While most people would prefer things to be simple, straightforward, and smooth, there are always one or two people who are keen to make simple things exceptionally complicated and troublesome.
Lin Xi sat in an antique chair covered with soft, plush velvet, gazing at the man in front of him, thinking to himself with a slight headache.
At this very moment, Lin Xi was sitting on the top floor of an old stone building in London. The seemingly rustic building was decorated with some of the most advanced and luxurious furnishings in the world today. Not long ago, it was a rather secluded high-class private club—serving the upper-class nobles who needed to seek pleasure in anonymity for hundreds of years.
However, the club has now been sold.
This place has now become the private restaurant of a certain important person.
Lin Xi is now sitting opposite that "big shot".
"I heard you prefer quiet and secluded places, so I did some minor renovations here. What do you think?"
The man spoke to Lin Xi with a relaxed expression.
"Hmm...not bad."
Lin Xi paused subtly for a moment before giving a brief reply.
Of course, he also has to admit that, from a purely outsider's perspective, the design and environment here far exceed the concept of "good".
Once a private, upscale club, the environment here is always dimly lit and serene. The century-old teak floors and wainscoting exude a soft fragrance, a scent emanating from the perfumes, incense, and tobacco of the dignitaries and elegant ladies who frequented this place over the years. Dark green tapestries, gilded panels reflecting a dark gold sheen on the dark panels, and antique furniture dating back to the last century, combined with modern lighting and porcelain added by a top interior designer, create a decadent, dreamlike, and antique space.
Moreover, just as the man said, the hall, which could easily accommodate dozens of people, was now empty and extremely quiet.
It was so quiet that it seemed as if the whole world consisted only of Lin Xi and the man opposite him.
Of course, it's impossible that Lin Xi and that man were the only ones here.
After all, they still needed the service of others—in those easily overlooked corners, waiters in old-fashioned uniforms stood quietly in their proper places. When not needed, they could be "decorated" silently like breathing decorative bottles, but that didn't mean they ignored the restaurant's owner: at all times, they were watching the seemingly simple small round table in the very center of the restaurant from all angles. Lin Xi was certain that with just a glance, these waiters, who had undergone the most rigorous training, could provide him with the highest quality, most luxurious, and most meticulous service as if they had a telepathic connection.
The beautiful music flowing through the dim, silent air came from a young pianist in a tuxedo in another corner of the restaurant. Lin Xi had seen that man in some magazines before; his confident face was printed directly on the cover. However, the man described as a genius by the editors in the magazines was just a nervous and reserved piano student here.
It's impossible to get all this just by "wealth"; you also need a noble background and... power that is unimaginable to ordinary people.
Sir Raft W. Howard was precisely such a man.
He held a fairly high position in the line of succession to the throne, and had world-renowned parents. He was intelligent, handsome, and possessed an exceptionally good reputation and social influence. Of course, in addition to his apparent fame and simple lifestyle, he also had countless "white gloves" and "black gloves" managing his many incredibly profitable companies and institutions.
Not to mention, thanks to his glamorous aristocratic status and astonishing connections, he also wielded considerable influence over the far more vile and darker world beneath the surface.
Well, maybe... I should try to understand this man's arrogance.
Lin Xi heard the voice in her heart whispering softly.
Considering that the other party is just a human being... possessing such power and wealth, it may indeed be difficult to control one's ever-expanding desires and ambitions.
And the more such a person is, the more difficult it is for him to perceive his own vulnerability as a "human being".
For example, right now—
This extremely proud male human was making no attempt to hide his hand on Lin Xi's hand, his carefully trimmed and filed nails now blatantly rubbing along Lin Xi's middle finger.
This behavior is almost vulgar, but in another sense, it is an effective way to demonstrate one's status and power.
After all, regardless of the era, harassment in this regard always carries a deeper and more complex meaning.
Lin Xi lowered her eyes to look at the man's fingers. On the man's ring finger was an antique ring with a simple and elegant design. The ruby set in the ring was of a very beautiful color, but it made Lin Xi frown slightly without her noticing.
He immediately withdrew his gaze from the man's hand, then raised his head and stared intently at Raft, who was sitting opposite him.
Like many of his kind—despite committing extremely despicable acts, this man showed no outward sign of it. He appeared elegant, reserved, and polite, as if he could simply head straight to a television station for a pointless interview without any apparent lapse in judgment.
