Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Five: Unsettling Guesses

Qu Xiaoling had changed jobs the previous month.

She had switched from the venue where she had been working to the one where Red Sister and Xia Xia worked.

Other girls in the business had introduced her to it.

The reason for the job change was simple: the new venue was classier, the tips were higher, and there was more money to be made.

In the half a month since her arrival, Qu Xiaoling had actually done quite well, especially in winning the favor of Red Sister.

By all accounts, Qu Xiaoling's beauty wasn't top-tier in the pleasure quarters.

But she had a fiery spirit and expressive eyes, and was good at reading people. Her emotional intelligence was high; she knew how to keep customers happy and could also make Red Sister smile. Consequently, for the past couple of weeks, Red Sister had taken extra care of her.

In tonight's situation, Red Sister wouldn't normally have called Qu Xiaoling—the reason was simple: she wasn't pretty enough.

But Red Sister's top performers, including another star performer, the Red Card Fairy, had important clients of their own tonight and couldn't be spared.

Red Sister feared it wasn't secure enough with Xia Xia alone!

The preferences of clients are unpredictable, and although Xia Xia was charming, what if tonight's guest didn't take a liking to her style? Moreover, Li Qingshan's subordinate had insisted with utter seriousness that they must ensure the honored guest was happy tonight.

Being an old hand in this business, Red Sister played it safe. Xia Xia alone was not secure, so at the last minute, she also called in Qu Xiaoling, who could charm and energize a crowd.

Though this girl wasn't as pretty as Xia Xia, she had a different style—there would be a Plan B in case the guest didn't like Xia Xia.

Moreover, since Qu Xiaoling had joined them, she had indeed kept Red Sister very pleased; tonight was also a chance for her to rise in rank.

Actually, when Zhang Linsheng pushed the door open, Qu Xiaoling saw him clearly!

But because of her status, she had been sitting on the innermost sofa. When Li Qingshan and Old Seven stood up to greet the guest, with Red Sister and Xia Xia joining in, Qu Xiaoling was blocked at the back.

Qu Xiaoling's face was a mix of complex emotions, her body trembled slightly, she bit her lips forcefully, her face turning pale as she stared at Zhang Linsheng being courteously led to the dining table by Li Qingshan!

Zhang Linsheng had just reached the dining table, not yet seated, when he turned his head and saw the three women in the room.

A quick glance, and even Brother Haonan was instantly stupefied!

He paid Red Sister no mind.

When Zhang Linsheng saw Xia Xia, he merely paused for a moment.

But when his eyes landed on Qu Xiaoling, his breathing halted for a second!

His body stiffened, and his footsteps came to a stop!

The youthful Brother Haonan opened his mouth, but in the end, failed to utter a word, just staring at Qu Xiaoling somewhat dazedly.

Qu Xiaoling's lips trembled slightly, a barely audible "Lin Sheng" stuck in her throat...

But Zhang Linsheng had already turned his head away, withdrawing his gaze.

Following that, Xia Xia gave a coy laugh and called out endearingly, "Little Brother! Why is it you?!"

As she spoke, the little vixen twirled towards him, unabashedly holding Zhang Linsheng's arm, pressing her body close as if she wanted to merge with him.

Zhang Linsheng's body jolted as if he intended to shake her off, but after a slight attempt, Xia Xia subtly clung even closer, so he subconsciously turned to glance at Qu Xiaoling again.

Qu Xiaoling stood stock still, her complexion ashen, frozen in place!

"Oh? Do you know each other?"

Li Qingshan seemed not to notice the exchange of looks between Zhang Linsheng and the two girls—although Zhang Linsheng did look a few more times at the two girls in the room.

But for a young man, giving extra looks to pretty girls was, in Hall Master Li's opinion, nothing out of the ordinary.

It was Xia Xia's immediate approach that surprised Hall Master Li, drawing his full attention to this beautiful little demon.

"Yes, Mr. Li," Xia Xia laughed. "I've known this Little Brother for a long time. If I had known I was accompanying him tonight... Oh my, Red Sister, you should have told me earlier!"

Red Sister internally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed tonight's banquet would be fine. So she also chimed in with a cheery tone, "How would I know you're acquainted with this handsome guy?"

"Handsome guy?!" Hall Master Li's expression darkened. "Don't call him that! Call him Young Master!"

Red Sister's heart skipped a beat. Though full of curiosity, she quickly corrected herself respectfully. "Yes, yes, Young Master!"

