She goes crazy, he'll cover for her; the darling of the group is someone no one dares to mess w

Hearing the busy tone on the other end of the phone, Wen Yang breathed a long sigh of relief, still feeling a bit scared.

She knew Han Xi was worried about Fang Li, but if he knew Fang Li was with Lu Jie...

Given the personalities of these two gentlemen, it's likely to be another major battle.

Thinking of this, Wen Yang quickly took out her phone, wanting to call Fang Li to ask about the situation, but found that Fang Li's phone was busy.

On the other side, Han Xi had just hung up the phone with Wen Yang when he received a call from Fang Li.

His anxiety finally subsided somewhat.

Her expression softened slightly, and she immediately replied, "Are you asleep? Did I disturb you?"

Fang Li chuckled softly, her voice tinged with a hint of languor: "No, I just finished showering and am lying in bed."

"Your phone... I tried calling you earlier but couldn't get through."

Han Xi's tone carried a hint of worry, but more than that, it was filled with concern.

"Sorry, my phone was out of battery, I just got it charging."

A faint sigh came through the receiver, followed by Han Xi's voice: "Why did you suddenly go to Kunming?"

Fang Li explained, "I came to Kunming for the opening ceremony of 'The Dream Never Ends,' and I will return to Beijing as soon as it's over here. After all, Xingli Films has just gotten on track, and I can't just abandon it."

Han Xi didn't say anything, but simply reminded him, "Then take care of yourself and your health, and remember to charge your phone properly so I can reach you."

"Yes, I know," Fang Li replied.

A few seconds of silence fell between the two ends of the phone call, and a subtle atmosphere seemed to fill the air.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Li spoke up: "Han Xi, I've seen Lu Jie."

There was an instant silence on Han Xi's end, as if even his breathing had stopped.

Fang Li could sense the tense atmosphere on the other end of the phone, so she quickly told the truth: "Lu Jie took me to the villa, but it wasn't voluntary. I'll be back in Kunming first thing tomorrow morning. Lu Jie didn't do anything to me, so don't worry."

After a long pause, Han Xi replied softly, "Okay, I understand."

After the call ended, Han Xi's deep-set eyes immediately darkened.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, looking at the neon-lit night view of Beijing. The city's prosperity seemed particularly cold to him.

His fingers gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

After a long while, Han Xi slowly let go of his hand, opened his phone, and dialed a number.

At this moment, Lu Jie was drinking with the owner of the villa under the night sky.

The nights at the mountain resort were exceptionally quiet, with only the chirping of insects and the occasional sound of the wind.

Lu Jie held his wine glass, watching the liquid swirl within, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

He picked up his phone and saw that the caller ID showed Han Xi. His smile deepened, tinged with amusement and provocation.

Lu Jie paused for a moment before slowly answering the phone, his tone relaxed: "Oh, isn't this President Han? What's up calling me so late?"

Han Xi on the other end of the phone didn't speak, but remained silent, as if he was brewing something.

Lu Jie wasn't in a hurry, and continued to slowly drink his wine, waiting for him to speak.

After a long while, Han Xi's icy voice finally came through the receiver: "Lu Jie, Fang Li is my person, you'd better not touch her."

Lu Jie chuckled softly, as if he had heard something amusing: "Han Xi, you can't say that. Fang Li is an adult; she has her own choices. Besides, even if you're her husband, you don't have the right to stop her from making friends, do you?"

"..."

Han Xi remained silent.

Then a deep voice came, carrying a faint warning: "It seems that your trip abroad these past few months has not taught you a lesson. In that case, I will give Young Master Lu another big gift."

"threaten me?"

Lu Jie raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with disdain, "Han Xi, who do you think you are? Always running to your elders to complain when something happens. How old are you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his relaxed brows turned cold, and his tone became ruthless: "If you have the guts, then come at me. Let's see who ends up being thrown out with their tail between their legs this time!"

The central air conditioning in the office emitted a slight hum, making the chill around Han Xi seem even more biting.

He gazed at the dazzling CBD buildings outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, his fingertips creating a white mist on the glass: "I'll say it one last time, stay away from Ali!"

"Oh?"

Lu Jie drawled out his words, the clinking of glasses echoing through the receiver, "What if I insist? Han Lao Er, your wife is right here, just a step away from me. If I want to do something now, what can you do to me?"

Han Xi's Adam's apple bobbed, and his jawline tightened into a cold, hard crease: "You're asking for death!"

Lu Jie sneered, "To die under a peony is to be a romantic ghost, and besides... Han Lao Er, do you dare to kill me?"

The busy signal abruptly pierced the air. Han Xi stared at the darkened screen, his eyes darker than the night outside the window.

He raised his hand and loosened his tie, his well-defined fingers tapping the back of his phone with a chilling, soft sound, each tap like a countdown.

Three minutes later, he dialed Lin Mo's number, his voice as cold as ice: "Book a flight, the nearest one to Kunming."

Lin Mo on the other end of the phone paused for half a second, then immediately replied, "Okay, boss."

Meanwhile, on the villa's terrace, Lu Jie tossed his phone onto the rattan table, the crimson liquor swirling dangerously in the glass.

The resort owner, standing to the side, chuckled and picked up a bottle to refill Lu Jie's glass: "Who are you arguing with?"

Lu Jie stood up, holding his wine glass. The night breeze lifted the hem of his black shirt, revealing his lean waistline.

He gazed at the scattered lights below the mountain and suddenly chuckled softly: "Someone who has been my adversary since childhood."

The boss raised an eyebrow and shook his head, watching Lu Jie drink the wine in his glass in one gulp.

The moonlight cast shadows on his sharply defined profile, and his usually nonchalant peach blossom eyes now gleamed with a determined fire.

-

At five o'clock the next morning, Fang Li tiptoed through the thick carpeted corridor, using the dim light of her phone screen as she walked.

Her shoes made almost no sound as she walked on the wool fibers.

The small door of the villa was ajar, and the brass lock on the hinge was rusty, making a soft "creaking" sound when pushed gently.

Fang Li held her breath and slipped out; the cold morning dew immediately soaked the collar of her coat.

The hill behind the villa is covered with tea trees, their leaves glistening with dew in the dim light.

She followed the route marked by the mountain resort, walking down the mountain along the path trodden by tea pickers, not caring at all that her canvas shoes were covered in mud.

It wasn't until the sky began to lighten that she saw the sign for the national highway.

When she hailed a taxi, the driver looked at her trouser legs, which were covered in grass clippings, with a puzzled expression.

Fang Li gave the hotel address, her voice slightly out of breath, but she finally relaxed and said, "Go to Kuncheng Cloud Hotel. Please hurry, I'm in a rush."