Chapter 127: Deep Love (Part 3)
Xiaojia rushed back and forth, finally completing the reception duties. Only after most of the guests had checked into the Shazhou Hotel did she let out a breath of relief. She walked into the hotel lobby, took out her mobile phone to contact Hou Weidong, but Bu Gao hurried over before she could dial.
Bu Gao was a representative from the Shazhou construction industry. Since this was a formal conference, he was dressed quite formally in a navy blue suit with a crisp white shirt visible at the collar. He looked mature and elegant. He made an inviting gesture toward Xiaojia and said, "Xiaojia, you’ve been running around all day; you must be tired. Let me treat you to a cup of tea."
Bu Gao’s pursuit of Xiaojia had always been overt. He never hid his intentions. Initially, it was driven by a desire for conquest and a bit of youthful impulsiveness, but over time, he had genuinely fallen in love with her. Love is an art, not a science; often, it defies logic, which is why there are so many twisted stories and why it remains popular through the ages.
They drank tea and chatted casually about the real estate market in Shazhou, then moved on to the third phase of the Xinyue Building project. Bu Gao had built the Xinyue Building single-handedly. At this high-level construction conference in Lingshi Province, the building was presented as the representative of Shazhou’s new-style residential developments. Bu Gao was deeply proud of it, and his eyes lit up as he talked about the new properties.
Xiaojia listened with genuine interest.
After confidently discussing the real estate projects, Bu Gao’s eyes shifted slightly, and he steered the conversation into his pre-planned direction. He spoke with utmost sincerity, "Xiaojia, do I really have no chance at all? My demands aren’t high. Just give me a small opportunity, and you’ll see a completely different side of Bu Gao. Every window you open reveals a different view. I hope you’ll gently push open this window of mine."
Bu Gao knew Xiaojia well; she was a woman with a bourgeois sensibility. Therefore, he had carefully chosen his words to match her aesthetic and emotional preferences.
Xiaojia smiled faintly and deflected with practiced ease. "Mr. Bu, that’s too cheesy. Let’s go back to our previous topic. The after-sales service for Xinyue Building is first-class, reaching the standards of developed coastal cities. It’s opened our eyes here in Shazhou. It’s quite famous now, and many friends have asked me about the details of the building. When will the pre-sales for the third phase begin? You could drop a hint. I have many friends who want to buy apartments in Xinyue Building."
Bu Gao stared intently at Xiaojia. "Xiaojia, don’t change the subject. Answer me: in what way am I inferior to Hou Weidong?"
Bu Gao was the son of a high-ranking official and a graduate of Fudan University. He was successful and charming. He believed that in every aspect, Hou Weidong, that country bumpkin, was no match for him. Yet, Xiaojia stubbornly clung to a romance as idealistic as a Qiong Yao novel, which made Bu Gao feel amused, annoyed, and slightly appreciative all at once.
The business world is like a battlefield, and the romantic world is no different. Facing a fortress that resisted repeated attacks, Bu Gao decided to take an unconventional approach. Ma Gui was his first weapon.
Xiaojia said, "Mr. Bu, you are an outstanding entrepreneur. You will surely find a woman ten times better than me. I wish you well in advance."
"Does Hou Weidong really love you?" Bu Gao asked with deep implication, intending to lead Xiaojia step by step into his prepared trap.
Xiaojia was the Deputy Director of the Construction Commission Office. Although she had long dealt with various construction bosses, she had not delved deeply into their world. She lacked a true understanding of the cruelty of competition and the mindset and tactics of these successful men. At that moment, sipping her mild Longjing tea, she was completely unaware of Bu Gao’s trap and answered proudly, "Of course."
"From another perspective, you two are in different places. Do you really trust him? You know, men who don’t cheat are rare. Even I used to like to flirt around."
Xiaojia had never doubted Hou Weidong’s loyalty. She affirmed firmly, "If nine out of ten men cheat, he is the only one who doesn’t."