Xia Xia's eyes flickered, but she deliberately said with a laugh, "Then you call him Young Master, Red Sister! I've always called him Little Brother, right, Little Brother?"

Zhang Linsheng kept a straight face and said nothing, but eventually gave up the attempt to disengage from Xia Xia—maybe it wasn't that he couldn't break free, but perhaps, due to mixed emotions, he didn't know how to react and stayed still.

"Sit! Sit! Everyone, take your seats!"

Hall Master Li walked up with a hearty laugh, leading Zhang Linsheng to the seat of honor.

Zhang Linsheng had no idea about the significance of the seat of honor and sat down in a daze.

Seeing this caused Red Sister's heart to skip another beat! This kid must have an incredibly distinguished background! Her already cautious mind became even more vigilant.

Li Qingshan arranged for Zhang Linsheng to sit in the seat of honor, then had Xia Xia and Qu Xiaoling serve on either side of him, one to the left and one to the right.

Li Qingshan sat to the right, with Red Sister tending to him.

As for Old Seven, he sat at the farthest seat.

Zhang Linsheng sat there in a daze.

Qu Xiaoling sat equally confused and dazed.

Only Xia Xia was in high spirits, eager to show off all her skills. She initiated playful banter, keeping the atmosphere at the table lively.

To Li Qingshan and Xia Xia, Zhang Linsheng usually wore a cold expression, and they were accustomed to it. His dazed state tonight didn't particularly stand out; they simply perceived him as the mysterious Young Master, coolly indifferent as always.

But Red Sister was somewhat surprised that Qu Xiaoling, whom she had brought along, was performing far below her usual standard tonight!

In Red Sister's recollection, this girl named Qu Xiaoling had always been quick-witted and socially adept, skilled at conversation, enlivening the atmosphere, and always ready with a laugh or a story.

Yet tonight, she seemed like she had lost her soul, sitting there like a wooden statue, stiff-faced and hardly speaking a word.

She mechanically joined in the toasts and drinking but didn't eat a single bite of the food.

And that mysterious Young Master seemed to show no interest in her. He sat there without turning his head once, not giving Qu Xiaoling a single glance.

Red Sister sighed inwardly. Well, it seems I misjudged tonight. This Qu Xiaoling, who usually seems so sharp, turns out to be someone who can't handle big occasions. Seeing an important figure has scared her speechless! All my efforts to groom her have been wasted. Fortunately, Xia Xia is impressive and reliable.

Watching Xia Xia completely disregard Zhang Linsheng's cold demeanor, cheerfully engaging him repeatedly, even boldly pressing close a few times—though he remained indifferent, she wasn't the least bit discouraged.

Red Sister couldn't help but muse inwardly: A Red Card Fairy is a Red Card Fairy, after all.

The dinner was... well, how to put it? The mood was very stiff.

It must be said that it really was thanks to Xia Xia pulling out all the stops that the atmosphere at the table wasn't completely dead.

In Xia Xia's memory, Zhang Linsheng was always a man of few words, but he had never been as silent as he was today, virtually turning into a mute.

Fortunately, when she poured him wine and lit his cigarettes, Zhang Linsheng didn't refuse.

Li Qingshan had probably misunderstood the relationship between Xia Xia and Zhang Linsheng. He was much kinder to Xia Xia, even taking the initiative to toast her.

Xia Xia was also quite shrewd.

Once she sensed the change in Li Qingshan's attitude toward her, she deftly switched from the polite "Mr. Li" to the more intimate "Old Master Li."

Far from being displeased, Li Qingshan actually seemed quite happy to accept it!

He then said with a joking laugh, "Xia Xia, this Young Master of mine is no ordinary person! How did you come to know him? Do you realize how many women would cry and scream to get close to him? If you can associate with the Young Master and serve him well, your future in Jinling City will be assured!"

Xia Xia smiled and deliberately snuggled closer to Zhang Linsheng before she replied with a laugh, "Who am I to stick to him, this Little Brother.

"I do wish he would look at me a bit more... but, you see, Little Brother is always so cool, hardly paying anyone any mind.

"When we went shopping last time, I begged him to watch a movie with me; I was almost ready to kneel before him, and he still didn't agree. Even getting him to have an ice cream with me felt like an Emperor granting a favor."

Her words were cleverly crafted.

It sounded like a complaint, but delivered in a coquettish tone, it wasn't annoying. At the same time, she subtly hinted at her close relationship with Zhang Linsheng without being too obvious.

