Reborn as Zhao Ruilong of Handong, I will defy fate.

Chapter 210 Suspecting Zhong Xiaoai? Lu Yike's Warning!

"Zhong! Xiao! Ai!"

Lu Yike's beautiful eyes widened, and she put her hands on her hips.

"Why are you here?"

This was a loud, booming question.

It's absolutely impossible not to have some suspicions.

Her surprised and angry expression resembled that of a domineering wife who suspected her husband of cheating.

Seeing this, Zhong Xiaoai quickly explained:

"I was discussing business with General Manager Zhao!"

"I am now an employee of the public relations department of Huilong Group."

"I just had lunch with Mr. Zhao and two foreign trade agents today to discuss cooperation."

She didn't want to have a perfectly normal work discussion, only to be misunderstood by Lu Yike.

Although in her heart, Zhao Ruilong was indeed better than Hou Liangping in every way.

But that doesn't mean she fell in love with Zhao Ruilong.

Alternatively, in order to gain benefits and find a powerful backer, one might have to sacrifice one's virtue and cling to Zhao Ruilong's coattails.

"is it?"

Lu Yike's gaze swept past Zhong Xiaoai, then warily turned to Zhao Ruilong, who was walking slowly towards them.

"Are you two really discussing business?"

"What else can we do?"

Zhao Ruilong stopped and asked with a smile.

This question naturally stumped Lu Yike.

It suddenly occurred to her.

Zhong Xiaoai is no ordinary woman.

As Zhong Zhengguo's daughter, she used to be known for being arrogant, powerful, and willful.

Even if her family has fallen on hard times and she has no power or influence.

For the sake of money, it's understandable to abandon one's arrogant attitude and work for Zhao Ruilong.

To say she used her beauty to seduce Zhao Ruilong...

That's absolutely impossible.

Especially since she hasn't divorced Hou Liangping yet.

She's a married woman, how can you so easily doubt her?

Besides, Zhong Xiaoai opened the door shortly after he knocked.

There was no dishevelment, no panic.

If everyone suspects Zhao Ruilong and Zhong Xiaoai of having an affair, then there's truly no justice in the world.

Think about those who actually cheat...

Who hasn't knocked on the door for ages and then had to break down the door to get in?

Once inside, they were either frantically getting dressed or trying to find a way to hide or escape.

"I feel like you two aren't talking about business, but rather some grand conspiracy!"

Lu Yike quickly put on a smiling face and pointed at Zhao Ruilong and Zhong Xiaoai.

"Tell me honestly, were you two plotting to frame someone?"

Zhong Xiaoai instantly realized that Lu Yike no longer had any doubts and was just trying to ease the awkwardness.

"how is this possible?"

"We were talking about the MP3 export business."

"Besides, the person we're cooperating with is Zhang Shuhan, a very powerful boss in Yanjing. It's a win-win partnership, and neither of us will cheat the other."

Lu Yike casually asked, "Have you two finished talking?"

"That's about it. President Zhao has also learned about the situation regarding Zhang Shuhan and Wei Yun."

As she spoke, Zhong Xiaoai raised her wrist to look at her watch.

"I still need to go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau to deregister the company I previously owned. You guys can talk now!"

She turned back to the sofa in a hurry, picked up her handbag, and said goodbye.

From beginning to end, Lu Yike's gaze was fixed on her.

Today, Zhong Xiaoai was dressed in a very business-like manner for a business dinner, and she was also wearing makeup.

So she looks exactly like a beautiful white-collar worker.

In addition, her years of power and influence have cultivated her unique temperament.

Therefore, she appears even more beautiful and charming, with an extraordinary temperament.

cough~

Zhao Ruilong coughed lightly twice.

Seeing Lu Yike's gaze, he was still somewhat wary.

Zhao Ruilong reached out and pulled the suitcase in, then closed the door behind him.

"You can't suspect Zhong Xiaoai, can you?"

"How could someone as proud and arrogant as her possibly be clinging to my coattails before even divorcing Hou Liangping?"

