After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 214: A Kick into the Air

Chapter 214: Chapter 214: A Kick into the Air

As soon as the car came to a stop, the door of the Minghe Courtyard quickly opened, even before anyone got out.

A middle-aged woman wearing a cheongsam with lingering charm emerged from the courtyard, her high heels making her steps brisk.

Jiang Lingxi stepped out of the car, clutching her phone, and saw the woman bow slightly to Shen Yunqing, "Mr. Shen, I am Lin Qiuyuan, the senior receptionist at Minghe Courtyard. It’s an honor to host you."

After saying this, she straightened up and saw another young woman alight from the car.

Nonetheless, she lived up to her status as a senior receptionist and quickly regained her composure, addressing them in a steady tone, "Good evening, Miss. Please, both of you, come inside; arrangements have already been made in the courtyard..."

Jiang Lingxi walked up to her and asked directly, "Did your courtyard accommodate a group of students for a graduation dinner today?"

Lin Qiuyuan was truly taken aback this time and couldn’t help but let out a small "ah" of surprise.

"The rush on the road made it unclear; we are not here to dine or anything. We’re just here to pick up a family child."

Fortunately, Lin Qiuyuan reacted quickly. She accessed the relevant information swiftly with her work tablet, using her privileges.

"Indeed, a courtyard has been reserved by a Mr. Han for a family member’s graduation dinner. Apologies, as it was an ordinary courtyard, I only just checked and found out."

Shen Yunqing, knowing Jiang Lingxi’s urgency, spoke directly, "Please lead us there."

Going directly like this wasn’t usually allowed. Minghe Courtyard was sought after by the elite primarily because of its excellent privacy; courtyards would never disturb each other.

If a guest from one courtyard wanted to visit another, they would have to inform the other party in advance and get permission before proceeding.

But faced with these two sudden esteemed guests, no one knew that beneath Lin Receptionist’s calm façade was surging anxiety.

Her position in Minghe Courtyard meant she no longer dealt with regular VIP guests. After facing so many powerful guests, she thought she had developed a strong heart.

Yet, these two before her seemed much younger than most guests she had previously hosted, making her truly understand the words of her retired predecessor before leaving Minghe Courtyard.

Truly powerful people often don’t show it overtly; they appear easygoing and good-natured. But only when you face such people do you realize you’re confronting a towering mountain, and you, at the foot, can’t see the peak no matter how much you tiptoe, let alone see within.

That’s how she felt now.

And she was facing two at once!

"Alright," she took a deep breath, "Please follow me, esteemed guests."

As they walked to the outside of the party courtyard, the noise from inside was audible even before entering.

Lin Qiuyuan hit the bell on the door and waited a moment before someone came to open it.

A girl nearest to the door, thinking it was a delivery from a waiter or the like, was stunned to see three people standing outside when she opened it.

"Who... who are you looking for?"

"We’re looking for Xu Ling’an. Are you Xu Ling’an’s classmate?"

The girl nodded instinctively, "I am." Remembering it was impolite to block the door, she hurriedly stepped aside, "Please, come in. Xu Ling’an seems to be watching a movie in the screening room."

"Thank you."

Jiang Lingxi and Shen Yunqing entered one after the other, and as they stepped into the courtyard, the vibrant courtyard seemed to slow to a crawl, then pause. The laughter quickly dwindled until there was no sound at all.

All eyes were fixed on the two figures still moving forward.

Old Tang walked past the students towards them, "Who might you be?"

Approaching them, he finally saw their faces clearly. Old Tang was startled; the youth and grandeur of these unexpected visitors were the most striking he had ever witnessed.

Jiang Lingxi looked at the speaker, guessing from his age that he was likely the students’ teacher, but remembering An’an nearly got bullied here, she couldn’t suppress her temper, "I’m Xu Ling’an’s elder sister."

"Oh, Xu Ling’an’s sister," Old Tang forced his nerves down, growing curious, "Are you here to take Xu Ling’an home?"

Jiang Lingxi nodded, "I called her just now, and she seemed drunk. So I came over to fetch her."

"Drunk?"

An’an wasn’t known to drink; even at her toast to him before, she had soda water. How did she get drunk?

Feeling something amiss, Old Tang quickly offered, "Let me take you inside."

Jiang Lingxi, not wanting to waste more time, nodded and proceeded with Shen Yunqing towards the room ahead.

The small screening room still had some students inside, but Xu Ling’an was nowhere to be seen.

On inquiry, it was revealed she went to the restroom and hadn’t returned for over ten minutes.

Old Tang felt a sudden panic, not caring that they were heading to the women’s restroom; he led the way quickly.

Fortunately, before reaching the restroom, he saw three people standing at a doorway in the corridor ahead, "Lin Chan, Han Ye, Li Fei, have you seen Xu Ling’an?"

The three were originally confronting each other at the door. Lin Chan was eager to enter and retrieve a phone, but Li Fei and Han Ye were blocking her, resulting in a stalemate as they all harbored secrets.

When their teacher suddenly inquired, their expressions changed immediately.

Old Tang hadn’t expected anything shady among his students, but Jiang Lingxi and Shen Yunqing behind him noted their reactions clearly.

Jiang Lingxi narrowed her eyes, stepped past Old Tang, and strode quickly to the room door the three were blocking, "Move aside!"

Han Ye and Li Fei’s expressions changed again; the voice was unmistakable — they had just heard it on Xu Ling’an’s phone minutes ago.

Key point: How did she find this place so quickly?

Han Ye pondered deeper; although it was his first visit to Minghe Courtyard, he had heard his uncle speak of its exclusivity, with non-VIP clients not admitted. He’d booked a spot in advance, and the courtyard was rated as only mediocre in space and standing.

How did these two gain entry?

Before these thoughts could settle, they found themselves stepping aside, almost instinctively.

Jiang Lingxi turned the doorknob and slipped inside, shutting the door behind her before anyone could glimpse the room’s interior.

Lin Chan, just regaining her senses and about to follow, clenched her clothes, transforming the alcohol’s warmth into a cold sweat, silently praying her phone was hidden well enough not to be discovered.

"What are you three doing here?"

While Old Tang sternly questioned his students outside, inside Jiang Lingxi swiftly moved to the bedside, finding Xu Ling’an curled up, clutching her phone tightly, hands white from exertion.

Her clothes were slightly disheveled, but intact, allowing Jiang Lingxi to finally breathe easily.

She gently brushed the younger girl’s sweat-dampened hair, "An’an?"

Xu Ling’an, feebly resisting waves of sleepiness, finally heard the familiar and comforting voice, struggling to focus her gaze, "Sister!"

Seeing her struggling to focus, Jiang Lingxi couldn’t help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement, "It’s alright, go to sleep now."

Receiving the comforting directive, Xu Ling’an allowed herself to drift into peaceful slumber.

The closed door opened again.

Jiang Lingxi nodded at Shen Yunqing, who looked her way, then focused on the three students still stammering through their teacher’s questioning, recognizing the boy she’d seen earlier in the phone video. As his gaze faltered towards her, she unhesitatingly launched a kick at him.