Chapter 12: Brother Long, Dead!

“Oh.” Lin Xuan felt no sympathy, but still offered a reminder:
“Your grandfather is ill. Don’t give him any tonics—nourishment can feed the sickness, and will only make it worse.”
With that, he turned and left, returning to his room to continue grinding the Jade Complexion Powder.
“Take this and let Han Ling try it,” he thought.
After calling Han Ling and learning she’d managed to rent an apartment, Lin Xuan was delighted.
“Sorry, I rented an apartment—for eight hundred a month.”
“That’s pretty cheap. Why apologize?” Lin Xuan chuckled. This girl really was… someone you couldn’t help but feel sorry for.
“It’s still expensive, and I’m using your money to rent it. I feel so bad. How about I buy you milk tea today as a little compensation?”
Han Ling was already at work, though the morning rush for milk tea hadn’t started yet.
Usually, the shop was packed thanks to her beauty; every day, milk tea lovers flocked in.
Especially the boys—who would order a cup and sit for hours, just to catch a few more glimpses of her.
Because of this, Han Ling’s aunt was delighted, forcing her to work overtime until ten every night, just to sell a few more cups.
That meant a fifteen-hour shift.
And her monthly salary was only two thousand yuan.
“Alright, I’ll come find you,” Lin Xuan replied, feeling a little conflicted.
He wasn’t exactly welcome at the Lin house anyway—should he move out?
Lin Shanshan was alright; though she called him a country bumpkin, she was still willing to give him money.
When buying street snacks, she’d always bring back some for him.
Lin Weiwei, on the other hand, was cold as ice; just being near her gave him a chill.
But Lin Xuan couldn’t help but be tempted by those long legs in black stockings.
“Never mind. After all, I’m supposed to be a bodyguard now. I should follow Master’s instructions and finish these six months first.”
…
By the roadside, in a milk tea shop.
Han Ling was busy behind the counter.
“Lin Xuan, you’re here! What would you like to drink?”
Despite her busyness, when she saw Lin Xuan enter, she graced him with a sweet smile that sent a wave of envy through the crowd of boys.
They’d come early just for a glimpse of the “Milk Tea Belle.”
Usually, she was reserved and polite to all, never showing such a genuine, sweet smile.
Jealousy burned in their eyes.
Could Lin Xuan be her boyfriend?
All eyes turned on Lin Xuan, as if wishing to devour him whole.
Lin Xuan only smiled faintly.
It was a rather enjoyable feeling, being envied.
“I’ll have a lemon water today. I’m in the mood for something sour,” he said, glancing around.
They certainly looked sour enough.
“Alright, just a moment.” She began preparing his drink.
“How did you find the presidential suite last night?” Lin Xuan asked.
What?!
Hearing this, the surrounding boys’ hearts shattered.
The two of them had rented a hotel room together last night—
And not just any room, but the presidential suite.
Was there some special meaning behind that?
“It was big and comfortable,” Han Ling replied without hesitation.
At those words, the boys’ eyes blazed red.
So it was true—the Milk Tea Belle had been won by this man!
And from the sound of it, he was well-endowed; even the Milk Tea Belle had been conquered.
Ah!
Their jealousy drove them mad.
The sweet milk tea in their cups tasted sour as lemon water.
“As long as you liked it,” Lin Xuan replied with a smile.
After all, for a suite costing ten thousand a night, if the comfort wasn’t up to par, it’d hardly be worth it.
“All done, here you go.” Han Ling handed him the lemon water with another sweet smile.
“Thank you,” Lin Xuan said as he took it.
“I’ll treat you to lunch after my shift,” Han Ling offered.
Her aunt would cover for her at noon, letting Han Ling take a short break so she’d have energy for her evening shift.
“No need. You work so long every day—if you skip your lunch break, won’t you collapse at night?”
Lin Xuan felt sorry for her, convinced her aunt was not a good person; who exploited their own family like this?
Han Ling fell silent.
“Why not quit?” Lin Xuan suggested.
“And let you support me?” Han Ling shot him a sidelong glance.
“I’ll take care of you,” Lin Xuan said earnestly.
