The welcome banquet was also held at a luxurious five-star hotel arranged by the company for the two of them. Every employee from the company attended. The men wore perfectly tailored suits, while the women appeared in elegant dresses.
Under the grand introduction of Lu Ziniu, Xiang Ri and Fang Yingying quickly became the center of attention, with everyone offering them toasts. However, compared to Secretary Fang, there were far fewer people gathered around her. After all, this was her second time being sent by the headquarters for an inspection, and everyone had more or less grasped her temperament. They knew she despised people hovering around her, especially men.
Xiang Ri, on the other hand, was surrounded by a crowd. Toast after toast came his way, but fortunately, he was a heavy drinker and rejected no one, draining each cup with ease.
During this time, physical contact was inevitable, especially from the bold and forward female employees who, in an effort to please the full authority representative sent by the headquarters, threw him a few seductive glances at the opportune moments. The male employees, though obviously envious, restrained themselves because the person they sought to curry favor with was a "big shot," forcing them to keep their grievances to themselves while continuing to talk about their fascinating experiences in hopes of catching the "big shot's" attention.
However, when they realized that this "big shot" showed no interest in such matters, and even displayed a look of disdain, they wisely fell silent and turned to chat with their colleagues. They certainly didn't want to leave a bad impression on the "big shot" so early.
Xiang Ri, after finally escaping the throngs, walked toward the secretary who had remained composed all night. As soon as he approached, the male employees who had been circling her dissipated.
"Damn it, I'm exhausted!" Xiang Ri ignored her glare and flopped down next to the secretary.
"Exhausted?" Fang Yingying, though angry, couldn't afford to embarrass him in front of so many colleagues. She shifted slightly to the side. "I feel like you're actually enjoying yourself."
"You think I'm having fun?" Xiang Ri shot her a glance. "Actually, I'm quite annoyed by all of this, but who asked you to come back? Staying at the manor would've been much better."
"Probably because you couldn't bear to leave that Miss Trello behind?" Fang Yingying saw through his thoughts and sneered coldly.
"What kind of tone is that?" Xiang Ri leaned closer to her. "We're brothers, can't you say something nice?"
Fang Yingying furrowed her brows. "If you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of so many people, then keep your distance."
"Fine, fine, you're the boss." Xiang Ri hastily moved back, maintaining some distance. "I know you don't like men, but can't you at least treat me as your brother? Honestly, you don't even have to think of me as a man…"
"You're not a man?" Fang Yingying seized the opportunity to tease him, eyeing him from head to toe.
"I can't explain it to you. I'm going back to my room to rest," Xiang Ri muttered irritably, turning to leave. After a few steps, he turned back. "If you need anything, call me. I've already given you my number on the plane—hope you didn't delete it." With that, he strode away.
Though the others weren't sure what had transpired, seeing the "big shot" leave, they didn't dare say much. It was a pity for them, especially the female employees, who no doubt felt disappointed. If only they had managed to establish some complicated connection with him—such an opportunity could have meant promotions and raises.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Xiang Ri soon found himself dozing off in his room.
Meanwhile, at a small restaurant on Rue de Rivoli, located to the north of the Louvre, several people who appeared no different from the other diners were busily finishing off their meals. Yet their use of English betrayed their foreign origins.
"Nico, have you confirmed the target's location?" asked a man in his early thirties, Colonel Vost, who had been assigned to retrieve the "item."
A short white man, who had been savoring his meal, swallowed the remaining piece of dry sausage and replied, "Yes, sir, the target's location has been confirmed."
"Dammit! How many times do I have to tell you, don't call me..." Colonel Vost snapped at the short man.
"Sorry, Mr. Vost. I swear I won't do it again next time..." the short man immediately vowed.
"Enough, Nico. I only want to know where the target is," Colonel Vost coldly interrupted.
"Yes, sir. According to our investigation, he is currently residing in a five-star hotel on the Champs-Élysées."
"Oh? Do you know what his purpose for being here is?"
"According to our investigation, sir, he has been sent here by the headquarters to inspect the branch."
"Are you saying that his actions on the plane were merely incidental and not specifically aimed at that 'item'?"
"I believe so, sir."
"Damn it!" Colonel Vost cursed viciously, his frustration mounting as he thought of his incompetent subordinates. Had they simply taken the item and left, perhaps they wouldn't have crossed paths with that formidable young man. The mission could have been completed without him having to rush here personally, flying through the night.
But what he couldn't foresee was that even if those fools hadn't robbed the plane, Xiang Ri, with his opportunistic mindset, would have seized the chance to "turn the tables" as soon as he laid eyes on that little blue book. After all, who could resist such a tempting prize? Anyone who knew its value and remained indifferent would be a true fool.
Seeing his superior silent, the small man continued, "Mr. Vost, I should add, there is also a woman who came with him."
"A woman? You're saying he's not alone? Are they staying in the same room?" Colonel Vost furrowed his brow, realizing his plan would need adjustment. To avoid any unnecessary complications, he would have to treat the woman as a potential threat with considerable strength. Though he was confident in his own abilities to handle the situation, he worried that any disturbance could attract unwanted attention from the authorities.
"No, sir. They are staying in separate rooms."
"Separate rooms?" Vost's frown deepened. This meant that in order to deal with them simultaneously, he would need to split his forces. While he had no doubts about his own capabilities, his remaining subordinates, though enhanced, were only slightly stronger than ordinary men. It was uncertain whether they could subdue the opposition. It seemed a more meticulous strategy was required.
Upon waking, Xiang Ri cursed himself for his carelessness, immediately checking his phone for any missed calls. Fortunately, the screen was blank, indicating that the well-endowed secretary had not encountered any immediate danger requiring his assistance.
Glancing at the time, he saw it was already 10:31 PM. The banquet must have come to an end by now. Shaking his head to clear the fog of sleep, he splashed his face with water, then decided to head to the room across the hall, hoping the woman hadn't yet fallen asleep.
Arriving at the door, Xiang Ri raised his hand to knock, but hesitated, deciding instead to listen closely at the door.
As he pressed his ear to the door, he faintly heard a couple of startled gasps, followed by muffled sobs as if someone's throat was being squeezed, stifling their cries. His heart tightened, and he immediately grasped the door handle, attempting to turn it, but the door remained firm, evidently locked from within.
Without a second thought, Xiang Ri kicked the door open with force and rushed inside.
Glancing quickly around the living room, he saw no one. It didn't appear to be the result of an intruder. His gaze shifted toward the bedroom, the door slightly ajar, with sounds emanating from within that were enough to make one's face flush with embarrassment and confusion.
Xiang Ri's expression darkened, and without thinking, he charged into the bedroom, only to be stunned by the scene that greeted him.
The woman with the ample bosom was not being assaulted as he had imagined. Instead, she was reclining on the bed, watching television. She was draped in a thin white bath towel, her long, fair legs exposed, while her upper body appeared even more alluring. Freed from the constraints of a bra, her large, soft breasts were almost fully exposed to the air.
Upon seeing the man suddenly appear, her eyes betrayed an unmistakable mixture of panic and shock.