As a powerful and influential middle-aged man, his appearance could perhaps be described as handsome among humans.
His hair was very light in color, his eyebrows looked as if they were pressed directly onto his eyes, and below his long, hooked nose were thin lips that looked as if they had just sucked blood.
Upon noticing Lin Xi looking at him, the man curled the corners of his mouth into a smile, which Lin Xi, of course, did not miss, revealing a hint of greed.
“Dr. Lin Xi, you look very tired. Perhaps it’s time for you to take a rest… In this world, there are actually many wonderful things besides work…”
Listening to the man's whisper, for a moment, Lin Xi almost sighed in front of him.
“Mr. Raft, I think you may have misunderstood something—”
But Lin Xi was interrupted by Raft before she could even finish speaking.
“Dear Dr. Lin Xi, you and I have said 'no' many times. Perhaps this time we can put 'no' aside for now… Oh, did I forget to tell you? I really love the food here. The chef isn't famous, but I can assure you, you won't find a better chef even in the Queen's culinary team. You absolutely must try his black truffle foie gras; it's the sole reason I managed to buy the entire club. The previous club only served this dish on the second Sunday of every month, but you know my personality: if I want something, I get it. So… I bought this place. You see, now I can have it whenever I want.”
Raft shrugged and spoke to Lin Xi in a light tone, as if his previous words had no deeper meaning.
"Anyway, you should try Locke's cooking first... and then we can talk about other things."
After he finished speaking, he nodded in a very slight direction.
After receiving instructions, the waiters who had been hiding in the corner immediately emerged from the shadows like ghosts.
The elaborate meal was presented in an orderly fashion; on the surface, it seemed to be just the most ordinary food.
But Lin Xi's overly keen senses allowed him to detect something amiss before the dishes were even served: those seemingly simple yet exquisite foods actually used the most priceless ingredients, and most of them were the kind that, if leaked to the tabloids, would likely cause the royal spokesperson a headache dealing with public condemnation and media inquiries.
Lin Xi sighed for the last time.
Food that is so precious and expensive to humans is, to him now, just...
“Mr. Raft, more than anything else,” Lin Xi emphasized the last two words, “I’d like to talk to you about that island.”
“Ah, right, the island.” Raft curled his lip, revealing a disappointed expression; he was doing it on purpose.
"In the past few months, when have you ever strayed from that island? To be honest, my dear Dr. Lin Xi, I really don't understand why you're so fixated on that island..."
Lin Xi raised an eyebrow and looked at Raft silently with a smile.
Before he could speak, the latter continued, "Okay, I know it's your research institute that needs that land..."
“The island’s location and climate are unique. Although the climate is harsh for humans, many plants and animals of Sunu find a sense of home there. Not to mention, we are currently planning to create a brand new home there for the precious Sunu Star Butterflies,” Lin Xi said calmly. “For some people, there is almost no value to be developed there, but for me and for the project that our institute is currently undertaking, that island is an unparalleled treasure.”
"So you're even willing to spend billions of dollars to buy it. My God, that's far beyond its market value. I have to say... if it weren't for your arrival, and my mother's will lawyer telling me that I own that island, I don't think I would have ever thought it existed in my entire life. But now I want to thank that island, because..."
Raft gazed at Lin Xi with burning desire: "Without it, how could I possibly have dinner with someone like you? Dr. Lin Xi, do you know... you are the most unparalleled treasure in this world."
Sir Ralph's infatuated gaze lingered on the man before him, his gaze so blatant it seemed almost tangible—frankly, if his gaze could truly materialize, he would probably be licking every inch of Lin Xilu's skin outside her clothes like a dog.
Lin Xi.
Raft silently repeated the name of the man in front of him.
Perhaps because he is Asian, it would be difficult for an average person to accurately guess his age without a prompt.
He was by no means young, but he did not appear old when he was with those energetic young people.
Similarly, when he discussed topics with those gray-haired researchers and scholars, no one could find even the slightest bit of immaturity or clumsiness in him.
This man, with his pale skin and black hair... actually had a rather handsome face.
But that was by no means the reason he attracted Sir Ralph. After all, if we're talking about looks alone, there are many young and beautiful men and women around him: thanks to the advanced plastic surgery technology of today and people's desire for power and wealth, after going through many selections, everyone who can come to his side is far more beautiful than Lin Xi in front of him.
