The Rolls-Royce Phantom came to a halt beside Xia Lei. Shentu Tianyin rolled the windows down and greeted him. “I was just about to visit you at your office. What are you doing out here by the road?”
“I was just checking on the progress of the church,” answered Xia Lei. His gaze landed on the empty backseat of the vehicle. “What are you doing here all alone? It’s dangerous for you.”
“Are you worried that I’ll get kidnapped?” Her lips curled into a lovely curve.
Xia Lei responded, “You’re the richest woman in the country. It wouldn’t kill you to be a little cautious.”
Shentu Tianyin’s next words came out of nowhere. “If I got kidnapped someday, would you come to rescue me?”
Xia Lei could only smile bitterly at that. “You know I would but I wouldn’t want that to happen to you. Please bring along two bodyguards the next time you head out.”
“Alright, I’ll make sure to do that next time,” said Shentu Tianyin.
Xia Lei was reminded of something. “Why are you visiting me today?”
“Hop in and we’ll talk.” Shentu Tianyin unlocked the doors.
Xia Lei couldn’t help but glance at the Thunder Horse office block once again.
Noticing that, a glint of resentment flashed across her glossy eyes. “Are you afraid that Liang Siyao might see us?”
Xia Lei returned her a sheepish smile. “Nah, that’s not it.” He went across the front of the car and got into the passenger seat.
Shentu Tianyin sighed. “There’s no way you can trick me. You’re terrified of her seeing us together. We’re just talking to each other, not entangling our limbs in the sheets. Plus, it’s not like we hadn’t slept with each other in the past.”
Xia Lei was speechless.
To hear words like that from Shentu Tianyin was rich. This was something no other man could hear for the rest of his life.
Shentu Tianyin turned the car around and drove towards Bailu town, which was also the direction to go into the city.
“Where are you bringing me?” questioned Xia Lei.
Shentu Tianyin answered, “I’m about to head to America soon. I just want to treat you a meal before I leave. Is that alright?”
His seatbelts were already strapped in. It was a little too late for anything else.
Xia Lei affirmed, “Of course, but I’ll still like to offer you a piece of advice.”
“What is it?” Shentu Tianyin glanced over briefly.
“Don’t go to America,” said Xia Lei.
Shentu Tianyin uttered, “It’s major that Vientiane Group is entering the American market. This is our first step into the Western market and as the Chairman of the group, how can I not attend the officiating ceremony?”
Xia Lei fell silent. “You should be clear about America’s standing about me. They see me as an enemy and you’re my…”
Shentu Tianyin slammed on the brakes to stare deeply into Xia Lei’s eyes. “Come on, say it. What am I to you?”
Xia Lei could only smile meekly. “You’re my ex-wife. They might try to attack you in America and take you as a hostage to threaten me. It’s not safe for you to be there.”
“Ex-wife… Do people use ex-wives to threaten their ex-husbands?” Shentu Tianyin’s voice was growing meek with each word. Sadness and regret overflowing through her sentence.
“Tianyin, please don’t misunderstand my intention. I’m not afraid of threats but it’s really dangerous for you to go to America. Have you forgotten all about that time you were kidnapped by the CIA?”
“How could I forget that? There’s no way I could erase that memory for life? I wasn’t scared at all during then, because the man who saved me was a handsome hero.” Shentu Tianyin’s attention returned onto Xia Lei, her eyes glimmering with hope.
“Please promise me that you won’t go to America.”
“Why should I? I’m just an ex-wife,” muttered Shentu Tianyin.
Xia Lei was rendered speechless.
Though she was no longer his wife, he would still rush to her aid if something were to happen to her. If she was kidnapped by the CIA, Xia Lei would most definitely rescue her. BUt prevention was better than cure. That way, all the fuss and danger could be prevented. Why was she so stubborn? Why did she have to complicate things further?”
The vehicle carriage became oddly silent.
