Chapter 73: The Dominant Tough Girl

Seeing Shui Miao’s resolute response, Guo Ming and Guo Liang were momentarily at a loss for words.

Shui Miao walked into the hotel and headed straight for the maintenance department. As he approached, he began to ponder: what methods would they come up with next to achieve their goals? If he were in their shoes, how would he resolve this issue? If he were Guo Ming, he thought he would probably go beg Chen Bing for help and have Chen speak on their behalf. If necessary, they could even offer Chen a small gift… and if absolutely necessary, he would even be willing to return the entire 1.2 million! However, after returning all the money, these two brothers would likely end up in conflict. If they continued staying in Zhonghai and saw the small restaurant being taken over by Chen Bing, would Guo Ming, with his intelligence, once again suspect that Shui Miao had ulterior motives?

“Eureka!”

After thinking for a while, Shui Miao figured out a plan and immediately called Chen Bing: “Chen Bing, if Guo Ming and Guo Liang come to plead with you, you can agree, but you must set a condition: have them transfer the small restaurant to you. Once you’ve signed the agreement, you can officially take over the restaurant. Then you can help them out. If they worry that I won’t agree, tell Guo Ming to pay an extra 300,000 to the hotel. If Guo Liang refuses to cooperate, make him bear some losses as punishment.”

Make Guo Ming bleed a little, so he’ll be afraid and dare not remain in Zhonghai City anymore.

“Great, no problem. I can handle this.”

Chen Bing was also contemplating this matter and, coincidentally, both had the same idea.

The food and beverage department usually started operating at 4 PM. It was now 3:30 PM. Shui Miao poured himself some water and reflected on the day’s events. It was truly unbelievable—he had not only become the manager of the food and beverage department but also taken on the arduous task of overhauling the hotel staff. Though it was tiring running around, it was worth it for Lin Jie’s trust.

After finishing his water, Shui Miao checked the surveillance footage. When he saw the footage from a guest room in the housekeeping department, he noticed a couple in the room, completely naked and engaged in intimate activity. He immediately broke into a cold sweat. After glancing at it twice, he quickly turned off the camera. Lust was a man’s nature, and although the scene was enticing, Shui Miao was not a man without principles. He also knew that indulging too much would lead to addiction, making him become vulgar and eventually turning him into someone like Old Shao.

“The cameras in the guest rooms must be removed. If guests discover the cameras are on, it will cause serious trouble.”

Shui Miao had control over the power switch for all the cameras in the guest rooms. After turning them off, he continued checking other surveillance footage and saw Xiao Tang leading three women with backpacks into the hotel lobby. These three women were all very attractive, the kind of rare beauty that stood out among thousands.

“Unbelievable! Did they find three beautiful maintenance workers?”

“No! They might be the young ladies Lin Jie found to replace Yin Yangyang and Feng Anan.”

“They are my assistants. I must personally go to greet them.”

Shui Miao quickly tidied his clothes, locked the maintenance department door, and hurried toward the hotel lobby.

In the lobby, Xiao Tang invited the three beauties to sit on the sofa and rest while she prepared to call Shui Miao. Just as she was about to dial, Shui Miao pushed open the glass door of section B and walked in.

“Manager, what a coincidence!”

Xiao Tang put down her phone and cheerfully approached: “Manager, the agency didn’t have suitable maintenance workers, so I asked a friend and found a beautiful ex-soldier who just returned from the army and is looking for a job. Her name is Wang Xiaomi, and she even knows how to fix tanks. Let her try here. These other two beauties I met at the hotel entrance; they seem to be looking for you.”

Wang Xiaomi stood up first. She nervously saluted Shui Miao with a crisp “Hello, Manager! I’m Wang Xiaomi, just discharged from the army, and I’m looking for a maintenance job at the hotel!”

