Chapter 238: Beauty as a Disaster

Evening.

Li Ya rummaged through boxes and cabinets, tidying up his assets.

A total of twenty-three gold bars.

Thirteen thousand US dollars.

Not a lot, but not a little either.

He liked Mei Yingxue very much.

This woman had helped him find vitality, and his taste in life had improved significantly.

For her sake.

Li Ya even threw Zhou Gendi's silk stockings, high heels, and photos into the trash can all at once.

The only fly in the ointment was that he had hinted many times and created many opportunities to sleep with Yingxue, but he had been rejected every time.

Yingxue's attitude was very clear.

She believed in some foreign religion and would never share a room with him before marriage; otherwise, it would be a desecration of the divine.

Li Ya did not understand that messy Western business.

However, during the day, he had officially established a romantic relationship with Mei Yingxue at a coffee shop.

Li Ya wanted to strike while the iron was hot.

He wondered if he could arrange for Mei Shao to go to the Station Master's house on New Year's Day to finalize the marriage and eat this plump white swan sooner.

However, to get married, he certainly needed a house.

Although the house allocated by the station was not bad.

It was far from enough to match a young lady like Yingxue.

She drove a Studebaker when she went out.

The mansion she lived in was also right next to the luxury home gifted by the Station Master.

Li Ya felt that, at the very least, he had to buy a small villa on Changde Road to be worthy of Yingxue's status.

Having made up his mind, Li Ya gritted his teeth, packed the money, and drove to meet the landlord.

He finalized the house.

Returning home.

He held the deed and kissed Mei Yingxue's photo fiercely several times.

That still wasn't enough to satisfy him.

Just thinking about being able to marry such a beautiful bride made his soul tremble with excitement.

He lifted the quilt and dove in.

"Yingxue..."

No. 23 Changde Road.

Mei Shao sat in the courtyard brewing tea.

The main hall and other rooms had been bugged by Wu Jingzhong.

He simply pretended he knew nothing about it.

"Xue'er, I saw Li Ya discussing matters with your aunt at her place today.

"From the sound of it, the kid wants to marry you."

Mei Shao poured the tea and smiled faintly.

"Marry me?

"It's not impossible. The title of husband and wife is just a piece of paper to me; he is still him, and I am still me.

"This person's identity is still quite valuable.

"These days, I've intentionally taken him to high-end places frequently; the scalpers, merchants, and officers' wives there now all know I am the girlfriend of the Action Team leader.

"Some intelligence is much easier to get.

"And even if something happens in the future, I can push everything onto Li Ya.

"Isn't it only natural for a wife to buy intelligence for her husband?"

Mei Yingxue crossed her beautiful legs and sneered.

"Hmm.

"Xue'er, having been out and about, your perspective is truly different.

"If you had come back sooner, your father wouldn't have been defeated so miserably in Yuezhou."

Mei Shao sighed with emotion.

"Xue'er, you need to make a move regarding Hong Zhiyou.

"I know a man named Old Shang.

"He is an underground intelligence scalper with great influence. He knows one of Ma Hansan's subordinates and says someone in our Jinhai is using Ma Hansan's connections to transport supplies from the Fangshan area.

"These goods are highly likely being shipped directly to Yancheng.

"Ever since I was placed under house arrest in Jinhai by your uncle, I've learned some inside information: there are 'Red Tickets' inside the Confidentiality Bureau—it's either Yu Zecheng or Hong Zhiyou.

"If you can persuade Li Ya to investigate, perhaps you might have an unexpected harvest.

"After all, someone who can use Ma Hansan's connections is no ordinary person.

"In the Jinhai Station, only Hong Zhiyou has that capability.

"Li Ya might just be able to pin him down."

Mei Shao toyed with his Qiankun beads, his eyes fierce.

"It's difficult.

"Li Ya isn't stupid. He is currently obsessed with marrying me to become my uncle's nephew-in-law.

"Hong Zhiyou is my uncle's confidant and prospective son-in-law.

"Investigating Hong Zhiyou at this time would undoubtedly touch my uncle's reverse scale; he won't do it."

Mei Yingxue frowned and shook her head.

"I naturally know that.

"Don't say it's Hong Zhiyou; just say you suspect Yu Zecheng.

"Yu Zecheng became Deputy Station Master, and Li Ya has always been dissatisfied.

"Right now, he is desperate to replace Yu Zecheng's position and become your uncle's right-hand man.

"No matter what, he will take action."

Mei Shao said.

