Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1178: 1153: Fish on the Hook

Following the phone call's conclusion, Li Mei turned to the bar proprietor with a smile, querying, "Brother Cao, is our arrangement concluded? Now that Song Xiaoxiao has been lured out, can the debt I owe you be considered settled?"

"We need to inspect the merchandise first before we can say the deal is done," Cao Yang replied, gesturing dismissively.

Li Mei had previously been out with friends at the establishment and had inadvertently toppled an expensive bottle of red wine, incurring a significant financial penalty.

Her father had abandoned her and her mother when she was merely five years old. Later, during her elementary school years, her mother remarried a man of considerable wealth.

However, this new stepfather held no affection for Li Mei. Under these circumstances, she felt unable to confide in her family and saw this as her only recourse.

"Brother Cao, have no concerns, that young lady is an absolute beauty. I guarantee you'll be thoroughly pleased upon meeting her," Li Mei assured him with a grin.

Cao Yang cupped Li Mei's chin, his tone laced with teasing, "Is she as stunning as you are?"

He had previously stipulated that if Li Mei were to spend a night with him, the debt for the spilled red wine would be waived.

Yet, Li Mei found a man like Cao Yang utterly unappealing; he possessed a modicum of wealth but failed to meet her exacting standards.

Ultimately, Li Mei harbored aspirations of marrying into immense riches, thereby escaping her current circumstances and living free from her stepfather's oppressive influence.

"Brother Cao, please cease these jests," Li Mei said, quickly withdrawing from his touch.

"Meimei, I am quite serious about you. Perhaps you should reconsider my offer?" Cao Yang pressed.

"Very well, Brother Cao. Once you lay eyes on Song Xiaoxiao, I doubt you'll continue with this proposal," Li Mei countered.

Observing Li Mei's consistent rejection, Cao Yang refrained from further discussion, mindful of his own considerable pride.

"Why hasn't she arrived yet? Could it be that your roommate realized you deceived her?" Cao Yang inquired, a hint of impatience in his voice.

A knot of anxiety tightened in Li Mei's own chest. An hour had nearly passed, and still, Song Xiaoxiao had not appeared.

The journey from their school to the bar typically took no more than thirty minutes, yet there was still no sign of her.

However, based on her understanding of Song Xiaoxiao, Li Mei was certain that her friend remained oblivious to the impending peril.

"Don't fret, Brother Cao. That girl is genuinely naive and guileless; she could never fathom the truth behind this," Li Mei stated with a touch of arrogance.

"You had best give her another call to ascertain her current location," Cao Yang urged.

His patience was wearing thin from the prolonged wait.

With no alternative, Li Mei prepared to dial Song Xiaoxiao once more.

Just as her finger hovered over the call button, a familiar silhouette materialized at the bar's entrance.

"Thank you, driver, and my apologies for the inconvenience," Song Xiaoxiao said as she alighted from the vehicle.

"It is quite late for young ladies to be frequenting bars. Please exercise caution and ensure your safety," the driver advised her.

Upon reaching the bar's entrance, Song Xiaoxiao's brow furrowed. She mused that without her roommate's insistence, she would never normally be out this late, especially not venturing into a bar alone.

After all, one could never be certain of the clientele in such establishments; safety was paramount, and venturing alone as a young woman presented significant risks.

She genuinely struggled to comprehend Li Mei's penchant for visiting such venues in the dead of night.

"Brother Cao, the young lady at the entrance is my roommate, Song Xiaoxiao. What do you think? Does she meet your approval?" Li Mei inquired, gesturing towards the entrance.

Following her gesture, Cao Yang's gaze fell upon a young woman clad in a simple t-shirt and jeans. His eyes immediately brightened.

Despite Song Xiaoxiao's unpretentious attire, her exquisite features and alluring physique were undiminished, perhaps even more pronounced.

"Not bad at all. Truly not bad," Cao Yang remarked.

"So, regarding our prior arrangement... can we consider it settled?" Li Mei seized the opportunity, capitalizing on Cao Yang's evident satisfaction.

