Their l.u.s.tful indulgence had only lasted a brief moment until it was interrupted by a call from Tang Yuyan. Xia Lei was in the middle of a lovemaking session with his wives, which made him hesitate whether to accept the call or not. He had already foreseen her intentions but the man just didn’t know how to talk about it.

Liang Siyao peered at the screen over his shoulder. “Tang Yuyan? Nah, ignore her.”

On the other hand, Fan Fan said, “Maybe it’s about the incident at the Boao Forum. She’s probably calling for official affairs, ignoring it wouldn’t be good for you. Hubby, accept the call.”

This was the first time his lovers had conflicting opinions.

Xia Lei made up his mind and received the call. “h.e.l.lo, it’s me. What’s the matter?”

“Uh…” Tang Yuyan's voice rang through, but she paused in hesitation.

Xia Lei cut the chase. “You want to ask me if Folsom was telling the truth, right?”

“Yeah. Is it real?” Tang Yuyan’swent to question.

“Of course not. It’s fake,” answered Xia Lei.

The woman on the other side of the line was almost the head of Bureau 101. Her current status was very different from her past. Each word exchanged between them should be spoken carefully.

“You’re lying to me!” Tang Yuyan heaved with anger.

Xia Lei could only smile bitterly. He could say nothing else. If he were in Tang Yuyan’s shoes, the man would find it hard to believe it too.

“Are you aware of the weight carried by Madam Folsom’s status? Do you know the popularity and significance of the Boao Forum to the world?” Tang Yuyan huffed.

“If you believe that is the truth, then there is nothing more I can comment,” said Xia Lei.

“Where are you now?” asked Tang Yuyan.

“In Hainan, of course,” replied Xia Lei.

“What are you doing now?” She pressed on.

“Talking to you. What do you think I’m doing? If there’s nothing else, I’m going to…” Xia Lei wanted to end the call already.

Abruptly, Liang Siyao allowed a sickeningly coquettish voice to roll out of her throat. “Darling? Who are you on the phone with? Come back to bed quickly, I’m going to get cold without a blanket.”

Xia Lei gaped in surprise. He was certain that Tang Yuyan had caught that and was already picturing a naked Liang Siyao on his sheets.

“Liang Siyao?” Tang Yuyan’s voice blasted from the receiver. The woman was now enraged. “You f.u.c.king p.r.i.c.k! You’re sleeping with her?!”

“h.e.l.lo? What did you say? Oh dear, why is the reception so terrible?” Xia Lei slapped his phone lightly.

“What the h.e.l.l?! I was worried sick and you’re out there sleeping around?!”

“h.e.l.lo? h.e.l.lo? What kind of phone is this? d.a.m.n, China phones sure are faulty.” Xia Lei continued to hit his phone.

“Oi! Quit pretending! I’m going to come to you this instant! Just you wait for me! You’re going to pay for this!” Tang Yuyan was the one to hang up.

Xia Lei tossed his phone on to the bedside drawer. He fumed, “Siyao, why did you do that?”

Surprisingly, Liang Siyao felt no remorse. She pulled the man around and pressed her naked weight on his body. “I just sabotaged you but what are you going to do about that? You wouldn’t dare to do anything to me.”

“I wouldn’t dare to do anything to you?” Xia Lei was fierce.

“Come on, I’d like to see you try.” Liang Siyao was not the least bit afraid.

And Xia Lei gave her the punishment she deserved. Albeit, gently.

Fan Fan watched with interest on the side. “Hubby, I think you should brace yourself for potential trouble soon.”

“Yeah, I’ll plan my strategies accordingly. There’s no need for you to worry about me, the accusations Folsom brought up had the elements of national interests. I was only working for the country, it’s unlikely they’ll charge me for that,” said Xia Lei.

“I’m not worried about that. I’m more concerned about the…” Fan Fan didn’t finish her own sentence.

“The AE capsule?”

Fan Fan nodded. “If there really is something like that, I’m afraid that many would want to get their hands on it.”

It was a creation that could bring the human brain and physical form into advanced evolution that would bestow them powers and even immortality. The properties it offered was enticing to everyone. Not to mention, Xia Lei’s current success had sweetened the whole deal further.

Xia Lei thought for a while. “Perhaps I should go meet Madam Folsom.”

“You’re going to meet her?” Fan Fan was immediately troubled.

Xia Lei nodded. “I need to know how much she knows about me along with the source of her intel. Lockheed Martin has already openly challenged me and the end is not going to come any sooner. Lockheed Martin is a whole new rival that I know too little about.”

“Alright then, I’ll come with you,” said Fan Fan.

“No, it’s best for you to stay out of this. You’re my fiancee and your status is special,” declined Xia Lei.

Fan Fan was worried but decided against the insistence. She had never once interfered with Xia Lei’s decisions.

Liang Siyao mumbles interjected their serious talk. “Can you both save that for later?”

