Love had just begun to bloom, voices soft and tender like birdsong. By the time the two finally got out of bed, it was already afternoon.
Guan Xing hadn't eaten anything since the night before. Coupled with the exhausting passion they had shared, he was starving. He called room service and ordered food. Along with the meal, a letter was delivered.
It was a note from Lanfo. They had already taken that batch of goods and left. The Yun family had suffered such a heavy blow that they had prepared everything "God" needed overnight and delivered it early in the morning.
The note also mentioned that Little Tom would be coming to China in a few days. According to Lanfo's rather refined wording, "God" was preparing to expand business operations in China.
In fact, "God" was very similar to Yuntian. Aside from underground smuggling and enormous illicit profits, they also had legitimate business conglomerates—only on a much larger scale. According to something Little Tom had once mentioned casually, God's wealth was enough to influence the economies of more than ten countries, even their political elections.
At the end of the letter, Lanfo mentioned the one thing Guan Xing least wanted to hear: when Little Tom came to China, someone else would be coming along—Lisa, Tom's sister, a sexy little Western kitten.
Everyone high up in God knew about Guan Xing's entanglement with Lisa. Of course, Lanfo knew too. So at the end of the note, he simply wrote "hehe" followed by a long string of ellipses, clearly implying that Guan Xing would be in for a show that day.
That Lanfo—this was clearly personal revenge disguised as business. Next time they met, Guan Xing decided, he'd hit him even harder.
"Xing, what's wrong? Who sent you that letter?" Hua Ruobing asked with concern when she noticed the change in his expression.
These matters were things Guan Xing didn't want Ruobing to know. He smiled and said, "Nothing. Just friends who've left and were afraid I'd worry, so they left a note. Oh, the people I told you about earlier—the ones who saved you."
"Really? I wanted to thank him in person," Hua Ruobing said sincerely. "If you see him, please pass on my thanks."
She had no suspicion at all. Deeply immersed in love, her judgment had dropped to that of a three-year-old child. Whatever Guan Xing said, she believed.
After eating, Hua Ruobing ignored the discomfort in her body and insisted on going back to Feiyang. Although she had already called Cheng Yunya to report that she was safe, her joyful mood made her eager to share her happiness with her close friend.
Just then, Guan Xing's phone rang. The screen showed Yiran's name.
"Husband, are you okay? I miss you so much. There are guests at home—people who say they're your friends. Can you come back now?" Sun Yiran said softly. After not seeing him all night, she herself hadn't slept either, yet she didn't pester him with questions. Instead, her gentle tone carried a quiet obedience that made Guan Xing feel a little guilty.
"What kind of guests?" Guan Xing asked.
"He says his name is Old Peng. I think I've seen him before—someone from the underworld. Husband, should I call the police?" Yiran sounded cautious; she was probably calling from the bedroom.
"No need. Let him wait a bit. I'll be right back."
After hanging up, Guan Xing glanced at Hua Ruobing. Before he could speak, she asked first, "Xing, do you have something to take care of? Then you don't need to accompany me. I'll go to the company and head home to rest afterward. Don't worry about me."
Only then did Guan Xing remember that there was still Sun Yiran at home. Not knowing how to explain, he said awkwardly, "I do have something to deal with. How about this—I'll take you to Feiyang first, then go handle it."
"Mm," Hua Ruobing agreed happily. She hoped he could spend a little more time with her. Having given both body and heart, she now saw this man as everything in her life.
The hotel bill had already been settled. Guan Xing held Hua Ruobing around the waist and helped her out of the hotel. Having just given herself to him, her movements were still a bit uncomfortable, but she insisted on going to Feiyang, leaving Guan Xing no choice.
On the way, Guan Xing couldn't understand why Old Peng had come looking for him again. He had already handled God's matters—so why now? And Old Peng had even found his residence. It seemed Yuntian's influence and intelligence network in the capital were truly formidable.
At Feiyang, Hua Ruobing shyly kissed Guan Xing on the cheek, her face flushed red, then turned and hurried inside. Though she had willingly given herself to him, she still wasn't used to showing affection so openly in public.
