The light of dawn dispelled the darkness, but it could not dispel the fog in Xia Lei’s heart.
He had spent the whole night thinking of the ident.i.ty of the “me” and the era that “me” lived in. He could not guess who that person was, but based off what he said, that person should have been from the time period before the Ice Age, and that his story had ended in the Ice Age.
Xia Lei didn’t dare believe this.
There had been several Ice Ages in the history of the Earth, the earliest 2.4 to 2.1 billion years ago, followed by the Ice Age 800 million to 600 million years ago, and the Ordovician Period of 400 million years ago. Next was the Carboniferous period. The fourth and most recent Ice Age had was 2.58 million years ago!
If that “me” had been from the age before the fourth Ice Age, then he would have existed 2.58 million years ago. That had been a time of species population growth, and dinosaurs, representative of the large animals, ruled the Earth. However, there were no humans in that era, and no evidence today suggested that humans existed in that era. According to the words “me” said, though, he had built an empire in that time. This meant that humans not just existed, but had started feudal societies!
The first feudal society of human history was the Qin dynasty, and it was only 2,000 years old!
According to what “me” said, he had established a feudal dynasty over two million years ago, and could make a book out of bronze to leave a message like this in the book. How could this technology be compared to the technology of the Qin dynasty over two million years later? There was no such technology then, much less now!
What in the world was going on here?
These questions were blowing Xia Lei’s mind.
‘His voice did not end naturally. He said he was preparing to end his life, and then there was nothing else in the message. What interrupted him? Or did his life end at that point?’ THe cut-off message in the bronze book filled Xia Lei’s head with thoughts.
“Where are you going, Big Brother Lei?” Fan Fan’s voice came from behind him.
Fan Fan had chased after him as soon as he’d stepped out of the villa.
“I’m going to Bureau 101 for a bit.” Xia Lei did not even turn back.
“What are you going to Bureau 101 for?” Fan Fan looked anxious. “When can we start work?”
Xia Lei quickened his pace, and said as he walked, “That’s your work, not mine. I’ve said that I’ll cooperate with you when I have time.”
“You…” Fan Fan did not know why Xia Lei had changed his att.i.tude. It had been all good just yesterday. His coldness was a little unbearable for her.
Xia Lei walked towards his Chevrolet Suburban.
“Wait for me.” Fan Fan caught up, and blocked Xia Lei’s way.
Xia Lei walked around her and made to open the car door.
Fan Fan stood in his way again, and she opened her arms wide this time, and puffed up her chest like an angry little girl.
Xia Lei wanted to laugh, but he put on an icy expression. “What do you want?”
“Why are you being like this to me?” said Fan Fan huffily.
“Like what? Molest you? Or hit you and scold you?” A faint, arrogant sneer appeared in the corners of Xia Lei’s mouth.
“Like this!” Fan Fan was losing it.
“You’re being silly,” said Xia Lei coldly. “Get out of the way. I’m in a rush.”
“No I won’t, unless you tell me the reason.” Fan Fan maintained her ‘blocking’ position.
Xia Lei took a step closer to Fan Fan. His chest went dangerously close to her chest. Fan Fan took a subconscious step back, but the car door was behind her. She had no place to retreat to.
Xia Lei took another step forward.
Fan Fan hugged her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, afraid that Xia Lei would b.u.mp into them. She was a woman afraid of touch after all, and had some psychological issues. She had the courage to stand in his way but she was helpless in the face of Xia Lei’s advance; so weak, and no way to resist.
Xia Lei suddenly reached out and put his hands on the car door, trapping Fan Fan between his arms. His hands went through her hair, and his chest was almost touching hers. His face was above hers, almost on hers.
“You…” Fan Fan became panicky at once, but she had nowhere to hide.
Xia Lei was not the warm and sunny young man to her anymore, but a domineering CEO. He was forceful, and unreasonable, like a wild beast intruding on her secret garden, ruining all that was beautiful.
“Are you sure you want to stand in my way?” Xia Lei’s voice carried ridicule.
Fan Fan stared straight at Xia Lei. She was afraid that he would touch her suddenly, and she was nervous, and a little scared, but when she thought about the work she had to complete, she seemed to gather her courage. She did her lip, and said, “Yes!”