What truly captivated Raft was the inexplicable and enigmatic aura emanating from Lin Xi.
Long before he met Dr. Lin Xi in person, he had already heard many rumors about that man from his own circle.
That man was like a demon—
People seem very keen to use this phrase to describe Lin Xi's unique charm. Sir Ralph Ralph, however, had previously dismissed such notions. For someone born with a silver spoon in his mouth, standing at the top from the start, beauty or intelligence meant nothing special. What ordinary people had to spend a lifetime pursuing was merely a toy readily available to him.
Of course, Lin Xi's identity and experience cannot be considered ordinary compared to those of truly "ordinary people".
The sole survivor of the Helios spacecraft that returned from Sunu and then disappeared.
Humans who have lived alone on planet as192 for decades.
And then there's the research institute he quickly established and which yielded fruitful results after returning to Earth with the help of a secret organization...
From the perspective of the world, Lin Xi is indeed a legendary figure.
Raft was well aware that many people wanted to get something out of Lin Xi, but there was no need for him to do so—after all, he already had enough power and wealth, and he was naturally indifferent to the "legends" that the lower classes talked about.
But this confidence crumbled instantly after Raft saw Lin Xi in person.
"...The moment I saw you, I could feel my soul tremble, and my heart pounded as if it had never been in my chest before. This might be what they call love at first sight. I really admire you, Dr. Lin Xi. I can swear that I have never been moved by anyone or anything in my life, but you...you touched the very essence of my soul. You brought me back to life."
Anyone who knows Raft's true nature would be utterly shocked to see him so deeply in love and tenderly affectionate. (In fact, his infatuation with Lin Xi over the past few months has already attracted considerable attention.)
However, Lin Xi's calm response to Raft's rare declaration of love made Raft somewhat unhappy.
The black-haired man simply rubbed his temples helplessly: "Mr. Ralph, the human brain is very stupid. Sometimes, it can't even distinguish whether the so-called accelerated heartbeat is due to fear or love."
"You mean the suspension bridge effect?"
“That’s right.” Lin Xi nodded. “You are a very perceptive human being, and I think that’s why you have been able to accumulate so much wealth and power. But now, you’ve just made a small mistake. You haven’t realized that those so-called soul-stirring moments and excessive heartbeats are just because you’re afraid of me… That’s not love, that’s fear.”
Lin Xi looked directly into Raft's face and spoke in a tolerant manner that made the latter feel slightly uncomfortable.
It was a subtle sense of superiority, and Raft felt uncomfortable almost instinctively, though he hadn't yet realized it. His mind was still focused on what Lin Xi had said earlier.
Sir Ralph opened his eyes wide and stared at Lin Xi, then burst into a thunderous laugh: "For God's sake, I have never encountered anything so funny. You mean I'm afraid of you? But what do you have to be afraid of me?"
Lin Xi smiled politely at him, but offered no further explanation.
The next second, Lin Xi calmly withdrew her hand from Sir Ralph's palm.
“I have another meeting this afternoon. Since you’re not in the mood to discuss the transfer of the island right now, Mr. Raft, we can talk about it another time.”
Lin Xi said to Raft, then pulled out a chair and stood up.
“There won’t be a next time.” But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps when he heard Raft say behind him.
“My time is very valuable, perhaps we should be more honest… I can tell you now, yes, the island is for sale, but what I need isn't money. Oh, please, I already have too much money. If you really need the island, you can exchange it for something else, like…”
Raft deliberately drew out his words, refraining from giving the final answer directly.
He looked at Lin Xi with great pleasure, and sure enough, the man's expression changed instantly after hearing his words.
But Raft didn't feel guilty about it. He didn't know why Lin Xi's research institute was so eager to get the island, but that didn't matter. He only needed to know that Lin Xi seemed to have some urgent, unspeakable matters in the struggle for ownership of the island.
And that's all he needs. You see, he's always good at finding people's weaknesses, and now he can see that Lin Xi's weakness is that island.
“Mr. Raft, your mother is a very famous philanthropist. I have had contact with her before, and she is a truly good person.” To Raft’s surprise, Lin Xi’s face was gloomy, but she did not show any fear or anxiety.
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