Beauty, You Wouldn't Want That, Would You?

In the observation carriage. Wayne sat on a red sofa. Opposite him was Madame Xifei, who had trailed him here. Once again, ignoring the plentiful empty seats, she sat directly across from him. "What a coincidence, running into you again." Madame Xifei offered a faint smile and extended her hand toward Wayne. Wayne: "..." *Twice now. What does this big sister want? Is it too cold out, did she not get enough to eat, and now she's looking for a warm bite on the side?* Xifei's forward behavior filled Wayne with deep suspicion. He wondered if she had her eye on his supposed vast fortune. He knew there existed a class of socialites who used their beauty to lure wealthy men into investments, all to leverage their children for ransom or push aside the lawful wife to take her place. Once they milked their marks dry, they kicked the rich fools to the curb and moved on to the next target. A luxury train was without a doubt a prime hunting ground. Exorbitant ticket prices screened passengers by social class, filtering out the common folk. While not everyone aboard was a multimillionaire, the success rate for a hunt here was certainly far higher than anywhere else. One couldn't show mercy to scammers. Wayne figured he might as well beat her at her own game: before she could swindle his body and his money, he would swindle hers first! Xifei's hand had been hanging there for a good while. Wayne gave an awkward smile and politely took the lady's fingertips. "Xifei Valentine." "Wayne." The two introduced themselves. Xifei read his expression, but finding no trace of surprise on Wayne's face, she arched an eyebrow. "Mr. Wayne, do you not recognize me?" "It is an honor to meet such an elegant lady, but as this is our first meeting... if you don't mind my asking, are you some sort of celebrity, Madame?" Wayne was surprised as well. *She's so confident—could she truly be some prominent figure?* If so, she certainly wasn't approaching him for his wealth. That left only one answer: a wealthy older woman had set her sights on him and wanted to offer him long-term financial support. "I am a fashion designer with some renown in Paris, the capital of the Frank Republic. The outfit I am wearing belongs to my own label, Xifei Valentine. I thought you might have heard of it, Mr. Wayne." Xifei spoke slowly, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "It seems I presumed too much. The Xifei Valentine brand must not have made much of a name for itself in Londan." "Not at all. I simply know very little about the fashion world. The clothes you're wearing are gorgeous—they're bound to be a huge hit in Londan." Wayne broke into a cold sweat. *She really is a rich sugar mommy.* Should he just give in right away, or play hard to get before giving in? Damn it, what a difficult question! "I see!" Having confirmed that hearing her name meant nothing to Wayne, Xifei's smile grew noticeably warmer. She deduced from this that her daughter and her boyfriend had only recently made things official and hadn't done *that* yet. "What do you think of my brand, Mr. Wayne?" Xifei rose and executed a slow, graceful turn. While trailing an intoxicating perfume, she showcased her elegant, enchanting curves. "You are a local of Londan. I intend to bring my brand into Londan's market, so perhaps you could offer some helpful advice." *Is it advice you want? I'm almost too embarrassed to call you out!* Wayne rolled his eyes. Going by the principle that free eye candy was a crime to pass up, he gave her a thorough once-over. A moment later, his brow furrowed deeply. Clothes make the man, just as the person brings out the clothes. Xifei complemented her self-designed brand flawlessly; both woman and attire were stunning. He couldn't find a single fault. And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. "Just what could it be..." "Mr. Wayne?!" "My apologies. Your charm is simply too striking; I got distracted." Wayne offered an apologetic smile and swept his eyes over Xifei once more—from head to toe, from her shoulders to her waist, gliding along the curve of her back down to her hips, finally coming to a halt at her fair, slender calves. *Great legs!* *Legs like that, he could play with for—* *Bah, he meant, what wonderfully pale legs!