My Perfect Female CEO

The mood among everyone was rather gloomy over the theft of the treasure.

Especially Qi Haomin, the outsider, was filled with righteous indignation, full of accusations and reproach towards the unknown individuals who stole the treasure.

Upon careful consideration, it was understandable why he loathed this incident so much.

As a collector, nothing was more intolerable than seeing such a scene.

Although the specific number of treasures and artifacts was unknown and their exact value uncertain, it was obvious that their worth was naturally invaluable, not measured by money alone.

"It’s disheartening and frustrating that after working so hard, we received nothing in return," Zhang Lu said with a bitter smile.

"You can’t say it like that. Regardless of whether the treasure was stolen, our intention was good, and holding onto that belief is what matters most," Ye Fan consoled calmly.

"As long as this belief in serving our country remains unchanged, it doesn’t matter whether we gained anything or not," Mengyao looked at Zhang Lu and said softly, "As long as there are those who harbor malicious intentions, there will always be people who stand up to strike back resolutely, allowing us to stand tall and walk upright."

"Alright, you’ve convinced me. I feel much better now," Zhang Lu smiled, seemingly amused by a thought, "If Nagano Yoko and Charles were to learn the truth about the treasure, they would be infuriated to the point of spitting blood, losing both a fortune and their lives, only to find that their determined goal was merely an illusory pursuit."

"With that perspective, their deaths were clean. If they understood the whole truth, they probably wouldn’t rest in peace, unable to help lament over being fooled by fate," Ye Fan spoke with composure.

"Let’s turn the page on this treasure matter. There’s no need to dwell on or investigate it further. Everything is a done deal, and any time or effort spent would be pointless," Mengyao remarked lightly.

"What a pity, what a shame for those many treasures," Qi Haomin shook his head repeatedly.

"However, not all was lost. The auction house obtained a staggering fortune from Nagano Yoko and Charles," Lu Binwang was quite concerned about this matter.

"Patriarch Lu and Mr. Qi waiting up at night must mean there’s something urgent?" Ye Fan looked at Lu Binwang and Qi Haomin.

"It’s about attending the dinner. It depends on when Mr. Ye and President Chu are available," Lu Binwang stated his intention.

Wealthy individuals and industry magnates from the surrounding areas of Jin City had approached Lu Binwang and Qi Haomin to invite Ye Fan and Chu Mengyao to a dinner, mainly to make an impression and foster goodwill.

Ye Fan and Mengyao had already agreed to this, and Lu Binwang and Qi Haomin wanted to see when Ye Fan and Chu Mengyao would be available so they could arrange a specific time.

"Tomorrow, you pick the exact time," Mengyao responded straightforwardly.

"Good!" Lu Binwang and Qi Haomin replied enthusiastically.

Lu Binwang and Qi Haomin left to contact the list of guests and related arrangements for the dinner.

Zhang Lu stayed behind, not rushing to leave.

Soon it was one in the morning, and Ye Fan, Mengyao, and the others went to rest.

Zhang Lu got in contact with Li Tong, engaging in a video call.

Li Tong, who exposed the secret about the treasure, had gathered the information from informants in Japan.

"Is there something you need? I still have tasks to attend to. If it’s not urgent, then I’m hanging up," Li Tong said indifferently.

"You’re still so aloof that I can’t even exchange a few pleasantries," Zhang Lu chuckled before speaking cheerfully, "Actually, there’s nothing urgent, just something I wanted to tell you."

"What is it?" Li Tong quickly asked.

"The treasure was stolen long ago. The map we worked hard for became rubbish, and we got nothing," Zhang Lu explained.

"Is that all? I already knew about it. Although I feel regret, it’s not a big deal," Li Tong responded, softening her tone, but her attitude showed that the matter was not as simple as she made it seem.

After all, since she was the one who brought the secret of the treasure, the incident made her feel it was unworthy and regrettable.

"You already knew?" Zhang Lu exclaimed in surprise, "I haven’t even reported this matter upwards. Where did you hear it from?"

"You’re not the only knowledgeable one," Li Tong didn’t provide further explanation.

"True," Zhang Lu pondered briefly before showing curiosity, "You said you have tasks? What tasks?"

"Classified," Li Tong replied curtly with just two words without further elaboration.

"Keeping secrets even from me? Is it really that mysterious?" Zhang Lu complained teasingly.

"This task falls within your father’s authority and is under his supervision. There’s nothing more to say to you. It’s none of your concern, so don’t worry," Li Tong maintained her professionalism without disclosing details of the mission.

"Okay, you’ve beaten me. I’ll treat you to dinner when I get back. It’s been a few months since we last met, right?" Zhang Lu offered courteously and then ended the video call.

At that moment, Li Tong was executing a task.

At night, led by Li Tong, a group of plainclothes police officers surrounded an area around a certain neighborhood, waiting for the target person to appear.

Li Tong’s current location was north of Dongfang City, thousands of miles away from Ye Fan and Zhang Lu.

Little did Ye Fan and Zhang Lu know that soon, they would be working with Li Tong to jointly crack down on members of an external espionage network.

This is a story for another time.

Under the dim lights, Li Tong and her team lay in ambush around the area, quietly waiting for the target to appear.

Before long, a man dressed in black showed up.

"Target’s appeared," a companion’s voice came through the earpiece to Li Tong.

"Prepare for action," Li Tong gestured to her partner Song Ziya.

"Everything is in place, just waiting for the target to fall into the net," Song Ziya responded calmly.

The man in black came into the view of Li Tong and her team. He was extremely alert, and with years of experience, he sensed something amiss. After some probing and scouting, he identified the source of his unease.

"Trying to ambush me, huh," the man in black smirked wickedly, his expression filled with mockery.

After carefully weighing the risks and contemplating a retreat, he decisively entered the neighborhood.

Since Li Tong’s ambush hadn’t alerted him, the man in black decided to play along. His plan for a safe escape had already formed roughly in his mind.

The man in black smoothly entered his room.

In fact, every move he made was under Li Tong and her team’s surveillance.

The reason they hadn’t apprehended him was that he was but a minor figure. The man in black’s superior was in one of the neighborhood’s apartments, and Li Tong wanted to follow the clue to find the man’s superior.