After Transmigrating Into a Book, I Was Played by the Black Lotus – Chapter 30

You’re Not Suited to Go.

The sudden arrival and challenge from the police instantly agitated the people in the bar.

No one knew what had happened.

Even after the police withdrew just as quietly, many people still didn’t know what had just transpired.

But how could something like this be hidden from the bar’s owner.

The woman in leather pants hurried over from [the side], her expression frosty when she heard that one of the parties involved had called the police.

She was slightly stunned. “Why would they call the police?”

What are these rich kids thinking?

Fortunately, however, it was just friction between two individuals and didn’t have much to do with the bar.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but didn’t forget to instruct someone to go over and apologize, “Go give them our apologies and tell them the drinks are on the house. Make sure you get the message across! Don’t let them think we’re some backwater place that knows nothing!”

With a grim face, she swiftly and decisively dressed down her staff before swaying alluringly on her high heels back to the underground level.

Just as she returned, she saw a familiar figure gesturing to her.

The owner’s heart tensed slightly.

This bar seemed to use the horizon line as a boundary, cleverly dividing the upper and lower spaces into two entirely different worlds.

Above was the chaotic, clamorous, and kaleidoscopic urban world; below was a silent, dark, and deep world that swallowed the madness of human nature.

As the one who had single-handedly created this underground world, the owner knew very well what her backing was.

With a perfectly measured smile on her face, she ambled over to the high viewing platform.

It was an inverted U-shaped tiered platform, climbing upwards like a staircase, corresponding to the different statuses of the guests.

And the one on the highest level today was naturally the person with the highest status tonight.

“What happened outside?” a female voice rang out, tinged with a careless tone.

“Just some people had a verbal spat and brought the police over,” the owner said.

“The police?” The woman paused slightly and glanced back at the owner.

A fox mask concealed her face, leaving only her crimson-painted lips to open and close.

Beneath the mask, her fine brows furrowed slightly as she asked casually, “Do you know who called them?”

The owner knew.

To be in this line of business, one naturally had to be familiar with all the local powers and dignitaries, lest it affect one’s business.

She nodded lightly. “It was people from the Lin and Zhao families.”

People from the Lin and Zhao families?

These weren’t particularly special surnames, and what’s more, it wasn’t as if there were no repeated surnames among A City’s prestigious families. The woman heard it, turned her head, and paid it no more mind.

She leaned back languidly into the soft leather sofa, her gaze returning to the stage entwined in black and red.

The owner carefully observed her expression and followed her gaze.

Even from such a distance, it couldn’t hide the caged person’s stunning beauty.

She tilted her head and gave her attendant a look.

That very night, the “caged sparrow” who had just debuted on stage was sent to the presidential suite on the top floor and did not return.

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Walking out of the police station, Zhao Manxiang flung away the person by her side.

She licked the roof of her mouth, looked at the calm and unconcerned¹ Lin Xingzhu opposite her, and shot her a vicious glare.

Lin Xingzhu was simply breaking the rules. Who would call the police over something so minor?

Thinking of her cousin, who was now in prison, she felt extremely unhappy.

Lin Xingzhu looked back at her with a completely innocent expression.

The Zhao family had acted quickly. She and Zhao Manxiang had barely arrived at the station when they sent people over to negotiate.

Because Zhao Manxiang hadn’t done anything major, faced with the Zhao family’s strong pressure, the police questioned her a few times and quickly let her go.

Of course, the main reason was that the useless Shang Cengrou beside her had quickly surrendered under the Zhao family’s intimidating presence.

Zhao Manxiang spat out hatefully, “You just wait!”

Then, under the watchful eyes of the people from the Zhao family, she left with them, unwillingly.

As the night wind blew, Shang Cengrou’s mind, which had nearly turned to mush, cleared up considerably.

She looked at Lin Xingzhu, who stood tall and straight under the night sky, and said somewhat sheepishly, “Xingzhu, thank you.”

Lin Xingzhu’s gaze was cold. “No need. You were just caught in an undeserved calamity anyway.”

Zhao Manxiang had probably targeted Shang Cengrou because she had taken her to Lush to find Qiao Zijin back then, and used it as an opportunity to lure her out.

