Inside the banquet hall of the Qiqihar International Hotel, it was the grand opening banquet for Maple Leaf Investment's project in Qiqihar. Liu Mengran took a sip of champagne, leaving a faint lip print on the rim of the glass. She wore a dark green long dress that accentuated her snow-white skin, and her hair was elegantly styled, revealing her graceful neck.

"This is Director Zhang from the Qiqihar Energy Bureau," the accompanying local official introduced warmly. "Director Zhang, these two are General Manager Qin and General Manager Liu from Fenghua Investment."

Qin Chuan politely handed over his business card, saying, "We hope Director Zhang will provide more support for our silicon crystal technology project."

Director Zhang, in his early fifties with a kind face, brightened slightly as he accepted the business card: "Maple Leaf Investment? That's a very prominent investment company in China this year. I heard your General Manager Han is quite young; why didn't he come this time?"

Liu Mengran smiled and nodded: "President Han originally intended to come in person, but he had an important meeting and couldn't make it."

On the circular corridor on the second floor of the banquet hall, a figure was hidden in the shadow of a pillar. He held a photograph in his hand, occasionally comparing it to Liu Mengran chatting and laughing downstairs. The edges of the photograph were already a bit wrinkled, clearly having been examined repeatedly.

"The new energy project does indeed align with Qiqihar's development plan," Director Zhang said, as a waiter promptly served a plate of elegant appetizers. "However, the specific site selection still needs to consider environmental assessments..."

Just as Qin Chuan was about to respond, Liu Mengran felt a strange stinging pain on the back of her neck, as if she were being watched by something. She subconsciously turned around and glanced at the second-floor corridor, only to find it empty except for a few decorative paintings that gleamed coldly under the lights.

"What's wrong?" Qin Chuan asked in a low voice.

Liu Mengran looked away and shook her head: "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

Meanwhile, at the villa in Kyoto, Su Wanwan rushed back early in the morning. She pushed her tablet in front of Han Feng: "I found out yesterday that Mu Xiaoxiao has returned to China. This is the hotel she checked into yesterday. Although she used an alias this time, the surveillance footage is very clear."

Han Feng zoomed in on the photo; Mu Xiaoxiao's delicate face stood out even through the crowd. She was wearing a beige trench coat and walking into the lobby of the Jiang City Pearl Hotel.

"She's in Jiang City now, not Qi City?" Han Feng put down his tablet, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

“That’s right.” Su Wanwan tilted her head to look at him: “You’re so worried about Liu Mengran?” A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. “If I encountered this situation in Qishi, would you be just as nervous?”

Han Feng's coffee, which he was about to bring to his lips, froze in mid-air. Su Wanwan's question came suddenly, leaving him speechless for a moment.

"You're different." He finally said vaguely, "You have the ability to protect yourself, otherwise all that training you did recently would have been for nothing."

Su Wanwan pouted, suddenly snatched the coffee cup from Han Feng's hand, took a big gulp, and then jumped up and ran away: "Dishonest children don't get coffee!"

Han Feng shook his head and chuckled as he watched her retreating figure, then took out his phone and dialed Zheng Guodong's number.

"Uncle Zheng, Mu Xiaoxiao has returned to Jiang City... Yes, the Mingzhu Hotel... Could you please keep an eye on her movements?"

On the other end of the phone, Zheng Guodong's voice was calm and strong: "Don't worry, I've had Weimin arrange for people to keep an eye on her 24/7. We'll notify you immediately if anything happens to her since she's back."

He hung up the phone, but a sense of unease rose in his heart. It was too quiet. Mu Xiaoxiao wouldn't have returned to the country for no reason; she must be plotting something.

The banquet in Qiqihar had progressed to the main course. Liu Mengran politely declined her third glass of champagne; maintaining her sobriety was a professional habit. Qin Chuan was engaged in lively conversation with several local entrepreneurs, occasionally letting out a hearty laugh.

In the shadows of the second-floor corridor, the mysterious figure reappeared. This time, he took out his phone and pointed the camera at Liu Mengran. The magnified image clearly showed her delicate profile.

"Target confirmed," he whispered into his headset, his voice like sandpaper scraping against the surface. "A perfect match for the photograph."

A muffled command came through the earpiece. The mysterious man glanced at Liu Mengran one last time before silently retreating into the emergency exit deep in the corridor. The instant the door closed, the emergency light illuminated the photograph in his hand—a half-body shot of Liu Mengran, the background clearly showing the backyard of Han Feng's villa, obviously taken at a recent barbecue party.

Inside the banquet hall, Liu Mengran suddenly shivered, as if someone had pressed ice against her back.

"Is the air conditioning too cold?" Qin Chuan noticed her unusual behavior.

Liu Mengran forced a smile: "Maybe a little. I'm going to the restroom."

She rose from her seat, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor. In front of the bathroom mirror, Liu Mengran splashed cold water on her face, trying to dispel the discomfort of being watched.

"It's alright," she said to her reflection in the mirror. "It's just a business dinner."

But as she walked out of the restroom, a rapidly disappearing figure at the end of the corridor made her heart race. That figure inexplicably reminded her of the person she had just spotted on the second floor; their figures were practically identical.

Back in the banquet hall, Liu Mengran quietly said to Qin Chuan, "I feel something's not right. Let's go back early."

Qin Chuan glanced at his watch and nodded in agreement. Half an hour later, they politely declined the subsequent invitation to the cocktail party and returned to their hotel by car.

In the car, Liu Mengran sent Han Feng a message: "The banquet is over, everything went smoothly. But I have a feeling that someone is watching us."

Han Feng's reply came almost immediately: "Stay vigilant, and don't go out alone after returning to the hotel. Is Qin Chuan nearby?"

"Yes, we're heading back to the hotel together," Liu Mengran replied, a warm feeling rising in her heart from Han Feng's concern.

"Do you need me to send someone over?"

"No need, the hotel's security should be fine. There's been some public discussion about the company coming here."

"Okay, then be careful."

Han Feng stared at his phone screen, his brows furrowed. He pulled up a map of Qiqihar, his gaze shifting between several key locations: the proposed site for Silicon Crystal Technology's factory, the municipal government, the hotel where Liu Mengran was staying, and... the approximate location of that gene laboratory.

When these points were connected, Han Feng's pupils suddenly contracted. Of the three alternative locations for the silicon crystal technology plant, one was located exactly within five kilometers of the original gene laboratory.

"What a coincidence..." he muttered to himself, and immediately dialed Lin Zhengguo's number. "Mr. Lin, I need the entry records of all foreign nationals in Qiqihar City for the past six months..."

"No problem, I'll send it to your communicator right away."

Dark clouds loomed over both cities, foreshadowing an impending storm.

In a dark room in Qiqihar, a map showing Liu Mengran's daily schedule was slowly rolled up by a hand wearing black gloves. The hand casually touched the headset and said, "Prepare for action."