Chapter 94: Sudden Appearance of a Fierce Tiger

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Sudden Appearance of a Fierce Tiger

"Xie Yuan. He’s a director at the Education Bureau," Chen Feng said.

"A suitor of yours?" The corners of Ye Xing’s mouth curved into a smile. "Sister Chen, you’re endlessly charming!"

"Oh, please. We just had some work-related dealings in the past. You know we run a publishing company, so we have occasional interactions with the Education Bureau. We’re always bumping into each other, so I can’t just completely burn that bridge." Chen Feng shot Ye Xing a look and pouted, "Are you making fun of me?"

"Not at all. Sister Chen, you’re a total knockout, you have your own company, you’re beautiful and wealthy... it’s only normal for you to have a lot of suitors," Ye Xing said. "This Director Xie from the Education Bureau seems to be pursuing you pretty hard. So, what do you think? Is he your type?"

"It’s not really about whether he’s my type. He’s an official with a certain status, you know. I just feel like we’re not a good match. He makes me feel very uncomfortable... I don’t know, it’s just a gut feeling." Chen Feng laughed. "If I were a few years younger, I’d make you pretend to be my boyfriend and act as my shield!"

"Sure, no problem. How about I tell him right now that I’m your boyfriend and get him to stop pestering you!" Ye Xing chuckled slyly.

"Pfft!" Chen Feng covered her mouth as she laughed. "I said if I were a few years younger. I’m getting on in years; how could I be so shameless as to go cradle-robbing with you!"

"Tch, Sister Chen, you’re not that much older than me. You’re what, around thirty? You look more like you’re twenty-seven or twenty-eight," Ye Xing said dismissively.

Just as the two were resting and chatting idly, Xie Yuan, having dealt with his sister, came hurrying back over, clearly unable to wait.

"Haha, President Chen! How has the company been doing lately? Is there anything I can help with?" Xie Yuan came over, looking for an opening to start a conversation. His words carried a double meaning: on one hand, it showed his concern for Chen Feng; on the other, it was a way to flaunt his own influence, implying that if she just asked, he was more than capable of helping.

"The company is doing alright. We’ve expanded our operations quite a bit recently. We did run into a little funding issue a while back, but Ye Xing has already helped me resolve it!" Chen Feng said to Xie Yuan with a faint smile.

"Oh? How big was the funding gap? A few hundred thousand? It seems your young friend’s family has some resources. But a young man like him must have just started his career, so I’m sure his own prospects are limited. You can’t get very far just by relying on your parents’ money. By the way, I know several rather famous, established authors. Since you run a publishing company, I thought you might have a need for them. Why don’t I give you their contact information? You can just tell them you’re a friend of mine. I’ll have a word with them, and if they have a new book coming out, they can partner with Red Phoenix Publishing Company. And as for funding," Xie Yuan laughed, "to be honest, I have connections in every bank in Luoxian County. Getting a loan would be a piece of cake." As he spoke, he shot a provocative glance at Ye Xing.

"Thank you, but that won’t be necessary." Chen Feng smiled faintly. "We’re not short on funds anymore. The company is running just fine."

"Well, what about the authors? I can have my author friends contact you! They’re all well-known, established writers. They could definitely be a huge help and boost the reputation of Red Phoenix Publishing Company," Xie Yuan said hurriedly. Having worked at the Education Bureau for many years, he knew plenty of teachers and writers; his network was extensive.

Chen Feng looked tempted for a moment, but then she shook her head and said apologetically, "Please forgive my frankness, but that would be a huge favor. If I accepted, I wouldn’t know how to possibly repay you. Director Xie, I appreciate the kind offer, but I’ll have to decline."

"Haha, don’t talk about repayment. All you’d have to do is treat me to a private dinner," Director Xie said with a laugh.

"Oh, Brother, are these two your friends? Why haven’t you introduced us!" a woman in her thirties said as she walked over.