Shang Cengrou felt a little conflicted.

After hesitating for a long time, she still spoke up carefully to remind her, “You have to be careful that Zhao Manxiang will do something to Bai Xiying…”

Before she could finish, her voice slowly died down under Lin Xingzhu’s gaze, which was as deep as an abyss.

What does that mean?

Her heart pounded, unsure if she had said the wrong thing.

Fortunately, Lin Xingzhu’s expression returned to normal in an instant. “I know. Since everything’s fine, I’ll be heading back.”

She didn’t chat any further with Shang Cengrou and drove off directly.

Leaving Shang Cengrou standing there, dazed.

Since when had Lin Xingzhu changed so much that she was almost unrecognizable?

For some reason, Shang Cengrou felt a pang of disappointment in her heart.

It was already late by the time Lin Xingzhu got home.

She had already stayed late at the company to work overtime, then received Shang Cengrou’s call to deal with trouble, and on top of that, was delayed at the police station. By the time she returned to the apartment, there were only a few pedestrians on the road.

Lin Xingzhu leaned against the elevator wall, gently rubbing her temples.

The elevator dinged, and Lin Xingzhu took a long stride out.

Suddenly, she froze.

“…What are you doing here?” Lin Xingzhu’s expression was complicated.

Bai Xiying, who was curled up and squatting by the door, looked up. There were a few red marks on her small, pale, palm-sized face from the creases of her clothes, making her look pitiful and fragile.

“I was waiting for you here,” Bai Xiying blinked.

I can see you were waiting.

Lin Xingzhu walked closer, unable to help but frown. “Is something wrong? You could have called me beforehand if you needed something.”

Bai Xiying didn’t answer.

Closer now, she could smell the scent on Lin Xingzhu.

That unique, fresh fragrance that belonged only to Lin Xingzhu was gone, replaced by the pungent smell of smoke and alcohol.

Bai Xiying’s gaze lingered on her.

Lin Xingzhu: “…”

The hand holding the key paused.

Why does Bai Xiying look exactly like a wife who just caught her partner cheating on the spot?

Influenced by this strange thought, Lin Xingzhu subconsciously looked down at herself.

Right, clothes are neat, no cheating… ah, bah, no problems have occurred.

Bai Xiying asked faintly, “You went to a bar?”

“…I did.”

Resting her head against the wall, Bai Xiying felt a little upset.

She looked at Lin Xingzhu’s innocent face. Her thin, pale lips had a faint touch of color, and from this angle, they were unexpectedly beautiful.

However, from her expression, it was clear that Lin Xingzhu hadn’t realized anything was wrong.

She clenched her fingers. “You played for that long?”

Bai Xiying knew Lin Xingzhu’s specific quitting time.

Lin Xingzhu pursed her lips. There was no need to hide these things in front of Bai Xiying. “What do you mean, played? It was clearly to clean up a mess.”

As she spoke, she rubbed her brow, looking very tired.

Oh, so that’s how it is.

Bai Xiying twirled a strand of hair and said nothing more.

Lin Xingzhu glanced down at her and asked, “Still not getting up?”

As she said this, she inserted the key and turned it twice to the left, opening the door.

Bai Xiying: “My legs are asleep.”

Then how long must you have been waiting.

Lin Xingzhu sighed. “Hold onto the wall and try to stand up slowly.”

“…”

Bai Xiying stared at Lin Xingzhu again with those big eyes.

The stared-at Lin Xingzhu: “…”

She felt that something was off about Bai Xiying tonight.

Fortunately, Bai Xiying didn’t stare for long. After looking away, she shifted her legs from her current position and then slowly got up.

…Without holding onto the wall.

A flash of inspiration struck Lin Xingzhu, and she suddenly realized why Bai Xiying had been staring at her just now.

After understanding, her eyes twinkled with amusement.

Luckily, Bai Xiying was looking down and didn’t see this.

Her legs really were numb from squatting.

After standing up straight, Bai Xiying frowned slightly, enduring the stiffness and numbness coming from her legs.

Lin Xingzhu pushed the door open, and just as she was about to invite Bai Xiying in, she suddenly saw her body sway slightly, followed by a larger tilt.

