Shentu Tianyin and Xia Lei were plagued by reporters before she could get up on stage.
“Miss Shentu, may I ask when your wedding will be?”
“Mr Xia, when did you get to know Miss Shentu?”
“Miss Shentu, Mr Xia, will Thunder Horse Group be combined with Vientaine Group after you two are married?”
“Miss Shentu, will Vientaine Group enter the military industry?”
“Mr Xia…”
A big group of reporters, a whole load of questions, and none were about mobile phones. The focus of the media was on what the public was interested in and the public was not interested in mobile phones. The public was interested in Xia Lei’s guns and this high-profile love and marriage with Shentu Tianyin.
“I shall answer all of your questions at once,” said Shentu Tianyin, “Our wedding date is not far off – it’s closer than you think. But the exact date is still not confirmed yet. You’ll definitely be notified when the time comes, and you’ll be invited over to have a cup of wedding wine.”
Xia Lei was thunderstruck. When did the wedding date get set and why didn’t he know about it? And it was closer than the media thought too!
The reporters had more questions but Shentu Tianyin went through them, pulling Xia Lei with her and taking him up to the stage with her.
Xia Lei was introduced to company directors in attendance by Shentu Tianyin. He did not recognise these directors but they recognised him. Xia Lei’s name had blown across the nation ever since Thunder Horse Military Factory’s XL2500 was introduced so explosively at the light weapons exhibition in Russia and practically everyone knew who he was.
His fame actually far outstripped several big-name celebrities.
Whether it was the directors of the companies in Jingdu or the distinguished guests who’d come to attend the ceremony, Xia Lei greeted them politely and confidently. If he was to be Shentu Tianyin’s man, then he had to maintain excellence in all aspects – because Shentu Tianyin was a most excellent woman of this modern era. He was to be the man to support her, so how could he not be the best?
After some small talk, Shentu Tianyin started her speech. Xia Lei sat on a chair next to Ahn Suhyeong. He looked at him but didn’t speak.
Ahn Suhyeong felt his skin crawl when he saw Xia Lei staring at him but he quickly regained his composure. He put on an unaffected front. “Shentu Tianyin chose you. You won, and I have nothing to say about it. But I don’t think much of you two. Even if you get married your marriage won’t last for long.”
Xia Lei spoke disinterestedly, “You think your words are meaningful? No. Whether or not our marriage is a long-lasting one is our business, not yours. Besides, even if we do get divorced you won’t get her either. You’re just a prick with a rich father. You’re nothing without your father.”
Ahn Suhyeong was not provoked; he laughed. “Don’t you have this saying in China? ‘Reincarnation is a skill too’. I do have a rich father, and it’s my fate to have a life of luxury. But you. Your father…”
Ahn Suhyeong suddenly stopped talking.
Xia Lei seemed to sense something in that instant and he narrowed his eyes at Ahn Suhyeong. “What about my father?”
“Heh heh.” Ahn Suhyeong said distastefully, “How would I know who your father is? I can guess, based on your upbringing. Your father must be a manual labourer on construction sites. Xia Lei – no blue blood, no aristocratic upbringing. You’ve made something of yourself and earned money but you are never going to be high class. You’re just a noveau riche. The foundation I have is nothing you can ever have.”
Xia Lei did not seem to have heard the mocking. Ahn Suhyeong’s unfinished sentence kept replaying in his head, over and over. Every movement of his lips surfaced in his brain, clear as day. ‘That time in Korea, in that cafe in the hotel… Ahn Suhyeong is obviously linked to the CIA. Ahn Geungan is someone who is likely to be the next president of South Korea in the next election, so won’t he seek the support of America? If that’s the case, then he must know something about my father from his CIA connections, otherwise why would he have cut himself off midway, then cover it up?’
“What, I hit a nerve? Nothing to say?” Ahn Suhyeong threw out a barb.
Xia Lei looked at Ahn Suhyeong with a faint sneer in the corners of his lips. “Ahn Suhyeong, I’ll tell you this: Don’t think that you can do what you want because you have the support of your father and the CIA.”
“CIA? The Central Intelligence Agency of America? Ha!” Ahn Suhyeong denied it right away. “You should be a screenwriter.”
“Let me finish. I killed dozens of American Special Forces in Afghanistan, and some CIA agents too. They’ve attempted to capture me a few times but have not succeeded. You think you’re more powerful than them? You paid the Violent Bears to murder me in Russia. They’re dead but I’m alive. You think you’re more vicious than them? Ahn Suhyeong, you can be my enemy; I don’t mind having an enemy like you. But I have one thing to say to you – stop fucking around. Do what you’re able to. I have limits to my patience. Cross those limits, and I…” He drew close to Ahn Suhyeong’s ear and his voice turned icy-cold. “I will take your life!”
Ahn Suhyeong froze. He didn’t want to admit it but he could not lie to himself. He’d been scared when Xia Lei said those words to him!
Right then, he abruptly felt that Xia Lei was no director of a business, not fiance of Shentu TIanyin but a cold-blooded killer. There was an aura of death around Xia Lei, and this aura made him feel a shiver run over his heart – terror!
