The Female Warrior Rushing Forward for Love

At the dinner table, Xiang Detao kept his thoughts to himself while also making small talk.

"What are Little Lu planning to do this time back in China? Take over the family business?"

"Uncle Xiang, I plan to start my own business first." Lu Shaokang sat up straight and replied respectfully.

"That kid has so many ideas. He doesn't want to run the family's restaurant brand; he insists on creating his own." Mr. Lu shook his head and laughed. "If he wants to mess around, let him. So the family gave him 20 million yuan and three more years. If he doesn't succeed, he can come back and take over the family business."

"Starting your own business is great," Xiang Detao remarked.

The Lu family has been deeply involved in the new Chinese-style catering industry, and currently has about fifty branches throughout Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. It is roughly estimated that their annual net profit can be tens of millions. In fact, their family background is similar to that of my family.

Originally, both his family background and his character made him an excellent choice.

Who would have thought that someone would suddenly appear out of nowhere?

"Uncle Xiang, my dream is to create a truly high-end Chinese restaurant brand," Lu Shaokang said confidently. "I've already started preparing for the site selection, design, and menu. I hope to become the Xinrongji of the future."

"Xinrongji? Good, you have ambition. Uncle toasts you." Xiang Detao raised his glass.

Lu Shaokang quickly raised his glass with both hands in response, then hesitated slightly before saying, "Uncle, I actually still want to see Xiao Tian. Is she at the hotel now?"

"She..." Xiang Detao looked at the young man in front of him, "She is..."

It's no longer a question of which way the scales tip in his heart, but ultimately, he's still concerned with saving face. Although the arranged marriage was just a verbal agreement, it was still a tacit understanding.

To break faith so blatantly is somewhat...

Nearby, Dong Yaru subtly pulled her husband along.

"Little Lu, Xiao Tian really isn't around lately, it's such a bad coincidence..."

"It's alright, Auntie. We'll just have to wait until next time. It just so happens that my restaurant is located in Hangzhou, so we should have many opportunities to meet in the future," Lu Shaokang said with a smile.

Only Lu's parents exchanged a glance, both noticing the strangeness in each other's eyes.

After the meal, Xiang Detao and his wife accompanied the Lu family of three out of the restaurant.

"Uncle, I also plan to buy a house in Hangzhou, but I want to buy it myself, as a test for myself," Lu Shaokang said on the way.

"This kid has a strong personality. We offered to buy him a house, but he refused, saying he wanted to rely on himself," Lu's parents laughed. "But don't worry, it definitely won't cause any problems. When he wants to buy a house, we'll make up the difference."

Xiang Detao listened, he felt a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe.

Listen to this, what a wonderful young man.

He's ambitious, driven, and career-minded. It's a pity, if only he had been earlier, these qualities would have only earned him points. But now, compared to others, they only highlight his shortcomings.

How to buy a house?

Should I also buy a luxury mansion worth over 100 million?

It's obvious that it's impossible.

As the group walked and talked, they suddenly bumped into a figure hurrying along.

Xiang Detao and his wife were immediately a little embarrassed.

Because the person who arrived was none other than their beloved daughter, Xiang Xiaotian. They had just said she wouldn't be at the hotel, and now she was here...

"You..." Xiang Detao hesitated, frowning, a little embarrassed.

"You must be... Xiao Tian?" Unexpectedly, Lu's parents recognized Xiang Xiaotian first, greeting her with smiles. "You've really blossomed into a beautiful young woman."

After all, she's my future daughter-in-law. Although I haven't met her formally many times, I've seen plenty of photos of her.

"Xiao Tian?" Lu Shaokang's eyes lit up when he looked at the fair-skinned, beautiful black-haired girl in front of him. "Xiao Tian, I'm Lu Shaokang. We met a long time ago, back when we were in junior high school, I think?"

"Hello, Uncle and Aunt, and hello to Brother Lu as well." Xiang Xiaotian nodded politely, as if it were not a chance encounter, but a deliberate one.

"Hello, hello, what a coincidence! By the way, didn't your dad say you weren't at the hotel?" Mr. Lu said casually.

They entered the elevator together.

"Uncle and Aunt, actually I've been at the hotel the whole time," Xiang Xiaotian said politely. "It was rude of me not to come out and see you, but there really is a reason..."

"Oh?" Lu's parents asked in surprise.

"I know you're here mainly because of me, but I'm sorry, I need to make things clear." Xiang Xiaotian seemed to have mustered up a great deal of courage.