Han Ling giggled, cheeks flushed, her heart light and sweet. “Thank you for the offer, but I have two working hands and feet—no need to rely on you.”
The boys around them couldn’t bear any more. Was this meant to torture them to death?
Enough!
They paid and left in a rush.
“Why did everyone leave?” Han Ling hadn’t realized what had happened; usually, they’d grab seats early and linger for ages.
Just then, a few men in suits strode in, speaking in commanding tones:
“Lin Xuan, come with us. Young Master Jiang wants to see you.”
At the mention of Young Master Jiang, Lin Xuan’s mood soured.
“If he wants to see me, he can come himself.”
“Lin Xuan, don’t be ungrateful. Do you know who Young Master Jiang is? Him wanting to see you is an honor!”
“That’s right. Don’t make us use force, or you’ll regret it!”
Lin Xuan was about to act, but realized that in a crowded city, his current strength wasn’t enough to defy all worldly rules.
“Fine, I’ll come with you.”
“If you won’t come willingly, we’ll have to make you. Move!”
“Lin Xuan…” Han Ling looked worried.
“I’ll be back soon,” Lin Xuan reassured her, then followed them outside and got into a sedan.
The car drove to a secluded location. Without warning, Lin Xuan flicked several silver needles.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
“Ugh…”
“What did you do?”
The men in the car slumped over, groggy.
“Strange, why is there no signal on my phone?”
After getting out, Lin Xuan tried to call Han Ling, but couldn’t get through.
“Lin Xuan, I admit you have some skill.”
A burly man with a crew cut stepped forward.
He wore a trench coat, a dagger at his waist. The dagger’s hilt was shaped into a fierce dragon’s head—impossible to miss.
“Black Dragon,” Lin Xuan said, spitting out the words.
“Hahaha… So you recognize the Black Dragon organization. You’re not simple, are you?”
“Who are you?”
“They call me Shallow Dragon, but most people just call me Dragon Brother.”
Dragon Brother wasn’t some petty gangster; he was a former mercenary, famed as “Binhai’s Number One Bodyguard.”
“I’ve heard the name. But today will be your last,” Lin Xuan said, unimpressed.
“This isn’t the place for a fight—how about the mountains over there?”
A sinister smile curled at Dragon Brother’s lips.
After all, no matter what, he was sure to win!
Killing Lin Xuan here would make cleanup difficult.
“Fine.” Lin Xuan, not wanting more trouble either, agreed. His strength wasn’t yet enough to stand against modern weapons.
The two reached a secluded forest on the outskirts.
“Die!” Dragon Brother pulled out a salted fish and hurled it at Lin Xuan.
“Control the needle with energy!” Lin Xuan shot out several silver needles.
With a clang, one needle knocked away a peanut, while the others embedded themselves in Dragon Brother’s body.
“Ugh…” A sharp pain twisted Dragon Brother’s face. “Impossible—you actually knocked it away… ah!”
Clutching his chest, he collapsed, terror in his eyes as he fumbled for his phone and opened a video.
“You… you can’t kill me. Your woman is in Young Master Jiang’s hands. Look for yourself!”
Lin Xuan flashed to his side and looked at the phone. Sure enough, in the video, Han Ling could be seen trembling as she entered a club.
“Die!”
Like a venomous snake playing dead, Dragon Brother suddenly lunged, dagger aimed at Lin Xuan’s heart!
But Lin Xuan’s hand shot out like lightning, caught the blade between his fingers, and snapped it with a twist.
Crack.
The dagger broke.
Dragon Brother was dumbfounded.
This was a special-forces dagger, forged of alloy and incredibly tough—yet Lin Xuan had snapped it with his fingers?
Was he even human?
“Are you ready to die?” Lin Xuan’s voice was icy.
“You… you can’t kill me! If I die, Young Master Jiang won’t spare your woman!”
Despair washed over Dragon Brother. If he’d known, he’d never have provoked this monster!
“If I let you live, do you think he’ll let her go?”
“Rest in peace.”
Lin Xuan pinched a three-inch needle between his fingers and flicked it. The needle buried itself in Dragon Brother’s brow.
“Ugh…”
Dragon Brother died on the spot, eyes wide, unwilling to close even in death.