Chapter 54: Nan Xing's Heart Suddenly Skipped a Beat

Their eyes met in the mirror, and in a flash, Nan Xing was the first to look away. A delicate blush colored her charming face. Just moments ago, when Li Beitian looked at her, his dark eyes were deep and somber, shining with a misty tenderness, laced with emotions too complex to express. Like the vast, surging ocean, there seemed to be a mysterious force quietly drawing her in.

Li Beitian noticed Nan Xing’s hair was only half-dried, so he rose and went to the dressing table. Standing to her left, he leaned slightly forward, his chin brushing unintentionally against her shoulder. He opened the first drawer on the left and took out a small hairdryer.

“Dry your hair before you sleep; otherwise, you might catch a cold.”

He didn’t hurry to stand up but stayed bent over, his handsome face close to hers. His jet-black eyes, filled with scattered light, gazed at Nan Xing’s reflection in the mirror, as if wishing this moment could last forever.

Nan Xing felt her heartbeat skip as she met his gaze. Especially with Li Beitian standing beside her, speaking in his gentle voice, his dark eyes bright and clear, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips. The subtle scent of tobacco on him instantly made her head spin. Nan Xing had never liked the smell of smoke, yet she found herself drawn to the unique fragrance of his.

She obediently nodded, about to thank him, but suddenly recalled his earlier words—that between them, there would be no need for thanks. Thinking this over, she changed what she was about to say. “Fourth Uncle is truly wonderful—not only handsome and wealthy but also gentle and considerate with girls. Whoever marries Fourth Uncle will be blessed for eight lifetimes.”

Li Beitian’s eyes darkened suddenly, a casual smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. “Is that so?”

“Of course,” Nan Xing said, reaching to take the hairdryer, but Li Beitian raised his arm, withholding it from her. Instead, he took the initiative to dry her hair himself. His clean, slender fingers combed through her damp black hair, tidying it strand by strand, following the natural direction of growth as he gently dried it.

His touch was tender, even more skilled than a top-notch barber.

Nan Xing sat quietly in the chair, a pleasant sensation spreading through her scalp. Her clear, bright eyes slowly narrowed, a smile playing on her lips as she studied Li Beitian’s reflection. The man was tall and robust, wrapped only in a pure white towel from the waist down. Through the mirror’s close view, his eight-pack abs and lean waist created a striking image that made her almost want to reach out and touch him.

At that moment, he quietly stepped behind her, his warm chest brushing against her back. He lowered his head, focused intently on drying her hair. The room was silent except for the gentle hum of the hairdryer. It felt as if they were in a quiet world of their own, where words were unnecessary.

Their breaths mingled in the air, sharing the beauty of this moment together.

After some time, Li Beitian spoke, “I’m leaving for a business trip abroad the day after tomorrow. Will you be okay staying here alone?”

As his words fell, their eyes met in the mirror, both carrying unspoken thoughts. A flicker of emotion passed through Nan Xing’s eyes as she straightforwardly asked, “Fourth Uncle, are you worried about me?”

Li Beitian didn’t deny it, nor did he answer directly. Instead, he continued, “Do you want me to send a few bodyguards to stay with you?”

Nan Xing revealed a slight smile, thinking, Isn’t this just concern? Are all men these proud creatures who say one thing but mean another? Her long lashes fluttered, and a smile shone through her clear eyes. “Fourth Uncle, you’re underestimating me. Someone like me, Nan Xing, really doesn’t need bodyguards.”

Li Beitian raised a thick brow, not wanting to challenge her. “Are you sure?”

Nan Xing deepened her smile. “Don’t worry, Fourth Uncle. I can take good care of myself.”

She knew he wanted to talk about the incident at Star Coast, but that was truly an accident this time. Surrounded by a crowd of reporters and countless flashing cameras, she had been overwhelmed and suddenly recalled some past memories. Usually, no matter how many people there were, she wouldn’t be afraid. It was just that she hadn’t been in the right state of mind then.

Otherwise, she would never have let people like Nan Zhen’er and Wang Baozhu escape so easily. To Nan Xing, anyone who wronged her would know despair if she put her mind to it.

Seeing Li Beitian still watching her, Nan Xing’s dark eyes shifted, and she said obediently, “Fourth Uncle, if you’re still worried, how about I check in with you every day while you’re on your trip?”

“Hm?” Li Beitian pondered for a moment, then his expression softened. “This trip will last at most a week, at least three days. Take good care of yourself; I’ll try to come back early.”

“Okay, Fourth Uncle, I understand,” Nan Xing replied.

When her hair was nearly dry, Li Beitian lowered the power on the dryer and gave her a deep look. “Don’t forget to check in.”

Seeing his serious face in the mirror, Nan Xing puffed her cheeks slightly and whispered softly, “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Fourth Uncle.”

The unease in Li Beitian’s eyes faded, replaced by a growing smile. Soon, Nan Xing’s hair was completely dry. Li Beitian unplugged the dryer and returned it to its place. “Done. You should get to your room and rest; I still have work to do.”

Nan Xing glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. “Fourth Uncle, it’s so late. Can’t your work wait until tomorrow?”

Li Beitian didn’t elaborate, only mentioning it was work-related and urging her to sleep early before heading to his study. Nan Xing guessed he must have unfinished important tasks and wisely chose not to disturb him, obediently returning to her room to sleep.

Perhaps because of all she had experienced today, Nan Xing tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. Finally, she opened her phone and scrolled through videos to pass the time.

A trending news headline caught her attention: “#Regarding a certain account’s claim of suspected allergic skin reaction after staying at Manyun Hotel, demanding an explanation from hotel management#.”

Nan Xing’s gaze flickered. The first hotel she stayed at after being kicked out by the Nan family was Manyun Hotel, wasn’t it? Curious, she read through the entire news article.

In the comment section, many tagged a man named Wang Weidong. Could this Wang Weidong be the hotel’s owner?

Nan Xing clicked into Wang Weidong’s profile and saw that he was certified as the chairman of Wang Jewelry Enterprises.

Wang Jewelry Enterprises?

With a hint of puzzlement, Nan Xing searched online. It was only when she discovered that Manyun Hotel was a chain hotel under the Wang Jewelry Enterprise Group that everything suddenly became clear to her.