Lu Yike crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Zhao Ruilong with a scrutinizing gaze.

"The chances of her actively flirting with you are slim, but do you think she's pretty? Does she have a good figure?"

Zhao Ruilong sneered.

Lu Yike's eyes widened.

"What are you laughing at? I'm asking you a question, so answer me right now!"

Zhao Ruilong didn't rush to speak, but instead took the suitcase to the living room.

Before Lu Yike could catch up and ask any more questions, he sat down and said:

"That's a death trap question, how am I supposed to answer it?"

"If I said she was beautiful and had a great figure, you would definitely think I had ulterior motives."

"And if I were to say what she looks like or how she's in shape, you'd say I'm lying through my teeth and not being honest."

At this point, Zhao Ruilong crossed his legs and placed them on the coffee table.

With her hands behind her head, she looked at Lu Yike, who seemed a little jealous, with a half-smile.

"Tell me, how should I answer you?"

Lu Yike was stunned for a moment, then sat down on the sofa next to her.

"What do you mean by 'risking your life'? I just want you to give an objective evaluation!"

Zhao Ruilong smiled coldly.

"Objective, right? Then I can only say that she meets the hiring standards of our Huilong Group's public relations department."

"you!!"

Lu Yike stood up angrily and pointed at Zhao Ruilong.

"Trying to talk to me like a bureaucrat, huh? You..."

Before he could say anything more, Zhao Ruilong suddenly pulled him into his arms.

After a dizzying sensation, Lu Yike, who was almost suffocating, forcefully pushed Zhao Ruilong away.

He gasped for breath, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

"Are you trying to suffocate me?"

Zhao Ruilong grinned mischievously, "Who was it that shouted 'I've missed you so much' when they knocked on the door earlier?"

"I was just saying it for fun."

Lu Yike pouted and glanced away.

But next second.

"Hey, get your pig's trotters away right now!"

"I told you to take it out! You haven't even taken a shower yet, what are you doing?!"

"You bastard, you're a wolf in sheep's clothing, you..."

Lu Yike soon discovered what it meant to be constantly running around.

You can shut someone's mouth, but you can't stop their hands.

Before long, they were defeated.

of course.

She herself is like a moth drawn to a flame.

Separated from the main group, he excitedly took a taxi to the restaurant to find Zhao Ruilong.

Doesn't that mean you're mentally prepared for something to happen?

If it weren't for running into Zhong Xiaoai when I opened the door...

It has already fallen by now.

Time passed, and the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased.

Feeling weak all over and with a flushed face, Lu Yike rested her head on Zhao Ruilong's arm.

At this moment, she felt only the sweet happiness of a parched land receiving rain, and there was no trace of the shock and jealousy she felt when she knocked on the door and bumped into Zhong Xiaoai.

"I still don't quite understand why Zhong Xiaoai would work for you."

"Doesn't she know that her father's downfall was not only due to his collusion with Cai Chenggong in corruption, but also because you were behind it and fueled it?"

Zhao Ruilong let out a long sigh of relief.

A cigarette afterwards is truly better than being a god.

"So what if you know?"

"Her father has already been dismissed from his post and has no chance of making a comeback."

"If her career in politics doesn't work out, she only has two options: going into business or working for someone else."

"As for business... it turns out she has no talent for it. What else can she do besides working for others?"

Lu Yike frowned and said, "But with the Zhong family's long-standing network of connections, she has countless good companies and organizations she could get into, so why would she choose to work for you?"

Zhao Ruilong glanced sideways at Lu Yike, who looked puzzled.

"You're not still wondering if I have some kind of connection with her, are you?"

"of course not!"

Lu Yike said in a barely audible voice, her face flushed:

"Judging from how starved you were just now, it doesn't seem like you have anything to do with Zhong Xiaoai."

Zhao Ruilong burst into laughter.

"Of course, otherwise where would so many crumpled pieces of paper come from on the ground?"

"Hate!!"

Lu Yike punched Zhao Ruilong in the chest.

But the force was weak and feeble.