Xiang Detao to the side, took a deep breath and looked away.

Never mind, let her be.

"What do you mean?" The smiles of Lu's parents slowly faded as they looked at Xiang Xiaotian and then at Xiang Detao and his wife.

"I already have someone I like, so I'm sorry, I want to pursue my own happiness," Xiang Xiaotian said without hesitation, taking a small breath.

"Ah, Xiao Tian, you..." Lu Shaokang was still immersed in the happiness of meeting his future wife when he was caught off guard, and his expression froze instantly. "You have someone you like? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Yes, why didn't you say so earlier?" Mr. Lu looked at the Xiang couple with a questioning look.

"What era are we living in? We all know that the childhood betrothal was just a verbal agreement. Over the years, if anything has changed, we can just talk it out and it won't hurt our relationship. But we've all come here, and you're telling me it's off?"

His words practically screamed "I'm being played!"

"Uncle and Aunt, my parents don't know about what happened to me. It's my own fault," Xiang Xiaotian explained softly. "I sincerely apologize to you."

"Stop talking. It's all because our Shaokang is so simple-minded. Knowing about this arranged marriage, he turned down countless girls' advances." Lu's mother said with a hint of resentment, feeling sorry for her son.

"Forget it, forget it, let's just let it go, there's nothing more to say." Mr. Lu waved his hand.

The atmosphere inside the elevator instantly plummeted to freezing point.

"Xiao Tian, what kind of person do you like? Do I really... have no chance at all?" Lu Shaokang was still somewhat unwilling.

Xiang Xiaotian took a small step back, shook her head, and said nothing.

The elevator doors opened.

"Let's go!" The Lu family parents practically turned and left.

Lu Shaokang kept turning back to look at himself, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping himself, as if he had a lot to say.

"Fine, fine, you little brat, you think you're all grown up now, huh?" After everyone left, Xiang Detao looked at his own daughter, his teeth itching with anger.

"If you can't say it, I'll say it. Aren't you concerned about saving face? I'll play the bad guy then." Xiang Xiaotian retorted without backing down.

"Great, you've got guts now, you're confident!" Xiang Detao pointed a finger at the air.

"You silly girl, don't upset your dad!" Dong Yaru quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Haven't you noticed that we've completely fallen out with your Uncle Lu's family because of this?"

"So what if we break up? Do you think I'd joke about my entire life's happiness?" Xiang Xiaotian scoffed.

"Disobedient daughter!"

"Hmph, never mind, look, who's here to pick me up?" Xiang Xiaotian looked outside and suddenly proudly raised her fair chin.

"You!" Xiang Detao stared in astonishment at the Cullinan outside and the figure getting out of the car.

His own daughter, like a swallow, flew joyfully away and rushed into his arms.

Judging from her expression, Xiang Xiaotian is truly happy.

"Stop looking, daughters grow up and leave home," Dong Yaru tugged at her husband's sleeve. "Isn't this better than those poor guys who married men from humble backgrounds? This is a genuine golden bachelor, what more could you want?"

"They were just kidnapped like that? And that Xiao Zhang didn't even come in to check on them?" Xiang Detao was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at them.

"Still putting on airs like a father-in-law?" Dong Yaru burst out laughing.

··

Inside the Cullinan, Xiang Xiaotian immediately threw herself into Zhang Yang's arms.

"You have no idea how brave I was just now. I'm definitely the kind of pure-hearted female warrior who would rush to fight for love."

"The more you do it, the more real it looks." Zhang Yang still insisted that they were acting, but he was anything but polite with his hands, hugging Xiang Xiaotian and touching her whenever he wanted.

"How annoying," Xiang Xiaotian said softly, without stopping her.

A moment later, Xiang Xiaotian happily hugged Zhang Yang and gave him a sweet kiss.

"Okay, Brother Zhang, this is a reward for you. By the way, where are we going now?"

"Where to? To the hotel," Zhang Yang said without hesitation.

"Oh, so soon? But I'm willing." Xiang Xiaotian's cheeks flushed instantly, and she lowered her chin slightly.

Looking at Xiang Xiaotian's shy and timid appearance, to be honest, it's impossible for Zhang Yang not to feel anything at all.

This is something you can eat whenever you want, right up to your lips.

But, do you want to eat it?

He was simply not prepared to take responsibility.

"Have you eaten?" Zhang Yang suddenly asked.

"Oh right, I'm so hungry. How about we eat first and then... so we'll have some energy?" Xiang Xiaotian, blushing.

