Zhao Ruilong irritably ran his hands through his damp hair.
A tall, skinny subordinate beside him quickly handed over his phone; the screen was thoughtfully unlocked and stopped at the contacts page.
Zhao Ruilong scrolled through the screen, his finger pausing on Qin Xiao's name for a few seconds.
To call, or not to call?
If he called, it would make him seem like he was making a mountain out of a molehill, unable to handle even one of Qin Xiao's dogs, forced to complain to the owner?
If he didn't call, he simply couldn't swallow this humiliation!
After hesitating for about ten seconds, Zhao Ruilong gritted his teeth and pressed the dial button.
Face? To hell with face! He just wanted Qin Xiao to know that the dog he kept was disobedient, bit people indiscriminately, and had bitten the master's friend!
Beep! Beep!
The phone rang seven or eight times before it was answered.
The voice that answered carried clear laziness and annoyance at being disturbed. The background was very quiet, with faint classical music audible.
"Hello?"
"Old Qin, it's me, Ruilong!"
Zhao Ruilong tried his best to make his voice sound angry and wronged, but not overly hysterical.
After all, the person on the other end was Qin Xiao, not someone he could throw a tantrum at casually.
"It's so late. What's the matter?"
Qin Xiao's voice was flat and emotionless.
"Something big, actually!"
Zhao Ruilong took a deep breath and began his accusation: "Just now, that subordinate of yours named Fang Ming bumped into me at Jinding, knocking me straight to the ground in front of dozens of guests!"
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds.
"Bumped you?"
"Yes! Bumped me! That guy came out of a private room carrying a woman. I happened to be at the entrance seeing off CEO Li, and I just asked if it was his private business. He didn't say a word, just slammed his shoulder right into me!"
Zhao Ruilong grew more agitated, spitting everywhere: "Old Qin, I'm just saying, isn't your subordinate a bit too hot-tempered? I just asked a question, and he immediately resorted to violence? If this gets out, people will think I, Zhao Ruilong, am doing terribly in Rong City if even your underling dares to walk all over me!"
He deliberately omitted the part where he provoked Fang Ming and used vulgar language, focusing entirely on Fang Ming bumping him and the public humiliation.
The other end of the line was silent again for a few seconds.
Qin Xiao's voice still betrayed no emotion, only his speaking speed was slightly quicker: "What did the woman he was carrying look like?"
"Huh?" Zhao Ruilong was startled; he hadn't expected Qin Xiao to ask that.
"Just... a woman, wearing professional attire, decent looking. She seemed drunk or something, completely unconscious while he carried her."
"Got it." Qin Xiao's voice returned to its casual tone: "Are you hurt?"
"Not really, I just fell, and my butt hurts..." Zhao Ruilong answered subconsciously, then felt something was wrong: "Wait, Old Qin, that's not the point. The point is that guy Fang Ming..."
"Enough."
Qin Xiao interrupted him, a hint of impatience in his tone: "You called this late just for this trivial matter?"
"Ruilong, you're a man of status. Why quibble with a subordinate?"
"It's too late today. I'll look into the situation for you tomorrow. If he truly bumped into you without reason, I'll have him apologize to you."
After speaking, before Zhao Ruilong could say anything more, the dial tone was already sounding.
"Hello? Hello? Old Qin?"
Zhao Ruilong stared at the disconnected phone, his face alternating between green and white.
An apology? Was an apology what he wanted? He wanted that dog Fang Ming to kneel before him and admit his mistake!
"Shit!"
Zhao Ruilong violently smashed his phone onto the sofa. The screen instantly cracked into a spiderweb pattern, and the internet celebrity girl screamed in fright.
"What are you screaming for? Get out! All of you, get out!"
Zhao Ruilong roared, his eyes bloodshot. The people in the room fled, scrambling out as if granted amnesty.
Only Zhao Ruilong remained in the empty suite.
He panted heavily, his chest rising and falling violently. He grabbed the glass of whiskey and downed it, but the icy liquid sliding down his throat couldn't extinguish the wicked fire in his heart.
"Good... very good..."
Zhao Ruilong stared at the ashtray on the carpet, his eyes dark and sinister: "Fang Ming... we'll see about this."
...Meanwhile, at the Qin Residence.
Qin Xiao, dressed in a silk bathrobe, stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the dazzling night view and the myriad lights, his brow slightly furrowed.
Fang Ming, at Jinding, bumped into Zhao Ruilong for the sake of a woman?
This plot twist... he hadn't heard of it in his previous life.
In his memory, Fang Ming was an honest, even somewhat cowardly subordinate, absolutely loyal to him, but his abilities were mediocre, and he wasn't very brave.
Forget bumping Zhao Ruilong; he wouldn't even dare to talk back to Zhao Ruilong.
In this life, since he had been reborn and given Fang Ming more trust and authority, had even his personality changed?
Or was it... the butterfly effect?
Qin Xiao closed his eyes, and the subtle differences between this life and his previous one quickly flashed through his mind.
Mu Qingxue suddenly introduced the "jade dew," catching him off guard. Although things with Chu Yao were proceeding according to plan, he felt that the girl's resilience was stronger than anticipated.
Now even Fang Ming was starting to show temper?
"Something's not right..."
Qin Xiao muttered to himself, his finger rubbing the jade thumb ring on his thumb.
He knew exactly what kind of person Zhao Ruilong was; he certainly had no filter and must have said something offensive to provoke Fang Ming.
But Fang Ming's reaction... was still too extreme.
For a woman? What kind of woman could make the usually calm, even slightly timid, Fang Ming risk offending Zhao Ruilong?
Professional attire... unconscious... A thought suddenly flashed through Qin Xiao's mind—could it be Chu Yao?
But he immediately dismissed the idea. Chu Yao worked at Moonlight Restaurant; that was a setup he personally arranged, and the time, location, and attire didn't match.
Furthermore, Fang Ming knew Chu Yao was his target; he wouldn't possibly bump Zhao Ruilong for Chu Yao, unless he had a death wish.
As for Mu Qingxue?
That was even less likely. She was a cold, aloof CEO who wouldn't easily go to a shady entertainment club, and even if she did, she'd be accompanied by assistants and bodyguards, so there would be no need for Fang Ming to protect her.
"Interesting..." Qin Xiao opened his eyes, his gaze profound.
His greatest advantage since being reborn was knowing the general trend of the future and the key turning points.
But now, the subtle details were beginning to deviate from the track.
Was this a blessing or a curse? Qin Xiao walked back to his desk and picked up the internal phone.
"Old Ghost, first thing tomorrow morning, I want all the information regarding the woman Fang Ming encountered tonight at Jinding."
"Also... check all his whereabouts and call records for the past month. I want details."
"Yes, Young Master Qin."
Hanging up the phone, Qin Xiao sat back down in the wide leather chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
His trust in Fang Ming was based on the memory of Fang Ming never betraying him, even unto death, in his previous life.
But if Fang Ming in this life had changed for some reason unknown to him... Qin Xiao's gaze gradually turned cold.
"I hope you don't disappoint me."