Chen Xiao pressed his mouth to An Xinning's ear, but his voice carried clearly for everyone to hear.
Jiang Yunhan coughed awkwardly; the Jiangbei Triangle awakeneds nearby looked half-amazed, half-adoring. To them this was unimaginable — the capital's An Xinning, the Military Beauty, being toyed with by their boss. The four military region officers, by contrast, were livid. They'd come to apologize, not to be publicly toyed with.
An Xinning froze. Her eyes widened; no one had dared treat her like this in years.
"You're humiliating me!" Her cheeks flamed. The cold furrow between her brows deepened; she ground her teeth.
Chen Xiao sneered. "If you think I'm humiliating you, leave." He turned and walked out of the reception room without looking back, utterly unhurried.
As he reached the door he added with a flip of his wrist, "Jianghe Building, Room 8023."
An Xinning trembled. What had he taken her for? Going to his room to "talk" felt like walking a lamb into a tiger's den — her rule talent had been countered by his; entering his space would be dangerous.
Jiang Yunhan started to protest on behalf of the visiting delegation, but An Xinning cut him off cold: "You all go back. I'll go apologize in person." She addressed her military subordinates.
The capital officers panicked. "Chief An, don't go! It's a trap!" "Chief An, your future—don't risk it!" "We heard rumors about the Mad Ghost Butcher — he's lecherous!" They begged, half out of fear, half out of reverence.
An Xinning shook her head. "You don't understand him. If I don't go, Huaxia will lose out." The National Fortune Game was massive; excluding someone like Chen Xiao would be a national loss. Her upbringing left her no choice — the country came before pride.
"Chief An, even for Huaxia—" "No 'buts.' Return to the capital. I'll bring him back," the officers urged.
A gamble. If Chen Xiao didn't make outrageous demands she would do everything needed. Not long after, An Xinning strode toward Jianghe Building. Those watching bit their lips — anger and envy mixed on the crowd's faces.
Jianghe Building, Room 8023. This wasn't Chen Xiao's private room; he'd chosen it on purpose. His own room was inconvenient — too many people inside.
Chen Xiao lounged on the sofa with a cola, waiting.
A knock. The door opened. An Xinning entered, erect and composed, chest forward, ponytail neat. She sat, crossed one leg, and fixed him with an ice-cold gaze.
"Cut the small talk. What sincerity do you want?" she demanded.
Chen Xiao hadn't expected her impatience. He casually nodded toward the bed. Spread out on the mattress was a single, ridiculous sight: a bunny girl outfit — black lace, scandalously cut, a tiny skirt with a fluffy tail, a dainty garter belt, seductive stockings and a pair of oversized rabbit ears.
When An Xinning saw it she lost her composure. Her face twisted; she ground out, "Chen Xiao…"
"What's wrong?" He smiled.
"You enjoy humiliating people?!" Her voice was tight. Her awakened animal was a rabbit; her talent named "The Cunning Rabbit Has Three Burrows." For him to hand her a bunny costume — it felt tailor-made to humiliate.
Chen Xiao shrugged. "I didn't even state my request yet. How do you know it's humiliation?"
An Xinning's glare softened a fraction — so long as the outfit wasn't for her.
"Then what do you want?" she snapped. "I can arrange the maximum apology package on behalf of the military region."
He snorted. "My request is simple. Since the apocalypse I've done well, but I don't even have a maid. That's beneath my status. I want a maid. Don't worry — the outfit on the bed is for her."
An Xinning's mouth twitched. "Somewhat well-off?" she thought. He'd taken the top three families' spoils — if that was "somewhat," the rest of them might as well die. Still, she composed herself. "If it's that simple I can arrange it. I'll find you a young, pretty, hard-working maid. How about that?"
Chen Xiao shook his head. "I have requirements."
At the hint of conditions, An Xinning actually smiled. The famous Mad Ghost Butcher reduced to bargaining for a maid — and making wardrobe demands. The capital military region could find any woman he wanted. Consent, she thought, was a detail Huaxia could handle — everything was for the greater good, after all.