Chapter 290
Flowers in a Greenhouse!
Lin Xia's voice was not loud, and even carried a hint of laziness, but it was like a drop of cold water thrown into a boiling oil pan, instantly plunging the entire luxurious private room into an eerie, pin-drop silence.
"All right."
Two words: simple and clear.
All eyes instantly focused on him, filled with surprise, curiosity, and a hint of barely perceptible tension.
The young city lord's attitude is the key to determining the course of events today.
Lin Xia leaned back slightly, sinking into the wide back of the chair, appearing more relaxed, as if the tense bidding had never happened.
His gaze slowly swept across everyone's faces, finally settling on the spot where Ning Fengzhi should have been sitting—where now Ning Rongrong sat, looking terrified and helpless.
"Gentlemen."
Lin Xia's voice remained calm and composed, revealing no emotion.
“There’s no point in bullying a little girl.”
These words were like a slap in the face, light yet extremely loud, striking all the tycoons present.
Even though Chrysanthemum Douluo was extremely cunning, the sinister smile on his face froze for a moment.
Davis's expression darkened slightly, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes beneath his blond hair.
Xue Qinghe's gentle expression remained unchanged, but a glint of shrewdness flashed deep in his eyes.
Zhu Zhan snorted heavily, but ultimately didn't dare to refute.
Ning Rongrong suddenly raised her head, tears still welling up in her eyes, but her gaze towards Lin Xia was filled with disbelief and a glimmer of relief.
Was he... was he protecting me?
Lin Xia ignored everyone's reactions and lightly tapped the table with her fingertips, making a soft "thud" sound, like the gavel falling in a final judgment.
"The allocation of shares will proceed according to the old rules."
His tone was calm, yet carried an unyielding authority.
"but--"
Lin Xia paused, her gaze falling on Ning Rongrong. Her expression remained calm, yet it made Ning Rongrong's heart leap into her throat once more.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's share will be reduced by half a percent from the original amount."
hum!
Ning Rongrong felt her head spin again, and her vision blurred. Although Lin Xia had intervened to help, the penalty of reducing her share by half felt like a heavy hammer blow!
Half a percent!
It may not sound like much, but it represents the share of Gengjin City's latest soul tool!
This signifies enormous strategic benefits!
What will happen if my father finds out?
What will the sect elders do? He's created this mess...
Overwhelmed by panic and self-blame once again, tears finally welled up in her eyes and slid down her pale cheeks.
She bit her lip hard, afraid to cry out, her body trembling violently, as if she would collapse to the ground at any moment.
Lin Xia seemed oblivious to her breakdown, calmly turning her gaze to the others as if she were merely announcing an insignificant adjustment plan.
"This half-tenth."
He added casually.
"You can discuss how to divide it among yourselves."
He waved his hand casually, as relaxed as if he were distributing a few candies.
"There's no need to argue anymore. Just send the final result to Gengjin City and give it to my teacher, Lou Gao."
After he finished speaking, the entire private room fell into a deathly silence.
Lin Xia's attitude was so nonchalant, yet so domineering and forceful. He not only directly ended this "hunt" against Ning Rongrong, but also, in an almost "charitable" manner, threw that precious half-percent share to other forces to fight over. He didn't specify the distribution method, leaving the possible internal strife and power struggles to these giants to resolve themselves with a simple "discuss it yourselves."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes narrowed slightly, and the chrysanthemum at his fingertips stopped swaying.
The mockery on Davis's face vanished completely, leaving only solemnity and a hint of displeasure at being slighted.
Xue Qinghe's gentle smile deepened, his eyes thoughtful.
Yu Luomian breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex might not be a rare find, the matter was finally settled, avoiding any further complications.
The sect leaders of the four lower sects had their eyes shining. Although they only needed to take half a percent, it was already an unexpected bonus for them, and they all began to calculate how much they could get.
No one objected.
Because Lin Xia's words are the final verdict. He possesses the core soul tool technology, controls the source, and is the rule-maker of this game.
No one dared to easily disobey his will.
After Lin Xia finished speaking, she didn't even look at the crowd again and stood up directly.
"that's it."
He nodded slightly to Zhu Zhuqing, who was like a shadow beside him.
"Zhu Qing, let's go."
"Yes."
Zhu Zhuqing immediately followed, her cat-like eyes scanning the entire scene warily, especially lingering briefly on Davis and Zhu Zhan.
Lin Xia walked around the huge round table and headed straight for the door.
As he passed by Ning Rongrong, who was stiff all over, in tears, and looked as if her soul had been ripped out, he didn't even pause for a second. He simply left two words, as if giving an order to an object.
"Follow."
Ning Rongrong seemed to wake from a dream, overwhelmed with fear and bewilderment at surviving the ordeal.
She practically scrambled off the heavy chair, staggering and tear-streaked, her face a picture of utter disarray, as she stumbled and ran after Lin Xia's retreating figure out of the suffocating private room.
Just before her figure disappeared through the doorway, Lin Xia's footsteps seemed to pause for an extremely subtle moment.
His gaze, intentionally or unintentionally, seemingly carrying a hint of amusement, was precisely directed at "Xue Qinghe"—Qian Renxue in disguise—who sat upright in the main seat, still maintaining the gentle and refined demeanor of a prince.
The exchange of glances lasted only a moment, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
Qian Renxue's fingers, holding the teacup, tightened almost imperceptibly. A sharp, cold glint flashed across her clear eyes like a shooting star, only to be quickly covered by a perfectly gentle mask.
The heavy door to the private room closed behind Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, and the stumbling Ning Rongrong, shutting out the suppressed whispers that suddenly erupted inside and the renewed simmering debate about the half-share.
Outside the Ziyunxuan Restaurant, the morning mist had dissipated, and the sunlight, carrying a touch of warmth, shone on the street.
However, Ning Rongrong, who had just escaped from the cold, oppressive, and scheming battlefield, felt no warmth at all.
The hustle and bustle of the outside world seemed to be blurred through a thick layer of glass.
The icy air rushed into her lungs, causing her to cough violently, and tears streamed down her face, a mixture of humiliation, fear, self-blame, and lingering dread.
Her steps were unsteady, as if she were walking on cotton, and she felt like she was about to fall with every step.
Looking at Lin Xia's tall yet indifferent back in front of her, she felt that there was an insurmountable chasm between them.
Lin Xia's pace was not fast, but exceptionally steady.
Zhu Zhuqing followed closely behind, like the most loyal shadow. Occasionally, she would glance back at the distraught Ning Rongrong, a faint trace of pity flashing in her cat-like eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.
She understood Ning Rongrong's feelings at that moment, but she understood Lin Xia's intentions even better.
Flowers in a greenhouse, never exposed to the trials of wind and rain, will never truly grow. (End of Chapter)