Xu Qing followed Li Feng out of the private room, her mind racing about how she would explain this to Hu Yuanyuan when she got back. Just then, Li Feng pulled her into another empty room.
“Mr Li, this is…” Xu Qing looked at him in confusion.
“Dinner, of course. It’s so late, there’s no harm in eating something before we head back.” Li Feng called the waiter, ordered several delicate dishes, then smiled at Xu Qing and said, “There’s a rest area here. We can eat first, then relax a little before leaving.”
Xu Qing’s face instantly flushed red.
She understood the hidden meaning in Li Feng’s words. This was exactly what she had agreed to in the car earlier. Still, she hadn’t expected him to be in such a hurry. Was he afraid she would back out?
Li Feng watched Xu Qing’s cheeks turn crimson. A smile played on his lips. At this moment, she looked extraordinarily alluring. He felt an urge to pull her into his arms and cherish her properly.
“Xu Qing, I’ll rest for a bit. In a little while, we’ll have our three hundred rounds.” A glint flashed in Li Feng’s eyes as he closed them.
Of course, he was not actually resting. His physique was far too strong to need recovery before taking on someone like Xu Qing. One Xu Qing was nothing to him, ten would pose no problem. The reason he closed his eyes was to extend his divine sense and eavesdrop on what Wu-shao and the others were saying in the next room.
Given Wu-shao’s personality, he would never let Li Feng off easily. Since that was the case, Li Feng wanted to know exactly what they were plotting.
Xu Qing had no idea of Li Feng’s true intention. She thought he genuinely meant to devour her right then and there. She sat uneasily in her chair, unsure whether she should refuse or agree. If she refused, would he force her? If she agreed, wouldn’t that make her the mistress?
In the past, Xu Qing had despised women who became mistresses. She had seen them as shameless and without self-respect.
Yet now that it was her turn, she realised this was the only way to be with the man she loved.
Of course, she had considered trying to replace Hu Yuanyuan as the official partner, but compared to Hu Yuanyuan her looks, figure, and talents all fell short. The chance of success was slim unless she resorted to dirty tricks, and those were things she could never bring herself to do.
While Xu Qing’s thoughts wandered, Li Feng opened his eyes. A trace of disappointment flickered across them.
In the next room, Wu-shao and his group were indeed planning revenge, but they never mentioned how they would target him directly. Their conversation revolved around Fengyuan Group.
Were they planning to go after Fengyuan Group itself?
A sharp light flashed in Li Feng’s eyes. He nodded to himself. Earlier, Wu-shao had clearly been eyeing Hu Yuanyuan. Wanting to strike at Fengyuan Group made sense. The question was how they intended to do it.
Was the current crisis facing Fengyuan Group their doing? If not, who was pulling the strings behind the scenes?
Li Zhengxiang, perhaps?
Li Feng shook his head. Li Zhengxiang might be an accomplice, but he was unlikely to be the mastermind. Bringing down Fengyuan Group offered him little personal gain unless he was acting on orders from certain family members.
A cold glint appeared in Li Feng’s eyes. Regarding Li Zhengxiang, one possibility came to mind: the council of elders. Li Zhengxiang was essentially Li Xiangyang’s man. At the last Fengyuan Group press conference, Li Feng had torn up the elders’ directive in public. If those old men were furious enough to send Li Zhengxiang after him, it wouldn’t be surprising. After all, the Li family also coveted Intelligent One as well.
When Li Zhengxiang was suddenly transferred to Tianhai City, someone used official channels to suppress Fengyuan Group, and he simply fanned the flames.
The reason Li Zhengxiang could only be an accomplice rather than the mastermind was simple: Li Chuanwei was one of China’s top three leaders and oversaw official matters. If Li Zhengxiang wanted to keep his career intact, he couldn’t go too far.
Regardless of the truth, Li Feng decided he should pay Li Zhengxiang a visit. Still, Li Zhengxiang was technically an elder of this body’s family. Although Li Feng had accepted his new identity, meeting these so-called elders still filled him with reluctance. That was why he had kept putting it off.
Tap, tap, tap…
At that moment, footsteps approached. Li Feng snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. Several waiters entered carrying food and drinks.
He dismissed them, poured wine for himself and Xu Qing, then smiled and said, “Xu Qing, it’s rare for us to share a meal alone. Come, let’s toast.”
“Li Feng, I can’t drink,” Xu Qing said hesitantly, holding her glass.
“You can’t drink? Xu Qing, you’re a personal assistant. How can claim you can’t hold your liquor? You’re teasing me, aren’t you?” Li Feng chuckled. “Today is special. We must have a few drinks at least. If you can’t drink, that’s fine. With me here, even if you get drunk, no one will take advantage of you.”