"I'm being serious with you, so don't be silly!"

"Alright, alright, continue, my dear Prosecutor Lu!"

"Stop with your smooth talk!"

Lu Yike rolled her eyes at Zhao Ruilong, then pouted and muttered:

“Your two fathers have been fighting each other for so many years, she couldn’t possibly not know, and she couldn’t possibly not have been an accomplice.”

"So I think the animosity between you two runs so deep, how can you so easily pretend nothing happened?"

"Especially since Zhong Zhengguo was quickly brought down, your Zhao family definitely took advantage of his misfortune. How could she not know that?"

"Therefore, I believe she must have ulterior motives for joining Huilong Group, and who knows when she might..."

Zhao Ruilong interrupted, asking, "What if I said I was the one who initiated contact with her?"

"what???"

Lu Yike was shocked and stood up abruptly.

They were completely oblivious to the first signs of spring.

"Are you crazy? You don't have any serious illness, do you?"

"Given the relationship between your two fathers, it would be good enough if they didn't take advantage of her misfortune and kill her, yet you actually hired her into your own company?"

"What were you thinking? You should stay away from people like that. Why did you hire her into the company? Are you afraid she won't have a chance to retaliate against you?"

Zhao Ruilong didn't take it to heart and smiled faintly.

"Most people would think that Zhong Xiaoai would definitely avenge her father. Not kicking someone when they're down is already merciful enough. Hiring her into your own company would be asking for trouble, wouldn't it? But am I, Zhao Ruilong, an ordinary person?"

"I think there are only two possibilities for her. One is that she accepted her loss and did not hold a grudge against my Zhao family because of her father and husband's downfall. She was not thinking about revenge and just wanted to make money. Even if she could not become a powerful person, she would strive to become a rich person."

"Another possibility is that she doesn't distinguish right from wrong, believing that colluding with Cai Chenggong in corruption is not wrong, and that all the fault lies with my Zhao family. She tries every means to bring down my Zhao family, to vent her anger for her father and husband, and also for herself."

"Yes, I think the second possibility is more likely!"

After Lu Yike finished speaking, she noticed Zhao Ruilong's gaze.

I instinctively covered myself with the blanket.

"Ugh, you're so annoying! We're talking about serious matters!"

Zhao Ruilong took a puff of his cigarette.

"I think the second possibility is unlikely. Do you know why?"

"The main reason for the downfall of Zhong Zhengguo and Hou Liangping was their collusion with Cai Chenggong in corruption; the fault lay with them."

"If they weren't corrupt, even if my son and I wanted to fan the flames and add fuel to the fire, we wouldn't have had the chance, would we?"

"Furthermore, if she wanted revenge, she shouldn't have resigned from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision; instead, she should have tried to climb the ranks."

"Wouldn't it be easier to get revenge if they had more power, or if they had collected evidence of our illegal and criminal activities?"

"But she actually resigned voluntarily, went into business, left the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, and without power, how could she take revenge?"

Seeing Lu Yike frowning in deep thought, Zhao Ruilong paused for a few seconds.

"Besides, you know how badly she failed in business."

"The first batch of MP3 players I bought by scraping together money from all over the place was robbed in Dao'an County, Lincheng, on the way to save on toll fees."

"If she really dared to gamble and had a real business mind, she should have rushed back to Yanjing to raise money to order a second batch of goods. But she waited until the MP3s were already sold out before she took action."

"In this operation, she not only borrowed from all the relatives and friends she could, but also took out high-interest loans. She raised a lot of money, but she didn't even call ahead to ask me to reserve some of the goods."

Lu Yike chuckled.

Now that you mention it, I suddenly feel like she's not even as good as me!

"If it were me, I would never follow the driver to take a detour on national and provincial highways where robberies are frequent, just to save a little bit of highway toll."

"Even if I make a mistake and lose more than I gain, and then I want to take a desperate gamble to turn things around, I can't just focus on raising money without first securing a source of goods."

Zhao Ruilong chuckled and asked, "So you're telling me, with a brain like hers, is she capable of taking revenge?"

