CH 32
“Aiya, Zhen Zhen, I didn’t know you were here, otherwise I would have worn clothes.” Huo Xiang pretended.
In fact, he and Su Meng had already planned to “bait” her in.
When he was in the bathroom, he overheard Bai Zhen Zhen talking to Su Meng, so he deliberately came out like this.
Bai Zhen Zhen’s mouth twitched.
Listening to Huo Xiang’s meaning, it seemed that he no longer treated Su Meng as an outsider, and even started to view her as an outsider? These two were progressing so quickly?!
“How is it, does the wound still hurt?” Su Meng asked deliberately.
Huo Xiang shook his head: “It doesn’t hurt anymore, don’t worry.”
“How could I not worry!” Su Meng frowned, replying seriously.
Even Bai Zhen Zhen could hear the feelings in her tone.
Huo Xiang was stunned for a moment, before he quickly followed Su Meng’s words: “Oh, then I will pay more attention to it in the future and try not to worry you anymore.”
“That’s more like it!” Su Meng smiled.
The two of them exchanged looks that only the two of them understood.
Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t notice anything. She pointed at the door: “Then… Ah Xiang, go change your clothes and we will go downstairs for dinner Xi Xixi is already waiting for us in the restaurant.”
“Ok!” Huo Xiang and Su Meng said in unison.
Huo Xiang used his eyes to ask Su Meng: How was it? Do you think it worked?
Su Meng: Erm… Not yet.
****
A few minutes later, the three of them arrived at the hotel’s buffet restaurant. Xi Xixi had already reserved seats for all of them inside.
Before Bai Zhen Zhen could take a seat, she noticed a table of four next to them — who else could it be besides Song Ling, CEO Ling and the Jiang siblings.
Xi Xixi understood Bai Zhen Zhen’s look, hurriedly explaining quietly: “Sister Zhen Zhen, when I reached, this was the only table left available for four people…”
“It’s ok.” Bai Zhen Zhen smiled at him.
Seeing that Bai Zhen Zhen sat down, Song Ling greeted her: “Zhen Zhen, you’re also eating here.”
Ling Hao Chen seemed to be discussing business with Jiang Mu Yang and didn’t greet Bai Zhen Zhen’s group. However, Jiang Mu Yang still glanced at Bai Zhen Zhen in greeting.
Jiang Mu Yu, who had always been arrogant, was surprisingly quiet this time, sitting in her seat and cutting her steak without a word.
Bai Zhen Zhen smiled politely at Song Ling. Her eyes brushed over Xi Xixi when she suddenly remembered what she mentioned to Song Ling previously.
“Ms Song, this is Xi Xixi.” Bai Zhen Zhen introduced.
Song Ling paused for a moment, before reacting: “Oh, so you are Xi Xixi!”
“Hello, may I know if we are acquainted?” Xi Xixi asked curiously.
Song Ling had promised Bai Zhen Zhen not to tell Xi Xixi that she was the one who had recommended him. Thus, she replied: “Yes, I watched your performance previously on television, but I couldn’t match your stage look to your real life for a second there. I heard that you were thinking of terminating your contract with your company? How is the progress?”
Xi Xixi scratched his head in embarrassment: “I’m not very popular. Not only am I not earning money for the company, I even attracted haters for our idol group. The company already had plans to bury me. When they heard I wanted to terminate the contract, they immediately agreed. However, there’s still a large compensation fees to be paid for the contract termination…”
“Then why don’t you try signing with my company?” Song Ling said, “It just so happens that we were looking for new recruits to cultivate. Your foundation looks good. If you’re willing, you can sign with us earlier to earn money to pay off the compensation fees earlier.”
“Thank you. May I ask which entertainment company are you from?”
“Bright Entertainment.”
“Bright Entertainment?!” Xi Xixi was shocked. At a loss, he turned to Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang, before his gaze fell cautiously on Song Ling again, “Bright Entertainment is one of the best entertainment companies in the country, you… You’re really willing to sign me?!”
Song Ling chuckled lightly. Her eyes drifted over to Bai Zhen Zhen for a second, who hurriedly winked at her.
“It depends on whether you’re willing to challenge yourself?” Song Ling asked gently.
“Of course I’m willing!” Xi Xixi nodded hastily, “I will definitely work hard!”
“Then it’s settled.” Song Ling said, “In a few days, you can follow me back to the company.”
Hearing Song Ling talk about returning, Bai Zhen Zhen hurriedly asked, “Ms Song, when are you and CEO Ling going back?”
“If everything goes well, it should be the day after.” Song Ling replied, “However, it all depends on whether Hao Chen’s negotiation goes well this time.”
Bai Zhen Zhen replied forcefully: “It will go well!!”
As they spoke, Huo Xiang and Su Meng had already brought their food back. Bai Zhen Zhen and Xi Xixi also went to pick out their favourite food, and the four of them began to eat.
“Hmm~ The typhoon shelter crab today is delicious! Huo Xiang, try some.” Su Meng only took a bite of the crab meat before she scooped out a spoonful onto Huo Xiang’s plate.
Huo Xiang tasted it and replied: “It’s really good!”