The lingering fragrance on his cheek, Guan Xing watched her retreating figure until it disappeared from sight. Then he started the car and sped back to Tianbi Garden.
Sure enough, several eye-catching luxury cars were parked downstairs—Old Peng's convoy.
When Guan Xing stepped out of the elevator, the door to his apartment was already open. Sun Yiran was waiting there warmly. "Husband, you're back?"
Without any reserve despite the guests, she bent down to help him change into slippers, took his coat and hung it up, then accompanied him inside.
Yun Ying had been watching all this. This mature, charming woman was not only beautiful but gentle and considerate, obedient and endearing. Even with his own father-in-law present, he couldn't help but show a trace of envy.
Old Peng, however, had no mind for such observations. When he saw Guan Xing, he stood up immediately.
"Doctor Guan, sorry to disturb you again. This time, I'm here on Mr. Lanfo's instructions to deliver the compensation," he said, handing over a check.
The amount written on it was ten billion US dollars. The Yun family truly lived up to their reputation—ten billion dollars gathered in such a short time.
Guan Xing didn't take it. He sat down on the sofa and said somewhat awkwardly, "Old Peng, we're friends now. This money really shouldn't go to me. Otherwise, wouldn't I be acting like a petty man?"
Yun Ying was startled and quickly said, "Doctor Guan, please don't say that. Our Yun family will never forget your life-saving grace. But Mr. Lanfo said this was the decision from above. Please don't make things difficult for us. We'll rely on your care in the future."
"Yes," Old Peng added earnestly. "Consider it an old man begging you. Please accept it, so we can finally sleep peacefully. To have things resolved this way—it's a blessing."
Old Peng looked exhausted, nothing like his energetic self from the restaurant before. His unsteady posture made him look even older.
Seeing him plead like this, even Sun Yiran felt sympathy and glanced at Guan Xing, softly calling his name.
"All right," Guan Xing said. "I'll accept it on behalf of those kids. Yiran, take it."
Sun Yiran accepted the check. Old Peng and Yun Ying both let out sighs of relief.
"What? Ten billion US dollars!" Sun Yiran exclaimed when she saw the amount. She had never seen so much money in her life.
Thinking she was worried, Yun Ying hurried to explain, "Yes. Because the amount is so large, cash withdrawal would take time, so it's a check from Jingdu Bank. You can withdraw it anytime—no need to worry."
"Thank you, Doctor Guan. We'll repay this great favor in the future. We won't disturb you any longer. If you ever need Old Peng, please don't hesitate."
Old Peng was clearly drained. Two burly men in black quickly stepped forward to support him as they took their leave.
Guan Xing didn't try to stop them. Sun Yiran saw them out. Once the door closed, she bounced back excitedly and threw herself into Guan Xing's arms, waving the check and asking, "Husband, whose money is this? Ten billion dollars—over seventy billion yuan! These people are insanely rich!"
Her eyes sparkled. A million or even ten million might be manageable, but over seventy billion, written on such a thin piece of paper, felt unbearably heavy.
Guan Xing sighed and smiled. "Consider it a gift someone gave me. Take it. Aren't you starting a company? Use it however you like. This should be enough, right?"
After planting a kiss on him, Sun Yiran stared at the check, looking conflicted. "Husband, with this much money, why even start a company? Sigh… if I'd known, I'd just be a super-rich lady and do nothing."
"Sure," Guan Xing replied smoothly. "Then don't start one. Stay home every day, cook and do laundry for me. That way, you won't go out and let others take advantage of you."
Her face flushed red as she leaned into him again, her full body pressed close. In a sweet, teasing voice, she said, "Husband, who would dare take advantage of me? I'd chop him up alive. But heehee… you're the exception."
As she spoke, she pressed her chest against his face, hands wrapping around the back of his head, squeezing and rubbing as if determined to show off her overwhelming charm to the man she loved.
Finally, the question she didn't want to ask still slipped out.
"Husband… where did you go last night?"
A woman's intuition was indeed mysterious. In that moment of intimacy, Sun Yiran caught a faint, unfamiliar fragrance—a woman's perfume, and not her own.