Lu Qing’s smile took on a sinister edge. “I appreciate your concern, Miss Yao, but there’s no need for that.”

Yao Tang rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, then.”

“Now, you’re talking!” Lu Qingbeamed. “Shall we?”

“Sister Tang,” Lin Xincalled out and made to get out of her seat.

In the next second, however, the hooligan beside her raised his baton, threatening to hit her if she made another move.

Meanwhile, Xu Xuanburst into the kitchen and headed for the locker room. She retrieved the medicine kit and treated her wounds.

When she finished bandaging her hand, she leaned back against the wall and heaved a defeated sigh. She took out the money Lu Qinghad thrown at her.

Xu Xuan stared at the wad of cash, her grip tightening. She didn’t want the money at all, but she did need it.

She folded each bill and tucked them into her coat pocket, making sure to stash the garment toward the back of her narrow locker.

As she did so, she noticed that her silver bracelet was missing from her wrist.

She usually wore it deep inside her sleeve to keep it from snagging on something, but it had somehow slipped off her hand.

Her grandmother had given her that bracelet!

Xu Xuan racked her brains and tried to recall every step she had taken up to that point.

Dread filled her stomach when she realized she had seen a glimmer of silver on the floor as she fled Room 409.

‘It’s the only thing I have left of Grandma. What should I do now?’

Xiao Qing entered the locker room just then. She removed her apron and was about to shake it out when she spottedXu Xuanin the corner.

“What are you still doing here?” she scowled at the girl.

“Aren’t you supposed to be attending to the guest in Room 409? You should have cleaned up before you ran in here, you lazy bum. Do your job better next time!”

“Xiao Qing,” Xu Xuansaid in a serious tone, ignoring the her coworker’s mean words. “Did you happen to see a silver bracelet in Room 409?”

Xiao Qing turned away and folded her apron. “What necklace? I didn’t see anything. Why are you even asking me that?”

Xu Xuan paled.

“I just tidied up a little,” Xiao Qingcontinued. “That room isn’t my responsibility, anyway. Now, hurry up and get back to work!”

She raised an eyebrow at Xu Xuan and looked her up and down. “Since you’re free, you can finish cleaning up Room 409 yourself. I’m off for the night.”

With one last scoff, she walked to the door and left.

Xu Xuan felt a new ray of hope upon hearing that Room 409 hadn’t been fully cleaned up.

She ran back upstairs and pushed through the door, thinking that it would be empty by now.

Xu Xuan was so dead set on finding her bracelet that she immediately crouched down when she entered the private room.

To her dismay, the floor had already been swept and mopped. There was no trace of all the clutter from earlier.

Xu Xuan’s heart was pounding. She had a bad feeling about this.

Sure enough, when she pulled herself up, she found Young Master Lu watching her with interest.

“What’s this?” he smirked. “Did you miss me that bad?”

Xu Xuan’s breath caught in her throat. She immediately lowered her eyes, but not before she caught sight of Yao Tangbeside the vile man.

“I-I apologize. I thought you had left, so I was about to clean up and prepare the room for the next guest. Please excuse the disturbance. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

She shot Yao Tangan apology before making her way to the door, knowing that she couldn’t do anything in this situation.

Xu Xuan had tried and failed to saveYao Tangfrom the clutches of Young Master Lu, and she couldn’t look for her bracelet, either.

She would have to wait for the room to be empty before she tried searching for it again.

“Hang on a minute!” came Young Master Lu’s voice, stopping her in her tracks.

Xu Xuan trembled.

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before turning to face the room.

Lu Qing propped his feet on the table and toyed with the lighter in his hand. “Bring us some small cakes and a round of cocktails.”