Why did Gu Bei bring her here? If possible, Xie Bingxia really didn't want to set foot here again. The resurgence of memories would only make her weaker.
"Too many bad things have happened recently. Let's put everything aside for the time being and take a good vacation." Gu Bei said it casually. Should one say he was broad - minded?
They checked into the reserved luxury suite, the very same one as before. The room had been renovated, but the basic view remained unchanged. The scenery outside the window was exactly the same as in her memory. Xie Bingxia felt uncomfortable and made an excuse to go back to the room to rest first.
Fortunately, Gu Bei didn't restrict her actions forcefully, nor did he confiscate her communication devices. When she was finally alone, Xie Bingxia took out her phone and called Li Duo.
They first reported their safety to each other. The police didn't make things difficult for Li Duo and Qin Feng, but because they were involved in a murder case, their parents had become stricter with them.
"Do you still have the computer equipment?"
Li Duo understood immediately and said, "I've already looked up the information the goddess needs. I'll send it to your phone right away."
Xie Bingxia calmed down, carefully read the investigation materials, and then analyzed the information she had at hand.
First, the company Zhao Qi worked for was called Antu Freight. On the surface, it was a transportation company, but privately, it must have been involved in shady deals. It was probably involved in smuggling artworks, which was how it got connected with the art gallery. More of the behind - the - scenes transactions hadn't been investigated yet.
As for the people with the black scorpion - patterned tattoos, let's just call them the Black Scorpion Organization for now. They had two possible relationships with Antu Freight: either they were in cooperation or they were enemies. The possibility of cooperation was higher. They traced their way to Li Duo's house, and their target was probably not herself, but Zhao Qi. Judging from the subsequent development, they wanted to kill Zhao Qi to silence him.
Maybe the Black Scorpion Organization didn't expect her to get involved in this silencing incident. And it was precisely her involvement that provided them with a perfect opportunity to achieve two goals at once. They killed Zhao Qi and framed her. Then they used the pre - recorded surveillance video as an exchange to force Gu Bei to hand over the Golden Wharf project.
How cunning they were!
Continuing with the analysis, it was Chen Laojiu who took over the Golden Wharf. Was Chen Laojiu a member of the Black Scorpion Organization? And what about Gu Bei... What was his relationship with them? Was Zhao Qi's death related to the conspiracy two years ago or the hotel murder case six months ago?
Xie Bingxia thought and thought. It seemed that there was an important missing link, preventing the whole incident from forming a closed loop.
"What are you looking at so intently?" Gu Bei suddenly wrapped his arms around Xie Bingxia's waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.
Xie Bingxia immediately put away her phone and looked out of the window. "The scenery is nice."
"I'm glad you like it." His lips touched the delicate skin on her neck, and Gu Bei couldn't help but lick it with his tongue.
The person in his arms froze and then pushed him away the next moment. "All I promised was to stay by your side. Please don't do anything overly ambiguous."
Gu Bei withdrew his hands, wiped his lips, looking as if he still wanted more, but he wasn't angry. He decided to give Xie Bingxia more time. She would change her mind.
"We'll be here for a long time. There's no rush." Gu Bei walked towards the door of the room. "If you're tired, you can take a nap. I'll go and deal with some work."
Being with Gu Bei was like being with a tiger. After what had just happened, how could Xie Bingxia fall asleep peacefully? She was afraid that Gu Bei would pounce on her like a hungry wolf when she was asleep. But Gu Bei's self - control was remarkable. In the following days, even when they shared the same bed, he didn't do anything out of line, which actually made Xie Bingxia look at him in a new light.
Gu Bei took her to every corner of the manor, to every place where he and Xia Jingwei had left memories. Xie Bingxia could tell that he was both happy and couldn't hide his inner loneliness, but she didn't want to offer him the slightest bit of comfort. Her coldness would eventually extinguish his enthusiasm, until the day when he let her go.