Wang Xiaomi wasn’t wearing makeup and looked very plain. Judging from her nervousness, she was indeed a newly discharged female soldier, probably unfamiliar with a hotel setting and unaccustomed to interacting with someone of managerial rank. She must have come from the countryside like him. People like her were honest and diligent, and could surely perform their duties well. Shui Miao originally intended to ask her to wait while he went to greet Lin Jie’s female friends, but his strong curiosity prompted him to ask another question: “What did you do in the army? This maintenance work doesn’t seem to suit you.”

“I was a reconnaissance soldier, from the countryside…”

Wang Xiaomi clearly looked a bit sad as she said this.

“What’s wrong with being from the countryside? I’m from the countryside too, and I’m an orphan. Wang Xiaomi, you’re hired by the hotel.” Shui Miao turned to Xiao Tang and said: “Xiao Tang, you take Wang Xiaomi to explain the hotel situation first. I’ll come later.”

“Okay, Manager.”

Xiao Tang was very happy to be able to help her friend, which also brought her face.

“Thank you, Manager!”

Wang Xiaomi looked at Shui Miao gratefully. Since they were both from the countryside, she felt an immediate connection to him.

“No need to thank me. People like you choosing to work at our hotel is a compliment to us.”

Shui Miao smiled slightly at Wang Xiaomi. In truth, he deeply admired the military. He had dreamed of becoming a soldier since childhood, but never had the opportunity. Seeing Wang Xiaomi and the military bearing she exuded, along with her crisp salute, he was already deeply impressed.

Xiao Tang took Wang Xiaomi away.

At this moment, the two beauties on the sofa stood up. Both were dressed conservatively. One wore jeans and a denim jacket with sports shoes, while the other wore trousers and a white shirt with low-heeled leather shoes. The denim-clad beauty had short hair and a single-shoulder bag, exuding a bold, tomboyish aura. The other, in trousers and a white shirt, had a ponytail and carried an elegant pink handbag, radiating the charm of an elite businesswoman.

The tomboyish one wiped her nose with one finger and directly asked Shui Miao: “You’re Shui Miao? Not bad! You’ve become a manager in the blink of an eye. You’ve got some skills!”

The tomboyish one was none other than Lin Xue, the daughter of Lin, the police chief from Huanghai City.

The elegant businesswoman beside her was the beautiful female police officer Chu Miaoyi.

Chu Miaoyi and Lin Xue had just arrived in Huanghai City, found a place to stay, and then left Yao Ye behind, coming directly to Linhai Hotel where Shui Miao worked. They happened to witness Shui Miao hiring Wang Xiaomi. Because of Shui Miao’s performance, Lin Xue held him in high regard and greatly appreciated him.

“Hehe, you two must be Lin Jie’s sisters. I’m Shui Miao. Nice to meet you.” Shui Miao mistook them for Lin Qing’er’s two female friends and proactively extended his hand to shake Lin Xue’s…

Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi were both smart people. Upon hearing Shui Miao’s words, they immediately realized he had mistaken them. However, they didn’t clarify directly, exchanged a glance, and then shook hands with Shui Miao one after another.

“Hehe, nice to meet you too. We’ll need your help in the future!”

Lin Xue grinned, patted Shui Miao’s shoulder, and felt like meeting an old friend.

Lin Xue was physically strong, and with a few pats, she immediately gave Shui Miao a sense of powerful force. Shui Miao was secretly astonished. Lin Qing’er was indeed ruthless enough to send such a tough girl. With her outgoing personality, she must be here to take over the position of personnel manager from Yin Yangyang.

As for Chu Miaoyi, judging from her quiet and gentle demeanor, Shui Miao was certain she would take over the finance department.

“Hehe, mutual help, mutual help.” Shui Miao intentionally stepped aside, awkwardly removing Lin Xue’s hand. “By the way, may I know your names? When do you plan to take over the positions of the human resources and finance departments?”

“…”

Upon hearing this, both Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi were momentarily taken aback and exchanged another glance.

