Chapter 58

Rio de Janeiro, the second-largest city in Brazil, derives its name from Portuguese, where "de Janeiro" means "of January." One of the most iconic images of Rio for the world is the statue of Christ the Redeemer, also celebrated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Yang Cheng endured over 10 anxious hours during his journey to this vibrant and enchanting city. As he gazed upon the 636 kilometers of coastline and the 394-meter-high Sugarloaf Mountain from the airplane window, he couldn't help but be captivated. The 38-meter tall statue of Jesus, nestled amidst Rio's mountains and rivers, formed a breathtaking sight. It seemed to echo Brazil's self-proclaimed claim that, "God took six days to create the world, and on the seventh day, Rio was created."

Upon disembarking from the plane, the vivacious atmosphere of the World Cup immediately engulfed every tourist arriving in Rio. Streets were adorned with Brazilian flags, even capturing the attention of Miranda Kerr, who wasn't known for her interest in football. The passionate Brazilian cheers filled the air.

However, Yang Cheng couldn't shake off the unease that had settled within him since departing from Santa Barbara. He turned to Hansen, who was following closely, and asked, "Hansen, do you sense it?"

Hansen, a battle-hardened individual, possessed a heightened sensitivity to danger. From the moment they landed, he detected predatory gazes fixed upon them.

"It's true, boss. We're being watched," Hansen replied solemnly.

Taking charge of security, Hansen immediately instructed Andrew to retrieve the rental car. Yang Cheng glanced at Miranda Kerr, who had joined in the carnival atmosphere, dancing to the samba tunes. He speculated quietly, "Who could it be?"

He didn't have many adversaries, primarily Park Donghai, the Lehman family, and David Ellison, who had left on bad terms previously. As long as their interests clashed, they could be considered adversaries. However, David Ellison seemed an unlikely suspect, given that he could easily monitor Yang Cheng within the United States without the need for a presence in Brazil.

Following this train of thought, Yang Cheng temporarily directed his suspicion towards Louis Lehman. After all, Rio was a stronghold of the Lehman family. Yang Cheng doubted that his father, Paul Lehman, would bother with someone from the younger generation like him. However, the ambitious Louis Lehman might resort to tactics to intimidate Yang Cheng into stepping back.

But the question remained: Why would Louis Lehman resort to such measures? Did he discover Yang Cheng's dealings with Lotte, or was he unaware of the incident that occurred during the Hershey share acquisition?

Yang Cheng couldn't help but regret his lack of experience. How had he never encountered such situations in his previous life? When an ordinary person discovered they were being followed, fear would typically be their initial response.

Currently, Yang Cheng was safe. The Lehman family, no matter how audacious, wouldn't dare to harm the heir of the Yuanshan Group publicly. Until they had a genuine conflict of interests, they wouldn't resort to violence against each other's family members.

Andrew returned with a Bentley, and Yang Cheng gestured for Miranda Kerr to join him in the car. The feeling of being surveilled lingered, akin to how some famous stars remained hyper-aware of paparazzi.

During his stay in Rio, Yang Cheng would be lodging at the Fasano Hotel in Ipanema Beach, south of Rio. The comfortable and spacious Bentley glided along. While Miranda Kerr remained immersed in the enthusiasm of Rio, she hadn't noticed the unusual atmosphere within the car.

Andrew executed several rapid accelerations in an attempt to identify the vehicle tailing them. As expected, a Volkswagen SUV behind them weaved through traffic, signaling that they'd been detected. Hansen's combat instincts had kicked in, and he assumed his role as Yang Cheng's protector. If it weren't for specific reasons, he might have abandoned the car and confronted their pursuers head-on.

The individuals tailing them seemed to realize they'd been exposed and didn't bother hiding anymore. They brazenly followed the Bentley, occasionally bumping into its rear, provoking their pursuers.

"My dear, this is..." Miranda Kerr couldn't help but notice their brazen actions. She nestled into Yang Cheng's arms, a touch of fear in her eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm here," Yang Cheng reassured her, his initial anxiety giving way to annoyance due to the provocation.

"Hansen, give them a taste of their own medicine," he instructed, holding Miranda and shutting his eyes as if to calm his racing thoughts.

"You got it, boss," Hansen replied, a sly smile forming on his lips.

Andrew, meanwhile, discreetly retrieved a fresh bottle of mineral water, took a couple of sips, and handed the bottle and cap to Hansen. He grinned and said, "Right on time!"

