Chapter 4: I Am Not Among Them

Fang Yongsheng hurriedly handed the phone to He Haoxuan, who spoke softly, “It’s me.”

“Oh my god, King, it’s really you! Where are you right now? We’ve searched so hard for you!” Scorpion recognized He Haoxuan’s voice and shouted with joy.

“Scorpion, I’m warning you, don’t tell anyone about me, or I’ll twist your head off and use it as a ball,” He Haoxuan threatened.

If he didn’t need help in Qingshan City to deal with Li Qingying, He Haoxuan would never have bothered speaking to Scorpion.

“King, I’ve found out that this phone number is located in Qingshan City, Huaxia. I’ll come over right away and be your little follower, all right? I swear I won’t tell anyone else,” Scorpion pleaded, still holding onto a sliver of hope.

“I don’t want to repeat myself,” He Haoxuan said curtly, then tossed the phone back to Fang Yongsheng.

Fang Yongsheng took back the phone, and asked carefully, “Boss, was that man your friend?”

“Friend, my ass!” Scorpion cursed angrily. In the mercenary world, the War King had a terrifying reputation abroad—he himself was no more than an ant in the King’s eyes. How could he possibly be considered his friend?

Suddenly, Scorpion remembered He Haoxuan’s instructions and immediately hinted, “Listen up—whatever you do, don’t offend him. Do as he says. Even if he wants your people and your assets, you must give them up, or I’ll kill you myself. And don’t spread a word about him, or I’ll kill you just the same—”

Fang Yongsheng nodded frantically as he listened to Scorpion’s orders. He wasn’t stupid; he understood exactly what his boss meant.

But deep inside, Fang Yongsheng was anxious. Giving up his assets was one thing, but giving up his people—well, that troubled him greatly. He hadn’t liked men for many years.

When he saw that Scorpion had hung up, Fang Yongsheng wiped the cold sweat from his face.

“Great Boss—” Fang Yongsheng bent over obsequiously, his face ingratiating. If he could win over this big shot, he’d be set for life.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” He Haoxuan glared at him.

The cold sweat broke out on Fang Yongsheng’s forehead again. If even his boss feared this man, how could he dare cross him? He still wanted to live! But he hadn’t called him wrong—his boss’s boss should be called “Great Boss,” shouldn’t he?

The head of the security team poked his head in from outside. “Boss, call him ‘Sir.’ All the real powerhouses these days are cultured people.”

He Haoxuan nodded. “This security guard has some sense.”

The captain immediately came in, fawning, “Great Great Boss—no, Sir, my name’s Xiao Qiang. Here’s my card. Whenever you need your shoes shined, just call me.”

Fang Yongsheng fumed at the sight. Xiao Qiang was stealing his chance to impress! If anyone was going to shine shoes, it should be him, not Xiao Qiang.

He Haoxuan took Xiao Qiang’s card, then turned to Fang Yongsheng. “Where’s your card?”

Fang Yongsheng hurriedly handed over his card. “Sir, our boss said from now on, this club is yours.”

“I don’t want such trifles.” With that, He Haoxuan picked up Li Qingying—light as a feather—and strode out.

When he saw He Haoxuan leaving, Fang Yongsheng, furious, kicked Xiao Qiang to the ground. “Damn you, how dare you steal my chance!”

Back at the Li household, He Haoxuan quietly made his way to the third floor, careful not to be seen by Li Dong and his wife.

The first floor was for the servants. He Haoxuan lived in the innermost room on the second floor, next to Li Dong and his wife. The third floor was Li Qingying’s domain, with her bedroom and study.

Although He Haoxuan and Li Qingying had been married for several months, he had never set foot in her bedroom, let alone been intimate with her.

Pink wallpaper, a pink bed, pink sheets and pillows, and even a pink Hello Kitty on the headboard—the entire room was a world of pink.

Who would have thought that this cold, aloof female president harbored such a girlish love for pink?

