I gently stroked her back and whispered, "Wouldn't it be better if we were siblings? We'd have familial love that lasts a lifetime. Romantic love might only last for a moment. If we combine familial love with romantic love, can't we have both?"
She looked up and, whispering into my ear, said, "You're good with words, but I like it."
I replied, "I'm telling the truth. When the chairman first proposed it, I was quite resistant. But then I thought, if we become family, wouldn't it be more convenient for us to be together?"
Xie Nana nodded, resting her head obediently on my shoulder.
Just then, Wen Siqiang returned and drove Xie Nana home.
Xie Nana said, "Brother, won't you stay after dropping me off?"
I responded, "Don't you know how much needs to be done here? I already escaped for a whole day yesterday. Can I just disappear again?"
Xie Nana pouted and remained silent.
Wen Siqiang arrived quickly. He and I both understood that the situation was urgent. We had to meet with the elders as soon as possible to discuss Brother Hui's sudden visit.
I couldn't show any of this to Xie Nana. Regardless of whether she was involved in their affairs, I couldn't reveal anything, especially since there's a saying about blood being thicker than water.
The journey, which should have taken over half an hour, was completed by Wen Siqiang in twenty minutes.
After all, it was a multi-million dollar car, and it handled the bumpy, pothole-ridden road with ease, making the ride feel smooth.
Upon reaching the entrance of Xie Jiabao's villa, Wen Siqiang opened our car doors for us. I got out first, then took Xie Nana's hand to help her down.
Xie Nana looked at me with reluctance. I pulled her towards the main gate. Seeing the security guards and female attendants emerge, I handed her over to them, waved goodbye to Xie Nana, and quickly departed.
We sped off, running several red lights. Within fifteen minutes, we were back at the hotel.
We hurried to the elders' room. The elder was pacing back and forth in the living room. Seeing us enter, he quickly said, "You've returned at the perfect time. Xie Jiabao called. He said Brother Hui is on his way to the city and is coming here!"
What was bound to happen had happened. It seemed an encounter was unavoidable.
I asked, "How long ago did they depart?"
The elder replied, "About... ten-plus minutes."
I said, "There's still time. Last time we went to the provincial capital, he only glanced at us from a distance a couple of times; we never met face-to-face. I'll change my clothes and hairstyle and face him with a brave front."
The elder stated, "We can only take a risk now. Hiding is impossible. When I was in the provincial capital, there were many rumors about him. The most frequent ones described him as inherently suspicious, fierce, and cruel, trusting no one. Therefore, whether we can get through this depends on our immediate response and strategy. We can only pray for good fortune. The last time we clashed with him, he preferred to escape rather than confront us directly, and then he chased and attacked you on the way to the airport. This is enough to show that he is not only cunning but also resourceful and black-hearted. If Xie Jiabao is an old fox, then Ah Hui is a devil. He not only devours people but also never spits out the bones!"
I nodded. The elder was absolutely right. Ah Hui was a devil who devoured people without spitting out the bones. Once he got his hands on us, we would likely have only death awaiting us.
It was evident that although Ah Hui was the youngest, he was truly the soul and the true leader of their group.
I said, "There's still time. Let's quickly get ready and change into formal wear to await him. Wen Siqiang and Qian Fugui, you two also hurry and change. Stand behind us later and act according to my cues."
They quickly went out to change in the car.
As for me, I didn't need to change clothes. I went to the bathroom, wet my hair, dried it, styled it, and applied hairspray. Looking in the mirror, even I found myself a bit unfamiliar.
The elder's transformation was even more striking. Last time we infiltrated the club, he wore coarse linen clothes and a traditional ethnic headdress. Now, in a tailored suit with his hair meticulously combed, he looked like a completely different person.
The only thing that might arouse suspicion was our combination. Individually, we might not draw much attention, but the two of us together could easily spark speculation due to our significant age difference.
That's why I arranged for Wen Siqiang and Qian Fugui to be by our side. This way, his suspicion towards the two of us would be lessened.
At least it wouldn't seem like such a coincidence that an old and young pair was always interacting.
I helped the elder adjust his clothes, and then we both sat on the sofa, waiting for them to arrive.
The room had a reception area with a long coffee table and four sofas. After Wen Siqiang and the other came up, I asked them to prepare tea. I called the front desk to have a plate of fruits sent up.
At that moment, I received a call from Xie Nana. She said on the phone that she missed me.
I was speechless. We had only known each other for two days. Even if it was love at first sight, it was happening far too quickly.