No one except you, she thought.
Xu Qing grumbled inwardly, but she knew there was no escaping today. Li Feng had her completely figured out.
While Li Feng and Xu Qing ate together, Wu-shao left the resort hotel with Boss Jiang.
Soon, the two men arrived at a luxurious villa near the hotel.
As soon as they entered, Wu-shao asked in a low voice, “Old Jiang, you’ve been in Tianhai City for a while. How much do you know about Li Feng, Hu Yuanyuan, and Fengyuan Group?”
“Wu-shao,” Boss Jiang took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts, then replied, “Li Feng is vice president of Fengyuan Group. At the last press conference, Hu Yuanyuan claimed he was actually the chairman, but I suspect that was just smoke and mirrors. The real decision-maker in Fengyuan Group is Hu Yuanyuan. So when Li Feng told me to stop everything today, I took it as empty bluster. I believe it won’t be long before Hu Yuanyuan personally apologises to me. After that, our cooperation with Fengyuan Group will continue as before…”
“Continue?”
Wu-shao cut him off. “Old Jiang, you are to announce immediately that all cooperation with Fengyuan Group is terminated.”
“Terminated?” Boss Jiang was stunned.
“Exactly, terminated.” A sharp glint appeared in Wu-shao’s eyes. “The only reason I came to Tianhai City is Intelligent One in Fengyuan Group’s hands. That’s also why I sent you here earlier to work with them. The time to strike has come.”
“Wu-shao, isn’t this a bit rushed?” Boss Jiang asked gravely.
“Time waits for no one. Fengyuan Group is a juicy piece of meat right now, and countless eyes are on it. Old Jiang, you’ve cooperated with them for a while. You know the difficulties they’re facing.” Wu-shao’s voice was low.
“Wu-shao, you didn’t arrange those difficulties?” Boss Jiang asked in surprise.
“Me? Old Jiang, you overestimate me. I’m just an outsider in Tianhai City. My influence isn’t that great. Besides us, another group is targeting Fengyuan Group. I refuse to let them get there first.” Wu-shao’s eyes gleamed. He was determined to possess Intelligent One and would not allow it to fall into anyone else’s hands.
“I understand, Wu-shao.” Boss Jiang nodded heavily. He had thought the current troubles were orchestrated by Wu-shao, but learning otherwise made him wary. Like Wu-shao, he did not want Intelligent One to end up with someone else.
“I was still wondering how to obtain Intelligent One, but Li Feng’s appearance has handed us an opportunity.” Wu-shao’s lips curved into a cold smile. “This time, I’ll have both wealth and the beauty.”
“Then allow me to congratulate Wu-shao in advance,” Boss Jiang said with a wide smile. He knew full well Wu-shao desired Hu Yuanyuan. It was only natural. Even he felt tempted by that stunning woman. If Wu-shao hadn’t claimed her, he would have tried to possess her himself.
A strong career woman?
Boss Jiang sneered inwardly. A woman was just a woman. No matter how strong, could she be stronger than a man? Once in bed, whether she was a powerful woman or a weak one, he was confident he could make her utterly submissive.
Wu-shao gave a sly chuckle. He was determined to have Hu Yuanyuan, and with Intelligent One as well, this trip to Tianhai City would bring him both fortune and a beauty.
Yet he also knew it was a daunting task. Ever since sending Boss Jiang to cooperate with Fengyuan Group, he had been gathering information on the company and Hu Yuanyuan. He understood how difficult the mission would be.
Countless people before him had coveted Fengyuan Group and Hu Yuanyuan, including top families in China and foreign powers, yet every single one had failed.
In Wu-shao’s view, their failure wasn’t only because Fengyuan Group and Hu Yuanyuan were hard to deal with. More importantly, those people simply lacked the ability. If it were him, no matter the obstacles, he would eventually obtain exactly what he wanted.
“Wu-shao, what do you need me to do?” Boss Jiang asked quickly. This was a perfect chance to prove his loyalty, and the rewards for gaining Wu-shao’s full trust would be immense.
“Terminating cooperation with Fengyuan Group is only the first step. Not only must we end our partnership, we need every other partner to follow suit. Then…” Wu-shao slowly laid out his plan.
Boss Jiang’s eyes lit up. “Brilliant strategy, Wu-shao.”
“Old Jiang, there’s one more thing I need you to do for me.” A glint flashed in Wu-shao’s eyes.
“Just say the word, Wu-shao,” Boss Jiang replied at once.
Wu-shao leaned in and whispered instructions into his ear. When he finished, he let out a sinister chuckle.
A spark of excitement appeared in Boss Jiang’s eyes. “Rest assured, Wu-shao. I will handle it perfectly. I won’t let you down.”