Seeing that Xiaojia had completely fallen into his trap, Bu Gao took an envelope from his inner suit pocket. He waved it and said, "First, I admit that before I met you, I had three or four girlfriends. I used to flirt around; I wasn’t a pure little boy. I want to make that clear."
Xiaojia countered, "Why should I need to know the details of your past?"
Bu Gao pushed the envelope toward Xiaojia. "Since I met you, for the past two years, I have remained chaste. I haven’t messed around anymore. I swear, for the sake of our love, I will absolutely be a pure man."
These words were a sword designed to pierce the heart of a bourgeois woman. Bu Gao had used them several times, and they always worked.
"The things inside aren’t exactly orthodox, but to defend love, I’m willing to be a bandit, a robber."
Bu Gao had always launched his romantic advances with scholarly gentleness. Such direct, wild, and naked words were a first. Xiaojia feigned annoyance. "Mr. Bu, what are you talking about? Thank you for the good tea. I’m ready to leave. Hou Weidong and my family are waiting for me."
Bu Gao pointed at the envelope. "Xiaojia, give me five more minutes. This envelope contains something interesting. You must look at it."
Inside was a set of photos, a carefully crafted chain of evidence by Ma Gui: a beautiful stranger supporting Hou Weidong as they entered the Yiyang Hotel, then leaving together, getting into a car, and driving into a mountain resort. The next day, the two were seen having breakfast together on a terrace. The photos were coherent and logical, making the situation clear at a glance. Although some photos were converted from video footage, the effect was quite good.
The smile slowly froze on Xiaojia’s face. Her head rang with a loud noise. The tower of love she had guarded and maintained seemed to collapse with a crash, the sound of bricks hitting the ground so clear. She bit her lips hard, a piercing pain stabbing between her heart and lungs. After a long while, Xiaojia regained her senses. Though her heart was fragile, her face wore a tough expression. She said coldly, "Mr. Bu, what does this mean?"
Bu Gao smiled but said nothing.
"Bu Gao, I always thought you were a person of high quality. Who would have thought you’d use such tactics? It really damages your reputation."
Bu Gao said calmly, "I am not a hypocrite; I am a true villain. For love, I will use any means necessary, as long as it doesn’t violate the law. There is a Western saying that love is selfish. I agree with that statement."
Xiaojia said, "What does this set of pictures prove? My relationship with Hou Weidong has nothing to do with you, and it’s not for you to sow discord. This behavior is disgusting. Mr. Bu, you are a successful businessman. I hope your heart is as beautiful as the Xinyue Building. Goodbye."
Watching Xiaojia walk out of the lobby calmly, Bu Gao thought to himself, "Damn, she’s challenging. Zhang Xiaojia, even if you’re ice, you’ll be melted by me."
As soon as she left the lobby, Xiaojia’s tears suddenly welled up. She wiped them away roughly with the back of her hand and wandered aimlessly through the streets of Shazhou.
Hou Weidong had finished lunch and bought some fruit at the Xinyue Building store, planning to bring it to Xiaojia’s parents’ house in the evening. But by five o’clock, Xiaojia still hadn’t returned. Hou Weidong called her three times in a row. The phone rang, but no one answered. On the fourth call, the phone was turned off.
"What’s going on? Is she still in a meeting?" Hou Weidong tried calling the Construction Commission office, but no one answered there either.
After dark, the phone was still off. Hou Weidong sensed something was wrong. He remembered that Xiaojia had a backup phone book in the bedroom drawer. He opened it and found the phone number for Xiaojia’s colleague, Xiao Jia.
"Xiao Jia, this is Hou Weidong. Are you still in a meeting?"
Xiao Jia was a staff member in the Construction Commission Office. Not long ago, he had eaten with Xiaojia and Hou Weidong. He was a sunny, cheerful young man. He said in surprise, "We finished the meeting at noon. Why? Sister Xiaojia hasn’t returned? You should call her mobile phone."
Hou Weidong tried to keep his tone flat. "Her phone might be out of battery. It won’t connect."
