A military vehicle ran over quiet roads in the dead of night. A little ways off, Bailu Town sat quietly, its lights shining in the dark. Thunder Horse Military Factory had brought business to the town and it had prospered as a result. 

Long Bing circled around the town and came straight to the main entrance of Thunder Horse Manufacturing. Xia Lei then discovered that guard posts had been mounted on the gates. A soldier stood in the guard post, straight as an arrow with a gleaming baton in his hand; he looked threatening. An electric fence had been installed on the walls too, and surveillance cameras. The entire area was under strict security.

“I won’t be going in.” Long Bing stopped the vehicle at the gates. “I’ll call you another day. Let’s go for a meal.”

“Sure.” Xia Lei agreed with a smile, then took out a paper bag from his trouser pocket and handed it to Long Bing. 

“What’s this?” Long Bing took the bag and asked curiously. 

“A souvenir I picked up in the White Hun Tribe. It’s for you. You’ve always taken care of me and I’ve long wanted to get you a gift,” said Xia Lei.

Long Bing smiled and was rather embarrassed. “You’re an odd one, aren’t you? Getting me a gift for no particular occasion…” She opened the paper bag and was stunned. 

The paper bag held an exquisite necklace with pearls of jade, and a sapphire pendant. Every bit of jade was crystal-jade, translucent and beautiful. The sapphire pendant was set in a gold heart-shaped base and it sparkled like a spirit in the sea; it was breathtakingly beautiful. A necklace like this even without its historical value was at least over a million if one counted just the value of the jade and blue gems.

No woman disliked gems, especially a gem-studded beauty like this necklace. 

Long Bing looked at Xia Lei and could only speak after a pause. “You… Why give me such a valuable gift?”

Xia Lei smiled as he said, “Didn’t I just tell you? You’ve been taking care of me all this time so why can’t I give you a gift?”

“But… This is too much.” Long Bing grew nervous. 

“You can give it back to me if you don’t like that it’s expensive. I’ll give you a crystal necklace tomorrow.” Xia Lei stretched out his hand.

Long Bing closed her fingers tight over the necklace and even drew her hand back. “Up yours. Am I a woman who’s only worth crystals to you?”

Xia Lei was speechless.

Long Bing glanced at the necklace, then held it out to Xia Lei. 

Xia Lei paused. “You don’t want it?” 

“Why wouldn’t I want it? I’ll take what you give.” Long Bing was direct. “Help me put it on.”

‘I’ll take what you give’. 

Did this mean that she wouldn’t accept gifts from others? 

Xia Lei was still puzzling over what her words meant when Long Bing dipped her head and exposed her neck to him. Her neck was slender, tender and delicate. A black elastic band could be seen down the back of her top, barely visible in a there-not-there fashion. A mesmerising fragrance came from her hair, her skin, and Xia Lei breathed it in. He stared blankly for a bit, holding the necklace in his hands but forgetting to put it on. 

“What are you doing? Put it on me,” urged Long Bing. 

Xia Lei snapped back to his senses and put the sapphire necklace on Long Bing’s neck. 

Long Bing drew close to the rearview mirror to see. There was no arguing that this necklace fit her well. She was cold and this sapphire necklace was also a cool colour, adding to the intensity of her cold aura and a degree of class. 

“It complements you very well,” said Xia Lei with a smile. “You’re the most beautiful version of yourself that I’ve seen tonight.”

“Look at that smooth tongue. You talk like that a lot to other women, huh?” Long Bing looked at Xia Lei. 

Xia Lei laughed. “Do I look like the sort to lie to women to you?”

Long Bing suddenly drew close and gave Xia Lei a hug. 

Xia Lei froze but Long Bing released him before he could move his hands. 

“Thank you. Now get out of the car.” Long Bing avoided eye contact. Her face was a little red. 

Xia Lei got out of the car and he leaned in to the window to say, “I’m off. I’ll call you.”

Long Bing turned the car towards Jingdu City. The car zoomed on the road but her gaze was fixed on Xia Lei in the rearview mirror, and she did not look away until he went through the gates of Thunder Horse Military Factory with his backpack over his shoulder. 

Long Bing touched the sapphire necklace around her neck and a faint smile appeared on her lips… 

There were people working overtime in the workshops and it was busy. The workers were making handguns which Shi Bo-Ren had ordered; an order worth tens of millions, just for the workers to practice and break in the factory’s equipment. Only a boss like Xia Lei could get a great benefit like this. 

Xia Lei stood in the doorway of the workshop for a bit but did not enter in the end. He went around the factory area to the villa behind it. 

The lights in a window on the second floor was still on. It was the study. Xia Lei’s eye twitched and Annina came into view. She was working on some blueprints and a very cool looking sniper rifle sat on the table. He recalled that that sniper rifle was the design from her perfected version of her father’s design. 

Xia Lei was struck by a thought. ‘It was just a drawing on paper when I left and now she has a prototype. She didn’t rest at all during this time. What a workaholic.’