After that, he placed a slab of freshly cut steak onto Su Meng’s plate, smiling: “The steak today is also delicious.”
Bai Zhen Zhen was still enjoying the show when she saw Su Meng serving Huo Xiang the crab meat. However, the moment Huo Xiang served Su Meng the steak, and it was even cut nicely for her, Bai Zhen Zhen’s brows wrinkled unconsciously.
She didn’t even notice it herself.
As the only person not involved, Xi Xixi was so nervous that his eyes couldn’t stop twitching. He quickly took a sip of juice to cover up his unease.
Huo Xiang turned to Bai Zhen Zhen, pretending to ask casually: “Why are you in a daze? Do you also want to eat the steak on my plate?”
Internally, he thought to himself: Are you finally getting jealous? It looks like Su Meng’s idea is still somewhat effective~
Bai Zhen Zhen shook her head, an ugly look on her face.
“If you want to, just tell me directly and I will cut it for you! Look at your aggrieved face…” Huo Xiang happily cut another steak, ready to serve it to Bai Zhen Zhen.
Su Meng sighed quietly, lamenting that he couldn’t live up to expectations.
— Huo Xiang, this idiot. Isn’t he too impatient? He had just cast out the net, yet he already wanted to retrieve it?!
Sure enough, Bai Zhen Zhen rejected Huo Xiang: “I don’t want to eat steak.”
At this moment, Huo Xiang was still immersed in his happy thoughts: Of course you don’t want to eat steak, you’re just being jealous now.
He didn’t expect Bai Zhen Zhen’s next line:
“I just wanted to remind you that there’s… chilli flakes on your teeth…”
Huo Xiang: “…”
****
After dinner, Bai Zhen Zhen’s group went out for a walk on the beach. When they left, Ling Hao Chen and Jiang Mu Yang were still discussing.
Song Ling gave Bai Zhen Zhen a brief smile, but Jiang Mu Yu didn’t even look up.
Bai Zhen Zhen was too lazy to pay attention to her.
They had walked on the beach for a while, when Bai Zhen Zhen wanted to check the time. It was only then did she realise that her phone was missing.
“Could it be in the restaurant?” Su Meng recalled.
Bai Zhen Zhen thought about it carefully. It seemed like a good possibility.
She changed into a new dress this afternoon, and had no pockets or bags with her. Thus, when she went to get her food, she left her phone on the table. Later, the table was crowded with the leftover plates. When she left, she didn’t pay attention and left her phone behind.
“I’ll call your phone first.” Su Meng said while dialing Bai Zhen Zhen’s number.
The dialing tone rang a few times, but no one answered.
“It’s probably because I accidentally set it on silent mode,” Bai Zhen Zhen said, “Never mind, wait for me here. I will go back to the restaurant to check.”
“Do you need us to accompany you?”
“No need.” Bai Zhen Zhen threw down these words before rushing back to the restaurant.
When she reached the restaurant, she asked the waiter at the front desk. The waiter also asked his colleagues, but no one had seen any handphones.
Bai Zhen Zhen felt that it was strange, and asked: “Then, can I check the security cameras in the restaurant? My room card is in my handphone case, so I’m afraid that something will go wrong.”
The waiter replied: “Of course you can, but you have to ask the receptionist.”
“How about this, I will go to the receptionist first. Meanwhile, please find a security guard to check my room just in case.” Bai Zhen Zhen said.
“No problem.”
Bai Zhen Zhen hurried over to the receptionist. She had just turned the corner when she suddenly realised that she should let Huo Xiang know about the situation first.
Just as she wanted to turn around, a hand suddenly extended from behind her. A handkerchief covered her mouth directly.
Bai Zhen Zhen initially struggled, but soon lost all energy after inhaling an unknown gas.
At the same time, Huo Xiang received a text message from Bai Zhen Zhen.
“I’ve found my phone. Wait for me at the pavilion on the beach. I’ll come find you in a while.”
Huo Xiang didn’t doubt the message, and continued chatting with Xi Xixi.
****
In the hotel room 1606.
Jiang Mu Yu was currently playing with Bai Zhen Zhen’s handphone.
At this moment, Bai Zhen Zhen was lying unconscious on the bed, her hair and clothes in a messy state.
As soon as Bai Zhen Zhen left the restaurant, Jiang Mu Yu saw the phone that she had left behind on the table. She excused herself from the table under the pretext of going to the toilet, and took Bai Zhen Zhen’s phone away.
Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t set a password on her handphone, and Jiang Mu Yu was easily able to gain access. Although there wasn’t anything revealing on the phone, she found that her room card was in the phone case.
At that moment, a wonderful plan took shape in Jiang Mu Yu’s mind.
“Is there anything else you need me to do?” A man clothed in black came out from the bathroom in the room, a sinister smile on his lips.
Jiang Mu Yu confirmed with him again: “Are you sure you weren’t caught on camera?”
The man replied: “Don’t worry, the place where we drugged her is a blind spot. We also took the stairs up, the security camera won’t capture that. In addition, before we entered the room, I already covered the security camera in the corridor. The hotel won’t be able to find out any time soon.”
“What are you talking about?” Jiang Mu Yu spat out, “It was so dangerous just now. We almost ran into the security guard who came to check.”
