingning.

Su Qingning was in a good mood. After solving the major problem of the bar's guardian, her worries had vanished, especially knowing how skilled Pei Donglai was. She was busy calculating how the bar could make even more money.

Just then, the office door was pushed open, and Lin Xiao's irritating face appeared.

"Can't you knock?" Su Qingning said, her expression souring.

Lin Xiao chuckled. "Sorry, I forgot. Next time for sure!"

Su Qingning snorted. "Why are you up here? Shouldn't you be with the security team?"

"To take you to eat," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

"I'm not hungry. Go by yourself."

"I'm broke," Lin Xiao said, looking pitiful.

BOOM!!!

Su Qingning instantly saw red. She had given him two thousand yuan just two hours ago, and he'd spent it all in the blink of an eye? Who could possibly support a habit like that? Forget about me; even the Shao Family probably couldn't afford him. I never realized he was such a spendthrift.

What angered her the most was that she had clearly given him money to buy new clothes, yet he was still wearing that same beggar's outfit.

"You bastard! I'm asking you, where did you spend the money?"

"Oh, I gave it to someone," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

Su Qingning's heart sank. Although Xue Dashan had always managed the bar's security team, she knew the guards often played cards. It had never interfered with business, though, so she had always turned a blind eye.

Don't tell me this scoundrel is a gambling addict, too? Did he lose the two thousand yuan?

At that thought, her heart plummeted. Her face turned livid. Indeed, the things Su Qingning despised most in life were vice, gambling, and drugs. Any one of them was a hard line she would never cross. And now the man I married turns out to be a gambling addict!

Su Qingning was about to explode with rage.

"You bastard, I'm asking you, were you gambling?" Her voice trembled with rage.

"What? Gambling? I never touch the stuff."

Su Qingning glared at him, her beautiful face twisted with fury. "Lin Xiao, you're still going to deny it? Do you really think I'm a fool? Let me tell you, don't assume that just because I don't meddle in the security team's affairs, I don't know they're always playing cards in there."

Lin Xiao looked at her, completely baffled. "Qingning, do you suspect I gambled the money away with the security team?"

"What else? You haven't even left the security office, so how could the money be gone?"

"I already told you, I gave it away."

Su Qingning's beautiful, peach-blossom-like eyes stared at Lin Xiao, turning as cold as ice. "Lin Xiao, you've disappointed me immensely. I had originally planned to divorce you in three months, but now I see how naive I was. Tomorrow morning, you're coming with me to the Civil Affairs Office to file the paperwork!"

Lin Xiao felt utterly frustrated. He wanted to call Pei Donglai up to vouch for him, but on second thought, he had already given the man the money. If he called him now, Pei Donglai might think he was trying to take it back. Besides, that wasn't his style.

"Qingning, I really didn't gamble!"

"Shut up! Get out! I never want to see you again!" Su Qingning looked at him with utter disappointment.

Lin Xiao was completely dejected.

Just then, a knock came from the office door.

Su Qingning took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.

"Come in!" she said grimly.

The office door opened, and the person who appeared was, surprisingly, Pei Donglai.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to go eat?" Lin Xiao asked, annoyed.

"I've already eaten, Captain," Pei Donglai said. "I came up to talk to you about that money."

That money? Su Qingning's anger flared even higher. Don't tell me this idiot has gambling debts too? What a useless piece of trash!

"Pei Donglai, how much does he owe you?" Su Qingning asked coldly.

At her question, Pei Donglai looked at her in utter confusion. "Ms. Su, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"It's fine, you can speak freely. This bastard won't dare do anything to you."

"Ms. Su, I really don't understand! The Captain doesn't owe me any money." Pei Donglai was completely baffled.

"Then what did you mean by 'that money' just now?" Su Qingning asked, suppressing her anger. After all, Pei Donglai was now the bar's guardian, so she couldn't very well take her anger out on him.

"Oh, that. The Captain gave me two thousand yuan to treat the guys on the security team to a meal. I felt uneasy about it, so I came to return the money to him!" Pei Donglai explained.

BOOM!!!

Su Qingning was floored.

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