...
After much hesitation, Tang San arrived at the luxurious gates of the Tian Dou Royal Hotel, but ultimately succumbed to the slight cowardice in his heart.
He grabbed Old Titan, who was about to go inside, and whispered, "Grandpa Titan, I'd better not go in yet.
You go in first to check the situation and see if she's available right now.
If she's not here, or is busy with something else, it'll save me from the awkwardness of waiting in there."
Although Titan didn't know what Tang San was worried about in his sudden retreat, considering that the young master might be hesitant to return home, he readily agreed:
"Alright, then please wait here for a moment, young master. This old servant will be right back."
Watching Titan's imposing figure disappear behind the revolving door, Tang San looked around and cautiously hid in an inconspicuous corner of the shadows outside the hotel entrance.
However, before he could mentally rehearse how he would face his aunt whom he had never met before, a clear and melodious voice suddenly came from the street not far away.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu, who had just gone out to buy some snacks and pastries from upscale shops near the night market, were walking back hand in hand, chatting and laughing.
With her sharp eyes, Ning Rongrong spotted Tang San almost immediately, dressed in a dark blue outfit, sneaking around the corner of the hotel.
She subtly squeezed Xiao Wu's hand and gave her a meaningful look.
Xiao Wu immediately understood.
The two instantly switched into acting mode, pretending to be naive and innocent, not noticing anything and knowing nothing, and quietly and stealthily circled around behind Tang San.
"Hey!"
Xiao Wu suddenly reached out and patted Tang San's shoulder hard. "Xiao San! Why are you here all alone?"
"hiss--"
Tang San, who was in a state of high tension and distraction, was startled by the sudden slap and jumped back to his feet.
He turned around abruptly, and when he saw that pretty face so close to his, with a playful smile, Tang San's heart skipped a beat, and a look of extreme guilt and panic flashed in his eyes.
"Xiao...Xiao Wu? Rongrong?"
Tang San stammered, taking half a step back.
"What...what are you doing outside?"
"We just went to buy some snacks." Xiao Wu tilted her head.
"What are you doing standing alone at the hotel entrance? Did you come all this way to see me?"
"Uh... no, that..."
Tang San felt increasingly guilty under Xiao Wu's open gaze.
He looked away and hesitated for a long time before finally making up an excuse, "I... came here to find someone."
"Looking for someone?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened in surprise. "Do you have other friends in Tiandou City?
How come I've never heard you mention them before?"
"I...I only heard about it today. Grandpa Tai told me," Tang San said, forcing a smile.
"Old Titan?" Ning Rongrong, who was standing to the side, interjected at the right moment, looking around with a puzzled expression.
"Then what are you doing standing here like an idiot? Where is he?"
"Grandpa Tai... went in first to check on the situation. I'll wait for him to come out here."
Tang San pointed to the hotel entrance, feeling sweat almost pouring down his back.
"Oh dear, why are you still so stubborn!"
Xiao Wu grabbed Tang San's arm. "There are so many people coming and going outside, what's the point of waiting?
Since you're here to see a friend, why don't you just go inside and sit on the sofa in the lobby and wait!"
"Come on, come on, don't stand here like a pillar!"
Without giving Tang San a chance to refuse, Xiao Wu grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hotel's magnificent entrance.
Feeling the warm, soft touch on his arm, Tang San froze, his mind going completely blank.
He instinctively wanted to break free, but when faced with Xiao Wu's innocent and passionate gaze, he couldn't find any suitable reason to resist and could only be dragged into the hotel lobby by Xiao Wu.
As luck would have it, just as they stepped into the hotel lobby, Old Titan hurriedly came down the stairs leading to the luxury suites.
Seeing Tang San with Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, Old Titan was clearly stunned for a moment, but he didn't have time to ask any more questions.
He quickly stepped forward and whispered to Tang San, "Young Master, it's confirmed. They're upstairs."
"Who's upstairs?" Xiao Wu poked her head out at the opportune moment and asked with a gossipy look on her face.
Tang San's heart tightened suddenly. He glanced at Old Titan instinctively, hesitated for a moment, but still chose not to tell the truth, only giving a vague answer:
"An older friend."
Seeing his hesitant and guarded demeanor, clearly unwilling to say more, Xiao Wu playfully pouted and released his arm:
"Tch, if you don't want to talk, then don't. Why all the mystery?"
"Then you should go see your elder friend first. We won't bother you any longer.
Go back to your room and put your things away."
Xiao Wu turned around, took Ning Rongrong's hand, and after taking a couple of steps, she turned back as if nothing had happened and smiled brightly at Tang San, inviting him, "By the way, Xiao San, Rongrong and I are planning to go to the Heaven Dou Auction House to watch the excitement later.
If you're free after meeting your friends, why don't you come and join us!"
At this moment, Tang San was preoccupied with how to escape from this extremely awkward situation as quickly as possible, and had no mind to think about the auction house.
Faced with Xiao Wu's invitation, he nodded repeatedly and readily agreed as if he had grasped a lifeline:
"Okay, okay, I'll go as soon as I see her. You guys go up first."
After saying that, Tang San followed Old Titan upstairs as if he were fleeing.
Watching Tang San's hurried figure, Old Titan, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but stroke his rough stubble, a knowing smile in his eyes.
"Young Master," Old Titan slowed his pace, gently nudged Tang San with his shoulder, and teased in a low voice, "Those two pretty young girls from earlier were quite charming.
Are they your girlfriends?"
"Cough cough—!"
Tang San was feeling guilty when he was startled by Old Titan's sudden remark.
He coughed twice and quickly waved his hands, his face flushed, denying, "No, no! Grandpa Titan, you've misunderstood.
They're just ordinary friends I used to know!"
"Oh, young master, what is there to be ashamed of in front of this old servant?"
Old Titan chuckled, his face beaming with the wisdom of someone who'd been there all along.
"You're not young anymore, and it's certainly time for you to start thinking about these things.
Although I'm a rough man, I still have a good eye for people.
Those two girls from earlier were both outstanding in terms of looks and figure, and they were a good match for you standing together."
Actually, it's no wonder that the old Titan was blind.
Although he had led the Power Clan to establish themselves in Tiandou City for many years, he was a complete blacksmithing fanatic throughout his life.
Aside from occasionally going out to buy rare metals, he spends most of his time in the family's forge, swinging his hammer.
He didn't know any of the people in the upper-class aristocratic circles, so naturally he couldn't recognize that the smiling girl from earlier was Ning Rongrong, the famous little devil of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
As the old Titan's ramblings became increasingly outrageous, Tang San's expression grew more and more awkward.
He had no intention of continuing to dwell on this sensitive topic, so he quickly and abruptly changed the subject:
"Grandpa Titan, let's not talk about this for now. My... aunt, what kind of person is she?"
Seeing that Tang San was intentionally avoiding the question, the old Titan wisely refrained from asking further.
He simply pointed to a room at the end of the corridor, his expression becoming respectful.
"Miss Yuehua is waiting for you in that room. As for what kind of person she is... Young Master, you'll know when you go in and meet her."
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