Lu Yike covered herself with the blanket, frowning as she said:

"But even if she has neither the will nor the ability to seek revenge, why did you recruit her in the first place?"

Zhao Ruilong stubbed out his cigarette.

"You don't understand this."

“From childhood to adulthood, Zhong Xiaoai has been influenced by her family environment, educational experience, social relationships and other factors, which makes her not very suitable for doing business, but that does not mean she is useless.”

“She grew up in a compound, and her major in college and the job she did after graduation were both related to the system. In addition, the Zhong family’s long-standing network of connections made her very suitable for dealing with government departments.”

"As our Huilong Group's investment and business scope expands, I can manage the relationships with the higher-ups, but someone has to handle the lower-level interactions, right? I can't possibly have to do all the specific work myself, can I?"

"Just like when I discussed with Zhang Jingchong, the secretary of the Linjiang Provincial Government, about vigorously developing the wind power industry in Linjiang Province, the specific details of the cooperation would definitely have to be handled by my subordinates. I can't possibly have to personally run around to various cities, counties, and departments, can I?"

Lu Yike thought about it carefully.

Zhong Xiaoai is actually quite suitable.

They grew up within the system and have worked within it for many years.

She must be very adept at dealing with enterprises and institutions.

Moreover, her father, Zhong Zhengguo, once held a high position of power and had many former colleagues and subordinates.

It's said that there's a very high-ranking big shot behind her father...

Therefore, hiring Zhong Xiaoai as a public relations officer to handle government-business relations is truly making the best use of her talents.

She definitely knows more about public relations than those who are public relations majors.

Even if it's just about reading people's expressions and offering favors...

She could obviously do it better and more discreetly.

After all, before resigning, she worked in discipline inspection and supervision, so this was a good match for her major.

Of course, Lu Yike believed that with Huilong Group's strong strength and background, there was no need for commercial bribery.

Provinces and cities are eager for Huilong Group to invest; why would they need to offer bribes to get things done?

"And one more thing, don't forget!"

“Zhong Xiaoai basically grew up in Beijing. The big shots and powerful people she knows, and the inside secrets of the industry she understands, are far beyond what I can say, and even my second sister can’t compare to her.”

"Just like before I came to Yanjing this time, my dad asked me to find an opportunity to meet Wei Lao's youngest son, Wei Yun. I had never met her before and didn't know how to make an appointment with him."

"I didn't expect that Zhang Shuhan would invite me to lunch today, and Wei Yun would show up uninvited. I can guess that Zhang Shuhan is a puppet of the Wei family, but I really don't know them, but Zhong Xiaoai is very familiar with them."

“I want my dad to continue to improve. Sooner or later, he will have to deal with people in the Beijing circle, and he will have to win over as many people as possible to strengthen his own power. Zhong Xiaoai can obviously help me a lot in this regard.”

Zhao Ruilong spoke the truth, but Lu Yike was quite frightened.

He looked around nervously.

"What are you doing? Besides you and me, who else is in this room?"

"There aren't any hidden cameras or eavesdropping devices in this room, are there?"

"How could that be? Don't you think about it? This is the Grand Hotel Yanjing. Who would dare to install that kind of thing? Besides, I checked it carefully when I checked in. Otherwise, how could I have followed you from the bathroom to the living room and then to here?"

Lu Yike punched Zhao Ruilong.

"Stop being silly! I'm talking to you about serious matters!"

"You can tell me what you just said, or talk to your family, it's fine, but you absolutely cannot tell anyone else."

"You want your dad to keep improving? What are you trying to do? Being the Crown Prince of Handong isn't enough, do you want to be the Dragon Prince too?"

Zhao Ruilong smiled coldly.

"Isn't it possible?"

"What's the difference between a person without dreams and a salted fish?"

Stop trying to give me pep talks!

Lu Yike warned with a serious expression:

Even if you have this thought, keep it to yourself and never reveal it!

"Otherwise, who knows how many people will deal with you, including that Wei Yun you just mentioned!!"