Chapter 123 Cut Off Ties

Li Xiuying was peacefully sipping her cup of tea.

The people around her were getting louder with their gossip.

"Can someone like that even appreciate Huang Shan Mao Feng?"

"Of course not. How can she understand the complex taste?"

"She probably doesn't even know what it is."

20 minutes later a casually dressed man walked towards Li Xiuying. His looks were average but the juxtaposition between his dangerous aura and innate grace made people unable to ignore him.

The maître d' was walking beside the Qilin and said something before subtlety motioning to Li Xiuying.

Qilin assessed the woman sitting unperturbed at the table, he instantly recognized the woman.

When he reached Li Xiuying's table he spoke in a friendly tone: "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Would you like something else to eat or drink?"

Li Xiuying look into the eyes of the man in front of her: "Strawberry cheesecake."

Qilin nodded then turned to the maître d': "I'll have my usual." He sat down in the chair opposite Li Xiuying.

People around Li Xiuying erupted in gossip once again.

"Look she has a friend!"

"Birds of a feather flock together. Now the circus has 2 clowns how fun!"

"Shhh. Did you not see how the maître d' was respectfully to him. He must be important."

"Just relax okay, why would he be sitting with her if he was important? I mean just look at her."

Qilin: "Have you've been listening to this since you've arrived?"

Li Xiuying shrugged, she had just muted out the annoying buzzing from the flies around her. They were less annoying than Li Yu Yan and Li Na anyway.

Qilin frowned, he was less tolerant than Li Xiuying. He made a mental note of the table numbers and their dinners.

Qilin: "You are looking well. I can see life in your eyes."

Li Xiuying quirked a brow.

Qilin laughed: "I may have been in and out of consciousness the first time we met. However, I would never allow someone to have my life in their hands without at least assessing them."

Li Xiuying: "Oh?"

Qilin: "I saw a machine. Dull lifeless eyes, a face which looked bored and hands which where tortured in order to gain experience."

Li Xiuying began to think about how sharp Qilin really was, he was able to read her even when his life was hanging by a thread.

The maître d' place a pot of Da Hong Pao in the center of the table, he then placed the cheesecake slice in front of Li Xiuying and a place of butter cookies in front of his boss.

Qilin: "The atmosphere around the table isn't apt, sort it out."

Maître d': "Yes." He looked at the surrounding dinners before walking away to complete his task

Qilin and Li Xiuying ate in silence. She savored the rich taste of the creamy cheese contrasting against the sharp and sweet strawberry compote and finally the crumbly biscuit base.

The maître d' returned with a group of staff members behind him.He spoke to the first table towards the right of Li Xiuying's: "On behalf of The Enchanted we would like to inform you that you have all been blacklisted from our establishment. The meal that you had will be your last hence we will not be asking for payment. Please leave now, with your dignity intact. I feel obligated to inform you that all the staff here are trained to restrain and immobilize transgressors in the quickest manner possible so as not to disturb our guests."

The people are the table were all filled with shock and confusion. They all slowly and numbly got out of their seats and made their way to exit the restaurant. Nobody could figure out why this was happening, they all came from reputable families, had money and prestige and did nothing but dine peacefully.

The maître d' then walked to the other tables and repeated the same speech. Most people were shocked and confused, some were angry and felt humiliated. However, regardless of how much they wanted to question what was happening they held their tongues knowing that they couldn't fight the owner. No one knew who the owner was exactly but they knew he was someone who was powerful, ruthless and vengeful. There were plenty of rumors circulating about his past deeds including how he had dealt with belligerent customer in the past. The customer and their family had lost everything; even distance cousins who were twice removed were not spared.

When the maître d' finished his speech and escorted the last table some of them looked back at Li Xiuying and Qilin. They were smart enough to realize what they had done wrong, it was a pity for them that they hadn't used their intellect before they were met with consequences.

Qilin: "It's nice to have peace restored."

Li Xiuying got straight down to business: "Reclaim favors."

Qilin: "Your uncle had informed me that I had more time to decide. I didn't think he would renege nor did I think he would employ you as a debt collector."

Li Xiuying: "I have come to collect the favor that is owed to me."

Qilin read in between the lines. Li Xiuying was stating quite a few things with her short statement 1. That he owed the favor to her not her family. 2.She had cut ties with the Li family. 3. He should reject Li Wang's request.

Qilin: "Color me intrigued. What could the woman touted at Death's escape possibly require?"

Li Xiuying: "Firstly, I want everyone to know I will personally collect favors owed. Secondly, I'll need someone who is apt at getting information. I'll need them for 1 year."

Qilin: "The first task isn't difficult. The second on the other hand..."

Li Xiuying knew both task would be easy for Qilin to accomplish: "What do you want?"

Qilin: "I'm glad you asked. My father has some sort of blockage in his carotid arteries. We need someone to operate." Recently he found 2 moles within his organisation; one was a doctor and the other was a high ranking member of his faction. He couldn't allow a potential traitor to take a scalpel to his father's neck. He was about to call some surgeons he knew when fate delivered Death's Escape to him yet again. Qilin wouldn't have contacted Li Xiuying because what her uncle had requested as payment was always unreasonable.

Li Xiuying: "Fine."

Qilin: "Wonderful it seems we have a deal. I'll send the person you requested o you within 3 days. They are currently on assignment."

Li Xiuying frowned, that would delay her next move. She reluctantly nodded her acceptance, it was better to wait for something great that compromise with something mediocre.

Li Xiuying: "Send me all the details of your father's medical..."

Qilin: "Dr Li how about you come and visit here again? I'll provide lunch and you can assess my father in person as well as look at his notes?"

Li Xiuying: "Fine." She was about to get up to leave.

Qilin: "One last thing you may be interested to know... Your cousins and their friends have a reservation for tonight at 8:00 pm."

Li Xiuying smiled maliciously: "Do you have a table for 3 available at 8 pm?"

Qilin: "For you I'm sure I can open something up."

Li Xiuying: "Bill."

Qilin was about to refuse when Li Xiuying spoke: "I pay what is owed."

He waved his hand at a waitress to escort Li Xiuying.

Qilin watched as Li Xiuying went to pay for her meal and chuckled a little 'Well Dr Li is certainty more interesting now. I wonder if I can get in her good graces by helping her tonight."

The maître d' walked over to Qilin.

Qilin: "You will get a 5% increase in your salary and a large bonus at the end of the year."

The maître d' was perplexed by the sudden pay rise; not that he was complaining.

Qilin: "Do you know who that woman was?"

The maître d' shook his head.

Qilin: "She is Death's Escape."

Maître d' blurted out: "Her? She's so young?! She's so tiny!"

Qilin chuckled: "She came here tonight to scout us out. Had you judged her by her outer appearance and treated her unjustly then I would have suffered a major loss."

The maître d' felt a cold sweat at the back of his neck, if he messed up tonight the minimum penalty would have been losing the function of one limb.

Qilin: "Tonight she'll be dinning here at 8 pm, she'll need a table for 4. Her cousins Li Yu Yan, her fiancé Chen Wei, Li Na and Co. will also be dining here at 8 this will be their final time dining here; let's make it special for them shall we?"

Maître d': "Yes Boss."

Qilin: "Call back little one, her services will be needed by Li Xiuying. Oh and another thing, I don't want anymore guests like those we had today. Ensure all guests have manners and the correct knowledge of etiquette."

Maître d': "Yes boss."

Qilin strolled away with the phone to his ear. He would have to make a few calls to ensure everyone knew that Death's escape had cut off ties with the Li family by tonight.