Caroline sat in the front passenger seat, and Charles entered the backseat from the other side. His expression turned much more serious. "The vice president of Citibank you wanted to meet is already waiting for you at the Beach Tower Hotel, but I must remind you, my friend, his thoughts might not align much with your expectations..."
"It doesn’t matter. I just need someone of sufficient weight from Citigroup to show up; I need to clearly understand his attitude."
"The main reason might be that they still suspect the true controller of Cloud Trust isn’t you. To be honest, my friend, if I hadn’t known you for so long, watching you step by step as if you were a deity, foreseeing the future and creating miracles, I wouldn’t have believed that the person behind Cloud Trust was actually you..."
Charles smiled somewhat helplessly.
During their casual chat, the Rolls Royce quickly drove out of the airport and onto Hawaii’s island ring road.
Although it was early winter, Hawaii was still sunny. With a high temperature of 27 degrees, the blue sky and white clouds shrouded the vast sea and waves. In the distance, silhouettes of tourists could be seen laughing and playing on the beach.
"It’s almost the Huaxia people’s New Year, Zhou. Are you really not planning to return home?"
To Charles’s inquiry, Zhou Wang’s gaze didn’t fluctuate much as he answered flatly.
"Zhou, sometimes you really seem like a machine without emotions, rational enough to be feared, but also because of this, you’re a reliable partner, aren’t you?"
Charles originally wanted to pat Zhou Wang on the shoulder, but perhaps out of some concern, he ultimately withdrew his hand, only jokingly saying,
"When working with you, just make sure to adhere to the contract, and you won’t break the order. Of all the qualities you possess, this is what I admire most..."
Before Charles could finish, a sudden violent explosion rang out. The moving Rolls Royce shook fiercely, almost overturned by the sudden blast.
"There are assassins!"
In the earpiece came the urgent voice of the security team leader, Kelimu Golden, "Mr. Zhou, please lower your body immediately and put on the bulletproof vest under the seat..."
Before Kelimu finished, another violent explosion drowned out his voice and completely flipped the moving Rolls Royce.
In the backseat, Zhou Wang had no time to react before his head hit the signature starlight ceiling of the Rolls Royce. As intense pain surged in, Zhou Wang’s vision plunged into darkness.
His consciousness drifted in the darkness for an unknown time. When Zhou Wang opened his eyes again, he found himself in a luxuriously decorated hospital room.
His fingers touched something warm and smooth. Zhou Wang slightly turned his head and saw Caroline sitting beside the bed. Her face looked slightly haggard, holding a phone, speaking in what Zhou Wang thought was French, which he couldn’t understand.
Noticing the unusual sensation from her hips, Caroline turned around joyfully, tears instantly streaming from her bright eyes. She hurriedly leaned forward to inquire about Zhou Wang. Zhou Wang wanted to say something but found he couldn’t open his mouth.
It was only then he realized he had no strength at all, even opening his mouth was difficult.
Zhou Wang wondered... how badly was he injured?
Until Caroline, in high heels, hurriedly ran out of the ward to get a doctor, Zhou Wang’s gaze followed her back, noticing the calendar on the wall.
Had he been unconscious for more than half a month?
Zhou Wang was astonished.
Returning with Caroline was not only the attending doctor but also a stern-looking Huaxia man in a suit. Judging by the well-trained bodyguards and translators following behind him, Zhou Wang already realized something.
"Mr. Zhou, hello, my name is Wang Ruixi, from the Huaxia Embassy..."
After introducing himself and listening to the doctor about Zhou Wang’s condition, Wang Ruixi knew Zhou couldn’t speak. So, after a brief pause, he continued,
"Mr. Zhou, I came to discuss the proposal previously sent to you through our liaison, urging you to seriously consider returning to Huaxia for development."
Zhou Wang glanced at Caroline, who understood and spoke on Zhou Wang’s behalf:
"Mr. Wang, according to my boss’s plan, returning to Huaxia is at least a year away; that won’t change, please understand."
Hearing this, Wang Ruixi frowned, argued with Caroline for a bit, and seeing that Caroline wouldn’t relent, he thought for a moment and suggested:
"In that case, there is another compromise..."
Caroline glanced back at Zhou Wang, saw him nod slightly, and turned to ask.
"For Mr. Zhou’s safety, I suggest you fully retreat to the background."
Wang Ruixi solemnly suggested, "I know this is something Mr. Zhou has always been doing, but relying solely on your own strength, it’s inevitable to leave traces. Judging from this attack, the effect is obviously not ideal, but with our help, it’s a completely different story."
Caroline didn’t respond as she couldn’t discern Zhou Wang’s leanings.
Wang Ruixi seemed to know Zhou Wang was contemplating, and he thought for a moment, then looked Zhou Wang straight in the eye, sincerely saying:
"Mr. Zhou, you must understand, for us, compared to your overseas commercial empire created single-handedly and the secret investments that continuously generate foreign exchange... you yourself are the precious asset we need to protect more."