SWNOVELS Chapter 98: This Is Too Weird
“Who else knows about this?”
Viola clenched her fists and asked after calming herself down.
Her manager frowned and said concretely, “Those from the black market always do their job properly without leaving any trace,
furthermore they have burned down the house and have blood on their hands, so I doubt that they have the audacity to tell on
us. This means that Lachlan is the only one left who knows about this, and since it is their mistake, they promise that they will
find him and finish off the job. Our concern now is that we will run out of time before someone else finds out.”
“That won’t be possible.” Viola’s face darkened as she analyzed further, “If that detective is safe and sound, he would have gone
to the police station to make a report long time ago. The absence of any news to date means that he has most likely gotten into
some trouble too. Remind them to check the nearby hospitals, refuge shelter or hospice just to be sure.”
It was impossible for someone whom had been rendered unconscious by drugs to survive and remain intact from the huge fire
that had destroyed all the houses in the immediate vicinity.
She gradually convinced herself with the only plausible thought that there should not be any miscalculation on her end as she
released her tight grip, revealing her reddened palms due to her fingernails digging into them.
...
Early the next morning, Hayden set off on her expedition to GX Town which was two hundred kilometers away from Nanking and
the first location that had been selected for the purpose of survey for the Youth Hostel program.
The first homestay that she had to conduct her research on came out first on the Best Recommended ranking list on the internet,
and it was named as Maple Sugar Inn.
“Your check-in procedure has been completed, and your room will be the first one on the right on the second floor.”
After the clerk had registered Hayden’s details for the check-in, she returned her identity card to her and added, “Please follow
me as I shall bring you up to your room.”
“Thank you.”
The clerk was a young lady whom seemed like she had not even reached the age of twenty and was bursting with liveliness and
briskness. She was dressed in a green T-shirt and shorts, and her demeanor was full of refreshing youthfulness that felt like a
spring breeze.
“Are you looking after the homestay all by yourself? Is it very busy here?”
“There’s still our manager so it’s not just me. However, he has gone on a trip a while ago and it’s been two months since he has
left.”
Hayden furrowed her brows in disappointment upon hearing the girl’s remark.
One of her tasks during the survey of the Maple Sugar Inn was to inspect the décor and the refurbishment of the building for
which she had already identified when she set her feet in the homestay. The furnishing of the homestay had exceeded her
expectations which had directly strengthened her resolve to continue with her original plan to poach the homestay manager over
to ST Hotel. She had deemed that it was more efficient for these experienced managers to participate in the design for the Youth
Hostel program rather than for her to sum up her experiences slowly along the way.
“I see. When is he coming back?”
“I’m not sure as his whereabouts are always mysterious, so this homestay is managed by our landlady. What’s the matter? Why
do you want to see him?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” Hayden smiled as she continued, “I’m just curious about the brain behind the unique design of this quaint and
picturesque inn, and I would love to meet him in person if it’s possible.”
“If you really want to, you can talk to our landlady as well. Both of them came up with the design and were involved in the
refurbishment of this homestay, plus most of the ideas had originated from her.”
“Is that so?” Hayden’s eyes glinted with a simmer of hope as she asked, “This inn is managed by your landlady instead of the
manager?”
“Yeah, this inn is the result of her blood, sweat and tears.”
After they had chit-chatted for a while, the clerk went downstairs to greet other guests that had arrived for their stay. Hayden was
overcome with joy after getting hold of the information as she believed that women were generally much easier to be persuaded
than men.
As the night fell, GX Town was shrouded in the soft, subdued light from the setting sun. A middle-aged woman was seated in a
corner on the first floor of the Maple Sugar Inn, her long hair held up by a hairpin while she was brewing tea in a Yixing teacup
with a tweezers. It was hard to discern her age from afar, or it could be said that she looked as if her age could encompass a
huge range. It was believable for her to be thirty or fifty years old.
Hayden walked to where she was seated at and asked, “The tea smells divine. Is this white tea?”
The landlady raised her head with a gentle smile displaying on her face as she replied, “You’re right. Do you want to have some?
It’s almost done.”
Hayden nodded and expressed her gratitude while she proceeded to take a seat beside her.
“Have you gotten accustomed to staying here?” The landlady initiated a conversation with her while her hand was still busy
brewing tea.
