Xia Xixi held his phone in midair, hesitating for a long time before lowering it.
He hadn’t expected Li Quyin to send him a message like this.
If it were simply a date, choosing a hotel as the meeting place seemed a bit too strange.
But if it wasn’t just a date, and the other party suddenly sent him a hotel address…
Xia Xixi’s long, slightly curled eyelashes trembled lightly.
Unbidden, an image of Li Quyin’s face surfaced in his mind, along with his tall and slender figure. Li Quyin probably exercised regularly—his physique was undoubtedly impressive.
Realizing where his thoughts were straying, Xia Xixi’s heart skipped an uncontrollable beat.
“I’m talking to you!” Old Man Liao’s abrupt voice startled Xia Xixi out of his daze.
He looked up to find Old Man Liao sitting right across from him.
The two of them had just returned together from the police station.
Earlier at the hospital, Xia Xixi had received a call from Brother Wu and immediately went downstairs.
By the time he reached the parking lot, the person who had smashed his car had already fled, leaving behind only a mess of wreckage.
After reporting it to the police, Xia Xixi and Old Man Liao had taken Brother Wu to get his wounds dressed and examined before heading to the station to give their statements.
Brother Wu’s injuries weren’t serious—he had been accidentally hurt when the perpetrator was vandalizing the car. Xia Xixi gave him a few days off to rest properly at home.
Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. However, Xia Xixi’s car was nearly totaled. Even though the insurance company would cover it, it wouldn’t be drivable for a while.
“I’m certain this incident has something to do with that guy, Shen,” Old Man Liao analyzed. “Look at the timing—you go to the hospital, and your car gets smashed.”
He added, “And after you left, Shen also went to You Hai’s hospital room.”
“He was at the hospital too?” Xia Xixi was surprised.
“Yeah, you had just left, and right after, he showed up.”
“What was he doing there?” Xia Xixi frowned deeply.
“Said he was visiting You Hai. But it’s strange—You Hai insists that this has nothing to do with him…”
Hearing this, Xia Xixi was reminded of something.
“You Hai’s behavior is definitely odd.” He had already noticed it.
It wasn’t just that You Hai was unwilling to talk—his avoidance didn’t seem like simple fear from being threatened. It felt more like he was deliberately hiding something.
“Well, we’ll just have to wait for the police to investigate. I’d like to see who has the guts to pull something like this!” Old Man Liao said angrily.
Whoever it was, he wouldn’t let them off easily!
Smashing a car this time—who knew if next time, they’d come after people instead?
"Be careful these days." Old Man Liao reminded.
"Okay." Xia Xixi responded.
"By the way, where were you the past two days? You weren’t home." Old Man Liao had come looking for Xia Xixi a couple of days ago but hadn’t found him, which was why he had called earlier.
"I went out to have fun."
Old Man Liao made a sound of acknowledgment, not thinking much of it.
Being reminded of what had just happened, Xia Xixi suddenly recalled something. He glanced at Old Man Liao.
"What?" Old Man Liao felt uncomfortable being stared at like that.
"I want to ask you something." Xia Xixi got up and poured himself a glass of water.
"What is it?"
"If someone asks you to meet at a hotel, what do you think they mean?" Xia Xixi’s black-and-white eyes stared straight at Old Man Liao.
Though Old Man Liao was often unreliable, he had still lived several decades longer than Xia Xixi and had more experience.
"What?!" Old Man Liao was so shocked he almost jumped up.
He scrutinized Xia Xixi as if he were looking at a precious cabbage that had just been snatched by a pig.
"Whose family is he from?"
"You don’t know him."
"Where did you meet him?"
"At a bar."
Old Man Liao’s expression became complicated.
With Xia Xixi’s background and capabilities, there were countless families in their circle eager to introduce their daughters to him. The line of suitors would stretch all the way down the street.
And yet, here he was—this fine cabbage had actually been gnawed on by some wild boar!
"How long have you known him?" Old Man Liao was so furious that his chest felt tight. Even though he didn’t have a granddaughter, he had always treated Xia Xixi as his own grandson.
Otherwise, why would he bother worrying so much?
Xia Xixi tilted his head, seriously counting the days. "Eighteen days. We’ve been dating for about ten days."
"You’ve only known each other for ten days?"
"Mm."
Old Man Liao’s face turned red with anger, his expression conflicted. "And after just ten days, he’s asking you to meet at a hotel in the middle of the night?"
He didn’t say it outright, but the words "not a good person" were practically written all over his face.
Xia Xixi had grown up around a bunch of old folks like them, never really having friends his own age. He was smart and highly capable, but his interpersonal experience was almost nonexistent.
Before, Old Man Liao hadn’t thought much of it. But now, he was suddenly feeling an urgent sense of panic—as if Xia Xixi was about to be abducted.
"I’m telling you, there are too many people out there looking to scam others for money and sex. Haven’t you seen the news—"
Xia Xixi seriously thought about it. Li Quyin, scamming for money and sex?
For money—Li Quyin probably didn’t even know that he was wealthy.
As for sex—Xia Xixi wasn’t sure who would be at a greater disadvantage, given Li Quyin’s face.
After all, Shen Bailou’s looks were universally acknowledged as attractive and appealing. And Li Quyin looked exactly like him.
"And besides, what if this ends up costing a life—"
Xia Xixi choked on his water, immediately breaking into a fit of coughing.
