Hongqi was busy in a wine tasting event held in Hong Kong that same night. He was already on his fifth wine to taste when he suddenly received an ambiguous text from his lawyer, Attorney Go Lei. The same man who ignored Xiulan that time the three of them were inside Honqi's car.
"Wow! I just received this picture from my friend. Your wife knows Mo Dejiang? Really amazing!" Attorney Go's text message said and attached a photo of Xiulan smiling at Mo Dejiang while the later was also smiling handsomely.
Hongqi didn't think much of the message but when he realized that Mo Dejiang's smile was pretty generous and genuine, Hongqi thought that this man likes his wife. As far as Hongqi remembers, Mo Dejiang was like him, pretentious man in front of the public yet very different in private.
Hongqi looks at the photo again and he doesn't know why he suddenly felt so annoyed. "How did she become associated with a man like Mo Dejiang?" He asked himself.
Mo Dejiang was not a random man that anyone can befriend. The sole heir of the famous casinos in China, Macau and Hong Kong; and from the notorious triad Mo family. A very dangerous and important man.
Hongqi can't help but think how his aloof nerdy wife associated herself with such an important dangerous man.
"When was this?" He shortly replied to Attorney Go. His curiosity was kicking and an unknown annoying feeling is starting.
In just a matter of seconds, Attorney Go replied. "Just an hour ago. According to my friend, they seem close since Mo Dejiang was smiling like a fool the whole time which is rare. I'm really amazed by this fact, Hongqi."
Hongqi frowned. He didn't like what he just read. He suddenly excused himself from the rest of the wine tasters and went to the nearest empty space to cool his mood and reply to Attorney Go.
"Details." He sent to Attorney Go. Then he started calling the guard that was assigned to follow Xiulan.
"Good evening, Young Master Xing." The guard greeted.
"Spill. What happened between my wife and Mo Dejiang's meeting?" Hongqi icily probed. Mo Dejiang and Mrs. Xing in one sentence was not good news at all.
"Uhh… about that. Mrs. Xing was in her office for 13 hours then left her office at 7:30 PM then she went to a mall to buy a strawberry cake. After that she hastily went to Blends Café by 9 PM and waited for Mo Dejiang to arrive. The later arrived by 11 PM." The guard started and carefully told his report.
"She waited for two hours?" Hongqi unknowingly asked. He can't believe that his wife waited for two hours for a man. "What so important about their meeting that she had to wait for him that long?" Hongqi annoyingly asked himself.
"Yes, Young Master Xing. Though they only talked for an hour and a half. I forgot to tell but Mo Dejiang arrived with a young pretty lady but eventually left her outside the café before meeting Mrs. Xing. Also madam gave the strawberry cake to Mo Dejiang as thanks for his help while Mo Dejiang gave a red flash driver. I didn't hear much of their conversation but they seem to be former university friends. Madam directly went back to the penthouse to rest while Mo Dejiang went somewhere with a different woman on his black Bentley. I will send the photos I took during their meeting." The guard explained and he sent the very HD photos of Xiulan and Mo Dejiang.
Hongqi ended the call to check the photos. The photos were so crisp and high definition, it can pass as poster for a lovers' advertisement. The two were happily chatting in the photos. The photos also caught the red flash drive and the strawberry cake.
Hongqi fully knows that Xiulan was not cheating since she looks like she was transacting business base on her body language. But Mo Dejiang has that annoying love struck expression plastered on his face the whole time.
"I didn't know my wife will be this very popular." Hongqi muttered while he stares at the photos. What more annoyed him was Xiulan's smile in the photos was really pretty. "How can you reveal such beautiful smile to other men, huh?" Hongqi angrily muttered.
He doesn't know the context of their meeting and their topic but he fully knows that he's not allowed to know it since Mo Dejiang is involved. Whatever it was, he knows that Xiulan will not put herself out there in a bad situation.
"It might be university related. " Hongqi concluded and stared at the red flash drive on the photos. While he was pacifying himself, he received another text message from Attorney Go.
"My friend told me that after Mo Dejiang met your wife, he went somewhere with a young pretty woman. He doesn't know the context of their meeting but they seem to be like friends catching up or a reunion. Your wife really amazes me so much. Why not let me talk to her, huh? You selfish brat." Attorney Go said in his message.
Attorney Go has been dying to have a conversation with Xiulan but Hongqi kept blocking him and hindering him to have a chance. He's not sure why this handsome Young Master would not allow him, he only concluded that Hongqi might be afraid that he will spill his darkest secrets to Xiulan.
"Thanks. I already know." Hongqi coldly replied and didn't bother to look at his phone again.
Hongqi still have two more days in Hong Kong before he comes back to China. He was just out of the country for a long and an annoying pest already appeared. Not just an ordinary pest but one of the dangerous pests out there.
Hongqi massaged his temples. He never knew that he will be connected to Mo Dejiang and their mutual person was his wife. This was a huge surprise for him. He never wanted to associate or even talk to that man, but he might have to because of his wife.
In the morning, Xiulan went to the office as early as 5 AM to start her hunting. She was also waiting for the news about her meeting with Mo Dejiang but it seems that it didn't caught the media's attention. She was so relieved.
Xiulan decided to call Hongqi at 9 AM and tell him about her meeting with Mo Dejiang. She must at least tell him that she met with her old university classmate.