“Yeah, I really like that the second-floor view offers a wonderful and breathtaking panorama of the roofs of the buildings in GX
Town.”
“Please have some tea.” She handed a cup of tea to Hayden, and after thanking her and receiving it, Hayden took a sip of the
fragrant tea which had left a pleasant aftertaste in her mouth.
“You’re not here for travelling, aren’t you?” she asked.
Hayden’s expression went rigid for a second, “How did you find out?”
“If you’re really here for a tour, you will go out to explore the town rather than staying in all day.”
Hayden smiled after listening to her remark, “Even though you have not gone downstairs, you are still able to perceive and see
through every guest that have checked in. I’m impressed by how attentive you are.”
The landlady smiled and stayed silent after Hayden had complimented her.
“Aren’t you curious about the purpose of my visit?”
“There are too many instances where curiosity killed the cat, hence I’m not interested to probe into other’s matters. However, if
you are willing to disclose your secret, then I will lend you my ears.”
Hayden was startled by her disinterest and indifference as she had never met anyone like her whom was aloof from material
pursuits and worldly interests.
After a moment of pause, Hayden decided to reveal her purpose of coming all the way here. She passed her name card over to
the landlady and started her introduction, “Let me start with introducing myself. My name is Hayden Downey, and I’m the hotel
manager for ST Hotel under ST Group.”
As soon as the landlady heard the word ‘ST Group’, her collected countenance froze suddenly while she looked at Hayden with
astonishment, repeating after her, “ST.”
“Yes, I’m from ST.” Hayden let out a sigh of relief as it would make things a lot easier now that the landlady in front of her had
heard of ST Group despite the fact that GX Town was located in a remote area.
“From what I’ve heard, you have participated in the design and refurbishing of this inn, as well as overseeing the operation of the
inn after it has been completed. The reason for my visit here is to offer you the opportunity to join our Group. Will you be
interested to be in charge of the development of a new hostel chain under ST?”
The landlady wore a worried frown on her face while being lost in her thoughts as she stared at the name card intently.
After a few moments, she finally uttered, “Who is the one whom has arranged for you to come all the way here to offer me the
job opportunity?”
“It was the strategy department’s proposal and it was personally approved by our Group CEO.”
“ST’s CEO, Joseph Beckham?”
“You have heard of Mr. Beckham?” Hayden asked in a careful manner as her instinct had told her that the landlady’s reaction
was fishy in some way.
“I’ve just heard of him.” The landlady stared at Hayden while she asked in a disconcerted manner, “Are, are you close with Mr.
Beckham?”
Hayden was stunned as she could not comprehend the purpose of this question.
“No, not really.”
“Is his health in good shape? I heard that he has a son now, and he’s married?”
“He seems healthy enough, and he does have a son, but he’s not married yet. Maybe he will soon.” Hayden replied absent-
mindedly as her countenance fell when she mentioned his son.
“Is that so? How about Mr. Harrison Beckham’s state of health? Have you ever seen him before?”
Hayden snapped out of her thoughts and shot a suspicious gaze towards the landlady as she asked, “It seems that you are very
concerned about Mr. Beckham’s family matters...”
The landlady looked flustered when she was put on the spot as she quickly denied, “Am I? It’s just that curiosity has gotten the
better of me since there are a lot of rumors regarding the Beckham family flying around in the air. I may not seem like it, but I’m
quite nosy despite my age.”
Hayden was not convinced by her explanation at all as skepticism and suspicion started to grow in her heart.
When Hayden had first asked the landlady whether she was curious about her motive of paying a visit to the inn, the response
that she had gotten in return was only a couldn’t-care-less attitude from her. It was as though if the world were to end right now,
the landlady would still be unconcerned about everything. The same person whom had shown her disinterest earlier was now
curious about the Beckham family which did not add up at all.
...
“Is it true that you have sent Hayden away on a business trip?”
Joseph was having dinner with his grandfather at the Beckham’s residence when Harrison suddenly brought up the subject of
Hayden’s business trip.
Joseph shot a glimpse towards Noah whom was sitting beside Harrison as his action of picking up food with his chopsticks were
halted abruptly. Noah immediately grabbed onto Harrison’s clothes while his ‘Yes, it was me whom had told him and I’m not
afraid of you’ expression was on full display.