Seeing Ling Chen’s smug smile, Xia Mutong felt a surge of anger, but was helpless. She couldn’t very well reprimand him in front of everyone, and it wasn’t certain she could best him in a fight.
Stomping her foot, she huffed and turned toward a corner. Ling Chen grinned and quickly followed.
“Officer Xia, don’t be angry. I just wanted to ask you a few questions.”
“Cut the crap and talk,” Xia Mutong said sternly, her face as cold as frost, keeping people at a vast distance.
Ling Chen didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point: “Officer Xia, I want to know if there’s been any progress on Shiyun’s case, whether you’ve caught the suspect or not.”
Hearing him mention Tang Shiyun, a nameless rage bubbled up from the bottom of Xia Mutong’s heart. This bastard, she cursed inwardly, to think he approached me for this, actually to ask about another woman. Doesn’t he know to show some concern for me?
Pah, pah, pah! Her pretty face slightly flushed. Who needs his concern anyway? What am I even thinking? This annoying bastard took my first time; I should hate him.
Noticing the change in her expression, Ling Chen looked puzzled and asked, “Officer Xia, are you alright?”
“Better than you anyhow,” Xia Mutong retorted.
Ling Chen touched his nose, completely unconcerned about her attitude. This woman has been quite irritable and moody lately, probably time of the month. He was understanding, considering the special circumstances.
“Officer Xia, about Shiyun’s situation…”
Xia Mutong cut in impatiently: “We’re still investigating; no suspects found yet.” As she spoke, something seemed to occur to her, her eyes widening in surprise. “Why are you asking about Miss Tang, and you call her Shiyun so intimately? Are you very familiar with her?”
Ling Chen smiled and nodded: “She is my friend.”
He and Tang Shiyun are friends? Xia Mutong was surprised. She also enjoyed Tang Shiyun’s songs; she was a fan. She never chased after celebrities; Tang Shiyun was the exception. She didn’t expect that the man before her had this connection with Tang Shiyun.
At that thought, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. This bastard’s luck with women really runs deep, cohabitating with beauties like Su Lin and Nanrong Wanqing, both top-tier stunners. And now there’s Tang Shiyun too; seems like he knows every beauty in the world.
This thought, popping into her head, left her feeling not only jealous but also a strange emotion, sour and unclear, very uncomfortable.
“If you don’t have anything else, I’m leaving. I’m not as idle as you.”
“Then I won’t delay Officer Xia any more.”
Xia Mutong took a few steps away, only to stop and turn back to ask: “Do you really have nothing to say about those two assassins?”
Ling Chen spoke innocently: “Officer Xia, you watched the TV yesterday too. I’m just a good citizen who assisted out of goodwill. It’s my duty to cooperate with the police work, but I really don’t know anything. I would have told you otherwise.”
As if I’d believe you! Xia Mutong muttered to herself. Ling Chen definitely knew something; he just didn’t want to say.
Watching two police cars speed away, Ling Chen didn’t stay at home any longer. He drove his muscle car straight to Hongyu Group.
A day passed peacefully. Except for the attack in the morning, all was calm during the daytime.
Ling Chen spent the entire day in the security department’s office, eyes closed in meditation, conserving his energy, waiting for the real danger to arrive.
…
As the evening lights began to shine, the night turned dark as ink, and the moonlight shimmered like water.
At 7:30 pm, after dinner, Ling Chen took a break to digest his meal, then bid farewell to Nanrong Wanqing and drove away from Wealthy Manor alone.
After half an hour of driving through the crowded traffic, circling the city center twice, Ling Chen parked the car by the curbside and walked into a luxurious high-end bar on the street, Dream Garden.
Since joining Hongyu Group, his income had also reached the ranks of the white-collar elite, with a monthly salary of tens of thousands, aside from the occasional hefty bonus. He had never checked his salary card, but conservatively estimated, there must be at least a few hundred thousand in it, most of which were rewards and thanks from the Nanrong Family, besides his monthly fixed salary.
With money to spare, he naturally wouldn’t shortchange himself.
Dream Garden Bar is an establishment with high consumption, a place that never lacks beautiful women fishing for affluent men.
Inside the bar, the dim lighting and figures made for an ambiguous atmosphere, and as soon as one entered, the scent of tobacco, alcohol, and women’s perfume hit the nose. The bar was large, and just past eight, it was almost full, bustling and without a single empty seat.
On the stage to the east of the hall, several youths in strange attire with guitars and basses swung their heads frantically to the passionate beat, their hair flailing as they screamed into the microphone, spittle flying as if venting all their emotions.
Ling Chen had little interest in this kind of heavy metal music, finding it impossible to stir up any appreciation. He walked through the crowd shoulder-to-shoulder and headed straight for the central circular bar to find a vacant spot to sit down. A scantily clad, sexy bartender asked with a sweet smile, “What would you like to order, sir?”
“Two bottles of Budweiser,” Ling Chen casually replied, taking a hundred-yuan note out of his pocket and placing it on the counter.
The so-called high-consumption places only mean good location, nice decoration, and better service. The beer that costs a dozen or so yuan outside was sold for fifty here, multiplying the profits severalfold and could be described as excessive.
Under the hazy and blurred lights, Ling Chen took a sip of beer to moisten his throat and scanned the surroundings of the bar.
Some couples sat in private booths, rubbing cheeks and ears affectionately and making bold gestures, filled with ambiguous vibes. Of course, there were also beautiful women who had successfully lured affluent men with warm advances and threw themselves into their embraces. Several eager men and women couldn’t hold back and were passionately kissing in the dimly lit corners of the bar, carelessly indulging in physical stimulation regardless of the stares from people around.
Before long, Ling Chen realized that he too had become a target for those beautiful women; in no time, several had thrown flirtatious glances his way. This secretly thrilled him; at least, he could say his face was an audience-pleaser.
However, those beautiful women looked okay, but Ling Chen wasn’t interested.
He was usually surrounded by top beauties with outstanding looks and qualities such as Nanrong Wanqing, Su Lin, and Zhu Xiaozhu, so he was no longer impressed by these ordinary ones. Besides, he didn’t like second-hand goods others had used.
Just then, Ling Chen’s gaze was suddenly captivated by a beauty across the bar, and he found it difficult to look away.
The beauty wore a purple off-shoulder long dress that showcased her graceful figure, stylish and mature, with slightly curled shoulder-length hair exuding a hint of elegance and sensuality. The dim light fell on her face and, although he couldn’t see her clearly, her facial features seemed extremely delicate. In the obscurity, her mysterious allure was only heightened.
This was what you’d call a beauty with grace!