“Little Lei.” He was still ‘Xia Lei’ earlier but he’d become ‘Little Lei’ in an instant. Zhang Hui-Lan’s words were warmer than the term of address she’d used. “Winter is approaching. Let our Jing knit a pullover for you.”

Knit a pullover? Xia Lei felt fairly awkward. “Thank you, thank you but there’s really no need; it’s too troublesome. I’ll just buy one when it’s winter.”

“No, no it’s no trouble at all. Our Jing is obedient and comes right home after work. She has nothing to do anyway so let her knit one for you. Handmade pullovers fit better,” said Zhang Hui-Lan.

“Isn’t it too early to knit one?” Xia Lei felt awkward but it wasn’t easy to reject something like this face-to-face.

“It’s not early at all.” Zhang Hui-Lan pushed the idea. “It’s autumn now so it will be winter when the pullover is finished. Just nice.”

Ning Jing was also very embarrassed. She rolled her eyes at Zhang Hui-Lan and mouthed the words, ‘I can’t knit!’

Zhang Hui-Lan winked back. This was a message: You can’t but your mother can!

Xia Lei did not notice the eye-conversation between mother and daughter. He was worrying to himself, ‘There’s no further need to spy on Ning Yuan-Shan and Chi Jing-Qiu. What excuse can I use to leave? Zhou Wei would have arrived by now, wouldn’t he?’

“Jing, go to my room and fetch the measuring tape to get Little Lei’s measurements,” said Zhang Hui-Lan.

Ning Yuan-Hai also urged her, “Go on, Jing, hurry.”

“I…” Ning Jing’s face turned red. She wanted to go but didn’t - her feelings were all jumbled up.

Ding dong, ding dong. Someone pressed the doorbell at that moment.

“Who is it?” Zhang Hui-Lan walked to the door.

Who would come to Ning Jing’s home at this time?

Xia Lei looked over and willed his left eye to look through the door. He saw the person standing outside the door - Ren Wen-Qiang.

Ren Wen-Qiang was dressed in a white suit. He was slim, had a handsome face and a confident air. He held a bouquet of red roses in his hands and had a smile on his face as he waited for the door to be opened.

Xia Lei was struck by a thought. ‘I’ll leave when Ren Wen-Qiang enters. He’s a good excuse to go.’

Zhang Hui-Lan opened the door and her face darkened when she saw that it was Ren Wen-Qiang. She spoke flatly, “So it’s you.”

Ren Wen-Qiang laughed. “Hello, Auntie. Is Jing home? I’d like to ask her out for a movie.”

“Our Jing is not feeling well. She won’t be going; you go ahead,” said Zhang Hui-Lan.

“Not feeling well? I’ll go see her.” Ren Wen-Qiang looked concerned.

He tried to go in but Zhang Hui-Lan blocked his way. “It’s late. You should go back.”

Ren Wen-Qiang was a smart person and he knew that Zhang Hui-Lan wouldn’t suddenly be cold to him without reason. He shifted half a step to see into the living room and saw Xia Lei and Ning Jing sitting on the sofa. He quickly understood what he saw and humiliation flushed through him. His emotions took control as he raised a finger to point at Xia Lei and roar, “Get out here, Xia Lei!”

Xia Lei frowned - not because Ren Wen-Qiang was taking his anger out on him but because he was loud and Xia Lei was worried that Ning Yuan-Shan and Chi Jing-Qiu would hear. They were talking in secret about ways to put him down and he just coincidentally appeared next door in Ning Jing’s home? Ning Yuan-Shan and Chi Jing-Qiu were sly as foxes - would they believe that it was just a coincidence?

“What’s wrong with you?” Zhang Hui-Lan scolded him before Xia Lei could speak.

Ren Wen-Qiang sneered, “What? You guys regret it now because Xia Lei has made something of himself and you want to match him with Ning Jing? Ning Jing is not an item; she’s a person. She should have her own life!”

“You…” Zhang Hui-Lan was rooted to the spot in anger. She had not expected Ren Wen-Qiang to say such things to her.

Xia Lei got up and walked towards the door.

Ning Jing pulled at his sleeve and tears appeared in her eyes. “Xia Lei, please don’t fight with him here? I… can’t take it.”

Xia Lei was planning to kick Ren Wen-Qiang to the ground but seeing Ning Jing in pain made him unwilling to do so. She was unfortunate enough to have parents like Zhang Hui-Lan and Ning Yuan-Hai, so if he and Ren Wen-Qiang made a scene which escalated to a fight, she would be hurt. She was a quiet and delicate woman and wouldn’t be able to bear it.

“Nn, I won’t fight with him. I have to go. My friend should have arrived about now,” said Xia Lei.

Ning Jing let go of his sleeve, her tears more apparent.

“Xia Lei! Get out here!” Ren Wen-Qiang continued shouting in the doorway. He did not think of Ning Jing’s feelings at all and seemed to want to draw attention to cause her humiliation.

Xia Lei strode out. “Quiet down. What are you being so loud for?”

Ren Wen-Qiang laughed coldly. “Who do you think you are? Should I obey you?” He suddenly spoke fiercely, “You caused my exit from Vientianne Group. I’ll settle this score with you today!”

Xia Lei looked at Ren Wen-Qiang and remembered that this guy was an eighth-degree black belt in Judo. No wonder he dared speak to him like this. An eighth-degree black belt in Judo was nothing to him. He squinted - Ning Yuan-Shan and Chi Jing-Qiu had walked out of the door. Ren Wen-Qiang’s loud voice had alerted them.