“But we didn’t run into him!” The man sneered.
The person who had drugged Bai Zhen Zhen earlier was precisely Jiang Mu Yu and this man.
The man was an old friend of hers who also came to attend her best friend’s wedding. However, he wasn’t anything decent. After graduating from high school, he joined a gang and often engaged in illegal activities. He also slowly climbed the ladder in the gang.
When Jiang Mu Yu met him in the hotel today, she had no intentions of greeting him. However, he took the initiative to greet her, even asking her for her phone number under the pretext of being old friends and being able to help each other in the future.
Thus, when she picked up Bai Zhen Zhen’s handphone, Jiang Mu Yu immediately thought of this “old friend”. She planned the whole incident and got him to help her, promising him ten thousand dollars after the deed was done.
The drugged handkerchief was also provided by this “old friend”.
The man looked at Bai Zhen Zhen on the bed, saying: “We have an agreement. I’ll only help you till this point. The rest of it is too risky, I won’t do it!”
Jiang Mu Yu sneered, saying: “Relax! If you really did something to her, things will become difficult to deal with. When that young master start to investigate, neither of us will get away with it.”
“Then what do you plan to do? Just drug her and nothing else?” The man asked curiously.
“Do you think I’ll spend so much effort for nothing?” Jiang Mu Yu’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile, “Isn’t she the best in attracting and seducing men? You’re still afraid that no one would come?”
Jiang Mu Yu held Bai Zhen Zhen’s phone and wrote out another text message, sending it out.
****
Half an hour later, Huo Xiang didn’t see Bai Zhen Zhen appear.
He called Bai Zhen Zhen two more times, but the calls couldn’t go through. Intuition told him that something must have happened to Bai Zhen Zhen.
“Zhen Zhen’s phone is switched off, I’ll go back to the room to find her first!” Huo Xiang exclaimed.
Su Meng and Xi Xixi hurriedly said: “We’ll go with you!”
“No need.” Huo Xiang threw a look to Su Meng.
Su Meng understood Huo Xiang’s meaning. He was in a fake marriage with Bai Zhen Zhen, and the two of them did not stay in the same room. If Xi Xixi followed him, their relationship would be exposed.
“Xixi, Zhen Zhen was probably tired, and her phone just happened to run out of battery, so she returned to her room to charge her phone and take a rest.” Su Meng said, “Let Huo Xiang go look for her alone. We shall not blindly poke our noses into their affairs as a couple.”
Huo Xiang nodded at them, and left in a hurry.
As soon as he walked near the lift in the lobby, he met three people. Taking a closer look, it was the Jiang siblings and Song Ling.
“Young Master Huo, so you are here!” Jiang Mu Yu greeted Huo Xiang loudly, afraid that he couldn’t see her.
Seeing Jiang Mu Yu so excited, Huo Xiang immediately became alert.
“Ah, where’s Sister Zhen Zhen? Isn’t she with you?” Jiang Mu Yu pretended to be puzzled.
Huo Xiang smiled and replied calmly: “Zhen Zhen’s handphone had gone missing, so she went to look for it. If there’s nothing else, you can continue chatting. I’ll return to my room first.”
“Young Master Huo, don’t be in such a hurry!” Jiang Mu Yu’s lips curled slightly, her smile full of mockery, “I just saw CEO Ling and Sister Zhen Zhen enter the lift, but my brother and Sister Song didn’t believe it. I suggested to look for you, and we can all go to your room to take a look.”
“What do you mean by that?” Huo Xiang’s expression instantly turned cold.
Jiang Mu Yu continued: “Young Master Huo, CEO Ling and Sister Song was still strolling on the beach just now when he left immediately after receiving a text message. I also happened to see him and Sister Zhen Zhen together, how could I not have thoughts about the situation…”
“So what if they met? Should they pretend that they don’t know each other?” Huo Xiang retorted.
“That’s why we’re going to verify it!”
“Verify what?” Huo Xiang sneered, “Verify those filthy thoughts in your mind?”
“I also don’t wish for my thoughts to be true, that’s why I want to ask Young Master Huo to bring us over. If it’s nothing, then doesn’t it prove that Sister Zhen Zhen and CEO Ling are innocent?” Jiang Mu Yu was obviously prepared, not letting him get away with it.
Huo Xiang’s gaze shifted to Song Ling: “Does Ms Song think so too?”
Song Ling’s expression changed, and she spoke slowly: “I believe in Hao Chen and Zhen Zhen… Hao Chen’s room card is in my bag. I’m willing to bring everyone to Hao Chen’s room to take a look.”
“This is also called believing in them?!” Huo Xiang laughed out loud, the irony evident in his tone.
Song Ling knew that she was wrong, and lowered her head.
Jiang Mu Yu hurriedly replied: “Sister Song, since CEO Ling’s room card is with you, then we don’t have to visit his room. We can just go directly to Sister Zhen Zhen and Young Master Huo’s room.”
Huo Xiang squinted his eyes at her words: “How can you be so certain that they will be in that room? What if they booked another room?”
Jiang Mu Yu replied: “Their ID information has already been registered at the receptionist, they can’t use it to book another room.”
