Chapter 294
“As long as you know, fine, there’s nothing more for you to do here, so hurry up and get out.” Sheng Yi waved his hand dismissively at Sheng Wenhao as if swatting away a fly.
Sheng Wenhao acted as though he hadn’t noticed the disdain in Sheng Yi’s eyes. He carefully put away the items in front of him before turning to leave, ignoring the mocking laughter behind him.
With other people’s excited gazes upon him, Sheng Wenhao went over to Xu Ke, maintaining the same expression he had from the start, ensuring those surveilling him from afar couldn’t detect any anomaly.
“What did they just say to you?” Xu Ke refused the wine glass offered by a waiter and whispered to Sheng Wenhao.
“They wanted me to drug you. They gave me a small transparent bag filled with white powder. I’m almost certain it’s drugs. I really didn’t expect he’d dare commit such a brazen act here in Hua Country,” Sheng Wenhao said bitterly, gritting his jaw.
“What wouldn’t they dare do? Didn’t you already say they would stop at nothing to achieve their goals? Wasn’t such a situation expected?” Unlike Sheng Wenhao, who was trying hard to suppress his emotions, Xu Ke’s face showed no hints of emotion or anger, as if he wasn’t the one being plotted against.
“I just didn’t expect them to be this brazen. I’ll look for a chance to dispose of this bag of powder later. Dammit, if the timing were right, I’d want to call the cops and have them all arrested,” Sheng Wenhao said, trying hard to control his emotions. Yet, even as he spoke, traces of menace and hatred appeared on his face.
Understanding Sheng Wenhao’s current state of mind, Xu Ke patted him on the shoulder and said, “Don’t rush to dispose of this bag. It will be useful soon.” Xu Ke smiled, refined and elegant.
Seeing Xu Ke’s curved lips, Sheng Wenhao’s anger was unexpectedly soothed, and his own lips began to curl up slightly, mimicking Xu Ke’s.
“What’s your plan?” Sheng Wenhao glanced around to ensure no one was watching and then whispered to Xu Ke.
“Come closer, and I’ll tell you.” Xu Ke gestured Sheng Wenhao over, and the two stood in the corner, whispering to each other.
After Xu Ke explained his plan to Sheng Wenhao, the last traces of resentment in Sheng Wenhao’s heart vanished completely, replaced by a sense of joy.
“I never imagined our chance would come so swiftly. It’s truly divine retribution, isn’t it? He’s handing himself over to us. Isn’t this what’s known as delivering oneself on a silver platter?” Sheng Wenhao looked at Xu Ke, his eyes sparkling with a newfound brightness.
“What do you think?” Xu Ke raised an eyebrow as he looked back at Sheng Wenhao. Their gazes intersected in the air, and they both laughed.
…
“Did you do what I asked?” Sheng Yi cornered Sheng Wenhao at the restroom door, asking impatiently with a frown.
“Later, make sure you get him drunk and take him to the room at the end of the corridor on the third floor, left turn. I want to see him twenty minutes from now, got it?” Satisfied that Sheng Wenhao had completed the task he instructed, Sheng Yi’s face showed traces of satisfaction, and even his tone became much lighter.
“Got it,” Sheng Wenhao replied softly.
“If you had listened earlier, you wouldn’t have suffered so much. Once this task is done, I’ll give you a big credit so you can stay here and not have to return to suffer in the foreign country,” Sheng Yi said with a smug smile, eyes reflecting a sense of pity and charity towards Sheng Wenhao.
“Alright, go about your business then.” Sheng Yi patted Sheng Wenhao’s shoulder with his hand and then took out a handkerchief from his pocket, meticulously wiping the fingers that had touched Sheng Wenhao.
“Why are you still standing there? Hurry up!” Sheng Yi glanced at Sheng Wenhao, who hadn’t moved, with an unhappy frown and spoke with a slight chill in his voice.
Sheng Wenhao nodded, his gaze lingering for a few seconds on the handkerchief Sheng Yi was wiping before he left without turning back. Yet, the moment he turned, his expression turned cold, with a hint of ridicule.
At the flower exhibition, Xu Ke and Sheng Wenhao exchanged a glance.
Twenty minutes later, Sheng Wenhao supported the unsteady Xu Ke, arriving in front of the door to the room designated by Sheng Yi.
Sheng Wenhao tightened his grip on Xu Ke’s waist. Xu Ke, whose eyes were previously clouded with intoxication, suddenly became clear-headed, though it was just a fleeting moment before his dazed appearance returned.
“Knock, knock, knock!” Sheng Wenhao rhythmically knocked on the door before him.
The moment Sheng Wenhao’s hand stopped, the closed door opened.
Lu Xiaoxiao, wearing a silk robe, leaned lazily against the doorframe. Her doe-like eyes, devoid of their previous innocence and purity, now held a reckless and mischievous look, like an evil doll that one would only find in films.
“Are you Sheng Wenhao?” She glanced at Xu Ke, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes were dreamy, with a hint of disdain. She then turned her gaze to Sheng Wenhao, eyes filled with pure curiosity. At that moment, she somewhat resembled a Western angel.
“I’m Sheng Wenhao, and who are you?” Sheng Wenhao did not expect a woman to come out of the room, so his gaze naturally held a hint of surprise, but it only made him more vigilant. Something about this woman made him uneasy, an animalistic instinct urging him to flee with Xu Ke. Yet, Xu Ke’s hand dangling beside him nudged his waist, keeping his outward-pointing foot discreetly rooted.
“Who I am is none of your concern. Leave him on the bed, and there’s nothing more for you to do here, so you can get out.”
Lu Xiaoxiao lost interest in continuing the conversation as soon as she assessed Sheng Wenhao’s dark skin and gaunt face paired with a look of weakness. She even withdrew her gaze, as if looking at him any longer would be an offense to her eyes.
“Where should I put him? Here?” Sheng Wenhao withdrew his gaze, hiding all his emotions beneath his lowered head and hair.
He laboriously moved Xu Ke from the door to the bedroom and, at Lu Xiaoxiao’s signal, dropped him onto the bed.
“Alright, there’s nothing more for you to do here. Get out and don’t forget to close the door on your way out,” Lu Xiaoxiao said, casting a glance at Sheng Wenhao as a parting gesture.