Xiao Jia said enthusiastically, "I’ll ask the others?"
After a while, Xiao Jia called back. "Brother Hou, no one knows where Sister Xiaojia went. It’s said she hasn’t been seen since noon."
Hanging up the phone, Hou Weidong paced around the room several times. He wanted to go look for her, but he had no idea where to start, so he could only wait at home.
Xiaojia was actually sitting in a street garden in the east of the city. She held the set of photos in her hand, having looked at them repeatedly. The photos clearly showed that Hou Weidong had had extremely intimate contact with this beautiful stranger. The two had left the Yiyang Hotel together at night and appeared on the terrace together the next morning.
What they had done was expressed clearly in the photos. It was a naked betrayal of pure love. Thinking of her own steadfastness in love, Xiaojia couldn’t help but burst into tears.
As night fell, the streetlights turned on. People who had finished dinner walked out of their homes with the old and young, strolling, shopping, and chatting, enjoying the most relaxing leisure time of the day.
The streets gradually filled with people, and music started playing. Then, the streets gradually emptied, and the music stopped. Unknowingly, the city had sunk into sleep.
At home in the Xinyue Building, Hou Weidong had long turned into an ant on a hot pan.
At dinner time, Zhang Yuanzhong called to ask when the two of them would be back for dinner. This confirmed that Xiaojia was not at her parents’ house.
By eight o’clock, Hou Weidong couldn’t hold back anymore. He went to the Shazhou Construction Commission. The guard was Xiaojia’s direct subordinate. He said confidently, "Director Zhang went out with guests in the morning and hasn’t returned to the office since."
At ten o’clock, Xiaojia wiped her tears clean. She slowly regained her composure, tore the photos in her hand one by one, and threw them into the trash can. Only then did she stand up and slowly walk toward the Xinyue Building.
When the door opened, Hou Weidong jumped up from the living room sofa. Seeing Xiaojia enter, he frowned and blamed her, "Where have you been? No matter how busy you are, you should have found time to call back." As he spoke, he reached out to take Xiaojia’s handbag.
Xiaojia coldly blocked Hou Weidong’s hand, her attitude firm.
Hou Weidong felt the force of Xiaojia’s rejection. It was different from usual; it was definitely not a joke. Realizing the seriousness of the problem, he dropped the blaming tone and said, "Xiaojia, what happened?"
Xiaojia ignored him. Seeing food on the dining table, she walked over silently, picked up a rice bowl, and started eating.
"Sigh, sigh, the food is cold. Heat it up before eating. Xiaojia, what’s wrong with you? If there’s something on your mind, just say it. Don’t keep it bottled up." Hou Weidong added, "Why be so serious about work matters? You look like you’re holding a grudge."
Xiaojia still ignored him, eating fiercely, finishing two large bowls in a row.
Hou Weidong’s anger flared up. "What’s wrong with you? Coming home so late and acting like you’re right? Why did you turn off your phone? You could have used vibration mode during the meeting, but you should have called back after it ended."
Xiaojia’s mouth was full of oil. She casually grabbed a piece of paper, wiped her mouth clean, and then spoke her first sentence: "Where were you last night?"
Hou Weidong immediately understood. Someone must have whispered "small talk" in Xiaojia’s ear. That was the main reason for her abnormal behavior. He reacted quickly. "I was at Hanhu last night."
Xiaojia knew the name Hanhu. She thought to herself, "So that rooftop was a building in Hanhu."
Seeing Xiaojia still staring at him, Hou Weidong explained, "Yesterday noon, there was a funeral reform work meeting. As the divisional leader, I was drunk by the village cadres. In the evening, Li Jing from the Shazhou Road Engineering Company treated us to dinner at the Yiyang Hotel. She invited Director Zhu from the Transportation Bureau."
"Who is Li Jing?" The Shazhou Road Engineering Company was a large company in Shazhou, which Xiaojia knew. Hearing the name, she guessed it might be related to highway construction, and her mood relaxed slightly.
