NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15:
Chapter 15: Should I Write a Letter to Cao Xueqin?:
When Dai Chuchan realized the gravity of the situation, she immediately called her father and explained everything. On the other end, Dai Shuangcheng was furious and immediately began verifying the details.
After ending the call, Dai Chuchan smiled at Lin Xian and said, “Senior Lin Xian, my father is extremely grateful to you. He asked me to tell you that once this matter is resolved, he will personally invite you to our home for a meal to thank you properly.”
Lin Xian nodded and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Neither of them mentioned the awkward question of why they ended up at this hotel. Both tacitly agreed it was best to leave some things unclear.
After everything was tidied up, a faint awkwardness lingered between them. Dai Chuchan, in particular, felt incredibly nervous. This was the first time she had spent the night alone with a man. On top of that, this man was her senior and her savior, which only made things more awkward.
“Senior Lin Xian, why don’t we watch some TV while we wait for the driver? It might take a while for him to get here,” Dai Chuchan suggested, thinking she had come up with a great idea.
She picked up the remote and pressed the power button.
Static…
Static…
Static…
No matter how she adjusted the channels, the screen remained gray with a static sound.
“Is the TV broken?”
Dai Chuchan, unfamiliar with hotel electronics, assumed the TV worked just like the one at home.
Lin Xian picked up the remote, pressed a button to switch modes, and tuned it to a normal TV channel.
Pointing at the set-top box, he explained, “In hotels, TVs usually have multiple modes. You need to press the mode button to switch to regular channels.”
Dai Chuchan nodded in realization. “Thank you, Senior Lin Xian. Luckily, you’re so knowledgeable.”
Lin Xian was momentarily speechless.
Was that… a compliment?
Unsure how to respond, he casually selected a channel. It was a broadcast of Dream of the Red Chamber on XXTV8, coincidentally at the scene of Lin Daiyu’s passing.
Since they were just killing time, the choice didn’t matter.
The two fell silent, focusing on the screen. Apart from the TV’s dialogue and music, the room was quiet and serene.
Dai Chuchan watched intently, clearly enamored with Dream of the Red Chamber, a work she had always admired.
Lin Xian, on the other hand, was distracted, waiting for news from Dai Shuangcheng. Upon learning of his daughter’s near-kidnapping, there was no way Dai Shuangcheng would remain idle. He was likely already collecting evidence. Once everything was confirmed, Vice President Zhang, Brother Li, and Little Wang would naturally be released, and Dai Shuangcheng would surely reward them handsomely.
Dai Chuchan, absorbed in the story, sighed deeply. “Such a masterpiece, Dream of the Red Chamber. It’s a pity it’s an incomplete work. Cao Xueqin only left the first eighty chapters. The remaining forty chapters were lost during circulation, and today’s versions are all continuations by Gao E.”
“If only we could one day see the true ending of Dream of the Red Chamber,” she said wistfully.
Lin Xian, who knew a bit of history, casually replied, “Cao Xueqin probably never imagined his work would be so revered by future generations. If he had known, his later years might have been happier, and he wouldn’t have died in sorrow.”
Lost in thought, listening to the melancholic tune in the scene with Lin Daiyu, Dai Chuchan murmured, “If only someone could have told Cao Xueqin… then he might have preserved the last forty chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber.”
Her phone rang.
“Hello, Dad? What… really? Oh my god… I can’t believe it! If it weren’t for Senior Lin Xian saving me… I don’t even dare to imagine! Okay, Dad, you handle it first.”
After hanging up, Dai Chuchan still looked stunned, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d heard.
Turning to Lin Xian, she exclaimed, “Senior Lin Xian! It’s just as you said! Their phones contained all the chat logs planning my kidnapping. They even drugged my drink last night!”
Panicked, she walked over and tightly gripped Lin Xian’s hand.
“Senior… thank you so much! Without you… I can’t imagine what would’ve happened to me!”
“My father also asked me to tell you that the Dai family will never forget this favor. Once he’s dealt with everything, he will personally visit to thank you!”
“What about my companions?” Lin Xian asked, addressing his greatest concern.
“They’re fine, don’t worry. They’re also my saviors. My father is very grateful and has arranged for a special car to take them home.”
“That’s good to hear.”
For Lin Xian, the resolution of the situation was enough. The Dai family owing him such a huge favor was essentially a get-out-of-jail-free card for the near future.
Dai Chuchan’s phone rang again.
Her driver had arrived downstairs. Lin Xian checked out of the hotel and escorted her to the car.
After exchanging phone numbers and contact information, Lin Xian bid her farewell.
He then called Vice President Zhang, who picked up quickly.
“Mr. Zhang, are you all okay?”
“We’re fine, Lin Xian! Oh my god, guess who we ran into today? What incredible luck!”
“As long as you’re okay—”
“Lin Xian! Get to the office right now! We’ve got amazing news to share with you!”