Chapter 72: Time to Slip Away

“Xiao Qiu, it’s already 12:15 AM. Why don’t you give Zhang Mingliu a call and ask her if that Chen Han Sheng has agreed to come or not?”

Su Jianming looked at the time and became somewhat restless.

Du Qiu felt a headache coming on. After clearly laying things out with Zhang Mingliu last night, he had actually been hoping to distance himself from her a bit.

But who would have known, with one phone call this morning, she managed to drag him into affairs related to Chen Han Sheng.

Hesitating over what to do, his phone rang. Glancing at it, he saw it was Zhang Mingliu calling and quickly answered.

“Hello, that Chen Han Sheng is trying to slip away. He’s decided not to buy your stuff. I guess he’s discovered something amiss, right?”

After hearing what Zhang Mingliu said, Du Qiu was stunned.

This morning, over the phone, Zhang Mingliu considered Chen Han Sheng a friend. Now why had her tone changed?

It sounded like she now believed what Du Qiu had told her about Chen Han Sheng.

“How do you know he’s trying to slip away?”

Zhang Mingliu answered, “He just called me. Suddenly, he invited me to go on a trip to Saipan with him, saying he had already called our editor-in-chief.

I went to confirm with the chief, and he actually told me to work well with Chen Han Sheng and secure the investment at all costs, treating the trip to Saipan as official business.

What kind of talk is that? What does he take me for? I’m so annoyed, I might just quit.”

The more Zhang Mingliu spoke, the angrier she got. Ever since she joined this newspaper office after graduation, this was the first time she harbored the thought of quitting.

“Well said. With that kind of leadership, it’s better to quit sooner rather than later. By the way, don’t really go to Saipan with Chen Han Sheng. That guy might be an assassin. Once you’re in Saipan with him, there’ll be no one to help you—even if you call out for it.”

“Do I look like an idiot to go with him?” Zhang Mingliu retorted irritably, then her tone changed, “Are you worried about me?”

Du Qiu didn’t respond to that, instead asking, “Do you know what time Chen Han Sheng is planning to take the flight?”

“I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”

Du Qiu said, “This guy’s done something bad and is trying to flee, but he can’t get off that easily. I’m going to get Su from the criminal police to catch him.”

“Is that so? I’ll try to delay him then. You guys hurry up and come over.”

“Hey, don’t mess around. Stay out of this…”

The call ended with a beep, leaving Du Qiu seething with frustration. Why did Zhang Mingliu always have to take matters into her own hands?

“Xiao Qiu, what’s happening? Is Chen Han Sheng trying to run?”

Du Qiu nodded and explained, “Yes, that guy pretended to be an investor interested in investing in the evening newspaper where Zhang Mingliu works. Their chief actually wants her to go on a business trip to accompany him to Saipan.

I just told her that I was going to notify you to arrest him, and she foolishly said she’d help me delay Chen Han Sheng. She doesn’t think this is something for a girl to get involved in, does she?”

Hearing Du Qiu’s words, Su Jianming immediately said, “Hey, when did I agree to arrest someone?

Like you said, the guy is a legitimate investor. Without any evidence that he has committed a crime, how can I just intercept him from leaving the country?”

Du Qiu urged, “Bro Su, extreme times call for extreme measures. I bet that crystal cube is definitely in his suitcase!

Can you please call the airport border inspection and have Chen Han Sheng stopped?”

Su Jianming hesitated, then said, “If there’s no crystal cube in his luggage, then we have no evidence to arrest him at all.

Even if there is a crystal cube, we have no evidence that he stole it from you right now. He might even file a complaint against us.

Moreover, he’s an American citizen. If this becomes a diplomatic incident, I can’t handle the consequences.”

“Bro Su, don’t hesitate. If you wait any longer, not only will the item be gone, but who knows what might happen to Zhang Mingliu.”

“We don’t have evidence. This is abuse of power…”

“Forget it, I’m not going to argue with you. I’m heading to the airport first. It’s up to you whether you want to intercept him or not!”

With that, Du Qiu rushed out of the Lan Yue Hall.

“Hey, wait for me. I’ll arrange for someone now!”

