C19 Her Boyfriend

The entire room was in shock!

Everyone had assumed that the esteemed appraiser would never stoop to making a bet that involved kowtowing to Xue Rensheng. To them, the act of kowtowing was trivial, but the appraiser's reputation was paramount!

Today, at the Xue family's treasure evaluation convention, he had been left utterly speechless by a young man. His reputation was already in tatters, and if he were to kowtow to Xue Rensheng, word would surely spread, and his career in artifact appraisal would be over!

Xue Rensheng, of course, grasped the situation. Although puzzled by Liu Dongfeng's apparent willingness to kowtow at Qi Xiao's behest, as a corporate executive, he wouldn't engage in such a dishonorable act that would earn him resentment.

He rose swiftly from his seat and hurried over, saying as he approached:

"Master Liu, there's no need for this. It was all in jest. Why take it so seriously?"

This was a significant concession to Liu Dongfeng, offering him an honorable exit. If Liu Dongfeng could just respond with courtesy, the incident would be put to rest. Despite the blow to his pride at the hands of Qi Xiao, it was far preferable to a public display of subservience.

Yet, Qi Xiao merely smiled. He was certain Liu Dongfeng would indeed kowtow to Xue Rensheng because... only through such an act would the perfect opportunity for assassination arise!

As Xue Rensheng approached, Liu Dongfeng's heartbeat quickened. Far from a professional assassin, he hadn't even killed a chicken before!

His initial task was simply to sabotage the appraisal at Xue Rensheng's convention, ensuring the final piece was misjudged. The Xue family selling a counterfeit jade carving was one thing, but the blow to their reputation would be devastating for their business dealings.

In the world of commerce, no one wants to partner with a deceitful scoundrel.

Unexpectedly, Qi Xiao had emerged, throwing a wrench into his plans. Now, he had no choice but to follow through with his employer's last-ditch directive.

Concealed within his right sleeve was a sleeve arrow, ready to launch at the press of a mechanism. Coated with a deadly poison, it would ensure certain death for anyone struck by it.

Unaware of the appraiser's ulterior motives, Xue Rensheng approached, while Liu Dongfeng's expression grew increasingly malevolent, driven by the astronomical reward he'd been promised to the point of recklessness.

With a swift motion, he raised his right hand and activated the mechanism aimed at Xue Rensheng!

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Three silver sleeve arrows, each the length of a finger, whistled through the air, speeding towards Xue Rensheng.

Yet before the arrows could reach their target, they were snatched out of the air by a swift hand.

Xue Rensheng froze, realization dawning on him a moment later. His face drained of color, he pointed at Liu Dongfeng and yelled, "Quick! Seize him!"

The bodyguards, though confused, sprang into action at Director Xue's command, swiftly tackling Liu Dongfeng to the ground.

Only then did Xue Rensheng turn to the person who had intercepted the sleeve arrows, his heart still racing.

With impeccable precision, Qi Xiao had clamped all three arrows between the fingers of one hand, halting their deadly flight.

"Mr. Qi, you've saved me once again today!"

A shiver ran down Xue Rensheng's spine as he contemplated his close call. Had he not enlisted Qi Xiao's services today, he doubted any other bodyguard could have matched the feat of catching sleeve arrows barehanded.

As Qi Xiao relaxed his grip, the arrows clattered to the ground. He inspected his fingers, which had darkened slightly from contact with the arrows. Thankfully, the poison required entry into the bloodstream to be effective, and a simple application of his zhenqi neutralized the threat.

"Take people's money, ward off their disasters," Qi Xiao remarked coolly.

Overcome with gratitude, Xue Rensheng gestured expansively and declared, "With today's incident, Mr. Qi, you've saved me twice! Rest assured, I'll transfer 20 million to your account as soon as I return!"

Qi Xiao offered a knowing smile, appreciating Xue Rensheng's sense of honor. Without making much of it, he simply stated, "I've examined the jade carving; it's a counterfeit, of no value. Therefore, I graciously decline the twenty million."

Upon hearing the news, Xue Rensheng couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. However, he knew that preserving his life was paramount. With due reverence, he bowed deeply to Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao dismissed the gesture with a wave of his hand, uninterested in the ensuing drama. He turned to leave the venue, only to find the crowd completely dumbfounded, their gazes locked on him.

