Power and Wealth

Beijing.

A single room in a budget hotel.

“Xiao Dong, can you style my hair for me?”

“Ah? Style your hair? I don’t know how to do that.”

“Help me clip my hair. I must hold my hair up and cannot use the hair clip with one hand.”

“Ok.”

“Thanks. I want to look proper when I visit my Sister. I don’t want Sister Han to worry for me.”

No wonder Zhong Lizhen wanted to change and shower after they arrived.

Dong Xuebing followed Zhong Lizhen into the bathroom. He moved a chair in front of the mirror for her.

Zhong Lizhen dried and started to style her hair. She used both hands to twirl her hair up into a bun and held it in both hands. “You can clip it now.”

Dong Xuebing clipped her hair with her hairclip. “Is this ok?”

Zhong Lizhen looked into the mirror and nodded. “Yes.”

Although this hairstyle looks complicated, Zhong Lizhen looks beautiful.

Dong Xuebing’s focus was not on her hairstyle. He stood behind her and could look down at her white gown. He could see her cleavage down her blouse, and she was not wearing a bra.

Zhong Lizhen has a deep cleavage even without wearing a bra.

“Let’s go.”

“Ok.”

Dong Xuebing and Zhong Lizhen left the hotel room and went downstairs. They had only checked into the hotel for an hour, and they were going to check out.

Dong Xuebing passed the key to the counter staff. “Check out, please.”

It was still the female staff at the counter. “Huh? Alright. This is your deposit.”

Dong Xuebing counted the money and kept it. That’s all the cash he has now.

“Let’s go.” Zhong Lizhen noticed many people looking at them, and she immediately left.

Dong Xuebing also noticed people were looking at them and quickly followed Professor Zhong out of the budget hotel.

They had checked in an hour earlier and had a small argument with the staff in the lobby. Now, they are checking out of the hotel after an hour. Their hair is still damp, and they look fresh. Many staff looked at them and whispered among themselves.

It’s normal for a young or middle-aged couple to check into the hotel.

But the age difference between both of them is too broad.

“Wow….”

“Sigh…. People these days are too….”

“Is this a May-December romance?”

Dong Xuebing and Zhong Lizhen overheard the staff as they were walking out of the hotel.

Zhong Lizhen looked terrible, and Dong Xuebing was furious.

“What the f**k are you all saying?!” Dong Xuebing shouted at the security guard who made those comments.

The security guard knew he had said the wrong things and kept quiet. He pretended not to hear Dong Xuebing.

“I dare you to repeat it!” Dong Xuebing turned and walked towards the security guard.

Zhong Lizhen did not want to create trouble and pulled Dong Xuebing away. “Enough, Xiao Dong. Let’s go.”

Those two security guards ignored Dong Xuebing, making the latter more furious. “You all are asking for it.”

“Let’s go. Just ignore them.” Zhong Lizhen saw Dong Xuebing was about to hit those security guards and quickly pulled him away by hugging his waist. “It’s not a big deal.”

Zhong Lizhen had seen Dong Xuebing’s combat power. She knew all the hotel’s staff were no match for him, let alone two security guards. She was afraid he would kill them.

Zhong Lizhen’s body pressed against Dong Xuebing’s back, and he felt her left breast pressing on his back.

Dong Xuebing felt something soft on his back and calmed down immediately.

Sigh…. Let’s go.

Dong Xuebing and Zhong Lizhen left the hotel and got into a cab.

Inside the cab.

Zhong Lizhen gave the driver an address.

The driver heard the address and looked at Zhong Lizhen.

The driver knew the address belonged to Beijing’s Standing Committee Villas and ordinary people would not visit there. He wanted to know what they looked like. Dong Xuebing was nervous. He had not told Zhong Lizhen his identity, and he was troubled. How should he tell her now? He took out his phone, and the battery was flat.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Dong?” Zhong Lizhen asked.

Dong Xuebing smiled. “Nothing.”

Zhong Lizhen looked at Dong Xuebing. “You must know who Sister Han is, right?”

Dong Xuebing does not know how to reply. Of course, he knows who she is.

“Don’t be nervous.” Zhong Lizhen said. “Sister Han is a nice person. I grew up with her. Although we are not related, we are closer than real sisters. Her house is my second home.”

“Err…. I will visit her another time.”

“I can return safely because of you. We must treat you to a good dinner.”

“We can have dinner anytime. I….”

“We are on the cab now. Let’s go. I don’t want people to think of me as ungrateful. I also want to introduce you to Sister Han and my brother-in-law. However, I don’t know what you are working, but you should know his identity. He can help you with your career in China.”

“But….”

“Just listen to me.”

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it? Eh, turn left in front. Yes….”

Dong Xuebing was interrupted, and he could not tell her his identity.

About forty minutes later.

The cab stopped outside of Beijing’s Standing Committee Villas.

Dong Xuebing noticed Zhong Lizhen getting excited when they got nearer. She got out of the cab before it stopped entirely.

“Professor Zhong.” Dong Xuebing got a fright.

Zhong Lizhen turned and said to Dong Xuebing. “It’s villa no. 1. I will go there first.”

“Eh… wait a minute.” Dong Xuebing shouted, but Zhong Lizhen did not hear him. She walked fast to the guard house. He wanted to tell her to be careful not to be seen. Many people are looking for her, and she should not appear publicly. There are not many people around, and he did stop her. He understood how she felt.

The guards saw Zhong Lizhen walking towards them and were about to stop her.

But Dong Xuebing cleared his throat loudly when he was paying the driver. The guards saw him, and he waved to them, asking them not to stop Zhong Lizhen.

The guards immediately saluted and let them enter.

Zhong Lizhen wanted to see Sister Han badly and tell her she was safe. However, she was surprised to see the guards letting her enter. She thought she had to call Sister Han at the guard house and did not expect them to allow her to enter without questions. The security should be tighter here. Why did the guards allow her to enter? Did they remember her? But she was away for many years. How did they recognize her?

Zhong Lizhen was confused, but she did not stop. She ran towards Villa No. 1.

The guards did not recognize Zhong Lizhen.

They had let her enter because they recognized Dong Xuebing. They might not recognize other leaders’ relatives, but they must recognize Beijing Standing Committee’s head, Secretary Xie’s son-in-law.

Zhong Lizhen did not see Dong Xuebing’s gestures to the guards.

However, the driver saw it and looked at Dong Xuebing in shock. He overheard their conversation in his car and thought the middle-aged woman was in charge. He did not expect this young man to be more powerful. Those guards recognized him.

“Sir.”

“Huh?”

“Here’s the fare.”

“Oh…. Ok….”

Dong Xuebing could not see Zhong Lizhen after he paid the driver. He smiled to himself wearily, wondering if he should return another day. He had not told Zhong Lizhen the truth, and Xie Guobang, Han Jing, and Xie Huilan did not know he had left the country to save Zhong Lizhen. He lied that his phone battery was flat and uncontactable because he did not want to inform them.

Should I enter?

Dong Xuebing hesitated for a few minutes outside the gate.

Sigh… forget it. I got to face this sooner or later.

Dong Xuebing greeted the guards and entered the compound.