The Wind from Across the Ocean

Jean rolled her eyes at Xiang Qian. "Not everyone is as lecherous as you!" Although her phoenix eyes were filled with charm, they also conveyed a warning, forbidding Xiang Qian from making any more suggestive remarks, and certainly forbidding him from taking jabs at the mentor she respected most.

Xiang Qian held up his hands in surrender.

Having successfully suppressed the young man, Jean Grey steadied herself and explained the reason for her visit: "There has been some unrest among the mutant population in North America, and there are signs that have the Professor very worried."

"What kind of unrest? And why?"

"There is news," Jean's gaze was meaningful, "regarding Worthington Industries."

Xiang Qian chuckled dryly. "Ha, no wonder. Is it because of my status as a shareholder of Worthington Industries, or because of the partnership between the Five Elements Laboratory and Worthington Industries?"

"Both." Jean's expression grew much more serious. "There is news that Worthington Industries is developing a drug targeting mutants?"

"Anything else? I imagine the Professor wouldn't be nervous just because of some baseless rumor."

"There is more news—we don't know if it's a rumor, but it has already caused a lot of anxiety among mutants. It is said that this drug can completely eliminate all mutants; some even say it is an extinction-level weapon designed against them." Jean looked at Xiang Qian gravely.

"It's not just us who are nervous; Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants are too. Someone discovered that the Brotherhood of Mutants is contacting every radical mutant group in North America. The Professor believes Magneto's actions are also related to the news about Worthington Industries. The unrest within the mutant community is continuing to grow." Jean Grey pressed further: "We need definitive information—is it a rumor or the truth? What exactly is that drug?"

"You're prying into trade secrets, my beautiful spy; are you a Bond girl?" Xiang Qian asked with a smile, not answering Jean's question directly.

Jean looked at Xiang Qian and suddenly beamed. Her serious expression thawed like spring, and her eyes brimmed with soft, alluring charm once more. "If I am a Bond girl, then are you Bond? James... Bond?"

Hearing Jean use her sultry voice to overlap his English name with that of 007, Xiang Qian found he couldn't quite handle the flirtatious tactics of this mature beauty.

Jean Grey knew this young man's weaknesses all too well, and she decided to press her advantage. "James... Bond, as the world's most famous agent, are you willing to reveal the intelligence you have to your Bond girl?"

"Well... Worthington Industries is indeed conducting research into genetic medicine."

"Mmhmm..." Jean drew out the sound, the soft nasal tone stirring the man's desires.

"This genetic medicine..." Xiang Qian greedily admired the beautiful face inches from his own, "I cannot tell you any more."

Jean Grey's expression stiffened. Watching Xiang Qian's playful look, she bit her lip with a half-smile, her eyes gradually turning dangerous.

"Okay, okay!" Xiang Qian's survival instinct allowed him to foresee the danger. "There is one more piece of information. It has nothing to do with the drug itself, but it should put your minds at ease a little."

"Mmhmm..." Jean hummed softly again. Strangely, the same sound could convey entirely different meanings. If the last one was a flame igniting a man's heart, this one was cold water extinguishing it, allowing Xiang Qian to think with enough rationality to say what came next.

"The chairman of Worthington Industries, Worthington II; as far as I know, he has a son, Worthington III—their family might have a naming-difficulty syndrome—who is also a mutant. Worthington II loves his son very much. I don't think he would develop a drug capable of killing his own child."

"He wouldn't develop a drug that could kill his son... so, this drug won't kill mutants—is that the news you're telling us?" Jean was somewhat dissatisfied with Xiang Qian's evasiveness.

Xiang Qian gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Honey, you have to understand, I am still a businessman. I must make people believe I am a reliable partner."

Jean rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Fine, I'll let you off this time. I will relay this to the Professor."

She was just about to leave when, unexpectedly, the arms Xiang Qian had wrapped around her slender waist tightened, holding the mature beauty firmly in his embrace.

"Leaving so soon?"

Jean leaned against Xiang Qian's chest, knowing that now that the serious business was over, the playboy nature of this young man was bubbling to the surface again. She sighed helplessly. "I have to go back immediately. The Professor and the others are waiting for my news; they are all a bit uneasy."

"I know, it's just... it's been quite a long time since I've seen you..."

Jean shot him a sharp look. "Indeed, quite a long time. You didn't even call."

The atmosphere shifted instantly from summer to winter.

"My communications aren't free, didn't you just experience that? If you hadn't been unable to reach my phone, the Professor wouldn't have had you contact me through the Soul Realm." Xiang Qian defended himself with a wry smile. "We are in my Soul Realm right now, but take a guess where my body is? High above some country in Central Asia. Actually, I just fought a battle against terrorists six hours ago."

Women in love are actually quite pathetic; Jean Grey, who was angry at Xiang Qian a minute ago, now began to feel heartache. "I thought a technical consultant just had to do research and provide advice?"

"There are always responsibilities I must bear, and things I must do." Xiang Qian shrugged nonchalantly. "The Professor started a school, but he doesn't just teach, does he? Aren't you all always fighting, too?"

In the world of the soul, the flow of emotions was natural and true, allowing Jean to deeply feel the intense feelings Xiang Qian buried deep in his heart. She believed few people could touch that true corner of his heart like she could—even if this playboy had more women than he could name himself.

Jean pursed her lips and smiled, her every glance full of charm. "My little man is not only a playboy, but now a warrior as well."

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow.

"But now I must say goodbye to the brave warrior." Jean pushed hard against Xiang Qian's chest with both hands. "If you miss me, you don't need to call. I'll come knocking on your Soul Realm often."

Springtime desire swirled in Jean's eyes, offering a blunt hint. But Xiang Qian's expression suddenly turned serious.

"Jean, you cannot attempt to resonate with my soul again, especially without my guidance." Xiang Qian said solemnly. "Doing that is dangerous for you."

"Why?"

"The Phoenix Force." Xiang Qian spoke with a complex expression about this entity that had been intertwined with Jean Grey for half her life. "Too much contact with the Soul Realm could cause the Phoenix Force within you to lose control."