Yu Shanhe really did just leave like that. He did not even say goodbye to Shi Boren.

Xia Lei watched Yu Shanhe leave and did not show him even the most basic of courtesies in saying goodbye. Yu Shanhe was flippant about his signing the document, so his was just going to let him leave since he wanted to leave.

“Boy, how are you going to handle the matter of the loans if you let him go just like that?” sadi Shi Boren a little worriedly.

Xia Lei laughed. “I’ll ask him to stay if he has over 20 billion to help me repay the loan. But does he have the money? Besides, I wasn’t asking him who wanted this money. It’s the remuneration from the deal I made with the French. Is this deal still valid when I can’t receive the amount we’d agreed on? He wants to leave? Sure, I don’t care.”

Shi Boren smiled. “I knew he wouldn’t be able to bully you, Boy. Negotiating with you about money, huh? It’s just a pile of paper to you, aye?”

It was a little exaggerated, but this was true for Xia Lei and what made him so confident.

The deal with the French was, quite simply, a deal between the French and himself. There was no way the deal could have gone through without him. And even if it had, the French would also give only 25% of their technologies. He had to give something of value to them to get their technologies, so could a deal like this be done without him?

If the deal was already done, and Yu Shanhe came to him to ask him to sign a document like this, then he could have signed it due to the 20-plus billion. But the deal was not done yet, so how could Yu Shanhe threaten him?

“So what do you plan to do?” Shi Boren seemed curious.

Xia Lei shrugged. “I won’t do anything. I’ll just rest for a few days first.”

“Aren’t you going to get someone to look into this?”

“There’s no need for that. Yu Shanhe is representing the interests of some people. They are trying to hinder me to protect their own interests so I’ll just let them do it. Isn’t Yu Shanhe trying to get me to submit by waving about his authority in front of me? But he’s mistaken about one thing — I am the only one who can make the deal with the French. He is also not the only chief around.”

“Heh heh heh.” Shi Boren laughed even louder. “What you say makes sense. I, Shi Boren, have never admired anyone in my life, but I admire you.”

“You flatter me, Boss Shi.”

Shi Boren abruptly changed the topic. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. I’ll talk business with you.”

“What is it?”

“No matter what achievements you have, you are still a member of my Bureau 101. And Bureau 101 matters are your matters. You’ve just got back so I shouldn’t send you out on a mission, but this matter needs you to handle it. I have to send you, our ace.”

‘I’ll wait for him to say it then find an excuse to shrug it off,’ thought Xia Lei to himself.

“This is the thing. There has been a bit of a situation in the western provinces recently. According to our intel, some foreign terrorists have moved in. We are currently still uncertain of their motives, but we have never been tolerant of people like them. I’d like to keep them, and their plans under control. I’ll let you and Yuyan complete this mission.”

Xia Lei would have guessed that Shi Boren would send him and Yuyan on the mission even if he had not put it that way, because he had always had this inclination to push him and Yuyan together. This was also another reason for his headaches.

So should he go on this mission? Or should he do something else? This really wasn’t something he could easily find excuses for. Xia Lei smiled wryly. “Boss Shi, I’ve only just returned…”

Shi Boren cut him off. “Didn’t you say that you’re free for the next few days? Why aren’t you going on missions since you have free time? Okay, this is decided then. It won’t take you more than a few days either. Three, five, or five, six days… Just go out on a trip with Yuyan. You can come back at any time, whether you’ve completed the mission or not.”

Xia Lei was speechless.

“What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and get prepared.” After a pause, Shi Boren added, “Take a good camera along with you. The scenery there is great.”

Was this a mission or a holiday trip?

Xia Lei was in serious doubt. However, he did not reject Shi Boren. He’d wanted to relax for the next few days anyway, so it wasn’t going to hurt much if he went to the western provinces on a mission and had a holiday while he was at it. His disappearance for a few days would give Yu Shanhe some pressure too.

You wanted to just leave like that, huh? Well, I don’t care either then! Let’s see who can hold out for longer!

“I’ll set out tomorrow then, Boss Shi,” said Xia Lei.

“No problem.” Shi Boren had been prepared to cut off Xia Lei’s protests, and he was relieved when Xia Lei agreed.

Xia Lei left Shi Boren’s office and saw Tang Yuyan hiding by the wall and eavesdropping right away.

Tang Yuyan straightened in embarrassment, then glared at Xia Lei. “You scared me. Are you going to be responsible for me if my wits are scattered?”

Xia Lei laughed. “Let’s have dinner together tonight.”

“Sure. At my place, or outside?” Tang Yuyan was immediately cheered.

“At my place. I’d like to invite Siyao and Bing too,” said Xia Lei. “I’ve been gone for quite a while, so it will be fun to have everyone together.”

The smile on Tang Yuyan’s face disappeared right away.

Xia Lei took out a gift box from his suitcase and put it in Tang Yuyan’s hands.

