Chapter 103: Espionage Turnaround

Du Qiu won the wager agreement and secured 60% of the shares in Xingguang Precision.

Feiyu Technology gained control of the remaining 40%.

Nevertheless, Ning Yuzhe and all members of the board were very happy.

Spending 80 million to acquire a 40% stake in such an enterprise was a bargain; it was bound to become a significant national asset.

Ning Yuzhe was already hurrying back to write a report for the ministry, as well as to compete for the corresponding ultra-high precision machine tool procurement orders.

Ning Yuzhe knew that in the next few years, a batch of key enterprises affiliated with several ministries would need to update their machine tools in order to “sprint into the industrial 4.0 era,” as it were.

If it weren’t for this, he wouldn’t have thought of setting up Xingguang Precision with Du Qiu the moment he met him.

Just after sending Ning Yuzhe and the others away, Du Qiu had only taken a few steps back.

The sound of a car braking abruptly was heard.

“Du Qiu, get in the car!”

Du Qiu turned around to see a BYD car stopped by the roadside, with Ning Shuangshuang waving at him from inside.

Du Qiu casually said to Liu Yaofeng, “I’ll be right back.”

“Haha, go on then, no need to come back here,” Liu Yaofeng laughed.

Du Qiu quickly got into the car, and before he could even sit down properly, the BYD had already sped off.

Not far away, Zhang Mingliu, who had just gotten out of a taxi, witnessed this scene, and her face suddenly looked dejected.

In the past few months, she had learned from Qin Yun that Du Qiu had a wager agreement and was fully devoted to developing a machining center. She hadn’t disturbed him.

Hearing that the product had been successfully developed and the joint venture partner had come for inspection today, she wanted to meet Du Qiu under the guise of conducting an interview, but she didn’t expect to witness this scene.

Zhang Mingliu’s face showed a trace of bitter smile as she turned and left, step by step.

Inside the BYD sedan.

“Hey, why so hurried? I haven’t even buckled my seatbelt,” Du Qiu said.

“Don’t say anything now, just call Imanka immediately. She should be in transit through South Korea; see if you can get her to come back,” Ning Shuangshuang urged.

Filled with countless questions, Du Qiu still took out his phone and dialed Imanka’s number.

“The number you have dialed is not within the service area, please try again later…”

Ning Shuangshuang glanced at Du Qiu’s phone, sighed, and said, “Looks like we’re a step too late.”

“What exactly happened?”

“We just received intelligence that Imanka is a GIA intelligence officer. Her visit to the Magic City was not solely to obtain the crystal cube from you or to carry out environmental surveys.”

“What? She’s a spy! What intelligence did she steal?” Du Qiu was shocked.

During this time, he had been almost entirely preoccupied with the machining center project and had only met Imanka twice.

Imanka, interested in the waste treatment equipment from Dream Technology for its environmental value, helped him contact a company in the United States and signed a North American general agency agreement.

Currently, sales of the waste treatment equipment in the United States were steadily increasing.

He never expected Imanka to be an intelligence agent from the United States, and seeing Ning Shuangshuang’s urgent demeanor, she must have stolen important intelligence.

No wonder she left the Magic City without saying goodbye.

A surge of anger rose in his heart.

“We’re not sure yet,” Ning Shuangshuang said, shaking her head. “I was ordered to closely monitor her.

I had just alerted the border inspection when we found out she had just left the country; her flight was transiting through South Korea on the way to Los Angeles.

I guess she’s currently switching planes in South Korea, perhaps if you call her, you might get her to come back.

But from the looks of your call just now, I fear she won’t be returning.”

“What else can I do to help?” Du Qiu asked with concern.

Ning Shuangshuang looked at him with a half-smile and said, “You’re thinking about helping me, but have you ever thought about why I picked you up?”

Du Qiu was taken aback and said, “You don’t suspect me, do you?”

Ning Shuangshuang’s expression turned somewhat serious as she said, “Why shouldn’t I suspect you? Imanka was once your first love, and you’ve seen her a few times since she came this time.

Additionally, you’ve had transactions with her involving the crystal cube, so you definitely could be a suspect, which is why I am investigating you right now.”

“Uh, if I’m a suspect, then you probably shouldn’t be the one investigating me. You might need to recuse yourself,” Du Qiu responded.

“Sigh, it’s no fun not being able to scare you,” Ning Shuangshuang sighed.

Du Qiu couldn’t help but laugh. Though they hadn’t met much over the past few months, they had been in touch via WeChat.

The relationship hadn’t progressed as fast as Du Qiu would have liked, but it was steadily warming up.

