Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 263 - 264 - Dilemma

Chapter 263: 264 Chapter Dilemma

"Mr. Song!" It was a man in his thirties, who seemed to carry himself with a bit of flair.

"You are..." Song Xiaodong felt that he had seen this man before but didn’t have a particularly deep impression, so he was somewhat uncertain of who it was.

"My name is Ding Haikui."

"Oh, you are from the Ding family." Song Xiaodong recognized the name at once.

Ding Haikui immediately said respectfully, "Yes, yes, the Ding family is eternally grateful for Mr. Song’s miraculous healing. We will never forget it."

"Forget it, I received payment for my services; there’s no need for this."

"This is necessary. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Song, my family’s fate would have changed dramatically."

"Alright, let’s not talk about that, we’ve just come to have a meal." Song Xiaodong was rather uninterested in Ding Haikui’s enthusiasm.

Ding Haikui glanced at Miao Xuanxuan again; he also had a deep impression of her. That day, it was this pair of twins, one on each side, following Song Xiaodong. Not to mention anything else, just this skill in picking up girls was enough to earn his respect.

"Then I won’t disturb you further. This is my business card; if there’s anything you need from me in the future, Mr. Song, please feel free to instruct me."

Song Xiaodong took the business card and casually put it in his pocket.

Song Xiaodong and Miao Xuanxuan went upstairs, with Ding Haikui watching until they disappeared from sight before he turned around.

"Captain Ding, who is that person?" asked a man who came with Ding Haikui, curiously.

Ding Haikui replied, "He is an extraordinary man who has done a great favor for the Ding family. From now on, make sure you don’t offend him, and that includes his woman. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

The people nearby were somewhat surprised; they rarely saw Ding Haikui speak so sternly. It seemed that the young man was indeed very important to Ding Haikui, and they all tried to memorize Song Xiaodong’s face in their minds so they wouldn’t inadvertently offend him in the future.

Song Xiaodong and Miao Xuanxuan entered a private dining room and started ordering food. As soon as the waiter left, the two began to engage in some playful touching.

Song Xiaodong was quite seasoned in the field of love and wouldn’t lose control, but Miao Xuanxuan had just fallen in love and was deeply affectionate. Being alone with Song Xiaodong, she quickly became clingy.

Of course, Song Xiaodong wouldn’t hold back. The two were all lovey-dovey, touching each other constantly. If it weren’t for the waiter coming in from time to time to deliver things, the two probably would have shared a passionate kiss.

Finally, when the waiter had brought all the dishes and closed the door to the private room, Miao Xuanxuan took the initiative to sit on Song Xiaodong’s lap.

Song Xiaodong chuckled and said, "Xuanxuan, do you like the feeling of sitting on my lap since that time we were squeezed together in a car?"

Miao Xuanxuan pouted and said, "You’re the one to talk. You were so bad back then, a complete rogue."

Song Xiaodong laughed, "Yet here you are, sitting on my lap again. I think you’re the female rogue. You take advantage of me every time, then just push me aside."

Remembering their past, Miao Xuanxuan’s face turned red, but she couldn’t help giggling and saying, "I’m comfortable; why should I care about you?"

Song Xiaodong wrapped his arms tightly around Miao Xuanxuan’s waist, feeling an overwhelming affection for her. This girl was bold in the way she spoke, yet it was the kind of boldness that felt comfortable to hear, not at all vulgar, and she always seemed so natural. Each frown and smile of hers could sway Song Xiaodong’s mood.

After giving Miao Xuanxuan a peck, he asked, "So you’re not planning to pull the same trick here with me today, are you?"

"Ah, no way, this is a hotel. It would be so embarrassing if someone heard us, or if a waiter barged in. I’ll deal with you when we get home," she replied.

Song Xiaodong laughed heartily and said, "Then let’s see who will get the upper hand."

The two were eating and playfully teasing each other, bathed in an indescribable tenderness and romance.

However, they eventually had to part ways. Continuing on like this was becoming too much to handle, and it would only end up being torture for them both.

"By the way, Dongzi, do you think President Li could be on a date? She seemed really flustered when I teased her earlier," Miao Xuanxuan remarked.

"I doubt it," Song Xiaodong immediately shook his head, knowing the reason behind Li Sijie’s distress.

"Then, shall we sneak a peek and see?" Miao Xuanxuan blinked suggestively.

Song Xiaodong pinched Miao Xuanxuan’s nose and said, "Snooping on someone’s privacy isn’t very nice, is it?"

"It’s okay, I’m just concerned about President Li. She was already deceived so badly by her ex-husband. If she falls for another jerk, wouldn’t that be even more tragic?" she pleaded.

Song Xiaodong rubbed his nose subconsciously, feeling as if Miao Xuanxuan was referring to him as that very jerk.

"Dongzi, please? Let’s just take a quick peek, just one look," Miao Xuanxuan begged, hugging Song Xiaodong’s arm and gently shaking it, pouting her lips in a pitiful way.

Completely disarmed by her gentleness, Song Xiaodong indulged her, saying, "Alright, alright, we’ll just have a look."

The private room where Li Sijie was at the moment had only three people: two women and one man. The man was Chen Qiusheng, who was in charge of the fire safety inspections at her establishment. The other woman was named He Yang, who acted as the intermediary and arranged for Chen Qiusheng and Li Sijie to meet.

Chen Qiusheng had already had quite a bit to drink, his face flushed red, especially the tip of his nose, which looked as if it were about to bleed, and his eyes had a dazed, lustful look about them as he stared at Li Sijie. He said, "President Li, the fire safety issue is just a word away from me. As long as I say it’s okay, it will be okay for you. If I say it’s not, then you can be certain it won’t be."

Li Sijie inwardly groaned. This was the third time Chen Qiusheng had made such a statement. The first time he said it, she had already handed over an envelope of cash. The second time, she had promised an even bigger envelope once everything was passed.

But now that he was repeating himself a third time, Li Sijie realized that Chen Qiusheng was after more than just money—he probably wanted her as a person as well.

"Section Chief Chen, it’s not easy for a woman to run a club. Please have mercy on me," she pleaded. "You can rest assured that as long as I can keep this club going, I will definitely come to see Section Chief Chen during the holidays."

Chen Qiuchang, holding a wine glass in one hand, narrowed his eyes and said, "President Li, I know it’s not easy for a woman to do business, that’s why I want to help you. Once I become your backer, not only will the fire department be a non-issue, but I can also handle other departments for you, like the public security, procuratorate, judiciary, and tax authorities. Then won’t your business run even more smoothly?"

His words were more direct this time, causing Li Sijie to feel an immense headache. She turned to He Yang with a pleading look for help, but He Yang only showed a face of helplessness, and even an encouraging expression.

At that moment, Li Sijie’s head throbbed with pain, feeling at a complete loss about whether to advance or retreat. A wave of sadness suddenly swept over her. Why was it so hard for a woman to run a business?