“We… we’ll see first. No rush. Let’s understand the situation first.” Lin Xue scratched her nose and waved her hand toward the sofa. “Come on, Manager Shui, let’s sit down and chat.” Lin Xue sat down, as she had no intention of really taking over the human resources or finance departments. Her purpose for coming was to investigate Shui Miao and get to know him better to see what kind of person he really was.

“Okay!”

Shui Miao didn’t want to offend Lin Jie’s female friends, and even if they weren’t sent by Lin Jie, such a bold tomboy was not someone he could easily offend.

After sitting down, Shui Miao looked up at the two beautiful women and suddenly noticed that the elegant one was staring at him intently. When their eyes met, she quickly shifted her gaze, her face blushing!

What did that mean? Did she have a crush on him?

Shui Miao’s heart stirred, and he felt a bit flustered. It was undeniable that this beautiful woman was exactly the type he liked—gentle, elegant, shy, and reserved. Combined with Chu Miaoyi’s delicate beauty, she was like a fairy descending to earth in Shui Miao’s eyes!

“Cough cough cough…”

Lin Xue noticed Shui Miao looking at Chu Miaoyi and hurriedly coughed twice to interrupt him. Then, habitually adopting the tone of a police officer interrogating a suspect, she asked: “Shui Miao, where are you from originally? Who do you have at home?”

Upon hearing this, Shui Miao was momentarily stunned. Among colleagues, how could she ask such a question? However, he immediately thought that it must be because this beauty had taken a liking to him, and this tomboy was investigating his identity on her behalf. Otherwise, a new colleague would never ask such an impolite question.

“Sister, why are you asking like that?”

Chu Miaoyi couldn’t bear to watch anymore. In her heart, Shui Miao was an upright person and couldn’t possibly be a criminal.

“It’s okay. There’s nothing much about me anyway.” Shui Miao, feeling warmth in his heart at the beauty’s concern for him, quickly responded: “I’m originally from a small village in the northern part of Huanghai City. I’m actually an orphan. There’s also my grandfather at home, though he’s not my real one. Oh, and there’s also a new godfather I recently met when I went back to my hometown a few days ago. His name is Wang Yong. That’s about it.”

“Wang Yong! Is Wang Yong very capable? Why did he adopt you as his godson?” Lin Xue, reminded by Chu Miaoyi, softened her tone, no longer so harsh.

Why was she asking so many questions? These were all his private matters! Shui Miao scratched his head awkwardly, “How should I put it? My grandfather is a feng shui master. Wang Yong had some work for my grandfather to do, and we went together. He thought I was honest, so he adopted me as his godson. Oh, by the way, my godfather also said he would come to develop in Zhonghai City in a few days. Then I’ll introduce you two and have him treat us to a meal.”

Shui Miao was indeed very straightforward, pouring out all his private matters at once.

Seeing how honest Shui Miao was, Lin Xue was a bit puzzled, “I mean, Shui Miao, you just came to Zhonghai City, so how did you become a manager in the blink of an eye?”

“Well, how should I say it? Originally, I won some money back home and wanted to treat my friends to a meal at the hotel before leaving to find a small business to do on my own. But then the hotel manager gave me a hard time, so I argued with him. The hotel’s chairman, Lin, heard about it. Because she had already fired that manager for embezzlement, she saw that I was honest and asked if I was willing to manage the food and beverage department for her. Since Chairman Lin thought so highly of me, I agreed.” Shui Miao shrugged, thinking, “You already know all this, so why ask again?”

“Oh, so that’s how it was…”

Based on her experience, Lin Xue, through observing his expressions and words, found that Shui Miao was not lying at all. Everything he said was true.

Chu Miaoyi listened intently and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Your experiences are indeed quite complicated. How do you find the job as a manager?”

