Plunder-Chapter 167: Old Tricks Reused
Where was Qiao En at this time?
Zhou Jin’an could never have guessed.
She was the worm in Zhou Jin’an’s belly, knowing he would definitely be able to guess her whereabouts. Therefore, she didn’t go home after work but instead went to a beauty salon she used to frequent.
She had clothes stored there and, under the name of Qiao En’s friend, swiped her beauty card for a full range of services.
Zhou Jin’an dialed her phone, but she saw all the calls without picking up.
Since she had to feed the dog in the evening, she needed to conserve her energy and get prepared.
Eight o’clock in the evening.
Detective Wu sent a message.
"Where have you taken the person?"
Qiao En, "Wait for my message."
She lay on the beauty bed, enjoying the long-lost services, relaxing both physically and mentally.
Before ten o’clock, Secretary Huang called.
"Secretary Xu, Director An’s social engagement is about to end. Where shall we meet afterwards?"
"I’ll send the address to your mobile phone."
Qiao En got up from the beauty bed.
She changed into a new outfit and applied a delicate makeup before stepping out.
It never crossed Zhou Jin’an’s mind that the place Qiao En had arranged to dine with An Jinrong was a very small barbecue restaurant.
The restaurant was in a secluded location and difficult for ordinary people to find.
Cheng Lu had been waiting outside the Ronghua Hotel. After the social event was over, An Jinrong and Secretary Huang got into the car.
They dropped him off at home.
Seeing this, Cheng Lu did not continue to stake out and left.
Then An Jinrong changed his clothes and went to the barbecue restaurant Qiao En mentioned.
"Secretary Xu, I didn’t expect such a beauty would enjoy such a small diner," he said with a smile plastered over his face, reeking of alcohol, as he sat down opposite Qiao En.
Qiao En was dressed in a crimson sling dress. Although she had grown plumper, her charm had not diminished in the slightest.
"Director An, sorry for taking the liberty. I thought you’ve had enough exotic delicacies and drank some wine at the evening’s social event; you’d probably want to have something different, so I chose this place," she said.
Qiao En flashed a shy look, while An Jinrong stared at her intently, greedy desire flashing in his eyes.
"I’m just like Secretary Xu, I like this kind of stuff too. We are birds of a feather," he said, his mouth speaking while his hand reached out and slithered over Qiao En’s hand, slick with grease.
A wave of nausea surged within Qiao En, but her expression did not change.
"I felt an instant connection with Director An; your kind and gentle face is affable and elegant. Being able to work with you is my fortuitous karma," she said.
These insincere pleasentries came naturally to Qiao En.
An Jinrong loved hearing them, his eyes curling into a smile, "Secretary Xu really has a way with words. Since we regret not meeting sooner, let’s drink to that."
An Jinrong took the initiative to suggest drinking.
His suggestion was exactly what Qiao En had hoped for.
Feigning coyness, however, she lowered her voice, "But I really can’t hold my liquor, I get drunk easily with just a little."
On hearing this, An Jinrong’s eyes gleamed with more intensity.
"No matter, no matter, a thousand cups too few for like-minded friends. Worst comes to worst, I’ll get drunk with you," he insisted.
Qiao En thought to herself that if she did get drunk, he was bound to take advantage of her.
She had painstakingly set this trap, and it certainly wasn’t for An Jinrong to take a bite out of her.
She took out the revised document from her bag and handed it to An Jinrong, "Let’s deal with business before pleasure. Director An, please help me see if there’s anything else that needs changing? Once the work is done properly, I can report back tomorrow, and tonight I’ll keep good company with Director An."
At those words, An Jinrong’s eyes instantly narrowed to slits.
"Alright, alright," he agreed.
He quickly flipped through the document, then pulled out a pen and swiftly signed his approval.
"Director An, you didn’t look at it carefully," Qiao En pouted.
Director An passed the document back to Qiao En and flicked her forehead gently, "I trust you to handle things."
Qiao En put away the document. Now that the work was done, her heart settled down.
"Let’s drink," she suggested.
An Jinrong filled Qiao En’s glass to the brim, intent on getting her drunk.
Qiao En picked up her glass and sipped only a little.
