The reporters around were utterly confused as they watched the two exchange words.
Wasn't this a pre - wedding banquet? Why were they so calm?
Upon receiving instructions from Xiao Yanzhi, Xue An immediately began to disperse the media, clearly stating that this was a private matter of the Xiao family and there was no comment.
One media outlet remained persistent. Suddenly, a reporter shouted at the top of his voice, "Mr. Xiao, is Miss Jiang in your room? Can you let us go in and take a look?"
As soon as the reporter finished speaking, Xiao Yanzhi's eyes narrowed instantly. The aura around him darkened. His thin lips parted and closed slowly as he asked nonchalantly, "Which media are you from?"
This seemingly casual question made the reporter's legs go weak.
The implication was self - evident.
Everyone knew clearly that even if Jiang Li was really hiding in the room, no one dared to go against him and break in.
They could tell the difference between a full meal once in a while and a regular supply of food.
"Xue An, deal with the room," Xiao Yanzhi said expressionlessly and then strode away.
As the saying goes, the first bird to fly gets shot. The threat just now was obvious. No media dared to continue gossiping. The hotel, which had been bustling just now, emptied out like a flock of birds scattering. It was now extremely desolate.
Only then did Xue An carefully use the room card to open the door, squeezing in through a gap just wide enough for half his body.
Looking at the empty suite, he whispered, "Sister Jiang Li, Mr. Xiao has cleared everyone away. You can come out now."
A few seconds later, Jiang Li walked out of the bathroom.
Her face was still pale. Her eyes were fixed nervously on the door. "Have all the media left?"
"Don't worry. Mr. Xiao will handle it properly," Xue An said, swearing an oath without knowing what had happened. "He won't let anything happen to you. Everything has been arranged."
Hearing this, Jiang Li's beautiful and clear face remained expressionless. She found this statement ridiculous.
Won't let anything happen to her?
He wished he could force her into a corner, leaving her with no way out, until she willingly stepped into the trap he had set.
While Xue An was chatting with her, his eyes suddenly fell on the necklace around her neck. He was a bit surprised.
This necklace was the one Mr. Xiao had retrieved from Qin Yaoyao that night.
It seemed that Mr. Xiao had finally given it to Jiang Li.
Noticing Xue An staring at her, Jiang Li asked, "Do I look strange?"
"No, Sister Jiang Li is always beautiful," Xue An quickly denied. "Sorry for making you stay here for a while. I'll take you out after I'm sure everyone in the hotel has left."
Jiang Li nodded in response.
Unconsciously, she reached up to touch the necklace around her neck. For a moment, she was in a daze.
Just a moment ago, at a critical moment, Xiao Yanzhi had suddenly taken out this necklace from his pocket. After putting it on her forcefully, he had pushed her into the bathroom.
She didn't know the purpose of this necklace, why he had gone to so much trouble to make her wear it.
That kind of stubbornness and toughness was beyond her understanding.
Later, when there was no one around, Jiang Li slipped out of the hotel and got into Xue An's car to go home.
"Sister Jiang Li, is the dinner over?" Jing Yi greeted her as soon as she came back. "I waited at the hotel entrance for a long time but didn't see you come out."
For a dinner of this level, an assistant like Jing Yi was not qualified to enter. Naturally, she had no idea what had happened inside the hotel.
Jiang Li couldn't help but sigh inwardly. As expected of the Xiao family. Even though this farce had been so noisy, it was almost airtight.
"Yeah, it's over," she said as she changed her shoes at the door. She felt exhausted. "I want to take a bath, Jing Yi."
"The hot water has been ready for a long time," Jing Yi said quickly. She deftly helped Jiang Li pack her clothes. "I knew you'd be tired tonight. Go to bed early after your bath."
Jiang Li nodded. Finally, she felt a bit more relaxed. Just as she was about to enter the bathroom, she suddenly noticed that Jing Yi was the only one at home.
"Where are Sister Chen and Xiao Ye?" she asked.
Jing Yi blinked. "I'm not sure. Sister Chen answered a phone call and said there was an urgent company meeting, so she took Xiao Ye with her. She told me to wait for you at home."
Jiang Li didn't ask further. After she understood, she walked into the bathroom.
The hot water was at just the right temperature. Jiang Li closed her eyes and soaked in the water. The nervousness of the whole night and the tense nerves all over her body finally relaxed at this moment.
Her mind went blank for a while. She chose not to think, and everything became blurry.
She didn't know how long she had been in the bath. It was not until Jing Yi knocked on the door that she woke up from the water. The water had already become a bit cold.
"Sister Jiang Li, don't fall asleep in the bathroom next time. You'll catch a cold," Jing Yi muttered as she quickly wrapped a towel around her.
Jiang Li dried her hair and went back to her bedroom.
The screen of her phone lit up just then. She walked over and turned it on. There was only one sentence on it, concise and to the point.
"Come downstairs and see me now."
Jiang Li pursed her lips tightly, wanting to pretend she hadn't seen this text message.
"Jiang Li, if you're asleep, I'll come upstairs."
He was a brute.
Jiang Li dug her fingertips into her palm. She was silent for a while. Thinking of Jing Yi in the next bedroom, she still changed her clothes, put on a mask with no makeup on, and went downstairs.
The familiar Maybach downstairs had been waiting for her for a long time.
All the car windows were closed. She couldn't see the person inside at all, but Jiang Li knew clearly that the other person was waiting for her to get in voluntarily.
He always liked her to be proactive.
Jiang Li swallowed a few times. Resignedly, she closed her eyes and opened the car door to get in.
"I thought you were already asleep since you didn't reply to my message," the man sitting in the back row said calmly. The driver in the front row had disappeared. His eyes on her were as calm as a deep pool.
Jiang Li raised her face and smiled casually. "No, I just took a bath and didn't see the message."
Her calmness and composure were hardly a perfect disguise in his eyes.
"I'm here to fulfill your promise," she said.
Xiao Yanzhi's expression gradually became more serious. He spread his legs naturally, clearly indicating for her to come over.
Jiang Li gently pursed her lips, knowing what he wanted.
He wanted to do it in the car.
As soon as she straddled his lap, his hands clasped around her waist.
His big hands pressed firmly on her thighs, almost not allowing her to separate from him.
The scorching breath between them gradually heightened the ambiguous atmosphere in the car.
Jiang Li had always been unable to refuse his demands.
But today, looking at his face so close and breathing in the familiar scent that had invaded her in countless nights, she felt short of breath and her chest felt stuffy.
Something in her stomach kept churning and surging up, making her want to vomit.
He was no longer Xiao Yanzhi.
Reason and conscience told her that he was about to be Qin Yaoyao's fiancé, a father of a child, and a man who had nothing to do with her. They shouldn't have such an intimate relationship.