Xiulan passed the hour by typing away on her laptop and drinking her coffee. In her progress, the terrorist seems to be transacting a lot of online casinos. They are trying to get more funds by playing since they are lacking in money backup.
ISIS terrorist group are scattered in different countries trying to put threat and be superior. No one knows who funds these bad people but Xiulan was not sure if this current terrorist group in their country are members of ISIS.
She also managed to find out that this current terrorist group is going to a public event to create problems. But she's not sure which event.
"Tsk." Xiulan's really frustrated. There are a lot of public events in the country. How can she even guess which event they will try to ruin? She's not even sure if it's a small or big event too.
"Secretary Dandan, can you order me some spicy noodle soup? Also don't tell anything to Miss Bai about this." Xiulan suddenly ping Secretary Dandan for food. She was in deep thoughts that she became hungry. Miss Bai's bland food will not nourish her brain enough so she must eat some noodles to have more fuel for her brain.
"Yes." Secretary Dandan affirmed. She immediately called the nearest pho restaurant and ordered the most delicious pho and added some dumplings. She'll make sure that her boss will eat heartily and will not allow Miss Bai to scold her boss because of her strict diet.
While Xiulan waits for her delicious noodles, she decided to call Hongqi and tell him about Mo Dejiang.
It'll be 9 AM soon and she thought that her husband might be awake now.
In just two rings, the clingy husband answered the call with such raspy voice.
"Morning, dear. Why you only called now, huh? I received a disturbing news last night about you." Hongqi greeted and teasingly accused yet there was a tinge of threat.
"Good morning, husband. You really have a raspy voice. Also what do you mean by disturbing? If it's about Mo Dejiang, yes I met up with him. We talked about university issues. He was a close classmate back then." Xiulan greeted back and told Hongqi about Mo Dejiang. For some reason, Xiulan already knew that Hongqi might have received the news about her meeting with Mo Dejiang.
It's not like Xiulan's accusing Hongqi for stalking or keeping an eye on her, but he's Xing Hongqi. He has people that will report to him like friends or acquaintances.
"I drank a lot of tasty wine last night. I was in wine tasting event. I bought a lot and I'll bring it there when I come back. Anyway, don't associate yourself much with that Mo Dejiang. He's bad news." Hongqi warned. He really didn't like the idea of Xiulan being friends with that dangerous man.
"You should drink a medicine and more water; you'll get a sore throat. Also I think it's impossible to not talk with Dejiang. We are currently working on a university issue. Don't worry, he won't harm me." Xiulan clarified and tried to pacify Hongqi.
"Pft-- Yeah right. I know he won't harm you but I'm worried by something else." Hongqi snorted.
"And what is that?" Xiulan confusedly asked.
"He's a man." Hongqi didn't elaborate much.
"Huh? Yes he's a man and so?" Xiulan patiently asked.
"You are my wife." Hongqi with his short replies that didn't make sense for Xiulan.
She deeply confused by his response.
"Yes, I am. So what about it?" Xiulan wanted to virtually smack this husband of hers. His short replies made her frustrated.
Hongqi didn't notice that he beamed when he heard that Xiulan agreed that she was his wife.
"It's bad news and not good for our marriage." Hongqi playfully deduced.
Xiulan coughed aggressively with what she heard and her husband's conclusion made her wanted to vomit. "More like bad for your image, you stupid husband." Xiulan gravely retorted in her heart.
"You're an idiot. I will not cheat on you!" Xiulan was frustrated over Hongqi's accusations.
"I know that. The problem is with that man, I don't trust him." Hongqi childishly accused. He's also amazed that someone told him that he was an idiot. That was a first and it came from his aloof wife as well. He was just teasing her yet he was called an idiot.
"Ah! He's been my friend since college. He would have pursued me when I was still single. I was single for so long, you know. Now that I'm married to you, he will not do something stupid and irrational." Xiulan was so stressed out with this conversation. She's hungry and now hangry because Hongqi's accusing her.
Hongqi wanted to laugh so much. His little wife explaining and stressing out. Oh he wanted to see her face right now.
"Oh, dear. I'm just teasing you. I know very well you are loyal and madly in love with me." Hongqi happily teased and accused his wife more. He was only kidding around. He was just really happy that Xiulan was so faithful to him even though their marriage was just a huge scam.
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm hanging up. You're making me angry so early in the morning." Xiulan angrily said and ended the call. Her husband has been spouting nonsense so early. Her brain can't even process their conversation.
"What does he mean I'm madly in love with him? Who spouted such nonsense to him ah?!" Xiulan angrily put away her phone. When did she ever love him? She treats him like a family so it may be an unconditional love for a friend or family. But the way accused her made her embarass.
Hongqi playfully grinned after his conversation with Xiulan. He can't stop smiling. Though he was annoyed that his wife tried to protect her relationship with Mo Dejiang. He's not sure how he's gonna break off the friendship between the two.
He really doesn't need to ruin their friendship, but once that man tried to do something funny. He'll try his best to remove him from Xiulan's life.
Hongqi won't let a triad's young master to be close with Xiulan. He's associating himself with the country's justice and security system. It'll be a huge contradiction that his wife was associated with a triad young master.
But was that the only reason why he wanted to break off their friendship?