Chapter Sixty: Zhao Haihe’s Schemes

As expected, there could be no fault with the hotel that Fu Zhichen had arranged. The entourage helped settle her luggage, then left the hotel, thoughtfully leaving their contact information to ensure she would not encounter any further issues.

Such thoroughness was both reassuring and comforting.

Having been exhausted for an entire day, Su Su Pei barely had time to straighten things out before she sank into a deep sleep the moment she lay down on the hotel bed.

Early the next morning, Su Su Pei woke up before dawn. She was just about to step outside for a breath of fresh air when, upon opening her door, she saw a familiar figure leaning against the wall, a paper bag in hand.

Judging by the logo, it was breakfast from her favorite place. She wondered how long he’d been wandering Wanjing so early.

“Zhichen…”

Looking at the man before her, Su Su Pei’s brows knitted in both helplessness and a surge of inexplicable reassurance.

For him to have arrived in Wanjing at this hour, he must have boarded a flight the moment he hung up last night.

“If nothing had happened, I wouldn’t have come to trouble you,” Fu Zhichen said, standing in the doorway, his deep eyes lowered like a small, drenched dog awaiting its owner’s judgment.

“Since you’re already here, of course I won’t blame you.”

Seeing his anxious manner, Su Su Pei felt her heart soften, as if a piece of it had caved in, leaving her tender and defenseless.

Fu Zhichen had rushed overnight to Wanjing out of concern for her safety. After all, last night had indeed been frightening—if she hadn’t discovered the camera in time, who knew what might have happened.

A glimmer of light appeared in Fu Zhichen’s eyes, and he softened further, handing her the paper bag.

“I bought this on the way over. Have something to eat first.”

Su Su Pei pulled Fu Zhichen into the room. The breakfast he had chosen was all her favorites, making the meal a pleasant one. But after a brief moment of warmth, Su Su Pei remembered she had more pressing matters to attend to.

“I must go to Haihe Company today and confront Zhao Haihe.”

As she spoke, her expression grew cold.

She suspected that from the moment she arrived in Wanjing, everything had been orchestrated by Zhao Haihe. Even the people around her could be bought off—he had truly calculated every step.

Had she not been cautious and asked some locals about Haihe Company before her visit, she might never have noticed anything amiss.

“I’ll go with you.”

Su Su Pei shook her head at Fu Zhichen’s offer.

“If you come with me, he’ll drop all pretense, and then I won’t be able to catch him out. Who knows, he might use the same tricks on others in the future.”

Entities like Zhao Haihe and Haihe Company were a stain on the industry. More importantly, Su Su Pei was determined to find out who had betrayed her.

“I can’t rest easy if you go alone,” Fu Zhichen insisted. He had come to Wanjing precisely because he was worried about her. The fact that Haihe Company could operate so freely here meant they wielded considerable influence.

Understanding his concerns, Su Su Pei took his hand, her gaze turning gentle.

“I’ve already thought it through. Besides, I’m not doing anything—just visiting as a potential partner. Zhao Haihe won’t dare do anything to me.”

Seeing her resolve, and knowing he could not change her mind, Fu Zhichen’s eyes flickered with disappointment.

“Su Su, do you not need me?”

Though she knew he was playing at being aggrieved, Su Su Pei could not help but feel a wave of compassion. In the end, they compromised.

“How about this: you come with me to the company building. If there’s any problem upstairs, I’ll message you right away, and you can come up to back me up, all right?”

Fu Zhichen knew this was as far as she would yield, so he could only agree.

To avoid drawing attention, the two chose to take a taxi.

In the daylight, Haihe Company looked much better than it had the night before—at least it was not so dilapidated. Zhao Haihe had received Su Su Pei’s call early in the morning and waited for her at the company entrance.

When he saw her, an odd glint flashed in his eyes.

Su Su Pei had left the hotel abruptly last night and had not returned. Had she discovered something? But if she had, why would she agree to meet today?

This thought made Zhao Haihe extra cautious.

“President Pei, you seem well-rested—your complexion is glowing,” Zhao Haihe greeted her politely. “Wanjing is wonderful, but the nightlife is a bit lacking.”

Su Su Pei replied with a half-smile, “Yes, I have a habit of checking for cameras whenever I stay in a hotel. You know how unscrupulous some businesses can be—you never know what they might hide in your room. It’s hard to relax without checking.”

At her words, Zhao Haihe’s expression froze for a moment before he forced a smile.

“Yes, these… unscrupulous businesses do exist. You’re certainly thorough, Miss Pei.”

Su Su Pei nodded solemnly. “It’s just a pity that the shops here close too early. I couldn’t find any equipment to check, and since I still felt uneasy, I had to go to another familiar hotel and get a new room.”

Hearing this, Zhao Haihe visibly relaxed.

So that was all—it was just the fussiness typical of people from big cities. He’d thought she’d noticed something, but it turned out to be nothing more.

“If I’d known you were coming to Wanjing, I would have arranged your hotel myself. This is my city, after all. If people knew I hadn’t even taken care of your accommodation, they’d call me stingy.”

Zhao Haihe turned to her with a smile.

“Did you come alone today, President Pei? Let me show you around the company.”

Since she still didn’t know who the traitor was, Su Su Pei dared not bring anyone else—too many people would only muddy the waters.

“My visit to Wanjing is a testament to my faith in Haihe Company’s capabilities. Of all the potential partners, your company stood out. Even I was impressed by the report you sent.”

A hint of pride flashed across Zhao Haihe’s face, though he reined it in, cleared his throat, and replied modestly, “Wanjing isn’t like those big cities; the competition is milder. Haihe was fortunate to seize an opportunity, which is why we could connect with a major group like the Fu Corporation.”

“We consider it a privilege as well!”

Zhao Haihe then took Su Su Pei on a tour of several departments, but never revealed anything of real substance, and nothing he spoke of had any true bearing on their potential partnership.