* Wayne's gaze was so intense that Xifei felt thoroughly disappointed. Her daughter shared her own terrible taste, picking a scoundrel who was a lecher on the inside while looking decent on the outside. See? She had merely spun around once, and Wayne's eyes had practically bulged out of his head. From the looks of it, he wanted nothing more than to press his face right against her legs for a closer inspection. Fortunately, the situation wasn't beyond saving. Her daughter had not yet stepped into the grave of marriage. If she made Wayne disappear now, the girl could still be rescued. "Madame, your brand is practically flawless and will surely take Londan by storm in the future. However, you are missing a garment, which keeps your charm from reaching its absolute peak." Wayne spoke with utter seriousness. He tried his best to maintain his composure, but the slight tremor in his voice betrayed his inner excitement. He smelled a business opportunity! A chance to strike it rich was right in front of him! Xifei paused, taken aback. "What garment?" *Stockings!* *You're not wearing stockings! What a waste of those long legs! If they were wrapped in a pair of sheer black stockings, it would be an absolute showstopper. Sweeping through the fashion capitals wouldn't just be a dream anymore.* "Madame, have you ever heard of stockings?" "I have. They are too thick and do not align with my brand's fashion philosophy." *Then they haven't been invented yet!* Wayne felt immensely reassured. He had been referring to nylon stockings, not the thick knitted hose favored by courtly gentlemen of old. As a fashion designer navigating high society, Xifei couldn't possibly be ignorant of stockings. Since her answer missed the mark, it proved that sheer nylon stockings did not yet exist. Right, stockings seemed to have been invented by the Bald Eagle and went on sale around World War II. Counting the timeline, no war had broken out yet, nor was there any Bald Eagle in this world. On the other hand, nylon—namely polyamide—had indeed already been synthesized. Supposedly right in Londan, it was already being supplied to military markets for parachutes and uniforms. Wayne's eyes lit up. Ever since his transmigration, he had dreamed of becoming an inventor. What he invented didn't matter; what mattered was making money while lying flat. Now that dream was within arm's reach... *Wait, no.* Nylon had already been invented, and someone held the patent. He might be able to pay a licensing fee, but once nylon stockings hit the market, the glaringly obscene profit margins would drive the patent holder to tear up any contract and dive directly into manufacturing stockings themselves. The weak couldn't twist the arm of the strong, and so-called contracts were riddled with loopholes. If it came down to a legal war, he would only end up doing all the legwork for someone else's benefit. *This is too hard!* Wayne frowned deeply. He was a magician now; researching stockings was straying from his proper profession. If he neglected his studies and grew distant from all the pretty young ladies, losing the chance to juggle three girls at once, wouldn't that be penny-wise and pound-foolish? Take Veronica, for instance—her father owned a bank! One second Wayne was grinning like a fool, and the next he was scowling with worry, his eyes never returning to Xifei's legs. Xifei took two more turns, even hitching up the hem of her skirt slightly. Once she verified that Wayne wasn't looking at her, her gloomy mood improved somewhat. *I overthought it. He really was talking about clothes!* "Way—" "Madame Xifei, it has been an absolute pleasure chatting with you. I will be getting off at Enrold Station, and looking at the time, I should head back to my compartment to pack my things." Wayne stood up and politely bid her farewell. *Big sister, you're gorgeous, but you're too late. Mr. Landau owns a bank. There's no way in hell I'm letting that future father-in-law go.* Xifei was left dumbfounded. She raised a hand to block him. "Wait, what was that garment you said I was missing?" *Brat, do you have any idea that stopping mid-sentence about a lady's wardrobe is an offense punishable by being thrown into a river? You are going to explain yourself clearly today!* Wayne didn't want to elaborate and spoke vaguely: "I must have seen wrong. The clothing you designed is practically perfection; it's not missing a thing." The more evasive he became, the more certain Xifei was that her ensemble truly lacked something. While the two of them were pulling back and forth, two men in black suits strode into the dining carriage. Cold gazes swept across the car. One blocked the carriage door, while the other marched toward Wayne and Xifei with hurried, murderous steps. The impending threat triggered Wayne's supernatural senses, flashing a warning in his mind. *Danger!