He gave Old Man Liao, who was ranting excitedly, a strange look. Him and Li Quyin, causing a life?
Xia Xixi was pretty sure that wasn’t a concern they needed to have.
Thinking about it this way, Xia Xixi felt like there wasn’t much to worry about after all.
And based on his interactions with Li Quyin over the past days, Li Quyin didn’t seem like someone that frivolous. They weren’t at that stage yet.
The message itself was strange—maybe something had happened?
Or perhaps Li Quyin had sent it by mistake? Maybe it was meant for someone else?
"I’m heading out for a bit." Xia Xixi said.
"What?"
***
At Shang Que’s residence.
Shang Que was flipping through past chat records when a well-defined hand suddenly reached over.
"What are you doing?" Li Quyin snatched his phone back.
Shang Que was startled. "I was just looking."
Li Quyin checked his phone and immediately saw Xia Xixi’s contact. His sharp brows furrowed tightly.
He was about to close it when he caught sight of the last two messages from the corner of his eye.
"Who told you to mess with my phone?" Li Quyin’s voice was cold, carrying a hint of anger.
"You mad?" Shang Que leaned playfully against the railing. "I was just joking. Why are you so tense?"
Li Quyin turned and walked away.
Shang Que was the classic rich playboy type. The people around him—whether friends or lovers—were never sincere, and he himself had never been serious about anyone either.
"You’re seriously mad?" Shang Que hurried after him.
Li Quyin ignored him, set down his drink, and went downstairs.
Shang Que quickly called out to him. "You’re being so nice to him—does he even know? What if he’s only after your money? You’re Shen Bailou, the great movie star Shen Bailou."
Li Quyin stopped in his tracks.
Xia Xixi knows I’m Shen Bailou?
"If he’s after your money, he’ll definitely show up." Shang Que teased.
Li Quyin ignored him and continued downstairs amidst the deafening music.
There was no way Xia Xixi knew he was Shen Bailou.
Xia Xixi’s dislike for Shen Bailou was far too real. If he knew, he would have broken up with him already.
"Why are you so stubborn?" Shang Que grew anxious upon realizing Li Quyin was genuinely upset.
He and Li Quyin had grown up together—not exactly life-and-death friends, but after more than twenty years of knowing each other, there was still some camaraderie.
"If he’s interested, wouldn’t that work out perfectly?" Shang Que tempted, "A night of passion is worth a thousand gold—"
Li Quyin didn’t catch the rest of Shang Que’s words. But after leaving his house, he somehow found himself driving to the hotel.
Sitting in the parking lot for a while, Li Quyin was just considering sending a message to explain when his phone vibrated.
"Okay." — Xia Xixi.
Li Quyin’s Adam’s apple moved involuntarily. Holding his phone, his thumb lightly brushed across the screen.
He tugged at the bow tie around his collar. The air suddenly felt stifling, making it hard for him to breathe.
Xia Xixi really came?
"I'm here." — Xia Xixi.
Li Quyin’s Adam’s apple rolled again, and the sound of his own swallowing startled him.
He got out of the car and walked toward the hotel lobby. After taking two steps, he suddenly realized he hadn’t turned off the engine.
Doubling back, he pulled out the key before heading inside.
In the elevator going up, Li Quyin tugged at his collar three times in a row. Just before stepping out, he faced the elevator wall and adjusted his tie properly again.
Standing at the door, he cleared his throat before raising his hand to knock.
After knocking, he held his breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. But even after several minutes, there was no movement from inside.
Li Quyin knocked again. Still nothing. He pulled out his phone.
"Where are you?" — Li Quyin.
"Lobby downstairs." — Xia Xixi (instant reply).
Li Quyin looked at the tightly shut door in front of him, suddenly feeling a wave of embarrassment. What the hell was I thinking?
He hurried downstairs.
At the entrance of the hotel, Xia Xixi stood there, facing the dimly lit, suggestive lobby. Hidden in the shadows, the tips of his ears were slightly warm.
This hotel was a well-known couples’ hotel in the area. Everyone entering and leaving was paired up, and even the signboard carried an ambiguous design. The air was tinged with the faint scent of alcohol.
By the time Li Quyin came down, Xia Xixi had already been staring at the lobby for quite a while.
"You came?" As soon as Li Quyin spoke, he knew he had said the wrong thing.
But somehow, his heartbeat only sped up even more.
He had invited Xia Xixi, and Xia Xixi actually came. Just the thought of that made his heart itch uncontrollably.
Xia Xixi looked at him without speaking.
Li Quyin had asked him to meet at a couples’ hotel, and he didn’t seem to be in any sort of trouble at all.
"Ahem... How about we go sit for a bit?" Li Quyin’s voice was hoarse. The moment he said it, he wanted to slap himself.
Sit? Sit where? Inside the hotel?
Who would believe that someone specifically invited someone else to a couples’ hotel just to “sit for a bit”?
Li Quyin suddenly felt like a big bad wolf with ulterior motives.
As expected, Xia Xixi's eyes widened slightly, his black-and-white pupils staring straight at him—like a wary little rabbit on guard against a lurking predator.
Just as the air grew heavy, a hotel receptionist walked out.
He winked at them suggestively. "We're running a special promotion right now—after ten o’clock, we give out free ‘divine oil’!"