Chapter 2: Secret Photos

The two of them grabbed a casual meal outside and then happily hurried back to Room 962. Lying on the bed, stroking his bulging belly, Hu Guozheng said, “We can’t just keep waiting like this. Why don’t we pretend to be staff and sneak in?”

“You think it’s that easy?” Du Bin shot him a glare.

After leaving their room, they chose the emergency stairs and began climbing upward. The corridor was silent as they reached the door, each carrying a small bag. Taking advantage of a camera’s blind spot, they used a device to clone the door code.

Beep, beep—the code was copied and displayed on the decoder. With a click, the door unlocked.

“OK.” Hu Guozheng sauntered in as if he owned the place. Du Bin glanced both ways to ensure no one was watching before slipping inside as well.

“Wow! Is this a VIP suite? Damn, it’s way bigger than ours!” Hu Guozheng was indignant. The price was the same, so why was this one almost twice as large? It felt unfair.

Right inside the entrance was a hidden closet, followed by a spacious living area with a television and other furnishings. Deeper in were the bedrooms, and inside was a bathroom. The shower door was semi-transparent, inviting all sorts of suggestive thoughts.

“No one’s here. Hurry up and get set up! You do the living room, I’ll handle the bedroom and bathroom.”

Du Bin, annoyed by Hu Guozheng’s excitement, shook his head and sighed, “Idiot.”

“I’m not an idiot! I paid for that meal earlier. If anything, you’re the freeloader.”

Du Bin ignored him, taking a camera and quickly installing it discreetly in the living room. Meanwhile, Hu Guozheng set up devices in the bathroom and bedroom, snickering as he hid a bug. “Looks like this famed beauty Qin’s reputation is about to take a hit tomorrow thanks to our handiwork.”

“All done, let’s go!” Hu Guozheng nodded and headed for the door, while Du Bin shouldered his bag and followed close behind.

Suddenly, the door beeped. Both men froze in panic. “Damn! She’s back.”

Not knowing where to hide, Hu Guozheng flung open the wardrobe by the door and squeezed himself inside. Du Bin tried to follow, but the cramped space could barely fit Hu Guozheng and his belly. With no other option, Du Bin dashed into the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

At that moment, the main door opened and Qin Ling walked in. She tossed her shoes and coat aside, collapsed onto the sofa, and turned on the TV. Her alluring figure made Hu Guozheng’s eyes blur with desire.

From the bedroom, Du Bin peered through a crack in the door and watched Qin Ling lounging on the sofa. There was something inexplicably captivating about her. The number one online beauty host in Guangdong was certainly no ordinary woman.

After a long while, Qin Ling’s phone rang. She picked up. “What is it, Zhizhen?”

“Lingling, the director says there’s a meeting soon in the presidential suite. Come down quickly!” The caller was her assistant.

“Alright, I’ll be down. Bye.”

The two intruders silently cheered—they couldn’t have hoped for better news. Qin Ling turned off the TV, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door.

But just as she was about to leave, she paused and turned back toward the bedroom. The move sent a cold sweat down Du Bin’s spine, while Hu Guozheng grinned gleefully at his misfortune. With the bathroom’s semi-transparent glass, there was no way to hide there. Desperately searching, Du Bin spotted a wardrobe beside the bed—like a lifeline, he dove in without hesitation.

Qin Ling opened the bedroom door, but before Du Bin could even feel relieved, he saw through a crack that she was standing right in front of the wardrobe.

She opened it, picked out a short black dress with a low neckline, and her next actions made Du Bin’s face flush crimson. Oblivious to his presence, Qin Ling stripped down to her underwear, her flawless figure completely exposed to his gaze, stirring a dangerous heat within him.

Meanwhile, outside, Hu Guozheng had no idea what was happening inside. The delay made him worry Du Bin had been discovered.

Once she’d changed, Qin Ling hummed a little tune and left in high spirits. Only after the door finally shut did the two men breathe a sigh of relief. Du Bin muttered, “Thank goodness.”

“Let’s get out of here! Who knows what lunatic might show up next?” urged Hu Guozheng, opening the door, peeking out, and darting away.

Du Bin closed the door behind him and hurried back to the emergency stairwell, only to find Hu Guozheng standing there, seemingly paralyzed. “What the hell are you doing? Is standing there supposed to be cool?”

Hu Guozheng turned and pointed ahead. “It’s not that I don’t want to move, it’s just…”

Du Bin stuck his head out and was startled—there stood a young woman in the corridor, arms crossed, face dark as thunder. “Yilin.”

Fang Yilin knew they were up to no good, so she’d checked their registration info at the front desk. Coming up, she’d seen them sneak into Room 1058 and linger suspiciously. The sight left her seething.

“I’ll leave you two to talk.” Hu Guozheng slipped away before either could react, leaving Du Bin dazed and facing Fang Yilin alone.

Seeing Du Bin’s bewildered look, Fang Yilin sighed and took his arm, steering him into the stairwell to avoid any awkwardness.

“How many times have I told you? I want you to get a normal job, but you ignore me. I don’t mind you coming up here, but when you bring your work and people see my boyfriend doing this for a living, do you know how embarrassing that is for me?”

“I know it’s hard on you, but I’m just doing my job!”

“It seems you still don’t get it. Maybe we really do need some space.”

“I just don’t understand! Why do you have to make this so complicated?” Du Bin couldn’t grasp her attitude. Ignoring him, Fang Yilin turned and walked away, leaving him alone and utterly confused.

Frustrated, Du Bin lit a cigarette. As he smoked, a man’s voice drifted up from below. “Is everything according to plan?”

“Yes, she’s in the presidential suite now. In fifteen minutes, we move—grab the girl.”

Du Bin peered down and saw a man dressed all in black, a hat pulled low, giving him a sinister air. His sharp, piercing laughter sent chills down Du Bin’s spine. The man hung up and moved toward the exit, but just then, a phone rang. The man stopped, immediately alert. “Who’s there?”

“Shit.” Du Bin fumbled for his phone, cursing as he saw Hu Guozheng’s name on the screen. Of all times for him to call—not sooner, not later—he had to pick the worst possible moment. Hu Guozheng was going to get him killed.