Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. The sky here is exceptionally blue, the clouds are exceptionally white, and the air is exceptionally pure and refreshing. Liu Mei stepped off the plane, immediately struck by this unique atmosphere.
Following the crowd, she exited the airport, curiously taking in the exotic surroundings. A taxi pulled up beside her, and the female driver greeted her warmly. Feeling reassured, Liu Mei got in. "To the Haide Hotel," she instructed.
As the taxi drove off, Yang Chun emerged from the terminal, glanced around, and got into a Toyota SUV, heading in the opposite direction of Liu Mei's taxi.
Liu Mei soon arrived at the Haide Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Urumqi. Having pre-booked her room, she quickly completed the check-in process and took the elevator to the fifteenth floor, entering a luxurious business suite. She first took a warm shower to wash off the fatigue of the four-hour flight, then barefoot, reclined on the sofa with her business communicator, browsing through her contacts. Finding the number she needed, she decided to use the room phone instead of her mobile.
She dialed the number and spoke into the receiver, "Mr. Tietzu? I'm a friend of Yang Qiu, the general manager of Haizhou Chunqiu Brothers Company. When he visited Xinjiang six months ago, I asked him to mention me to you. My name is Liu, Liu Mei." After listening to the response, she laughed flirtatiously, "You know him? That's great. Yang Qiu? He's doing well, he's overseas now." Covering the receiver, she sneered, "In heaven!" Releasing her hand, she resumed her sweet tone, "Yes, I've arrived in Urumqi. When is it convenient for you to meet? Okay, I'll wait for your message." Liu Mei hung up the phone and jumped on the sofa, excited that the first step had gone smoother than expected. It seemed like a good omen.
Meanwhile, in Haizhou Coastal Park, bustling with tourists, Wang Jingfei found a secluded stone bench. She skillfully replaced her phone's SIM card with a new one and dialed a number, "Mr. Song, it's Wang Jingfei."
Mr. Song teased over the phone, "Ah, my wealthy student, always a new number."
"Better safe than sorry," Wang Jingfei replied. "It's a precaution."
Mr. Song chuckled, "Government officials always have secrets. If they were all public, their sense of superiority would vanish. Joking aside, what's the matter?"
"I've found what I needed, but it's too vast. Do you have a way to filter it?" Wang Jingfei asked.
"I've written a program that can easily sort it by usage frequency. I'll send it to you later," Mr. Song said.
"Is it possible to intercept their emails?" Wang Jingfei inquired further.
Mr. Song advised, "Interception isn't about hijacking midway but reading it once it arrives in their mailbox. You can plant an electronic spy in their inbox to record their password and code when they retrieve the mail. It's like having a neighbor's key, allowing access anytime. If this method fails, I have another program that can combine various data to test their password."
Liu Mei stepped out of the hotel, her denim outfit catching the light and highlighting her unique charm. She hailed a taxi and instructed the driver, "To the Xinjiang Hotel."
Arriving at the Xinjiang Hotel, two well-dressed young men approached her as she entered the lobby. They led her out of the hotel and into a Santana sedan, seating her between them. The car quickly drove out of the city, the surroundings becoming increasingly desolate. Liu Mei maintained a calm exterior but was internally anxious, her smile a bit forced. The taller man pulled a black cloth from his bag and said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Liu, but we have our rules."
Understanding the situation, Liu Mei replied confidently, "I understand. Go ahead." The man blindfolded her.
After about half an hour of bumpy driving, the car stopped in front of a newly built two-story building. The two men guided her inside, where they removed her blindfold. Liu Mei blinked to adjust her vision and was shocked to see Yang Chun, with a sinister smile, standing under the glaring lights, and Tietzu, cutting meat from a lamb leg with a bone knife, occasionally glancing at her.
Yang Chun took a large gulp from his wine bowl, wiped his mouth, and sneered, "Surprised to see me, you little slut?" Liu Mei's mind raced, planning her next move.
Yang Chun mocked, "You didn't expect to see me here, did you? Stop plotting; it won't help."
Tietzu, swallowing a piece of lamb, grumbled, "Enemies meet on a narrow path."
Yang Chun joked, "To me, it's enemies meeting, but for my brother here, it's 'a destined meeting across a thousand miles.'"
Tietzu laughed, showing his yellow teeth, "You southerners are cultured." He added, "From Haizhou Airport, I escorted her all the way. It's like the old play, 'Yang Dalang escorts Liu Mei across a thousand miles.'" He raised his bowl to Tietzu.
Though Tietzu didn't understand the reference, he knew it was a compliment, so he clinked his bowl with Yang Chun's and drank. Sweat began to trickle down Liu Mei's forehead, stinging her eyes. She closed them in despair.
"She's yours; her life is mine. Can we start now?" Yang Chun eagerly stood up, "You enjoy her first; then I'll take her life. Fair deal!"
Tietzu parroted, "Fair deal! Thanks for the fresh lamb!" He performed a Xinjiang salute, which Yang Chun returned.
The two drank again, and Tietzu, swaying, walked towards Liu Mei with a deboning knife in one hand and a lamb leg in the other. Liu Mei watched in horror as drops of lamb fat fell on her clothes. Tietzu used the knife to cut open her shirt buttons one by one. Trembling, she tightly closed her eyes.
Yang Chun leered, "Brother Tietzu, I'm down on my luck, but isn't this a generous gift?"
Tietzu, fixated on her cleavage, drooled, unable to respond. Yang Chun goaded, "Liu Mei's skills in bed are quite impressive!"
A flame of anger flared in Liu Mei's heart. She opened her eyes and glared at Yang Chun. Tietzu tapped his belly with the knife, "Good stuff! Good stuff!" He turned away, "Good food should be savored slowly. Take her away, clean her up, and apply the finest spices!" He gestured to the taller man, who nodded and led Liu Mei out.