After Bali finished reporting on the other matters, he stood at attention, waiting for the boss’s orders.

“Is Shadow ready?”

“Yes. The cruise ship has been arranged, and Shadow is already on board, waiting.”

“Go prepare the car.”

Vio Mansello still held Qin Qinxi’s uncle’s information in his hand. He lowered his eyes to the paper, not looking at Bali.

“Yes.”

Upon receiving the order, Bali bowed his head, took a few steps back, then turned and left.

The study fell silent.

Vio picked up a porcelain dish from the table and grabbed a lighter. The flame licked the corner of the paper, slowly spreading across it.

He squinted as he watched the paper burn for a few seconds before letting go and tossing it into the dish. The flames danced, consuming the writing—names, addresses, contact information.

He kept his eyes down until the paper had completely turned to ash.

Qin Qinxi wasn’t shy at all; it didn’t take long before she became familiar with the new housekeeper. The housekeeper’s name was Maria, a Filipina whom Vio had hired as a domestic worker.

Maria had twelve years of experience, having worked for several royal families. In Dubai, foreign workers must be sponsored by a local employer in order to obtain visas and work permits. The employer holds immense power and has absolute legal control over the employee, including whether they can change jobs or leave the country.

This system has been criticized by international human rights organizations as “modern-day slavery,” because workers are completely dependent on their employers.

As Qin Qinxi watched Maria’s profile as she bent over to organize the clothes, she felt a pang of unease. But she quickly pushed the feeling aside. After all, given her own situation, she hardly had the right to feel sorry for others.

Qin Qinxi had heard that the Middle East was a very religious region—that this was an Islamic country. Yet the man who called himself “Super Hero” gave her the impression that he hadn’t been influenced by any of that at all. Whether it was what he ate or how he dressed, he didn’t seem like anyone here. And he spoke Mandarin so fluently that, looking at his distinctly foreign face, she almost thought they were compatriots.

She suddenly remembered Tuxi mentioning that the boss’s mother was also Chinese. What kind of person could the Super Hero’s mother be? Did she even know what her son did?

Qin Qinxi changed into her new outfit and immediately felt much happier. This time the clothes weren’t too tight; they fit her size pretty well, and the fabric was comfortable. The dress was pure white, with a textured, raised pattern. It had a halter design, a fitted waist, a puffy skirt, and reached just above the thighs—exactly to her taste.

Maria said softly, “I thought you might not like it.”

She hadn’t dared to buy anything too revealing, since she wasn’t sure what the young lady liked or whether she was local, so she’d chosen this style instead. It only exposed the shoulders and neck; below the neck, not even the collarbone was visible, and the skirt ended near the knees.

“I love it just like this,” Qin Qinxi said, truly meaning it. She stood in front of the mirror for a long time, then suddenly felt like putting on some makeup. She felt so haggard now that she needed to apply a bit of makeup to brighten her complexion—only then would she look worthy of her new outfit. If only she had a phone, she could even take a few selfies.

“Sir.”

Maria spoke softly from behind her.

Qin Qinxi tensed up and immediately turned around.

Vio stopped two or three steps away from her.

Qin Qinxi instantly turned her whole body, leaning slightly against the washbasin behind her.

Seeing the employer enter, Maria lowered her head and quietly slipped out, closing the door behind her.

Vio’s gaze swept over Qin Qinxi from head to toe.

That maid sure knew how to pick clothes.

This dress only showed the neck, completely covering the collarbone and leaving just a small mark on her neck exposed—the kiss mark he’d left. A pale red, tiny patch, perfectly nestled at the edge of the neckline. It couldn’t be hidden, but it wasn’t fully revealed either.

End of Chapter 29: Chapter 29