"Don't worry; watch this," Hansen responded, firmly securing the bottle cap. He then opened the sunroof, leaned out, and shouted into the wind.

With his strong physique and combat experience, Hansen flipped off the tailing vehicle, his expression filled with disdain. "Hello, losers."

He exerted force with his right arm, launching the mineral water bottle toward the pursuing car. In action movie fashion, the bottle's trajectory might have been depicted in slow motion. The two cars had been about a meter apart, and despite the trailing car's efforts to brake, it was too late. The bottle cap struck the windshield directly in front of the driver's seat with a resounding "boom." The windshield began to splinter like a spider's web from the point of impact.

Yang Cheng, now settled back in his seat after tossing the bottle, considered this a warning shot. Should their pursuers persist, they wouldn't be met with water bottles but something far more lethal.

In this world, some individuals can't seem to take responsibility for their actions and would rather blame external circumstances. They overlook their own faults and prefer to assign blame to the world, even when it comes to the smell of excrement. It's as if they forget who's responsible for the odor in the first place.

Yang Cheng couldn't believe the situation he found himself in. He had come to Brazil for a vacation and to enjoy the World Cup, only to be surveilled from the moment he left the airport. While he knew that, for the time being, he was safe—after all, even the Lehman family wouldn't dare harm the Yuanshan Group heir in public—he couldn't help but feel frustrated by the intrusion. The proud and audacious Louis Lehman was the prime suspect, but Yang Cheng wondered about his motives. Did Louis Lehman know about his dealings with Lotte, or was this related to the Hershey share acquisition? Yang Cheng couldn't help but regret his lack of experience; why hadn't he encountered such situations in his previous life?

Miranda Kerr was now safely nestled in Yang Cheng's arms, but her initial fear had turned into curiosity. She realized she had just experienced a real-life Hollywood action sequence. The experience was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

Observing Hansen disappear into the crowd, Yang Cheng turned to Andrew and expressed concern, "Are you okay? Should I send you back to the United States in advance? I might be in trouble."

Keer hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, "No, our vacation hasn't started yet..."

Yang Cheng was surprised; this woman was still thinking about the vacation? However, her response, while sidestepping his concern, made Yang Cheng regard her in a new light.

In the past, it was common for couples to support each other in times of disaster, not to mention the purely physical relationship between him and Miranda Kerr. Even if Kerr chose to return to the United States immediately, Yang Cheng wouldn't blame her. It was only human nature; there was no emotional involvement between them. Why would he expect her to accompany him through adversity for no reason?

Considering things from Miranda Kerr's perspective, Yang Cheng understood that she might choose to escape from this complicated situation, and he found it reasonable that people wouldn't want to jeopardize their lives unnecessarily.

Yang Cheng couldn't help but feel that his feelings for Miranda Kerr had undergone a transformation. What started as a simple upgrade had turned them into good friends who could fulfill each other's physical needs—a significant qualitative leap.

"MMP, too shameless, I'm going to throw up..." Yang Cheng muttered under his breath, unable to comprehend the complexity of Miranda's thoughts. Nevertheless, he managed a comfortable smile, tightening the big hands around her shoulders. He wondered why his hands slipped under her armpits again.

Ke'er raised her head, turned her hair behind her ears, and playfully rolled her eyes. She silently patted Yang Cheng. His expressive eyes seemed to complain, "I've done so much for you, and this is how you repay me? Beasts!... Better?"

Yang Cheng acknowledged he might have gone too far. With an apologetic gesture, he redirected his hand to its original position, resting it on Kerr's smooth shoulders.

As the Bentley entered Ipanema, Yang Cheng contemplated the impressions tourists often have of Rio. Many described the city as 'extreme.' Rio, known as the "City of God," showcased both the beauty and the harsh realities of life. It served as a microcosm of God's creation, illustrating that the world comprises not just beauty but also hunger, poverty, drugs, and various evils.

The contrast became evident as the Bentley passed through Ipanema. Opposite the charming beach, halfway up Mount Corcovado, lay the world's largest slum. The view from the window included the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This striking location, however, was juxtaposed with the slums below and the affluent villa area.

The realization dawned that extreme poverty and excessive luxury were merely a step away from each other.

In a seaside mansion near the Fasano Hotel, an elderly man, Jorge Paul Lehman, co-founder of 3G Capital, the current richest man in Brazil, and the creator of a food empire, looked disheveled and disappointed. His appearance spoke volumes, and he questioned, "Louis, who made you do this?"