CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 303 EMPRESS PALACE

The further they went down, the entire white wall was buried in darkness. This place hardly ever saw sunlight, damp spots of mold attracted insects and ants. The elder pushed open a slightly dilapidated wooden door, a sliver of light pierced the darkness, only to be immediately blocked.

After pouring some cold water from the bucket, a few drops of blue liquid on the ground, the elder wiped his own body, layers of his exposed skin peeled off like a transparent film, dissolving into nothing in the water.

After applying some lotion, Xiao Lin lay comfortably on the bed, closing his eyes. In his mind, he swiftly recalled the scenes before and after at the candle shop, then sat up from the bed, opened the small electronic notepad, on which a small red dot appeared, moving.

Unexpectedly, Shaoqing acted so fast, watching the red dot stop at a place resembling a gap. Xiao Lin smiled faintly, tapped the red dot with a stylus; it showed a restaurant. At the same time, the transceiver placed to the side emitted a beeping sound, indicating that Qing Yi had already acted on his end, while he needed to wait for the true nightfall.

The Sichuan restaurant was particularly lively today, several luxury cars would occasionally park at the front, and the Sichuan restaurant owner was always standing on the street, greeting those stepping out of the cars, his smiling face almost cramping. Could he not smile? The entire second floor of the restaurant was booked down just for one table of guests.

"Please head up to the second floor."

Hua Qingyi chose a seat near the window, slightly lifting his head to see the layout of the second floor. His thanks for the clear view owed to the owner’s pretense. It’s known foreigners are enamored with Chinese ancient customs, hence the entire restaurant was designed as an antique pavilion, even the kitchenware and counter were 1:1 replicas.

The main figures hadn’t arrived yet; he leisurely drank tea, several small dishes placed on the table, while in the courtyard a duet resembling father-daughter sang light tunes. Had he not been wearing modern clothes, he would have suspected himself traveled back to the Qing dynasty.

Jordan is much less open compared to other countries, the strict etiquette between men and women was astonishing, even tourists shouldn’t be this scream-inducing, should they!

What first caught his eye was a tall man, under the robust features were a pair of deep eyes, with thick, handsome eyebrows. His somewhat dark honey-colored skin was wrapped in a long white robe, his strides powerful and steady. The person following behind watched alertly in all directions. If he guessed right, this was Hassan, one of the richest in Amman, owning several oil fields in Saudi Arabia and a natural diamond mine in South Africa, a famous jeweler.

The man walking beside him was obviously Asian, his lean figure no shorter than Hassan but much different in build. Wherever he went, girls screamed, even women hidden behind veils couldn’t help but lower their heads and murmur.

Hua Qingyi was very curious about this man, he looked familiar from behind but couldn’t recall who he was. Just then, that Asian man turned his head seemingly spoke to a bodyguard beside him, their eyes met, and Hua Qingyi was stunned. Chopin was renowned internationally, but he didn’t know he was also favored in the Middle East.

Raising the cup in his hand as a greeting, Chopin winked at Hua Qingyi before following Hassan up to the second floor. The two seemed quite familiar.

"Do you know that Asian person we just saw downstairs?" Hassan asked Chopin in not-so-fluent Chinese.

"Hmm, you could say we are acquaintances." Chopin soaked his hands in the lemon-slice water, took a hot towel to dry them. "Try this Bi Luo Chun tea, it has an excellent taste." Chopin poured Hassan a cup. "Isn’t it just a small birthday? Do you really have to go all out like this?"

"I’m your devoted fan. You gave face by coming to the opening of my jewelry store. It’s only right to offer the grandest hospitality in return." Hassan’s smile was charming; he was the target of many socialites in the Middle East.

"I’m truly honored to have a noble fan like you, Chopin expressed sincerely." Glancing at the window side, the table was cleaned up, Chopin curled up the corner of his mouth.

"That Asian person is quite beautiful." Hassan calmly spoke, raising his glass to the other guests at the table. "The Oriental Hua family, why are they here?"

"Mr. Hassan, nothing escapes your eyes."

"This person won money from that miser Khalid. How could I miss such an interesting affair, but his bodyguard was fierce, killing four of Khalid’s men."

"Something like that happened?" Chopin covered his mouth, eyes wide in disbelief. "Khalid must be devastated!"

"The whole city is out hunting for that murderer."