“Ok, then I’ll bring you up.” Huo Xiang suddenly agreed readily.
Even Jiang Mu Yu was taken aback.
“What are you waiting for? Don’t you want to prove their innocence? Let’s go together! Go go go!” Huo Xiang’s attitude flipped completely, and even his steps had an additional bounce to it.
The three of them exchanged looks.
Jiang Mu Yu was the first to say: “Brother, Sister Song, let’s go. Please believe me, I know what I saw!”
****
The four of them arrived at the sixteenth floor of the hotel together.
After getting off the lift, Jiang Mu Yu couldn’t help but lift her head to look at the security camera along the corridor. When she left, she had taken off the cloth covering the security camera along the way, thus even if they checked the security camera later on, it will only show that Ling Hao Chen had entered Bai Zhen Zhen’s room. There would be no traces of her actions within.
Huo Xiang took the lead, walking lightly in front. He passed by room 1606 without a second look, standing straight in front of room 1608.
Jiang Mu Yu, who was following behind, was stunned — What happened?! Wasn’t it room 1606? She personally swiped the room card to enter, but why was Huo Xiang standing at the door of the next room?!
“Di–“
With a crisp sound, Huo Xiang pushed down the door handle and opened the door to room 1608.
“Please, everyone!” Huo Xiang invited them in.
Song Ling took a deep breath and walked it. Jiang Mu Yang followed behind them, his expression not nervous at all.
As for Jiang Mu Yu, she had completely broken down.
When she saw that the room was completely empty, Song Ling’s restless heart finally settled down.
“I’ve already said that Hao Chen and Zhen Zhen are innocent.” She seemed to be convincing herself.
Huo Xiang crossed his arms in front of him, asking: “Now that you’ve seen that there’s no one in the room, can you leave?”
“No, it’s not –” Jiang Mu Yu became anxious. But she forcibly cut herself off, swallowing the remaining words.
Huo Xiang had already understood the situation long ago, and he asked with a smile: “It’s not what? It’s not the filthy thoughts in your heart, and you’re disappointed?”
“I–” Jiang Mu Yu gritted her teeth.
She couldn’t say that she had obtained Bai Zhen Zhen’s room card, and that she entered room 1606, otherwise everything would be exposed.
So she changed her approach, asking: “Did you book two rooms? Could they be next door?”
Huo Xiang seemed to have heard a big joke, laughing coldly: “Ms Jiang, my family is indeed rich, but not to the point of throwing money away pointlessly, right? Besides, Zhen Zhen and I are newly weds, why would I book two rooms?! Are you sick in the head?!”
“You, you–” Jiang Mu Yu was anxious, pointing to the room next door, “I don’t believe it! If you have the capability, then knock on the room next door!”
Huo Xiang sighed deeply, before turning to Jiang Mu Yang: “Young Master Jiang, I think this farce should end here, right? With all due respect, this is not a circus. Your sister is already an adult; her willfulness is ridiculous.”
Song Ling also added on by the side: “Yes, Ms Jiang must have seen wrongly. Hao Chen did have some urgent matters. It’s probably his business partner who was looking for him. Maybe he has already left the hotel by now…”
“Sister Song, I saw it very clearly…”
“Mu Yu!” Jiang Mu Yang sternly interrupted Jiang Mu Yu’s words, shouting, “Enough! Are you not ashamed of yourself yet?”
Jiang Mu Yu was stunned.
This was the first time in her life that her brother had ever yelled at her like that. Even if she made mistakes in the past, her brother would never lose his temper with her. Even if she was wrong, he would patiently coax her.
But this time, her brother lost his temper over such a woman…
“Brother…” Jiang Mu Yu looked like she was about to cry, trying to win her brother’s pity, “Brother, believe me…”
Jiang Mu Yang had completely no intentions of listening to her explanation. He turned around and left the room directly.
Jiang Mu Yu hurriedly chased after him.
Only Huo Xiang and Song Ling were left in the room. Song Ling was also very embarrassed. This time, she didn’t choose to wholeheartedly believe in them, and now she truly couldn’t lift her head up.
“Is Ms Song not leaving yet?” Huo Xiang asked.
Song Ling squeezed out a smile, asking again: “Where did Zhen Zhen ultimately go?”
Huo Xiang replied angrily: “I’ve already said it. She went to find her handphone. Don’t worry, when she comes back, I will tell her everything.”
“I’m sorry, Young Master Huo. I, I just…”
“You don’t have to apologise to me. If there’s nothing else, I won’t invite you for tea, or else if someone saw it they would claim that there’s something between the two of us.” Huo Xiang unceremoniously saw her out.
Song Ling knew that there was nothing else she could do. She nodded towards Huo Xiang before leaving silently.
Huo Xiang shut the room door and locked it, before his expression instantly changed. He ran towards the balcony and opened the door.
Huo Xiang thought that he was about to see a chilling scene, and was prepared to fight to his death.
Unexpectedly, when he entered the balcony next door, he instantly saw Bai Zhen Zhen and Ling Hao Chen seated on the balcony chairs, drinking tea leisurely.
Seeing him appear, Bai Zhen Zhen was not surprised at all, even smiling at him.