Upon hearing this, Shui Miao waved his hands repeatedly, “Don’t even ask. I used to think being a manager was comfortable, high-status, and impressive. But after becoming a manager, I found out I didn’t even have time to sit down and rest for a moment. Several department managers in this hotel have problems. Chairman Lin has sent you two to replace the finance and personnel managers, so I’ll be much more relaxed with your help. However, the most difficult to deal with is Gao Bo from the entertainment department. This guy has a lot of money and power, and connections in both the underworld and the mainstream. I’m really worried I won’t be able to defeat him.”

“If it’s so tiring and troublesome, why do you insist on stepping up?”

Chu Miaoyi frowned, clearly very concerned about Shui Miao.

“Yeah! Why are you working so hard as just a regular employee? Could it be that you like your chairman?” Lin Xue was an experienced woman. From Shui Miao’s words, she deduced that the hotel chairman might be a woman. According to her logic, only if the chairman were a woman would Shui Miao work so hard—because he was trying to pursue her.

“You already know the answer. Lin Jie has had such a hard life, locking herself in the house for three years over a broken heart. The hotel was in chaos because of those managers, and she thought so highly of me. Of course, I have to help her since I have the ability. Also, in my heart, she is like my older sister.” Shui Miao felt a slight unease. Why were the people sent by Lin Jie asking these questions? Even if he liked Lin Jie, how could she, being so wealthy, ever look his way?

“I see. It’s because you’ve had a hard life yourself, so you especially empathize with others who are also suffering. Therefore, you’re indeed a very honest person!” Lin Xue slapped her thigh, deciding that the questioning was over. She had gathered enough information, and Shui Miao had no issues, so there was no need for further investigation.

Chu Miaoyi, who was sensitive and emotional, felt a deep sense of entanglement after hearing Shui Miao’s story and wanted to help him somehow.

“Shui Miao, can I have your phone number?” Chu Miaoyi didn’t want to lose contact with Shui Miao. She thought to herself that she was a police officer, and Shui Miao was working in such a complicated environment—perhaps she could help him somehow.

“Of course…”

Seeing that the beauty had taken a liking to him, Shui Miao’s heart warmed, and he quickly gave out his phone number.

However, just as Shui Miao finished giving his phone number, three black cars screeched to a halt in front of the hotel. A group of thugs armed with clubs and machetes rushed out of the cars and charged into the hotel!

Seeing Shui Miao respond so resolutely, Guo Ming and Guo Liang were suddenly at a loss for words.

Shui Miao entered the hotel and headed straight for the maintenance department. Once there, he began to ponder: What methods would they come up with next to achieve their goals? If he were in their shoes, how would he handle the situation? If he were Guo Ming, he thought, he would probably beg Chen Bing and ask her to speak up. If necessary, he might even offer her some gifts… As a last resort, he might even be willing to return the entire 1.2 million! However, after returning the money, the two brothers would likely turn against each other. If they stayed in Zhonghai and saw the small restaurant taken over by Chen Bing, given Guo Ming’s intelligence, would he start suspecting that Shui Miao had ulterior motives?

“Got it!”

After thinking for a while, Shui Miao came up with an idea and immediately called Chen Bing: “Chen Bing, if Guo Ming and Guo Liang come to you to plead, you can agree, but set a condition—have them transfer the small restaurant to you. Once the agreement is signed, you can rightfully take over the restaurant. Then, help them out. If they worry I won’t agree, tell Guo Ming to cough up an extra 300,000 for the hotel. If Guo Liang doesn’t cooperate, make him suffer a bit as punishment.”

Making Guo Ming pay more would scare him enough to make him never want to stay in Zhonghai City again.

“Okay, no problem. I can handle this.”

Chen Bing had also been thinking about the matter, and coincidentally, they both had the same idea.

The food and beverage department usually started operating at 4 p.m. It was now 3:30. Shui Miao fetched some water to drink and reflected on the day’s events, finding it all rather unbelievable. Not only had he become the manager of the food and beverage department, but he was also tasked with the challenging job of overhauling the hotel. Though busy and exhausting, it was all worth it for Sister Lin’s trust.

