Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Xie Chengsui had arranged to meet some friends at Jinyue today to discuss business-specifically, the casino business.

He handled the business in Macau, and naturally, he didn’t want to miss out on a prime piece of meat like Las Vegas.

As the group walked down the corridor, his assistant, Guanglin, noticed him suddenly stop in his tracks.

The others in the group also stood still, not daring to move, waiting quietly.

Guanglin asked, “Young Master, what’s wrong?”

Xie Chengsui had one hand in his trouser pocket and a cigarette between his teeth. He turned his head slightly to look back, his fox-like eyes narrowing slightly.

He thought he had just seen Fifth Brother’s little kitten.

Although he had never met her in person, Xie Chengsui had seen photos of Shen Jingni, as well as the surveillance footage he had copied for Zhao Zonglan back then.

He was a man with incredibly high standards, especially when it came to beauties.

Ordinary women couldn’t catch Xie Chengsui’s eye, so the women who stayed by his side were all handpicked, top-tier beauties.

Despite being a regular in the world of pleasure and having seen all the beauty the world had to offer, he had to admit that Fifth Brother’s little kitten was a rare gem.

Once you had seen her, she was hard to forget.

He wouldn’t dare steal a woman from Zhao Zonglan.

However…

Xie Chengsui resumed his pace, taking the cigarette from his mouth and holding it between his fingers. He instructed Guanglin behind him, “Go check that private booth in a moment and ensure Miss Shen’s safety.”

Guanglin replied, “Yes, sir.”

In truth, those people wouldn’t actually dare do anything to Shen Jingni, but the same couldn’t be said for Meng Qing.

Inside the booth, several flashily dressed young heirs were naturally curious to see Shen Jingni.

The little princess of the Shen Family was well-protected by her family and rarely frequented such establishments.

Among the six of them, the one with the most authority was named Wei Ze, who had some history with Shen Jingni’s brother, Shen Qingyan.

“Jingni, what are you doing here?”

Shen Jingni glanced at Meng Qing, who was huddled in a corner.

Her hair was a mess, and her clothes had been torn to shreds, barely covering her body. She had been beaten; there were bruises and injuries all over her face and legs.

When she saw Shen Jingni, a flicker of shock crossed her terrified eyes.

Shen Jingni walked closer and forced a polite smile. “Wei Ze, could you do me a favor and let Meng Qing go?”

Since they were acquaintances, she didn’t bother beating around the bush.

Wei Ze sat sprawled on the sofa, holding a drink, his tone lazy and arrogant. “You’ve got to be kidding, little sister. You’re going to interfere with us having fun with a woman?”

He took a sip of his drink. “The Shen Family has no ties to the Meng family. Don’t go poking your nose into other people’s business.”

“And what if I insist?”

Wei Ze frowned and set down his glass, his young master temper flaring. “I won’t touch you out of respect for Brother Yan, but you aren’t taking this person with you.”

“If you want to watch us play, stay here. If you don’t, then get out.”

He had made things perfectly clear. Anyone who wasn’t a fool would know how to choose.

He was giving her face.

It was just that these men were hell-bent on ruining Meng Qing today.

But since Shen Jingni had come, she didn’t intend to leave empty-handed.

She continued to persuade him with a smile, maintaining her good temper. “Wei Ze, is this really necessary? How about I call the manager over and have him arrange some other activities for you?”

Another young heir, standing in the shadows and smoking, spoke up. “No, that would be boring.”

Wei Ze shrugged at Shen Jingni. “See? It’s not just up to me.”

Shen Jingni said, “But what you’re doing is wrong. If this gets reported to the authorities, it won’t be easy to explain to your elders.”

Wei Ze merely sneered, completely unafraid.

“That’s not something a little girl like you needs to worry about.”

As they spoke, someone had already walked over to Meng Qing, dragged her up from the floor, and thrown her onto the sofa.

Another person maliciously set up a camera.

Meng Qing was already hoarse from crying. She was paralyzed with fear, her body shaking uncontrollably.

“No, don’t come over here!”

Suddenly, her bloodshot eyes fixed on Shen Jingni.

She looked at her as if she were a lifeline, pleading for help in utter desperation.

Shen Jingni felt her luck was truly rotten today, running into several people who were so difficult to talk to.

She had miscalculated.

She had no other choice but to go up and stop them.