Su Jianming decided it was best to rush to the airport and think of a reason along the way to check the luggage.

He just wasn’t sure if there was enough time, considering the distance from here to Pudong Airport was quite far.

+++++++

At Pudong Airport, Zhang Mingliu just got off a taxi.

Right after hanging up Du Qiu’s call, she immediately called Chen Han Sheng, expressed willingness to accompany him to Saipan, and asked him to wait at the airport.

Then she leisurely packed a suitcase, leisurely did her makeup, leisurely walked from her home to the neighborhood entrance, leisurely…

And then received a call from Chen Han Sheng asking if she had left. He had already bought the plane tickets and they were taking off in about an hour and a half, urging her to rush over.

While verbally agreeing with Chen Han Sheng, Zhang Mingliu internally calculated the timing—she couldn’t seem too eager to arouse his suspicion, yet had to delay him just enough so he couldn’t board the plane.

Timing her actions, Zhang Mingliu took a taxi, asked the driver not to hurry and to drive stably, all the while praying for a severe traffic jam—that would be perfect.

Zhang Mingliu wished for this because, deep down, she was still wary of the possibility that Chen Han Sheng was truly an investor, and her actions wouldn’t merit a complaint to the chief.

Ironically, the normally congested roads of Magic City were exceptionally clear that day. She made it to the airport in just forty-five minutes.

Muttering about the traffic in Magic City and considering if she should delay further in the restroom, she was interrupted.

“Hey, Reporter Zhang!”

That shout snapped Zhang Mingliu out of her musings, and as she turned her head, she saw Chen Han Sheng waving at her with a smile.

“Mr. Chen, you’re here already?”

“Yes, it’s my pleasure to have the opportunity to travel spontaneously with Reporter Zhang, so of course I had to come early to wait.”

“Sorry for the delay. There was some traffic that held me up.”

“No worries, the timing is actually perfect now. We’ll go through security and should be boarding soon. We won’t need to wait much longer.”

“Oh, that’s quite fortunate.”

Zhang Mingliu responded casually while looking around, hoping Du Qiu had already arrived.

But quickly, a trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

Amid the bustling crowd, there was no sign of Du Qiu.

【Could it be wishful thinking on my part that Du Qiu wouldn’t come to catch Chen Han Sheng?】

“What’s the matter, Reporter Zhang? Are you waiting for someone?” Chen Han Sheng asked with curiosity.

“Oh, no, not waiting for anyone. Do you have any luggage to check in?”

“We’re going to Saipan to relax. There’s no need to bring much—just the money,” Chen Han Sheng said with a laugh.

The two headed towards the inside of the airport.

Zhang Mingliu was starting to regret not calling Du Qiu from the taxi to confirm whether he was following or not.

Under these circumstances, if she didn’t board the plane with Chen Han Sheng, and if he actually was an investor, her job would be on the line if he chose not to invest.

Despite her bold claim that she wanted to quit, jobs for reporters in the large city of Magic City were not easy to come by.

Internally conflicted, Zhang Mingliu absentmindedly chatted with Chen Han Sheng and used excuses like needing to use the restroom and reapplying makeup to delay some more time—about ten more minutes.

But in the end, she still accompanied Chen Han Sheng through the security checkpoint.

With a morose expression on her face, Zhang Mingliu’s depressed demeanor made Chen Han Sheng quite concerned. “Reporter Zhang, people feel down sometimes. Taking a trip and seeing different sceneries can brighten the mood.”

Apparently, Chen Han Sheng assumed Zhang Mingliu’s mood was the reason for her low spirits.

While listening to Chen Han Sheng’s comforting words and looking at his handsome face, Zhang Mingliu sighed internally. If this man weren’t a bad guy, with his tall, rich, and handsome background, he would have been the perfect catch for many women.

Yet, despite that, Du Qiu was the only one in her heart.

She put on a forced smile, that looked more like she was on the verge of tears.

“Thank you, Mr. Chen.”

Both were passing through the security check when suddenly two border officers approached and one of them said to Chen Han Sheng, “Sir, please come with me. There’s an issue with your luggage.”

This chapter has significant changes; the previously inconsistent parts have been removed.