"What in the world just happened? Can someone fill me in? Why did Director Xue bow to that young man?"

"Word is that the appraiser tried to take out Director Xue, but this young guy saved him!"

"No way! What are the odds he'd be there at the right moment? Why wasn't it me on that stage?"

"You, on stage? You'd probably be a goner too. That guy had a sleeve arrow, and this young man caught it just like that! Think you could've done that?"

A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers. Catching a sleeve arrow barehanded? What kind of lightning-fast reflexes must he have?

Lin Cheng, standing at a distance from the stage, hadn't seen the incident clearly. Nonetheless, he was struck by the sight of Xue Rensheng bowing to Qi Xiao. His mind reeled, unable to grasp why the esteemed head of the Xue family, the CEO of the A Group, would show such deference to this seemingly unworthy heir.

Qi Xiao, unfazed by the crowd's astonishment and admiration, left the venue without a trace of emotion. He had his own affairs to tend to.

Back at the venue, Xue Rensheng's face darkened as he eyed Liu Dongfeng, now restrained by bodyguards.

"Take him to the basement. I'll conduct the interrogation myself later," he ordered sternly.

After departing from the treasure evaluation convention, Qi Xiao retreated to his home. For the next three days, he didn't step foot outside, instead dedicating himself to intensive cultivation. The experience had provided him with a wealth of mental focus, enough to sustain his practice for half a month.

When the day arrived for his meeting with the Lin family, Qi Xiao was well-prepared, document in hand, as he made his way to their residence.

Coincidentally, the Lin family was also abuzz with a significant event—the return of Lin Suxin's second uncle, Lin Pohe. Lin Pohe was a maverick within the Lin family, indifferent to wealth and status. His passion lay in the pursuit of martial arts, and by his thirties, he had already become a master of external martial arts.

After dedicating ten years to studying under a master at a prestigious sect, he finally returned home today, rumored to have reached the level of an internal martial arts expert.

The Lin family might not have been well-versed in the nuances of internal martial arts, but having a formidable member in their ranks was certainly cause for celebration. They threw a lavish banquet to honor Lin Pohe's homecoming, extending invitations to a host of relatives and friends.

Qi Xiao approached the grand entrance of the Lin family's estate, standing before the gates of a sprawling villa.

The Lin estate boasted extensive grounds, with ample space dedicated to hosting outdoor gatherings, complete with an open-air swimming pool and other luxurious amenities. The villa's main gate was set a considerable distance from the house itself.

"Hey, stop right there!"

Qi Xiao was halted in his tracks by a security guard as he attempted to enter.

Assuming Qi Xiao was a penniless relative of the Lins, based on his arrival on foot, the guard, emboldened by previous instructions to be selective with admissions, demanded haughtily:

"Who might you be? Whom are you looking for? What's the purpose of your visit?"

With a calm demeanor, Qi Xiao responded:

"I am Lin Suxin's fiancé."

The guard, skeptical upon hearing Qi Xiao's claim, had only recently started his job and had no knowledge of Lin Suxin being engaged. Moreover, Miss Lin had been seen recently with a well-to-do suitor. Could she really have a fiancé?

Clearly, this man must be fabricating a story to gain entry and freeload.

The guard retorted disdainfully:

"Scram! We don't just let any so-called poor relative in. Get lost!"

Realizing he was mistaken for a poor relative, Qi Xiao was about to reach out to Lin Suxin when a car pulled up behind him, honking loudly.

The blaring horn was painful to the guard's ears, yet he dared not utter another word. Instead, he stepped aside, barking:

"Move it! Can't you see Miss Lin and her boyfriend have arrived?"

Boyfriend?

Qi Xiao was momentarily taken aback. He turned to see a flashy white convertible Ferrari, with Lin Suxin and a man dressed in a white suit looking every bit the part of a flamboyant beau.

As he turned, Lin Suxin caught a clear glimpse of Qi Xiao, her surprise evident as she frowned and spoke:

"Qi Xiao, you've got some nerve showing up," the flashy man said, removing his sunglasses to size up Qi Xiao, who stood defiantly in front of the car.

"Darling, is this the so-called 'worthless heir' you mentioned?" Lin Suxin cast a disdainful glance at Qi Xiao and gave a confirming nod.

The man hit the horn once more and called out mockingly, "Hey! A good dog knows better than to stand in the way!"

​