Mysyery

Chapter 5: The Enemy at the Gates (Part 1)

Xuan Xiao got drunk because he was happy.

After graduation, he worked his way up on construction sites, gaining practical engineering experience. He also obtained the highest-level certifications in the road and bridge field within the country. With this expertise, he established the Xuan Xiao Road and Bridge Studio. Although it was said to be a partnership with friends, in reality, he managed it alone, with his friends only in name. Such limited liability companies require at least two shareholders.

Xuan Xiao Road and Bridge Studio primarily focuses on preparing project bidding documents and final cost assessments for construction companies. For large and medium-sized projects, the state requires public bidding before construction begins, allowing any construction company with the necessary qualifications to participate.

Transportation engineering has always been a key area of state investment, ensuring secure project funding. As long as a bid is successful, the profits involved are substantial.

In the bidding process, the bid price remains strictly confidential until the final moment. A construction company is awarded the contract if its bid does not deviate by more than 0.05% from the benchmark price. Therefore, preparing the bid documents is crucial. It's not enough to simply understand cost estimation and outline the project; it requires skill and experience. A bid that's too high or too low will not suffice.

Sometimes, despite eyeing such a lucrative opportunity, a slight discrepancy in the bid price can result in missing out. Construction companies are willing to invest heavily in finding experts to prepare their bid documents.

Xuan Xiao is precisely such an expert.

Initially, he was just an unknown novice, with no construction companies seeking him out. However, after he successfully secured two bids for the construction company he previously worked for, his reputation soared.

Xuan Xiao does not take on bids indiscriminately, but once he does, his success rate is 100%.

The name Xuan Xiao is now well-known throughout the road and bridge industry.

In addition to preparing bid documents, Xuan Xiao's certifications also qualify him to assess final project costs after completion. During construction, changes are frequent, and additional project funds are often required. This makes the final cost assessment crucial.

In other words, both before construction starts and after it concludes, Xuan Xiao is a key figure in ensuring profitability. Not to mention Binjiang City, even road and bridge construction companies from other provinces go to great lengths to get to know Xuan Xiao, treating him with the utmost reverence.

During holidays and festivals, local specialties and various valuable gifts from all over the country fill Xuan Xiao's 40-square-meter garage to the brim. Chi Xiaoying has to repeatedly arrange for vehicles to transport these items to Xuan Xiao's parents' home, relatives' homes, and her own family home.

Xuan Xiao Road and Bridge Studio may be considered a small company in Binjiang City, but the money it earns each year far surpasses that of many large and medium-sized companies.

Tonight, Xuan Xiao was originally planning to work overtime with his employees to complete a bid document. However, Yan Nannan called to inform him that the Ministry of Transport had approved the Binjiang City Cross-River Bridge project, with a total project value of three billion yuan, divided into five bids. The Water Construction Company wanted to bid for one of them and requested Xuan Xiao to prepare the bid document.

Since the establishment of Xuan Xiao Road and Bridge Engineering Studio, this is the first time Xuan Xiao has encountered a bid of such a large amount. He was very excited, like a hunter finally facing a highly challenging prey.

He instructed his employees on some key aspects to pay attention to in the bid document, and then hurried to the Wangjiang Tower Hotel. The top executives of the Water Construction Company were all present, eagerly anticipating the opportunity. They were very excited; if they could win the bid, the company wouldn't need to take on new projects for several years and could still support a large team.

The boss ordered four bottles of Maotai. Five men and two women were present. They barely touched the food, but drank all the alcohol. Xuan Xiao didn't say much and uncharacteristically accepted every drink offered to him, finishing each one in a single gulp.

Xuan Xiao's alcohol tolerance is just average; he couldn't hold out until the end and got drunk. Even while intoxicated, he didn't speak but simply smiled—a charming smile that was quite captivating. Yan Nannan, sitting next to him, found herself repeatedly unable to hold her chopsticks properly as she watched him.

The boss was an expert drinker, easily handling several bottles of liquor. The other men, however, were slumped over, their tongues thickened, and their speech slurred.

Yan Nannan didn't drink much. Since she had come in Xuan Xiao's car, she volunteered to drive him home.

Xuan Xiao waved his hand, repeatedly saying no. Yan Nannan smiled and gently pushed him into the car. He leaned back in the seat, and before long, he fell asleep.

The rain had lessened without notice, the drizzle barely perceptible, and the green outside the window had blurred into a continuous expanse. Inside the silent car, the only sound was the soft, rustling noise of the wheels on the damp road, reminiscent of silkworms chewing on mulberry leaves. It was exceptionally gentle, stirring the heart. The car moved slowly along the street, and Yan Nannan occasionally glanced sideways at Xuan Xiao.

Heaven really seems to favor this man, bestowing him with exceptional talent and making him so remarkably handsome as well.

As Xuan Xiao slept, he lost the usual aloofness and sharpness he displayed. With a few strands of hair falling over his forehead, he looked like a charming big boy, despite being thirty-two years old.

Xuan Xiao is a friend of Bai Yuan. In the past, she always felt that Xuan Xiao had a somewhat cold demeanor and an air of arrogance typical of someone from a privileged background, which created a sense of distance. During college, she was pampered by Bai Yuan and hardly noticed anyone else, especially since Xuan Xiao was often seen with Chi Xiaoying.

A man who knows how to pamper women typically doesn't limit his affections to just one. On the other hand, a proud man is often very loyal.

After graduation, she joined the Water Construction Company. Over the years, she worked her way up to the position of Business Department Manager. Due to work, she started having more contact with Xuan Xiao.

