32: Chapter 32: The Uninvited Guest

One week later, outside the Kuafu Project base.

Several black SUVs escorted a convoy of luxury cars as they drove up. Leading the way was a flashy red Ferrari, its chassis scraping against the gravel road, the roar of its engine piercingly loud across the Gobi Desert.

Behind them followed several luxury MPVs with dark-tinted windows, making it impossible to see inside.

The soldiers at the checkpoint immediately raised their rifles and surrounded them.

A bodyguard in a black suit stepped out of the lead car and handed over a special pass stamped with a red seal.

The soldier inspected it for a long time, reported to his superiors, and finally received orders to let them through.

"Let them in." The voice of Director Zhao Lixin came over the walkie-talkie.

The convoy drove into the base and stopped in front of the temporary command headquarters.

The Ferrari's door swung open, and a young man in his twenties stepped out. He was dressed in trendy clothes with his hair dyed gray-white. He took off his sunglasses with a devil-may-care attitude, his handsome face full of reckless arrogance.

He was Vice President Qian Feng, the son of Chairman Qian Boan.

He scanned the dust-filled sky and the dilapidated prefab houses with disdain, then pulled out a handkerchief to cover his nose.

"Damn, what kind of hellhole is this? It reeks of poverty." He cursed under his breath, not loudly, but Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and his team heard him clearly.

Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo frowned, and the young engineers behind him were all seething with anger.

This place had been built with their sweat; it was their sacred ground, yet in this kid's mouth, it had become a "dump."

"Excuse me, who is in charge?" A female secretary in a professional suit followed behind Vice President Qian Feng, speaking in a business-like tone.

"I am the on-site Commander-in-Chief, Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo." Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo said, holding back his temper.

"Hello, Chief Engineer Wang." The secretary nodded. "This is the Vice President of Huanyu Group, Vice President Qian Feng. We are here to inspect the commercial cooperation prospects of the Kuafu Project."

Only then did Vice President Qian Feng lazily lift his eyelids to glance at Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo, his gaze that of someone sizing up a construction foreman.

"So you're the one in charge here?" He gestured around with his chin. "It's decent, quite lively. I heard you dug up water in the sand? The government must have given you quite a lot of money, right?"

His words were laced with sarcasm and full of contempt.

Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo's face darkened, but he didn't say anything yet.

The doors of the MPVs behind also opened, and a group of gaudily dressed internet celebrities stepped out, teetering on high heels and chattering away on the dusty construction site.

"Wow, Young Master Qian, this place is so run-down."

"Yeah, there's no signal either. How are we supposed to livestream?"

"Young Master Qian, why did you bring us here? It's so boring."

The group of women crowded around Vice President Qian Feng, acting coquettishly, treating the place like a tourist attraction.

Vice President Qian Feng seemed to enjoy it, laughed, and snapped his fingers.

Bodyguards immediately brought down several large boxes from the vehicles. Upon opening them, they were filled with new smartphones, designer bags, and stacks of cash.

"Come on, come on, don't be impatient, my darlings." Vice President Qian Feng put his arm around the prettiest internet celebrity and pinched her cheek. "I'll show you something fun in a bit. Consider these compensation for your mental distress."

He turned back to Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and the engineers, whose faces had turned green with anger, and said in a tone like he was dismissing beggars:

"Hey, don't just stand there like idiots. I'm in a good mood today, so everyone gets a share. Consider this a token of appreciation from Huanyu Group to you 'heroes'."

He pointed at the luxury goods and cash, the intent to humiliate them couldn't be clearer.

He thought that these engineers, who were stuck eating sand in the middle of nowhere, would surely be obedient if given some money.

"You!" A young engineer shook with rage, clenching his fists as he prepared to rush forward.

"Xiao Zhang, come back!" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo grabbed him.

He knew the other party was just looking for trouble. Whoever struck first would lose.

"Vice President Qian, is it?" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo stared at Vice President Qian Feng. "This is a national key project base, not a place for you to have fun. Please show some respect."

"Respect?" Vice President Qian Feng laughed exaggeratedly, as if he had heard a joke. "Old man, you want to talk to me about respect? Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is?"

"Let me tell you, forget about this dump of a base; my father could buy the entire Northwest if he wanted to!"

"The water you've dug up, The Oasis you've created—in the eyes of Huanyu Group, it's just a project that can be acquired at any time. I'm here today to put a price tag on it."

He pointed at Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo. "So, drop that holier-than-thou attitude. If you know what's good for you, you'll treat me well. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make this project of yours fail!"

"How dare you!" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo was so angry his hair was practically standing on end.

"Just watch me." Vice President Qian Feng sneered, looking as if he had them right where he wanted them.

The situation reached a stalemate, and the tension grew thicker.

Suddenly, a cold voice came from the direction of the array base.

"Director Zhao, since when did this place turn into a wet market?"

Everyone looked over.

Jiang Ning was walking down from the glowing, massive array base.

She was still wearing her work clothes, her face devoid of expression, her dark eyes unreadable.

Director Zhao Lixin followed beside her, his expression grim. He hadn't expected Huanyu Group to send such a useless fool.

As soon as Vice President Qian Feng saw Jiang Ning, his eyes lit up.

He had seen many beautiful women, but Jiang Ning, with her cold, clean, and slightly mysterious aura, was a first.

An urge to conquer her surged within him.

He pushed the internet celebrity away, straightened his clothes, tossed his hair in what he thought was a handsome manner, and walked toward Jiang Ning.

"This must be the Chief Designer, right? I've heard so much about you." He reached out his hand with a charming smile. "I'm Vice President Qian Feng from Huanyu Group. Beauty, interested in grabbing dinner tonight and talking about life?"

He felt that with his family background and looks, no woman would refuse him.

But Jiang Ning just swept a glance at him, as if looking at a rock on the side of the road.

She didn't even acknowledge his outstretched hand and walked right past him.

"Chief Engineer Wang," she said to Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo, "notify everyone: all irrelevant people are to be cleared out within ten minutes."

"Yes!" Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo answered loudly, feeling immensely satisfied.

"If anyone refuses to leave," Jiang Ning stopped and added, "treat them as spies trespassing in a military restricted zone."

With that, she walked into her office without looking back.

Vice President Qian Feng's hand remained frozen in mid-air, and the smile on his face stiffened.

In all his years, this was the first time he had been snubbed like this by a woman, and his humiliation and anger instantly rushed to his head.