Upon hearing Yan Mei's words, Xiaozihan sensed that something was amiss. When Yan Mei mentioned that the male lead in the film was him, he immediately roared, "Mei Er, what are you up to? Explain to me, how could I be the main character in that film?"
After waiting for a while without a response, all he heard was Yan Mei laughing without a care in the world, repeatedly saying, "My stomach hurts from laughing so much, I can't take it anymore."
The laughter on the phone varied in intensity, sometimes distant, sometimes close. It seemed that Yan Mei was rolling around on the bed, laughing heartily. Xiaozihan couldn't contain his anger, yet he felt helpless. He couldn't just shout into the phone. Faint sounds from the television could still be heard, including Yan Mei's enchanting moans, making Xiaozihan aware that Yan Mei was indeed telling the truth – he was the male lead in the film. Apart from being with him, Yan Mei wouldn't do such things with anyone else. However, when did Yan Mei shoot this, and why hadn't he noticed? This woman was truly twisted to be able to watch such explicit scenes of herself. It left him at a loss for words.
As far as Xiaozihan knew, there was no habit in Xinhua of recording such intimate moments. However, in the land of the rising sun, many people had such habits. Newlyweds often recorded the passionate moments of their wedding night for later enjoyment, and some even used it for educational purposes, showing it to their children. He couldn't understand their mindset; it was absolutely unacceptable.
"Hey, Mei Er, have you had enough fun? If you keep laughing, I'll curse you to face consequences," Xiaozihan said. Just as he finished speaking, there was a "thud," followed by a scream from Yan Mei. Apparently, she had laughed too much and accidentally fallen off the bed. Now it was Xiaozihan's turn to burst into laughter.
"Ouch, that hurts! My butt is swollen from the fall, and you're still laughing," Yan Mei complained while rubbing her smooth and tender buttocks, which had just made an intimate encounter with the floor. She sounded resentful.
How could Xiaozihan miss this opportunity? He continued to laugh heartily. Yan Mei, dissatisfied, let out a coquettish hum. In her heart, she felt unlucky, as the laughter had reminded her of the romantic times she had shared with Xiaozihan. Add to that her prank on Xiaozihan, and she had completely forgotten that she was currently lying on a single bed. A momentary lack of attention led to her falling off.
"Haha, suffering from consequences. Mei Er, you're truly wicked. You dared to take charge without my consent as the main character. Hehe, Mei Er, I'll remember this. You better destroy the film before I get back. Otherwise, lightly, I'll give you twenty slaps on the butt, and heavily, you won't be able to leave the bed for three days."
"Hehe, I'm not afraid. Miss Meier isn't afraid. Even if I can't get out of bed for ten days, I'm not scared. Hehe, let's see what you can do. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I showed the film to Xiaohu yesterday. Her eyes widened, and she praised you for being brave," Yan Mei said with a mischievous sigh.
Xiaozihan suddenly felt speechless, and then he angrily said, "You, Yan Mei, how could you do such a thing? If I don't get back to deal with you, my surname isn't Xiao."
Yan Mei sighed softly, "Then come back for a visit. I really miss you."
A warm feeling surged in Xiaozihan's heart as he softly said, "I miss you too, Mei Er. Your little tricks, I know them well. But recently, I've been practicing the 'Limitless Yuan Dao,' and during this initial period, I can't... So it's better not to come back now. Your charm, Mei Er, you should be clear about it. I'm not sure if I can resist your temptation right now."
Regarding "Limitless Yuan Dao," Yan Mei remembered that Xiaozihan had mentioned it to her and said he wasn't practicing it much. She didn't know why he suddenly resumed practicing. Worried about the potential dangers of practicing such Qi Gong, she anxiously asked, "Professor, didn't you say you stopped practicing it? Has something happened?"
Xiaozihan knew that Yan Mei was very intelligent, and nothing could be hidden from her. He sighed and said, "I didn't practice it much before. One reason was because of my father, and the other was due to the danger of practicing it, which was even higher than practicing 'Softening Qi Rotation.' So, I put it aside. Now, I have obtained my father's insights into the practice, making it relatively easier. A lot has happened recently, and it's hard to explain right now. I'll tell you when I get back."
Yan Mei, understanding and without pressing for more details, replied, "Okay."
"It's getting late, go to sleep. But remember, don't watch those weird movies again."
"I know, my dear professor. You're the one with too many issues. I can't do without watching. By the way, don't call Xiaohu tonight. Recently, Xiaofei Tang has taken over a few more territories, and Xiaohu is busy. If you call her, she probably won't sleep all night. She really misses you and has been clamoring to visit you."
Xiaozihan's eyes softened, and he said, "Got it. Tomorrow, I'll listen to her saying 'Grandma's bear' again. Haha."
At Fang Morning Steel's leader, Fu Chenhe's suburban villa, lights were on, illuminating the surroundings. The adjustable half-circle crystal chandelier above the hall emitted a bright light. Three sets of genuine leather sofas formed a semi-circle, and sitting in the center was a middle-aged man with sharp facial features, eagle-like eyes, and a broad forehead. On his sides, seven people of varying importance were seated.
