After answering the phone, Snieryana looked apologetically at Mavi and said, "Sorry, Mavi, something urgent came up that I need to handle. Why don't you stay here with Leoxia and have some food? If I can make it back in time, I'll return as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Mavi slightly loosened his grip on Leoxia's knee, letting her go for the moment. "Vice Premier Snieryana, don't worry about me. I'm easygoing."
"In that case, I'll head out now. Can you keep Leoxia company for me? If I end up coming back late, I'll call you," Snieryana suggested after some thought.
Seeing Mavi nod in agreement, Snieryana quickly put on her coat, hurriedly left the villa, and drove off. She felt at ease leaving Leoxia and Mavi alone together, sitting at the dining table, staring at each other.
As the daughter of the Vice Premier, Leoxia was already used to her mother suddenly leaving for work. On the other hand, Mavi felt like he had just walked into the lion's den. He couldn't shake the feeling that he should find an excuse to slip away…
However, just as Mavi was thinking this, he saw Leoxia—who was sitting across from him—suddenly put down her utensils, bite her lip mischievously, and look at him with a glint in her eyes.
"I just remembered—I have something to do. I should get going," Mavi said, wiping his mouth with a napkin as he got up, ready to leave this "den of danger."
But before he could move, Leoxia reached out and stopped him. "You hurt me just now, and you're just going to leave like that?"
Leoxia pushed out her ample chest, making it clear that she had no intention of letting Mavi go.
Mavi hadn't expected that becoming a "hero" in Ukraine would come with so many troubles. Not only did he have to deal with the entire European Union, but even Ukrainian beauties were showing interest in him. What was he supposed to do…?
Just as Mavi was "troubled" by these thoughts, Leoxia suddenly let out a soft whimper and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him. She pressed her entire body against his, catching him completely off guard with the unexpected intimacy.
...
Given that this was the Vice Premier's home—and the fact that Leoxia was only 17—Mavi knew that if he gave in to temptation and did something inappropriate, it would be utterly disgraceful.
So, after letting Leoxia hold him for a moment, Mavi gently pulled her away and said, "I have something to do later. Take care of yourself."
Hearing Mavi insist on leaving, the young Leoxia immediately looked dejected and unwilling to part. But she couldn't think of a good reason to make him stay, so she could only watch as he left the villa.
Just as Mavi was about to walk out the door, Leoxia suddenly called out to him, "Mavi, can I visit you in Russia someday?"
"Oh, sure," Mavi replied absentmindedly.
"Promise?" Leoxia's expression finally softened.
"Yeah." Mavi casually agreed, never expecting that this simple promise would lead to something significant in the future...
---
### Back to Business
After experiencing dinner at the Ukrainian Vice Premier's house, Mavi returned to his hotel, preparing for the introduction of the Lamborghini Reventón concept car to the Chinese market.
In 2001, supercars were extremely rare in China, making it the perfect time for Lamborghini to expand. Wealthy young heirs and second-generation elites usually had to go through personal connections to buy sports cars from overseas.
At best, their connections allowed them to acquire mass-produced models like the Porsche 911 or the Ferrari F355. Limited-edition supercars like the Ferrari Enzo were nearly impossible to obtain.
When Mavi's Lamborghini company introduced the Reventón concept car's specifications and images to China and officially announced that the car would debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show on January 29, 2001—allowing domestic customers to place orders—it caused an immediate sensation.
Numerous supercar enthusiasts from wealthy families, eager for this rare opportunity, grabbed their cash and booked flights to Guangzhou.
After all, the Bentleys, Porsches, and Ferraris they were driving were already outdated models abroad. The latest versions had been available in Europe for one or two years...
Lamborghini's decision to participate in the auto show was groundbreaking, and the impact it had on China's wealthy circles was yet to be determined. The true extent of its success would only be revealed on the day of the show.
---
Arrival in Guangzhou
The day before the auto show, on January 28, Mavi—being the chairman of Lamborghini—took a private jet to Guangzhou International Airport.
This time, he opted for a low-profile approach, wanting to experience the excitement of a regular visitor at a car show. So he didn't notify the local government, nor did he inform the Russian consulate.
He simply brought a few bodyguards, dressed in casual attire to avoid drawing attention, and checked into a hotel near the auto show.
The next morning, Mavi, accompanied by his bodyguards, entered the exhibition hall through the VIP entrance. The moment he stepped inside, he couldn't help but notice that the cars on display looked... well, quite dated.
For example, models like the Alto SC 7080, Audi 100, Peugeot 505, Santana 2000, and the Hongqi 7220 all had a distinctly old-fashioned design. Despite their outdated looks, they were being sold at astonishingly high prices—most starting at over 70,000 yuan. The Santana 2000, for instance, was priced at a staggering 200,000 yuan!
Mavi didn't even know how to react to these prices.
Walking past the regular car exhibits, he arrived at the luxury car section, where the atmosphere was noticeably different. The models accompanying the high-end vehicles were also much more stunning.
For instance, next to the 2001 Volvo 960 stood a model with an elegant presence, striking various poses for the cameras.
The Volvo 960 was selling for 700,000 yuan in China! Meanwhile, the adjacent booths showcased the Mercedes-Benz S320 and S600, priced at 1.02 million yuan and 1.72 million yuan, respectively—costing more than the BMW 528i (760,000 yuan) and BMW 740i (940,000 yuan) combined!
As Mavi casually strolled past these European luxury brands, he finally reached the central highlight of the exhibition—the Lamborghini booth.
In 2001, it was rare to see top-tier supercars at Chinese auto shows, so the moment Lamborghini made its appearance, it instantly became the centerpiece of the entire event.
Journalists, media outlets, and wealthy attendees swarmed the booth, creating a frenzy of attention.
Ironically, this unexpected crowd ended up blocking Mavi, the chairman of Lamborghini himself, from entering his own exhibit.
He couldn't help but chuckle at the situation…
(End of Chapter)