Guo Xiaopeng's residence was located at the easternmost tip of Bridgehead Peninsula. The deep blue aluminum alloy glass curtain walls blended seamlessly with the ocean, creating an appearance both dignified and uniquely charming.
A Mercedes silently glided through the gate, meandering along the dappled path lit by lights, and finally came to a stop in front of the villa covered in climbing plants. As Guo Xiaopeng stepped out and entered the hall, he noticed a spectral Ferrari parked in the shadows. Entering the expansive and luxurious living room, he changed out of his suit into a set of pajamas. As he settled onto the sofa, the phone rang. He picked up the receiver. "This is Guo Xiaopeng. Chairman Dai, good evening. Your full representative will arrive tomorrow afternoon? That's wonderful. I will personally receive them. An email with background information? I'll check my inbox right away. Okay, thank you. Goodbye."
He put down the phone, opened his laptop, and checked his email. The image of Wang Jingfei appeared on the screen: naturally beautiful, radiating an aura that was both captivating and formidable. Guo Xiaopeng found himself irresistibly drawn to her, his eyes fixed, his mind captivated.
Just then, Liu Mei emerged, wearing a sheer nightgown and carrying a steaming bowl of ginseng and shark fin soup. Her eyes brimmed with affection, a picture of a devoted wife.
Guo Xiaopeng closed the laptop, took the bowl, and began to eat with a gold spoon, the scene bathed in a cozy, familial atmosphere. Liu Mei watched him, her face glowing with a sweet smile, revealing deep affection. After wiping his mouth with a towel handed by Liu Mei, he complimented, "Your skills in making shark fin soup are improving."
Liu Mei beamed. "It wasn't me. I took the whole fin that Brother Tang brought last time to the East Sea Restaurant and had Chef Ah Wei make it all at once. Then I had it vacuum-sealed and stored in the fridge. When we want to eat, we just heat it up in the microwave."
"Chef Ah Wei? I've never heard of him," Guo Xiaopeng remarked.
Liu Mei explained, "He's a guest chef from Hong Kong, a disciple of the famous shark fin and abalone master Mr. Yang." Guo Xiaopeng chuckled, "That makes this bowl of ginseng and shark fin soup priceless."
"I didn't pay them, just traded some fin scraps for the cooking fee," Liu Mei said in the tone of a thrifty housewife. Guo Xiaopeng walked toward the bedroom. "They probably just glued and pressed the scraps together to fool people, not leaving you much."
Liu Mei followed. "Not much is fine. You hardly eat at home all year anyway." Guo Xiaopeng seemed displeased at the mention of "home," a hint of annoyance crossing his face.
The ringing bedside phone woke Zhang Xiaohua, who had already turned off the lights to sleep. He reluctantly turned on the light and answered, "New Jian? An urgent case report? Do you realize what time it is? You're outside? Fine, wait a moment."
Zhang Xiaohua dressed while speaking to his wife, "This is insubordination. I've spoiled New Jian too much. I need to put him in his place; otherwise, they'll think they can act like they own the place."
As he finished dressing and opened the door, Li Xinjian and Qiangmin entered the living room with smiling faces. Li Xinjian bowed slightly, "Sorry to disturb your rest, Chief."
Zhang Xiaohua glared at him, "Then don't disturb. Sit down and tell me what's going on."
Li Xinjian sat on the sofa, "We have a clear outline of the case. It appears that Yang Qiu was killed by a rival drug trafficking gang."
"Be specific," Zhang Xiaohua urged.
Li Xinjian took a drag of his cigarette, pondered for a moment, and said, "Yang Qiu was involved in drug crimes and controlled the Haizhou and international drug markets. Another gang, wanting to take over, had to eliminate Yang Qiu to dominate. After Yang Chun's murder, Lü An was also destined to die to cut off all leads. They didn't expect Yang Chun to return from abroad seeking revenge, leading us straight to Liu Mei, revealing their motives and background."
Zhang Xiaohua furrowed his brows, "Who?"
"Haizhou Tower," Li Xinjian declared confidently.
"The mastermind?" Zhang Xiaohua asked succinctly.
"General Manager Liu Mei," Li Xinjian responded assuredly.
"Evidence?" Zhang Xiaohua probed.
"Deputy General Manager Lü An hired the killer, Yang Qiu was lured to Villa No. 8 by a mysterious woman and killed, and Yang Chun returned from abroad and headed straight for Liu Mei. All these point to Liu Mei's significant criminal involvement," Li Xinjian deduced.
Zhang Xiaohua was still skeptical, "You mentioned Liu Mei claimed Yang Chun as her lover during his arrest. How do you explain that?"
"It further proves the mutual interests between Yang and Liu," Li Xinjian asserted. "Yang Chun is currently detained. I suggest arresting Liu Mei immediately to break the case wide open."
Zhang Xiaohua leaned back, "You have no solid evidence against Yang Chun or Liu Mei. You can't expect the prosecutor to approve an arrest based on assumptions."
Qiangmin interjected, "We can detain them first. If we don't get a breakthrough within the allowed time, we apply for an extension. They're guilty of something; we can hold them for months."
Li Xinjian scolded, "Are you a cop or a legal ignoramus? We can't bend the rules." Qiangmin retorted, "Following every rule to the letter, who knows when we'll crack the case?"
Li Xinjian glared at him, "But we can't go rogue. I suspect this case involves some high-level figures in Haizhou Pharmaceuticals. We might uncover something bigger."
Zhang Xiaohua set the limits, "Haizhou Pharmaceuticals is our high-tech industry leader. We can't act rashly. And we certainly can't suspect Guo Xiaopeng without cause. Your investigation ends at Liu Mei. Any deeper connections will be handled by higher authorities. Major actions against Liu Mei require bureau approval. Considering Yang Chun's dual citizenship, without solid evidence, we can't detain him long. Release him immediately."
Guo Xiaopeng and Liu Mei stood in front of the large dressing mirror, gazing into each other's eyes. Gentle caresses turned into a passionate storm under the dim lights. In the calm after the tempest, Liu Mei nestled against Guo Xiaopeng like a bird.
Guo Xiaopeng casually mentioned, "Hong Kong Hualong Group will send a representative to join Haizhou Pharmaceuticals' top management. With such a large sum of money invested, it's only natural to send someone to oversee it. The agent will arrive in Haizhou tomorrow."
Still immersed in the afterglow, Liu Mei softly murmured in acknowledgment. Guo Xiaopeng continued, "Hualong Group's board and Chairman Dai want this agent to hold a significant and official position. The core of Haizhou Pharmaceuticals, the production and sale of pharmaceuticals, cannot be compromised. Our financial and real estate sectors are also strong but have close ties with government and special clients, unsuitable for outsiders. The remaining enterprises are minor, insufficient to demonstrate our sincerity. The four-star Haizhou Tower is the perfect fit, and Hualong Group agrees."
Liu Mei's eyes flew open, her body trembling slightly.
Guo Xiaopeng held her tighter. Physical communication surpassed words. Feeling aggrieved, Liu Mei's eyes glistened with tears.
Guo Xiaopeng kissed her hair, "I won't wrong you. You'll join the board and be the assistant to the president of Haizhou Pharmaceuticals, overseeing Haizhou Tower and the group's finances. Plus, you'll get an additional three percent of company shares."
Tears streamed down Liu Mei's cheeks silently. Guo Xiaopeng, slightly uneasy, asked, "What more do you want?"
Liu Mei threw herself onto him, crying, "I only want you! Your love!" Their embrace ignited another wave of passion.
Liu Mei's sobs turned into unending moans...