“Xia Lei?” A flash of panic showed in Chi Jing-Qiu’s eyes. “Wh, What are you doing here?”

Before Xia Lei could respond, Ning Yuan-Shan walked over, saying, “What is all this ruckus? You are cultured young people - aren’t you ashamed of yourselves becoming a laughingstock?”

His words seemed to be stopping a fight but Xia Lei could tell that he was taking a jab at him. He was the only high-school graduate here while Ren Wen-Qiang and Ning Jing were doctorate holders. Even Chi Jing-Qiu graduated from a prestigious university. What culturedness can a high-school graduate have?

“Chairman Ning.” Ren Wen-Qiang greeted him. He held himself back in the presence of Ning Yuan-Shan.

“Mm.” Ning Yuan-Shan made a small sound of acknowledgement, then looked at Xia Lei. “What are you doing here, Xia Lei?”

Ning Jing answered for him. “I invited Xia Lei in for a chat.”

Ning Yuan-Shan and Chi Jing-Qiu exchanged looks. They seemed to relax a little.

Xia Lei glanced at the entrance of the neighbourhood - Zhou Wei was still not here. He moved his gaze to Ning Yuan-Shan and his left eye twitched. He saw the reader-device and the memory card in it in the folds of Ning Yuan-Shan’s clothing.

“Xia Lei, aren’t you going to greet me now?” Ning Yuan-Shan’s voice carried some dissatisfaction.

Xia Lei spoke flatly, “Chairman Ning, you don’t actually want to see me, do you? Why do you even care about my greeting? Is there a need for fake politeness?”

Zhang Hui-Lan quietly nudged Xia Lei’s arm, telling him not to speak to Ning Yuan-Shan like that.

Ning Yuan-Shan saw the small movement and he wrinkled his brows. “Hui-Lan, I’m not chastising you or anything but you shouldn’t let Ning Jing bring home despicable people.”

“Big Brother, I…” Zhang Hui-Lan paused in embarrassment. Her family had received a lot of favours from Ning Yuan-Shan and she could never stand up to him.

A small smile of ridicule appeared in the corners of Ren Wen-Qiang’s lips as he said, “Yes, Auntie. Chairman Ning treated someone well and that someone had a small shop by the side of the road at that time. If Chairman Ning hadn’t lent him a helping hand he wouldn’t be who he is today. He, on the other hand, poached Chairman Ning’s client when he had the chance. Can you feel at ease letting Ning Jing date a despicable person like that?”

Husband and wife stood in the doorway and neither dared to say anything.

Ning Jing made to speak up for Xia Lei but Ning Yuan-Shan gave her a glare. Timid Ning Jing shut her mouth.

They seemed to form a united front after Ning Yuan-Shan’s appearance and Xia Lei was now left alone on the battlefield.

Being called despicable and ridiculed did not make Xia Lei angry. He smiled. “You can’t put it that way, Chairman Ning. If I didn’t do the job back then you wouldn’t have been able to complete the order in time. Your position as chairman wouldn’t be as solid as it is now, would it? I did make a million off you but this was not free money. You didn’t help me - I helped you. Yet you don’t show an ounce of gratitude.”

“Hahaha…” Ning Yuan-Shan laughed and pointed at Xia Lei. “You don’t know your limits, punk! When did I, Ning Yuan-Shan, need the help of a roadside shop owner like you? Ridiculous! Don’t think that you can run wild just because you have purchase orders from China Industrial Group and you know some of the people in that corporation. Let me tell you, don’t even think of it with me around!”

Xia Lei sighed. “Chairman Ning, I actually quite respect you. Is there no room for reconciliation? Must we fight on?”

“Oh, scared now? Regret it?” sneered Ning Yuan-Shan.

Ren Wen-Qiang spoke up. “Don’t be soft-hearted, Chairman Ning. Some people are desperate to not be poor and stink of the desire to become rich. If you forgive him now he will still betray you in the future.”

“I’ve not gone blind yet. I won’t be stabbed in the back a second time.” Ning Yuan-Shan looked at Zhang Hui-Lan and said rudely, “Don’t let this sort of people come here next time.”

Zhang Hui-Lan paused, then nodded. “Yes.”

Ning Yuan-Hai then said, “Leave now, Xia Lei. Next time… Don’t come here.”

Xia Lei smiled wryly and shook his head. “Sure.”

Ning Jing’s tears flowed soundlessly as she bit her lip. She suddenly lost it and shouted, “I hate you all!” Ning Jing turned around and ran back into the house.

Zhang Hui-Lan followed with the words, “What are you standing there for, Wen-Qiang. Hurry and comfort Jing.”

Ren Wen-Qiang shook the rose bouquet in his hand gently and gave Xia Lei a contemptuous look. He looked like he was a noble knight who’d won a duel and won not only the glory but the right to a lady’s first night. And he was ready to step on the corpse of his opponent before he went to enjoy what he’d won.

“Xia Lei, how dare you still show your face around here.” Ning Yuan-Shan’s words were rough and crude; just short of using the word ‘scram’.

Xia Lei understood very well why Ning Yuan-Shan was in such a hurry to chase him away. He had called an elite team from Far East Heavy Industries to his home to design the drawings and plan the building of the intelligent lathe. A thief didn’t want the owner of the original work to be next to him, of course.

Xia Lei glanced at the entrance to the neighbourhood again and this time, he spotted some black cars heading his way. The car in the lead had Jing Du license plates. Zhou Wei was finally here but Xia Lei was not happy about it at all.