They had meals together, went on business trips, and attended meetings together. Was it the environment, or did feelings develop over time? Some emotions, like weeds after rain, spread uncontrollably. She found herself like a young girl discovering love for the first time, passionately infatuated with Xuan Xiao.

His voice, his smile, his gait, the way he gestures with his arms, his sharp wit—everything about him became a reason for her affection.

In comparison, her past relationship with Bai Yuan was merely the attraction between the opposite sexes in their youth, rather than genuine love.

How could a reserved and ordinary woman like Chi Xiaoying possibly match up to an outstanding man like Xuan Xiao? A beautiful, intelligent, capable, and ambitious woman would be a more fitting partner for Xuan Xiao, both in work and in life.

Fortune favored her as Bai Yuan provided just the right opportunity for her to break free. Finally, she could blossom anew like a flower blooming for the second time.

At the intersection, the traffic light is red.

Yan Nannan let go of the steering wheel and turned to look at Xuan Xiao. The dim streetlights cast a hazy glow into the car, illuminating Xuan Xiao's handsome features.

It was almost midnight again, and with the rain, there were very few cars on the road.

Yan Nannan gazed at him and, unable to resist, leaned in and gave Xuan Xiao a gentle kiss.

Xuan Xiao pressed his lips together but did not open his eyes.

She suddenly had an idea, reached into the bag on the back seat, took out her makeup pouch, applied bright lipstick in the rearview mirror, and then spritzed a few sprays of perfume into the air.

The green light came on. She tidied up, curved her lips into a smile, drove through the intersection, and turned into a tree-lined avenue, coming to a stop. She turned off the car lights, adjusted the seat to recline as far back as possible, and leaned forward. Gently, as she had before, she kissed Xuan Xiao, then slowly moved her lips to his cheeks and neck, where kisses like strawberries began to bloom on his skin.

“Nan Nan, what are you doing?” Xuan Xiao's clear voice suddenly sounded in her ear while she was working alone.

She froze for a moment, then, bracing herself, leaned in and kissed him fiercely. "What do you think?" she breathed unevenly as she unfastened his clothes.

However, she didn't succeed. The drunk Xuan Xiao became alert and stopped her from proceeding further.

"Nan Nan, you're drunk." Xuan Xiao straightened up, pushed her away, and said with restrained anger in his voice.

"No, I'm not drunk. Xuan Xiao, I know what I'm doing. I've prepared everything for you." She disregarded everything else and pulled his hand toward her.

Xuan Xiao withdrew his hand. "Nan Nan, you're really drunk. Let me drive!" He opened the car window, and a cold wind mixed with rain blew into the car, making Yan Nannan shiver uncontrollably.

"I told you I'm not drunk. If you feel uncomfortable in the car, we can go to a hotel," Yan Nannan insisted, gripping his hand tightly. "Don’t you remember the last time in Beijing? You held me all night and comforted me softly. You clearly felt something. Why are you avoiding it now?"

Any man can't escape her allure, unless he's not normal. It's just a façade of morality, a pretense. Just tear it away.

She boldly pressed her lips against his. Xuan Xiao turned his head, his handsome brows furrowed. "Don’t bring up what happened last time. That was an accident."

Yan Nannan lifted her head and gave a cold smile. "Just because you say not to mention it, doesn't mean it didn't happen. You try to dismiss that night as an accident, but I didn’t think that way. You promised you would take care of me. Because of your promise, I’ve already divorced Bai Yuan."

Xuan Xiao silently moved her away from him, opened the car door, and stepped out into the rain. The torrential rain battered his body as his expression hardened into a cold, grimace.

“Speak up, say something!” Yan Nannan followed him out and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. “I’ll love you a hundred times more than Chi Xiaoying. Look, it's so late and she hasn’t even called to check on you. She’s completely unthoughtful and doesn’t understand love.”

“Enough,” Xuan Xiao growled, his face turning pale with anger. “When I said I’d take care of you, it was for Bai Yuan’s sake, not for any other reason. You’re overthinking it. From now on, let’s not see each other again. I won’t handle any more business for your company. Get in the car, I’ll take you back.”

Yan Nannan panicked, her lips turning pale. “Xuan Xiao, please don’t be so heartless. I know I’ve been too impatient, but if I don’t rush you, I can wait. As long as you’re willing to love me, I don’t mind being a mistress. I don’t care about that. If you don’t take on the company’s business, I’ll lose everything.”

Lirong suddenly burst into tears, her tears streaming down like rain.

Xuan Xiao clenched his eyes shut, his fists tight. “Alright, let’s stop talking about this. We might both be drunk.”

“Right, right, nothing happened. I’ll bring the bridge’s documents to your studio tomorrow. Is that okay?” she asked timidly.

“If you can correct your attitude, then it’s fine. If not, please have someone else contact me, or I’ll have to reject the project,” Xuan Xiao said, a sharp pain in his heart that he couldn’t quite understand.

“Mm-hmm!” Yan Nannan nodded quickly. Proud men aren’t easily tamed by just a few attempts. She realized she had used the wrong approach. She obediently sat in the back seat and refrained from making any further advances.

Xuan Xiao’s head was spinning. He gathered his focus and started the car, driving silently to her neighborhood. As soon as she got out of the car, he sped off into the rain, as if the vehicle were frenzied.

Yan Nannan’s lips curled into a strange smile. She flicked her beautiful long hair, stepping through the raindrops, humming a tune as she turned and walked into the neighborhood.