After drinking water, Shui Miao reviewed the surveillance footage. When he saw the scene from the guest rooms, he noticed a man and a woman, both naked, engaged in intimate activities on a bed. He broke into a cold sweat, glanced twice, and quickly turned off the camera. Lust is inherent in men, but Shui Miao wasn’t someone without principles. He also knew that watching such things could become addictive, leading to depravity, and eventually turning him into someone like Old Shao.

“The cameras in the guest rooms must be removed. If guests find out the cameras are on, it’ll be a huge problem.”

Shui Miao had control over the power system for all the cameras in the guest department. He turned off the switch and then checked the surveillance footage from other areas. He saw Sister Tang leading three women with backpacks into the hotel lobby. All three women were exceptionally beautiful, the kind that stood out in a crowd.

“No way, did she find three female repair technicians?”

“Wait! Maybe they’re the sisters Sister Lin found to replace Yin Yangyang and Feng An’an.”

“They’re here to help me. I should go greet them personally.”

Shui Miao quickly straightened his clothes, locked the maintenance department door, and hurried toward the hotel lobby.

In the lobby, Sister Tang invited the beauties to sit on the sofa and rest while she called Shui Miao. Just as she was about to dial, Shui Miao pushed open the glass door of Area B and walked in.

“Manager, what a coincidence!”

Sister Tang put down her phone and smiled as she approached: “Manager, the agency didn’t have suitable repair technicians. I asked a friend and found a beautiful soldier sister who just retired from the army and is looking for a job. Her name is Wang Xiaomi, and she even knows how to repair tanks. Let’s give her a try here. As for these two beauties, I met them at the hotel entrance. They seem to be looking for you.”

Wang Xiaomi stood up first. Nervous, she saluted Shui Miao with a “snap” and said, “Hello, Manager! I’m Wang Xiaomi, recently retired. I’d like to work as a repair technician in the hotel!”

Wang Xiaomi wore no makeup and looked very plain. Her nervous demeanor suggested she was a recently retired soldier who hadn’t been in a hotel setting or interacted with a manager before. She must be from the countryside, just like me—honest and reliable, definitely capable of doing her job well. Shui Miao originally intended to ask her to wait while he attended to Sister Lin’s friends, but his curiosity got the better of him. “What did you do in the army? Repair work doesn’t seem suitable for you.”

“I was a scout, from the countryside…”

Wang Xiaomi said this with obvious sadness.

“What’s wrong with being from the countryside? I’m from the countryside too, and I’m an orphan. Wang Xiaomi, you’re hired.” Shui Miao turned to Sister Tang and said, “Sister Tang, please take Wang Xiaomi to familiarize her with the hotel. I’ll join you later.”

“Okay, Manager.”

Sister Tang was delighted. Helping a friend made her look good.

“Thank you, Manager!”

Wang Xiaomi looked at Shui Miao gratefully. Coming from similar backgrounds, she felt an instant connection with him.

“Don’t thank me. Having someone like you join our hotel is an honor.”

Shui Miao smiled at Wang Xiaomi. Deep down, he admired the military and had always dreamed of being a soldier. Unfortunately, he never had the chance. Seeing Wang Xiaomi’s military demeanor and her salute, Shui Miao was deeply impressed.

Sister Tang left with Wang Xiaomi.

Then, the two beauties on the sofa rose to their feet. Both were dressed in a modest fashion: one sported jeans paired with a denim jacket and sneakers, while the other was clad in trousers, a crisp white shirt, and low-heeled leather shoes. The one in denim had short hair, a single-shoulder bag, and emanated a bold, commanding presence. The other, with her trousers and white shirt, wore her hair in a ponytail and carried a refined pink purse, exuding the aura of a sophisticated white-collar professional.

