Jiang Hai had brought Cheryl Lee along for two reasons—the ones he had already mentioned—and a third, unspoken one: to scare her a little.
If it hadn't been for her, he wouldn't have bothered getting involved with the South Koreans at all. These people were truly ungrateful—taking advantage of him one moment, then tripping him up the next. He'd known Nan Gaoli's shamelessness before, but he hadn't expected it to be this blatant.
Watching Cheryl Lee's nervous expression, Jiang Hai couldn't help but smirk. He wanted to see her squirm, even if she pretended not to be afraid.
His irritation toward her wasn't entirely unfounded. Had it not been for her, he never would have given Nan Gaoli a chance in the first place. Still, Jiang Hai wouldn't actually harm her. As she'd said herself, she was merely a messenger—powerless and caught in the middle. And since she was Pra Walton's "girlfriend," the most Jiang Hai could do was frighten her a little.
"Alright, stop teasing her," Azarina said casually, glancing over while Wallis worked with some data beside her. "She's been with you so many times—maybe not much credit, but definitely contribution. And don't forget, it was she who tipped off Cheryl last time about the Pra Walton issue."
Jiang Hai chuckled at that, looking at Cheryl with amusement. The girl really was interesting.
"Don't worry," Cheryl finally said, exhaling softly. "Once we get to South Korea, I'll make sure to be the best guide I can be."
Her serious tone drew another amused smile from Jiang Hai, who nodded and took a sip of his juice without further comment.
After several hours of flight through thick clouds, their private jet began its descent toward Incheon International Airport.
From his window, Jiang Hai could see the crowded sprawl below. Unlike China or the United States—where airports were often located far from city centers—South Korea's lack of land forced them to build close to populated areas. Even the capital, Seoul, didn't have its own airport; travelers had to come here to Incheon.
The country itself was small—barely 100,000 square kilometers—but it had a population of over 50 million. No natural resources, no distinct specialties, and an economy that wasn't particularly impressive. As for its military… well, Jiang Hai figured it probably couldn't even hold its own against North Korea.
Yet somehow, this nation still boasted loudly about being the "Republic of Korea," claiming to lead in everything—from culture to technology—and, if they could, probably the universe itself.
To Jiang Hai, once an avid keyboard warrior, there were two countries that topped his personal "most shameless" list—the island nation and South Korea. These two could easily rival each other in arrogance.
The plane touched down with a soft jolt, rolling smoothly across the runway before parking near a VIP terminal. Jiang Hai and his entourage—now twelve in total—prepared to disembark.
Besides Jiang Hai, Cheryl Lee, Azarina, Galina, and Wallis, there were seven others: five Tamron representatives, and two bodyguards hired specifically to protect them. The five Tamron men, all in suits and ties, carried briefcases and document folders. Their stern expressions gave them an air of importance as they walked toward the terminal.
Since they were on a private flight, Jiang Hai and his group were directed to use the VIP channel. However, unlike the calm, quiet VIP zones of other countries, South Korea's VIP passage was packed with people—fans.
As mentioned before, South Korea's most successful export wasn't electronics or cars—it was culture. The so-called Hallyu Wave had swept across Asia, backed heavily by government promotion. Nearly a third of South Korea's economy revolved around its idol industry, and these stars had massive followings, especially in China.
So, when Jiang Hai and his group emerged from the VIP corridor, they found themselves surrounded by a sea of screaming fans.
Fortunately, they were mostly ignored. With the exception of Jiang Hai and Cheryl Lee, the rest were clearly foreigners, and Jiang Hai's rugged, masculine appearance was far from the "pretty boy" aesthetic that defined Korean idols. After a few curious glances, most fans turned away.
That was, until another group appeared behind them.
Suddenly, high-pitched screams erupted from the crowd.
"Ah! Oppa!"
"Seung-ji Oppa!"
"Carambly!"
The roar of excitement was deafening.
Startled, Jiang Hai turned just in time to see a group of young men stepping out of the VIP corridor—clearly famous idols.
The crowd surged forward like a tidal wave.
Within seconds, hundreds of fans pressed inward, overwhelming the airport's security detail. Despite their training, the guards couldn't hold back the crush of bodies. The protective circle around Jiang Hai's group began to collapse.
Before they knew it, Jiang Hai and the others were completely surrounded.
Even with his strength—enough to match eight ordinary men—Jiang Hai couldn't withstand the sheer force of hundreds pushing at once. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around Azarina, Wallis, Galina, and Cheryl, shielding them from the crush.
Azarina and the others scanned the chaos, searching for potential threats. But it quickly became clear that no one was targeting them. It was just a mindless stampede of fans.
They could have forced their way out easily, but the Tamron representatives and Cheryl couldn't move safely through the crowd. So Jiang Hai decided to pull everyone back toward the corridor, signaling the bodyguards and airport security to follow his lead.
The guards, battered and breathless, quickly regrouped and shielded the five stunned Tamron men as they retreated.
Meanwhile, amid the chaos, the idol group continued smiling and waving to their fans.
"Thank you, everyone! Please be careful not to get hurt!" one of them shouted in Korean, grinning as he basked in adoration.
Jiang Hai couldn't understand a word. All he knew was that the crowd was pushing him backward—and that the man was standing directly in his way. With limited space and four women clinging to him, Jiang Hai brushed past, accidentally stepping on the man's foot.
That small accident, however, sparked instant fury.
The man turned abruptly, his smile vanishing. He grabbed Jiang Hai by the coat and shouted something angrily in Korean.
Jiang Hai frowned. "I don't understand what you're saying. What's the matter?" he replied in English.
The idol blinked, momentarily taken aback, before sneering, "Foreigner? Hmph… idiot."
He released Jiang Hai's coat, remembering that he was in public and that his reputation mattered. Most Korean celebrities were cautious about maintaining a polished image, especially in front of foreigners.
Still, he muttered something under his breath.
What he didn't expect was that someone in Jiang Hai's group understood Korean.
Cheryl Lee stepped forward, her face cold. "Who are you calling an idiot, you pig?" she snapped in flawless Korean.
The idol froze for a split second, shocked by her accent. Then his face darkened.
"How dare you—" he began, taking a threatening step forward.
In a country where male chauvinism ran deep, a woman yelling at a man in public was nearly unthinkable.
But before he could take another step, Jiang Hai moved.
Expression calm but eyes sharp, he stepped between Cheryl and the idol, pulling her behind him protectively.