"Let's have a drink together. This is the first time President Xiao is eating with us since he returned.
A while ago, we had the will but not the strength. Lü Liang didn't let these people cause trouble. We don't know what their objective is," Guo Xuhui said, raising his wine glass.
"But it's good that we're all back safe and sound. President Xiao, let's just have a simple home-cooked meal today."
"Thank you, Brother Hui," Xiao Yun said, picking up his wine glass.
"However, this simple home-cooked meal is not something ordinary people can afford to eat often."
"Can you speak properly? Are you doing it on purpose?" Guo Xuyang retorted.
"Yes, I am doing it on purpose. What can you do about it?" Xiao Yun said deliberately.
"Brother Hui, thank you. I'll finish this," Xiao Yun said, raising his glass.
"Good, bottoms up." Guo Xuhui also finished his drink.
The meal was quite uncomfortable.
"Big Brother, President Guo, Sister, please enjoy your meal. I'm full," Xiaoyu said, standing up. "I need to go out for a moment."
"Yu'er, why don't you accompany Xiaoyu?" Guo Xuyang suggested.
"Let Yu'er rest. She's not feeling well. I'll go with her," Xiao Li quickly said, standing up.
"No need, Big Sister. I'm just going to the restroom, not going far," Xiaoyu said.
"Alright then, take your time. Don't get lost, and keep track of our room number," Guo Xuyang instructed.
"I know, Big Brother," Xiaoyu said, taking a small item from her backpack before leaving.
"Yangzi, you're acting very strangely. Is Xiaoyu your illegitimate daughter from outside?" Xiao Yun asked Guo Xuyang.
"You're talking nonsense. Do I have that much capability?" Guo Xuyang said with a smile.
"Or perhaps you have ill intentions towards Xiaoyu?"
"Just eat your food. Can't all this delicious food shut you up?"
"Hmph, you can do it but I can't say it?" Xiao Yun pouted.
"What did I do? I'm just concerned about Xiaoyu. Look at you now, do you know what you resemble?"
"What?"
"A jealous shrew."
"Only a dog's mouth spews foul words. Am I jealous? I'm trying to remind you."
"She's so young, how could I do something like that? Don't think of me as so sordid, okay?" Guo Xuyang said irritably.
However, his guilty expression betrayed him. The others naturally didn't say much, just exchanged glances. On this occasion, only Xiao Yun dared to speak. The others, let alone daring to speak, wouldn't say it to his face.
Just as the atmosphere was about to turn cold, shouting suddenly erupted from outside.
"You bitch, are you getting too full of yourself? Don't think you can act pure just because you're wearing a school uniform. I've seen enough of 'uniform seduction.' I know exactly whose little bird you are."
A fat man, wearing a thick gold chain around his neck and a Patek Philippe on his wrist, was pointing at Xiaoyu and yelling.
"I... I don't know you. Why are you pulling me?" Xiaoyu argued softly.
"Ten thousand for a glass of wine. Have you ever seen so much money? What's wrong with accompanying us for a drink? Why are you pretending?" the fat man roared. He didn't notice the temperature around them dropping several degrees.
"Big Brother, I... I..." Xiaoyu rushed to Guo Xuyang's side when she saw him come out.
"Young man, so you're the one keeping her? How about a trade?" The fat man's demeanor changed instantly.
"Alright, what do you want to trade? Your life?"
"Three million. You can have her for one night. How about it?"
"Three million, that's not a small amount. Hand it over." Guo Xuyang smiled faintly and extended his hand.
"Give me a million as a deposit first. Tomorrow, at this time, I'll bring the person and the rest of the money to you." The fat man tore off a slip of paper and thrust it in front of Guo Xuyang.
"What is this? Waste paper?"
"You don't even recognize a check? Haven't you seen one before?" the fat man chuckled. He thought he had truly intimidated the other party.
"I don't usually use waste paper. I use this," Guo Xuyang said, taking out several gold bars. These were melted down from those he'd retrieved from the moat.
"Oh ho, Brother, you're not simple, are you? No wonder you can afford such a bird. My apologies, I shouldn't have judged a book by its cover." The fat man cupped his fists and prepared to leave.
"Didn't you say three million for one night? This is for you." Guo Xuyang threw the gold bars onto the ground and turned back.
"Damn it, there are all sorts of strange things happening these days. I even got a few gold bars for free." Seeing Guo Xuyang leave, the fat man picked up the gold bars.
"Big Brother, why did you give that person the gold? He just slapped me."
"Hmm? It was my oversight. We'll let him off for now. It's better to avoid trouble."
"Then... alright." Xiaoyu was confused by Guo Xuyang's actions. Not only her, but the fat man was also confused.
"Guys, I just saw a rare gem outside. I wanted to bring her over to have a drink with you all, but some fool took her away. He even gave me several of these," the fat man said, holding up the gold bars. However, his companions were terrified and recoiled.
"What's wrong with you all?" the fat man asked, not understanding why they were acting that way.
"Your... your hand, your hand..."
Following their gazes to his hand, the fat man almost fainted. The gold bars seemed alive, having devoured all the flesh and blood from his hand, leaving only bare bone. He tried to shake it off, but accidentally flicked a few drops of gold onto a girl's face. The girl's face began to contort, but she felt no pain.
"What's wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that?" the girl asked, seeing the terrified expressions on everyone's faces.
"You... your face..." a brave girl pointed at her face.
"What's wrong with my face? Don't scare me," the girl said, reaching out to grab the other girl's hand.
"You... you stay away, please don't come any closer." The girl was terrified and started crying. The girl's vision began to blur. Trying to stand steady, she accidentally fell and hit her head on the table. The skull, stripped of its flesh, rolled to the center of the table. Meanwhile, half of the fat man's face had been corroded beyond recognition. He felt no pain but was horrified by the girl's situation. He regretted his actions, not knowing what kind of existence he had encountered with such malevolent means. The others were completely stunned, frozen in place, watching as the two were completely consumed by the gold. After devouring them, the gold gathered together, forming a small golden figure with complete limbs but no head. It approached the remaining few people and then hopped out.
Back at the dining table, Xiaoyu still sat beside Guo Xuyang, looking unhappy.
"Alright, alright. If anyone bullies Xiaoyu in the future, I'll make them regret it," Guo Xuyang coaxed.
"You didn't even protect me when I was hit."
"There are too many people here, it wouldn't look good if it got out. Alright, don't be angry. I'll take you to find your sister later."
"Then I'd rather go home. I'm afraid Auntie will be heartbroken if she sees me like this."
"Then shall I ask Xiao Yun to take you back to where you went yesterday?"
"I have class tomorrow morning."
"Let Xiao Yun take you. Be good. Brother Hui, shall we go back? It's getting late."
"Have you eaten enough?"
"Yes, I'm full."
"Then let's go back."
As everyone stood up, no one noticed a small golden figure jump into Guo Xuyang's hand. Only Yu'er glanced at Guo Xuyang. She hadn't expected Guo Xuyang to go on a killing spree for a girl.