1398: Swallowed His Pride

Swallowed His Pride

Although Long Xuan had a feeling that Lin Qingyuan would not stay put on Tianzhu Mountain, he decided to go there and check first.2

After confirming that she was indeed not there, he hurried to Rocky Grounds City at breakneck speed.

As for Lin Qingyuan, her past few days had been relaxed and carefree since she had gotten rid of Long Xuan. Together with Bai He, she went sightseeing all the way to Rocky Grounds City.

However, Chen Qiyu and Zhao Heng's wedding was still a few days away, so she was not in a hurry.

She rarely had the opportunity to go out, and with no one around to restrain her, she grew even more wayward.

Whenever she arrived in a small town, she insisted on staying there and exploring it thoroughly.

Today, she and Bai He finally arrived in Rocky Grounds City.

After asking for directions to Jade Moon Villa, she went to an inn and booked a room as she was not in a rush to see Chen Qiyu.

After leaving their bags in the room, she and Bai He went downstairs for a meal, only to see a group of ruffian-looking men and women enter the inn.

They were a rowdy bunch, and as soon as they came in, they sent the workers bustling all over the place to fulfill their demands for rooms and meals.

Lin Qingyuan knew that she had to avoid attracting unwanted attention outside, so she sat down at a table in the corner with Bai He.

They ordered two servings of beef noodles.

They had already placed their orders before going upstairs, so the moment they sat down, the server served them their noodles.

However, the group of ruffians was angered by this.

"We've been sitting here for nearly half a day! How dare you serve those two pretty boys first instead of us? You think we're not important?" Ruffian A barked.

The server replied miserably, "We don't mean to neglect you, but these two guests placed their orders before you came in. Please wait just a little more—the kitchen's already preparing your meals."

"You're neglecting us on purpose, all right!" Ruffian A grabbed the server by the collar and threw him to the floor.

The impact made the server's head swim, but despite his anger, he did not dare to protest.

Seeing this, the innkeeper rushed forward to defuse the situation. "Please calm down, everyone. How about this—all your meals and rooms today will be on the house, so please show some mercy and spare my worker."

Ruffian A's face darkened, and he said menacingly, "You think we can't afford our meals? Do you take us for beggars?" The next instant, he hauled the innkeeper off the floor roughly.

"No, no. That's not what I meant." The innkeeper looked mournful.

Having to deal with unreasonable people like these was a business owner's worst nightmare.

"In that case, what would it take to please you, honored guests?" The innkeeper swallowed his pride for the sake of making peace.

Just then, Ruffian B jabbed a finger at Lin Qingyuan and Bai He, who were sitting in the corner. "All of this started because of them. If they come over and apologize to us, we'll let this slide!"

The innkeeper knew very well that these people were trying to create trouble on purpose.

Clearly, they wanted to ridicule those two young men just because they looked pretty and delicate.

The innkeeper was reluctant. "This isn't their fault. Please don't pick on them, most honored and benevolent guests." 

"So you're saying that you want us to pick on you?" The ruffian dragged him closer and glared at him sinisterly.

The innkeeper was so frightened by the man's burly figure that his legs gave out.

Seeing this, the ruffians guffawed.

"What a coward! He got scared just like that!"

"You two, come here. Kowtow and apologize to us until we're satisfied, then maybe we'll let you go. Otherwise… hmph!" Ruffian A suddenly drew his saber and thumped it on the table a few times. 

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