Chapter 131: Why Target Her For No Reason?
Lu Qiaoge furrowed her brows.
Even without being familiar with Regiment Leader Yan and An Leilei, she still felt that these two people couldn’t possibly steal the gold watch.
Director Hu was right; they had all been received according to VIP standards.
It wasn’t the same as decades later; people now truly treated Hong Kong people as the most honored guests.
Whether it was the waitress or the two from the art troupe, how could they possibly steal things from Hong Kong guests?
But looking at A Xi’s appearance, it didn’t seem like he was pretending. Regardless of what Chairman Zhen meant by selecting him as the heir, it was undeniable that he could still handle being the main person for a 100,000 M yuan order.
Moreover, going back on one’s word like this wouldn’t be good for the Zhen Family’s reputation.
Obviously, Chairman Zhen wouldn’t do such a thing either.
At this moment, Chairman Zhen was sitting there, his expression calm and unflustered by the sudden change.
Beside him was a beautiful and stylish woman; clearly, this was his female secretary.
On both sides of the long table sat two distinct groups of people—one side was Chairman Zhen and A Xi from Hong Kong, along with the secretary and others; the other side was the local reception personnel from Jiangcheng.
Lu Qiaoge glanced at A Xi, whose expression was grim.
What kind of mental illness did this person have that made him irritable and require medication afterward?
Did Chairman Zhen know?
If he knew, why still make him the heir? Wasn’t he afraid of opposition from the other children?
To say he didn’t know seemed unlikely. But it couldn’t be ruled out that A Xi was good at disguising it.
But actually, aside from her, no one else seemed to notice anything different about him.
Even on the verge of an outburst, he maintained a lazy sitting posture, his eyes occasionally flashing with an emotion that Lu Qiaoge couldn’t read.
It was at this moment that A Xi spoke.
“That gold watch is the only relic my mother left me.”
Lu Qiaoge noticed that when he said the words “relic,” his knuckles slightly paled.
She quietly scanned the room.
Not just her—many people were looking at A Xi.
Although Chairman Zhen’s expression was calm, a flash of annoyance passed through his eyes, as if he didn’t want A Xi to mention the Third Madam at this time.
It turned out that the Third Madam had passed away.
“Mr. Zhen, please believe that we will thoroughly investigate this matter.”
The one who said this was Manager Wang from the hotel. He was over fifty, with furrowed brows and sweat on his forehead. He had worked here for over a decade and this was the first time encountering something like this, especially since the other party was a VIP from Hong Kong. But he believed in his own staff and comrades: “Our hotel’s waitresses have all undergone strict vetting, and the art troupe comrades are even more reliable…”
“Does Manager Wang mean that we’re lying?” the female secretary behind Chairman Zhen suddenly spoke, her voice cold as ice.
“No, no, no, that’s not what I mean.” Manager Wang hurriedly waved his hands.
Lu Qiaoge’s gaze swept over everyone in the meeting room.
Regiment Leader Yan was sitting in the corner. This art troupe leader in her forties had an ashen face. Beside her, An Leilei was hanging her head, her fingers twisted together, her face clearly showing embarrassment.
It made sense—if they had come properly, but couldn’t leave properly.
This delicate young lady, when had she ever suffered such grievance?
And Regiment Leader Yan being suspected of stealing— that was an insult to her; of course her face wouldn’t look good.
“I think we should do this.” The always silent Chairman Zhen suddenly spoke. This business magnate in his sixties had a steady voice: “My itinerary continues. A Xi, the order with the fried snack factory isn’t child’s play. You take people to sign the order. As for the gold watch, there are public security officers here; let them continue the investigation.”
A Xi suddenly looked up, but after a few breaths, he said: “Father, I’m not feeling well. Anyway, we’re staying a few more days, so the order matter can wait.”
He said this in Cantonese.
Some in the room understood, some didn’t.
Lu Qiaoge and Elder Sister Su were both sitting in the corner of the meeting room. She translated for Elder Sister Su and then explained: “There are quite a few Nancheng people in my area; I learned from them.”
Elder Sister Su nodded and said softly to Lu Qiaoge: “Why don’t we leave? Clearly, we can’t get a word in.”
The comrade from the Foreign Trade Bureau said: “No rush. Since we’re allowed in, it’s hoped that everyone can pool ideas and find a method to solve the current problem.”
This place was already under martial law status. They had been able to come in earlier because Elder Sister Su had greeted them at the doorway, and everyone’s work permits had been checked.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t want to leave either; her little treasures hadn’t brought back information for her yet.
Moreover, this also involved a 1,000 yuan bonus.
A Xi also spotted Lu Qiaoge at a glance. Suddenly, a glint of mischief flashed in his eyes, and he said: “Director Lu, I remember you telling me that Jiangcheng people are simple and kind. So, is this your simple and kind—stealing my things?”
A trace of displeasure flashed in Lu Qiaoge’s heart.
This playboy, why was he targeting her for no reason?
Even if the business didn’t happen, goodwill remained. It wasn’t like they desperately needed your order to survive.
What she had said then was official rhetoric; it was fine to take it seriously or not—no loss either way.
But you couldn’t publicly pick at the words she had used.
Old Lin was there too. Upon hearing this, he felt A Xi was trying to make trouble for Lu Qiaoge, so he was about to speak when he heard Lu Qiaoge smilingly say: “Mr. Zhen, you’ve also been to the fried snack factory. No one can guarantee that every sunflower seed there is good. To guarantee quality, just pick out the bad sunflower seeds. So, the way you’re speaking here is called arguing in our parts!”
At first, the crowd didn’t react much, but upon hearing the words “arguing,” they were all stunned.
Where did this bold Director Lu come from, being so impolite to a VIP from Hong Kong—actually daring to say the other was arguing.
Oh my, truly a newborn calf not afraid of a tiger.
Manager Wang had just been subtly rebuked by Chairman Zhen’s female secretary earlier.
He had wanted to retort, but with the item lost and not found, what if—it was complicated; he had confidence yet didn’t, a very complex mindset. But hearing Lu Qiaoge say this to the other party, he was still happy to hear it.
He smoothed things over: “I’m the hotel manager; I take full responsibility for this. Mr. Zhen, please rest assured; we will do our utmost to find the gold watch.”
A Xi unexpectedly raised his brows; he wasn’t annoyed. The emotions he had been trying hard to control seemed to fade a bit.
He took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and said faintly: “Director Lu, anyone can say pretty words. Finding my mother’s relic is the proper thing, isn’t it?”
Chairman Zhen frowned: “Don’t speak to a lady like that.”
Lu Qiaoge looked straight into his eyes, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth: “Mr. Zhen, you’re right.”
Before anyone else could speak, Lu Qiaoge seriously asked: “Manager Wang, have the rooms on the eighth floor been checked one by one?”
Manager Wang hesitated. The incident had happened suddenly; from the time it occurred until now, it had only been a little over an hour.
Regiment Leader Yan and An Leilei had been brought back midway.
The ones handling this were from the provincial public security.
They were in the small meeting room next door.
As for checking the rooms, all rooms on the eighth floor except the one Chairman Zhen was staying in had been checked.