“A present for me?” A smile appeared on Tang Yuyan’s face again. The expressions on her face changed like in a face-changing performance in a Sichuan opera.

“Yeah. Perfume.”

“What? Just one bottle?”

“It was really difficult for me to get this from someone. It’s called Marie’s Desire. It’s a customised perfume and can’t be bought with money,” said Xia Lei.

“It’s so amazing? Is there more? I want another bottle.”

“No more, no more,” said Xia Lei hurriedly.

“I don’t believe you. There must be more.” Tang Yuyan reached for Xia Lei’s suitcase.

“What are the two of you doing? Can you be more conscious of your image?” Liang Siyao walked out from the other corner with a smile on her face but a sourness in her eyes.

Long Bing appeared a second after Liang Siyao did, from another corner. She said nothing. Based on her personality and how she viewed love, however, she would probably not have said anything even if Xia Lei and Tang Yuyan were kissing in this corridor. Even if it was uncomfortable for her, it would pass quickly.

“You came at the right time. I got you some presents from France.” Xia Lei quickly opened up his suitcase and took out the last two bottles of perfume. He gave one to Liang Siayo, and one to Long Bing.

“Thank you.” Liang Siyao smiled happily.

“I don’t ever use perfume,” said Long Bing.

“Give it to me if you’re not going to use it,” said Tang Yuyan.

“But Xia Lei gave this to me. I will use it,” said Long Bing.

Tang Yuyan was speechless.

“All right, all of you are invited to my place for dinner tonight.” Xia Lei dragged his suitcase after him as he escaped. “I’m going home now to wash up and prepare dinner.”

The three women watched him go. They looked back at each other when he disappeared from their site.

“Yuyan, I heard that you and Xia Lei are going on a mission to the western provinces.” Liang Siyao fiddled with the perfume bottle in her hands as she probed.

The corner of Tang Yuyan’s mouth curled dryly. “You sure are well-informed. That’s right. It’s an anti-terrorist mission.”

“Do you need help?” said Liang Siayo. “I have nothing much to do now, so I can go with you two.”

“No need for that. Us two are enough.” Tang Yuyan was not going to let Liang Siyao tag along, unless something went wrong with her brain or something.

Long Bing walked off with the bottle of perfume.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” asked Tang Yuyan.

Long Bing looked back at Tang Yuyan and said disinterestedly, “Fine. Have a happy honeymoon. I hope you give birth to a healthy child soon. Is that enough?”

“You… Dang you. What the heck are you saying? Hehe, you have some problem, don’t you? Hehe…” She spoke one line but laughed eight times. Tang Yuyan’s thoughts were plain to see.

“You’re the one with a problem.” Long Bing turned her head back, and started walking again in the direction Xia Lei had left.

“Where are you going? Your office is the other way,” said Tang Yuyan.

“I’m going to drive Xia Lei home,” said Long Bing.

Tang Yuyan stared blankly.

This woman had wished her a happy honeymoon and healthy children one moment, but she was going to drive Xia Lei home the next. What was her link to him?

The relationship the three female chiefs had with Xia Lei was a very murky one indeed.

The SUV left the urban Jingdu area and headed towards the Thunder Horse Military Factory.

“That person surnamed Yu didn’t make things difficult for you, did he?” Long Bing broke the silence in the car.

Xia Lei laughed dryly. “He is representing the interests of the domestic arms dealers. Could he not trouble me?”

“I really want to share your burden, but I am just a small fry. I can’t help out with matters like these even if I want to.”

“You don’t need to worry about these things. I can handle him.”

“Let’s not talk about him anymore.” Long Bing put the bottle of perfume which Xia Lei had given her in his hand.

Xia Lei paused. “What are you doing? Don’t you like it? What do you like, then? I’ll give you something else.”

“Who said I didn’t like it? I mean for you to open it up and put some on me.” Long Bing smiled at Xia Lei.

She rarely smiled, so Xia Lei felt she was extra beautiful every time she did. His heart fluttered as he remembered her various good points.

“Hurry up. I’ve never used perfume before. I want to try it,” urged Long Bing.

Xia Lei took out the perfume bottle and removed the cork. He moved close to her, carefully, and sprayed the perfume on her.

The car filled with the mesmerising smell of Marie’s Desire. It was not just a perfume, but a “mood-setter”. It silently teased the man and woman in the car.

Long Bing looked away from Xia Lei’s eyes. She actually looked a little shy.

Xia Lei found this delightful. He suddenly sprayed her with some perfume.

“You…” Long Bing didn’t expect that Xia Lei would do that.

Xia Lei smiled. “Does it smell good?”

“Yes.” Long Bing’s response was curt, and emotionless. “But I’m not used to fragrances.”

Xia Lei laughed and said, “Women are quite cute sometimes, when they are all fragrant.”

“You like women who use fragrances?” asked Long Bing.

Xia Lei nodded. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Then I am a woman who uses fragrances from today on.” Long Bing suddenly turned the steering wheel, and the car went zooming off the main road and into a small, tree-lined trail…