The incident that happened in Korea caused an international uproar, but the final scapegoat was a “virtual terrorist”. The Korean government announced to the public that it was an anti-terrorism drill, attended by American soldiers, Korean soldiers, Korean police, and Korean special forces.
Xia Lei wasn’t surprised by this result. The CIA couldn’t reveal his ident.i.ty and secret to the public. Doing so would not match America’s interests.
One day later, Xia Lei appeared inside Thunder Horse Military Factory. Liu Zhengnan was still on his way back to Jingdu.
Under the office building, Ling Han looked at Xia Lei, who had just returned, and asked casually, “How’s the thing regarding the branch office coming along?”
Xia Lei smiled. “There are more or less handled, but it was very busy. I only managed to take care of a few of the most important things. They know how to manage the rest. Our cooperation with the Germans is the most important thing right now, that’s why I flew back. The Germans haven’t arrived yet, right?”
“They’ve already arrived in Jingdu. They are currently staying at the emba.s.sy. I think they will be here shortly. Rest a.s.sured, they are more anxious than us regarding this cooperation,” said Ling Han.
A Volkswagen Beetle car appeared at the gate while they were talking. The soldiers by the gate let the car in, and the security guards of Thunder Horse Military Factory didn’t stop the car. It was only because the person who drove the Volkswagen Beetle car was Fan Fan. Not only did she have permission to enter and leave the Thunder Horse Military Factory freely, but she was also a frequent visitor.
Xia Lei thought to himself, ‘I just finished dealing with Ahn Geungan in Korea, and she’s already come here. Does she know something? But if she knew something, then she would’ve come earlier. Sylvia probably hadn’t finished doing the matter I’ve asked her to do.’
Fan Fan parked the car and walked towards the office building.
Ling Han looked at Fan Fan and frowned. “What is she doing here?”
Xia Lei smiled wryly. “I don’t know, but I think it might be because of the Germans. Maybe she came to help.”
It was obvious that Ling Han didn’t like to hear that. He knew what Fan Fan’s intention was in coming to Thunder Horse Military Factory at this time. Ling Han knew that she wasn’t here to help.
“Oh, Mr Ling is also here.” Fan Fan walked over slowly. Her long legs, slender waist, her light and graceful posture made her look like she was a fas.h.i.+on model walking on a runaway.
A smile formed on Ling Han’s face. “Fan Fan, why are you here?”
Fan Fan said, “I’m not here to take your credit. I’m here for Mr Xia.”
Xia Lei said in surprise, “Miss Fan Fan, why are you looking for me?”
“Because I have a matter to discuss with you, of course,” said Fan Fan. “It’s about the Alloy X Project. Do you have time? Let’s find a place to talk about it.”
Xia Lei was about to agree when Ling Han interrupted him. “Fan Fan, what do you mean by this? The Germans are coming soon, and you want to talk to Xia Lei right now? Are you trying to mess it up? What kind of project is so important that you guys can’t talk about it tomorrow?”
Fan Fan frowned. “Mr Ling, how can I not know the importance of cooperating with the Germans? However, the Alloy X Project is much more important than cooperating with the Germans. I have an important discovery, so I must talk to Xia Lei. Is there a problem with that?”
She was one of the research members of the Alloy X Project. She could talk to Xia Lei about the project whenever she wanted, and Ling Han couldn’t stop her from doing so even if he tried.
Xia Lei coughed dryly. “Then… Let’s go to my office to talk. Miss Fan Fan, please.”
Fan Fan followed Xia Lei into the office building.
Ling Han stared coldly at Fan Fan and Xia Lei’s backs. Whether it was Xia Lei or Fan Fan, neither of them were his friends.
‘Just wait and see. When I become the bureau chief, I’ll see if any of you can still laugh like that,’ thought Ling Han.
Just then, Song Baicheng walked over. He lowered his voice and said, “Mr Z, the Korean soldiers and American soldiers stationed in Korea had an anti-terrorist drill yesterday, but…”
Ling Han interrupted him. “Do you think I care about whatever anti-terrorist drill happening in Korea right now?”
“No, I heard some news that said that it wasn’t a real drill. It turned out to be an actual gunfight,” said Song Baicheng.
Ling Han frowned. “So? Even if it’s a real terrorist attack, it happened in Korea, not here. Even if it happened here, it’s Bureau 101’s problem, not ours. Go call the Germans and tell them to hurry up. Aren’t Germans concerned with efficiency? So why are they still not here?”
Song Baicheng stopped talking about the terrorist attack in Korea. He said, “I’ll contact the German Emba.s.sy and tell them to hurry up.”
