64: A learning opportunity in exchange for intelligence

Li Qinghe and Pham Huyen My spent some time putting their clothes back on before leaving the presidential suite.

As they were leaving, Li Qinghe made a phone call, chatted briefly, then hung up.

They were now heading to the restaurant on the 67th floor.

“Ladies, gentlemen, will you be dining?” a female server in an Ao Dai came forward to greet them.

“Thank you, we need to go in and find a friend,” Li Qinghe said, showing his presidential suite card.

“Ladies, gentlemen, this way please.”

Seeing the guests present a presidential suite key card, the receptionist very respectfully invited Li Qinghe and Pham Huyen My into the restaurant.

The restaurant at the 72 Intercontinental Hotel had a retro American style, consisting of many booths and semi-enclosed private rooms.

After looking around for half a circle, Li Qinghe spotted his target: next to a booth, an elegant woman in her forties, wearing a white lace dress, was holding a coffee and chatting happily with a corpulent white man at her table.

Professor Wu Shi Qiue

“A Mei, wait here for a moment,” Li Qinghe found a nearby booth and had Pham Huyen My sit down first.

“Brother Qinghe, come back quickly.” Pham Huyen My, who still didn't know what Li Qinghe was going to do, was a little reluctant.

“Be good, I’m helping you find a teacher.”

Li Qinghe affectionately pinched Pham Huyen My’s cheek.

Straightening up, Li Qinghe adjusted his clothes and strode towards his target.

The elegant woman was being amused by the white man, covering her mouth with a soft laugh, the atmosphere was harmonious.

Li Qinghe walked up to them, politely nodded to both, then spoke to the woman: “Excuse me, is this Professor Professor Wu Shi Qiue? I have something very important related to you; please step over here.”

Because Li Qinghe behaved courteously, and most people are less vigilant in high-end settings, the elegant woman also nodded to Li Qinghe: “Yes, I am Professor Wu Shi Qiue.”

She then gestured to the white man: “Mr. Bockman, please excuse me for a moment.”

“Professor Wu, please sit here.”

Li Qinghe invited Professor Wu to Pham Huyen My's table.

The elegant Professor Wu curiously looked at the handsome man and beautiful woman in front of her, wondering what important matter had led this very handsome man to so solemnly seek her out.

“Professor Wu, regarding your ongoing Hollywood film investment and job application, I think you’ll understand once you see this information.”

Li Qinghe placed his phone in front of Professor Wu.

While Professor Wu was looking at the information, Pham Huyen My also looked at Li Qinghe, completely bewildered.

She had been pulled out of the room by Li Qinghe, utterly confused, and brought to the restaurant; as for what Li Qinghe was going to do, she knew nothing.

Li Qinghe patted her hand reassuringly.

Meanwhile, Professor Wu Shi Qiue, who was reading the information opposite them, grew more and more shocked, her eyes widening. She couldn't help but turn to glance at the stout white man who was leisurely sipping his coffee.

And when the stout white man saw her looking, he even pretended to be a gentleman and raised his coffee cup in a gesture.

“Professor Wu, please don’t keep looking at him, to avoid provoking him or making him suspicious.”

Li Qinghe whispered a reminder to Professor Wu Shi Qiue.

“Oh, okay, okay.”

Professor Wu Shi Qiue hurriedly averted her gaze, looking at the information on the phone, and it took her a while to recover.

“May I know your name, sir?”

“My surname is Li, Li Qinghe.”

“Mr. Li, how did you know...?”

“Some things are better not known too clearly, Professor Wu. Just know that I mean you no harm, but rather am helping you.”

While Li Qinghe and Professor Wu Shi Qiue chatted for a few moments, a group of yellow-skinned police officers quietly entered the restaurant.

Like India police, Vietnam police uniforms are a gray-yellow hue, making them highly recognizable.

Mr. Bockman, upon seeing so many police officers enter, turned pale with fright and instinctively tried to stand up and flee.

But his corpulent belly hindered his movements; before he could even shift it, a group of yellow-skinned police officers had already surrounded him.

