Chapter 386 - You Don't Look Like an Assistant

Arriving in France early in the morning, Lu Fang asked his men to confirm if Alfred and Gabriel had already arrived. He also took a peek outside the airport but found no signs of Alfred's plane, at least to his line of sight. 

"Sir, we were told from the airport that they are arriving in thirty minutes," said one of his men.

"Okay, let's wait for them before heading down," said Lu Fang. He looked around and realized Lanying was not in her seat. He asked, "Where is my assistant?"

His bodyguard leaned forward, whispering, "Sir, she has been in the comfort room for over an hour."

The man dismissed it, thinking Lanying was getting ready before they get off the plane. He quickly checked his phone and saw several messages from his wife. He read each one.

"Babe, Lanying poisoned Arti. I checked her company phone and saw her text exchanges with her father. They are planning something and I don't like it."

"Babe, she better not be planning to seduce you! I swear I will lock her up in the Den for good!"

"Call me as soon as you read this."

"Call me!!!!!!"

"Hmmm," said the man as his mouth twitched. His brows drew together before opening his email with the same device. 

"Bro," Hanxi called his attention. He seated a row behind him. He stood up to show his phone, also seeing Andrea's text. Only that Andrea's message to him was different. 

"Hanxi, Lanying is trying to steal my husband! Make sure she does not come any closer to him! He is mine!"

"Seriously, she is planning something bad. Please let my husband check his email."

"Call me."

The man shook his head, chuckling at his wife's assumption. He said to Hanxi, "I already read her email. Don't worry. I'll look into this."

Lu Fang was about to call Andrea when his phone rang. It was Li Wen, calling. "Wen?"

"Lu Fang, Andy called me, asking about any strange activity in France. I'm not sure if this was right, keeping it all from her," said Li Wen on the other line. 

"I meant to minimize her worry… and besides, base on your last data Anges Duval was not making any move. Right?" answered Lu Fang. 

"Yes, but we don't know where she is either. Still, we need to play it safe and keep our guard up. You especially, Lu Fang."

"By the way, last night there was information leaked through the media, Lu Fang. You'll be met with several reporters today, I can imagine. It was said that Andy was arriving with you. Maybe it was just the media making a fuss or hoping to get a glimpse of Andy, but I will let you know if there is anything else I find out."

"Thank you, Wen." Lu Fang turned to look around. He did not find Lanying, so he proceeded to talk to Li Wen, "Can you check if Chi Zhong and my new assistant have any connection with Anges Duval or his caretaker? I'll also let my men check previous surveillance of Anges' caretaker."

Last night, When Andrea had called Li Wen, she did not give her sister a chance to disclose about Chi Lanying and Chi Zhong. Thus, Lu Fang explained to his sister-in-law Andrea's initial findings. She immediately confirmed to work on it and said she would get back to him within the day. 

Anges Duval was previously put in the same prison as Bertrand Duval, but following his death, Anges was moved to a hospital instead. According to the prison warden, it was easier for the hospital to attend to her needs considering the facility they had. Furthermore, because of Anges condition, she was technically not convicted of any crime. She was only prepared with a warrant, unable to respond. 

One day, Anges Duval disappeared. Surveillance later captured her being taken out of the hospital in an electronic stretcher by two masked supposed hospital attendants and the two police officers. They all boarded an ambulance and left in a hurry. Alfred's men later learned that the said police officers were only dummies. The real ones failed to report for work due to unforeseen circumstances.

It was a miss for Lu Fang and Alfred. It took more than a month for Alfred's men to report Anges missing, having not given her enough attention. Alfred's side tried to look for Anges, but at the same time, they did not want to dwell too much on it, considering Anges was not capable of doing any harm, given her state. The law enforcement also did not give much effort in knowing her whereabouts. 

It was only after her disappearance that they learned about Anges having received visits from a former caretaker named Clifford Adams. He was an old man, who said to have worked for Anges' family when she was much younger. They tried looking for him, but he too was rather difficult to trace.

On the bright side, it had been awfully quiet. It had nearly been a year since Anges went missing, but they found no attempt to their lives, Lu Fang assumed she or her caretaker chose to live in peace and not seek revenge.

Still, Lu Fang and Alfred were constantly looking over their shoulders and monitoring any strange movements in France. 

They both chose not to tell Andrea, and they asked Li Wen to keep it a secret, knowing it would not escape her radar. For one, they did not want to worry Andrea, and eventually, matters regarding Michael Song followed. They missed the chance of telling her altogether.

Hanxi who was all ears to his conversation with Li Wen said, "Darn, bro. You should have just - " He gave his classic slight the throat sign. "Anges."

"Well, she was good as dead! We don't know for sure if she has awoken…. Maybe we are just thinking way ahead," said Lu Fang. 

"Mr. Lu, Sir. Mr. Davies has arrived."

"Good, let's go - "

"Are we getting off?" They heard Lanying's voice from behind.

Hanxi and Lu Fang turned only to find themselves in shock. Lanying now had light brown hair and was curled at the tips. She was wearing a casual mint green dress with a white coat. One could tell she was trying to look like Andrea. Even so, she was far from looking closely alike to the man's wife. 

She was holding a paper bag, clearly containing the remnants of her make-over necessities. 

"Why are you looking like that? You don't look like an assistant  - "

"Let her be, Hanxi. Let's get off the plane," said Lu Fang, knowing Lanying had a scheme up ahead, but as to what, they were still about to find out. He quickly instructed one of his men to stay behind her. He whispered, "Watch her every move."

Alfred and Lu Fang met on the ground. Hanxi and Gabriel followed behind them. There was a moment of glaring between the man and Gabriel, but Alfred tried to cool down the temperature saying, "Now… Now, Gabe is already a promised new man. He has been a good boy lately."

They did not speak to each other, but the man avoided his gaze as they started to exit the airport. 

Alfred saw Lanying, and he was taken aback by the young girl's looks. He and Lu Fang began to whisper to each other before coming to an agreement of observing her first. 

They drove in two cars, directly heading to the hotel where they were to take their rest before going to work. The moment they arrived, the media stormed the entrance, but Alfred's men were quick to secure a path for them. 

They took pictures of prominent businessmen, who only visit France on a quarterly basis. When the men made their way inside the hotel, Lanying stepped outside the car wearing shades. 

"Look, it must be Mrs. Lu! It's the first time she came to France!"

"Mrs. Lu! Mrs. Lu!"

They took pictures of Lanying as she gracefully exited the car and walked while smiling towards the entrance. 

"Mrs. Lu! Mrs. Lu? Are you Mrs. Lu?" asked one of the reporters. 

Lanying did not reply, but her smile gave it away. She made the media make guesses that she was, in fact, Mrs. Lu.

"Interesting," said Alfred as he and Lu Fang watch her walk slowly to enter the lobby.