"So, what does our Mr. Hassan think?" Taking a sip of soup, Chopin placed a slice of fish in Hassan’s bowl. "Boiled fish slices, a famous Sichuan dish, you must try it."

"The Chinese have a saying, ’Each sweeps the snow from his own doorstep, heed not the frost on his neighbor’s roof.’ As long as Hua Qingyi doesn’t bring any trouble to me, all will be well," Hassan said coolly.

"The Hua family has significant influence in the East. Since something has happened to his bodyguard here, perhaps you should lend a hand. In the future, you’ll have a connection with the Hua family," Chopin said earnestly.

"Today is your birthday celebration, let’s not talk business," Hassan said, placing a gift in front of Chopin, it was an earring, with a dark purple agate stone, not overly ornate.

"It’s very valuable!" Chopin took off his left earring and put on the agate stone: "There will be a small meeting later."

"Hmm, then I’ll wait for you in the usual spot."

Watching Chopin leave, Hua Qingyi emerged from the entrance of the mall across the street. Hassan did not follow, he merely got back into his RV, blending into the crowd.

Two blocks away was the previous casino. If Shaoqing’s information was reliable, a large arms deal would take place tonight. Chopin’s appearance would draw away a large portion of the crowd, and Xiao Lin was determined to get this deal.

The casino’s layout map was sent directly to Xiao Lin. Hua Qingyi glanced at the distant spire and then walked in the opposite direction.

Everyone has their role to play, and his role was singular.

With a charming smile, Hua Qingyi entered the most distinctive top entertainment center in Amman—Empress Palace.

International superstar Chopin’s arrival brought a new wave to Jordan’s capital, Amman. His gentle elegance created a unique affinity, earning him widespread fan support and adoration. People of all ages are captivated by his voice; he shines like the sun, bringing warmth and hope to everyone.

The spherical theater was packed without a single seat left vacant; the fan meet would commence in half an hour. Chopin sat in the dressing room for the final touches, the outside shouts were deafening. He had grown accustomed to such scenes, even a bit numb to them. When passion becomes a job, it’s painful. Facing himself in the mirror, he forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"It’s time to go on stage!" the outside director shouted as they entered. Chopin adjusted his outfit one last time in front of the mirror before rushing out. He was an actor, through and through.

The lights above the theater illuminated most of the sky, and the cheers could be heard loud and clear from afar.

Xiao Lin lay on the roof of a four-story building, blending into the night. Through his binoculars, he surveyed the entire casino. Despite the nearby theater’s capacity of thousands and the deafening roars, it didn’t affect the flow of people entering and exiting the casino. Not everyone was willing to spend a fortune on a concert where they couldn’t even see the person clearly.

According to the layout, the casino is divided into three sections. The front area is split into three performance areas, working, and resting zones. The central section is a high-end club for private VIP members, with entrance fees starting at tens of millions, and the last section includes a parking lot and a small bar. The overall design is oval-rectangular, with an intersection between the basement in Zone Two and Zone Three where there’s a security room. From the outside, the casino looks like an egg tightly wrapped in a shell, making it difficult to force entry from the perimeter.

Xiao Lin adjusted the close-up lens to focus on the building’s tower top, where five guards wielding AF46s changed shifts every half hour. Checking the time, ten minutes remained until the next shift change. With a few quick jumps, he landed on the ground, mingling with the crowd.

The entire operation would take only thirty minutes. Xiao Lin pulled up his headscarf, following the crowd into the casino, scanning every blind spot not covered by cameras.

Under the grand hall’s splendor, the myriad of human forms was apparent. A casino is a place where you can see all the world’s ugliness.

On stage, beautiful Arab women swayed their hips. Their vibrant scarves concealed their faces, tempting you to uncover these mysterious veils and explore further. No one could resist pausing for these women, nor could Xiao Lin, who stood admiring their dance. Perhaps due to his uniqueness, a dancer crouched down, her slender fingers dancing before him, eliciting laughter from those around. It was an invitation from the dancer because she had noticed him.

"Thank you!" Xiao Lin bowed deeply to the dancer as every guest would, slipping a US Dollar into the drawer in front of her.

No one would suspect a man who was just teased. Just as they were savoring the alluring scene, Xiao Lin had slipped into the resting area. The security here wasn’t as tight as the main hall, with empty spots where tables and food were placed. On the left were stairs leading to VIP rooms, on the right, a corridor connecting to the back garden. (To be continued. If you liked this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)