Chapter 268: It Turns Out to Be a Woman?
Tina was in a bad mood and didn’t pay attention to what they were saying afterward. She stood up and said indifferently, “I’m tired, I’ll head back to my room first.” With that, she turned and walked away.This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - ©.
“I’ll go with you,” Jared Farrell said as he stood up. He quickly caught up to Tina and took her slender hand. Her fingers were icy cold, like winter frost.
They walked in silence. When they reached her door, Tina stopped and said to Jared Farrell, “Uncle, you should pack up and return to the Farrell family. I have some matters to handle.”
Jared Farrell’s deep eyes fixed on her face. After a moment of silence, he said slowly, “Okay.” He didn’t offer any comforting words; he knew she didn’t need them. He also knew that the Reed family meant nothing to her. She wasn’t sad; she just felt it was unfair for her mother.
Jared Farrell returned to his room, packed his luggage, and left. He had very little luggage, just one suitcase. After he left, Tina’s eyes darkened slightly as she turned back into her room.
As soon as she entered, her phone rang. It was Cole Lyon calling. “Serena, I’ve arrived in Ashbury,” Cole Lyon said. “I’ve found a place to stay near Whispering Pines.”
“Good,” Tina replied. “How are things going?”
“Everything is set up. Our people are in place, and the YQ Institute is operational. The order system just went live and we’ve already received an order.”
Tina raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What did they offer?”
“They offered Dragonsbreath! They want Crimson Silk in exchange and insist on a face-to-face transaction.”
Tina was taken aback. “Are you sure it’s Dragonsbreath?”
“Yes, I saw the photo,” Cole Lyon confirmed but hesitated before continuing. “But Serena, could this be a trap? You just put out the word that you needed Dragonsbreath and now someone has it? It seems fishy. Maybe we shouldn’t take this deal?”
“Take it!” Tina’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Where’s the meeting place?”
“Dragonspring Club.”
“Alright! Inform them I’m on my way!”
Cole Lyon wanted to persuade her otherwise but seeing that Tina had made up her mind, he relented. “Got it.”
Tina hung up the phone and retrieved a small ceramic bottle from her bag. She always carried some poison with her when she went out. Crimson Silk was something she rarely used. Firstly, it didn’t restrict movement like Soft Bone Powder did; secondly, its effects were slower-acting. In life-threatening situations, no poison worked faster than her ‘Shadow.’
But who exactly wanted Crimson Silk? This poison was developed by her mother and the last bottle had been lost before her mother’s death; it had been used on Sophia.
Tina’s eyes darkened again as she placed the Crimson Silk into her bag, stood up, opened the door, and left.
Although Crimson Silk wasn’t as potent as ‘Shadow,’ it was still quite tormenting. Her mother had intended to destroy it back then but ended up perfecting it instead.
She didn’t want to trade Crimson Silk but Dragonsbreath was too important!
When Tina came out, there was no one in the main hall of the Reed family house; perhaps everyone was resting after lunch.
Without informing anyone, Tina hailed a cab and headed straight for Dragonspring Club.
In the cab, Tina rested her chin on one hand while propping her arm against the window, lost in thought about whether she should get herself a car; hailing cabs every time was quite inconvenient.
The cab soon arrived at Dragonspring Club.
As soon as Tina got out of the car, she received a text from Cole Lyon: “The contact is in Spring Hall.”
Tina raised an eyebrow-so quick?
Putting away her phone, she walked into the club.
Dragonspring Club was a high-end establishment known for its hot springs. Wealthy and influential people loved coming here for the springs and the private chefs were renowned; one of them was said to be a descendant of an imperial chef.
However, entry required a membership card.
Tina approached the lobby desk and handed over a card from her bag.
The receptionist glanced at the card and exclaimed in surprise, “A diamond membership card?”
Memberships at Dragonspring Club were tiered: ordinary (white), intermediate (blue), advanced (black), and diamond (gold). Each level represented different spending thresholds and status.
The receptionist had been working there since the club opened but had only seen pictures of the diamond card during training; never had she seen someone actually use one.
Tina nodded. “Please take me to Spring Hall.”
The receptionist snapped back to reality at Tina’s voice and hurriedly said, “Please follow me!”
Throughout their walk, the receptionist kept stealing glances at Tina, amazed that someone so young possessed a diamond membership card.
Tina followed alongside while taking in the surroundings of the club-a sprawling estate with more than just hot springs; although she hadn’t explored much else here.
The scenery was beautiful; walking through its corridors brought an unexpected calmness to her heart.
After several turns through various sections of the club, they finally arrived at a courtyard with rock formations where they stopped. “Miss, we’ve arrived!”
“Thank you,” Tina responded with a nod.
The receptionist was taken aback; it was rare for guests to thank her. She smiled sweetly at Tina. “You’re welcome! If you need anything else, please let me know.”
Tina nodded again but then remembered something: “Don’t tell anyone about this membership card.”
The receptionist nodded respectfully. “Understood, Miss.”
After she left, Tina turned towards the closed door ahead of her. She pulled out a gold mask from her bag and put it on before knocking on the door.
“Come in,” came a cool female voice from inside.
Tina paused-female?
She pushed open the door and saw a woman in a long dress sitting elegantly at a tea table wearing a silver half-mask that revealed only her sensual lips.
The woman gracefully poured tea with an air of nobility and elegance that exuded from every gesture.
When she looked up at Tina standing by the door, there was a slight pause before she smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect Flame Ice’s renowned founder to be a woman.”
Tina met her gaze calmly. “I didn’t expect someone asking for Crimson Silk to be a woman either.”
The woman smiled again and gestured for Tina to sit down before placing a cup of tea in front of her without further ado: “Did you bring what I asked for?”