Chapter 36 (1/2)

Queen of Shentu Empire

Five days later.

Xia Lei buried himself with work in the workshop. A box of precision parts which had been processed sat next to the manual lathe. In just a bit, Xia Lei would be done with his job because the part he held in his hand was the last one. One million yuan would be his once he was finished with this part.

‘Thunder Horse Workshop will have an upgrade in funds when I get this one million yuan. I can buy equipment and hire more skilled workers. I have no need to do the low-difficulty jobs. With my skills, I can be the ace of Thunder Horse Workshop and only accept higher-difficulty jobs or jobs others cannot complete. This way, we can make more money and I’ll have time to do other things too.’ As he worked, Xia Lei planned for the future and what he would do.

This one million had given him motivation. With his ability, he had no need to do rough and simple jobs. If he had to use his ability, it would be for times like this where the payout was large!

Indeed, if Xia Lei were to squat by the roadside holding a welding torch to mend a wok, what sort of Great Master would he be? If a client came to talk to him about some precision processing business worth tens of millions and saw him welding outside, would he still want to hire him?

Footsteps rang from behind him, breaking Xia Lei’s train of thought. He put down the part in his hands to take a look and caught sight of Ning Yuan-Shan and Chi Jing-Qiu bringing a group of people through the main doorway of the workshop.

Ning Yuan-Shan was talking to a young lady and Chi Jing-Qiu was close by, looking nervous. The lady had four suited young men following her and all four of them had stern faces and sturdy bodies. They were surveying their surroundings as they moved. These characteristics were that of professional bodyguards.

Xia Lei’s gaze landed on the young lady and it felt like his soul had been hooked in that instant.

The young lady surrounded by a crowd had a pair of bright raven eyes which seemed to hold a pool of clear springwater, giving the impression of intelligence – wise, clear and bright. Her lips were small and tender and carried the natural red of the most delicate rose petals. Her figure was also the best, the most perfect. Perfect proportions, plumpness where it should be – everything about her was impeccable, especially her legs. They were slender without losing their healthy plumpness, white and almost translucent like jade, as if nature decided to use the best of its resources to carefully craft her without any flaws. She also had a special bearing – irreproachable as a jade lotus flower blooming in an ancient palace, the strict solemnity of the palace emphasising and bringing out the brilliance of the existence that is her.

Chi Jing-Qiu was easy on the eyes too but next to this lady, she was instantly turned into a tacky, dull existence.

There was no ‘most beautiful’ woman in this world but Xia Lei felt that this woman whose name he did not know was the most perfect woman he’d seen in his life. He was captivated and his heart started to pound.

“This way please, Miss Shentu.” Ning Yuan-Shan was very polite and spoke as he guided her.

‘Who is this woman? Is she here to see me process the parts?’ Xia Lei was bursting with curiosity.

Ning Yuan-Shan passed Xia Lei with the lady and they continued walking deeper into the workshop. The lady enclosed in a crowd did not even spare Xia Lei a glance.

Xia Lei thought she was here to see him but she’d passed without even noticing him. His existence was like that of a street vendor to her.

Xia Lei watched the lady move further away and a bitter smile crooked the corners of his mouth, “She’s beautiful but too proud. What sort of man can get a woman like her?”

Chi Jing-Qiu hung back and waited for Ning Yuan-Shan and the lady to walk a bit of a distance away before she went to Xia Lei, “Stop staring. You can stare your whole life and it won’t make a difference.”

Only then did Xia Lei look away from the lady and he looked at Chi Jing-Qiu and said laughingly, “If you looked as beautiful as her I’d stare at you too.”

Chi Jing-Qiu was not angry at all, “That won’t piss me off. I know my place when I’m put up against her. Don’t you know who she is?”

“Who is she?”

“The head of Shentu clan, Shentu Tian-Yin.”

“Shentu clan?” Xia Lei shook his head, “Never heard of it.”

“You’ve got to increase your knowledge.” A faintly contemptuous smile appeared on the lips of Chi Jing-Qiu’s mouth, “I’ll give you a quick rundown and also some information. Shentu clan is the largest clan in the East region. The Shentu clan controls the Vientiane Group worth tens of billions in assets, which is involved in real estate, energy, home appliances and science and technology. What is the use of a man like you staring at a woman like that? You have no chance. Face reality and don’t be carried away by wishful thinking.”

Xia Lei laughed, “Don’t use those words to agitate me. No matter how lousy of a man I am, I’m still better than your man.”

“You-” Chi Jing-Qiu was temporarily at a loss for words.

“Okay, let’s not butt heads. We’re still ex-classmates.” Xia Lei smoothed things over, “Right, so what’s Shentu Tian Yin here for?”

Chi Jing-Qiu was still pissed but her tone softened a little, “She’s representing Vientaine Group to survey our company. Vientaine Group wants to build a wind power plant and needs a large number of wind generation equipment which our company is capable of producing. She’s the embodiment of wealth; don’t you see how Chairman Ning is escorting her like royalty?”

“I see. Chairman Ning must really want Vientaine Group as a client,” said Xia Lei.

Chi Jing-Qiu sighed, “Ah, we are both women but we have such different lives and fates. Lei, tell me, aren’t the Heavens lacking in fairness?”

“Don’t think too much about it. Be content with your own lot.”

Chi Jing-Qiu shook her head, “I would be willing to have a lifespan of only twenty years if I can live like how Shentu Tian Yin lives. Living in this limbo and having to face that spineless coward every day is driving me crazy.”

“You’d better catch up or you’ll get scolded.” Xia Lei did not want to broach that topic.