As a result, Li Qingshan's manner toward Xia Xia became even more gracious.

Meanwhile, Qu Xiaoling, sitting to the side, clutched her wine glass so tightly her fingers turned white!

Taking a deep breath, Qu Xiaoling stood up and headed to the restroom inside the private room.

Once inside the restroom, she immediately turned on the faucet, then pulled out several tissues and clutched them fiercely in the palm of her hand, looking at her own reflection in the mirror, her eyes reddening.

But ... she just couldn't bring herself to cry.

Although she was a bit sad, her muddled entanglement with Zhang Linsheng had ended quite some time ago after all.

She wasn't like Zhang Linsheng, a novice in matters of the heart. Even though she had been truly moved at the start, after years of navigating the world of pleasure, such matters, once over, were left in the past.

Reuniting with Zhang Linsheng tonight... if one were to describe it as heartache or distress... it was more that seeing Zhang Linsheng's status before the renowned Hall Master Li stirred a greater sense of indignation in Qu Xiaoling's heart!

Especially seeing Xia Xia clinging to Zhang Linsheng's side made Qu Xiaoling's heart fill with even more resentment and unwillingness!

This should have been mine!!

Leaving the restroom, Qu Xiaoling wiped her face and was about to head back to the room when she saw Red Sister already standing there, beckoning to her, so she walked over.

"What's wrong with you tonight! Acting like a fool! Have you lost your tongue?!" Red Sister complained, clearly displeased. "I brought you to meet an important client, and this is how you behave?!"

Qu Xiaoling clenched her teeth and whispered apologetically, "I'm sorry, Red Sister ... I, I'm not feeling well today."

"Is it that time of the month?"

It actually wasn't, but Qu Xiaoling still nodded, "Mhm, my stomach hurts."

Red Sister sighed and said softly, "Okay then, you don't have to go back into the room, go on home."

"... Huh?"

"Hall Master Li's man said you should leave, don't you understand? Are you brain-dead?!" Red Sister said, exasperated by her lack of initiative. "You just sat there, unable to get a word in! The client clearly didn't like you! Did you think you should stay there and be an eyesore? Just now, Hall Master Li's man, that Old Seven, discreetly told me to send you away!

"Ah! You foolish girl! Really, if it weren't for Xia Xia tonight, you would've screwed everything up!"

Qu Xiaoling felt wronged, "I'm... I'm sorry, Red Sister."

"Alright! Go home! Didn't you say it's your period? Don't work tonight; go home and rest."

Qu Xiaoling nodded in agreement.

Her mood was already very bad coming here tonight, and she really didn't want to go to work anymore.

Even if Red Sister hadn't relented, she had planned to ask for the night off anyway.

"Go on! Be smarter next time." Red Sister waved her hand dismissively.

Qu Xiaoling felt a sense of relief. She wasn't sure if it was reluctance or the feeling of a burden being lifted. She glanced one last time at the door of the private room and finally turned to leave.

Actually, for a fleeting moment, she felt an impulse to push open the door, rush to that man's side, throw herself into his arms, and see if he would still smile at her gently as he used to, tenderly and protectively... But in the end, such childish thoughts vanished as quickly as they came.

Returning to the private room, Red Sister sat down and gave Li Qingshan a look, indicating that everything was handled.

Li Qingshan didn't ask why Qu Xiaoling hadn't come back but simply smiled and nodded.

However, after sitting there for a few minutes, Zhang Linsheng suddenly turned his head to look at the empty seat beside him and then at Red Sister.

"And... her?" Zhang Linsheng asked.

"Huh?" Red Sister was taken aback but reacted quickly, smiling. "Oh, Xiaoling? She, um, wasn't feeling well, so I let her go home first."

Zhang Linsheng paused and then nodded.

A short while later, a bottle of baijiu was empty. Before Li Qingshan could arrange for another, Zhang Linsheng suddenly overturned his cup on the table.

"That's enough for tonight, Hall Master Li. I have other things to do. I appreciate the sentiment behind this meal. Thank you."

"Ah?" Li Qingshan was startled, then smiled. "Well... the private room in the venue downstairs is ready. Why don't we..."

"No, I have something else tonight," Zhang Linsheng slowly shook his head.

Glancing at Li Qingshan, Zhang Linsheng mused for a moment, then asked, "Hall Master Li, did you really invite me tonight for no other reason?"

"No, no! Absolutely not! I just heard you recently found some free time, so I wanted to arrange this dinner to celebrate with you. Really, no other reason."