"Hmm, I can try." Mei Yingxue pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Yu and Hong are two of a kind.

"Once Yu Zecheng is bitten, can Hong Zhiyou's misfortune be far behind?"

Mei Shao sneered triumphantly.

"Father, I'm going out." Mei Yingxue applied lipstick, stood up, and picked up her bag.

"It's late at night, where are you going?" Mei Shao asked.

"James is here.

"I'm going to keep him company.

"I'll be back soon, in about half an hour... or an hour.

"Before I come back, I'll go see Li Ya and talk to him about this."

At the thought of James's robust physique, Mei Yingxue felt her heart race and could not wait.

Coming back every day to play the pure saint for Li Ya.

She was about to vomit.

Relying on herself every day wasn't a solution.

It just so happened that James was here as part of the British delegation to collect intelligence.

She could resume their fleeting affair.

"Alright."

Mei Shao was still very traditional at heart; the thought of his daughter with a foreign devil made him lose his appetite.

Mei Yingxue stepped out in her high heels, got in the car to change her shoes, and stepped on the gas, heading toward the British Club.

Not far away.

A car turned out of an alley and followed closely behind.

After Mei Yingxue got out of the car.

Lin Tian popped a chocolate bean into his mouth and followed her inside.

He had lived here for a time.

He was very familiar with the waiters here.

After exchanging a few words, Lin Tian followed closely.

Mei Yingxue arrived at the suite on the third floor.

Before she even entered the room, she was locked in a passionate kiss with a tall foreign devil.

Soon, the foreign devil swept Mei Yingxue up in a bridal carry and took her into the room.

Damn it, I forgot to bring my camera.

He squatted for a while.

About an hour later, Mei Yingxue walked out of the room, beaming with joy; she flicked her wavy hair, looking incredibly flirtatious.

Lin Tian recorded the time.

Then he continued to drive and follow.

Seeing that Mei Yingxue went to Li Ya's house, he didn't follow anymore and turned into a side road to leave.

Returning to his residence, he dialed Hong Zhiyou's number directly:

"Brother, this woman is on a date with a foreigner, and they've been at it for about an hour.

"She's at Li Ya's house now.

"Alright, I'll be careful."

Hong Zhiyou leaned against the headboard and put down the phone.

In a few more days, Ruirui will be back with the baby who was just born.

He is currently living directly in Wu Jingzhong's house.

Villa No. 1 is very large.

Over the past two days, he deliberately tidied up a small, detached building on the side; he will have to stay here temporarily for a long time to come.

Sigh.

Li Ya is so pathetic.

Yesterday, Hong Zhiyou joked with him, asking if he and Mei Yingxue were already together.

Li Ya was still bragging.

As a veteran of the romantic scene, Hong Zhiyou knew the moment he heard it that Li Ya definitely hadn't gotten any action.

But that's to be expected.

A gold-digger like Mei Yingxue has plenty of ways to handle men.

Once you sleep with her, your value drops by half.

If it were him, he would also make sure to whet the appetite first.

Getting up to smoke a cigarette, he returned to the room and dialed a number:

"Hello, Old Xie.

"Okay, okay, you handle your business first, I'll wait."

Three, two, one.

"Old Xie, is it ready?"

After counting silently to three, he asked again.

On the other end, Xie Ruo replied listlessly: "What is it?"

"Help me check on someone, a foreigner, golden curly hair, staying in Suite 308 at the British Club.

"Yes, right now.

"I need to confirm his identity.

"Good, thank you.

"I suspect this person is very likely an agent from MI6, with a certain level of counter-surveillance awareness. The British and the Americans are very arrogant here; you must be careful and stay safe."

Hanging up the phone, Hong Zhiyou began to ponder.

Whoever could make Mei Yingxue rush to a date is very likely her superior, a colleague, or that secret agent boyfriend of hers, James.

The latter is highly probable.

Li Ya is in very deep now.

But this person is still quite naive at heart; otherwise, Jiang Jianfeng could not have recruited him into the Iron and Blood Youth Corps.

If he discovers he has been played by Mei Yingxue.

And the other party is a foreign spy.

Given Li Ya's vengeful nature, it is highly likely he will strike with lethal intent.

Killing a British agent.

If he can secretly obtain this evidence, he can use it in the future to bring about Li Ya's downfall; even Jiang Jianfeng won't be able to protect him.

Hmm!

That's a good plan.

Inside the room.

Li Ya was cleaning Mei Yingxue's photo frame with soft hands and feet.

Just as he wiped it dry and set it on the bedside table.