"You want to drive a little train, huh?" Zhang Yang pinched Xiang Xiaotian's cheek. "Let's eat, why are you talking about anything else?"

A moment later, he drove Xiang Xiaotian straight to the InterContinental Garden Hotel.

I just got off the car outside the hotel.

Xiang Xiaotian stood outside the car, somewhat surprised. "Oh, Brother Zhang, so you live here? I heard there's a suite here that's the most expensive in Hangzhou, it's supposed to cost eighty or ninety thousand."

"Right? I'm staying in this suite. I'll show you around later," Zhang Yang said with a smile.

The two entered the hotel and walked through the lobby.

Qu Shanshan saw that the boss had brought another girl over in the lobby, and quickly ran up to greet her.

"Mr. Zhang..."

"You go about your business." Zhang Yang didn't have time to say anything more to her, and just gestured casually.

Qu Shanshan immediately understood and quickly ran away.

Zhang Yang led Xiang Xiaotian into the elevator and went straight to the Chinese restaurant.

Inside the Chinese restaurant, Zhang Yang arranged for the dishes to be served. The two of them sat by the window, enjoying the river view while eating, quite leisurely and comfortably.

"Are you some big client of this hotel? Why are the lobby manager, the food and beverage supervisor, and the head chef all coming over to greet you?" Xiang Xiaotian asked with some curiosity as she ate her Longjing shrimp.

"Not a big client," Zhang Yang said with a smile and a shake of his head.

"They're not big clients, yet they're always following around greeting us? You just give them a look and someone comes over? The service at the InterContinental Garden Hotel is good, but it's not ridiculously good, is it?" Xiang Xiaotian couldn't help but ask in surprise.

"You're not their provider."

"What if it is?" Zhang Yang said with a smile.

Xiang Xiaotian blinked, staring intently at Zhang Yang, an unbelievable thought rising in her mind.

"This hotel?"

"Mm." Zhang Yang nodded.

One asked a question halfway through, and the other gave a half-answer, but the answer was already obvious.

"I just bought it outright. From now on, I'll be considered a competitor of yours in Hangzhou," Zhang Yang added with a smile.

He owns a house and businesses in Hangzhou.

I never expected that this trip would lead to such a foothold in Hangzhou; it's truly unexpected.

"My God!" Xiang Xiaotian's mouth was agape.

Zhang Yang glanced at it, felt it shouldn't be wasted, and casually picked up a shrimp and handed it over.

"Brother Zhang!" Xiang Xiaotian kissed him twice, as if waking from a dream, and immediately hugged Zhang Yang's arm affectionately. "So that's why you didn't stay at my family's hotel this time. So... so you own such a big business."

In her eyes, Zhang Yang's wealth was completely unfathomable, like an abyss.

Every time I thought I'd seen the whole picture, I later realized it was just the tip of the iceberg. Even in Hangzhou, Zhang Yang owns a five-star hotel boasting unparalleled river views and a unique location—so what's impossible for him?

Looking at the handsome face so close to hers, Xiang Xiaotian was filled with nothing but admiration.

"I'm also new to the hotel industry. I'll need to learn from your dad to gain more experience," Zhang Yang said modestly.

"My dad told me that Yu Kaili, the GM of the InterContinental Garden Hotel, is very capable. With a GM like that, you can totally be a hands-off manager," Xiang Xiaotian said softly and coquettishly. "Come on, I want to go see that big suite."

"Just looking?" Zhang Yang asked. "Besides, I'm not full yet."

"Oh dear," Xiang Xiaotian said with a light reproach, "If you're not full, you can eat something else, like... like me. Brother Zhang, are you doing this on purpose, making me say it myself?"

Her face flushed, she hugged Zhang Yang Zhang Yang, looking like she was ready to be picked at will.

"You can't stop talking about the topic, are you testing my willpower like this?" Zhang Yang picked up a tissue to wipe his mouth, got up and prepared to go to the large suite with Xiang Xiaotian.

The two walked out of the restaurant, preparing to take the elevator to the suite.

Unexpectedly, when the elevator doors opened, they bumped right into a family of three.

"You... Xiao Tian, what are you doing here?" Lu Shaokang looked at the figure in front of him, the faint giggles he had just heard still lingering in his ears.

That laughter was soft, lingering, and even a little... flirtatious?

He dared not and was unwilling to apply that word to the girl in front of him who embodied his beautiful fantasies.

"Oh, it's you." Xiang Xiaotian's smile vanished, replaced by a cold and calm expression.