Chapter 044: The King's Gambit in the Chill of Autumn—Ten

“Wait, officer, please listen to our explanation—this is really just a misunderstanding,” said the two burly men in black, cold handcuffs biting their wrists as they struggled to defend themselves.

“A misunderstanding?” The officer, upright and stern, shot them a glare and gestured toward the trembling girl dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, surrounded by indignant security guards and reception staff. “What’s there to misunderstand? We have the people, the testimony, and the evidence.”

“No, our boss really just wanted to invite Miss Wang for tea,” one of the men insisted.

The officer nodded at his colleague. “Take note, these two are acting under orders from someone else.”

The burly man protested, “No, officer, we’re honest citizens. I’ve never done anything wrong since I was a child—I was always a model student and the flag-bearer for labor. Besides, our boss knows Miss Wang!”

He shouted the last sentence with all his strength.

The officer turned to the girl. “Do you know their boss?”

She shook her head, sobbing. “I don’t. After work, they suddenly rushed over and tried to take me away. It scared me to death.”

“You do know him! You obviously like our boss!” The man shouted again.

“I really don’t,” she replied, looking as though she might faint.

The burly man fell silent. Her reaction earlier had certainly not been like this.

“Still daring to threaten people? You’ve got guts.” With a wave of the officer’s hand, the two men were escorted to the police car.

“Our boss is Huo Fu Lie—”

The car containing the men drove off into the distance.

The officer glanced at the frightened girl and nodded, reassuring her. “Don’t worry, we won’t let the criminals go. If you have any clues, contact us.”

Seeing how shaken she was, he didn’t ask her to give a formal statement. There were plenty of witnesses at the hotel anyway.

—

After work, Huo Fu Shang arrived at Alice Hotel just in time to hear that his beloved had nearly been kidnapped.

He also overheard employees whispering that the would-be kidnappers were sent by his cousin, which stunned him and left him utterly confused.

He tried calling his cousin, but couldn’t get through.

Meanwhile, Huo Fu Lie had already received word that his two bodyguards had been taken away by the police. He slammed his mahogany desk, the sound echoing through the empty office. His handsome face twisted for a moment as he spat out, “Idiots!”

—

“President?” Secretary Situ hesitated at the door.

Huo Fu Lie looked up at him, discreetly lowering his reddened right hand under the desk to massage it, maintaining a cold, indifferent expression. “My hand is fine. You can go.”

“It’s not about that,” Secretary Situ said. “Tian Dashuang and Tian Erman have always been excellent security staff for our company. Now, because of your personal affairs, they’ve been taken to the police station. The bail will be deducted from your salary.”

Huo Fu Lie replied, “Understood. You can go.”

Once Secretary Situ had left, Huo Fu Lie’s narrow phoenix eyes narrowed further. He rubbed his aching hand, a cold smile curling his lips. “Wang Xiaoya, still playing hard to get with me? Very well, I’ll play along.”

He picked up his jacket and strode out.

Le Yixian had just returned home when Huo Fu Lie suddenly appeared, blocking her way. “Wang Xiaoya, come with me.”

His tone was so arrogant and infuriating that, as the author of this very story, Le Yixian glanced at the tall man before her with the look one might give a foolish child, inwardly sighing. Leaving aside everything else, Chen Qi’s face paired with that attitude and expression made her fists itch with the urge to strike.

She ignored him and walked past.

“Stop!” came a sharp command from behind. Le Yixian didn’t look back, went inside, and shut the door on the president.

Huo Fu Lie was stunned; this was not how he imagined things would go.

Wasn’t this woman supposed to like him?

He’d shown up right in front of her, and she dared to shut him out?

Damn it!

As Huo Fu Lie stood there trembling with anger, his cousin’s voice sounded behind him. “Cousin?”

He turned around to see his cousin standing not far away, looking at him in puzzlement. “Cousin, what are you doing here?”

“Looking for someone.” Huo Fu Lie decided it was best not to let his cousin know about Wang Xiaoya, lest he be hurt.

His cousin gave him a skeptical look. “Where have you been lately? I heard from Situ that you haven’t been coming to the office.”

Huo Fu Lie remembered something and asked, “You’ve been out early and back late lately—I haven’t seen you. Now that I’ve caught you, I want to know. What are you doing?”

“I don’t want to work at the company,” his cousin replied, shaking his head. “I was about to tell you—I’ve found a new job and I really like it.”

“What kind of job?” Huo Fu Lie’s brows furrowed.

—

“Kitchen helper. If I get the chance, I’ll be promoted to chef. My goal is to be head chef!” His cousin grinned at the thought of his dream, revealing two gleaming white teeth.

Huo Fu Lie thought he must have misheard. “What are you doing now?”

“Kitchen helper!” His cousin repeated.

“No. Quit that job immediately and come back to the company to be the director.” Huo Fu Lie’s face darkened.

“I won’t. I only want to be a chef,” his cousin answered stubbornly.

“What’s so great about being a chef?”

“Chefs can win Xiaoya’s heart!”

“What’s so great about Wang Xiaoya?”

“She’s wonderful—beautiful. I like her best.”

“She’s fooling you! She likes me. She’s using you—” To get closer to me.

Before Huo Fu Lie could finish, the Wang family’s door swung open from inside.

Le Yixian rushed out, marched straight up to Huo Fu Lie, and kicked him. He bent over, clutching his lower body, pain written all over his face.

Hands on her hips, she glared at him. “Huo Fu Lie, how many times have I told you? Stop bothering me. I only like Xiao Shang. Can’t you stop pestering me?”

Huo Fu Lie was wracked with pain, unable even to curse the wretched woman. He opened his mouth but no sound came. Then his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

It all happened so suddenly that Huo Fu Shang stood frozen. Seeing his beloved walking toward him, he stepped back. “Don’t kick me…”

Clearly, Le Yixian’s earlier kick had left a deep impression.

“I only like you,” Le Yixian laughed at his words, stepped forward, hugged him, and kissed him.

Huo Fu Shang: Was he…was he dreaming?

He struggled, mumbling, “My cousin is still unconscious.”

“Forget about him!”