"Hurry up! We have no time to waste!" Chairman Xu said as his voice rose up a notch higher."Please calm down, Chairman Xu." w.a.n.g Yuvin said as he a.s.sisted Kiang Leilei to get inside the black SUV.
"How can I calm down when that council Yun is calling me nonstop? Aigo! He was ultra mad at me for selling my shares to you. But it was partly my fault anyway. I should have told you not to tell anyone about your status in the Hideout hierarchy." Worried can be seen in the chairman"s face.
"Hmm... I guess I should have not flaunted that I am the new master of the Hideout. Please forgive my foolishness. But I am still confused though. Why do you have to fetch us? Are we in possible danger? Where are you taking us?" w.a.n.g Yuvin asked as he got inside the SUV and closed its door.
"This is to protect you since I completely haven"t told you what you must know and understand about being the Hideout"s master." Chairman Xu carefully said as he gestured his driver to start driving away from the area.
"As the master of the Hideout, you alone have the full access to every bit of information collected and stored inside the facility. But beware, your grip in the position is not permanent. You can easily be replaced if you are stupid enough to make irreversible mistakes." Chairman Xu added, making sure he had not missed out on any detail.
"Can be replaced? By what means? And who will be the replacement?" w.a.n.g Yuvin"s curiosity flowed continuously, eager to know what can possibly take the master position away from him.
"Bear in mind that the Hideout is all about networks and influences. The higher the shares, the higher the possibility of maintaining the master position, also the higher the threat to the position holder." Chairman Xu paused for a short while before he continued, "That is why maintaining a good harmonious relations.h.i.+p with the other shareowners is beneficial."
"Interesting. But what happens if another shareowner reached the same amount of shares as the current master"s?" w.a.n.g Yuvin suddenly thought of a possibility for a tie.
"A special meeting would be held. And 48 hours after the meeting, either of the two shareowners must gain added share or they will both be forced to enter a duel to determine who best fits the position."
"Duel? They will be forced to kill each other?" Kiang Leilei blurted out when she wasn"t able to contain her worry over w.a.n.g Yuvin"s situation.
"No, no, no. Not something as simple as that Miss Kiang. The duel in the Hideout is different. They do not just take away lives. They destroy corporations."
"So the duel you spoke of involves making the other shareowner"s corporation go bankrupt?" w.a.n.g Yuvin asked as he thought of many possible ways to bankrupt an enemy"s business.
"You are correct." Chairman Xu replied as his hand gently brushed his beard.
"Anyway, can you please take us back to the Hideout? I appreciate the help and support but I can handle this."
"I don"t think so." Right after Chairman Xu"s reply, a loud explosion happened. Tracing the source of the noise and smoke, it was in the Hideout"s parking area.
"Gos.h.!.+ What was that?!" The explosion frightened Kiang Leilei that she unconsciously hugged w.a.n.g Yuvin"s arm. Much to his surprise and delight.
Seeing Kiang Leilei tremble, w.a.n.g Yuvin put his arm around her and pulled her closer to his chest.
"That was the sound of your car exploding, Yuvin. You seriously p.i.s.sed off Council Yun and his friend Dr. Yang." Chairman Xu ma.s.saged his forehead as he looked away from the explosion.
Hearing the name Chairman Xu called the man who was cuddling her close to his body, Kiang Leilei was now trying her best to remember when and where she had heard that name before.
"Now I understood why you arrived at the Hideout. To save us from that explosion. Thank you, Chairman Xu." w.a.n.g Yuvin said as he stared at the thick smoke rising up the sky.
"Don"t thank me. It makes me feel more guilty for pa.s.sing all the burden to you." A flash of sadness pa.s.sed by the old man"s face.
"Don"t feel upset about it, Chairman Xu. It is I who came looking for that burden. But you don"t have to worry about me anymore." w.a.n.g Yuvin said as he gave Chairman Xu a warm smile as his fingers run through Kiang Leilei"s hair.
"Please stop the car, I have to go back to Hideout to check on the employees." w.a.n.g Yuvin"s countenance darkened as he spoke those words.
"Are you insane?! I just saved you from your possible demise. Now you want to go back to waste your life?" Chairman Xu"s eyes almost fell out of their sockets after hearing w.a.n.g Yuvin"s words.
"Please, don"t go back. You might be killed." Kiang Leilei gently tugged w.a.n.g Yuvin"s sleeves as she begged for him not to return to the Hideout.
"My people are on their way now. The best choice for you now is to retreat and consider other possible options. If you want to retaliate, you need to plan first. Also, you need to recruit people to do things for you."
"I will listen to you, Chairman Xu. I will not go back to the Hideout. But can you please bring us to my family"s Villa? I have to consult these things with my sister."
"Right." Chairman Xu replied as he instructed the driver to take them to the w.a.n.g"s.
"w.a.n.g? Did I hear that right? You are a w.a.n.g?" Kiang Leilei slightly pulled herself away from w.a.n.g Yuvin"s embrace to look at him in the eyes.
"Ah, yes. I am a member of the w.a.n.g family." w.a.n.g Yuvin mumbled, finally revealing to Kiang Leilei his surname.
"w.a.n.g Yuvin, w.a.n.g Yuvin..." Kiang Leilei softly murmured to herself as she tried to recall the name.
"Let me help you jolt your memory, Miss Kiang." Chairman Xu sensed that w.a.n.g Yuvin had not revealed his ident.i.ty to the young woman yet.
"The name of the guy who had wrapped his arm around you is w.a.n.g Yuvin. He is the brother of CEO w.a.n.g of the w.a.n.g Hotels and Casinos Empire." Chairman Xu took the initiative to introduce w.a.n.g Yuvin to Kiang Leilei.
However, instead of realizing how wealthy and influential the young man beside her was, Kiang Leilei had a different idea inside her head.
"You own the Oriental Europa as well, right? That means you will be attending the masquerade ball!"
Kiange Leilei said as her eyes glistened with happiness.