In the office, Wang Hao paced back and forth, clutching his phone and looking deeply unsettled.
Chen Dong grew tired of watching him. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Wang Hao spat angrily, "To hell with the quality inspection team, and that bastard Zheng!"
"You know him?" Chen Dong asked, his curiosity piqued.
Wang Hao continued to curse. "The bastard's name is Zheng Yiyang. A real piece of shit. Before I joined the company, I used to run in some pretty wild circles myself. Who in that scene hasn't heard of Zheng Yiyang? The son of a bitch is a lecherous ghoul, always using despicable, underhanded means to bully men and take advantage of women."
"He's also very close with the Huang Family. Back when Huang Tao was still around, the two of them were thick as thieves."
Chen Dong's eyebrow twitched. "So what you're saying is, Li Huiran meeting with Zheng Yiyang is like a lamb walking into a tiger's den?"
"Sigh!" Wang Hao let out a long sigh. "That's exactly it! I texted Sister Huiran, and she actually told me to stay out of it!"
Chen Dong frowned. 'If anything happens to Li Huiran, I'll never be able to face Elder Li.'
Just then, Chen Dong's phone rang. It was a call from Zhao Wenxuan.
Chen Dong answered, and Zhao Wenxuan's enthusiastic voice came through. "Ah, Chen Dong! Are you free this evening?"
"Mr. Zhao, I might have a small matter to attend to. What can I do for you?"
Zhao Wenxuan feigned annoyance. "Still calling me Mr. Zhao? That's so formal! When Hongyu left today, she specifically instructed me to take good care of you. How about you call me Grandmaster Zhao?"
'This old guy is trying to get one over on me,' Chen Dong thought, 'but then again, he has been pretty good to me.'
So, he complied. "Grandmaster Zhao!"
Zhao Wenxuan roared with laughter. "If you ever run into any trouble you can't handle, come straight to me. Don't worry about it being a bother!"
"Okay!" Chen Dong replied noncommittally.
"Find some time to come to the Jiangzhou Hotel tonight. I'll treat you to dinner and introduce you to someone..."
The two chatted for another moment before hanging up.
That afternoon, well before quitting time, Li Huiran appeared in the parking lot with four well-built bodyguards in black suits. She found Chen Dong already waiting for her.
Before Chen Dong could open his mouth, Li Huiran said, "Shouldn't you be working? Are you trying to skip out?"
"That Zheng Yiyang is not a good person, and he's close to the Huang Family. I'm going with you."
Li Huiran gestured with her car keys toward the bodyguards behind her. "What good would you be? Any one of them is more capable than you. Stop bothering me!"
The four bodyguards lifted their chins haughtily, their eyes filled with scorn.
After speaking, Li Huiran got in her car and quickly drove off. The four bodyguards piled into another vehicle and followed suit.
Chen Dong was left standing in place.
'What a foolish woman!'
The Chengyun Grand Hotel was another one of Jiangzhou's famous establishments. Many businesspeople chose to hold their meetings here, hoping the name—which meant "Bearer of Fortune"—would bring them good luck.
Inside a large private room in the Chengyun Hotel, the dark-skinned, corpulent Zheng Yiyang was on the phone.
"Chairman Huang, you can be a hundred percent certain. I've arranged everything! Catching a little wench like her will be a piece of cake!"
"Yes, of course! You'll be the first to get the video!"
"The money is no problem at all! In that case, thank you, Chairman Huang!"
Zheng Yiyang hung up, his heart pounding with excitement. He'd had designs on the exquisite beauty Li Huiran for a long time. But he wasn't a fool; you don't get to his position by being an idiot. He knew who he could mess with and who he couldn't.
Ordinarily, he would have had to bury this desire deep down. But now, with "that person" watching his back, what was there to fear? This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—he just had to seize it!
This was Li Huiran, renowned as the greatest beauty in all of Jiangzhou. General Manager Li.
As he lost himself in his fantasies, his expression grew increasingly vile.
Just then, a knock came from the door, and Zheng Yiyang hurriedly schooled his features.
"Come in!"
She wore a perfectly tailored black business suit with a white blouse underneath and a pair of exquisite high heels. Her delicate features were accentuated by light makeup; she was an absolutely stunning sight. Zheng Yiyang couldn't take his eyes off her.
