Chapter 155: Chapter 123: Missing
"How long are you planning on staying in Ice City?"
Boss Yu picked up the fairness pitcher and poured tea for both of them.
Su Chen didn’t answer right away. He picked up his teacup, took a thoughtful sip, and then said, "I’m not sure how long I’ll stay. I’ll just wander around, maybe see all of the three northeastern provinces."
"This tea is really something. The flavor is so pure, not a hint of bitterness. It seems this 20-year-aged Pu’er really lives up to its reputation!"
"Hahaha! Of course! I wouldn’t have spent two hundred thousand on a single cake otherwise!"
Hearing the praise, Boss Yu let out a hearty laugh. Remembering that Su Chen and his companion had just arrived in Ice City today, he asked, "Have you arranged a place to stay yet? If not, you can stay at my vacant apartment!"
"That won’t be necessary. We’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel nearby. The view is quite nice!"
After speaking, Su Chen raised his teacup, signaling, ’I appreciate the thought!’
Hearing this, Boss Yu didn’t press the issue. After all, if someone was staying at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, who would consider staying in his humble flat?
However, a flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes as he looked at Su Chen. Thinking back to the scene at the entrance earlier, he suddenly realized his perception of Su Chen seemed to be stuck back in Lijiang.
He had originally thought Su Chen was from an ordinary, well-to-do family. Back in Lijiang, their conversations had revealed a certain naivety. He had seemed like just a regular guy.
But in just a few months, there had been a world of difference.
His calm and composed demeanor, and the slightly deferential attitude of the young man beside him, all indicated that Su Chen’s identity was far from simple.
Boss Yu’s eyes shifted slightly. He smiled and asked, "What have you been busy with lately? Don’t tell me you’ve just been traveling everywhere?"
"Mm, something like that!" Su Chen thought about his recent experiences. ’It really hasn’t been much different from traveling, just having fun all over the place.’
An idea began to form in Boss Yu’s mind. He put down his teacup and said, "Have you figured out your plans yet? If not, as a local, I can be your free tour guide for a few days!"
"A free tour guide? Boss Yu, a guide like you is one I can’t afford!" Su Chen said teasingly.
"Get outta here. It’s decided. I’ll be in charge of your itinerary from now on!"
Boss Yu’s tone was incredibly resolute, as if he was ready to argue if Su Chen dared to refuse.
Seeing this, Su Chen nodded helplessly. ’Still,’ he thought, ’having a well-connected local show me around will definitely save a lot of time compared to exploring on my own.’
"Boss Yu, your hospitality is hard to refuse. I’ll be troubling you for a while, then!"
Boss Yu’s brow furrowed as he feigned anger. "We’re friends. That kind of talk is too formal. What’s all this about being a ’trouble’!"
They chatted for about an hour before Boss Yu’s wife called, telling him to come home. Her family had come over, and she needed him to come back and pick up some groceries on the way.
Su Chen got a real taste of what Northeastern men and women were like. The scene was explosive... he could hear the wife’s furious roar even through the phone.
Not wanting to lose face in front of Su Chen, Boss Yu tried to argue his case forcefully with his wife over the phone.
Su Chen, having never witnessed such a scene, quickly tried to intervene, saying it didn’t matter when they ate, but family couldn’t be ignored. After much persuasion, Boss Yu finally relented and agreed to go home.
.......
After leaving Boss Yu’s tea room, Chen Fei could no longer hold back his confusion. "It was just about a meal, right? Why did Boss Yu make such a big deal about it, even getting into a huge fight with his wife? Couldn’t we just go for barbecue tomorrow?"
Hearing this, Su Chen stopped and said with a smile, "That’s because you don’t understand people from the Northeast."
"Huh?" Chen Fei was now even more confused.
"Because people from the Northeast are all about face!"
This wasn’t Su Chen badmouthing Northeasterners. You could tell just from Boss Yu’s tea room: the aspect of "face" had to be managed perfectly. Even if the business was small and the profits low, you had to have all the status-propping accessories in place!
When they were leaving just now, Su Chen had seen Boss Yu’s car—a Rolls-Royce Ghost. Even if it was the cheapest model in the Rolls-Royce lineup, it was still a Rolls-Royce. How could driving that down the street not be flashy and attract attention?
During their chat in the tea room, Su Chen had also learned from Boss Yu that besides his guesthouses in Lijiang, he also had a few in Sanya. His annual income was only a few million, less than ten million.
With an income like that, why would he buy such an impractical vehicle? It was simply to show off his status.
"All about face? Isn’t that just suffering for the sake of pride?" Chen Fei muttered under his breath.
"You know, you’re not wrong. That’s exactly what it is." The smile on Su Chen’s face widened. "They say Northeastern men are afraid of their wives. Look how tough Boss Yu was talking just now. Who knows if he’ll be the one suffering when he gets home, though!"
At this, Chen Fei gave Su Chen a strange look and said, "Mr. Su, why do I get the feeling you’re gloating a little?"
The smile on Su Chen’s face froze...
"What do you mean, gloating? Ah Le, why don’t you explain it to me properly!"
