Chapter 103: Extra Update

Chapter 103: Bonus Chapter

In an inconspicuous parking lot, Zhao Zhiao sat in the car, with the driver and bodyguards standing not far away.

Someone knocked on the car window, then opened the door and got in.

It was Guang Touli, the leader of the Bamboo Chapter.

Zhao Zhiao looked solemn, his gaze lowered. "How do you explain this time?"

Guang Touli was full of apologies: "I looked into it thoroughly. When the order was given, they had already detained A Xi, who had come out to buy something. If the task wasn't completed in time, the whole operation would be compromised. It would be even harder to rescue Miss Xu then. So they had no choice but to proceed."

Zhao Zhiao asked, "Who gave the order?"

Guang Touli didn't dare to hide it: "Cui Yuan."

Zhao Zhiao snorted coldly, "That's nothing but an excuse! If he really intended to follow orders, he would have found a way to solve the problem. Since we had already located the hideout where Miss Xu was being held, we had more people, they had fewer, and we were in the shadows while they were in the open. Why couldn't they find a way to stall and complete the mission?"

Guang Touli knew there were many ways to handle it, but he said, "Cui Yuan was too eager to prove himself. Recently, he has brought up several times when someone from the organization would come to connect with him and when he could join the party. I could only stall him, saying no one had arrived yet. Since Jing Ji couldn't be reached, his party membership had to be postponed. I told him I was just an enthusiastic outsider and didn't know the specifics. I even advised him to just stay with our chapter, which would be better than anything else."

Zhao Zhiao questioned, "Was he just trying to prove himself?"

Guang Touli: "Probably. How do you want to deal with him this time?"

Zhao Zhiao thought for a moment, "Criticize where necessary. Reward where deserved."

As he spoke, he took out a check, "Split this money among the brothers. You decide how to divide it. They've worked hard."

Guang Touli accepted the check, "Taking money for the job is only fair. Boss Zhao, your generosity makes everyone eager to take on this job."

After Guang Touli left, Brother Bing opened the car door and sat in the front passenger seat.

Zhao Zhiao instructed, "Have someone monitor Cui Yuan's every move."

*

In the office of Director Gao at the Hong Kong office.

Wang Liu came in to report, "Director, here are the expenses for the small cargo ship we located last time. Please take a look."

Director Gao had been in a good mood recently. Without scrutinizing it, he opened his pen and signed.

Noticing the director's good mood, Wang Liu couldn't help but smile and quietly ask, "Director, I heard that the entire Confidentiality Division was wiped out?"

Director Gao quickly hid his smile. He couldn't let his subordinates know that he was so happy because the Confidentiality Division had been wiped out.

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone's been talking about it privately. They say the Confidentiality Division kidnapped the Shipping Magnate's daughter to fulfill their mission, and the Shipping Magnate had the Green Gang wipe them all out. It was a bloodbath."

Director Gao said righteously, "Those in the Confidentiality Division didn't play by the rules. No one will seek justice for them now that they're gone."

He almost said "serves them right."

Wang Liu grinned, "So, does that mean Hong Kong is ours now?"

Director Gao glared at him, "Is this our territory? Be careful with your actions. What do you mean 'ours'? We must not adopt this mindset anymore."

Wang Liu laughed, "Yes, yes, you're right to criticize me, Director. I used the wrong words. What I meant was, didn't the higher-ups say that only one of the Confidentiality Division or the Special Operations Division could remain? Now that the Confidentiality Division has been completely wiped out, naturally, only we can stay! This is divine intervention!"

Director Gao shook his head slightly, "Do you think this is just fate?"

Wang Liu's mind raced: "Could it not be fate? Could it be man-made? Did we play a part in it?"

Director Gao was tempted to spill some inside information but ultimately held back. "Get out of here, mind your own business."

Wang Liu was about to leave with the documents when Director Gao called him back.

"Has Deng Kuan been looking for you recently?"

"Yes, several times. I mentioned it to you last time, but there's been no progress."

"What does he want from you?"

"He borrows money, then repays it. Then he borrows again and repays again. It feels like he's constantly..." Wang Liu thought about how to describe it, "...constantly testing me."

