America: The neighbor's wife is so incredibly hospitable!

Just then.

Chen An's personal cell phone rang.

It's an unfamiliar number. The location displayed is: Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chen An narrowed his eyes.

He gestured for Irina and Jessica to be quiet.

"Feed".

"Good afternoon, Mr. Chen. Or perhaps... the current 'Northern Lithium King'?"

A slightly tired but still magnetic female voice came from the other end of the phone.

It's Ava Green.

"Miss Green."

Chen An walked to the window, looking at the falling snowflakes outside. "What? Didn't Old Joe's thugs come back to report last night?"

"Or would you like to try out the snowmobiles in Montana yourself?"

"Don't get me wrong. What happened last night... was an accident. Old Joe gave the order directly, bypassing me."

Ava's voice carried a hint of helplessness and urgency, "Mr. Chen, we are all smart people. Smart people don't fight battles they're bound to lose."

"A sure loss?" Chen An laughed. "You think Old Joe has lost?"

"He's gone mad."

Ava's tone turned cold and hard. "Ever since you opened the Sky Corridor and took over the Polaris Factory..."

"The board of directors in Silicon Valley is already very dissatisfied with him."

"The failure of last night's 'black operation' has further diminished his prestige within the family."

"so?"

"So, I want to talk to you. Not on behalf of TerraPower, and not on behalf of Joe."

Ava paused, her voice becoming low and seductive.

"It represents myself."

"I'm in Seattle right now. If you're interested, meet me tonight at 8 p.m. at the revolving restaurant in the Space Needle. I have something I think you'll be interested in."

"What is it?"

"Evidence of Joe's money laundering network, and... TerraPower's plan to short your company's stock next Monday."

The Warlords.

This is a pledge of allegiance from the core of the enemy camp.

Chen An remained silent for a moment.

Is this a trap? Possibly.

But Ava is an extremely sophisticated egoist.

She could see clearly that Old Joe's ship was sinking and she was looking for a lifeboat.

"Tonight at eight o'clock."

Chen An glanced at his watch. "What if I don't see that document, or even just see someone with a gun..."

"Don't worry. It's just me and a bottle of good wine." Ava chuckled softly.

"To be honest, ever since I lost eight million to you that night, I've been dreaming about you all the time."

"I also want to see... what you're like when you're not at the gambling table."

hang up the phone.

Chen An turned around and found two pairs of eyes staring intently at him.

"That vixen?" Jessica gritted her teeth. "What's she up to? A date?"

"She's here to be killed."

Chen An waved his phone. "There's infighting on Old Joe's side. Ava wants to switch jobs. This is the perfect opportunity for us to completely crush Old Joe."

"Are you going to Seattle?" Irina asked, a little reluctant, after all, they had just spent a tender night together.

"We have to go."

Chen An straightened his collar. "We should press our advantage and see what's left. Besides, you should also go check on those two 'brothers' at the boarding school."

He walked up to Jessica.

"Pack your things. We're flying to Seattle this time."

"What about the factory?" Irina asked anxiously.

"I'll leave this to you."

Chen An cupped Irina's face in his hands, his eyes resolute. "You are the Queen of the North Star. I know you can protect this place."

"If there's any trouble, my security team will be at your command. Remember, always keep a bullet in your gun."

Irina's eyes reddened, and she nodded heavily.

"Go ahead. As long as I live, this factory will exist."

………………

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The Gulfstream G650 took off again, leaving behind the snow-covered Canada and flying directly to the drizzling Seattle.

Inside the cabin.

Jessica seemed both excited and nervous.

"Seattle... I haven't been back in a long time. I wonder if those debt collectors are still around."

"With me around, no one in all of Seattle will dare to touch you."

Chen An leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes to rest, and said, "I'm going to see Ava tonight."

"Go pick up Mike and Jerry from school and take them out for a nice meal. Ironhead will send people to protect you."

"You're not taking me?" Jessica asked, sounding disappointed. "You're going to be alone with that vixen again?"

Chen An opened his eyes and looked at her.

"That was negotiation. Negotiation filled with lies and calculations."

He reached out and took Jessica's hand, placing it in his palm.

"Besides, that's a dirty deal for adults. I don't want to drag you into it."

"All you need to do is focus on making it beautiful and enjoying the fruits of your labor."

"Tch...that sounds nice."

Jessica mumbled something, but a sweet feeling welled up inside her. She knew it was a form of protection.

………………

8 PM.

Seattle.

The Space Needle on a rainy night resembles a flying saucer standing in the clouds, overlooking this sleepless night.

The sound of a piano filled the revolving restaurant.

Chen An arrived at the appointment on time.

He saw Ava Green at a table by the window.

She wore a black silk slip dress with a camel-colored cashmere shawl draped over it.

The dress was made of excellent material, clinging tightly to her body like flowing water.

She held a martini in her hand, gazing at the night rain outside the window, her eyes melancholic and captivating.

This is what is known as a "femme fatale".

"You've arrived."

Upon seeing Chen An, Ava did not stand up. Instead, she slightly turned her head, revealing her slender swan neck and a dazzling diamond earring.

"Sit down. This is for you, a dry martini. Shake it well, don't stir."

Chen An sat down but did not touch the glass of wine.

"Where is the stuff?" He got straight to the point.

"What a boring man."

Ava sighed, took a USB drive from the small bag at her feet, and pushed it to the center of the table.

"This contains accounts of how Joe laundered money over the past decade using overseas mining projects. There are also recordings of him bribing state legislators."

Ava's hand remained on the USB drive, not letting go.

"But this is just a small gift."

She leaned forward, her deep cleavage faintly visible in the candlelight, exuding a captivating fragrance.

"I want more."

"What do you want?" Chen An looked into her eyes.

"I want the CEO position that TerraPower will hold after Steve Jobs falls from grace."

Ava stared at Chen An. "I know you're going to take over TerraPower. You need an agent, someone knowledgeable, shrewd, and... obedient enough."

"obedient?"

Chen An smiled, reached for the glass of wine, and took a sip.

"You're an ambitious person, Ava. Ambitious people are usually disobedient."

"That's because the previous boss wasn't strong enough."

Ava's fingers gently traced the back of Chen An's hand, her nails sharp and cold.

"But I see through it all. Old Joe is an old-fashioned good-for-nothing. And you... you are the Wolf King."

"If you don't believe me..."

Ava suddenly stood up.

"There's a suite on this floor that I've booked all year round."

She took out a room key and placed it under the USB drive.

"I've already drafted the contract; it's in the room. If you want to sign it... or if you want to test my 'sincerity'..."

"I'm waiting for you."

After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Chen An with a graceful and resolute back view.

Chen An looked at the room key.

Is this a trap? Or a genuine act of surrender?

Or perhaps... an even more thrilling game of conquest?

He picked up the room key, a smile playing on his lips.

"Since it's like meat delivered to your door, wouldn't it be disrespectful not to eat it?"

Just do it!

The rain in Seattle was pouring down harder that night, making a loud pattering sound!