"Alan, what are you doing over here? Why aren’t you watching Little Xin?" Xie Yuan frowned.

"Little Xin was getting restless and squirmy. There was nothing I could do, so I just let her go play over there by herself," Xie Lan said with a wry smile.

An idea seemed to strike Xie Yuan. He immediately turned to Chen Feng and said, "Let me introduce you. This is my sister, Xie Lan. She’s a senior teacher at Luoxian County Third Middle School."

"Alan, this is Chen Feng, the beautiful president of Red Phoenix Publishing Co., Ltd. You two should get acquainted." After introducing Xie Lan and Chen Feng, Xie Yuan completely ignored Ye Xing, who was standing right beside them.

"Hello!" Xie Lan said to Chen Feng with a smile. "Oh, and this handsome young man must be with you!"

"Yes, he’s Ye Xing, a good friend of mine," Chen Feng replied with a smile.

As the four of them were talking, many other tourists in the Half-Mountain Pavilion were also gathered in small groups, resting and chatting.

Just then—

Suddenly—

"ROAR!"

A tremendous tiger’s roar suddenly erupted from the bushes beside the Half-Mountain Pavilion. The sound was deafening, and the trees surrounding the pavilion shook violently, their leaves rustling loudly.

The sudden event made everyone in the Half-Mountain Pavilion jump in horror. Their terrified eyes instinctively darted toward the source of the sound.

The bushes parted, and a massive, striped tiger leaped out. Its body was enormous, its fangs menacing.

"Ah! A tiger!"

"Oh my god, how can there be a tiger here!"

"It’s dangerous! Run!"

"Run! Honey, what are you spacing out for? Let’s go!"

The tourists in the pavilion, their faces masks of terror, took to their heels and fled down the mountain. In an instant, a cacophony of panicked shouts, screams, tense gasps, and children’s cries filled the air as the area descended into chaos.

"It’s a tiger! Judging by its size, it’s a full-grown, ferocious one. Chen Feng, Xie Lan, we have to run!" Xie Yuan’s face was also filled with terror as he turned to flee down the mountain.

"We can’t, Brother! Look over there!" Xie Lan cried, her eyes red and frantic with terror. "Little Xin! Little Xin is still over there!"

Xie Yuan immediately looked where she was pointing, and the color drained from his face.

Ye Xing and Chen Feng couldn’t help but turn to look as well.

There, just a few meters in front of the ferocious tiger, stood a little girl of five or six. She was frozen in place, staring blankly at the beast with wide eyes. She seemed paralyzed by fear, her small body trembling under the tiger’s oppressive presence, unable to move a single inch.

The tiger had obviously spotted the little girl as well and began to stalk toward her on all fours.

"Brother, please, save Little Xin! Save her!" Xie Lan pleaded, her expression a mask of desperate terror as tears streamed down her face.

"That’s a full-grown tiger! Even two of me wouldn’t be a match for it. Are you telling me to go get myself killed?" Xie Yuan’s face was ashen as he continued to back away, ready to turn and bolt down the mountain at any second.

"Xie Yuan, you bastard! Are you just going to stand there and watch Little Xin get eaten by that tiger? If you won’t go, I will!" Her face stained with tears, Xie Lan, in a fit of rage and desperation, recklessly charged toward the tiger herself.

"Alan, are you crazy? You’ll be killed too!" Xie Yuan shouted, trying to stop his sister, but it was too late. She was already rushing forward.

"Ye Xing, what do we do?!" Chen Feng cried, her beautiful eyes wide with terror. It was her first time ever encountering a wild tiger, and her mind was in utter chaos, all her usual composure gone.

Ye Xing’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the tiger steadily closing in.

’Sigh... I really didn’t want to make a move,’ Ye Xing sighed to himself. ’But I can’t just stand by and watch that little girl be killed by a tiger. My conscience won’t allow it.’ He immediately began to circulate his Innate Skill, and the True Qi within his body began to revolve at high speed.