The tough girl wiped her nose with a finger and stepped forward to ask Shui Miao directly: “So you’re Shui Miao? Not bad! You became a manager in the blink of an eye, and you’ve got quite the skills!”

The tough girl was none other than Lin Xue, the daughter of Captain Lin of the Huanghai City Criminal Police Department.

The white-collar beauty beside her was the stunning police officer Chu Miaoyi.

Chu Miaoyi and Lin Xue had just arrived in Huanghai City. After finding a place to stay, they left Yao Ye behind and came to Shui Miao’s Linhai Grand Hotel. They happened to witness Shui Miao hiring Wang Xiaomi. Impressed by his actions, Lin Xue viewed Shui Miao in a new light.

“Haha, you must be Sister Lin’s friends. I’m Shui Miao. Nice to meet you.” Shui Miao mistook them for the two sisters Lin Qing’er had invited and extended his hand to shake Lin Xue’s…

Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi were sharp. Hearing Shui Miao’s words, they realized he had mistaken them for someone else. Without clarifying, they exchanged a glance and shook his hand.

“Sure, sure. We’ll need your guidance from now on!”

Lin Xue grinned and patted Shui Miao’s shoulder as if they were old friends.

Lin Xue was skilled and strong, and her pats made Shui Miao feel her powerful strength. Shui Miao was inwardly surprised. Lin Qing’er was ruthless to bring such a tough girl here. Given her outgoing personality, she must be here to take over Yin Yangyang’s position as HR manager.

As for Chu Miaoyi, with her quiet and refined demeanor, Shui Miao concluded she was here to take over the finance department.

“Haha, we’ll help each other out.” Shui Miao awkwardly moved aside and removed Lin Xue’s hand. “May I ask your names? When do you plan to take over as managers of the HR and finance departments?”

Hearing this, Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi were taken aback and exchanged another glance.

“We… We’ll take a look first. No rush. Let’s understand the situation first.” Lin Xue rubbed her nose and gestured toward the sofa. “Come, Manager Shui, let’s sit and chat.” Lin Xue sat down. She had no intention of actually taking over the HR or finance departments. Her purpose was to investigate Shui Miao and get a sense of what kind of person he was.

“Okay!”

Shui Miao didn’t want to offend the sisters Sister Lin had invited. Even if they weren’t, he didn’t dare easily offend such a tough girl.

After sitting down, Shui Miao looked up at the two beauties and noticed the white-collar beauty staring at him intently. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away, her face blushing.

What does this mean? Is she interested in me?

Shui Miao’s heart raced, and he felt a bit flustered. He had to admit, this beauty was exactly his type—quiet, elegant, shy, and reserved. Combined with Chu Miaoyi’s stunning looks, she seemed like a fairy descended to earth.

“Ahem, ahem…”

Lin Xue noticed Shui Miao staring at Chu Miaoyi and coughed twice to interrupt him. Then, out of habit, she asked in a tone used for interrogating suspects: “Shui Miao, where are you from? Who’s in your family?”

Hearing this, Shui Miao was taken aback. Why would a colleague ask such a question? But then it occurred to him that the beauty beside her must be interested in him and asked the tough girl to investigate his background. Otherwise, a new colleague wouldn’t ask such a personal question.

“Sis, why are you asking like that?”

Chu Miaoyi couldn’t stand it anymore. In her mind, Shui Miao was an upright person, not a criminal.

“It’s fine. There’s not much to say about me anyway.” Seeing the beauty’s concern for him, Shui Miao felt a warmth inside and quickly replied: “I’m from a small village north of Huanghai City. I’m actually an orphan. I have a grandfather, though he’s not my biological one. Also, I recently acknowledged a godfather when I went back home. His name is Wang Yong. That’s pretty much it.”

“Wang Yong! Is he really that formidable? Why did he take you as his godson?” Lin Xue, prompted by Chu Miaoyi, softened her tone.