Just as Chen Fei was about to defend himself, Su Chen’s phone rang in his pocket.
"Mr. Su, your phone is ringing..."
Su Chen shot a glance at Chen Fei and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
’Huh? Didn’t we just see each other? Why is he calling again?’ Su Chen muttered to himself, looking at the name "Yu Qian" on the screen.
He then answered the call.
As soon as the call connected, Yu Qian’s urgent voice came from the other end.
"Mr. Su, something’s happened to Wu Jing!"
"What’s the situation?" Su Chen’s brows knitted together instantly.
Yu Qian quickly explained the whole story to Su Chen. As mentioned before, after receiving Su Chen’s support, Wu Jing had taken a team to Africa to find suitable locations to better recreate the scenes in his script.
He and Yu Qian had agreed to call each other every morning to discuss progress and so that Yu Qian could provide timely assistance if anything went wrong.
This morning, Yu Qian had made his usual international call to Wu Jing, but he couldn’t get through. He tried to contact other team members, but their phones were unreachable too.
Yu Qian knew something must have happened to Wu Jing. He immediately called their embassy in Africa and explained the situation.
Remembering the power Su Chen had displayed before, Yu Qian, in a last-ditch effort, made a special call to Su Chen, hoping to find some help from him.
"Alright, I’ve got it." With that, Su Chen hung up.
While Su Chen was on the phone, Chen Fei noticed his expression turn grave and knew something must have happened.
Without a moment’s hesitation, while Su Chen was still on the call, he jogged over to where they had parked and brought the car around.
By the time Su Chen hung up, Chen Fei had already pulled the car up in front of him.
He gave Chen Fei a slightly surprised look. ’I didn’t think he had it in him to be so quick-witted.’
On the way back to the hotel, Su Chen was contemplating how to handle the situation.
As everyone knows, Africa isn’t as stable as things are back home. There are conflicts between countries and between tribes.
Seeing Su Chen’s furrowed brow in the rearview mirror, Chen Fei couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Su, I don’t know what’s happened, but is there any way I can help?"
"You help? What could you..." Su Chen didn’t finish his sentence before an idea struck him.
"Hahaha! Chen Fei, you actually can help!"
Chen Fei was baffled... ’He was just frowning a moment ago, how did he suddenly light up the moment I opened my mouth?’
’Am I some kind of "lucky charm"? Do problems just solve themselves whenever I speak up?’
For a moment, Chen Fei got lost in his own hype.
.......
Just as they entered the hotel lobby, they saw Wang Shasha sitting in the lounge area.
Seeing him return, she immediately came up to greet him.
"Mr. Su, is there anything I can do for you?" Her respectful attitude stunned many of the hotel employees.
You have to understand, becoming a private butler at the Ritz-Carlton meant you were an elite talent, hand-picked and put through all sorts of training, with a salary twice or even three times that of a regular employee.
Usually, she carried herself with a high-and-mighty air and would barely give them the time of day. To see her acting so attentive today was a shock, and many of them started gathering in small groups to whisper and discuss.
They were, of course, discussing what kind of person Su Chen must be to make someone like Wang Shasha so subservient.
Su Chen glanced at her. "Send a fruit platter to the room later." With that, he walked into the elevator.
It’s worth mentioning that at this Ritz-Carlton, guests had to pass through the lobby and change elevators to access their rooms. There was no direct access from the ground floor to the guest floors.
"Of course, Mr. Su!" Wang Shasha let out a sigh of relief.
She wasn’t afraid of Su Chen giving her tasks; she was afraid of him not giving her any.
Once the elevator doors closed, Wang Shasha’s posture instantly straightened. She swept a menacing glare across the lobby, scaring the whispering staff into immediate silence.
Back in the presidential suite, Su Chen instructed Chen Fei not to disturb him unless it was important. He then went into his own room and made sure to lock the door from the inside.
After checking the room one more time and finding no issues, Su Chen took the brick phone out of his system inventory.
He expertly dialed a number.
The phone rang twice before someone picked up.
It was the same voice as last time. "BOSS, good morning. What are your orders?"
Just as Su Chen was about to ask the name of the person on the line, a piece of information automatically appeared in his mind regarding the speaker.
The speaker was none other than Raymond, the head of the IPS Security Company.
"Raymond, do we have a training base in South Africa?" Su Chen had seen his fair share of action movies and knew that a security company of IPS’s scale would have bases in many places.
Especially a place like Africa, which was their most active region.
"Of course. In fact, I’m in South Africa right now for an inspection. BOSS, is there something you need us to handle?" It was rare for the boss to call with a task, and it would be a lie to say Raymond wasn’t thrilled.
"Yes. It’s like this: a director from Huaxia and several of his team members have gone missing in South Africa. I need you to find them and ensure their safety." Su Chen then sent over the information on Wu Jing and his team.
Raymond had been expecting some major incident, but it turned out to be such a simple little matter.
For a company like IPS, they were more effective in this part of the world than anyone else.
"Don’t worry, BOSS. I’ll find them for you in two hours, max."
"Alright. I’ll be waiting for your update." With that, Su Chen hung up the phone.
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