To be honest, Lu Xiaoxiao didn’t fully understand the conversation she had overheard.
She couldn’t help but ask the System, “Hey, what’s really going on between them?”
The System replied, “If you wish to exchange for information, it will cost points~”
Lu Xiaoxiao, having already squandered all the points she had earned, fell silent.
“Forget it, I don’t need to know this gossip anyway!”
Seeing that time was almost up, her top priority now was to sneak into the power supply room.
She had studied the layout diagram in the stairwell—the power supply room was on this floor, and the search area had already been narrowed down significantly.
Lu Xiaoxiao cautiously hunched over and turned, intending to silently make her way to the other side.
But as soon as she took a step, the collar of her shirt at the back of her neck was grabbed by a hand.
Lu Xiaoxiao: “!!!”
Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!
At this moment, the only people who could appear behind her were either Ji Yunhuai or a ghost—she couldn’t think of any other possibilities.
And if she had to choose between the two, she’d almost prefer it to be a ghost holding her.
But damn it, this wasn’t a supernatural world!
Screaming internally like a groundhog, Lu Xiaoxiao slowly turned her head with a sliver of hope, only to see the man’s face right in front of her.
Ji Yunhuai looked at her with half-closed eyes, his gaze scrutinizing, the corners of his lips curled in a faint, ambiguous smile.
Though his face was undeniably handsome, to Lu Xiaoxiao at that moment, it seemed even more terrifying than a demon’s.
She forced a strained smile and tremblingly greeted him, “Hello?”
Ji Yunhuai let out a derisive laugh, clearly not intending to return her greeting with a friendly “Hello.”
“Speak. What did you overhear?”
Lu Xiaoxiao played dumb: “Was someone talking just now?”
Ji Yunhuai studied her expression for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle and releasing her.
The man straightened up, putting some distance between them, and asked, “Are you a hotel employee?”
Lu Xiaoxiao: “???”
Lu Xiaoxiao was a bit offended. Though she was dressed plainly today, it wasn’t to the extent of being mistaken for a hotel employee!
But on second thought, it was probably better that Ji Yunhuai didn’t know her true identity, especially since she had just eavesdropped on his private conversation.
Lu Xiaoxiao was genuinely worried that her blunder might hasten the Lu Family’s bankruptcy.
Having finally gotten a taste of the high-society life, she didn’t want it to end too soon.
Besides, to someone like Ji Yunhuai, who had been born at the top of the social hierarchy, whether she was a Lu Family adoptee or a hotel employee probably made little difference—neither would be worth his notice.
Once she came to this realization, Lu Xiaoxiao resigned herself to the situation and nodded solemnly at Ji Yunhuai. “Yes, Young Master Ji, I’m an employee here.”
Ji Yunhuai glanced at her skeptically. “You know who I am?”
“Um… well…”
Regretting her quick tongue, Lu Xiaoxiao hurriedly tried to cover up: “Young Master Ji’s reputation is well-known throughout the Imperial Capital, right? Seeing you in person today, you truly live up to your fame—you’re so handsome it’s… it’s dazzling! Breathtaking! Astonishing! I’m deeply honored!”
After finishing this speech, Lu Xiaoxiao felt genuinely proud of herself.
Oh my God, no one could wield idioms quite like she could!
Lu Xiaoxiao never imagined she could utter such sycophantic words—human potential truly becomes limitless when pushed to the brink in critical moments!
Ji Yunhuai: "……"
Ji Yunhuai: "Do you usually compliment people like this?"
Lu Xiaoxiao shook her head, answering with utmost sincerity: "No, I rarely compliment people. I scold them more often."
Ji Yunhuai: "……"
Ji Yunhuai pinched the bridge of his nose, the exasperation around him almost tangible enough to solidify.
But Lu Xiaoxiao couldn't care less about what Ji Yunhuai thought. She was in a hurry to carry out her mischief and had no time to entangle with him. She just wanted to make a quick escape, so she forced a smile and bid farewell: "Young Master Ji, I'll take my leave now to attend to my work."
"Hold on."
Before she could even complete her turn, Ji Yunhuai called her back again.
Lu Xiaoxiao mustered her patience and looked at him, adopting as professional a tone as possible: "Is there anything else, Young Master Ji?"
This time, she finally got a proper look at Ji Yunhuai's face.
The man had a pair of striking phoenix eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, easily giving the illusion that he was smiling. His bone structure was exceptional—prominent brow bones, a high nose bridge, and a sharp jawline. His overall appearance leaned toward refined elegance, but the look in his eyes carried a distinct laziness and nonchalance.
His features held a deceptive quality, not overly aggressive, yet anyone who met his gaze would clearly realize this man was no pushover—not someone to be trifled with lightly.
To be fair, Lu Xiaoxiao wasn't particularly keen on getting involved with someone like him.
Ji Yunhuai tilted his chin toward her, his tone casual: "I don't know where the Lu Family banquet's main hall is. Take me there."
Lu Xiaoxiao: "Huh?"
"What are you spacing out for?" Ji Yunhuai frowned, his voice tinged with impatience. "The Lu Family has booked the entire venue today. We're both headed to the same destination anyway. Is it that difficult to lead the way?"
Lu Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded.
She admitted Ji Yunhuai's logic was sound, but… but… her current destination wasn't the banquet hall!
If she took him there now, she wouldn't have time to pull the power switch!
Lu Xiaoxiao attempted to decline: "While that may be true, I—"
"If you keep blabbering nonsense, I'll call the hotel manager and have him dock your pay."
Still unwilling to concede, Lu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, cast aside her dignity, and continued lying: "But my job is to clean the toilets, Young Master Ji! We're really not headed the same way!"
Ji Yunhuai: "……?"
The corner of Ji Yunhuai's mouth twitched twice before he stated in a tone that brooked no argument: "Take me there first, then go clean."
Lu Xiaoxiao was shocked, her face twisting into an expression that screamed, "Are you even human?"
But since things had reached this point and Ji Yunhuai's impatience was visibly growing, she genuinely worried that further refusal might get her strangled by him.
One lie required a thousand more to cover it up. Reaping what she had sown, Lu Xiaoxiao ultimately led the way with a frosty expression.
Along the path, they even passed the power supply room she had spent half her time searching for—adding insult to injury.
By the time Lu Xiaoxiao was finally permitted to leave by Ji Yunhuai and circled back to the spot, she discovered the power supply room door was already locked, the staff nowhere to be found, leaving her with no way to proceed.
The System, that emotionally inept fellow, suddenly spoke up: "Host, the banquet is nearing its end. Aren't you going to initiate your plan?"
Lu Xiaoxiao: "……"
Lu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth: "The plan is over."
Completely ruined!!!
Fuming, Lu Xiaoxiao wanted to punch the wall but held back for fear of pain. She sat in the stairwell sulking by herself.
Very well! Ji Yunhuai had done an excellent job! He had successfully captured her attention!
Lu Xiaoxiao swore to the heavens that once she saved enough points, she would obtain all of Ji Yunhuai's information and take revenge by targeting his weaknesses!