It was a dark night. The seasons have s.h.i.+fted and autumn had arrived bringing with it a cold breeze.

An orange lamp lit a bottle of red wine and two people sitting across each other. It was not important what they were eating but the warm romantic atmosphere was all that mattered.

Liang Siyao could barely hide her smile. Under the dim light, Xia Lei felt like he had traveled through time back to when he was at Haizhu. At that time, Xia Lei’s career had just begun and he did not have much money. However, he was still willing to take her out for expensive Western meals and even bought her a BMW M6 worth over two million. At the time, he was deeply in love with her. He was not just gentle, he was also caring and always thought of ways to make her happy. But now…

When she thought about her relations.h.i.+p with Xia Lei now, her smile disappeared and her heart was filled with sadness and anxiety. She wanted to be as close to him as before but it was easier said than done. She was very clear about all the relations.h.i.+ps he had with the other women. The first problem she had to face was, would Xia Lei cut off all ties with them for her? Long Bing, Tang Yuyan, Shentu Tianyin, Jiang Ruti, and the two German women. Every one of them had a history with Xia Lei. They were equally as important if not more. What right did she have to ask Xia Lei to give up on his relations.h.i.+p with them?

After downing half a bottle of red wine, her face grew a few shades redder. She gazed intently at Xia Lei, her watery eyes about to swallow Xia Lei whole.

Xia Lei grew slightly uncomfortable. “You’ve drunk enough, let’s just call it a day. You shouldn’t drive either, just stay a night here.”

She laughed, covering her mouth. “Are you hinting at something?”

“No, I’m not. I’ll get someone to arrange a room for you,” he said as he stood up.

Under the table, Liang Siyao suddenly stepped on the back of his foot. She had no shoe on, their skin separated just by a thin layer of black pantyhose. It was a deadly combo that budded his l.u.s.t.

Her legs were the most beautiful ones Xia Lei had ever seen. Her bold advances had his mind filled with images of her beautiful legs, slender and fit. Clad in black stockings, they were the ultimate eye candy.

If alcohol could have the male adrenaline pumping, then it surely would have the female hormones on a rampage. Liang Siyao was definitely the latter while Xia Lei was the former. Though the two had remained silent and appeared calm, the air was filled with their raging pheromones. It was the unbeknownst spark to a fire, a fire strong enough to trigger an explosion of emotions that may happen by surprise.

How hard would it be to reignite an old flame?

Perhaps all it required was a subtle seduction.

Just like that, she traced her toes along the length of Xia Lei’s calf, snaking to the insides of his thigh. Her delicate foot was like a serpent in search of its nest, circling the barks of the trees and sliding in between gaps before disappearing into the bushes.

Xia Lei frowned but not because he was uncomfortable, but because his body was losing control. He was very clear what the little guy wanted to do. However, it was something his rationale did not allow. This made him feel very awkward and it felt horrible.

Liang Siyao initially thought Xia Lei would stop her but he did not. He sat there frozen like a log. She liked this response, she took it as silent acceptance. The beautiful serpentine grew bolder by the second.

“Siyao, don’t do this, we…” Xia Lei still had some reason within him but it was growing thinner and thinner by the second.

“Lei, I have been feeling awful after the breakup. If you give me one more chance, I will never betray you. Just give me a chance, take me in.” Her eyes were ablaze with pa.s.sion.

“Siyao, give me a little more time.”

“No, I won’t. I want you now.”

Xia Lei was silent.

“I am not asking to marry you, nor do I want you to marry me. I just don’t want such a lonely life.” Her eyes were tearing up now from the overflowing emotions.

Xia Lei wasn’t sure what softened his heart, be it her begging or beautiful legs, but the walls surrounding his heart immediately came crumbling down. He stood up immediately then swept the plates and wine bottle off the table unto the ground.

Plates, bottles and wine gla.s.ses shattered as they fell.

Liang Siyao also stood up, clambering unto the table. The distance between them vanished as two pairs of soft lips fell on each other. There were no words. Just clumsy body language expressing their feelings.

The black silk pantyhose was ripped.

The black cotton was pulled aside.

Beep… Beep… Beep...

Amidst the heated moment, the phone suddenly rang. Xia Lei stopped. He knew very well which phone rang. It was the satellite phone he used to communicate with the Chinese Zodiac Battle Team.

