Pleased with how Xiao Luo was conducting himself, Yu Jiangu nodded his head, lauding his magnanimity—he had displayed great forbearance, which showed that he possessed a noble character, neither humble nor overbearing. He felt a strong urge to get to know Xiao Luo better, for having taught such a student gave him a sense of gratification and made him feel incredibly proud to be a teacher.

“Senior, is your company recruiting?” Guan Yilin asked suddenly.

“Yes, our Xiahai branch has only just started, so we are in urgent need of talents,” Xiao Luo said, smiling at her.

Guan Yilin bit her lips and said, “Can… can I work there?”

“I’m not in charge of recruitment. If you have the intention, you can send your resume to my company online. If the HR department feels that you are a suitable candidate, then they’ll notify you for an interview,” Xiao Luo replied.

“May I ask, what’s the name of your company?” Gu Yilin took out her notebook to take down details of Xiao Luo’s company, intending to do some online research before submitting her resume.

“Luo Workshop.”

Luo… Luo Workshop?!

When they heard the two words, Yu Jiangu, Guan Tong, and Guan Yilin were shocked beyond description. The way they stared at Xiao Luo seemed like they had just seen a being from another dimension.

“Luo’s Workshop, you mean the very same company that caused such an uproar last year, the one that appeared in the headlines countless times… it belongs to you?”

When Xiao Luo first mentioned that he was running a pastry company, Yu Jiangu never thought to associate it with such a successful company as Luo Workshop.

“I’m just one of the shareholders, the company is run by Dashan,” Xiao Luo said, keen to keep a low profile.

Yu Jiangu was in utter disbelief.

Luo Workshop was a giant in Jiangcheng City’s food and beverage industry. How it rose to prominence and how the company crushed its main competitors in a matter of months was the stuff of legend. And to think that the architect behind the success of this legendary organization was his very own student was simply out of this world.

“I feel humbled, and I have to say that you and that b*stard Zhang Dashan are freaks!” Guan Tong was thoroughly impressed with the two of them and expressed it in his own unique way.

Guan Yilin’s respect for Xiao Luo was now through the roof. Here he was, the very person who set off a frenzy in Jiangcheng City’s business circle, turning out to be her senior. Just hours earlier, she had actually seen herself as superior Xiao Luo in every way, only to realize that she was nothing more than the proverbial frog in the well. She was now determined to be a part of his team.

“Senior, I will work hard and become one of Luo Workshop!”

“I look forward to that.”

Xiao Luo nodded in encouragement.

…

…

Xiao Luo enjoyed a meal of hotpot with Yu Jiangu and Guan Tong before returning to the Crescent Bay Hotel at about 9 o’clock in the evening.

Sitting in the cab, he immediately thought of Su Xiaobei; already, he missed her and was just thinking of getting some supper back for her when his phone rang. He checked the screen and saw that it was Su Li.

He wondered if she was going to reprimand me for returning too late; he rolled his eyes heavenward.

Furrowing his brows, Xiao Luo answered the call: “Miss Su.”

“Help… me…”

What? All he heard were those two words, then a short pause, before the sound of a dull thud told him that the phone had been dropped on the floor. He strained his ears—he could make out to the pitter-patter of hurried feet. Someone was approaching the phone, and suddenly the call ended. Xiao Luo immediately called back, but Su Li’s phone was unreachable, it had already been turned off.

“Huh… Help me? Something’s very wrong!”

Xiao Luo took a deep breath, he had to do something and quick!

“Mister, please pull over.”

“Okay, let’s see… that will be 20 dollars.”

He paid for the taxi fare and rushed into an internet café by the roadside. He quickly got to a computer, launched his tor browser, and then hacked into the telephone company’s back-end to locate Su Li’s last coordinates.

Her last call was made from the Hilton Hotel!

“Does this mean that she’s been kidnapped?”

With that thought in his mind, Xiao Luo frowned—Su Li was Su Xiaobei’s only kin, and nothing must happen to her.

His fingers clattered urgently on the keyboard, and he quickly accessed into Hilton Hotel’s network system. Su Li’s name wasn’t on the list of guests, but from the surveillance footage, he saw Su Li entering room 2011 with a well-dressed lady who appeared to be of high station. Su Li seemed to be draped in a scarf to avoid being recognized.

He promptly left the internet café, then hailed a taxi and rushed to Hilton Hotel.

…

…

The Hilton was a five-star rated hotel and one of Xiahai’s most luxurious—the lodging of choice for the rich and famous.

Xiao Luo found his way to room 2011 in no time. There was a “Do not Disturb” sign hanging on the doorknob, but that didn’t stop him. With a thrust of his palm, the thick sandalwood door flew open, and there he found Su Li sprawled on the bed. The well-dressed lady he had seen on the surveillance cam was undressing her.

“W-who are you?! Why are you here?” The well-dressed lady was shocked as she stared at Xiao Luo in terror.

“I’m asking the question here! Who are you, and what are you doing to Miss Su?!” Xiao Luo glared at her chillingly, then glimpsed at Su Li.

The well-dressed lady composed herself, then she stood up confidently and said, “I’m her mother!”

“Really? Would a mother drug her own daughter?!” Xiao Luo growled as he stepped toward her.

“Don’t come any closer, get out now! Security! security…”

The well-dressed lady started screaming but suddenly stopped—she took stock of the situation and realized that If what she did was exposed, the consequences would be dire.

Xiao Luo did see some similarities in their features, so perhaps this lady was indeed Su Li’s mother, as she claimed. But this was not his concern at the moment, for all he cared was to make sure that Su Li was safe.

He went over to Su Li and checked her vital signs; she was breathing and had only passed out. There was an almost-empty teacup on the bedside table, so the drug must’ve been laced in her drink.

Without saying another word, he lifted Su Li off the bed, carried her, and walked toward the door.

“B*stard, who the hell are you? Let go of my daughter right now!”

The well-dressed lady screamed as she rushed forward and attempted to pull Su Li away from Xiao Luo.

Before she could even lay a hand on Su Li, Xiao Luo kicked her down. He didn’t use much force, just enough to push her off. But the well-dressed lady flew and crashed on the floor next to the bed.

“I don’t care if you are Su Li’s mother or not, but you better stay down for your own good. Otherwise, my next kick will not be so light.”

When she looked into his eyes, the well-dressed lady shuddered. His eyes glowered as if a wild beast lurked within, and it sent a chill down her spine.

With Su Li safe in his arms, Xiao Luo strode out the room.

As he walked through the lobby carrying Su Li in his arms, the front desk staff were alarmed and immediately alerted security. He was confronted just when he exited the hotel entrance. Several guards converged on Xiao Luo, preventing him from leaving as they needed to question him.

Xiao Luo was simply too tired to explain. He delivered a few kicks and dispatched them all in a quick time. They fell on the floor, clutching their mid-sections and groaning in pain.

…

…

He quickly found a cab, and they were now on their way back to the Crescent Bay Hotel. The taxi driver couldn’t refrain himself and said, “Brother, is she your girlfriend? Wow, she really looks a lot like the Nation’s Goddess, Su Li!”

“Drive. Don’t talk.”The cabin fell into an awkward silence. The driver dropped them off at the Crescent Bay Hotel and watched as Xiao Luo carried Su Li in. “Sigh, why do beautiful women always belong to others…”

…