When the sky brightened, the snow had stopped. The ground was covered with a blanket of snow, giving it an ethereal glow.
Liang Siyao came to Xia Lei’s door and knocked. “Time for breakfast.”
There was a rustling sound of someone wearing their clothes and Long Bing said, “Coming.”
“He’s still sleeping?” Liang Siyao frowned. She didn’t hear Xia Lei. Not even the sound of him putting on clothes. She thought he was just being lazy.
Long Bing opened the room door, speaking as she smoothed her clothes, “He was already gone when I woke up. Go check Fan Fan or Ruyi’s place. Maybe he’s there.”
Liang Siyao smiled, “Fan Fan and Ruyi are busy cooking in the kitchen. If he was there, would I have asked you? Did you tire him so much last night that he rolled under the bed? Have you checked under your bed?”
Long Bing rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about? It was only five times. He’s alright but I was exhausted. If this was what you wanted to know, are you satisfied now?”
Liang Siyao grinned. “Let’s go eat breakfast.” She held Long Bing’s arm and went to the dining hall.
Long Bing wasn’t used to Liang Siyao treating her like a close sister so it felt very unnatural to her. However, she was starting to get more and more comfortable. They were all Xia Lei’s girls. Was it a bad thing if they were close? Did they always have to be jealous of each other like in the TV shows?
Fan Fan and Jiang Ruyi had prepared breakfast.
“Where’s he?” asked Fan FAn.
“Yeah, where is he?” Jiang Ruyi peeked behind Liang Siyao and Long bing but did not see Xia Lei.
Fan Fan smiled. “Ah Bing, did you tire him out? He can’t even wake up.”
Long Bing smiled awkwardly. “Sister Fan Fan, let’s not joke about it. I haven’t seen him since I woke. I don’t know where he has gone. I even told Siyao to check if he’s at your place.”
“No, I slept alone last night,” said Fan Fan.
“Then where is he?” asked Jiang Ruyi.
The four ladies looked at each other but there was no answer.
Long Bing walked over to the side, dialling his number but the call did not go through. His phone had been turned off. She had a bad feeling.
“Ah Bing, are you calling Xia Lei?” asked Fan Fan.
Long Bing nodded. “Yeah, but he turned off his phone.”
“You all go ahead. I’ll check the office.” Liang Siyao left.
When she arrived at his office, she saw him standing in front of the window. She tiptoed over to him, then clutched his shoulders suddenly. “Boo!”
“AH!” Xia Lei screamed, losing his balance in the process.
Liang Siyao was stunned. “I was just scaring you, did you have to be so dramatic?”
This man was a killing machine. Since when had he become so timid? It was odd.
“Siyao, y...you’re here,” stuttered Xia Lei.
“Your voice?” Liang Siyao furrowed her brows.
“There’s nothing wrong with my voice,” said Xia Lei.
Liang Siyao suddenly grabbed his collar. “You’re not Xia Lei, who are you?”
“Let go, I am Liu Zhengnan.” Liu Zhengnan, who was disguised as Xia Lei, finally relented. He thought he could pretend for five minutes, not five seconds.
“What’s going on?” Liang Siyao whispered, “Tell me now!”
Liu Zhengnan passed her the letter that Xia Lei gave him.
She opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
Written on the letter was this. Siyao, do not look for me. Do not conduct a search. I will be back very soon, don’t worry. Please help Zhengnan, protect his identity.
Long Bing read the letter, then took out her phone. “Hello, Ah Bing, get Fan Fan and Ruyi over.”
Their husband was missing. This was the problem the ladies had to face on their second day of reunion.
At the same time, within a regular local-made car, Xia Lei took off Liu Zhengnan’s human skin mask to change to another face. A few minutes later, he had become a young teenager. Just from his face, he looked not more than twenty years old.
When he arrived outside of the airport, he did not even pull out his key from the ignition. He had a backpack on with a computer in his bag and a passport. ‘Liang Fan’ was the fake name he had on his passport.