“S..sorry, I have to take this call.” Xia Lei turned to leave but within two steps, his pants fell to his ankles. Frantically, he pulled them up then walked awkwardly out of the restaurant.

The woman lying on the table stared at his back as he left. She wanted to die.

As he left the restaurant, Xia Lei answered the call. “It’s me.”

“Xia Lei.” Dark Mona’s voice came from the phone. “Have you prepared the fifty million US dollars?”

“Yeah, it’s ready. When will the exchange be?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Where?”

“Russia, Siberia.”

Xia Lei’s brows furrowed. “Why Siberia?”

“I don’t need to give you an explanation. Come alone before six in the afternoon. If you bring anyone, I’ll kill Amanda and Park Taeyong.”

Xia Lei fell silent. Dark Mona wanted him to come along for the trade in the vast, quiet wastelands of Siberia. This was obviously a trap for him to walk into. If he went, it would be a trap more dangerous than the one in the West province!

He was silent for a moment before he said, “Change the time, change the place. My men will trade with your men. I will give you exactly fifty million US dollars and I guarantee that you’ll receive it with no complications.”

“That works too.” Dark Mona continued, “You set the time and place, but it must not be in China.”

“Alright, then let’s trade at Palestine. Peshawar, tomorrow six in the afternoon.”

“Sure, but I want thirty million dollars as deposit now.”

“How could you?” Xia Lei declined immediately. “I have already shown my sincerity, you better stop taking advantage of this!”

“Are you threatening me?” Dark Mona laughed a very cold laugh. “Xia Lei, I will give you ten minutes now to transfer thirty million dollars into my bank account. Miss the deadline and our deal is void. But rest a.s.sured, I’ll mail their ears to you as souvenirs.”

“How dare you!” Xia Lei clenched his jaw.

“You have nine minutes left,” came Dark Mona’s voice. “Perhaps you don’t need the ten minutes after all. Do you want me to kill Amanda and Park Taeyong now?”

Xia Lei’s threats were futile. No matter how vicious his threats were, Xia Lei could not touch Dark Mona. All she only needed to do was to press a b.u.t.ton to kill Amanda and Park Taeyong!

“Alright. I’m not going to waste more time negotiating with you, I’ll kill them off now.” He heard sounds of Dark Mona giving instructions from the satellite phone. “Bring them out and chop off their heads!”

“Wait!” Xia Lei suppressed the fury he had. “Send me your bank account details. I’ll transfer thirty million to you. Let me talk to them.”

“No problem.”

Liang Siyao walked out of the restaurant. She watched Xia Lei from afar but didn’t approach.

The cold moonlight shone on her.

It seemed that she was unaware of how wide her collars were apart, exposing most of her chest to the breeze. Her pantyhose had a large gash along her inner thigh, her pale smooth skin vulnerable to the air. She looked beautiful but ravished, as if she was a.s.saulted.

Xia Lei did not notice Liang Siyao behind him, for he was frantically waiting for Amanda or Park’s voice from the phone. Thirty million dollars as the deposit was no small sum but that was the least of his concerns now. He was genuinely worried for their safety.

One minute later, he heard Amanda’s voice. “Boss, it’s me.”

Her voice was very weak. She must have been tortured which rendered her voice to a slur.

Xia Lei heaved a small sigh of relief. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I’m very happy to have worked under you, it’s true! That was the happiest time of my life,” said Amanda.

“Don’t worry, I will save you both.”

“No, don’t trust her!”

He heard someone being kicked over the phone, then the sound of someone slammed against a wall and collapsing.

Although he couldn’t see it, he knew they were beating her up. He was furious but there was nothing he could do.

Park Taeyong’s voice soon followed. “Boss, leave us be. We are ready.”

“Don’t say that. I will save you both, trust me!”

“Don’t you understand? She will not…”

Slap! It was the sound of a harsh slap.

“Boss, if I die, burn a Lamborghini for me, alright?”

“You come back and I’ll give you a real one!”

“Hahaha… You’re so kind, you’re really so so so kind. I am very happy to have known you.”

“Don’t give up!” Xia Lei roared over the phone.

He heard Dark Mona’s voice over the satellite phone. “I have already fulfilled your request, you will receive my bank account number immediately. I want to see the money in my account in ten minutes.”

He clenched his jaw. “You will receive the money, but if you dare hurt them, I will personally send you to h.e.l.l!”

But Dark Mona had already hung up.

A few seconds later, he received Dark Mona’s account number on his satellite phone.