He Haoxuan gently laid Li Qingying on the bed. She seemed to stir, muttering, “Drink, I want more wine…”

“Go to sleep,” He Haoxuan said, slipping off her high heels. As he gazed at her crystal-clear, jade-like toes, he couldn’t take his eyes off them.

Reflexively, the muddled Li Qingying, unaware that He Haoxuan was in the room, thought she was alone. Since her shoes were off, she started to undress.

She took off her jacket and skirt.

Faced with the dazzling sight, He Haoxuan found it even harder to look away.

She was… very well-endowed, indeed.

He Haoxuan took out his phone and made an international call. “Shage, it’s me.”

“King!” The voice on the other end sounded shocked. This was his private satellite phone—almost no one knew the number.

“Immediately have your international trading company deliver a batch of these goods to Baili Corporation in Qingshan City, Huaxia. The general manager is Li Qingying—her number is 1—. Deliver them by tomorrow, or you’ll disappear from the face of the earth.” With those domineering words, He Haoxuan hung up.

Hmph, Yang Zhiyi thinks he’s something special just because he controls the supply in Qingshan. I’ll just source it from somewhere else.

He put away his phone and, breathing in the delicate fragrance he couldn’t describe, felt sleepiness wash over him. Without further ado, he lay down beside Li Qingying—under the pretense of looking after her in case something happened during the night.

Sunlight streamed through the third-floor window. Li Qingying stretched languidly, enjoying the warmth. Her hand brushed against something, jolting her awake.

When she saw He Haoxuan sleeping beside her, drooling, she screamed in terror, “Ah!”

He Haoxuan, dreaming pleasantly, was startled awake by her scream. Before he could react, she shoved him off the bed.

“What on earth are you doing? Disturbing my dreams?” He Haoxuan opened his eyes and looked at Li Qingying. Then he stared, utterly transfixed. He realized that seeing her in daylight was far better than at night—the clarity and resolution were excellent.

“Ah!” Li Qingying screamed again, only now realizing she was wearing nothing but her scanty underwear, unable to conceal her proud figure.

“Honey, don’t scream. I didn’t see anything, I swear. Not last night, not now,” He Haoxuan said, though his eyes were wide as lanterns, refusing to look away.

Li Qingying roared, “He Haoxuan, close your eyes right now, or I’ll kill you!”

Her body, never before exposed to a man, had been seen by him completely.

“I—I’m closing them, I swear,” He Haoxuan replied solemnly. Not to look would be a waste; but even if he looked, it was wasted on him.

Wait, am I getting a nosebleed? He Haoxuan quickly wiped at his nose.

Only then did Li Qingying think to dive beneath the covers, protecting herself from further embarrassment.

Seeing her ensconced in the blanket, He Haoxuan reluctantly searched for a tissue to clean up his nose.

“You beast, He Haoxuan! What did you do to me last night?” Li Qingying’s eyes reddened at the thought that her innocence was gone.

“Honey, I didn’t do anything! Can’t you tell? Even my clothes are still on—how could I have done anything?” He Haoxuan protested bitterly. If he’d known she’d accuse him like this, he might as well have done something, rather than be wrongly blamed.

“Qingying, what’s happening in there?” came Song Li’s anxious voice from outside.

“I—” Li Qingying glanced at He Haoxuan, at a loss for words.

“Honey, I think I hear He Haoxuan in there,” came Li Dong’s voice.

He Haoxuan bristled. “Don’t talk nonsense! I’m not in here!”

“Ah, He Haoxuan really is in Qingying’s room! This is bad—something’s happened,” Song Li fumed. That useless He Haoxuan, alone in her daughter’s room—what else could have happened? And her daughter had screamed twice just now; clearly, He Haoxuan had taken advantage of her.

“Li Dong, go get the kitchen knife and chop him up. I’ll block the door!” Song Li shouted.

Li Qingying panicked and scolded He Haoxuan, “Why did you speak up? I was about to tell my mom you weren’t here, that nothing happened.”

The deal between them had always been that, for the year of their fake marriage, He Haoxuan was not to touch Li Qingying—otherwise, she would make his life a living hell.