“Hah!” Xia Lei scoffed, and suddenly pressed himself forward. Fan Fan was pressed to the car door.
This contact, and this sort of bullying made Fan Fan’s courage crumble immediately. Her face flushed and her body started to tremble because of her sensitivity.
“Are you sure you still want to get in my way?” Xia Lei pressed himself harder on her.
“Please, I beg you, don’t… Nngh!” Fan Fan’s face was red, and her voice was shaky. She didn’t even dare to say ‘yes’ at this time, nor look Xia Lei in the eye.
Xia Lei released her abruptly, and pulled her to one side, then opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat.
Fan Fan watched Xia Lei with wide eyes. She pressed her legs together, and did not dare to approach him.
Xia Lei started the car, stepped on the accelerator, and was gone with a zoom.
Tears welled up in Fan Fan’s eyes, and the corners of her mouth twitched. After a long while, she said, “Baddie! Pervert! Bullying me… You bullied me…”
The Chevrolet Suburban moved forward, and Xia Lei’s gaze went to the mirror, watching as distance grew between himself and Fan Fan. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, but I have no other choice.’
Bureau 101.
Xia Lei had just brought his Chevrolet Suburban to a stop when Tang Yuyan walked towards him. She had been waiting in the car park.
Xia Lei alighted and greeted her. “Morning, Yuyan.”
Tang Yuyan said nothing, and didn’t smile either. She strode towards Xia Lei. The breeze lifted her hair, fanning it elegantly.
‘What does she want?’ thought Xia Lei curiously.
Tang Yuyan had come up to him before he could think of why, and she suddenly stretched out her arms and got even closer when their eyes met.
Xia Lei subconsciously took a step back, but it was just one step. His back hit the Chevrolet Suburban door. Tang Yuyan’s arms went past his shoulders at the same time, brus.h.i.+ng past his neck as she trapped him in her arms.
This was a very intimate position. Her face was almost touching his face, and her chest almost pressed against his. Her breath curled on his face, bringing the faint scent of a woman with it.
Their eyes were still locked. Xia Lei was paralysed.
He had trapped Fan Fan in a kabedon an hour earlier, and played the part of a domineering CEO. Now, Tang Yuyan was doing a female CEO kabedon to him. Karma came too quick for him on this one, didn’t it?
But Xia Lei was not Fan Fan, and did not have her const.i.tution. He was not afraid of this sort of contact.
Xia Lei gave a laugh. “What are you doing?”
“I asked you out three times this week and you didn’t even come out once. What are YOU doing?” Tang Yuyan shot back at him.
“Thunder Horse Military Factory is being upgraded. I have to build a new intelligent lathe too, the Thunder Dragon Intelligent Lathe, Generation Two. I have no time to come out and play with you,” said Xia Lei.
“Then don’t you need to be in the military factory? Why are you here today?”
“That’s… It’s because…” Xia Lei stopped himself. He abruptly understood why Tang Yuyan had trapped him in a kabedon. She had asked him out thrice and he had not agreed, but he had come to Bureau 101 on the day that Liang Siyao was going to start work. This was what had angered her!
“Speak.” Tang Yuyan put pressure on Xia Lei, but she maintained some distance. She had not let Xia Lei actually touch her. It seemed what she’d wanted was to provoke him, but not actually follow through.
“This is not the same.” Xia Lei smiled wryly, and bit the bullet. “Liang Siyao coming to Bureau 101 is a bigger matter.”
“Or do you still miss her?” There was a tinge of sourness in Tang Yuyan’s eyes.
“Move aside. It won’t be good if others see.” Xia Lei avoided her question.
“I’m not afraid of letting others see, so why are you? Push me, then. Push me. I bet you won’t dare to push me.”
Xia Lei was speechless.
Just then, an off-road vehicle came into the car park. Xia Lei saw at once that it was Long Bing in the driver’s seat and Liang Siyao in the pa.s.senger’s seat. Xia Lei suddenly moved forward, at Tang Yuyan.
Tang Yuyan’s face reddened, and she took a step back.
This scene did not escape Long Bing and Liang Siyao’s notice.
Long Bing had no reaction, and she was as calm as ever.
Liang Siyao, on the other hand, wrinkled her brow and had a complicated look in her eyes.
Tang Yuyan smiled faintly. This was what she’d wanted.