Hou Weidong explained, "Lingshi Province is building a highway. The Shazhou Road Engineering Company won a bid section. Li Jing is the company’s vice president. She came to inspect the stone from Shangqinglin." Speaking of this, Hou Weidong laughed. "So Xiaojia is jealous? It’s typical unfounded jealousy."
"Li Jing, a woman like a fox spirit."
Hou Weidong was patient. "Li Jing is the executive in charge of materials. She has a good relationship with the Yiyang Transportation Bureau."
"Eating at the Yiyang Hotel is fine, but why did you go to Hanhu? And you stayed overnight there. Did you stay with Li Jing? She is really beautiful."
"You’d better give me a reasonable explanation."
Seeing Xiaojia’s demeanor, Hou Weidong smiled bitterly. "Hanhu has a new hot spring. Li Jing from the Transportation Bureau, Manager Liang, and I all went to soak in the hot spring together. I drank too much and fell asleep in a daze. Early the next morning, I had breakfast at Building No. 6 and then returned to Shazhou."
Xiaojia didn’t believe him. "Logically, you should have invited Li Jing to Shangqinglin Stone Quarry. Why did she go out of her way to invite you? It doesn’t make sense. You must have something going on."
***
Chapter 127: Deep Love (Part 4)
Hou Weidong and Li Jing indeed had no ambiguous relationship. He spoke with a straight face, "That’s how you should think about it. Li Jing is the executive of the Shazhou Road Engineering Company. The cooperation between Shazhou Road and Shangqinglin is a win-win situation. My contact with her executive is normal." He looked at Xiaojia’s serious expression and said, "The only thing exploited is that the vice president of Shazhou Road is a beautiful woman. That’s all there is to it."
Xiaojia held onto the key issue. "Why did Li Jing invite you? It goes against common sense."
In the construction market, generally, the buyer is the master, and the seller is the servant, known as a buyer’s market. Xiaojia had worked at the Construction Commission for some time and had seen enough to understand this clearly.
When Li Jing and Hou Weidong made their secret deal, she had repeatedly emphasized that the matter must be kept absolutely confidential. Hou Weidong had his own calculations; he wanted to pull this inside line alone, avoiding Zeng Xiangang, Qin Dajiang, and others. He had originally planned to tell Xiaojia, but given the current situation, telling the truth might cause even bigger trouble.
"Li Jing invited me to dinner for two reasons. First, the quality of Shangqinglin crushed stone is good, the price is right, and it’s closest to the bid section won by Shazhou Road Company, so transportation costs are low. They have to buy Shangqinglin’s crushed stone. Second, Li Jing has a deep relationship with County Magistrate Zeng and Director Zhu. This dinner and hot spring session were mainly for Director Zhu. I was just invited along."
Xiaojia lowered her head. "Regardless, you spent the night at Hanhu. And you and Li Jing had breakfast together. Why wasn’t Director Zhu there for breakfast?"
"I was drunk and fell asleep in the hot spring. I have Director Zhu’s phone number. You can ask him directly."
Hou Weidong suddenly thought of a problem. He thought to himself, "Xiaojia knows the situation so clearly; it certainly wasn’t just a casual sighting. According to what Xiaojia said, someone must have tracked me from Yiyang all the way to Hanhu. I’m just a small stone quarry boss, a small deputy town mayor in Shangqinglin. I have no trade secrets and no significant value to exploit. Who would track me?"
Thinking of this, he raised his voice. "Xiaojia, who told you this? How could they track me? What are their intentions?" He sneered. "Who has the leisure to track me from Yiyang all the way to Shazhou?"
Xiaojia lowered her head, thinking silently, and said nothing.
Hou Weidong’s thoughts gradually became clear. He thought to himself, "If my guess is correct, this must have been done by one of Xiaojia’s pursuers. This unseen rival is quite capable and resourceful." He began to shift from defense to offense, sneering several times in a row.
Xiaojia looked up and asked accusingly, "What are