Song Baicheng left, and Ling Han raised his head to look at the highest floor of the Thunder Horse Military Factory’s office building. He wanted to go to Xia Lei’s office to hear what the two of them were talking about, but after seeing the camera outside his door, he dismissed that thought. Whether it was Xia Lei or Fan Fan, neither of them was a normal person. If he wanted to eavesdrop on their secret talk, he would be found out before he even got close to them. He didn’t want to create additional trouble right now.
Xia Lei and Fan Fan appeared on the highest floor. Xia Lei popped his head out of the railing to look down at Ling Han. He smiled and said, “Brother Ling, wait for a little while. I will go down soon. I won’t take long.”
Ling Han just nodded and said nothing. He walked briskly towards the gate. Instead of waiting here, he might as well stand outside the gate and welcome the German delegates. He needed to let the Germans know that he was the person in charge of this case, not Fan Fan or Xia Lei.
Upon entering the room, Fan Fan suddenly hugged Xia Lei’s waist.
Xia Lei was shocked by her actions. “What are you doing? Now is not the time for such things.”
Fan Fan pouted. “I can’t even hug you?”
Xia Lei smiled bitterly. “After today, you can hug me however you want, okay? My highness, if Ling Han and Song Baicheng finds out about us, all our hard work will be wasted.”
Fan Fan didn’t let go of Xia Lei’s waist. “I’ve realised that I’ve become intoxicated by you. It’s only been a few days, but whether I’m eating, showering, or even in the bathroom, I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Xia Lei was speechless.
“I dreamed of you last night. I dreamed that you were pressing me down on the floor of the laboratory, and doing bad things to me.” Fan Fan had a pitiful expression on her face.
Xia Lei didn’t know what to say. “Is it my fault that you dreamed about that?”
“Of course it’s your fault.”
Xia Lei was having a figurative headache. “What did you come here for? If you want to ask about the matters in Korea, then I can tell you that it was successful. I’m only waiting for the last part to be completed now. Once that’s done, you can become the bureau chief of Bureau ZN without a problem.”
Fan Fan suddenly smiled sweetly but she didn’t let go of Xia Lei’s hands. While Xia Lei was talking, she had already pushed open the lounge door and dragged Xia Lei in.
“Don’t destroy your own good fortune.” Xia Lei reminded her not to be a naughty girl again, but his rationality was weakening rapidly.
Fan Fan finally let go of his hands. “I’m here to tell you some good news. I finished making the antidote. I think I succeeded this time, so I couldn’t wait for you to try it.”
Xia Lei’s gaze went abruptly to her handbag. His left eye could clearly see through the leather handbag and he saw a tightly sealed gla.s.s tube inside. The liquid inside the gla.s.s tube was already very close to the correct antidote.
He immediately understood Fan Fan’s intention for coming at this time. Not only did she want to meet the German delegates, but she also wanted to use her antidote before they arrived. Once the German delegates arrived, he would be busy for a long time. She didn"t want to wait any longer.
Fan Fan opened the handbag and took out the sealed gla.s.s tube. She handed it to Xia Lei. In a lazy cat-like voice, she said, “Help me apply it.”
She wasn’t talking about ointment for sc.r.a.pes — she was talking about her antidote.
Xia Lei didn’t know what to do. He held the antidote in his hand.
Fan Fan turned around and bent over. A lot of pale skin was exposed in front of Xia Lei once again. But this time, it was not only was her b.u.t.tocks which were exposed — the part that was usually concealed was also exposed.
‘She really is anxious to get it.’ Xia Lei laughed bitterly to himself. His eyes went to the safe in the lounge. Inside it was a counter antidote. He was going to carry it with him, but there was no need to make use of it in Korea, so he had not taken it with him. He was being lazy before, but now, he was in deep trouble. How was he to get the counter antidote in the safe without drawing Fan Fan’s attention?
“Hurry up.” Fan Fan urged him. “You don’t have to worry. I told Su Xiao to wait at the halfway point, so once the German delegates get here, she will contact me. You don’t have to worry about being delayed. Think about our Xia Bufan and our Xia Sifan. Don’t you want to take me?”
Xia Lei braced himself and said, “Are you this anxious to have our baby?”
Fan Fan’s eyes shone with excitement. “I’ve longed to have your child. Our child will be the smartest person in the whole world. It will be a miracle. You don’t have to doubt my determination. Let me put it this way, if I have to choose between the Alloy X Project and having your child, I will choose the latter option.”
A woman is only complete when she becomes a mother, especially when this child was from Xia Lei, who had an IQ of 998. No woman could resist the lure of a “miracle baby”, especially for a bioengineer like her.*
“Um…” Xia Lei was thinking about an excuse to open the safe.
“I’ll do it myself if you’re too shy.” Fan Fan couldn’t wait any longer. She turned around and took the antidote from Xia Lei’s hands.
At that moment, a female voice suddenly came from outside the lounge. “Director Xia, your father is looking for you.”
It was the secretary, Qing Caiyue.
Xia Lei let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, I’ll be right there.”