He entered the villa, went up to the second floor and pushed the study door open. 

Annina looked up and let out a cry of joy when she saw that it was Xia Lei. She stepped in her slippered feet to him and threw herself in his arms. “Lukas! I was just thinking that it’ll be great if you were back. And here you are!”

Xia Let patted her buttocks gently. “Close your eyes.”

“What is it?” Annina looked at him curiously. 

Xia Lei smiled as he said, “Just close them.”

Annina shut her eyes. She was as independent and opinionated as all women from the west, but she was a little kitten in front of Xia Lei. She did whatever he asked her to do. 

Xia Lei took out a ruby necklace he’d prepared and put it around Annina’s neck. 

Annina opened her eyes and was so overjoyed and excited by the sight of the necklace that she could not speak for a while. 

Xia Lei grinned toothily. “It’s been tough on you. This is a present from me. Like it?”

“It’s beautiful... I love it. You’re the best.” Annina burrowed in Xia Lei’s arms and gave him a deep kiss. 

The warmth and perfume of a beautiful woman and their deep, wet kiss quickly washed away Xia Lei’s tiredness, replacing it with happiness he could drown in. Annina and Xia Lei were intertwined… 

He had gifted two gems from Princess Yong-Mei’s coffin; one to Long Bing, who had always looked out for him, and one to Annina, who worked hard for him. He was a man who would treat a person even better if the person treated him well. 

The storm settled, and they lay sweaty. Annina curled up on the sofa and was rather tranquil. Xia Lei picked up the sniper rifle from the table and examined it. 

“I’ve tested it. It doesn’t meet the requirements of the design,” said Annina lazily, “We need lathes which are more advanced. I also need you to make adjustments.”

Xia Lei thought for a bit, and said, “I’ll get the workshop in Haizhu to process high precision parts tomorrow. I’ll work on this end too and try to upgrade our lathes as soon as possible.”

“The sooner the better. There’s a light weapons exhibition in Moscow in three months. If we can get our sniper rifle there it might be a hit and get us international orders.” Annina’s eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

“Light weapons exhibition in Moscow?” Xia Lei was interested. “What sort of exhibition is it?”

“International, of course. Many countries will have their weapons on display and there will be many vendors participating too. If our sniper rifle can be produced successfully then the exhibition will be a great chance to create some recognition for it.” 

Xia Lei grinned. “All right, then we’ll work hard for three months and take our sniper rifle to Moscow to make it known!”

“We’ll succeed for sure.” Annina got off the sofa and walked over to Xia Lei, swaying her sexy hips as she went. Her eyes were warm and passionate as she looked at Xia Lei. “You’re the best machinist in the world, Lukas. You’re also the best man…” 

Words like these made a man’s testosterone levels soar and burst out. 

Xia Lei was a little overwhelmed now. He hadn’t fully recovered from ‘Szlamy Syndrome’ and now there’s ‘Annina Syndrome’... 

Knock knock knock. Someone knocked at the door. 

The door was opened by the visitor before either of the persons in the room could react.

Annina let out a scream of surprise in that instant and hid behind Xia Lei. Xia Lei, too, held the sniper rifle up before himself to cover his important parts. 

The person in the doorway was none other than Qin Xiang. He had makeup and lipstick on, as well as female clothing; he looked every inch a tranny. 

“Oh… Oops.” Qin Xiang’s gaze scoured Xia Lei’s body. He didn’t even bother glancing at Annina. 

Xia Lei glared at Qin Xiang. “Why did you just burst in here, you rascal?”

Qin Xiang shrugged. “Didn’t I knock?”

Xia Lei had no words of retort. 

“I heard the gate guard say you’re back so I came to see you.” Qin Xiang laughed. “Looks like I came at the wrong time. Go on, continue. I’ll wait for you two outside the door.”

Xia Lei was speechless. 

Qin Xiang kept a close eye on Xia Lei as he backed out of the room and closed the door behind himself. 

Xia Lei walked out of the study a few minutes later. “We have to talk.”

Qin Xiang chuckled. “I know what you want to talk about. Someone already came by before you came back. I didn’t sell those things and I’m not in a rush to get rid of them. They’re all safely hidden.”

Xia Lei looked at him. “Don’t do things like this again. You nearly got in trouble this time. I can’t help you if anything about this gets to the press.”

“Relax. I’m not greedy. This one time’s enough,” said Qin Xiang. 

“I rest my case then,” said Xia Lei. “Right, is my workshop ready?”

“It was ready long ago. It’s ten times better than your workshop in Haizhu. All the tools and equipment you need are inside,” said Qin Xiang. 

“Take me there.” Xia Lei had requested a personal workshop when the factory was being built but he did not know where it had been built. 

Qin Xiang suddenly started giggling. “Ooh, I get it. Good wine is intoxicating but no less damaging for the liver. You sure are a man with a tough life, huh? Okay, I’ll take you there.”

Xia Lei really wanted to kick him on his ass for saying that. 

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