Director Gao asked worriedly, "Have you been following my instructions?"

Wang Liu lowered his voice. "Of course. Every time I meet him, I complain about everything, even the martial law in Taiwan and how the people are suffering. I just say what the Communists want to hear. I feel like he sees me differently now."

Director Gao was curious. "How differently?"

"It's the kind of look comrades give each other—a look of mutual understanding!"

Director Gao resisted the urge to roll his eyes and encouraged, "Keep it up. If you do well and successfully infiltrate the enemy, the position of captain of Special Operations Team 1 is yours!"

Wang Liu smirked. "Then I'll give it my all to make it happen!"

Director Gao loved to hear that.

He encouraged again, "You keep it up!"

*

This year's Spring Festival falls in mid-February, which is quite late.

But the Zhao family started preparing early. With new additions to the family this year, they definitely want to make it a lively celebration.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Xu and her daughter Xu Yinger came with gifts to thank Zhao Zhiao and Lin Yufan for saving their lives.

In the small tea room, Mrs. Xu said with lingering fear, "I've had nightmares for three nights straight since I got back. Each time, I'm running away with you, and Mrs. Peng is chasing us. Sometimes she has fangs and blood at the corners of her mouth—it's terrifying."

Lin Yufan slept like a log. She said, "Try some sleeping tea before bed. I've been drinking it lately, and I sleep very well."

"Really? What kind of sleeping tea?"

"The kitchen makes it, and there should still be some at home. Mrs. Xu, take some with you when you leave."

Mrs. Xu thanked repeatedly, now seeing Lin Yufan as if seeing a living Bodhisattva. "Mrs. Zhao, you saved my life. I'll depend on you from now on. If you ever want to play mahjong, just give me a call."

Lin Yufan, who never minds a mahjong partner, was amused. "Sure, if we're short on players, I'll call you."

"It's just a ten-minute drive. One call, and I'll be there."

Xu Yinger teased with a smile, "Mom, you should do something practical. What good is just saying thank you?"

Mrs. Xu replied, "What can I do? Money? We're not as wealthy as Mrs. Zhao. Talent? Even less so. All I can do is be a mahjong partner."

Just at the right moment, Lin Yufan laughed without reservation. "To be honest, there's something your family has that I really want."

Mrs. Xu immediately said, "What is it? If I can give it, I'll hand it over gladly."

"Don't you own 3.2% of Muir Media's shares? I'd like to buy them."

Mrs. Xu was slightly startled: "Just this?"

"Just this."

Mrs. Xu generously said, "No need to buy, I'll just give it to you! Those shares in Muir Media aren't worth a whole lot."

Lin Yufan shook her head: "No, even brothers should keep their accounts straight. If you're willing to part with them, I'll buy them from you with real money."

Mrs. Xu gently patted Lin Yufan's hand: "Didn't Old Mr. Muir ask my husband to buy back the shares to consolidate his stake, but my husband refused?"

"Why?"

"Just to spite him! We've been shareholders for so many years and haven't received a single penny in dividends. That British guy is really tight-fisted! So my husband made up an excuse not to sell to him, just to thwart his plans." Mrs. Xu then asked curiously, "Why do you want to buy these shares?"

Lin Yufan: "When the time is ripe, I'll tell you."

Mrs. Xu nodded: "Alright, remember to tell me. I'll talk to my husband about transferring the shares."

Lin Yufan made sure to agree that the transaction would be at market price.

Xu Yinger teased: "Mom, you came to thank Mrs. Zhao and ended up making a deal. And even made a profit from Mrs. Zhao."

Mrs. Xu couldn't help but laugh: "Mrs. Zhao wants to put money in my pocket; I can't refuse."

Everyone laughed.

After that, Mrs. Xu stayed to play cards, while Xu Yinger went upstairs to chat with Zhao Lixiang.

At noon, Zhao Zhiao and Lin Yufan were in the living room playing with the baby who had just woken up.

Zhao Zhiao sat beside the baby, using a small bell to attract the child's attention, making the baby giggle.

"Little silly, who do you think your chubby cheeks take after?"