"No, that won’t do. Deep affection calls for a gulp," An Jinrong encouraged.
Qiao En purposely acted weak, "Director An, I’m just a girl, and it’s boring to just drink. How about we play rock-paper-scissors instead? You must be too busy to relax usually. If you don’t mind, I can help you wind down."
Every word she uttered seemed considerate of An Jinrong.
He was a wolf in deep thought, but now, under the influence of alcohol and flattery, he gradually let down his guard.
"Good, I’ll teach you," he said eagerly.
An Jinrong began to enthusiatically offer his instruction, while Qiao En acted the part of a clueless little bunny, learning in a confused daze.
Her feigned clumsiness pleased An Jinrong to no end.
After two rounds of instruction, he was ready to practice with Qiao En.
It was the same old routine; Qiao En lost terribly in the first three rounds.
She lost, and An Jinrong was even more triumphant.
"Come on, drink this."
He took the initiative to pour Qiao En a drink, even bringing the glass to her lips to personally supervise her drinking it.
After three consecutive glasses, Qiao En showed a look of being utterly drunk.
"Director An, you can’t bully me, I haven’t learned yet."
She pouted and whined.
An Jinrong hurriedly coaxed her, "Then I’ll go easy on you, a little."
He said he would let her win, and afterwards, Qiao En started winning consecutively.
She won five games in a row, and An Jinrong had downed five glasses.
"Director An, thank you for going easy on me."
Every time after An Jinrong lost, Qiao En would express the same gratitude.
He lost, but he drank happily.
By the time he had seven or eight glasses, An Jinrong’s eyes began to blur.
What he didn’t know was that Qiao En had already switched the bottles when she poured his drinks.
She had arrived at the bar early, mixing strong liquor into beer bottles.
Initially, she had served him beer, but as he drank, he became numb, and he had no clue when she switched to the mixed drink.
"Secretary Xu, you’re really adorable, I like you so much."
An Jinrong finally got drunk.
"Director An, let me take you back."
Qiao En stood up, supporting An Jinrong, preparing to leave.
He staggered, his steps uncertain.
At the roadside, a taxi had been waiting for a long time, honking its horn when Qiao En came out.
Qiao En assisted An Jinrong towards it, the car door opened, and a woman sitting in the backseat wore a dress identical to Qiao En’s.
Qiao En threw An Jinrong inside, and he immediately fell into the woman’s arms.
"Take him to the Ronghua Hotel."
Qiao En took out a room card, handing it to Detective Wu.
This time, he was disguised as a taxi driver.
"You’re playing a risky game this time, be careful not to get burned."
Detecive Wu glanced back and advised with goodwill.
An Jinrong’s status was special, messing with him carelessly could bring trouble.
Yet Qiao En remained indifferent, "If the fire really starts, it will consume both the jade and the stone."
She took out a stack of money from her bag and gave it to the woman.
"Do you know what to do?"
"I know."
The woman responded.
Without lingering, Qiao En hailed a cab and headed straight for Chengnan Apartment.
On the way, she turned on her phone.
In the contact list, all the missed calls were from Zhou Jin’an.
He had also sent many messages.
"I know what you’re up to? Qiao En, you can’t mess with An Jinrong, I don’t want anything to happen to you."
"Where are you? I’ll come to you."
"What exactly are you going to do? Tell me."
...
After reading all the messages, Qiao En casually replied to Zhou Jin’an with an emoticon.
"Got a bit tired in the afternoon, did some beauty treatment, fell asleep."
However, Zhou Jin’an didn’t reply at all.
Was he angry?
Or did he not see it?
When she got out of the car, Qiao En stared at the WeChat chat box for a long time.
When she got home, she was surprised to find Zhou Jin’an sitting with crossed legs right outside her front door.
"You’re here."
Her heart racing, she slowed her approach towards Zhou Jin’an.
He stood there, his eyes furrowing into the dark night.
"I really did go for a beauty treatment."
Qiao En explained.
Zhou Jin’an remained unmoved.
"Go back. I’m tired and want to rest."
Qiao En went to open the door.
Suddenly, a pair of strong hands violently pulled her into an embrace.
The fiery kiss came at her like a tempest once more.
