Even if he had thoughts about South Korea, Jiang Hai wouldn't dwell on them until he returned to the United States. After watching everyone leave, he bought a first-class ticket and flew directly from South Korea to the imperial capital of China.
South Korea wasn't far from China—much closer than flying to the United States. Jiang Hai had barely been on the plane when the announcement for descent came. Soon after, the plane landed at the imperial capital's airport.
Carrying only his luggage and a small backpack, Jiang Hai exited through the airport's special passage.
He didn't like to carry much when traveling. His backpack contained just one set of clothes, a few pairs of underwear, and a phone charger—enough for everything he needed. If he required anything else, he could always buy it; after all, he had plenty of money now.
After leaving the airport, Jiang Hai took a taxi directly to the Qi Group. Upon arrival, he couldn't help but stare at the massive building. Though he had seen it in photos before, experiencing it in person was entirely different—the Qi Group headquarters was truly impressive.
Unlike other companies that rented floors in office buildings, Qi Group occupied an entire building. The structure had been established by Qi Li's father. Though it was slightly outside the Third Ring Road, the company had invested heavily in land approvals and construction during its peak, when it was worth ten billion RMB.
Though the building wasn't very tall, it exuded authority and grandeur.
After getting out of the car, Jiang Hai clicked his tongue at the sight, reflecting on his past. Back then, he and Qi Li hadn't been well-matched, yet now he could easily afford such a building.
Packing his backpack more comfortably, Jiang Hai approached the front desk. No one recognized him, so he was mostly ignored.
"Hello, how can I help you?" a pretty receptionist asked, slightly confused as Jiang Hai approached.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Qi Li," Jiang Hai said with a smile.
"Looking for Mr. Qi? Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist asked, startled. She didn't recall ever seeing Jiang Hai before.
"No appointment. Please call and ask. My name is Jiang Hai," he replied calmly. His polite demeanor encouraged the receptionist to place a call to Qi Li's office.
Since Zheng Jin's departure, Qi Li had two assistants: Du Ning and a newly promoted assistant. Both knew Jiang Hai. Upon learning of his arrival, Du Ning immediately informed Qi Li.
"Jiang Hai is here?" Qi Li paused. He had mentioned visiting a few days ago but hadn't specified a time. Now, seeing him appear unannounced made her smile. She quickly abandoned her documents, took the office elevator down, and headed to the first floor.
As she got off, she spotted Jiang Hai playing with his phone near the front desk. Quickening her pace, she covered his eyes with her hands before he could react.
"Guess who I am!" Qi Li teased, changing her voice playfully.
"Uh… who else could it be but Qi Li?" Jiang Hai replied, momentarily stunned. He wasn't one to tease or flirt, so he simply smiled. Qi Li, unfazed, chuckled and released her hands.
She embraced him warmly, and Jiang Hai instinctively stroked her hair.
The scene left the entire company stunned. Qi Li, long known as the stoic queen of the office—young, beautiful, capable—was now displaying a side rarely seen. Men admired her boldness, while women were equally astonished, intrigued by the man who had managed to bring her down to earth.
Qi Li's gaze never wavered from Jiang Hai, indifferent to any observers.
"Why didn't you tell me you were back? I could have picked you up. Let's go upstairs and get some rest," she said, naturally taking his arm as she led him to the elevator. Nearly all her weight leaned on him. Colleagues muttered that she was clinging to him, revealing a side of the queen they had never seen—captivating, but unattainable to them.
"A surprise for you?" Jiang Hai asked with a smile, following her into the elevator.
As the doors closed, onlookers remained speechless. Soon, the company's WeChat and Penguin groups exploded with activity.
Jiang Hai's visit was a major event for the Qi family. Yet, while most were gossiping and speculating about his identity, some who already knew him frowned. For them, Jiang Hai's high-profile appearance at the Qi family could be either a blessing or a curse.