The sudden scream echoed, but there was no second one to follow.
Xue Rui leaned forward and asked Ji Feng, “Boss, should we check what happened? There should be both that woman and Mr. Duan inside. I saw him entering just now.”
Ji Feng raised an eyebrow and replied indifferently, “What’s there to see.” After a pause, he continued, “If there’s a real issue, there won’t be just one scream. Most likely, it’s Duan Aoxiang’s quirks acting up again, being a bit too forward. It’s not like he’d resort to force.”
Considering this, Xue Rui agreed. If the woman expressed her unwillingness through a scream, Duan Aoxiang probably wouldn’t escalate things further. So, there shouldn’t be any substantial danger.
Having thought this through, Xue Rui turned to observe Ji Feng’s expression. Although Ji Feng had smoothed out most of his emotions, a lingering trace of annoyance toward Duan Aoxiang still remained in his features.
Xue Rui couldn’t help but wonder if Duan Aoxiang did it intentionally. He knew Ji Feng had a perfectionist and highly refined nature, especially disliking any crudeness in matters of love. Yet, Duan Aoxiang seemed to intentionally test Ji Feng’s boundaries. Even though the current discussion was in a more sophisticated setting, it still resembled the atmosphere of a high-class club.
“If there’s another scream, I’ll go and check again,” Xue Rui said, sitting behind Ji Feng.
Ji Feng didn’t voice any objection or approval.
In the makeup room, Duan Aoxiang made a call and, after finishing the conversation, strolled out. As he approached the door, he changed his mind and decided to take a moment.
He turned back, pushing open the door between the makeup room and the restroom.
At first glance, he saw a cleaner crouched in front of the toilet, facing away from him.
Duan Aoxiang’s eyes lit up as he caught sight of the graceful figure. The back was delicate, the waist wrapped in a well-fitting uniform. Every movement displayed a slender and flexible waist. Even though the legs were covered by the uniform pants, they appeared slim and elongated.
As he looked upwards, observing the cleaner’s exposed neck, fair and delicate, leaning forward to inspect the hidden corners of the restroom, the neck elongated like that of a swan.
Duan Aoxiang, never one to abstain from such matters, especially with a good figure, felt a sudden rush of desire, heightened by the alcohol he had consumed. He almost considered the impulse to grab her waist, imagining the sensation of holding it. For a moment, he wondered if, instead of the restroom, he should engage in a playful moment with her.
However, just before the act, a sharp, piercing scream echoed in his ears.
The cleaner had sensed his approach and, with a scream, evaded him, turning around to face him with a shocked expression. She questioned, “What are you doing?”
Duan Aoxiang’s interest plummeted as he realized that the graceful figure he had envisioned was, in reality, a worn-out-looking woman. Her appearance seemed much older than he had initially perceived.
Feeling thoroughly disappointed, Duan Aoxiang scoffed at her, “What are you screaming for? What do you think I want to do? If you block the way, how am I supposed to use the restroom? If I want to pull you away, that’s what I’m going to do! Moreover, looking at you, who’s taking advantage of whom here? Let’s be clear about who owes whom!”
The commotion drew several onlookers into the restroom. They observed the scene unfolding—a man berating a cleaner, surrounded by a group of people who offered mocking comments.
Duan Aoxiang continued to vent his frustration, turning towards the onlookers and saying, “What’s your problem? Since you’re the housekeeper of this suite, aren’t you responsible for everything in this suite, including cleanliness? Why did you suddenly send in such a woman?!”
The hotel housekeeper shot a sharp, reproachful glance at the cleaner. In that glance, she quickly scolded her for creating chaos by cleaning the restroom.
Not bothering to explain or defend herself, the cleaner wore a resigned smile.
Duan Aoxiang’s attention was drawn back to the cleaner. Suddenly, he spoke up again.
“Wait a moment!” he ordered, staring at her face. Although her earlier smile had disappeared, he seemed to have noticed something. “Smile for me again!” he commanded.
Onlookers were puzzled by his sudden demand. They wondered what he was doing and what was happening.
The housekeeper, bewildered, tried to intervene, “Mr. Duan…”
“Don’t speak. It’s not your turn now!” Duan Aoxiang interrupted her, then turned his attention back to the cleaner. “You, what were you doing when you smiled just now? Were you secretly cursing me in your heart?!”
The cleaner looked at him steadily and replied, “No, I wasn’t cursing you.”
“Something’s off. Your laughter is peculiar. Laugh like you did just now, it’s non-negotiable!” Duan Aoxiang bluntly threatened. “If you don’t laugh, you’ll lose your job immediately!”
Xu Miyu felt speechless, overwhelmed by fatigue.
