Dinner was at Chunyu Pavilion.

When Bai Chengfeng received Su Qingning's invitation over the phone, he was suffering from a bout of diarrhea. He wasn't sure what was wrong, but for the past couple of days, it had been a recurring issue. And he was passing blood. That's right, pure blood. It was terrifying, but Bai Chengfeng didn't think much of it. He simply figured he'd eaten something that disagreed with him.

Seeing the call was from Su Qingning, Bai Chengfeng felt a jolt of excitement. Ever since discovering last night that Chu Xiangxue was Su Qingning's friend, he had been plotting how to accelerate the Gu poison in her system and make her his completely. He never expected her to contact him first. Naturally, he was thrilled. When he learned she was inviting him to dinner at Chunyu Pavilion, his excitement grew.

Talk about perfect timing. Just when I was getting sleepy, someone brings me a pillow.

Without any unnecessary talk, Bai Chengfeng eagerly accepted.

Lin Xiao and Su Qingning waited in the private room for a full half hour before Bai Chengfeng finally made his fashionably late entrance. The moment he saw Su Qingning, even though they had just met the day before, he was once again stunned by her beauty.

This woman is absolutely stunning.

Suppressing his excitement, Bai Chengfeng smiled. "Qingning, you could have just called. There was no need to go to all this trouble of inviting me to dinner!"

"Let's talk while we eat," Su Qingning replied, forcing a smile. She adopted a very humble attitude. She didn't want to act this way, but she had no choice. Today, she needed to ask him for a favor.

Hearing her words, Bai Chengfeng realized she definitely needed something from him. He smiled inscrutably, his gaze landing on Lin Xiao.

"Qingning, don't take this the wrong way, but since you personally invited me, I felt obligated to come. That said, it seems you're not showing me much respect."

"What do you mean?" Su Qingning asked, her voice low.

Bai Chengfeng jerked his head toward Lin Xiao. "Qingning, you know I'm very particular about the company I keep. I don't like dining with just any Tom, Dick, or Harry!"

Su Qingning was instantly furious. Bai Chengfeng was making it obvious he looked down on Lin Xiao. But even so, did he have to be so humiliating? Lin Xiao was her husband, after all. Who would be happy to hear their own husband disparaged like that?

However, she held her tongue. She knew she was here to ask for his help with the Zhao Family's situation. If she caused a scene now, she might save Lin Xiao's pride, but pride wasn't as important as his life. After all, Su Qingning truly didn't want to see Lin Xiao come to harm.

Swallowing her anger, she personally poured Bai Chengfeng a cup of tea. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Xiao suddenly piped up with a smile, "Young Master Bai, has your body been feeling off these last two days?"

"Hmph, I'm perfectly healthy!" Bai Chengfeng retorted with disdain. He knew this stinking beggar was referring to the poison.

"Is that so? No blood in your stool?" Lin Xiao asked, still smiling.

At these words, BOOM!

Bai Chengfeng's mind went completely blank. His face turned ashen. Staring at Lin Xiao's smiling face, he couldn't help but think to himself:

Could it be? My bloody stools... they aren't from bad food, but from the poison taking effect?

Su Qingning eyed Bai Chengfeng's reaction with suspicion. Why would he react so strongly to a simple question about bloody stool?

Could there be something wrong with Bai Chengfeng's health? Is Lin Xiao a doctor?

She immediately dismissed her own idea.

If this shameless hooligan were a doctor, why would he be content to live as a beggar?

"You damn beggar, make yourself clear!" Bai Chengfeng bellowed.

"I was perfectly clear. You're the one who didn't take it seriously," Lin Xiao replied.

SLAM!

Bai Chengfeng angrily slammed his hand on the table. "You filthy beggar, who the hell are you trying to scare? Do you think I frighten easily?"

Lin Xiao shrugged. "Scare you? Sorry, I don't have time for that. But I will give you a piece of advice. While you can still breathe, you should probably go buy yourself a coffin."

Bai Chengfeng looked about to explode with rage. He shot to his feet, grabbed the cup of tea Su Qingning had just poured, and hurled it at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao scoffed. With a casual wave of his hand, the scalding tea reversed course and flew straight back at Bai Chengfeng.

Bai Chengfeng never expected such a move. In an instant, the boiling liquid splashed all over his face. He let out a piercing scream of pain.

Su Qingning watched, completely dumbfounded. How had things escalated to this point in less than a minute?

Seeing Bai Chengfeng howling in agony, her anger flared up at Lin Xiao. On their way here, she had specifically told him to have a better attitude when he saw Bai Chengfeng. He had clearly agreed, but in the blink of an eye, he had treated her words as if they were nothing but air.

Although Su Qingning knew it wasn't really Lin Xiao's fault—Bai Chengfeng had started it—they were here to ask for a favor. Now that Bai Chengfeng's face was scalded and swollen, if Lin Xiao didn't apologize and smooth things over, there wasn't a chance in hell he'd help them with the Zhao Family.

"Lin Xiao, apologize!" Su Qingning said, her voice laced with exasperation.

What? Apologize?

"Qingning, are you really telling me to apologize to this piece of trash?" Lin Xiao asked, his expression dark.

He was offended. It was clearly that scumbag Bai Chengfeng who started the trouble, yet now Su Qingning was demanding he be the one to apologize.

"I..." Su Qingning trailed off, unable to continue.

That's right, should she really make Lin Xiao apologize to Bai Chengfeng? She desperately wanted his help, but was it worth sacrificing Lin Xiao's dignity? She hesitated. She didn't want Lin Xiao to be wronged in the slightest.

But at that moment, Bai Chengfeng bellowed, "Damn it! An apology won't be enough to quell my rage! Su Qingning, I know you need a favor today. Well, let me tell you, unless you make me happy, forget about getting help! In fact, I'll have someone kill this stinking beggar!"

Su Qingning's heart sank. This was a classic case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the bait. She had come hoping Bai Chengfeng would help with the Zhao Family, but instead, she'd only managed to offend him. She suddenly regretted coming to him at all. She should have just gone directly to Shao Mei'er. Even though she was uncomfortable with the idea of Shao Mei'er helping, it would have been better than this.

Just as she was agonizing over what to do, Bai Chengfeng suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

It was only at that moment that he finally realized something was seriously wrong with his body. It was highly likely that the poison from the stinking beggar had begun to truly take effect.

The ever-arrogant Bai Chengfeng was suddenly gripped by panic.

He didn't want to die. Just last night, his father had told him that the entire vast Bai Family would be his to inherit, as his older brother was busy in the army.

He didn't want to die. He had just hooked up with an A-list actress from the entertainment industry and hadn't had his fill of fun yet.

He didn't want to die. Su Qingning had not yet become his personal slave; he hadn't even had a taste of her.

"You damn beggar, if you want to live, give me the antidote!" Bai Chengfeng roared furiously.

"You want the antidote?"

"Cut the crap and give it to me now!"

Lin Xiao let out a cold laugh. "Fine. Kneel and beg me for it."

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