Fan Fan immediately pressed her into the sheets…

The Boao Forum For Asia was still ongoing as scheduled while its two most important guests had long left the event.

The warmth of the afternoon sun was brilliant.

Escorted by his group of elite bodyguards, Xia Lei arrived at a five-star hotel not far from the Boao Forum venue. He obtained Folsom’s room number from the reception without much ha.s.sle.

Though Folsom was only residing in one room, the whole floor was booked by her. Everyone else hanging around that particular floor were her bodyguards and also some members of the CIA and Special Forces.

The entrance of Xia Lei’s armed bodyguards from the lifts on that floor immediately had Madam Folsom’s security squad alerted. They were all permitted to carry firearms and some even had theirs already in the air. The tension in the air was extreme, reeking of fire and fury.

Xia Lei spoke, “Calm down, I was invited here by Madam Folsom. Please inform her of my presence.”

A Caucasian bodyguard questioned, “If you were invited, why the crowd?”

“For my own safety, of course.” Xia Lei’s answer was salient.

While the Caucasian man was about to retaliate, Hattori Mei presented herself. She raised her voice, “Let him through, but only him alone.”

The Americans quickly made way.

Xia Lei turned around to have his escorting guards remain at the spot before walking towards Hattori Mei alone.

“I wasn’t expecting you to come.” Hattori Mei was smiling, her expression oddly friendly.

Xia Lei looked at her. “This is an invitation from Lockheed Martin’s CEO, how could I not come? I need to save Madam Folsom some face.”

“Alright, I need to search your body,” said Hattori Mei.

That garnered an immediate scowl from him. “Is that really necessary?”

Hattori Mei nodded, “Yes, it is necessary. Madam Folsom is worried that you have any hearing bug or pinhole cameras on you. Weapons are not allowed either. She’s worried that you would threaten her safety.”

Xia Lei scoffed and stretched his arms wide.

Hattori Mei inched closer, almost pressing her form against him. She searched Xia Lei’s sleeves then ventured her palms inwards to his armpits and followed the groove of his body down. When her hands reached his hips, her search around that particular area was excruciating slow.

“h.e.l.lo?” Xia Lei glared at her. “That’s too much.”

“Sorry, I’m just doing my job. I need to be precise. You’re one of the most capable special agents on this planet. If you happen to have a bug at your groins and I completely missed it, I’d be fired without a doubt.” Hattori Mei explained as she continued to roam her hands around. “If you find this unfair, you can search me too.”

After she was done with the tubes of his pants and socks, Hattori Mei finally stood up and showed him in.

The first thing that entered Xia Lei’s sight after making it past the door was Madam Folsom lounging on the couch. The Caucasian woman had her eyes glued to the television that played the footage of the ZTZ100 main battle tank during the tank biathlon in Russia. His appearance only garnered a brief glance from her, Folsom returned her attention to the screen shortly after.

On the screen, three Type 10 Tanks were firing sh.e.l.ls at the ZTZ100. The ZTZ100 managed to avoid one sh.e.l.l but it was not unscathed from the other two sh.e.l.ls.

Xia Lei approached her. Before Folsom could make a sound and greet him, he plopped himself down on the cus.h.i.+oned seat opposite her.

Hattori Mei came to him with a gla.s.s of wine, but Xia Lei opted to ignore it.

“Madam Folsom, you invited me over to watch television?” Xia Lei disturbed the silence.

Folsom inhaled and turned off the device. “I’ve watched this footage about ten times now. The ZTZ100 main battle tank sure is excellent, even the M1A3 wouldn’t have survived the hit of two armour-piercing sh.e.l.ls. I must say that you’re tough, nothing can take you out.”

“Have you considered my feelings before pulling acts like that?” Xia Lei stared at her nonchalantly.

“Consider your feelings? Hahaha…” Folsom chuckled. “Your existence has threatened the power balance of this world. No one will ever take your feelings into consideration, that I dare to guarantee you.”

“I’m afraid that my existence threatens the American interest instead of the power balance of the world. Isn’t that so?”

“It doesn’t matter how you interpret the situation. Your perspective is not important as it changes nothing.” Folsom continued, “We’re able to destroy Osama bin Laden. Do you think your capabilities and powers are stronger than his? I must remind you that even if he was lacking your invincible battle capabilities, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d had plenty of underlings willing to die for him. Do you have that?”

Xia Lei was so angry that he started to laugh. “You’re comparing me to a terrorist and your attempts to kill me is clear as day. Do you think I’m that easy to mess with?”

“Tell me then. What can you do about that?” Folsom turned to look at Xia Lei in the eye, mockery and disdain flickering in her eyes.

What could he do?

His current opponent was the world’s hegemony and a country that housed the world’s largest aircraft carrier fleet, the largest air force and army system. Not to mention, every weapon it owned was widely praised and excellent. Its currency was the only universal settlement currency in the world. Regardless of its military strength or economic competence, this was something no regular person could confront!