"What would you like to eat tonight?" Gu Bei asked Xie Bingxia excitedly. "I've reserved a French dinner at the restaurant here."
"Okay." Xie Bingxia wasn't interested at all. She silently stood in front of the floor - to - ceiling window, gazing at the evening scenery outside. The room was unusually quiet. After a while, there came a soft breathing sound. Xie Bingxia came back to her senses and saw that Gu Bei was sleeping on the high - back sofa. He didn't need to go to work these days, so he was dressed casually. He didn't style his hair deliberately, and his bangs hung naturally on his forehead. Under his deep eye sockets, the dark shadows were darker than usual. Hadn't he slept well at night?
Xie Bingxia quietly walked over and looked down at Gu Bei. Beneath his thick eyelashes, in his eyes, a sudden killing intent welled up. She picked up the fruit knife from the fruit plate on the table and slowly raised it above her head.
— If she couldn't escape and couldn't win, she might as well kill him!
Gu Bei was completely defenseless at this moment. Stabbing him right in the heart with one knife, all the hatred would end!
But would killing him really wipe out the surging emotions in her heart? Xie Bingxia's right hand that was raised trembled uncontrollably. The scene in front of her gradually blurred, and she realized that it was tears.
"Bingxia..." Gu Bei murmured. His eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Xie Bingxia quickly retracted her right hand and hid it behind her back. She tried to sound calm. "Can we go for dinner now?"
"Sorry, I was so sleepy that I... fell asleep." Gu Bei rubbed his temples. He was still very tired. After gathering his spirits, he said, "Let's go."
In the open - air garden restaurant of the manor, dish after dish of gorgeous food was served on the table. Xie Bingxia stiffly picked up the knife and fork and stared at the utensil in her right hand. She felt really bad. Gu Bei saw that her expression wasn't good and was just about to show his concern when his phone rang inappropriately.
"You start eating first. I'll answer the phone." Gu Bei got up and walked to the side. He saw an overseas unfamiliar number on the phone screen.
"Hello, Mr. Gu, long time no see."
That was the voice of a demon, the voice of an old enemy. Gu Bei unconsciously tightened his grip on the phone. His palms were slightly sweaty. He tried to control his emotions and said, "Mr. Vincent, what can I do for you?"
"Do you like the gift I sent you?" the man on the other end of the phone laughed. "A young and beautiful woman's body, lying in a pool of blood, holding a murder weapon in her hand. Opposite her, there's a fresh, bloody corpse. Ah... Just imagining this scene makes one extremely excited."
"So it was really you!" Gu Bei gritted his teeth. "If you want business, just say so. Why go through all this trouble?"
"Go through all this trouble?" The man was confused. After a while, he continued, "Sorry, I'm still learning Chinese. Can I understand it as meaning that I've gone to a lot of trouble to make things difficult for you? Hahaha!" His laughter was not the least bit humorous. Instead, it was terrifying.
"I just like seeing your helpless expression. It's worth all the effort I've put in." Vincent lowered his voice. "Don't forget, it was you who provoked me first."
"What exactly do you want?" Gu Bei was afraid that Xie Bingxia not far away would hear him, so he lowered his voice.
"Remember two years ago? At that time... It was also in a high - class restaurant. I called you..."
"You—" Gu Bei immediately recalled the scene at that time and his eyes widened.
"I told you to be obedient and not to oppose me, otherwise... BOOM! Your woman will be blown into the sky!" Vincent took a puff of his cigar. "Now turn around and see if she's still sitting properly at the table."
Gu Bei suddenly turned around. Xie Bingxia was putting a spoonful of salmon salad into her mouth. His gaze moved under the tablecloth, and he vaguely saw a red light flashing frequently.
"I'll count down three seconds. Save her or not?"
"Three."
"Bingxia—"
Xie Bingxia turned to look at Gu Bei. His figure soared into the air like the wind.
"Two."
"Run!" Gu Bei roared.
"One."
Boom—
"Goodbye, Mr. Gu."