Initially, Ke Muning wanted to write down his obscenities in Hua Country characters, and send the photo to Wei Xuanming. But when he couldn't master the language after a considerable effort, he resorted to calling.
He figured that a face-to-face exchange of harsh words is quite refreshing.
Li Xiaoya, consequently, was chosen to curse in the language of the Hua Country.
However, she instinctively pulled her punches when venting anger. Ke Muning thought that she lacked the vulgar language of an adult.
"Should we dispatch someone to infiltrate the Hua Country?" An aide asked.
"No need to provoke their nation... They will venture overseas again," Ke Muning dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"Do you mean..."
"If there's an overseas business mishap, someone will have to go out and deal with it. If Wei Lin steps in, we'll kill him first. Without Wei Lin, they will have to rely on the lame and the mute. And if the old man decides to step up... that would be quite beneficial," Ke Muning voiced nonchalantly.
"It seems like the journey was in vain," the subordinate lamented his lack of effort.
"How could it be futile?" Ke Muning turned towards Li Xiaoya, "Let's go! You haven't learnt how to kill yet."
Li Xiaoya looked at him, utterly baffled.
With the two uncles gone, was he going to condemn the innocent?
Ke Muning pulled out his lighter, "pop" opened the lid, and intended to light a cigar.
But Secretary Wang stretched out his hand to intercept it, warning, "There's a child here."
Ke Muning frowned, pondering for a moment. Although he's a man who doesn't bother with niceties, especially like killing, he figured he could make an exception for smoking.
Ke Muning let go, then continued his line of thought, "Has the news about my trip to kill the Gui brothers spread around the world?"
"Almost," replied an aide.
Ke Muning ordered, "Prepare the plane then. We head to Atari Island immediately to meet another foe."
His aide was stunned, "Your target is he..."
Ke Muning shrugged, "Of course, perfect if we can kill two birds with one stone."
"My friend, you don't need to come with us," Ke Muning turned his gaze on Secretary Wang.
Without batting an eye, Secretary Wang pointed to Li Xiaoya and said, "I am responsible for the child. I have to take her back."
Ke Muning's smile disappeared when he retorted, "Are you afraid I'll kill her?"
"I'm worried you'll kidnap her," Secretary Wang shot back.
"......"
Ke Muning fell silent for a moment, his voice cooling significantly, "That place, I can't take you."
Sating this, he turned to Li Xiaoya, "Your choice. Leave with him now, or come with me to learn what you want. When we finish, I'll send you back to your home in Hua Country."
Secretary Wang focused on Li Xiaoya, awaiting her decision.
She could choose to leave with him and avoid further trouble.
But would it really end there?
Nothing changed, Ke Muning still had murder in his intentions, only on hold temporarily due to circumstances.
But she gets to go home with Secretary Wang...
She might have to encounter Ke Muning again in the future... how should she deceive him then?
Li Xiaoya's little mind was in a tussle between two thoughts.
Secretary Wang chuckled, "Is it tough to decide?"
Li Xiaoya looked at Ke Muning.
Ke Muning was inexplicably overjoyed, he grabbed Li Xiaoya and ran, "I'll send you back in a couple of days!"
Secretary Wang coolly poured himself a glass of water, completely unruffled.
It didn't matter much to him.
But Sheng Yuxiao would be angry.
And the Gui Family would be on edge for the next few days...
That's good.
They would realize that the precious treasure they had finally recovered might be stolen again if they didn't take proper care of it.
Secretary Wang rose from his seat and said, "I'm leaving."
The bodyguard immediately followed.
Meanwhile, after Ke Muning had carted off Li Xiaoya, his first line of dialogue was intended to sow discord between her and Secretary Wang.
He stated, "Wang was so nervous about sending that girl away, but he didn’t send you away. That shows he doesn’t care about your safety. It's good that you're with me, because I will ensure your safety."
He went on, "It sounds like your family isn't exactly splendid either. If this were in a foreign country, they'd have lost custody a long time ago. Right now, you would be pitifully sitting in an orphanage, waiting to be adopted by me."
Li Xiaoya didn't correct his misinterpretation of Secretary Wang's words, merely stating, "I don't like waiting to be taken care of by others."
Ke Muning paused for a moment, then laughed and replied, "Right on, you're just like me. How could you be pitifully sitting around, waiting for someone to come to your rescue?"
