In front of the hotel.
"Gentler! Gentler! Are you crazy! Be more gentle –– TSssss….. Be gentle with the stretcher!"
The man on the stretcher was pale as he shouted occasionally at those carrying the stretcher along with some intermittent moaning.
The man in charge of this branch of Xingyue Hotel heard that some incident had taken place and rushed over early this morning. When he saw the middle-aged man being carried into the car, he quickly walked up and said, "Mr. Gao, would you like me to to accompany you to the hospital with a couple of my men……"
"You? With a couple of your men? Why don't you bring a whole group of tourist to watch me in my worst shape while you are at it?"
"No, no. I just want to make sure that you will be well taken care of."
The middle-aged man waved his hand with his face pale. "I don't need any of you. I can go on my own – you better make sure no words come out of your hotel. I will come looking for you if words get out!"
"Ay."
Nobody knew what the man in charge was thinking to himself but he bowed and nodded respectfully outwardly.
The middle-aged man was still hurting a lot even after he was administered painkillers. He was eager to leave. Seeing that the man in charge of the hotel was still dilly dallying, he asked impatiently, "What else do you want?"
The man in charge looked around before he leaned in carefully and whispered into his ear, "Will you need us to provide you with a copy of the surveillance tape from the patio from last night……?"
"!"
The middle-aged men only had a long face beforehand. When he heard the manager's words, he turned white like there was a coat of white powder over his face. It was cold and grey.
Something must have occurred to him. There was fear in his eyes and, his lips trembled a few times before he said with difficulty, "No! Erase the original – Nothing happened last night. I was alone and drunk and I fell – I don't care who asked. That's the answer you are going to give. You get that?!"
His final words were deep and vicious. So deep that it sounded like growling.
The man in charge shuddered from the fearful look in the middle-aged man's bloodshot eyes. He lowered his head quickly and said, "Yes, I understand. Not to worry, Mr. Gao. I will take good care of this incident."
"……"
The car door open and shut. The man disappeared into the car and carried his moaning with it along the long road out of the town.
The man in charge of the hotel stood where he was. Struggling for a while, he finally decided against looking into the matter. Shaking his head, he returned and walked back into the hotel.
Next to the window on the 4th floor.
Jiang Xiaoqing and Qin Yuanyuan got back onto their feet and looked away from the scene.
Qin Yuanyuan lamented, "That was so odd."
Gu Nian flipped through her notebook at the table. Her head was still lowered when she asked, "What's the matter?"
Jiang Xiaoqing pointed at the window and said in surprise, "He left just like that!"
"Hmm?" Gu Nian stopped her scribbling. "What else were you expecting? Some sort of a fight scene?"
"Even without a fight scene, I felt for sure there would be some sort of a confrontation. This creepy old man for sure would not dare to confront the man who kicked him last night by himself, but his men were here. I thought he would charge to the room of the hero from the night before!"
Gu Nian smiled, "Then what?"
Jiang Xiaoqing rubbed the tip of her nose with her thumb and pose a sloppy martial art stance as she said, "Then the hero would, of course, fight them 1 to 20, beat them all up and throw them down the staircase!"
"……"
Gu Nian sighed and closed up her notebook. Resting her cheeks in her palms, she looked at Jiang Xiaoqing's head with a look of appreciation.
Being stared at by Gu Nian's languid and beaming eyes gave Jiang Xiaoqing the creep. "What, what is it?"
"Oh, nothing. I am just wondering."
About what?"
"How strange is that brain of yours."
"……"
When Jiang Xiaoqing figured out what Gu Nian was saying, she lunged at Gu Nian in irritation to tickle her. "Oooohhhhh, how dare you make fun of me again!"