She subconsciously wrapped an arm around her. Her strong, powerful palm instantly pressed against Bai Xiying’s firm waistline, pulling her forward.

—Directly into her own embrace.

Her lips seemed to have brushed past something.

The next second, a fleeting, wet sensation on her earlobe made her heart tremble.

Lin Xingzhu switched her hands, holding Bai Xiying’s shoulders to help her stand steady.

“Are you okay?”

Bai Xiying looked up, a peachy pink flush on the corners of her eyes and cheeks.

Lin Xingzhu was shocked. “Was the impact that bad?”

“…” Bai Xiying took a deep breath.

In that instant, she felt like half her body had gone numb.

It wasn’t her intention; it was just far too intimate.

Especially the scorching breath that hit the side of her neck, and that soft lip pressed against her.

Bai Xiying turned her head away. “I’m fine.”

Her voice was a little hoarse.

Ah.

Lin Xingzhu’s pupils instantly dilated, her gaze fixed on the red mark on the snowy white skin of Bai Xiying’s neck.

…I remember that wasn’t there just now.

Thinking this, Lin Xingzhu suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

But was Bai Xiying’s skin really this sensitive and delicate? Just an accidental brush during the collision could actually leave a mark.

Her internal monologue hadn’t stopped, but on the surface, Lin Xingzhu remained very proper.

She invited Bai Xiying into the apartment and closed the door behind them.

“You came looking for me tonight, was there something you needed?” she asked again.

After entering, Bai Xiying expertly changed her shoes, then walked to the living room, sat on the sofa, and started massaging her legs. Her voice was back to normal. “Can’t I come looking for you if there’s nothing wrong?”

That wasn’t it.

It was just that Lin Xingzhu found it strange that since she was squatting at the door and not leaving, she must have had something important to discuss.

Besides, when they went to work together this morning, Bai Xiying was clearly still in a bit of a huff when she got out of the car.

Bai Xiying glanced at her. “Fine, I did have something to talk to you about.”

Lin Xingzhu sat down beside her.

Bai Xiying asked, “This project of yours at Xingyuan, do you want to reconsider it?”

Lin Xingzhu’s hand, which was pouring water, paused. She looked to the side. “Why do you say that?”

Bai Xiying smiled. “I’m just a little worried that Hurricane’s style doesn’t quite match what you’re looking for.”

Glancing at Lin Xingzhu, Bai Xiying stated upfront, “Right now, I’m not talking to you as an employee of Hurricane, but simply as your friend, offering a suggestion for your consideration.”

Lin Xingzhu hissed softly.

Isn’t it a bit late to be giving this suggestion now?

Or is this belated concern?

Or perhaps, concern that has been slow to emerge?

Lin Xingzhu couldn’t know for sure, but she was inclined to believe it was the latter.

Bai Xiying’s expression was innocent, her eyes pure, looking utterly sincere.

Moreover, from a relationship of interests² perspective, since she wasn’t planning on resigning, she would be a part of Hurricane for a long time to come. Persuading Lin Xingzhu to reconsider or even change her mind wouldn’t help her in any way.

So, was it really just simple concern?

But even if it was concern, Lin Xingzhu didn’t plan on changing her mind.

Choosing to cooperate with Hurricane wasn’t her decision alone; it was a joint company decision made after conducting market research and other reviews.

What’s more, Lin Xingzhu still hoped to be someone who abided by contracts—on the premise that the other party didn’t have a major screw-up³.

The moment Bai Xiying saw her expression, she knew Lin Xingzhu’s decision.

She didn’t feel any sense of loss. Based on her current understanding of Lin Xingzhu, it was safe to say she had already anticipated this outcome when she chose to speak up.

The reason she brought it up was merely to find an excuse for this wait.

Heh.

She just couldn’t stand Lin Xingzhu’s haste in distancing herself from her.

She didn’t care what the reason was, nor did she care whether she was actually being distant or not.

As she was about to leave, thinking of the lipstick stain on Lin Xingzhu’s shirt the last time she went to a bar, Bai Xiying said softly, “You’re not suited for places like bars.”

The clothes get dirty, and the smell is unpleasant.

Lin Xingzhu: “…”

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