You should be a little madcap, a little devil, you’re surely not meant to be pitiful.
Ke Muning took her and boarded a helicopter.
From a beach not far away, Zhou General caught sight of this scene and couldn't help but exclaim, "These relatives are really loaded!"
Seeing the armed bodyguards, Zhou General was even more taken aback.
"Holy Cow! They're more than just rich!" Zhou General was in awe.
President Xiao heard and looked over curiously, "What's happening?"
Zhou General pulled himself together and shook his head, "Nothing. I was just thinking that our major shareholder truly has a lot of power."
President Xiao: ?
President Xiao didn't think much of it, simply lamenting, "We've been abandoned by both Wei, and the major shareholder's proxy."
"But didn't Wei say he won't be joining us, but would bear the expenses?"
"Yeah, such a generous shareholder is truly a rarity." Though President Xiao felt inadequate, he voiced, "Zhou General, tell me honestly, what’s their background?"
"I really don’t know." Zhou General rudely shook his head and walked away.
Meanwhile, after swapping transportation twice, Li Xiaoya finally arrived at Atari Island with Ke Muning.
Atop Atari Island, there was a castle built into a hill.
Ke Muning led her up the hill, and put a wide-brimmed hat, that a bodyguard had brought, on her head.
Then, he put some grass on it.
"Bend your head a little more, don't make yourself a target." Ke Muning pushed her down a little.
Then he gave her a water bottle, he flicked the cap open to reveal a straw.
Li Xiaoya bit the straw and as the water went down her throat.
Suddenly, someone speaking English called out, "They're out."
A car was driven out of the castle.
Ke Muning first placed the binoculars in front of Li Xiaoya, "Can you see?"
Li Xiaoya nodded.
So this is the world viewed through a telescope, objects become tremendously vast.
Ke Muning took it off, saying, "This is the adjustment knob..." Frowning, he continued, "Dependence on translations is quite troublesome. I ought to study English more seriously upon my return."
Li Xiaoya slightly nodded.
"The second car is emerging," said his subordinate standing nearby.
Ke Muning replied, "That old man is afraid of dying. He will only show up after the first few cars have circled around to confirm it's safe.”
His subordinate nodded, continuing the ambush.
Hearing their conversation, Li Xiaoya once again sighed, Ke Muning might be crazy, but he definitely wasn’t simple-minded. He was truly a formidable enemy!
Ten minutes passed.
The cars that came out took a round and went back.
Almost after waiting for another half an hour, Li Xiaoya’s pot of water was almost at the bottom.
Another car appeared.
And as soon as it showed up...
"Bang!" a sound echoed, followed by a rumble like a chain of firecrackers going off.
"That’s a wrap," Ke Muning said, unlit cigar clenched in his mouth, he passed his sniper rifle to his subordinate.
The island erupted into chaos.
Ke Muning hurriedly pulled Li Xiaoya into the helicopter. In the rush, her hat fell off.
Ke Muning leaned back relaxedly in his chair, saying, "You see, quite simple."
He said, "I’m glad you chose to come here with me. Next, I’m off to North Africa, would you like to experience that with me?"
Li Xiaoya asked, "What day of the week is it today?"
"Monday."
"I have to go back to school."
Ke Muning expressed regret, "Alright then, go study English." He wrote a number on a paper and gave it to her.
Li Xiaoya hesitated for a moment, then wrote down her own number for him.
If Ke Muning showed any signs of action against her uncle or grandfather, she would be instantly informed.
Ke Muning, holding her phone number, seemed quite pleased. He said, "Until next time,"
Li Xiaoya was returned to the previous island, where Secretary Wang was waiting for her.
"Is Ke Muning in a pretty good mood?" Secretary Wang asked her.
Li Xiaoya leaned her head, "Maybe."
"But someone's not in a very good mood..." Secretary Wang pointed to a door behind him.
There's no need for him to say more. Li Xiaoya's eyes lit up: "Sheng Yuxiao is inside?"
Secretary Wang nodded and watched as she rushed in joyfully like a gust of wind.
Alright then.
Love is, after all, a two-way journey.
And Sheng Yuxiao wouldn't stay upset for more than three seconds.
Watching the door being pushed open, and the young girl vanish inside, Secretary Wang quietly mused with a smile, "If Ke Muning decides to mold her into a version of himself, things are going to get interesting..."