However, before she could complete her sentence, Cao Yang interjected, "Meimei, you've truly outdone yourself. Let's put the spilled wine incident behind us. Now, quickly, call that girl over here."

Having set his eyes on Song Xiaoxiao, Cao Yang found it difficult to look away.

Witnessing Cao Yang's eager anticipation, Li Mei allowed a cold smile to grace her lips.

She cast a venomous glance towards Song Xiaoxiao, who stood hesitantly at the entrance, thinking, *'Always pretending to be a lady from a wealthy family. Just wait and see how Brother Cao handles you.'*

Song Xiaoxiao had intentionally chosen to wear trousers and a long-sleeved t-shirt, dressing conservatively out of fear that undesirable men might try to take advantage of her.

Nevertheless, even in her current state, she lacked the resolve to step inside.

As she wavered, Li Mei approached her with a smile, exclaiming, "Xiaoxiao, you've finally arrived! I was so worried waiting for you."

"I apologize; there was a traffic incident earlier, which caused the delay," Song Xiaoxiao explained.

"That's quite alright. Let's not dwell on it, shall we? We must hurry inside," Li Mei urged.

Li Mei harbored no interest in the reasons behind Song Xiaoxiao's tardiness. Now that she was present, Li Mei could finally fulfill her part of the bargain.

Li Mei felt utterly exhausted and desired nothing more than to quickly escape the bar, return to her dormitory bed, and sink into a deep sleep to wash away the day's unpleasantness.

Before Song Xiaoxiao could even process the situation, Li Mei had already dragged her inside the establishment.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the sight of Song Xiaoxiao immediately captivated every man in the bar. Accustomed to women adorned in heavy makeup and dressed provocatively, they found her natural purity a refreshing change.

A few couldn't resist; they whistled and attempted to flirt, their gazes fixed on her.

Song Xiaoxiao kept her head lowered, trying to evade the lewd stares. It was in this state that Li Mei guided her towards Cao Yang.

"Xiaomei, let's settle the bill and get out of here quickly," Song Xiaoxiao murmured, pulling out her phone, ready to complete the payment.

"Xiaoxiao, what's the rush? This place is such fun, why leave so soon?" Li Mei inquired with a smile.

Just then, Cao Yang interjected.

"Meimei, aren't you going to introduce me to this lovely lady?" Cao Yang asked, feigning a casual tone.

In reality, Li Mei had already shared a great deal about Song Xiaoxiao with him before her arrival.

"Brother Cao, this is my roommate, Song Xiaoxiao," Li Mei replied with a grin.

"Hello, Xiaoxiao. My name is Cao Yang. You can call me Brother Cao, just like Meimei," Cao Yang said, extending his hand with a smile.

Song Xiaoxiao's brow furrowed slightly. She had no intention of shaking his hand, primarily because Cao Yang addressing her so familiarly as 'Xiaoxiao' upon their first meeting made her profoundly uncomfortable.

Noticing Song Xiaoxiao's silence, he continued, "I actually told Meimei not to ask her roommate to bring money. She insisted on calling you over this late, so I truly apologize."

Cao Yang's explanation revealed his assumption that Song Xiaoxiao's discomfort stemmed from this situation.

"How much is it? I'll pay right now," Song Xiaoxiao stated, once again retrieving her phone, prepared to make the payment.

"No need, really, there's no need. I'm just incredibly happy that you two beautiful ladies decided to come out and have some fun. What would you like to drink? My treat," Cao Yang offered with a smile.

"Thank you, but I don't wish to drink anything. I just want to leave quickly," Song Xiaoxiao firmly declined.

A chill entered Cao Yang's expression upon hearing her refusal, a change that even startled Li Mei standing beside him.

