Chapter 179
Chapter 179
Seventh Master was a very clever man.
He didn’t take Pan Xiaorou’s gold bar. Instead, he said, “I’m friends with these two gentlemen. Since they invited me here to help, I imagine they’re friends with you as well, President Pan. It’s only right to lend a hand with a small matter like this. There’s no need to be so courteous.”
Pan Xiaorou knew her etiquette, every bit displaying the poise of a wealthy family. “With something like this happening at home, and with one thing after another piling up lately, I don’t have anyone to help me. I’m fortunate to have met the three of you. I’m truly sorry for disturbing you so late at night.”
“Please just accept it as a small token of my gratitude, Master.”
Seventh Master nodded and didn’t refuse again. He accepted the gold bar.
The bar had some real weight to it. I estimated it was worth eighty or ninety thousand.
It was already rather late, and the three of us grown men couldn’t very well stay too long, so we prepared to take our leave.
But Pan Xiaorou suddenly looked a little embarrassed and said, “I’m still a bit scared. I know this might be a little presumptuous… but could one of you… stay behind and keep me company?”
She was one step away from naming names.
I pointed at Song Xiaotian and said, “He’ll stay. He’s good at fighting. He can stay and protect you.”
Song Xiaotian’s whole body jolted. He looked up at me with eyes that said he wanted to beat me up.
Before he could refuse, Pan Xiaorou looked at him apologetically. “Mr. Song, then I’ll have to trouble you.”
Song Xiaotian said, “No, I… I…”
“You what?” I glared at him. “President Pan already said she’s scared. What are you dragging your feet for?”
“Fine…” Song Xiaotian gave in. He stood and said to Pan Xiaorou, “President Pan, I’ll see them out.”
We stepped out of the villa.
Song Xiaotian’s face was livid as he glared daggers at me. “What is wrong with you?”
I said, “What? She already asked. If we don’t leave you here, then what, leave me? Or leave Seventh Master?”
Then I advised him earnestly, “I’m really not messing with you on purpose. She’s going to bail Meng Yifan out tomorrow. Before Meng Yifan is saved, we have to go along with her.”
Song Xiaotian looked utterly helpless. “A man and a woman alone together, bro. Her husband just died. If a grown man like me spends the night at her place, it sounds terrible if word gets out.”
I said, “Who’s going to spread it? The woman herself isn’t saying anything, so why does a grown man like you have so many hang-ups?”
Song Xiaotian said, “Fine. She’s the one who asked me to stay. I’m staying to protect her, and also to save Meng Yifan. After tomorrow, none of you are allowed to make fun of me for this.”
Seventh Master and I couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.
“What the hell are you laughing at?”
After cursing us out, he turned and went back inside.
Seventh Master and I were chatting as we walked, but before we’d even left the residential compound, we suddenly noticed a Mercedes parked near Pan Xiaorou’s house.
A man was sitting inside the Mercedes, staring at Pan Xiaorou’s villa with a venomous expression.
Seventh Master and I both noticed him, but we didn’t alert him. We quietly memorized his license plate number.
After we’d walked farther away, I sent Song Xiaotian a text about the man and told him to be careful.
“Could this guy have been sent by Du Yunting?” I asked Seventh Master.
Seventh Master shook his head. “This is a villa community. Outsiders can’t just come in whenever they want, much less drive in, unless the security guards know he’s someone from here.”
“That Mercedes he’s driving is worth only around three hundred thousand. It’s not the kind of car a rich person would drive. So he’s probably one of Pan Xiaorou’s family’s Bodyguards, or a driver, or maybe an assistant or something.”
“And the person he hates is Song Xiaotian, because Song Xiaotian is staying overnight at Pan Xiaorou’s house.”
I was instantly startled. “Is this guy secretly in love with Pan Xiaorou?”
Seventh Master nodded.
“Whoa. Brother Tian already has a love rival this fast?”
My gossip radar kicked in, and I asked Seventh Master, “Do you think he and Pan Xiaorou will end up together?”
Seventh Master shook his head. “Probably not. They say when a woman chases a man, there’s only a thin veil between them, but Song Xiaotian is proud and ambitious. Judging by how he usually carries himself, his family upbringing must have been quite good too. That means he’s naturally full of confidence and doesn’t need much emotional validation. But his standards for a partner are definitely high, so he probably wouldn’t fall for a woman who’s been married before.”
I figured as much too.
Pan Xiaorou was beautiful, and her conditions in every aspect were already outstanding. If a woman like her threw herself at another man, he would probably have been tempted long ago. But Song Xiaotian acted like someone was forcing him against his will.
“Pan Xiaorou’s husband only just died, and she’s such a career-driven woman too. Why is she so interested in Song Xiaotian? And so quickly…” I couldn’t quite understand it.
The two of them had known each other for less than a day.
Seventh Master smiled. “When a husband cheats for years, it leaves a woman extremely empty, both physically and emotionally. She has no choice but to think about her own future, which is why she becomes so career-driven.”
“But the more a woman is like that, the stronger her emotional needs are. And she’ll have a particular fondness for strong men. Only a strong man can fill that emotional void. She longs to be protected and cared for.”
“Besides, she was born into high society. Most of the men she’s seen are slick, pretty-faced types who rely on sweet talk and come off as rather fake. Someone unconventional and masculine like Song Xiaotian would naturally make her heart stir.”
“But she still shouldn’t be this far gone. My guess is that Song Xiaotian must have flirted with her.”
I couldn’t help admiring Seventh Master’s analysis. “You’re incredible. Song Xiaotian really did flirt with her.”
Seventh Master burst out laughing. “Then he’s in for it. Not only will he have to stay there tonight, he might even be kept there tomorrow night too. This is a Peach Blossom Calamity.”
I thought to myself that Song Xiaotian was way too arrogant.
What was so unacceptable about a woman having been married before?
These days, who knew how many people got married and then divorced?
…
After leaving the residential complex, Seventh Master drove back to his own home.
I drove Song Xiaotian’s car back to Meng Yifan’s place as well.
After the past few days, I was exhausted. I drank a can of beer and went straight to sleep.
The next day, I slept in. Mainly because Pan Xiaorou had given me confidence.
She was already going to bail Meng Yifan out. With that video on top of it, Meng Yifan would definitely be saved.
As long as Meng Yifan was fine, I had nothing to worry about.
Only after waking up did I head to the shop.
Song Xiaotian was at the shop too, lying on the sofa and dozing off.
It seemed he hadn’t slept well last night.
I wasn’t planning to wake him, but his phone started ringing and startled him awake.
I didn’t know who was calling, but after he answered, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
He didn’t let it show too much, though, and said calmly, “Good. As long as we can get him bailed out. Then put pressure on the police. Don’t worry about whether they’ll detain Du Yunting or not. It’d actually be best if they don’t. We need to save the chance to have Du Yunting detained for the day before the bidding.”
I realized it was Pan Xiaorou calling.
A short while later, the call ended. Song Xiaotian was practically buzzing with excitement. “It’s done. Meng Yifan can be released tomorrow!”