Huo Xiang: What’s going on?! What happened to our agreed hero saving the damsel in distress?
In fact, he and Su Meng had already planned to “bait” her in.
When he was in the bathroom, he overheard Bai Zhen Zhen talking to Su Meng, so he deliberately came out like this.
Bai Zhen Zhen’s mouth twitched.
Listening to Huo Xiang’s meaning, it seemed that he no longer treated Su Meng as an outsider, and even started to view her as an outsider? These two were progressing so quickly?!
“How is it, does the wound still hurt?” Su Meng asked deliberately.
Huo Xiang shook his head: “It doesn’t hurt anymore, don’t worry.”
“How could I not worry!” Su Meng frowned, replying seriously.
Even Bai Zhen Zhen could hear the feelings in her tone.
Huo Xiang was stunned for a moment, before he quickly followed Su Meng’s words: “Oh, then I will pay more attention to it in the future and try not to worry you anymore.”
“That’s more like it!” Su Meng smiled.
The two of them exchanged looks that only the two of them understood.
Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t notice anything. She pointed at the door: “Then… Ah Xiang, go change your clothes and we will go downstairs for dinner Xi Xixi is already waiting for us in the restaurant.”
“Ok!” Huo Xiang and Su Meng said in unison.
Huo Xiang used his eyes to ask Su Meng: How was it? Do you think it worked?
Su Meng: Erm… Not yet.
****
A few minutes later, the three of them arrived at the hotel’s buffet restaurant. Xi Xixi had already reserved seats for all of them inside.
Before Bai Zhen Zhen could take a seat, she noticed a table of four next to them — who else could it be besides Song Ling, CEO Ling and the Jiang siblings.
Xi Xixi understood Bai Zhen Zhen’s look, hurriedly explaining quietly: “Sister Zhen Zhen, when I reached, this was the only table left available for four people…”
“It’s ok.” Bai Zhen Zhen smiled at him.
Seeing that Bai Zhen Zhen sat down, Song Ling greeted her: “Zhen Zhen, you’re also eating here.”
Ling Hao Chen seemed to be discussing business with Jiang Mu Yang and didn’t greet Bai Zhen Zhen’s group. However, Jiang Mu Yang still glanced at Bai Zhen Zhen in greeting.
Jiang Mu Yu, who had always been arrogant, was surprisingly quiet this time, sitting in her seat and cutting her steak without a word.
Bai Zhen Zhen smiled politely at Song Ling. Her eyes brushed over Xi Xixi when she suddenly remembered what she mentioned to Song Ling previously.
“Ms Song, this is Xi Xixi.” Bai Zhen Zhen introduced.
Song Ling paused for a moment, before reacting: “Oh, so you are Xi Xixi!”
“Hello, may I know if we are acquainted?” Xi Xixi asked curiously.
Song Ling had promised Bai Zhen Zhen not to tell Xi Xixi that she was the one who had recommended him. Thus, she replied: “Yes, I watched your performance previously on television, but I couldn’t match your stage look to your real life for a second there. I heard that you were thinking of terminating your contract with your company? How is the progress?”
Xi Xixi scratched his head in embarrassment: “I’m not very popular. Not only am I not earning money for the company, I even attracted haters for our idol group. The company already had plans to bury me. When they heard I wanted to terminate the contract, they immediately agreed. However, there’s still a large compensation fees to be paid for the contract termination…”
“Then why don’t you try signing with my company?” Song Ling said, “It just so happens that we were looking for new recruits to cultivate. Your foundation looks good. If you’re willing, you can sign with us earlier to earn money to pay off the compensation fees earlier.”
“Thank you. May I ask which entertainment company are you from?”
“Bright Entertainment.”
“Bright Entertainment?!” Xi Xixi was shocked. At a loss, he turned to Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang, before his gaze fell cautiously on Song Ling again, “Bright Entertainment is one of the best entertainment companies in the country, you… You’re really willing to sign me?!”
Song Ling chuckled lightly. Her eyes drifted over to Bai Zhen Zhen for a second, who hurriedly winked at her.
“It depends on whether you’re willing to challenge yourself?” Song Ling asked gently.
“Of course I’m willing!” Xi Xixi nodded hastily, “I will definitely work hard!”
“Then it’s settled.” Song Ling said, “In a few days, you can follow me back to the company.”
Hearing Song Ling talk about returning, Bai Zhen Zhen hurriedly asked, “Ms Song, when are you and CEO Ling going back?”
“If everything goes well, it should be the day after.” Song Ling replied, “However, it all depends on whether Hao Chen’s negotiation goes well this time.”
Bai Zhen Zhen replied forcefully: “It will go well!!”
As they spoke, Huo Xiang and Su Meng had already brought their food back. Bai Zhen Zhen and Xi Xixi also went to pick out their favourite food, and the four of them began to eat.
“Hmm~ The typhoon shelter crab today is delicious! Huo Xiang, try some.” Su Meng only took a bite of the crab meat before she scooped out a spoonful onto Huo Xiang’s plate.
Huo Xiang tasted it and replied: “It’s really good!”
After that, he placed a slab of freshly cut steak onto Su Meng’s plate, smiling: “The steak today is also delicious.”