"President Li, a pleasure!" he said, extending his right hand.
Li Huiran turned to place her bag on a chair, pointedly ignoring his hand. "My apologies for being a little late," she said politely.
Zheng Yiyang awkwardly retracted his hand. 'Sooner or later,' he thought, 'I'm going to get my hands all over you.'
Before long, the food and wine—all pre-ordered by Li Huiran—were served.
Li Huiran raised her glass. "Team Leader Zheng, although we are acquainted, we've never had a proper meal together. Thank you for honoring me with your presence. I'll start by toasting you!"
Li Huiran filled her glass to the brim and downed it in one gulp, while Zheng Yiyang only took a delicate sip.
Zheng Yiyang laughed heartily. "President Li, your youth certainly serves you well. Such a high tolerance! I'm getting old; I can't keep up."
Li Huiran refilled her glass. "Team Leader Zheng, perhaps my youth has made me act offensively. If so, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I will drink this glass as a penalty."
With that, she downed another glass.
Zheng Yiyang beamed with joy. "President Li, there's no need for that! Come, come... don't just drink. Have some food."
Li Huiran smiled. "Alright, let's eat. I specially ordered the Australian lobster for you, Team Leader Zheng. Please, try some."
Zheng Yiyang's eyes narrowed, fixing on Li Huiran's chest. "In that case, I must have a proper taste of President Li's 'lobster.' I'm sure it's tender, succulent, smooth, and firm."
Li Huiran's brow furrowed. She knew he had bad intentions, but for now, she had to sit here and endure this meal. She glanced at the doorway, where her four bodyguards stood tall and straight, which gave her a sliver of reassurance.
'The moment Zheng Yiyang tries anything, they'll rush in.'
Forcing down her disgust, Li Huiran smiled. "Team Leader Zheng, if I have offended you in the past, I hope you can forgive me. I'll toast you again."
Li Huiran had already finished three full glasses, while Zheng Yiyang had yet to finish even half of his first.
Taking a bite of lobster, Zheng Yiyang said slowly, "President Li, you're taking this far too seriously. Regarding Taihe Garden... I've actually inspected it several times. There's only one itty-bitty problem, nothing that affects the big picture."
Upon hearing this, Li Huiran hurriedly asked, "In that case, Team Leader Zheng, the quality inspection report..."
Zheng Yiyang laughed. "Come now, President Li, have another drink. With a beauty like you for company, this food and wine are truly unforgettable!"
Li Huiran patiently downed another glass.
Zheng Yiyang stared at her, his eyes overflowing with naked lust. "As for the quality inspection report... that depends on whether or not I get to eat President Li's 'lobster'..."
His words made it impossible for Li Huiran to remain seated. Zheng Yiyang's intentions were now out in the open. She started to rise, ready to curse him out, but a wave of dizziness washed over her. The room began to spin, and the single, corpulent figure of Zheng Yiyang blurred into several.
An immense panic seized her heart.
'How can this be? I booked the meal and the hotel myself, and on short notice.'
Mustering all her strength, she turned to look at the doorway, only to see her four bodyguards engaged in a brawl with several unknown assailants.
A chilling sense of despair washed over her entire body.
'Please, let the bodyguards break through and get me out of here.'
The heavy THUD of the door closing caused silent tears to stream down her face.
'I was so careful, so vigilant... How could I still fall for it?!'
Zheng Yiyang grinned maliciously. "Well, now! Crying already, and I haven't even laid a finger on you. Don't be sad. It's no loss to fall into my hands!"
"Your little precautions were so childish. Besides, I bribed all the servers here. And the drug wasn't even in the food or wine. You have no one to blame but yourself for falling into my trap!"
Looking at Li Huiran, who was still gasping for breath, Zheng Yiyang was overcome with excitement. He panted heavily, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
He feverishly pulled out his phone, switched it to camera mode, and found a good spot to prop it up.
Zheng Yiyang's grubby hand reached out to touch her devastatingly beautiful face. Her skin was as smooth as polished jade, and the contact sent a tremor of excitement through his entire body.
Seeing that Li Huiran was now unconscious, he lost all patience and began to unbuckle his belt.