Although it was well past midnight, Fu Chenhe's phone calls had summoned all the members of Fang Morning Steel who were in Pinggang. Regardless of the time, he would not hesitate to wake his brothers from a deep sleep if he deemed it necessary. For others, this might not be a wise choice, but Fu Chenhe was such a person – decisive and prompt. Seeing that everyone had gathered, Fu Chenhe's gaze swept across their faces, and the sharpness in his eyes made the Steel Tigers present feel uncomfortable.
Having been called in the middle of the night by the boss, everyone already knew something important must have happened. Seeing Fu Chenhe's stern expression confirmed their suspicions.
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One of the Steel Tigers, Wu Kai, known for his recklessness and lack of brainpower, opened his mouth without assessing the boss's mood, saying, "Boss, what's so urgent that you pulled us away from our women?"
The others, witnessing Wu Kai's impulsive behavior, couldn't help but worry. Speaking without considering the boss's mood was a risky move, especially when the boss's expression was so serious.
However, Fu Chenhe didn't blame him. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Little Kai, how were the women tonight?"
Wu Kai, hearing the boss inquire about his affairs, immediately began to describe enthusiastically, "Three women, all fair-skinned like water. Round buttocks, big breasts, smooth as silk. It was amazing, boss, they really satisfied me."
The others, upon hearing such explicit details at this time and place, nearly spurted blood. What kind of time and place was this, and Wu Kai was discussing this with the boss? The boss's smile looked like a hidden knife, and Wu Kai was still so oblivious?
Fu Chenhe, however, did not blame him. Instead, he nodded and said, "Ah, I see. But among our brothers, there are some who aren't having a good time tonight."
Wu Kai was taken aback and asked, "Who?"
Fu Chenhe's face turned serious, and he replied coldly, "Liu Wei, Zhang Ding, Liang Wenchao. One of them isn't happy. They've suffered a loss."
This statement shocked everyone present. They were already aware that tonight was the night Liu Wei and the others were supposed to take down the Qinghong Gang. To be honest, they hadn't paid much attention, as the Qinghong Gang was a negligible force. With Liu Wei taking the lead and Zhang Ding, Liang Wenchao following, it was considered a surefire victory. But hearing the boss's tone, something seemed to have gone wrong.
Sitting beside Fu Chenhe, the second in command of Fang Morning Steel, Tian Fang, furrowed his brows and asked cautiously, "Boss Fu, did Liu Wei fail?"
Fu Chenhe's expression became grave as he nodded, saying, "Over a hundred brothers were injured or killed. It was a disastrous defeat."
This news astonished the group. Wu Kai, unable to believe it, jumped up and exclaimed, "Impossible!"
Fu Chenhe gestured for him to sit back down, and in a solemn tone, he continued, "Nothing is impossible. It's just something we didn't think of. There must have been outside help from Qinghong."
At this moment, a lively and charming young woman walked forward. She placed eight high-quality porcelain tea cups of jade green color on the low wooden table in the middle of the sofa. She then poured the premium Pu'er tea that Fu Chenhe loved into each cup.
Tea was poured into the cups, and immediately a fragrant aroma filled the air. As the scent reached their noses, the groggy minds of Tian Fang and the others were instantly refreshed. This Pu'er tea was said to come from the southwestern tip of Xin Hua, from the Pu Nan Province. Pu Nan was known for its vast camphor forests, where tall camphor trees, reaching several meters in height, provided the perfect environment for the growth of tea trees beneath them. The roots of the tea trees intertwined with those of the camphor trees underground, imparting a unique camphor fragrance to the tea. Simultaneously, the leaves of the camphor tree emitted their own scent, and the tea trees directly absorbed the camphor aroma, resulting in the distinctive camphor fragrance of Pu'er tea. The natural tea aroma blended with the camphor fragrance, creating a delightful and invigorating scent.
Although Fu Chenhe was in the northern provinces, due to Pu Nan being one of the key sources of narcotics in Xin Hua, and Fang Morning Steel primarily dealing in drugs, he had inevitably come into contact with people from Pu Nan and, subsequently, the unique Pu'er tea of the region.
Fu Chenhe held the tea cup to his lips, took a deep whiff of the fragrance that wafted to his nose, took a sip, and then put the cup down. Surveying the room, he noticed that after his close confidants had consumed the tea, the hazy and dazed look on their faces had disappeared, replaced by a contented smile. He said with satisfaction, "Before you arrived, Liu Wei told me over the phone that he was defeated by a group claiming to be the Ghost Face Team. Brothers, think carefully. When did the Qinghong Gang have such a mysterious organization?"