Zhang Linsheng nodded. "Then... thank you. I appreciate the hospitality, but I really can't drink anymore. I have other things to do."

Although Li Qingshan was somewhat disappointed, he didn't dare press him to stay. Tonight already felt like significant progress. Being able to sit at the same table and drink with this 'killing star,' to build some rapport, had considerably advanced their relationship.

From now on... one step at a time!

With that, Li Qingshan stood up. "Alright! Since Young Master has other important matters, I dare not delay your business. I'll arrange a car..."

"No need," Zhang Linsheng shook his head.

Li Qingshan hesitated for a moment before tentatively suggesting, "Or perhaps... let Xia Xia see you off?"

"Ah! I can do it, no problem at all," Xia Xia quickly said.

Zhang Linsheng glanced at Xia Xia and slowly, yet firmly, disengaged his arm from hers. Shaking his head, he said, "No need. You don't need to see me off either. I can go back by myself."

Li Qingshan assumed this young 'killing star' had matters he couldn't let others know about, so he dared not press further.

Although Xia Xia was somewhat reluctant, with Li Qingshan present, she didn't dare to be too clingy. If this Little Brother truly didn't give her face, all her efforts tonight, borrowing his prestige, would have been wasted.

Best to quit while she was ahead.

The group respectfully escorted Zhang Linsheng to the elevator, and upon his refusal, didn't dare to follow any further.

After sending Zhang Linsheng off, Li Qingshan looked at Red Sister and Xia Xia.

The old man pondered for a moment and instructed Red Sister, "Don't clear the private room downstairs."

Then the old man turned to Xia Xia with a gentle tone, "Xia Xia, come downstairs and have a chat with me, I have some things I'd like to ask you. Do you have time?"

Xia Xia's eyes darted around, and she smiled, "Are you inviting me for a drink, Old Master Li? No problem at all."

"Hahaha! Not for drinks, not for drinks! Let's drink tea, tea!" Li Qingshan exclaimed.

I already know you're involved with Brother Haonan, Li Qingshan thought. Would I dare drink with you? Am I tired of my legs working properly? Hmm, I'll have tea with this girl and see if I can glean some information about Brother Haonan's preferences from her. Even if I can't find anything out, treating Xia Xia well now, hoping she might put in a good word for me with Brother Haonan later, is still a good move.

「Eight o'clock in the evening.」

Zhang Linsheng stood downstairs, looking up at the residential building in front of him.

Qu Xiaoling's home was on the fifth floor, and from downstairs, he could see the lights in her room were on.

Actually, Zhang Linsheng himself didn't know how he had ended up here.

After leaving the hotel, he finally let down his guard that had been up all evening. No longer having Li Qingshan in front of him meant he didn't need to pretend anymore.

Zhang Linsheng had taken a car, intending to go home, but on an inexplicable impulse, he got off two stops early. Then, under the cover of night, he had wandered here before he knew it.

Standing downstairs, Zhang Linsheng let out a wry smile.

Although he claimed to have moved on, perhaps a lingering attachment still remained in some corner of his heart. Maybe, only as he grew older, would this faint attachment truly be buried deep down, never to be touched again.

After taking a few deep breaths, Zhang Linsheng turned to leave towards the entrance of the complex, but after only a few steps, he encountered four figures swiftly approaching him.

Zhang Linsheng didn't pay them any mind at first. As he passed by these people, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The rhythm of their breathing, their gait—it subtly indicated they possessed martial skills!

Though he had only been practicing for a few months, thanks to Chen Nuo's cheat-like assistance which acted like an accelerator, Zhang Linsheng's skill might be one thing, but his Inner Breath had already grown considerably, reaching a minor level of attainment.

Once he recognized this, Zhang Linsheng instinctively looked back and noticed that these four men had a clear target—they headed straight for the building where Qu Xiaoling lived and went directly into her apartment block!

Zhang Linsheng was stunned for a moment. He instinctively took a few steps back and, as if possessed, found himself returning. By the time he was at the foot of the building again, the men had already gone upstairs.

Listening to the footsteps, Zhang Linsheng silently judged... Third floor... Fourth floor... They're still going up!

Zhang Linsheng's heart sank!

They've reached the fifth floor! The fifth floor was the top floor! And it was the floor where Qu Xiaoling lived!

A sudden, unsettling guess formed in his mind. Zhang Linsheng instinctively started to hurry upstairs...