The three characters "Lin Zhengguo" flashed on the phone screen, and Han Feng pressed the answer button.
"Chief." Han Feng's voice was exceptionally clear in the empty office.
"Han Feng, the gene research lab in R country has been very active lately." Lin Zhengguo's voice was crackling with radio interference, as if he had deliberately used encrypted lines. "They've increased their clandestine contact with several European biotechnology companies, and the flow of funds is also suspicious."
Han Feng frowned slightly and said, "I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow, so I'll take this opportunity to set up a branch office and get a feel for things."
"Proceed with caution." Lin Zhengguo paused, "Also... Mu Xiaoxiao has returned to Jiang City."
Han Feng's fingers suddenly stopped. The name was like a fine needle, piercing his nerves. "When?"
"Last Friday and Saturday, which happened to be the two days you returned to Jiang City. The prosecution system discovered it through airport surveillance. Ask Lao Zheng for details; the information came back from his side."
After the call ended, Han Feng stared at his phone screen for a few seconds before dialing another number. As soon as the call connected, Zheng Guodong's voice came through: "Han Feng, I was just about to contact you."
"About Mu Xiaoxiao?" Han Feng went straight to the point.
"Yes, she arrived in Jiang City last Friday afternoon and left Saturday night." Zheng Guodong spoke quickly. "We reviewed the surveillance footage; she wore a mask and hat the entire time, deliberately avoiding most of the cameras."
Mu Xiaoxiao chose this time to come back, just as I had gone back to Jiang City last Friday. Was this a coincidence or something else?
"Have you found out where she went?"
"Switzerland." Zheng Guodong's answer made Han Feng's pupils shrink slightly. "The entry records at Zurich Airport confirm it's her; she used a genuine passport, and it seems she didn't intend to hide her whereabouts."
Han Feng's thoughts raced. Switzerland, the heart of global biomedical research, and also the region with the most active international collaborations in R country's gene technology. Could there be a connection between Mu Xiaoxiao's sudden appearance in Jiang City and her rapid departure for Switzerland?
"I need more detailed information: flight number, people I contacted in Jiang City, possible whereabouts..."
"This still needs time to investigate; she's been very careful with her schedule," Zheng Guodong interrupted him. "But Han Feng, something's fishy about this. Mu Xiaoxiao made a phone call at the airport when she left. We filmed it and had a lip-reading expert analyze it; she said 'proceed as planned.'"
A chill ran down Han Feng's spine. This woman, who had suddenly disappeared after transferring schools two years ago, later went to the United States and even contacted a mercenary group to assassinate him in China. Although the plan failed, it exposed the genetic experiment. Now, all the clues indicate that the genetic project that Long Yuan is investigating is inextricably linked to Mu Xiaoxiao.
Han Feng chatted with Zheng Guodong for a few more minutes before hanging up the phone.
"Zero." Han Feng called out to the system.
“I heard you, and I know what you want to ask.” Zero’s voice came through. “It’s exactly as you thought. I found in the database that all the people Mu Xiaoxiao came into contact with are related to R country.”
"Can you find out Mu Xiaoxiao's location?"
"Yes, now that you have access to the Longyuan database, this is a piece of cake for me."
Soon after, Zero found out Mu Xiaoxiao's whereabouts; she was still in a hotel in Zurich.
"Keep a close eye on her for me. If she makes any unusual moves, tell me immediately," Han Feng said.
"no problem."
----
Next, Maple Leaf Investment's journey went smoothly. Han Feng and his team arrived in Germany without incident. With the help of professionals Qin Chuan and Liu Mengran, and with some suggestions from Han Feng, the acquisition plan progressed very smoothly. In just three days, it was almost complete.
The group arrived in Zurich and decided to locate the branch office there. Han Feng instructed Qin Chuan to handle the relevant procedures, while he took the opportunity to look for a suitable place and ran away with Liu Mengran.
"Are we really okay sneaking out like this?" Liu Mengran checked her watch for the third time, her high heels clicking crisply on the cobblestone path. Unusually, she wasn't wearing a business suit today, but instead a beige trench coat, her hair gently ruffled by the breeze.
Han Feng, hands in his trench coat pockets, a lazy smile playing on his lips, said, "Qin Chuan just messaged me saying all the documents have been notarized." He deliberately slowed his pace, brushing past an elderly flower seller. "Besides," he added, "I did approve your paid leave."
"Paid leave?" Liu Mengran raised an eyebrow. "How come I remember someone saying just five minutes ago, 'This is the general manager's on-site inspection'?"
Han Feng chuckled softly, then suddenly stopped in front of an antique watch shop. In the window, a Patek Philippe from the 1930s gleamed warmly under the lights. "Let's go in and take a look."
Liu Mengran was taken aback, wondering what Han Feng was up to.
"Would you like to come in and have a look, sir?" The shop owner opened the door with the gentle smile typical of the Swiss.
Han Feng had already pushed open the door and entered. Liu Mengran reluctantly followed, but the moment she stepped across the threshold, she was stunned by the beauty of the gears and machinery covering the wall. The bronze pendulum clock, the tortoiseshell-inlaid pocket watch, and an entire wall of precision parts shimmered with the unique luster of metal in the afternoon sunlight.
"Try this." Han Feng had picked up a women's wristwatch without anyone noticing; the dial featured a hand-painted Alpine landscape. Before Liu Mengran could react, he lifted her wrist.
Liu Mengran instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but stopped when she felt the warmth of his fingertips. "It suits you very well," Han Feng's voice was a few decibels lower than usual.
Liu Mengran lowered her head. The snow-capped mountains on the surface shimmered with a faint blue hue in the light, and the ticking of the second hand was clearly audible. "It's too precious, I can't..."
"Consider it a reward." Han Feng turned to the counter. "After all, you saved us at least twenty million euros in patent fees during this trip to Europe for negotiations."
The shop owner smiled and packed the watch, and the two walked out of the shop.
Han Feng suddenly pointed to a coffee shop in the distance: "Shall we go sit for a while?"
"So you planned to bring me here all along?" Liu Mengran held the gift box containing the watch, feeling her heart beat a few steps faster than usual.
Han Feng smiled but didn't answer, instead pushing open the door to the coffee shop. The old brass bell rang crisply, and the aroma of coffee and cinnamon wafted out.
"Are you two here on your honeymoon?" The proprietress warmly led them to their seats, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them.
"We just..." Liu Mengran was about to explain when Han Feng said calmly, "Yes, please give us the best seats."
After they sat down, Liu Mengran stomped on his foot under the table: "Why did you say we came here for our honeymoon?"
"Uh, I had a momentary lapse of judgment, but the scene does look somewhat similar."
"Actually..." Han Feng suddenly said seriously, "I've been thinking, what if we set up the R&D center for the Asian headquarters in Zurich..."
Liu Mengran had just taken a sip of coffee when she nearly choked: "You brought me shopping, but actually you just wanted to scout out office locations?"
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