“Ah-hem.” In the end, it was Xia Lei who broke the awkward silence. “Aren’t we heading out for a meal? We won’t be eating anything if we go on like this.”
Shentu Tianyin giggled, then turned the keys to ignite the engine once again.
“Uh, I’ll take it that you promised me. Okay?” Xia Lei uttered softly.
Shentu Tianyin’s lips were pulled into a tight line. “I can promise you that but you need to convince me better.”
“Alright, here’s what I think about it.” Xia Lei began, “Though America claims to be the most lucrative, fair and free market on the planet, the statement only applies to Americans and European capitalists. Chinese capitals are excluded from all fairness and freedom. Vientiane’s entry is bound to face exclusion from the local American capitalists as well as the trade barriers set up by the government. They’re able to come up with any reason to investigate you and issue you an incredibly hefty penalty. They can even frame you for stealing sensitive technology or equipment and toss you into prison.”
“Is it really that bad?” Shentu Tianyin found it hard to believe.
Xia Lei responded, “I might have exaggerated my words but you have to admit that it is the reality. They’ve been known to hold something against the Blacks, Middle Easterners and Chinese. That is what their society is like.”
“But aren’t there a lot of capitalists from our country investing in their market?”
“I understand it’s difficult for you to be convinced but I do hope that you’ll think this through carefully,” said Xia Lei.
“I will think about it, but…”
“But what?”
“Just convincing is not sufficient, you need to offer me some benefit.”
“What kind of benefit do you want?” Xia Lei’s temples were beginning to throb.
“I’ll tell you after I have an idea,” said Shentu Tianyin.
What would she want from him? Xia Lei didn’t dare to guess.
Half an hour later, the two of them found themselves in Jingdu city centre. Shentu Tianyin had already booked a restaurant earlier. It was a famous Western restaurant in the city and it was opening its doors today to only two guests. Shentu Tianyin and Xia Lei.
As they dined, Shentu Tianyin made no mention of the benefit she wanted. Her eyes were fully glued on Xia Lei’s profile, never once letting it stray away from her line of sight.
Before the queen was a wonderful smelling Tomahawk Steak and a sleek glass of 82’ Lafite. Despite that, her attention wasn’t in the scrumptious steak nor was it in the fragrant wine. Today, Xia Lei was her focus.
“Please, just promise me to not go to America.” Xia Lei had not given up yet.
“Then offer me a benefit to make me stay.” Shentu Tianyin sipped on her red wine elegantly.
Xia Lei huffed helplessly. “Alright then. Tell me, what do you want?”
“I want…” Truthfully, she had already settled on an answer long ago. But the request was difficult to utter.
At this moment, a woman entered the restaurant. Upon noticing Shentu Tianyin and Xia Lei’s table, she immediately began to stride over. The waiters quickly came forward in an attempt to halt her but she ignored them completely.
Hearing the waiter’s panicked voice, Xia Lei and Shentu Tianyin turned their face towards the source of the sound at the same time. The sight that entered their sight had them frozen.
The woman who had entered was not a wrathful Liang Siyao but Tang Yuyan.
Shentu Tianyin’s brows were already furrowed before the other woman had even come close to their table. “What is she doing here?” It was not easy to get her ex-husband for a meal together. Now that Liang Siyao hadn’t chased them over, Tang Yuyan was here instead. The sudden turn of events had twisted Shentu Tianyin’s heart violently.
“Wow, you guys sure do know how to enjoy life. You booked an entire restaurant to bask in some privacy,” commented Tang Yuyan with a smirk.
Xia Lei said to the nervous waiter, “It’s alright. We know her, you can resume back to work.”
The waiter nodded in response.
“Wait, I’d like a steak with a sprinkle of truffle and a little bit of foie gras. Everything completed the French way, capiche?” orders Tang Yuyan.
“Understood. Please take a seat, miss.” The waiter left them behind.
