Chapter 133: Fang Xiaocao’s New Plan
16:38
After being cooped up in Room 507 all day, Fang Xiaocao started feeling restless.
Although the hotel was safer than the outside world, it was still filled with hidden dangers, giving her the unsettling feeling of being trapped prey. She was the prey, confined in a jar, waiting to be caught.
“This won’t do—I need to find a way out of this situation.”
She stood up from the bed and began pacing around the room.
Now, she regretted coming to the hotel and checking into Room 507.
Staying inside made her feel like a blind and deaf kitten.
Dangerous predators lurked outside, but she had no way of identifying where the threat was coming from.
17:03
Just as Fang Xiaocao was getting anxious, the screen of her phone suddenly lit up.
She immediately grabbed it and unlocked the screen.
Her phone was the only way she could gather information—her lifeline.
It was also her only way of staying in touch with Hot Noodles.
Seeing that it was a WeChat message, she eagerly tapped it open.
When she saw the sender’s name, she was momentarily stunned but quickly broke into a delighted smile.
It was Tom!
The message was from Tom, who had been missing for some time.
[Tom: Your Highness, I’m back.]
“He’s back!”
“Where are you right now?”
She immediately replied, asking for his location.
[Tom: Your Highness, I’m in the hotel lobby.]
[Tom: Do you need me to come up and find you?]
“Don’t come up!”
Fang Xiaocao was startled when she saw his message and quickly told him not to go upstairs.
“The hotel is full of police officers, and there’s also a fugitive assassin on this floor who hasn’t been caught yet.”
“Plus, the fifth floor suddenly became fully occupied—I suspect an assassin has infiltrated.”
She shared all the limited information she had gathered with Tom.
She had also heard the commotion caused by the undercover detectives knocking on doors.
With that, she managed to piece together a general idea of the room occupancy on the fifth floor.
[Tom: Then, Your Highness, aren’t you in great danger? Why don’t you come down, and I’ll escort you out?]
Having been mentally imprinted by Fang Xiaocao’s hypnosis, Tom was unwavering in his loyalty and genuinely worried about her safety.
“Now that you’re back, I’m in no hurry to leave.”
Fang Xiaocao pondered for a moment before sending her reply.
At this moment, a new plan formed in her mind.
She would have Tom act as her eyes while she remained in Room 507, taking advantage of the police protection.
As long as she didn’t leave the room, Han Xue and Axi—who had likely checked into the hotel—would remain focused on Room 508 instead.
And in Room 508, the police had stationed officers waiting to ambush any assassins.
Han Xue and Axi might just walk into Wang Qiang’s trap.
[Tom: Your Highness, do you have any orders for me?]
In the hotel lobby, Tom sat on a sofa, casually observing the guests coming and going while chatting with Fang Xiaocao.
“There is something I need you to do.”
Fang Xiaocao’s lips curled into a smile as she saw Tom’s message.
“As expected of a professional assassin—he’s quick to pick up on things.”
“He knew right away that I had a new plan.”
[Tom: Your Highness, please command me at will.]
“Can you get a legitimate ID to check into the hotel—one that won’t raise any red flags during police verification?”
She thought for a moment before asking.
[Tom: I have one. My passport is clean.]
Reading Tom’s reply, Fang Xiaocao’s eyes lit up.
There was a way!
Her plan could work.
“Use your passport to book a room and check into the hotel.”
She immediately instructed him to proceed.
[Tom: Got it. Should I pick a room on the fifth floor?]
Tom got up from his seat in the lobby, retrieved his passport from his backpack, and walked toward the front desk.
He had already lingered in the lobby for too long.
His assassin’s instincts told him that multiple pairs of eyes were watching him.
Had it not been for Fang Xiaocao’s plan requiring his cooperation, he would have already left the hotel.
“No need—avoid the fifth floor.”
“The police are concentrated between the first and fifth floors. Pick another floor so you can move freely later.”
Fang Xiaocao quickly responded.
[Tom: Understood. I’ll check in and contact you once I’m in my room.]
As the phone vibrated, Tom glanced at it before casually replying and slipping it back into his pocket.
“Hello, sir. How may I assist you?”
The receptionist at the front desk greeted him with a smile, her eyes bright as she took in his tall and handsome figure.
“Hello, I need a room.”
Tom responded with a smile, speaking fluent Mandarin.
“Oh! Sir, your Chinese is excellent!”
The receptionist was momentarily surprised before flashing an even brighter smile.
“Of course—I studied Chinese.”
Tom replied with a chuckle.
With the receptionist’s assistance, Tom successfully booked a room.
8th floor, Room 806!
“Thank you. Goodbye.”
Tom took his key card, smiled at the receptionist, and walked toward the elevator with his suitcase and backpack.
Hotel Surveillance Room
Wang Qiang watched the monitor, observing Tom’s figure.
After a brief hesitation, he picked up his radio and pressed the button.
“This is Wang Qiang. Verify that foreigner’s identification at the front desk and find out which room he’s in.”
“Roger that!”
A voice responded through the radio.
Hotel Lobby
A man dressed in a hotel uniform casually approached the front desk.
He leaned on the counter, exchanged a few words with the receptionist, then turned and left.
“Team Leader, I asked around.”
“I’ve already sent the passport details to Shiguang for verification.”
Hearing the voice from his radio, Wang Qiang nodded and pressed the button.
“Copy that. Shiguang, verify it immediately.”
“Roger!”
Came the reply from the radio.
Eighth Floor
“Ding!”
The elevator doors slid open.
Tom stepped out, dragging his suitcase across the plush carpet of the hotel hallway.
He carefully checked the door numbers as he walked.
He was well aware that the police were watching him through the surveillance cameras.
Before long, he reached Room 806.
Feigning caution, he double-checked his key card against the door number before swiping it and stepping inside.
Once inside, he locked the door and set his backpack and suitcase near the entrance.
Then, he casually turned on the TV and let the water run in the bathroom sink.
From his coat pocket, he pulled out a palm-sized device resembling a handheld gaming console and started sweeping the room.
After making a full circuit, the device’s light turned green, and a robotic voice announced:
“Clear. No surveillance devices detected.”
Satisfied, Tom nodded and put the device away.
(End of Chapter 133)