Now, Ning Shuangshuang could even use this to tease him.

“Don’t laugh, I’m taking you to the bureau now; someone wants to ‘have tea’ and talk with you. You better honestly disclose all your interactions with Imanka,” Ning Shuangshuang warned.

“Hey, Shuangshuang, haven’t I already explained everything to you?” Du Qiu protested.

“Is it the same thing?” Ning Shuangshuang rolled her eyes at him.

“How about I try calling Imanka again to see if she picks up? Or maybe I’ll send her another message.”

“Not bad, willing to turn in even your kin.”

“Hey, don’t misuse words. Imanka isn’t my kin. Besides, it’s not wrong to turn on kin for the sake of the nation’s greater good.”

As Du Qiu spoke, he dialed Imanka’s number again.

But once more, the standard prompt message was heard, leaving Du Qiu no choice but to send a message.

“There’s an issue with the sales of the waste treatment equipment. Please reply as soon as you get this, or come find me at the company.”

After sending the message, there was still no reply.

When Du Qiu left the Security Bureau, it was already the beginning of the night lights.

Ning Shuangshuang certainly wouldn’t be sending him off, as losing a spy, potentially in possession of intelligence, was a serious matter.

Although Ning Shuangshuang was only in charge of sweep operations, it was difficult for her to stay out of it at this time.

Just as Du Qiu was about to hail a taxi home, his phone rang.

He picked it up, and couldn’t help but smile.

He quickly answered the call.

“Dafish, you finally decided to surface?” Du Qiu asked.

“What, you miss me? To be honest, I’ve been dying to see you! Come quick, the Listening Sea Club, room 1818!”

“Damn, you just snuck back into the country?”

“We’ll talk when we meet…”

“Wait, it’s just the two of us, right?”

“What do you mean? Is there someone you don’t want to see?”

“Heh, good old Dafish, always gets me. My girlfriend is pretty strict, can’t have Zhang Mingliu around.”

“Relax, my partner and Zhang Mingliu made separate plans, so it’s just me here. Hurry up and come!”

Dafish, full name Yu Donghua, was a year older than Du Qiu and one of his childhood friends. They had grown up together.

He attended Shanghai Hai University, majoring in finance.

Originally just an average Joe from the Magic City, he had the good fortune of dating a rich and beautiful girlfriend in college.

Before even graduating, they both went abroad, headed to the United States where he earned a master’s degree in finance, and with his father-in-law’s money took to Wall Street and made a fortune.

Listening Sea Club, room 1818, was the place where Yu Donghua and his girlfriend, along with Du Qiu and Zhang Mingliu, used to hang out before he left for overseas.

Therefore, Du Qiu made sure to clarify if Zhang Mingliu would be there because if she was, he would have had to find an excuse to turn down the invitation.

Now, his relationship with Ning Shuangshuang was reasonably stable, and he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary drama.

Jealousy from a woman was only natural, and Du Qiu had no wish to upset Ning Shuangshuang or make her jealous, even if he had no improper intentions.

Of course, he also hoped that Zhang Mingliu would soon find her own happiness. If he were not decisive enough to give her any illusions, that would be harming her.

Meanwhile, in a villa in the Magic City’s Daijiang Supreme Villa District.

Yu Donghua looked at his wife, Xu Xiao Yu, spread his hands, and said, “Xiao Yu, you should stop playing matchmaker. Du Qiu already has a new girlfriend.”

Xu Xiao Yu felt somewhat indignant and said, “That Du Qiu really has no heart. Why isn’t Liliu good enough for him? To break up is one thing, but he didn’t date for a long time, and just when Liliu wanted to get back with him, he suddenly finds someone else to date.”

“My dear, would you prefer to meet with Zhang Mingliu at another place? Otherwise, I’m going to offend an old friend,” Yu Donghua suggested.

“Hmph, are your bros more important than your wife now?”

“Of course not, both are important, very important. Dear wife, please be understanding,” Yu Donghua coaxed.

“Fine, I will make another arrangement with Mingliu. You and Du Qiu can have the Tinghai to yourselves for a reunion.”

After saying that, Xu Xiao Yu picked up her bag and left the room.

Yu Donghuabreathed a sigh of relief and muttered to himself, “Du Qiu, oh Du Qiu, I’m back and already taking bullets for you.”

He was relieved that he hadn’t let his wife make arrangements with Zhang Mingliu first; otherwise, tonight’s drama would have been quite a spectacle.

Curiously, when had Du Qiu become so wary of his girlfriend? What was she like, to have Du Qiu so whipped?

Dear readers, could we keep the recommendations coming?