Xia Lei had killed at least 70 or 80 people so far, if not a hundred. There was no way he would not have the aura of a killer when he showed his intention to kill!
Shentu Tianyin kept talking on stage, painting the bright prospects of their Era mobile phones. Ahn Suhyeong had no mind to listen, and he looked heavy with thought.
Ring ring ring, ring ring ring…
Xia Lei’s phone rang.
He took it out, glanced at it and stood to leave, picking up the call as he walked.
The call was from Shi Boren. Xia Lei heard his gravelly voice as soon as he accepted the call. “Boy, the nation has entrusted such an important task to you and you’re sneaking out to enjoy life? Is this how you’re repaying the trust of the higher-ups? Of me?” His voice was like sandpaper, scraping at his ear.
Xia Lei kept walking towards an area with no one else around and he laughed dryly, “Boss Shi, the group of experts researched for so long and didn’t produce any result. You can’t expect me to produce results in a week or a month, can you? Besides, would this project have fallen to me if the higher-ups had any other way? I said that I’d take over if I’m allowed to research how I’d like. Can you guys not be so anxious?”
“Sure, sure, sure. I can’t out-talk you, Boy.” Shi Boren scolded laughingly, “You went out for a bit and got engaged to Shentu Tianyin. I only knew about this when I read about it in the newspaper. What’s this about?”
“It’s very normal. We already knew each other from two years ago. We like each other, so we’re together.”
“Ay, my god-daughter likes you though. Grandfather Tang also thinks highly of you. Won’t you reconsider? You can’t joke around with a big thing like a marriage. What I mean is that I was rooting for you and Yuyan to be together. You’re both part of my Bureau 101, and you’ve gone through life-and-death situations together. Yuyan is also beautiful and generous, learned and logical… Good match for you in many aspects.”
Xia Lei was speechless.
Did Shi Boren call at this time to try to break him and Shentu Tianyin up? It was possible, for Tang Yuyan; she was his god-daughter. This was a headache for Xia Lei.
It wasn’t as if he had not thought about Tang Yuyan. He would not forget his experience in Afghanistan, not ever in his lifetime, especially when Tang Yuyan had sewn up his backside. And that incident between them in the changing room in Moscow. These were beautiful memories; interesting, moving.
But the Tang sect was not a good fit for him.
The Tang sect was a powerful family with hundreds of years of history but their long existence also meant many rules and rigid, outdated ways of thinking. He did not like that. Plus, there were too many members of the Tang sect in the government. He did not want to become part of the Tang sect because of his father, Xia Changhe. If his father’s identity were to be revealed there would be an uproar and the Tang sect would surely cut ties with him, casting him out and sacrificing him in order to protect themselves!
Why would he choose Tang Yuyan and be part of the Tang sect with all these looming over his head?
“Forget it. You young people go about your own love matters. I’m just saying something random. You can take it as I’ve said nothing.” Shi Boren changed the topic. “Let’s talk official business. The treasure-seeking group the higher-ups sent out have found something. I just got the news.”
Xia Lei’s heart thumped. “Did they find a new piece of ancient alloy?”
“It’s not convenient to talk about it over the phone. I sent Yuyan to your military factory. You head back now. She had the thing they brought back so you study it when you go back. Tell me as soon as you discover anything.” Shi Boren was strict.
“Yes, right away.” Xia Lei hung up.
Just then, Shentu Tianyin ended her speech and prepared to cut the ribbon with Ahn Suhyeong and a director.
Xia Lei walked over and drew close to Shentu Tianyin’s ear to say softly, “Something’s come up at the company. I have to go back.”
“Nn, you go about your work. Call me when you’re done.” Shentu Tianyin was not a clingy woman.
Xia Lei whispered again, “Ahn Suhyeong is a conniving man who pays tit for tat or more. He’s sure to want revenge for what you’ve done. Be careful. Best to call me when you’re negotiating with him. I’ll be by your side.”
A small smile appeared on Shentu Tianyin’s lips. “Nn.”
“And…”
“And what?”
“Nothing, never mind. I’m off. I’ll call you.” Xia Lei did not dally and he strode off.
He’d wanted to tell Shentu Tianyin to be careful of Gu Kewen too but he had told her several times and she’d ignored his warnings. She would probably ignore it this time too if he’d reminded her.
Gu Kewen met him with a smile below the stage. “Leaving so soon? Something came up at the company?”
Xia Lei stopped in his tracks and gave Gu Kewen a look. He nodded, then brushed past her.
Gu Kewen was protecting the interests of Shentu Tianyin and had been on his side several times, speaking up for him, giving him suggestions, but for some reason he did not trust her, not one bit.
The Gu clan had collapsed because of him, and Gu Dingshan had perished because of him. Was there someone on this Earth so saintly she could still smile at the cause of her family's destruction?
Gu Kewen watched Xia Lei leave with the smile still on her face. The smile seemed to have been glued on – it did not waver for quite some time.