Bai Zhen Zhen was still enjoying the show when she saw Su Meng serving Huo Xiang the crab meat. However, the moment Huo Xiang served Su Meng the steak, and it was even cut nicely for her, Bai Zhen Zhen’s brows wrinkled unconsciously.
She didn’t even notice it herself.
As the only person not involved, Xi Xixi was so nervous that his eyes couldn’t stop twitching. He quickly took a sip of juice to cover up his unease.
Huo Xiang turned to Bai Zhen Zhen, pretending to ask casually: “Why are you in a daze? Do you also want to eat the steak on my plate?”
Internally, he thought to himself: Are you finally getting jealous? It looks like Su Meng’s idea is still somewhat effective~
Bai Zhen Zhen shook her head, an ugly look on her face.
“If you want to, just tell me directly and I will cut it for you! Look at your aggrieved face…” Huo Xiang happily cut another steak, ready to serve it to Bai Zhen Zhen.
Su Meng sighed quietly, lamenting that he couldn’t live up to expectations.
— Huo Xiang, this idiot. Isn’t he too impatient? He had just cast out the net, yet he already wanted to retrieve it?!
Sure enough, Bai Zhen Zhen rejected Huo Xiang: “I don’t want to eat steak.”
At this moment, Huo Xiang was still immersed in his happy thoughts: Of course you don’t want to eat steak, you’re just being jealous now.
He didn’t expect Bai Zhen Zhen’s next line:
“I just wanted to remind you that there’s… chilli flakes on your teeth…”
Huo Xiang: “…”
****
After dinner, Bai Zhen Zhen’s group went out for a walk on the beach. When they left, Ling Hao Chen and Jiang Mu Yang were still discussing.
Song Ling gave Bai Zhen Zhen a brief smile, but Jiang Mu Yu didn’t even look up.
Bai Zhen Zhen was too lazy to pay attention to her.
They had walked on the beach for a while, when Bai Zhen Zhen wanted to check the time. It was only then did she realise that her phone was missing.
“Could it be in the restaurant?” Su Meng recalled.
Bai Zhen Zhen thought about it carefully. It seemed like a good possibility.
She changed into a new dress this afternoon, and had no pockets or bags with her. Thus, when she went to get her food, she left her phone on the table. Later, the table was crowded with the leftover plates. When she left, she didn’t pay attention and left her phone behind.
“I’ll call your phone first.” Su Meng said while dialing Bai Zhen Zhen’s number.
The dialing tone rang a few times, but no one answered.
“It’s probably because I accidentally set it on silent mode,” Bai Zhen Zhen said, “Never mind, wait for me here. I will go back to the restaurant to check.”
“Do you need us to accompany you?”
“No need.” Bai Zhen Zhen threw down these words before rushing back to the restaurant.
When she reached the restaurant, she asked the waiter at the front desk. The waiter also asked his colleagues, but no one had seen any handphones.
Bai Zhen Zhen felt that it was strange, and asked: “Then, can I check the security cameras in the restaurant? My room card is in my handphone case, so I’m afraid that something will go wrong.”
The waiter replied: “Of course you can, but you have to ask the receptionist.”
“How about this, I will go to the receptionist first. Meanwhile, please find a security guard to check my room just in case.” Bai Zhen Zhen said.
“No problem.”
Bai Zhen Zhen hurried over to the receptionist. She had just turned the corner when she suddenly realised that she should let Huo Xiang know about the situation first.
Just as she wanted to turn around, a hand suddenly extended from behind her. A handkerchief covered her mouth directly.
Bai Zhen Zhen initially struggled, but soon lost all energy after inhaling an unknown gas.
At the same time, Huo Xiang received a text message from Bai Zhen Zhen.
“I’ve found my phone. Wait for me at the pavilion on the beach. I’ll come find you in a while.”
Huo Xiang didn’t doubt the message, and continued chatting with Xi Xixi.
****
In the hotel room 1606.
Jiang Mu Yu was currently playing with Bai Zhen Zhen’s handphone.
At this moment, Bai Zhen Zhen was lying unconscious on the bed, her hair and clothes in a messy state.
As soon as Bai Zhen Zhen left the restaurant, Jiang Mu Yu saw the phone that she had left behind on the table. She excused herself from the table under the pretext of going to the toilet, and took Bai Zhen Zhen’s phone away.
Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t set a password on her handphone, and Jiang Mu Yu was easily able to gain access. Although there wasn’t anything revealing on the phone, she found that her room card was in the phone case.
At that moment, a wonderful plan took shape in Jiang Mu Yu’s mind.
“Is there anything else you need me to do?” A man clothed in black came out from the bathroom in the room, a sinister smile on his lips.
Jiang Mu Yu confirmed with him again: “Are you sure you weren’t caught on camera?”
The man replied: “Don’t worry, the place where we drugged her is a blind spot. We also took the stairs up, the security camera won’t capture that. In addition, before we entered the room, I already covered the security camera in the corridor. The hotel won’t be able to find out any time soon.”
“What are you talking about?” Jiang Mu Yu spat out, “It was so dangerous just now. We almost ran into the security guard who came to check.”
“But we didn’t run into him!” The man sneered.
