Job’s words were correct; Xu Ke could feel a gaze scrutinizing him all the way as he walked from the factory to the small town.
"This ga is getting more and more interesting." Xu Ke touched his lips with his finger, his eyes slightly cold as he spoke. No one can remain indifferent when they know soone is thinking about taking their life.
Xu Ke had been staying at the hotel for over a week. The young owner and Xu Ke had beco sowhat familiar with each other. Seeing Xu Ke return to the hotel even earlier than usual, the owner’s face showed a surprised expression. His hand wiping the glass paused for a mont, "Why are you back so early today? Isn’t work busy?"
"Most of the work issues have been resolved, and I won’t be very busy for so ti, so I might co back earlier more often." Xu Ke stopped walking and answered with a smile.
"That’s great, getting off work early ans you can rest earlier. Work is really the worst and most headache-inducing thing." The young owner pointed to his temple, frowning with a wry expression, his comical look making the corners of one’s mouth lift involuntarily.
"By the way, I’ve noticed you’ve been in a good mood lately. Has the hotel’s business improved?" Xu Ke, watching the owner jest with him, casually asked.
Seeing Xu Ke’s question, the hotel owner winked at Xu Ke and flashed a smug smile, "You guessed right. I must have struck so luck this month. Despite not being tourist season, we’ve had many guests. The money earned this month is almost the sa as what I make in a quarter. Can you believe my happiness?"
Upon hearing this news, a glint of darkness flashed in Xu Ke’s eyes.
"I didn’t expect there were so many guests." Xu Ke said with a smile.
"Yeah, I didn’t expect it either. My little hotel is almost full." The owner didn’t catch the deeper aning in Xu Ke’s words. He shook his head proudly, then took out two glasses from the cabinet behind him, placed them on the bar counter, and winked at Xu Ke, "There’s no one else in the store now, just the two of us. I’ll treat you to a drink."
Xu Ke didn’t stand on ceremony with the owner and sat directly opposite him, picking up a glass and clinking it with the owner.
"By the way, how many people have checked in after ?" Xu Ke asked after having a few drinks with the owner.
"About ten or so, I don’t rember exactly. Why are you asking?" The owner raised an eyebrow after answering Xu Ke’s question.
"No reason, just asking. You see, since I arrived, so many guests have co. From a certain perspective, am I your lucky charm, bringing you fortune?" Xu Ke didn’t want to dwell on the issue with the owner, so he changed the topic.
Supporting his chin, the owner posed as if in deep thought, then said, "You make a good point, I realized that too. That’s why I’m treating you to a drink. Otherwise, do you think a stingy person like would casually treat you to such expensive wine?"
The owner’s expression looked particularly earnest and serious, but the next mont, when Xu Ke shifted his gaze to the wine bottle, the owner’s expression broke.
"Alright, I’m just kidding. This wine isn’t that expensive." The owner shrugged, speaking with a hint of regret in his tone.
Though Xu Ke didn’t understand what the owner regretted, he followed the other’s lead with a witty remark, "If I didn’t feel the odd taste in my mouth, I might have really believed your tall tales just now."
"Open a slightly more expensive bottle, to celebrate getting off work early today." Xu Ke pointed to a slender dark green bottle behind the owner and spoke.
The owner looked in the direction Xu Ke pointed, and as soon as he saw, an uncontrollable smile appeared on his lips.
"You have good taste. You pointed to the most expensive wine in my little hotel. But the price is really not cheap. Maybe you should choose another bottle." The owner advised kindly.
Xu Ke smiled at the sincere-looking face of the owner, "No need, you aren’t worried I can’t afford it, are you? It’s just a bottle of wine, go ahead and open it."
"Alright, since you insist." Seeing Xu Ke unconcerned about the wine’s price, the owner stopped persuading and opened the wine as Xu Ke suggested, drinking with him, a glass for you, a glass for .
This bottle of wine was not only expensive but also particularly high in alcohol content. After just half a bottle, the owner found his tongue thick, and even seeing people felt as if they were swaying back and forth. Eventually, he slumped onto the bar counter, falling into a deep sleep with his eyes closed.
Although Xu Ke’s cheeks were flushed, his gaze resembled a clear spring after the rain, carrying clarity, making it seem as if the intoxication earlier was just an illusion that never occurred.
"Boss." Xu Ke spoke above the owner’s head, but the owner didn’t respond to Xu Ke at all, clearly having drunk himself into a stupor.
Xu Ke placed the wine glass still in his hand onto the counter, this ti reaching for the registration book left on the bar by the owner.
"What are you doing?" Just as Xu Ke’s hand was about to touch the register, the owner’s voice sounded beside him, causing Xu Ke to pause.
"Nothing." Xu Ke replied, turning to look, only to find the owner hadn’t actually woken up. The words were just sleep-talking. He even smacked his lips openly under Xu Ke’s gaze, looking deeply asleep, not about to wake up at all.
After capturing with his phone what he wanted to see, Xu Ke carried the owner to his room, then returned to his own room.
Upon entering his room, Xu Ke halted his movents, a sudden sense of violation seizing him, as if soone had invaded his territory. The feeling surged violently and uncontrollably through him. Xu Ke’s gaze ticulously scanned every setting in the room, finding no trace, implying the intruder had been extraordinarily cautious.
Pretending nothing had happened, Xu Ke removed his jacket and draped it over the sofa, then proceeded toward the bathroom. The sound of running water soon erged from the bathroom, while a man lying silently under the bed carefully adjusted his posture, patiently waiting with a dagger tightly clenched in his hand.
It was unclear how much ti had passed, but the sound of water from the bathroom never ceased, causing an uneasy feeling to arise in the man’s heart.
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