This time, she truly cursed in her heart, simultaneously laughing, her eyes crescent-shaped as she looked at Duan Aoxiang.
When she laughed, it was as if she transformed, her lips curving upwards in sync with the crescent-shaped eyes. At this moment, the weariness and auntie-like appearance on her face were diluted by her smile. Hidden behind the laughter, she cursed Duan Aoxiang in her heart: a despicable man.
After a brief laugh, Xu Miyu composed her expression and calmly asked, “Is it acceptable now, Mr. Duan?”
Duan Aoxiang looked at her, squinting his eyes, pondering. “Looking at you now, you don’t seem that old.” Pausing, his expression changed immediately, gnashing his teeth and saying menacingly, “No, I’m sure you were laughing and cursing me just now, but I have no evidence!”
His entourage couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Duan Aoxiang became even angrier and started to create a scene. “You!” He pointed at the suite manager and said, “You’re my housekeeper; cleaning the bathroom should be your job!… What? The staff in the hall is not enough, and you need to greet guests for me? No need! Come, put on the rubber gloves for this aunt… this sister, and you continue cleaning the bathroom for me. And you!” Duan Aoxiang pointed at Xu Miyu, unkindly saying, “Yes, you. Take off the gloves on your hands and give them to her. Hurry up! Then come out and serve me tea and pour wine. If you were cursing me in your heart, I don’t believe I can’t handle you!”
Without waiting for Xu Miyu to act, he briskly walked forward, grabbing several tissues from the tissue box, wrapping the toilet brush handle in them, snatching it away from Xu Miyu’s hands. He handed it to the suite manager, then, using the tissues, removed the rubber gloves from Xu Miyu’s hands. With a swift motion, he swung the gloves, along with the tissues, into the suite manager’s arms, regardless of whether the water stains on them would splash onto the person.
The suite manager let out a slightly miserable low cry.
Xu Miyu wanted to go over and help the manager wipe off the water stains on her face, showing some consideration.
However, Duan Aoxiang stopped her, pointing at her nose. “You, get out now. Wherever I go, you follow. Serve me tea and water, and make sure everything is clear tonight. If you can’t handle it, I can send you packing home tomorrow!”
Xu Miyu stood in place, looking up at Duan Aoxiang’s face without moving.
Duan Aoxiang, irritated by her gaze, said, “What are you staring at? I’ll hit you if you keep staring!”
He actually raised his hand as if he was genuinely angry.
Xu Miyu didn’t know what had come over her, a sudden surge of rebelliousness. A rebellion that left her in despair.
She couldn’t understand why she, the victim, had to endure the mockery and blame from these wealthy and arrogant people.
Both the suite manager and she were hotel staff, both women. But when something happened, why couldn’t they stand together and support each other? Why did the suite manager’s first reaction involve blaming her without asking for the facts, without defending her?
She hadn’t done anything wrong. If she had to admit to a mistake, it was that she looked so worn out, leading others to misunderstand, thinking she was a young girl, which sparked their interest in teasing her.
And now, this man was threatening to make her life difficult.
Fine, she thought, looking at Duan Aoxiang’s face. Let him make it difficult for her. She had already turned into what she was now, how much worse could it get?
Xu Miyu remained silent and unmoving, just staring at Duan Aoxiang.
Duan Aoxiang had raised his hand, seemingly ready to land a slap, turning all his previous show of strength into a farce. Yet, the slap stopped just a few centimeters away from her cheek.
The wind generated by the swinging hand had already reached her face.
She turned her head to look, and someone had grabbed Duan Aoxiang’s wrist.
The man she had seen before, the one who had taken the private elevator she used without hesitation—Ji Feng.
Duan Aoxiang shook off Ji Feng’s hand, ungraciously arguing, “Did I hit her? I was just scaring her! Hey, Old Ji, you’re not usually one to join in the fun. What made you interfere?”
Duan Aoxiang retorted, mocking Ji Feng.
Ji Feng coldly looked at him and then at the others, saying, “Leave, I need to use the restroom.”
There was a certain intimidating force in his voice, compelling the others to leave involuntarily.
Ji Feng gave Duan Aoxiang a final glance and turned his gaze to Xu Miyu.
He looked at her, asking coldly, “I said I need to use the restroom. Are you going to stay here?”
Xu Miyu involuntarily shrank her shoulders.
“Still not leaving?”
She shrank her shoulders again, immediately lifting her foot to leave.
As she pushed the door open, she thought, in those three words “still not leaving,” she somehow heard an undisguised disdain.
That man openly disdained her.
So, he just happened to come in and resolve her predicament. It must be a coincidence.
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