One of the seemingly higher-ranking police officers said something to Bockman, who completely deflated and obediently raised his hands.

A police officer stepped forward and handcuffed him.

“Professor Wu, you can go over now.”

Li Qinghe reminded Professor Wu Shi Qiue to go over. She hesitantly stood up and walked towards them. The police stopped her and asked a few questions, then questioned Bockman a few times, who responded dejectedly.

The police then chatted with Professor Wu Shi Qiue for a few more moments and had her sign a document in a folder.

Several police officers loudly apologized to the surrounding customers and clasped their hands together in apology.

Most people dining at a five-star hotel are of status, and the police were very cautious about this, using apologies to compensate for the impact their actions had just caused.

After all the police had left, Professor Wu Shi Qiue approached, her face full of gratitude, and tightly clasped Li Qinghe's hand:

“Mr. Li, thank you so much. If it weren't for your help, the 200,000 US dollars I raised by selling my house and borrowing money would have all been swindled away.”

As Professor Wu Shi Qiue spoke, her face still showed lingering fear.

She couldn't imagine how bleak her life would become if that 200,000 US dollars, which she had intended to leverage for greater capital, had been swindled away.

“Mr. Li, I don’t know how to thank you enough. Please allow me to treat you both to a meal.”

Professor Wu Shi Qiue clasped her hands together very sincerely.

“Professor Wu, you’re too kind. Allow me to introduce you; this is my girlfriend, A Mei.”

“A Mei, allow me to introduce you; this is Professor Wu, a performance professor from Hanoi University of Theater and Cinema.”

Li Qinghe formally introduced them to each other.

Pham Huyen My quickly stood up and shook hands with Professor Wu Shi Qiue: “Hello, Professor Wu.”

Professor Wu Shi Qiue looked at the beautiful girl with a smile: “A Mei, you’re so pretty, and your Vietnamese is excellent. Which country are you from?”

“Ah, Professor Wu, I’m a mix of Vietnam and Australia; my mother is Vietnamese.”

Pham Huyen My earnestly explained to Professor Wu Shi Qiue.

“Professor Wu, it’s like this...”

Li Qinghe explained that Pham Huyen My, as an internet celebrity, was transitioning into acting to participate in a TV series, but lacked a foundation in performance and hoped to find a reliable acting teacher.

“Mr. Li, A Mei, our meeting is also fate. If you don’t mind, for the next month, A Mei can come and learn acting from me, studying at my place from seven to nine every evening.”

Professor Wu Shi Qiue thought for a moment and then proposed a study plan.

Pham Huyen My was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked Professor Wu Shi Qiue.

Under Professor Wu Shi Qiue’s deliberate efforts to befriend her, she quickly hit it off with Pham Huyen My. The two sat together, chatting in low voices, looking as harmonious as an international mother and daughter.

Li Qinghe did not discuss compensation with Professor Wu Shi Qiue. She was doing this out of gratitude, and bringing up money abruptly might cause her to object.

After Pham Huyen My finished her month of study, Li Qinghe would simply give Professor Wu Shi Qiue a generous red envelope then.

Professor Wu Shi Qiue briefly assessed Pham Huyen My’s acting foundation here and stated that lessons could begin tomorrow evening.

Li Qinghe’s offer to treat her to a meal was also declined. She was too embarrassed to tell Li Qinghe that she had already eaten dinner, as she was worried that Bockman’s meal would be too expensive and she couldn't afford it, so she had only treated him to coffee.

Fortunately, Li Qinghe helped her avoid this crisis.

After chatting with Professor Wu Shi Qiue for a while, she held Pham Huyen My’s hand and repeatedly reminded her to remember to come at seven tomorrow evening.

Knowing that Professor Wu Shi Qiue had driven herself, Li Qinghe and Pham Huyen My escorted her to the elevator entrance.

They watched as the elevator doors slowly closed, separating them from Professor Wu Shi Qiue, who was waving inside.

Pham Huyen My suddenly jumped onto Li Qinghe, hugging his face and passionately kissing him: “Brother Qinghe, you’re amazing! Let’s go back to the room, and you can kill me a few more times.”