Nonchalantly, Shentu Tianyin complained, “Your tastes are unexpectedly specific. Truffles and foie gras are not cheap at all.”
Tang Yuyan tossed a glance at Xia Lei. “You’re paying for my meal, right?”
“You’re free to eat anything you want.” Xia Lei let his gaze land on Tang Yuyan. “Speak, what are you here for?”
In turn, Tang Yuyan let her eyes land on Shentu Tianyin briefly in complete silence.
Shentu Tianyin was getting irritated at her display. “Tang Yuyan, I’m treating my ex-husband to lunch and I’m the one who booked this entire restaurant. You can’t be serious about chasing me out?”
Tang Yuyan was unfriendly in her reply. “Shentu Tianyin, I think you should direct your anger towards Liang Siyao and Fan Fan instead of me. Oh yeah, there’s Long Bing and Jiang Ruyi too. The four of them are about to be mothers. Your ex-husband is bound to become the father of four children. I have literally nothing to do with your ex-husband, so why the grudge?”
Shentu Tianyin was stunned, eyes turning moist with unshed tears. Her information was never as updated. If Tang Yuyan had kept silent, she would’ve never learnt that Xia Lei had made Liang Siyao, Fan Fan, Long Bing and Jiang Ruyi carry his children.
“Is that real?” Shentu Tianyin’s voice tremored.
Xia Lei nodded, confirming the news. He had nothing to hide and there was no need for that. Liang Siyao, Fan Fan, Jiang Ruyi and Long Bing were his lovers and they were all pregnant with his child. There were no differences and favouritism among them, he was willing to admit to it to anyone and anywhere.
“We… I’ll see you some other day, I’m full now.” Shentu Tianyin left her seat and rushed to the exit.
Xia Lei said nothing. He watched her leave silently before turning to meet Tang Yuyan’s gaze. “Is that what you’re here for?”
Tang Yuyan retorted, “Do I look like I’ve got time for that? I’m here to talk about the spy issue with you.”
“You’ve heard about it already?”
“It’ll be weird if the head of Bureau 101 would learn of this later than you. How long are you planning to keep it hidden from my knowledge?” questioned Tang Yuyan sharply.
Though she had not mentioned the source of her information, Xia Lei knew it was most definitely Long Bing who reported her finding to the bureau. The appearance of a spy in the Thunder Horse Organization had involved national interest. She wouldn’t even think of keeping it a secret in the first place.
“What are you planning to do about that?” Tang Yuyan asked again.
Xia Lei replied, “I’m still thinking of a plan. I’ll tell you when I have a concrete idea.”
Tang Yuyan frowned deeply. “You’ve started your operation but refuse to tell me about it. Isn’t that so?”
“I’m not lying to you. It’s up to you to trust me or not.”
“I don’t trust you at all.”
“Then there’s nothing I can do about it.” Xia Lei continued, “Since you knew about the spy issue, you must know that Long Bing is in grave danger in Japan, right? What are you planning to do about that?”
“I can’t send more agents to Japan. This operation was meant to be hushed. If we let the Japanese learn about this, our diplomatic relationship would be threatened. It’s not up to my decision to send more agents as support or not,” said Tang Yuyan.
Xia Lei’s heart sighed pitifully. The Tang Yuyan before him felt so foreign.
“Long Bing is Bureau 101’s best agent. She can look after herself well. The more pressing concern now is the Thunder Horse spy issue. I’ll be looking into this case myself. Before I came over, I’ve already looked through all employees tied to your company. They all came up clean with nothing to report. I need to find them within this week,” said Tang Yuyan.
“That’s your own business, you deal with it yourself. Also, I must remind you to keep your investigations out of the Thunder Horse Organization. Doing that will only draw attention and send the spy into hiding.” Xia Lei pushed the chair back and stood up. “You can continue on with your meal, I’m full. Goodbye.”
“You…” Tang Yuyan was taken aback.
The man headed for the exit, never once turning back.