″

‹

′

″

â€ʚââ„âŒ

â€Ɯâ

′ ‹‌

ââ€„

″ 

 ‮”âˆ

“

âˆâ€„‌

âˆâ€„‹‌

‗‹‌

ââ€Œâ€„‥

‮‌ ‥âˆ

âƒâ

‥

…

″

âˆâ€Œ

âˆâ€¥â€¹

‷â„‹‥

âˆâ€„‹

âƒâ€

″

‸

‑ ” ″❠ ‹ ″ ‹ ”‌ 5

‗‹‌ ‑ ‹‌ ″ ″‌ 5

– ‹‌

‌‌

âƒâ€

” 

 ‮”âŒ

“‌

 ‮”⌠5

″‌‹‌

– ‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

›‌”‌

‥‌‹ 

–‌‾‌

 ‌‹‌

  ‥‌

– ‹‌

” 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‣”

‥‌‹‌

″ 

‥‌‹‌

″ 

A cold breeze swept through, stirring the surrounding ancient trees, causing them to rustle and sway. The dense forest canopy blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving the area shrouded in a perpetual gloom. Xiao Tian was sitting cross-legged on a large, moss-covered rock, his eyes closed as he immersed himself in cultivation. A faint, golden light emanated from his body, illuminating the immediate surroundings. He was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and only one step away from breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Suddenly, his eyelids fluttered open. His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scanned the surroundings with a vigilant gaze. He had sensed an anomaly, a presence that didn't belong in this secluded part of the forest. An incoming danger.

"Who's there?" Xiao Tian called out, his voice calm but firm, echoing through the silent woods. He remained seated, but his posture shifted, becoming taut and ready for action. The golden light around him intensified, a clear sign of his readiness to defend himself.

A figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, walking slowly into the clearing. It was a man dressed in black, his face hidden by a wide-brimmed hat. He radiated an aura of coldness, and his every movement seemed deliberate and precise. He was an assassin, no doubt about it.

"Young Master Long wants you dead," the assassin stated flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. He drew a long, gleaming sword from his waist, its blade shimmering with a faint, deadly aura.

Xiao Tian rose slowly from the rock, his expression unchanged. "Long Tengfei? That old fox. He's finally made his move. Did he really think a mere assassin could stop me?" A hint of disdain laced his tone. He knew Long Tengfei, a powerful figure in the upper echelons of the cultivation world, and a known rival of his own family.

The assassin didn't respond. Instead, he lunged forward, his sword a blur of silver. The clash of steel echoed through the forest as Xiao Tian met the attack, his own weapon, a simple bronze sword, glowing with a soft, golden light. The fight was fierce, the air crackling with the immense power being unleashed by both cultivators.

Xiao Tian's movements were fluid and precise, each parry and riposte executed with deadly accuracy. He deflected the assassin's relentless assault, his golden Qi swirling around him like a protective barrier. The assassin's attacks were strong, each blow capable of shattering mountains, but Xiao Tian was equally matched, his Foundation Establishment cultivation pushed to its limits.

"Is this all you've got?" Xiao Tian taunted, a slight smirk playing on his lips. He was enjoying the challenge, though he knew he couldn't afford to be careless. The assassin, despite his formidable skills, was clearly holding back, testing his abilities.

The assassin's speed increased, his attacks becoming more rapid and potent. Xiao Tian found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the onslaught. He could feel the immense pressure from the assassin's sword, the cold intent behind each strike. This wasn't just a simple assassination; it was a test of his strength, a prelude to something far more dangerous.

Suddenly, the assassin shifted his stance, his sword emitting a chilling aura. Xiao Tian recognized the technique, a deadly blade art passed down through generations of assassins. He knew he had to end this quickly, before the assassin could unleash its full power. Gathering his Qi, he channeled it into his bronze sword, which flared with blinding golden light. With a roar, he unleashed a powerful counter-attack, a devastating strike that forced the assassin to retreat.

The forest fell silent once more, the only sounds the rustling leaves and the distant chirping of birds. Xiao Tian stood panting, his golden Qi still swirling around him. The assassin was gone, vanished as quickly as he had appeared. But Xiao Tian knew this was far from over. Long Tengfei would not give up so easily.

He looked at his sword, the bronze radiating a warm glow. "It seems I have underestimated them," he murmured to himself. "But they have also underestimated me." A determined glint entered his eyes. He needed to advance his cultivation, to reach the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible. Only then could he truly face the challenges that lay ahead.