Fifteen hours later.
Washington DC, USA.
When he walked out of Washington Airport, Xia Lei hailed a cab and headed towards the city centre. He had to look for Zhu Xuanyue’s supermarket.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived.
A blonde walked out of the supermarket, colliding with Xia Lei as he walked in.
“What the hell?” demanded the blonde. “Watch where you’re going!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Xia Lei apologised and then walked in. He had one more phone in his hand.
He had the satellite phone used to contact the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team with him, though he turned it off before he landed. There was a beacon in that phone so the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team could track him. However, this time, he did not want the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team involved in this. Zhu Xuanyue was more powerful than a national army put together. Plus this trip would never benefit the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team.
When he entered the supermarket, Xia Lei dialled her number while standing in an aisle. “I’m here, in the supermarket. Where are you?”
“Uncle Xia, you’re here?” Zhu Xuanyue sounded excited.
“I’m here, I’m waiting for you at the supermarket,” said Xia Lei.
“Alright, I’m coming now!” said Zhu Xuanyue.
Xia Lei chose several random things, paid for them and left. He saw her at the entrance, the same time she saw him. After a pause, she ran over and hugged him.
“Uncle Xia! I’ve missed you!” Zhu Xuanyue rubbed her cheek against his face demurely. She was acting like a kitten.
However, Xia lei secretly thought, “She recognised me after barely one second. Even my special vision isn’t as quick as her. Does she have a vision better than mine?”
Kiss! Zhu Xuanyue held his face in her hands and kissed him. She giggled, “Uncle Xia, why do you have a piece of…”
Xia Lei covered her mouth. “Don’t talk, that’s a secret.”
Zhu Xuanyue nodded. “Mm!”
“Let’s go,” said Xia Lei.
“To Langley?” asked Zhu Xuanyue.
“No, we’re going for a walk.” Xia Lei thought for a moment. “I want to go to the White House.”
“White House?” Zhu Xuanyue blinked. “A house that is white?”
Xia Lei smiled. “Yes, the house is white.”
“What’s so great about it?” Zhu Xuanyue pouted. “Boring.”
She was like a living doll, naive and peculiar.
Xia Lei did not explain why he was going to the White House. Since he was already in America, and the White House was the headquarters of the enemy, he needed to do some recon.
They were not far from the Whtie House so he did not hail a cab. He walked with zhu Xuanyue.
“Have you eaten anything these two days?” probed Xia Lei.
“No, no.” Zhu Xuanyue shook her head, though she said, “I did eat something. I ate hamburgers, fries and fried chicken. It tastes bad, not like the delicious food you have in your house.”
Xia Lei saw the glint in her eyes. However, he did not expose her for lying. What use would that be? If Earth was like a forest, then Zhu Xuanyue was a lion within. She was at the top of the food chain. But she was a carnivore by nature, how could he persuade her to eat plants instead?
Both of them walked towards the White House. From far, they could already see the Washington memorial. It looked like a majestic sword thrust into the skies.
Zhu Xuanyue was initially walking behind him but she now leaned on him. Her full and soft breasts unintentionally pressed up against his arm. Xia Lei stiffened but did not stop her. In China, he would take the role of an uncle. However, in America, he needed her help so he had to tolerate everything.
“Uncle Xia, you’re so warm,” Zhu Xuanyue signed comfortably. “I want to sleep with you now.”
Xia Lei coughed awkwardly. “It’s daytime, what are you talking about? We’ll sleep at night.”
“Sleep with me.”
“Uh… Alright,” Xia Lei nodded. He then thought to himself, “Bear with it. I must let her be.”
“Uncle Xia, you’re so nice to me. You’re the only person I like in the world.” Zhu Xuanyue shook his shoulder like a little girl.
Xia Lei’s heart shuddered. “Xuanyue, when you sleep with other people, do you get a warm feeling?”
Zhu Xuanyue shook her head. “I haven’t slept with anyone before. But I know you’re the only one who can warm me.”