But no one could possibly be pushed to the edge by small matters. Life must go on. Despite her flaws, there was one thing she admired about herself – her resilience. After experiencing countless ups and downs in the first eighteen years of her life, she had developed a broader perspective. She believed that as long as one could breathe, there would always be a chance for things to turn around. All she needed to do was to take each step carefully and protect the people she cares about.
Han Xiaoye checked her camera and adjusted the focus before lifting her head. She noticed that Su Rui had already changed into her work uniform and was typing away on the keyboard with nimble fingers.
"Ruirui, how was it?"
"Just a moment, this laptop hasn't been used in a while, so it's a bit slow. I'll adjust the speed first." Su Rui seemed like a completely different person, radiating enthusiasm. Three minutes later, she stopped typing and turned her laptop towards Han Xiaoye. "I've hacked into the Kefferin Hotel's system. This is their floor plan, take a look."
True to its reputation as a top-tier luxury hotel, it exuded an aura of grandeur, both in terms of its size and name.
"I found out that Area A of Kefferin Hotel has been booked for tonight. It seems they're hosting some kind of banquet, and Quan Ronglian is likely among the invitees. Later, I'll create a fake identity and place us on the hotel's service list."
Han Xiaoye carefully examined the floor plan and found a restroom in the southeast corner. It was a relatively secluded spot, perfect for hiding. Pointing towards it, she said, "Ruirui, you'll hide in there. We'll stay in constant contact."
If they needed to escape, Su Rui would have to disable the hotel's surveillance. So, under the cover of a moonless and windy night, paparazzi and hackers were a perfect combination.
"Alright." Su Rui nodded, biting her lip. "Xiaoye, be careful. If there's any danger, even if you don't capture anything, remember to let me know. No matter what happens, I'll have your back."
Motherf*cker!
Why did she feel like crying?
No crying allowed!
Han Xiaoye grinned, patting Su Rui's shoulder to comfort her. "Don't worry, we're just going to take a photo. It's not like we're heading into a battlefield. I'll be cautious, and if anything seems suspicious, I'll make a quick exit, okay? Don't worry, we're an unstoppable duo of beautiful warriors."
Ahem, her paparazzi pseudonym was ironically the "Beautiful Warrior." In her words, Su Rui was the beauty, and she was the warrior. Together, they formed the cunning duo of Beautiful Warrior ready to conquer the universe.
...
It was 7 o'clock at Kefferin Hotel.
The grand and resplendent lobby was bustling with high-profile figures from various industries. Fashionably dressed celebrities mingled with elegant socialites, their arms linked with their male companions, exuding grace and charm. Han Xiaoye applied a thick layer of powder on her face, deliberately donning an alluring makeup look unrecognizable to her own mother. She concealed herself among a group of female waitstaff, gracefully pouring champagne while discreetly scanning the surroundings for any sign of Quan Ronglian.
After searching for a while, she couldn't find Quan Ronglian, not even a trace of him.
Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, she whispered into the earpiece, "Ruirui, has Quan Ronglian arrived?"
The sound of rapid keyboard typing echoed in her ears, and soon Su Rui's voice came through, "I checked the invitation verification system at the entrance. Quan Ronglian hasn't arrived yet. However..."
Why hadn't he arrived yet? Han Xiaoye, who had been standing for two hours, kicked her disobedient ten-inch high heels, feeling like her heels were about to break...
"However, what?" she asked absentmindedly.
It seemed like Su Rui didn't know how to begin, and there was silence, only the sound of breathing. Just as Han Xiaoye was about to discreetly take off her troublesome high heels, she heard Su Rui's worried voice through the earpiece, "I saw Yan Xu and Han Bao'er on the guest list. They will be here tonight, Xiaoye. Maybe we shouldn't take the shot tonight. Let's find another opportunity."
"Bang!"
Han Xiaoye stumbled and the champagne bottle in her hand fell to the ground with a loud crash. Many people around noticed the noise and looked over. She quickly squatted down, burying her head to clean up the shattered glass.
"What's wrong with you?" The manager glared angrily.
Han Xiaoye suppressed her voice and kept apologizing, "I'm sorry, manager. I accidentally slipped and dropped the bottle. I'll clean it up immediately, I'm sorry."
The occasion today was too important, though and the manager was displeased, it wasn't appropriate to get angry at this time. He muttered a few curses under his breath and went to inspect other areas.
Han Xiaoye breathed a sigh of relief.
"Xiao Ye, what's wrong?" Su Rui was nervous.
After tidying up the mess, Han Xiaoye took another bottle of champagne from the wine cabinet and found a corner to hide in. She pressed the earpiece and said to Su Rui, "It's nothing. I accidentally twisted my foot and broke the bottle of champagne."
"Xiaoye, let's go back, okay?"
Yan Xu and Han Bao'er's arrival was unexpected, and she was worried about Xiaoye... After all, she had witnessed firsthand what Xiaoye had been through before. She was afraid that Xiaoye couldn't handle seeing those two and would break down.
How could Han Xiaoye not know what Su Rui was worried about? She fell silent for a moment and shook her head. "No, Ruirui. My grandfather is still lying in the hospital. I need this money."
She took a deep breath, pretending to be casual. "Do you think I still miss that scumbag? Don't be ridiculous. It's been so long, and I've already let it go. If I really encounter him, maybe I'll even call him 'brother-in-law'."
"Xiaoye..." Su Rui's voice choked.
Han Xiaoye interrupted her, "Alright, alright. The venue is so big, I might not be so unlucky to run into them. Let's get to work and finish it early, so we can go home soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, she accidentally saw a man and a woman walking hand in hand in front of her. The man was elegant and refined, while the woman was sweet and graceful, dressed in exquisite attire, surrounded by the crowd, as if they were a perfect couple created by heaven.
Han Xiaoye's back suddenly tensed up.
All the commotion around her disappeared, and she only saw the smiling and warm man. Even from a distance, she felt like she could see the slight dimple on his left cheek and the pleasant scent of sunshine emanating from him...
... Brother Xu.
Han Xiaoye felt as if her youth was flashing before her eyes like a whirlwind...
At the age of six, when she lost her baby teeth, the little boy handed her a sweet lollipop.
At the age of ten, when she moved into the Han Family, the young boy's encouraging smile warmed her heart.
At the age of fifteen, when her mother passed away, the embrace of the pure and beautiful teenager as they cried together was bittersweet.
At the age of sixteen, when everything fell apart, his resolute figure leaving China left a bitter taste.
She called him "Brother Xu" for ten years, but at the most difficult moment in her life, he delivered the most devastating blow and then turned into her soon-to-be brother-in-law...
Yan Xu, who was engaged in a conversation with someone, felt a familiar gaze. He turned his head to look, but all he saw was a strange female staff member bowing her head and adjusting her clothes.
"Brother Xu, what's wrong?" Han Bao'er sensed Yan Xu's unease and followed his gaze...