* The man in black reached inside his jacket, drew a revolver, and pointed it straight at Wayne. "Everyone, freeze! Cooperate, hand over your cash, and nobody gets hurt. We only want money, not lives." *So it's just a robbery!* *Scared me half to death. I thought an assassin had been sent by that big shot.* Wayne exhaled in relief. But to his exasperation, the robber went back on his word. Having claimed they were only after money, the moment he caught sight of Xifei's stunning face and figure, evil desires flared up. The man's eyes popped wide open, as if he wanted nothing more than to press right up against the lady's legs for a thorough look. *Bah, vile scum!* "Watch the door! I'm going to have a chat with this lady," the robber barked back over his shoulder at his accomplice. He leered at Xifei's ample chest. A straightforward man who didn't understand the importance of foreplay, he simply reached straight out to grab what he wanted. *You little bastard, you've got some nerve. I haven't even had the guts to touch her, and you think you can? Just because you have a gun?* Wayne let out a cold snort and raised his hand to stop him. A gust of perfumed wind whipped past. Xifei clamped down on the robber's wrist and twisted it into a pretzel with a reverse lock. Writhing in pain, the robber instinctively spun his body. The second his back was turned to Xifei, a heavy kick slammed into the hollow of his knee, sending him crashing down with a scream. Xifei stepped forward, released his wrist, pressed her palm against the back of his head, and smashed it violently into the floor. *Thud!* The robber went limp and motionless. Everything occurred in the blink of an eye, so fast that Wayne could barely track the motion. In terms of build, Xifei and the robber weren't even in the same weight class, yet she had executed an effortless instant takedown. Wayne stared in utter disbelief. *Holy mother of god. What if she tries to force herself on me later?* *Where's Veronica?! Guard, protect the king!* Xifei picked up the revolver from the floor, aimed it at the unconscious thug's head, and ordered the other robber to surrender his weapon. Unfortunately, this crew were professionals. The instant Xifei took down Robber Number One, Robber Number Two at the doorway decisively seized a nearby passenger. A child. He pressed the muzzle against the child's temple and used the small body as a human shield to cover his own torso. The child didn't even cry, completely frozen in terror. The child's mother didn't say a word either—she simply fainted on the spot. "Drop the gun, or I blow this brat's brains out!" "..." Xifei frowned, her expression instantly turning grave. Just as she was weighing the pros and cons of whether to blow her cover, a hard object pressed against the back of her head. It was Wayne! Wayne shoved the gun forward and sneered coldly, "Didn't expect this, did you? I'm one of the robbers too! Let my boss go right now, or I'll blow your makeup all over the place with one shot!" Xifei froze. *My daughter fell for an armed robber?!* Across the car, Robber Number Two was equally stunned. *We have an inside man on this train?* *Is he for real? What if he's not on our side? Better wait and see!* (both thought simultaneously) "I'm talking to you! What, are you deaf? Get that muzzle away from my boss!" Wayne stepped up behind Xifei, hooked an arm around her neck, took a deep whiff of her hair's fragrance, and said with reckless excitement, "Beauty, what are you hesitating for? A gorgeous woman like you must have a kind heart. You wouldn't want to see an innocent child die because of you, would you?" Xifei's eyelid twitched. Wayne was standing far too close, completely obliterating any sense of social personal space. "To think you were this sort of scum. I misjudged you..." She drew a deep breath, slowly lowered her arm, and let the barrel point at the floor. "Hahaha! Brother, beautiful work! Good thing we had you this time!" Robber Number Two shoved the hostage aside and strode toward Xifei. He was absolutely convinced Wayne was one of them; that lecherous sneer looked identical to his fallen boss's. When it came to delivery, his boss was actually a step behind—Wayne sounded far more professional. Three steps later, Robber Number Two froze dead in his tracks, utterly dumbfounded. Two revolvers were pointed straight at him in unison. "Drop the gun." (both said at once) "..." *Y-you're not my brother?* *Wait, that expression, those lines—you totally didn't look like you were acting! How the hell did you turn out to be the good guy?!*