Several Hongqi cars with special number plates arrived at the Thunder Horse Group’s headquarters under the escort of two military SUV vehicles. The Thunder Horse staff lined up to welcome the guests. There were pretty girls giving out flowers. It was a formal event.
“What are these leaders doing here at our company?” asked Huang Xuewen curiously within the crowd.
Qin Xiang, who was next to him, said slowly, “I heard that a Pakistani representative from the Pakistani military is here. He’s here to look at Thunder Horse’s drone design blueprint and the new material.”
“Our drone and new material are merely at their design phases, and Pakistan’s already visiting us?” Huang Xuewen was shocked.
Qin Xiang said flatly, “What do you know? China and Pakistan have strong relations. I heard from Director Xia that they will rent another port out to us. This is a major national event, the US is furious.”
Pakistan had three ports. One of them, Gwadar, was built by China and a leasing agreement was formed. This agreement shortened China’s petroleum shipping route by eighty-five per cent. Although Qin Xiang did not mention the other port, it was enough for Huang Xuewen to understand its importance. Looking as if he understood, he said, “I understand. So that’s why Director Xia spent the effort to arrange for us to welcome the guests.”
Lu Sheng also uttered similar words.
Then, many people knew.
Xia Lei shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the important Pakistani and the ‘military official’ of the air force. He looked very courteous. Under such circumstances, he acted as an impressive foreign relations officer.
Fan Fan was also in the crowd but Liang Siyao did not appear.
Fan Yiming’s gaze fell on Xia Lei the moment he arrived, his eyes filled with anticipation and frantic. He did not care about this major national event. He only wanted Xia Lei’s Alloy X recipe and production methods. He was like a mad scientist from the movies, willing to give up everything for the secret of science.
After waiting impatiently for Xia Lei to finish exchanging pleasantries with the few military officers, Fan Yiming quickly came up to Xia Lei. “Xia Lei, when will you…”
Xia Lei cut him off. “Grandpa, be patient. I’ll definitely fulfil the promise I made.”
“You’re not teaming up with Fan Fan to trick me, are you?” Fan Yiming did not want to wait one more minute.
Xia Lei gave Fan Fan a look as if asking for help.
She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Grandpa, why are you so impatient? This is a public setting. We cannot talk about it so casually!”
Fan Yiming shut up immediately.
Xia Lei brought the few ‘officers’ and the ‘important’ Pakistani into the office.
The Pakistani conversed in Mandarin with Xia Lei as they walked. “Mister Xia, I’m very excited to see your new material and drone. You’re one of the most dedicated geniuses I’ve met. I’d like to invite you to visit Pakistan. You will definitely receive the highest welcome there.”
Xia Lei smiled. “Thank you, I will definitely visit Pakistan.”
“Mister Xia, I have a favour to ask,” said the Pakistani ‘official’.
Xia Lei said, “Just name it, Mister Abbas. There’s no need for formalities.”
“It’s like this. Mister Xia, can I bring a piece of the new material back as a sample?” The Pakistani official’s eyes were filled with anticipation.
Xia Lei looked hesitant.
Fan Fan leaned over. “Old Xia, you should do it.”
He then nodded. “Alright, I will arrange for a piece of it to be cut off and wrapped for you.”
“Mister Xia, you’re a treasured friend of Pakistan.” Mister Abbas looked very excited, shaking hands with him once again.
The group arrived at the multi-purpose conference room.
“Xia Lei, what about the thing you promised me?” Fan Yiming wasn’t going to leave.
Fan Fan sighed exasperatedly. “Grandpa, you’re impossible…”
“I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to my grandson,” said Fan Yiming.
Xia Lei smiled bitterly. “Alright. Fan Fan, make our guests comfortable while Grandpa and I go to my office. I’ll give him the material.”
Fan Fan and the few entered the conference room while Xia Lei brought Fan Yiming to his office.
When he entered the office, Xia Lei opened his safe and took out a document pouch and a USB drive. Just as he put the documents and the drive into a black safe, Qing Caiyue entered. He closed it frantically. “Caiyue, what are you doing here?”
Qing Caiyue said, “Director Xia, I’m here to tell you that the few officers are already waiting at the conference room.”
“I know.” Xia Lei gave the safe to Fan Yiming.
Fan Yiming cried emotionally. “Xia Lei, so the USB drive contains…”
“Mmhmm!” Xia Lei coughed a few times.