But before she could get close, she heard Wei Ze say, “Du Chen, hold Shen Jingni back.”
“Since she wants to watch so badly, let her have a good look.”

A man in a floral shirt rushed forward and clamped his hand around Shen Jingni’s wrist. His grip was heavy as he dragged her toward the other side.

At that moment, the door to the private booth was pushed open again.

Guanglin strode inside. He scanned the room, his voice cold. “What exactly are you all doing?”

Among those present, everyone except Shen Jingni and Meng Qing recognized Guanglin.

He was Third Master Xie’s personal assistant.

In most situations, Guanglin’s presence represented Xie Chengsui himself.

In an instant, no one dared to act out anymore.

“Oh, Assistant Guanglin, what brings you here?”

Wei Ze was the first to react. He stepped forward to offer Guanglin a cigarette, but was rebuffed.

Guanglin’s gaze moved past him and landed on Shen Jingni. After confirming that Miss Shen was unharmed, he spoke expressionlessly. “Miss Shen is a friend of my young master. I came to see if she needs any assistance.”

Hearing this, Du Chen, who had still been clutching Shen Jingni, immediately let go.

Shen Jingni rubbed her reddened wrist, her mind in a fog.

Friend? Who?

Wei Ze froze for a second before hurriedly saying, “Well, what a coincidence! Jingni is a friend of mine, too.”

“Please tell Third Master Xie not to worry. We were just joking around. Little Jingni hasn’t lost a single hair on her head.”

No one dared to provoke the Living Yama of the Capital City, Xie Chengsui.

Unless they had a death wish.

Guanglin ignored him, looking at Shen Jingni again. His voice softened considerably. “Miss Shen, do you need help?”

Shen Jingni nodded without hesitation and pointed decisively at Meng Qing. “That girl-I want to take her with me.”

Though she had no idea why Third Master Xie was suddenly intervening, she had no better way to save Meng Qing right now.

“Very well,” Guanglin said with a slight nod.

The bodyguards in black uniforms behind him took the hint and moved to support the bruised and battered Meng Qing.

“Wait a moment.”

Shen Jingni quickly took off her coat and wrapped it around Meng Qing.

She kept her head down, her expression faint. “Meng Qing, I’m only helping you this once. As for how you walk your path in the future and where you end up, that’s your business.”

“But I hope that what I did today wasn’t a foolish mistake.”

Meng Qing nodded, sobbing.

She understood the meaning behind Shen Jingni’s words.

“I’m sorry.”

It was the apology she owed her.

Shen Jingni didn’t say anything else.

The bodyguards took Meng Qing away to tend to her wounds.

Guanglin nodded to Shen Jingni in farewell. “If Miss Shen has no other business, then I shall take my leave.”

“Wait, hold on.”

Shen Jingni stopped him, her delicate brows furrowed in confusion. “Why is Third Master Xie helping me?”

She didn’t even know Xie Chengsui, so where did this talk of being friends come from?

“Uh, well…” Guanglin scratched his head, looking troubled. “Miss Shen, I am simply following orders.”

He knew why, of course, but he didn’t dare answer without permission. His young master hadn’t given him any instructions on that front.

“Then may I meet Third Master Xie?”

“I’d like to thank him in person.”

***

A few minutes later, in a VIP lounge at the Jinyue Club.

Xie Chengsui paced the room irritably. The cigarette in his hand had already burned down significantly, yet he hadn’t taken a single puff.

He asked Guanglin, who was standing by the wall, “Should I see her or not?”

Guanglin didn’t dare speak.

Xie Chengsui began to analyze the situation himself.

“Last time at Wuqi Manor, I tested the waters. Fifth Brother is keeping her hidden away and won’t let us see her without permission.”

“If I meet her rashly, he’ll definitely be angry.”

“And I still need to ask him for a favor regarding that business with the Las Vegas Casino.”

Xie Chengsui rubbed his chin. “But if I don’t see her…”

“That girl is very likely my future sister-in-law. If I don’t give her face and she holds a grudge, she might whisper things in Fifth Brother’s ear later. I’d be doomed then, too.”

It was too difficult.

Harder than any business deal he’d ever negotiated.

His head throbbed.

He tossed the cigarette into an ashtray and asked, “Have you called Chang An?”

Guanglin replied, “Yes. Mr. Zhao is already on his way.”

Xie Chengsui finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He would just wait for the man himself to arrive before doing anything else.