The person who had drugged Bai Zhen Zhen earlier was precisely Jiang Mu Yu and this man.
The man was an old friend of hers who also came to attend her best friend’s wedding. However, he wasn’t anything decent. After graduating from high school, he joined a gang and often engaged in illegal activities. He also slowly climbed the ladder in the gang.
When Jiang Mu Yu met him in the hotel today, she had no intentions of greeting him. However, he took the initiative to greet her, even asking her for her phone number under the pretext of being old friends and being able to help each other in the future.
Thus, when she picked up Bai Zhen Zhen’s handphone, Jiang Mu Yu immediately thought of this “old friend”. She planned the whole incident and got him to help her, promising him ten thousand dollars after the deed was done.
The drugged handkerchief was also provided by this “old friend”.
The man looked at Bai Zhen Zhen on the bed, saying: “We have an agreement. I’ll only help you till this point. The rest of it is too risky, I won’t do it!”
Jiang Mu Yu sneered, saying: “Relax! If you really did something to her, things will become difficult to deal with. When that young master start to investigate, neither of us will get away with it.”
“Then what do you plan to do? Just drug her and nothing else?” The man asked curiously.
“Do you think I’ll spend so much effort for nothing?” Jiang Mu Yu’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile, “Isn’t she the best in attracting and seducing men? You’re still afraid that no one would come?”
Jiang Mu Yu held Bai Zhen Zhen’s phone and wrote out another text message, sending it out.
****
Half an hour later, Huo Xiang didn’t see Bai Zhen Zhen appear.
He called Bai Zhen Zhen two more times, but the calls couldn’t go through. Intuition told him that something must have happened to Bai Zhen Zhen.
“Zhen Zhen’s phone is switched off, I’ll go back to the room to find her first!” Huo Xiang exclaimed.
Su Meng and Xi Xixi hurriedly said: “We’ll go with you!”
“No need.” Huo Xiang threw a look to Su Meng.
Su Meng understood Huo Xiang’s meaning. He was in a fake marriage with Bai Zhen Zhen, and the two of them did not stay in the same room. If Xi Xixi followed him, their relationship would be exposed.
“Xixi, Zhen Zhen was probably tired, and her phone just happened to run out of battery, so she returned to her room to charge her phone and take a rest.” Su Meng said, “Let Huo Xiang go look for her alone. We shall not blindly poke our noses into their affairs as a couple.”
Huo Xiang nodded at them, and left in a hurry.
As soon as he walked near the lift in the lobby, he met three people. Taking a closer look, it was the Jiang siblings and Song Ling.
“Young Master Huo, so you are here!” Jiang Mu Yu greeted Huo Xiang loudly, afraid that he couldn’t see her.
Seeing Jiang Mu Yu so excited, Huo Xiang immediately became alert.
“Ah, where’s Sister Zhen Zhen? Isn’t she with you?” Jiang Mu Yu pretended to be puzzled.
Huo Xiang smiled and replied calmly: “Zhen Zhen’s handphone had gone missing, so she went to look for it. If there’s nothing else, you can continue chatting. I’ll return to my room first.”
“Young Master Huo, don’t be in such a hurry!” Jiang Mu Yu’s lips curled slightly, her smile full of mockery, “I just saw CEO Ling and Sister Zhen Zhen enter the lift, but my brother and Sister Song didn’t believe it. I suggested to look for you, and we can all go to your room to take a look.”
“What do you mean by that?” Huo Xiang’s expression instantly turned cold.
Jiang Mu Yu continued: “Young Master Huo, CEO Ling and Sister Song was still strolling on the beach just now when he left immediately after receiving a text message. I also happened to see him and Sister Zhen Zhen together, how could I not have thoughts about the situation…”
“So what if they met? Should they pretend that they don’t know each other?” Huo Xiang retorted.
“That’s why we’re going to verify it!”
“Verify what?” Huo Xiang sneered, “Verify those filthy thoughts in your mind?”
“I also don’t wish for my thoughts to be true, that’s why I want to ask Young Master Huo to bring us over. If it’s nothing, then doesn’t it prove that Sister Zhen Zhen and CEO Ling are innocent?” Jiang Mu Yu was obviously prepared, not letting him get away with it.
Huo Xiang’s gaze shifted to Song Ling: “Does Ms Song think so too?”
Song Ling’s expression changed, and she spoke slowly: “I believe in Hao Chen and Zhen Zhen… Hao Chen’s room card is in my bag. I’m willing to bring everyone to Hao Chen’s room to take a look.”
“This is also called believing in them?!” Huo Xiang laughed out loud, the irony evident in his tone.
Song Ling knew that she was wrong, and lowered her head.
Jiang Mu Yu hurriedly replied: “Sister Song, since CEO Ling’s room card is with you, then we don’t have to visit his room. We can just go directly to Sister Zhen Zhen and Young Master Huo’s room.”
Huo Xiang squinted his eyes at her words: “How can you be so certain that they will be in that room? What if they booked another room?”
Jiang Mu Yu replied: “Their ID information has already been registered at the receptionist, they can’t use it to book another room.”
“Ok, then I’ll bring you up.” Huo Xiang suddenly agreed readily.
