Su Qingning was instantly flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. He's teasing me, she thought. And here I was, genuinely wanting to make it up to him. But look at him… acting like a complete rogue. The guilt in her heart vanished without a trace.

She glared at Lin Xiao indignantly.

He just cracked a smile. "Feeling less guilty now, are you?"

BOOM!

His words struck Su Qingning like a bolt of lightning. She stared at him, stunned. So, this scoundrel was only teasing me to get rid of my guilt. When she realized this, her fair cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

He was just trying to help, and what did I do? I got angry with him.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I shouldn't have gotten angry with you."

"It's fine. Besides," Lin Xiao said with a grin, "I actually meant what I said."

Su Qingning felt a flare of anger again, but on second thought, she let it go. After all, I did subject him to unprovoked humiliation today. I'll just let him run his mouth for a bit. With that, she fell silent.

Lin Xiao laughed. "So, where's that snack stall you were talking about?"

"Maybe some other time. I don't have an appetite right now."

Just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, his phone suddenly rang. The call was from Pei Donglai. Lin Xiao knew Pei Donglai wouldn't call unless it was important, so he answered immediately, skipping any pleasantries.

"Captain, we have a problem," Pei Donglai said in a grave voice.

"What is it?"

"Some young master showed up, demanding that President Su serve him personally."

"Oh? What young master?" Lin Xiao asked.

"He said his surname is Huang and that I should tell you just that, Captain."

Huang? Could it be Huang Xingcheng, the one who drank until he vomited this afternoon? Lin Xiao's expression darkened.

"Alright, I get it. Tell him to get lost. That's an order from me."

This piece of trash is almost certainly here to make trouble, he thought. And he specifically asked for my wife to drink with him. He's obviously trying to humiliate me. No way is he staying in the bar.

Pei Donglai acknowledged the order; it was exactly what he had been waiting to hear. They hung up.

"What happened?" Su Qingning asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. Whenever she heard about trouble at the bar these days, she started to panic.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just some idiot who doesn't know his place demanding you wait on him," Lin Xiao explained with a smile.

"He wanted me to serve him?"

"Yup. But don't worry, I already told Pei Donglai to send him packing. The nerve of him, thinking my wife would serve him. What a joke."

Su Qingning was touched by Lin Xiao's protectiveness, but her business philosophy was that every customer was a guest. As long as they came to the bar to spend money, she welcomed them.

"Lin Xiao, I know you're just trying to protect me, but the customer is always right. How could you tell Pei Donglai to kick someone out?" Su Qingning said, sounding displeased.

Her anger wasn't really about him turning away a customer; she was afraid that his actions would offend someone powerful. The events of the past few days have made me a nervous wreck. I really can't afford to offend anyone right now, especially the scions of wealthy families.

"Qingning, that guy was up to no good. Keeping him around would only lead to trouble, so it's better he's gone. Trust me, everything will be fine."

"But…"

Before Su Qingning could say more, Lin Xiao cut her off with a smile. "My dear, no 'buts.' Come on, I'm taking you to dinner."

"You scoundrel! I have no appetite. Take me back to the bar right now," Su Qingning said, her tone firm and unwavering.

Resigned, Lin Xiao had no choice but to drive toward the bar.

As they arrived at the entrance, Lin Xiao saw Pei Donglai in a standoff with a young man. It was none other than Huang Xingcheng, the very same person who had tried to show off that afternoon only to have the tables turned on him by Lin Xiao.

Huang Xingcheng was glaring at Pei Donglai, his eyes blazing with fury. "A good dog doesn't block the path. Get out of my way!"

"First, I'm not a dog. Second, you are not welcome in our bar," Pei Donglai replied, his tone firm but respectful.

Lin Xiao was amused by the scene, but Su Qingning's brow was deeply furrowed. Her keen eye told her at a glance that the young man Pei Donglai was blocking was from no ordinary background. After all, the watch on his wrist was worth tens of millions. If we offend a customer like that, God knows what kind of disaster it could bring upon the bar.

The moment the car stopped, Su Qingning jumped out. "Pei Donglai, what are you doing?" she demanded coldly.

"President Su, this customer was demanding that you serve him. The captain ordered me to get rid of him," Pei Donglai explained.

"Since when is Lin Xiao the one in charge here?" Su Qingning retorted, her voice dripping with displeasure.

Pei Donglai was at a loss for words.

"Go on, get back to work," she said coldly.

But Pei Donglai's gaze shifted to Lin Xiao, seeking his direction.

Incensed, Su Qingning snapped, "What is it, Pei Donglai? Does Lin Xiao sign your paychecks? Is that why you listen to him so obediently?"

Lin Xiao knew Su Qingning was too afraid of Huang Xingcheng to believe him. Seeing that, he realized there was no point in arguing. He gave Pei Donglai a slight wave, and the security chief quickly made himself scarce.

Lin Xiao strolled up to Huang Xingcheng. "What's this?" he asked with a lazy smile. "Didn't get enough of vomiting this afternoon? Back for another round?"

Huang Xingcheng already despised Lin Xiao for making him lose face in front of Chu Xiangxue. Lin Xiao's insolent tone now only fanned the flames of his rage.

"You damn beggar, do you even know how to talk to people?"

"I do," Lin Xiao replied with a cold sneer. "But does that apply to you?"

"Fuck, are you trying to die?"

Seeing that the distinguished-looking young man was about to explode, Su Qingning quickly stepped in. "Sir, my husband... he doesn't have a filter. Please, be the bigger person and don't mind him. If you're here for a drink, please, come inside."

It wasn't that Su Qingning actually disagreed with Lin Xiao's words; she was just worried he would be the one to suffer for them. She was afraid the incident from Chunyu Pavilion would happen all over again. Chu Xiangxue was there to help him last time, but now, there's no one.

Huang Xingcheng sneered at her words, his gaze falling upon her face. The moment he truly looked at her, he was stunned. The woman before him was breathtakingly beautiful. Despite her simple clothes, her devastatingly beautiful face and noble air were impossible to hide.

Huang Xingcheng had always considered Chu Xiangxue to be the pinnacle of beauty. But now, looking at Su Qingning, he realized he was wrong. This woman was the true pinnacle; she was even a notch more beautiful than Chu Xiangxue.

However, the thought that such a magnificent woman was married to that damn beggar only intensified Huang Xingcheng's hatred for Lin Xiao. He had been about to teach Lin Xiao a harsh lesson, but now he changed his mind. A sinister smirk spread across his face. "Fine. I'll let his trash-talking slide, on one condition: you have a drink with me tonight."

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Lin Xiao cut in coldly, "And who the hell are you to ask my wife to drink with you?"

"Fuck! Kid, do you really think I don't have the balls to take care of you?" Huang Xingcheng roared. "My Huang Family is a first-tier family in Shengjing! My grandfather is a disciple of the Immortal Doctor Sect, and my godfather is the King of the Northern Town! Who the hell do you think you are, trying to act tough with me?!"

Su Qingning's heart sank. The man's background terrified her to her core. She couldn't even afford to offend a minor, third-rate family in Jinling, let alone a first-rate family from Shengjing.

Seeing that Huang Xingcheng was about to make a move on Lin Xiao, Su Qingning quickly cried out, "Alright! I'll have a drink with you! Just please, leave my husband alone!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.