Lin Yufan, mimicking a child's voice, answered for the baby: "They take after Daddy, the big silly."

Zhao Zhiao admired his child's round, rosy cheeks. "How did we end up with such a good-looking little one? Oh, it's because he looks like Daddy. But on closer inspection, his eyes resemble yours."

Lin Yufan smiled slightly with pride: "Xi Gu also said the upper part of his eyes looks like mine when I was a baby, that's why he's so handsome."

After playing with the baby for a bit, Ms. Guan came in with some news, so Lin Yufan had the nanny take the baby back to the room.

Ms. Guan whispered: "There's some news about Thorn."

Zhao Zhiao, seeing Ms. Guan's mysterious demeanor, thought something bad had happened, "Don't worry, it's not bad news."

Ms. Guan smiled: "It's not bad news. He turned back halfway and has been back in Hong Kong for some time."

Zhao Zhiao was slightly surprised: "Why did he come back?"

Ms. Guan: "The journey back wasn't smooth; he had some minor conflicts with certain people in the organization. Plus, he said there are some things he just can't figure out, so he had to come back to clarify."

Zhao Zhiao asked puzzledly: "He can come back, but why did he only contact us now?"

"He said he wanted to sort some things out before reaching out to us."

"Has he sorted them out now?"

"He didn't say; he just hurriedly hung up, saying he'd call again in a couple of days."

Zhao Zhiiao had the longest history of cooperation with Jing Ji, and he trusted him the most: "Let's wait for him to reach out first. This thing... we haven't even figured it out ourselves, so I think there's no need to report it to the organization for now. What do you think?"

Ms. Guan nodded: "I feel the same way."

*

The night market in the eastern district of Harbor City was bustling with customers due to its wide variety of affordable food.

Wang Liu held a sticky rice cake wrapped in brown paper, walking around and eating with Xiao Wu.

They walked to a slightly less crowded street food stall, sat down, and ordered a plate of dry-fried beef ho fun, a plate of stir-fried intestines, and a plate of vinegar-soaked beef tripe. Then Xiao Wu went to grab some drinks while Wang Liu sat with his legs crossed, waiting patiently.

Next to them, a stall was selling sugarcane sticks, so Wang Liu got up to buy one.

When buying the sugarcane, he noticed Cui Yuan eating at the next stall.

Just as he was about to say hi, he saw another person sit down next to Cui Yuan.

When he looked closer, it was Uncle Tan?!

Uncle Tan seemed to be sharing the table with him, and he and Cui Yuan exchanged glances but didn't speak.

Then Uncle Tan called the server to order a plate of sticky rice.

Cui Yuan and Uncle Tan had been in the same department for so long that even if they didn't know each other's names, they should at least recognize each other. Why did it seem like they didn't know each other at all, not even saying hello?

It looked really odd.

Just then, Xiao Wu came back with the drinks, and Wang Liu hurried back with the sugarcane. But he kept sneaking glances at the next stall, but the sugarcane vendor blocked his view, so he couldn't see if Cui Yuan and Uncle Tan had spoken.

Later, Wang Liu and Xiao Wu started drinking together, and the more they drank, the more fired up they got. Before long, Cui Yuan noticed them and walked over with his food.

Wang Liu feigned surprise: "Bro, what a coincidence!"

"Why did you come all the way here?"

"Xiao Wu said the beef tripe here is delicious, so we came to try it. What about you? Are you alone?"

Cui Yuan sat down: "Yeah, just me, all by myself."

Xiao Wu quickly went to ask the waiter for an extra set of bowls and chopsticks, while Wang Liu immediately noticed the gold watch on Cui Yuan's wrist.

His eyes sparkled: "Bro, that gold watch must be worth a fortune?!"

Cui Yuan didn't seem to care: "Just bought it new."

"Made a lot of money again?"

"Made a little."

"What else can I say except envy?"

Cui Yuan laughed: "I'll cover this table, okay?"

"Thank you, bro! Come on, let's drink!"

Not far away, Deng Kuan watched them drinking from a corner. He placed an unlit cigarette on his ear and turned to leave.