Why so many questions? These are my personal matters! Shui Miao scratched his head awkwardly. “How should I put it? My grandfather is a feng shui master. Wang Yong had some work for him, and I went along. He thought I was honest and took me as his godson. By the way, my godfather said he’ll come to Zhonghai City soon to expand his business. I’ll introduce you to him then, and he can treat you to a meal.”

Shui Miao was indeed straightforward, divulging all his personal matters without hesitation.

Seeing Shui Miao so honest, Lin Xue was puzzled. “Shui Miao, you just arrived in Zhonghai City. How did you go from being a waiter to a manager in the blink of an eye?”

“Well, I won some money back home and came to the hotel to treat my friends to a meal. I planned to leave afterward and start a small business. But the hotel manager gave me a hard time, and we argued. Sister Lin, the chairman, overheard and fired him for corruption. She saw I was honest and asked if I’d help manage the food and beverage department. I felt honored and agreed.” Shui Miao shrugged, thinking they probably already knew, so why ask?

“So that’s how it happened…”

Based on her experience and observation, Lin Xue concluded that Shui Miao was telling the truth.

Chu Miaoyi listened attentively and sighed, “Your journey has been quite tumultuous. How are you finding the role of manager?”

Upon hearing this, Shui Miao waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t even ask. I used to think being a manager was comfortable, sitting high and mighty, and quite impressive. But after actually becoming one, I barely have time to sit down and catch my breath. The managers of several departments are problematic. Sister Lin sent you to replace the HR and finance managers. With you here, my workload will definitely ease up. But the toughest challenge is Gao Bo from the entertainment department. He’s wealthy, influential, and has connections everywhere. I’m really worried I won’t be able to handle him.”

“If it’s so exhausting and troublesome, why did you take on this role?”

Chu Miaoyi frowned, looking concerned for Shui Miao.

“Yeah! Why are you, a mere employee, working so hard? Do you have a crush on your chairman?” Lin Xue, experienced, deduced from Shui Miao’s words that the chairman might be a woman. In her logic, only if the chairman were a woman would Shui Miao work so hard to impress her.

“Don’t you know? Sister Lin has had a hard life. She locked herself away for three years over a relationship, and the managers turned the hotel into a mess. She trusts me, and since I can help, I should. Besides, in my heart, she’s like a sister to me.” Shui Miao felt something was off. Why would the people Sister Lin sent ask such questions? Even if he had feelings for her, she was wealthy and unlikely to be interested in him.

“I see. Because you’ve had a hard life, you can empathize with others who’ve suffered. It seems you’re genuinely honest!” Lin Xue slapped her thigh, deciding the investigation was over. Shui Miao was clean.

The sentimental Chu Miaoyi felt conflicted after hearing Shui Miao’s story and wanted to help him somehow.

“Shui Miao, what’s your phone number? Can you tell me?” Chu Miaoyi didn’t want to lose contact with Shui Miao. As a police officer, she thought she might be able to help him in his challenging work environment.

“Of course…”

Flattered by the beauty’s interest, Shui Miao felt warm inside and quickly recited his number.

But just as he finished, three black cars screeched to a halt at the hotel entrance. A group of thugs armed with clubs and knives rushed out and charged into the hotel!

“Watch out! Thugs are causing trouble. Hide quickly!”

Shocked, Shui Miao grabbed Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi’s hands and pulled them toward the elevator.

“Run? Why run? They’re just a few petty thugs!”

Seeing the thugs, Lin Xue’s eyes lit up. She shook off Shui Miao’s hand, unzipped her backpack with a “rip,” and pulled out two nunchucks!

Seeing this, Shui Miao was greatly alarmed. He immediately stood up, grabbed Lin Xue and Chu Miaoyi’s hands, and ran toward the elevator.

“Why run? They’re just a few small-time thugs!”

Seeing the thugs, Lin Xue’s eyes lit up. She shook off Shui Miao’s hand, “Hiss,” and quickly unzipped her backpack, pulling out two pairs of nunchucks!