The door rang.

"Who is it?" Li Ya asked vigilantly.

"It's me." Mei Yingxue's gentle voice came from outside the door.

Yingxue?

Li Ya was overjoyed; he simply tidied up the bed, quickly put on his pajamas, and opened the door.

"Xue'er, it's so late, why are you here?"

Looking at the radiant Yingxue, Li Ya's heart rate accelerated.

Yingxue's makeup was exquisite; it was obvious she had come for him.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came over to see you.

"You've been busy running around these past two days, and I haven't been able to see you."

Mei Yingxue walked in and sat down on the sofa, crossing her beautiful legs.

Under the light.

Her beautiful legs, smooth as silk, made Li Ya swallow hard.

"It's the end of the year, and the Red Tickets need to celebrate the New Year too.

"There is an even more urgent need for supplies, so I've been staking out a few large markets these past few days to see if I can catch any fish."

Li Ya said.

"Brother Ya, work is important, but you must also take care of your health.

"By the way, I passed by the department store today and bought you a scarf.

"Come over and try it on."

Mei Yingxue took a black scarf out of her bag and said with a look of concern.

Li Ya walked up to her, and Mei Yingxue used her slender fingers to wrap it around him, smiling brilliantly:

"Hmm, not bad.

"Paired with the long black leather coat I gave you, it will definitely look cool and stylish."

"Xue'er, thank you.

"No one has ever given me something like this before."

As he spoke, he hugged Mei Yingxue and began to kiss her passionately.

Just as he was about to lift her skirt, Mei Yingxue pressed his hand down and hummed coquettishly:

"Brother Ya, we agreed, no being naughty.

"God is watching from above."

"Alright." Li Ya withdrew his hand, feeling somewhat dejected.

He got up and took a sip of tea.

He didn't know why, but the taste of the kiss tonight felt a bit off.

How should he put it?

The flavor wasn't quite right.

How it wasn't right, he couldn't put his finger on it for a moment.

Seeing his expression was a bit strange, Mei Yingxue lightly covered her lips, secretly cursing herself for being careless.

"I ran into a rice noodle shop near Kunlun Road tonight.

"The pork intestine noodles there taste pretty good."

Her eyes darted, and she changed the subject.

Pork intestine noodles, huh.

Li Ya seemed to have found the answer and smiled again:

"I thought you only drank coffee and ate steak; I didn't expect you to eat this too."

"You can't get it abroad.

"It's rare to be back in the country, so naturally, I have to satisfy my cravings." Mei Yingxue pulled him over and laughed.

"Yingxue, I also prepared a gift for you.

"Look, what is this?"

Li Ya took out the land deed.

"You bought a house on Changde Road?" Mei Yingxue asked in surprise.

"That's right."

"I plan to propose to you on the Lunar New Year. According to our customs here, you definitely need a house to get married," Li Ya said.

"Brother Ya, thank you."

"God is truly kind to me, to have let me meet you."

"Actually, whether we have a house or not doesn't matter to me."

"As long as I can be with you, even if we have to sleep in the open, I would be perfectly willing."

Mei Yingxue leaned into Li Ya's arms, showing her understanding.

"How could that be? I won't let you suffer," Li Ya said gently, holding her close.

"If we get married, I have no problem with it, and my father is easy to talk to, but you might need to put in some effort regarding my uncle," Mei Yingxue said.

"Indeed, the Station Chief's thoughts are hard to fathom," Li Ya sighed softly.

"What's so hard to fathom about them?"

"It's just that he has enough people around him and finds you to be in the way."

"If you could kick one or two of them out, wouldn't he be close to you and rely on you, his niece's husband?"

Mei Yingxue began to entice him.

"Kick?"

"Kick whom?" Li Ya asked.

"You can't kick Hong Zhiyou, so it can only be Yu Zecheng," Mei Yingxue said.

"Kick him out."

"One legitimate son-in-law, one niece's husband—is there any better partnership in the world than that?"

Mei Yingxue continued.

A flash of suspicion crossed Li Ya's eyes: "I didn't expect you to have a head for politics."

"I don't understand it; my father taught me to say that."

"He used to work for my uncle, so he knows a thing or two about what goes on inside."

Seeing him frowning, Mei Yingxue couldn't help but act coquettishly:

"Oh, don't overthink it."

"My father is doing this for our own good. You're a veteran Lieutenant Colonel, why should you be suppressed by someone else?"

"Last time I was dancing at the military dependents' association."

