166 A Spy

"Can you both stop fighting over the money? Mr. Ying wants the transport arranged right now. So let's get that done first," Jia Li intervened.

"Eric, I want you to find everything that there is about a woman called Lin Jia Li from Shanghai. I am going to try and click a picture of hers and send to you as soon as I can. Will also attempt to access her phone and if I get lucky, her passport as well. I will share everything with you the minute I lay my hands on it," Hui spoke in the phone.

"Whatttt? You are finally interested in a woman? Yoohoo…" he said excitedly.

"Interested??? Can you stop being so dense? I think she maybe a spy sent with nefarious motives to me," Hui replied in his usual acerbic manner.

"A spy? Why? I don't understand. Why would someone want to spy on you?" Eric asked in confusion.

Hui explained his theory to Eric about the Chinese corporates setting a honey trap for him.

"That's why I have decided to keep her close till we find out more about her employer," he said.

"Uh…I don't mean to challenge your theory, but I think you may be reading too much into this. Coincidences do exist, you know," Eric tried to explain.

"Not in my dictionary. And if it is a coincidence, so be it. There is nothing wrong in hiring an extra personnel for a week, right? In the meanwhile, get your resources to find out every detail about her," he disconnected the call.

Shanghai

"What are you doing here?" Wei asked Tang in surprise.

Wei had moved in to a new apartment the day after the conversation with his parents. The packers had just delivered the last box to his new condo and he was about to shut the door when he saw Tang there.

Tang looked dishevelled. His eyes were blood shot and clothes rumpled. Wei came out of the door and saw another man standing with him.

"You seem to be present, every time I take a turn round a corner. I am here to take a look at a potential place to live temporarily. But seems like you beat me to it, already," Tang replied, with a slight slur.

"Are you drunk?" Wei asked in surprise.

It was still early afternoon and Wei couldn't recall the last time he had seen Tang not sober in the night, forget broad daylight.

"Who are you? My mom?" Tang snapped back.

Wei raised his hands in surrender and was about to shut the door when he heard Tang say, "I lost her," in a low voice.

The property agent sensed the environment turning intense and excused himself after murmuring about meeting another client.

Wei opened his door wide and gestured Tang to come in.

Swaying slightly with the copious amount of alcohol in his body, Tang stepped in his house. There was something pleasing and welcoming about the whole place but he couldn't put his finger onthe exact reason for it.

Wei had gone inside what seemed to be the kitchen and was back quickly with a cup of black coffee which he offered to the inebriated man.

Tang accepted it gratefully and took a sip. He grimaced as the caffeine hit him hard.

"That's some strong brew," he commented.

"It looked like that you needed it," Wei replied wryly.

"So you want to talk about it? The elephant in the room, or rather the green eyed cat?" Wei spoke deliberately in a light tone.

"How can you joke about it and manage to look so calm? It's almost as if nothing big has happened in your life. Or maybe Jia Li's presence or absence doesn't matter to you despite your earlier claims," Tang spoke with challenge in his voice.

Wei smiled and said, "and why do I have to prove my affection and its intensity for Jia Li to you or anyone else? I don't recall owing you any explanation. I invited you in because it looked like that you needed help. If that is not the case, then you are welcome to leave anytime. A confrontation is not what I am looking for, right now."

He expected Tang to walk out on a huff when he said that but much to his consternation, Tang went and flopped himself down on one of the ottoman chairs placed in the living area.

"Do you plan to keep on standing?" Tang asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"I can't understand you? What is this that you are trying to do? A delayed teenage rebellion? Will you start doing drugs next? And who are you doing this for, unless you believe that Jia Li has a fondness for drunkards? " Wei said to him, referring to his alcoholic state.

Tang was quiet for a minute. The room was silent. Wei's intention was not to hurt him but try and help him put his behaviour into perspective.