Even Jiang Mu Yu was taken aback.
“What are you waiting for? Don’t you want to prove their innocence? Let’s go together! Go go go!” Huo Xiang’s attitude flipped completely, and even his steps had an additional bounce to it.
The three of them exchanged looks.
Jiang Mu Yu was the first to say: “Brother, Sister Song, let’s go. Please believe me, I know what I saw!”
****
The four of them arrived at the sixteenth floor of the hotel together.
After getting off the lift, Jiang Mu Yu couldn’t help but lift her head to look at the security camera along the corridor. When she left, she had taken off the cloth covering the security camera along the way, thus even if they checked the security camera later on, it will only show that Ling Hao Chen had entered Bai Zhen Zhen’s room. There would be no traces of her actions within.
Huo Xiang took the lead, walking lightly in front. He passed by room 1606 without a second look, standing straight in front of room 1608.
Jiang Mu Yu, who was following behind, was stunned — What happened?! Wasn’t it room 1606? She personally swiped the room card to enter, but why was Huo Xiang standing at the door of the next room?!
“Di–“
With a crisp sound, Huo Xiang pushed down the door handle and opened the door to room 1608.
“Please, everyone!” Huo Xiang invited them in.
Song Ling took a deep breath and walked it. Jiang Mu Yang followed behind them, his expression not nervous at all.
As for Jiang Mu Yu, she had completely broken down.
When she saw that the room was completely empty, Song Ling’s restless heart finally settled down.
“I’ve already said that Hao Chen and Zhen Zhen are innocent.” She seemed to be convincing herself.
Huo Xiang crossed his arms in front of him, asking: “Now that you’ve seen that there’s no one in the room, can you leave?”
“No, it’s not –” Jiang Mu Yu became anxious. But she forcibly cut herself off, swallowing the remaining words.
Huo Xiang had already understood the situation long ago, and he asked with a smile: “It’s not what? It’s not the filthy thoughts in your heart, and you’re disappointed?”
“I–” Jiang Mu Yu gritted her teeth.
She couldn’t say that she had obtained Bai Zhen Zhen’s room card, and that she entered room 1606, otherwise everything would be exposed.
So she changed her approach, asking: “Did you book two rooms? Could they be next door?”
Huo Xiang seemed to have heard a big joke, laughing coldly: “Ms Jiang, my family is indeed rich, but not to the point of throwing money away pointlessly, right? Besides, Zhen Zhen and I are newly weds, why would I book two rooms?! Are you sick in the head?!”
“You, you–” Jiang Mu Yu was anxious, pointing to the room next door, “I don’t believe it! If you have the capability, then knock on the room next door!”
Huo Xiang sighed deeply, before turning to Jiang Mu Yang: “Young Master Jiang, I think this farce should end here, right? With all due respect, this is not a circus. Your sister is already an adult; her willfulness is ridiculous.”
Song Ling also added on by the side: “Yes, Ms Jiang must have seen wrongly. Hao Chen did have some urgent matters. It’s probably his business partner who was looking for him. Maybe he has already left the hotel by now…”
“Sister Song, I saw it very clearly…”
“Mu Yu!” Jiang Mu Yang sternly interrupted Jiang Mu Yu’s words, shouting, “Enough! Are you not ashamed of yourself yet?”
Jiang Mu Yu was stunned.
This was the first time in her life that her brother had ever yelled at her like that. Even if she made mistakes in the past, her brother would never lose his temper with her. Even if she was wrong, he would patiently coax her.
But this time, her brother lost his temper over such a woman…
“Brother…” Jiang Mu Yu looked like she was about to cry, trying to win her brother’s pity, “Brother, believe me…”
Jiang Mu Yang had completely no intentions of listening to her explanation. He turned around and left the room directly.
Jiang Mu Yu hurriedly chased after him.
Only Huo Xiang and Song Ling were left in the room. Song Ling was also very embarrassed. This time, she didn’t choose to wholeheartedly believe in them, and now she truly couldn’t lift her head up.
“Is Ms Song not leaving yet?” Huo Xiang asked.
Song Ling squeezed out a smile, asking again: “Where did Zhen Zhen ultimately go?”
Huo Xiang replied angrily: “I’ve already said it. She went to find her handphone. Don’t worry, when she comes back, I will tell her everything.”
“I’m sorry, Young Master Huo. I, I just…”
“You don’t have to apologise to me. If there’s nothing else, I won’t invite you for tea, or else if someone saw it they would claim that there’s something between the two of us.” Huo Xiang unceremoniously saw her out.
Song Ling knew that there was nothing else she could do. She nodded towards Huo Xiang before leaving silently.
Huo Xiang shut the room door and locked it, before his expression instantly changed. He ran towards the balcony and opened the door.
Huo Xiang thought that he was about to see a chilling scene, and was prepared to fight to his death.
Unexpectedly, when he entered the balcony next door, he instantly saw Bai Zhen Zhen and Ling Hao Chen seated on the balcony chairs, drinking tea leisurely.
Seeing him appear, Bai Zhen Zhen was not surprised at all, even smiling at him.
Huo Xiang: What’s going on?! What happened to our agreed hero saving the damsel in distress?
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