Chapter 495: Dare You Say I’m Not Beautiful?
Jiang Xinghai’s emotions were a complicated mix of anticipation and unease.
He knew this trip would take him from Yun Province into Myanmar, a place teeming with scammers.
’Those criminals will finally pay the price.’
It was something he intended to handle on top of his hunt for Arhat.
The plane took off.
Jiang Xinghai settled into his window seat, put on an eye mask, and began to rest.
After some time, the indignant voice of a woman and the sound of a little girl crying broke the silence.
"I said no, and I meant it! Why can’t you understand plain English, you little brat? Say one more word and I’ll slap you!" a gaudily dressed woman snarled, glaring fiercely at the little girl beside her. Her voice was sharp and piercing.
"Please don’t hit me, Ma’am... I just want to see the scenery outside... Please don’t hit me..."
The little girl, Yuanyuan, looked to be only six or seven. Her small body cowered in the seat, eyes welling with tears, a look of deep fear and helplessness on her face.
Jiang Xinghai removed his eye mask. The first thing he saw was a gaudily dressed, fashionable woman. She had heavy eyeliner, bright red lipstick, and a look of disgust on her face as she glared down at the little girl.
The little girl, terrified, pressed herself against the seat. She glanced longingly at the window before falling silent, too scared to make another sound.
A pang of sympathy shot through Jiang Xinghai. He didn’t hesitate to speak up. "Hey, little one. You can come sit here."
He stood up, gently inviting Yuanyuan to his seat.
"Mister, you..." The little girl glanced at Jiang Xinghai timidly, her small hands clenched into fists.
"Don’t be afraid," Jiang Xinghai comforted her with a smile, sensing her hesitation was a natural reaction. "No one on this plane is going to hurt you. That includes me."
Yuanyuan hesitated for another moment before cautiously making her way to his seat in the row behind.
"Thank you, Mister." Her little face was pale, and her terrified eyes were heart-wrenching to see.
"You’re welcome. Have a seat."
Jiang Xinghai helped her fasten her seatbelt, then asked, "Are you on this plane by yourself?"
"Yes, Mister." Yuanyuan’s big, innocent eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Jiang Xinghai sighed to himself. The little girl was clearly traumatized. He gently stroked her head. "Your parents must have set you up with the airline’s unaccompanied minor service, right? Are you on your way home?"
"Yes. My grandma brought me to the airport. I’m going home now." A small smile finally appeared on Yuanyuan’s face, a clear reflection of her excitement to see her parents.
Jiang Xinghai nodded. "Okay. If you need anything, just let me know."
He then turned and walked to her previous seat in the row ahead.
"Thank you, Mister." Yuanyuan gradually calmed down. Her tears stopped, and she watched Jiang Xinghai with a grateful expression.
The nearby passengers glanced over at the scene for a moment before turning away.
However, just as Jiang Xinghai settled into Yuanyuan’s former seat, the fashionable woman snorted in disdain. "What a nosy bastard. I bet you have ulterior motives."
Her voice was sharp and piercing, like a hedgehog with its quills raised.
"Ulterior motives? For you?" Jiang Xinghai scoffed. "You think you’re that beautiful?"
His gaze was deep and piercing, like a predator locking onto its prey.
The fashionable woman glared back at Jiang Xinghai and adjusted her clothes, worried she might accidentally expose herself.
Then, a provocative smile touched her lips. "My beauty is a well-known fact. Are you daring to say I’m not beautiful?"
"Don’t be so narcissistic. You? You’re not even worth a second glance." And indeed, Jiang Xinghai hadn’t given her a proper look.
’Still,’ he thought, ’gotta admit, her figure is undeniable.’
The fashionable woman pursed her lips in frustration and changed the subject back to Yuanyuan. "Don’t think I can’t see right through you. You’re just after the little girl. What a disgusting thought, trying to take advantage of the situation. I’ve seen plenty of men like you."
Her voice dripped with contempt and ridicule, as if she’d caught the stench of a degenerate on him.
Jiang Xinghai felt a wave of revulsion. "I’ll give you this, you have a wild imagination," he said coldly. "But that doesn’t give you the right to make baseless accusations."
His words carried a heavy warning.
’If they weren’t on a plane, he wouldn’t mind throwing her right out of it.’
The fashionable woman seemed to realize this. She shot Jiang Xinghai a glare but didn’t dare say another word.
Just then, Yuanyuan’s voice, sweet as an angel’s, piped up. "Mister, maybe we should switch our seats back."
She felt guilty, thinking Jiang Xinghai was being insulted by the woman because of her.
A warmth spread through Jiang Xinghai’s chest. He looked into Yuanyuan’s bright eyes and shook his head. "That’s not necessary, Yuanyuan. I just did the right thing."
His gaze was gentle but firm, as if promising her that he would protect her, no matter what.
The fashionable woman, however, snorted disdainfully, muttering as if to herself, "Phony do-gooder."
Her words were laced with contempt and ridicule, but Jiang Xinghai paid her no mind.
’Once they landed,’ he thought, ’it would be necessary to teach this woman how to grovel at his feet.’