He seemed to snap back to reality and shut his mouth, awkwardly saying, “I understand. I’m going back now.”
“So soon?” Xia Lei looked surprised.
“I don’t want to join any meetings. I’ll be going back to study the things you gave me. That’s all. I’m leaving now.” Fan Yiming turned to leave.
“Be careful, Grandpa,” reminded Xia Lei.
“I know, I know. You nag more than Fan Fan.” At this point, Fan Yiming was already out of the office.
Xia Lei was about to follow him but Qing Caiyue said, “Director Xia, do you need me to tell the few officers that you’re only going over later?”
Xia Lei stopped. “Caiyue, get Lu Sheng to bring a few people to send Elder Fan off.”
“Alright, I’ll do it now.” Qing Caiyue turned and left.
Xia Lei privately heaved a sigh when he was the only one left in the office. Although he hadn’t solved the mystery, he knew he was close to the truth.
Fan Fan walked in and said, “Hubby, I saw my grandfather driving off alone. How’s everything going?”
“We’ll find out soon enough,” said Xia Lei.
“My grandfather…” She was worried.
He gripped her waist and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Siyao and the four knights are protecting him. He will be fine.”
“What do we do now?” she asked.
Xia Lei said, “You just stay here. I want to catch the spy myself.”
“Be careful,” reminded Fan Fan.
Xia Lei nodded and took out another box from the safe. There was a human skin mask inside. It was the face of a very beautiful woman. There was also a set of women’s clothes.
Fan Fan watched as he put on the mask, asking in surprise, “Isn’t this that the German engineer, Anina?”
Xia Lei spoke as he put on the golden wig, “Help me stuff the sponge in the bra, I’m in a hurry.”
She was speechless.
Three minutes later, Xia Lei had turned into a blonde-haired beauty. Anina was about as tall as him and his body proportions had always been long and proportionate. With two sponges on his chest, he looked like a true voluptuous Caucasian woman. If Fan Fan hadn’t seen the transformation process herself, Fan Fan would’ve thought he was Anina.
“I’m leaving.” Xia Lei pecked on her cheek and strode out.
When he left the office tower, Xia Lei entered a Great Wall Motors pickup truck. As it left the gates, he took out his phone and made a call. “Lu Sheng, has Qing Caiyue talked to you?”
“No, what’s the matter?” came Lu Sheng’s voice.
“Did you see her?”
“I saw her on the phone at the entrance of my office, should I go talk to her?”
“There’s no need. Get someone to check where Li Youdun is right now, then call me back.” Xia Lei hung up and stepped on the accelerator. The pickup truck dashed ahead.
There was a problem with Qing Caiyue. Her fox’s tail was showing.
If she sent the message to Lu Sheng immediately, then she wouldn’t be suspicious. However, she was at the entrance of his office and did not enter. She was even dragging time with a phone call.
‘Who is she calling? Who is she delaying the time for? Unless she’s not the only spy. She has a close relationship with Li Youdun. Could she have seduced Li Youdun to extract the secret from him? How much does Li Youdun know? What role does he play in this?’ These were all questions Xia Lei had in his mind.
At this point, he was very close to the truth. All he had to do was grab it.
This was his second plan to lure the snakes out. He put the document and USB drive into the safe and sent Fan Yiming away, even telling Qing Caiyue to send protection for Fan Yiming. The spy would now be aware of the significance of the USB drive. They would also deduce that the USB drive contained information on the new drone. With the arrival of the officer from the airforce and an important Pakistani official, this told the spy that national powers would be involved soon. The spy only had one chance to get the ‘fruit’ now!
His plan wasn’t perfect. However, sometimes people would still take the risk even when they knew of the dangers.
Ring, ring…
Xia Lei picked up the phone. “Lu Sheng, speak.”
“Li Youdun’s in his lab, I think he’s writing a report,” said Lu Sheng.
Xia Lei furrowed his brows.
Was Li Youdun really innocent?
If he was working with Qing Caiyue, he should be taking action now. Yet he was in his lab.
“Director Xia, she’s coming in.”
“Keep her in there, but don’t let her know.” Xia Lei hung up.
Meanwhile, a Hongqi car was on the road towards Jingdu. The driver was Fan Yiming. Bailu was far behind him now. There weren’t many cars on the road but because he was old, he wasn’t driving very fast.
Out of nowhere, a truck charged towards his car from the front!