Tian Fang tried to search his mind and then shook his head, indicating he didn't know, before turning his gaze to the others around him. Seated next to him was a man named Li Zhuomu, one of the Steel Tigers, known for his ugly appearance with a flat nose, small eyes, and a wide mouth. He was responsible for the intelligence work of Fang Morning Steel. After pondering for a moment, he confidently stated, "Boss Fu, I can confirm that the Qinghong Gang doesn't have such people; otherwise, it wouldn't escape my surveillance. In recent days, I've had people monitoring the Qinghong Gang closely. If anything unusual happened, I would have received information immediately."
Fu Chenhe looked at each of the others one by one; they all shook their heads in agreement.
Raising his tea cup again, Fu Chenhe took another light sip of Pu'er tea. Gazing at the painting "Eagle Catching the Rabbit" hanging on the east wall of the hall, he said meaningfully, "Why is it so easy for an eagle to catch a rabbit? It's because the eagle has a pair of sharp eyes like a falcon. Before the capture, it has already planned the route, ensuring a guaranteed strike."
Confused looks were exchanged among the group at Fu Chenhe's words. Tian Fang, with a flash of inspiration, asked, "Boss Fu, are you saying that someone has already set their eyes on us and intends to harm Fang Morning Steel?"
Fu Chenhe burst into laughter and said, "It's not about 'intending to harm us.' It's already happening."
Wu Kai, in anger, exclaimed, "Boss Fu, who dares to be so audacious? Fang Morning Steel is already the king in Pinggang. Who dares to touch us? I'll take care of them."
Fu Chenhe's face turned displeased as he said, "Little Kai, sit down for me. You're too impulsive, what kind of appearance is that?"
Wu Kai sat down reluctantly, muttering a few words but not speaking aloud.
Li Zhuomu, responsible for intelligence work at Fang Morning Steel, was most culpable for the massive intelligence leak leading to Liu Wei's disastrous defeat. Feeling the greatest responsibility, he felt ashamed and said, "Boss Fu, it's my negligence. I'm willing to accept punishment. But before that, I want to understand more about this Ghost Face Team; otherwise, I won't rest easy."
Fu Chenhe looked deeply at Li Zhuomu and chuckled, saying, "We won't talk about punishment for now. Let me tell you what Liu Wei told me in detail. Pay attention, everyone. This suddenly emerged Ghost Face Team reportedly consists of sixteen members, but only five of them, along with the leader, have been involved in actual combat with Liu Wei and the others. Among them, two infiltrated dozens of our Steel Tigers smoothly, showing remarkable skill. One of them engaged in a battle with Liang Wenchao, and it's said his skills are not inferior to Liang Wenchao. Another one, who faced Liu Wei, can be considered a match for him. Then there's one more; Liu Wei said he's definitely not an opponent."
At this point, Fu Chenhe suddenly stopped talking. Looking at the faces of his close confidants, they were as dark as a sky filled with thunderstorms, devoid of any color.
Fu Chenhe said these words with a smile. Initially, when he first heard Liu Wei's account, his expression wasn't much better than those of the individuals present. Therefore, he intentionally spoke lightly to alleviate the pressure. However, it seemed that the effect was not as good as he had hoped.
His words pressed down on the hearts of the top figures of Fang Morning Steel like successive waves. Liang Wenchao, among the Steel Tigers, might not be exceptionally formidable, but anyone who could make it into the top ten was no ordinary adversary. That someone among these sixteen could battle him on equal terms was already surprising. Yet, it was unexpected that there were those who could rival Liu Wei. Furthermore, there was someone whose skills were clearly superior to Liu Wei. These people had emerged seemingly out of nowhere, and their formidable abilities were a source of great astonishment.
Observing the solemn expressions of the group, Fu Chenhe sighed and continued, "Regarding the leader of this team, Liu Wei gave me four words."
"What four words?" Wu Kai couldn't wait and interrupted before Fu Chenhe finished speaking.
After enduring everyone's disdainful looks, Wu Kai fell silent once again.
Fu Chenhe raised his head and said, "Unmatched."
Tian Fang's face turned iron-grey as he stood up, disbelievingly asking, "Boss Fu, did Liu Wei exaggerate? Such a person can't be found in Pinggang, let alone the entire Jitong Province."
After the initial shock, the others joined in, expressing disbelief, "That's right, Boss Fu, it's impossible. How could such a person exist?"
Yuan Ping, one of the Steel Tigers, had a change in expression and suggested, "Boss Fu, do you think it might be..."
"Shut up, Yuan Ping. You don't understand Liu Wei's character. He would never exaggerate the opponent's strength to cover up his own failure." Fu Chenhe angrily interrupted Yuan Ping, glaring at him with sharp and cold eyes.
Yuan Ping quickly responded, "Yes, yes," then lowered his head in silence.
Fu Chenhe's expression softened as he said, "Zhang Ding and Wen Chao are both injured and currently being treated. Liu Wei is with them, so it might take some time before he arrives. When he comes, we'll inquire in detail, and everything will naturally become clear."
At that moment, the door suddenly opened, and a person walked in, announcing, "Xiao Zihan has arrived in Pinggang." Just this sentence unraveled all the mysteries.