"That Mrs. Yu was so arrogant, she wouldn't even look at me properly, and behind my back, she even called me some kind of vixen."

"I just can't swallow this insult."

"Yu Zecheng has indeed been a bit arrogant lately, and that wife of his, who is stupider than a pig, is even more detestable," Li Ya said, his gaze gradually sharpening as he saw his beauty had been wronged.

"You're right."

"A triangle is the most stable shape. If Yu Zecheng doesn't leave, I will never be able to squeeze into the power center of the Jinhai Station."

"Not for anything else, but for you, I have to deal with him."

Li Ya stood up, sucked on his cheek, and said coldly.

"My father said he knows an intelligence scalper named Old Shang."

"Old Shang says it's highly likely that Yu Zecheng is colluding with Ma Hansan to transport supplies for the Red Party."

"See if you can find a way to keep an eye on him."

"To take down Yu Zecheng, the Station Chief will have to use you. Are you still afraid he won't approve of our affairs?"

Mei Yingxue leaned gently on Li Ya's shoulder and said.

"Good."

"I'll go investigate tomorrow."

"It's so late, do you want me to take you back?"

Li Ya stood up and said.

"No need."

"I drove here. Oh, it's almost ten o'clock; if I don't go home now, my father will be worried."

"Brother Ya, see you tomorrow."

"Waiting for your good news."

Mei Yingxue gave a sweet laugh, not daring to kiss his lips, but brushed her face against his forehead, smoothed her skirt, and walked out.

Watching the beauty's swaying hips, Li Ya truly loved her to death.

He watched the car drive away.

Li Ya returned to his room, always feeling that something smelled off.

"No, I should tell Xue'er not to eat rice noodle rolls anymore."

He shook his head, went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth thoroughly, and then went to bed.

The next day.

Li Ya arrived at the station.

He happened to brush past Yu Zecheng.

"Captain Li, you're beaming with joy. Is the happy event with Miss Yingxue coming soon?" Yu Zecheng asked with a smile, carrying his briefcase.

Ever since Lu Qiaoshan left.

The relationships within the station had been relatively harmonious.

Especially Yu Zecheng and Li Ya, who had gone through a honeymoon period.

Yu Zecheng was grateful to Li Ya for helping him get promoted.

As for Li Ya.

With the end of the year, he was busy making money and dating, so he had no heart to scheme against others; everyone was at peace.

When they were free, they would even sit together for meals and drinks, talk about national affairs, and brag.

"Old Yu, you changed your bag."

"Genuine leather."

"You've been making quite a bit of money lately."

Li Ya asked with a squeeze of his eyes and a low voice.

"Not at all."

"Although I've become a Deputy Station Chief, I'm still in charge of the Confidential Room just like before, and there's no profit in that."

"Unlike you, brother, holding both the Action Team and the Intelligence Section, plus the cold storage warehouse and the Delong Inn—two lucrative spots. You could lie down and never spend all that money in this lifetime."

Yu Zecheng said, squinting his eyes.

"Deputy Station Chief Yu, don't say that."

"That little bit of money I have isn't even enough for my expenses."

"I'm planning to marry Yingxue, buy a house, buy a car, and just a casual meal costs quite a few US dollars. Since she returned from studying abroad, I can't treat her poorly, right?"

Li Ya laughed.

"That's true, that's true."

"I envy you, Captain Li, for winning the beauty. A talented man and a beautiful woman, and she's the Station Chief's niece—what a perfect match, how wonderful."

"In all of Jinhai, you couldn't find a second woman more beautiful than Miss Mei."

"If it were me, once I had her, I wouldn't even trade it for being an Emperor."

Yu Zecheng laughed.

"Haha, that's true, that's true," Li Ya tilted his head back and laughed proudly.

"Go on and earn your wife-fund."

"There's a meeting later, I still have to prepare."

Yu Zecheng picked up his bag and turned to leave.

Li Ya stood where he was, sucking on his cheek, staring gloomily at Yu Zecheng's back, and tapped his chin lightly:

"Deputy Station Chief Yu!"

"I'd like to see how many more days you can sit in that position."

Just as Yu Zecheng returned to his office, the phone rang.

He quickly answered: "Hello, it's me."

"Oh, it's Shopkeeper Luo."

"The book payment, right?"

"Alright, alright, I'll come over to settle the account right away."

Hanging up the phone, Yu Zecheng's expression changed.

This was the secret code he had agreed upon with Luo Anping.

For Old Luo to want to meet early in the morning, there was only one possibility:

Something had happened!

(End of chapter)