....
The weather was relatively nice despite the storm raging in the country's economy and security.
A haggard Linfeng arrived at IHZHI main office wearily.
Hearing a sound, Xiong Zhi looked up distractedly from the paperwork. She stood up when she saw Linfeng.
"When did you come?" she asked, stunned.
Linfeng smiled tiredly. "Just now."
He used their private jet to fly from the Middle East to here the moment Ming Zhi Yi and Ifel Abromich's organizations were purged. The thorough cleaning would be done by Sir Majid alone.
Xiong Zhi just heard the news from him. She urged him to sit on the couch while she prepared warm tea and the snacks ready in her bar.
"Here, drink some to moisten your throat."
Linfeng obediently drank the warm tea. Then he sighed as he settled on the couch.
Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Xiong Zhi's heart was pained. She stood behind Linfeng and massaged his shoulders.
"It's all good that it ends now. You worked hard."
Linfeng caught her hands and chuckled.
"If this massage is a reward, then you don't need to do it. Honestly, I did not do well. Ifel Abromich still managed to escape. He brought some of his men alone."
Xiong Zhi sat down beside the exhausted man. She patted his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Linfeng. Isn't that within our calculations? Gu Zhen will find him. Besides, Ifel Abromich will definitely be unable to retaliate soon. It will take him a long time to recover. He also will not dare to appear before Ming Zhi Yi, considering what he had done."
Linfeng leaned on Xiong Zhi's shoulder. In fact, he was used to this kind of sleepless night. When he had worked abroad for more than two years, he pushed himself to the limit and bȧrėly slept.
However, being spoiled by Xiong Zhi was nice too.
"I need a cuddle. I miss you so much." Linfeng sniffed her neck.
Xiong Zhi smiled. She moved aside then patted her ŀȧp.
"Then, as a reward… Here, rest first. Let me pamper you thoroughly."
Linfeng immediately grinned and laid down. He closed his eyes while enjoying the feel of the soft fingers pressing down on his temples.
Anticipating, he waited for more.
But after a few minutes, the woman still continued to massage his head.
He opened his eyes and looked at the beautiful face above him. He played with a lock of hair dangling over his eyes. "Surely, this is not my only reward?"
Xiong Zhi chuckled.
Without warning, she bent down and kissed Linfeng's lips.
Immediately, Linfeng held the back of her head. He kissed her passionately.
"Mmf. Haa." Xiong Zhi pushed for breath.
After two short breaths, Linfeng sat up, pressed Xiong Zhi against the backrest, and reclaimed the soft ruddy lips that shone with moisture invitingly. He suċkėd and licked, hungry for more.
They kissed for a long time, ignoring the world around them.
"Gaak!"
There was a short, repressed sound that broke the pink atmosphere in the air.
Xiong Zhi and Linfeng immediately separated and looked sideways to the door.
There, Fang Dien was hastily picking up the documents that fell on the ground.
Xiong Zhi: "...Why did you not knock?"
Her tone was cold, obviously dissatisfied at being interrupted.
Linfeng's eyes were also glaring, although his lips were smiling.
Fang Dien trembled and almost yelled at his boss.
'Why is it my fault?! I've been knocking for ages and never got an answer! Here I was, worrying whether you fainted due to overwork, but you were actually just making out with your boyfriend! Get a room, you lovebirds!'
Fortunately, he controlled himself in time.
Calm down, Fang Dien. That's your chairwoman, your boss, your ATM machine, your god of wealth.
"Oh my, sorry," he said in an obviously fake apology. His face was blank. "I knocked and didn't get an answer. I thought something happened. Here, I'll put these down. These need your signature by the end of the day. Please do not mind me and continue with your business. Farewell."
The door immediately closed.
Outside, Fang Dien glared at the door before walking away while mumbling to himself.
"Seriously, here we are, busy to our necks, but you two are busy with something else. Why would you do those in the office? A fetish or something?"
"What fetish? What are they doing?"
"What else can a couple do in an empty office but make out? They should really get a room--" Fang Dien immediately stopped and looked around.
Xiao Mei was standing behind him with wide eyes.
Fang Dien: Fuck. What did I just say?
"..."
"..."
Fang Dien suddenly spoke. "I need to get to my room, I mean my office, fast. I still have so many documents to work on, you see..."
"Oh."
"Well then, I'll go first."
Xiao Mei looked at his disappearing back. She blinked her eyes.
Was he shy that she found him muttering about their boss's personal life?
Unexpectedly, Fang Dien could be noisy at times.
Xiao Mei covered her mouth and chuckled.
'It's not like it's my first time finding it out though.'
....
*******
Back inside the office, the couple who still continued to do whatever they wanted despite the intermission finally separated.
They panted as they laid side by side, their clothing in a mess.
Linfeng kissed Xiong Zhi's head as he spoke in a low voice. "Lu Jin came back to the country to handle the LJ Club. What is the situation now?"
Xiong Zhi looked out of the floor-to-ceiling window. "We are on the move. But if I do this, Ming Zhi Yi will start to doubt and look for us. At that time, I am afraid that he will first suspect Lu Jin."
Linfeng understood her worries. He sat up properly and held her hand. "It is now the time, right?"
"Un." Xiong Zhi's eyes flashed as she spoke out cold words. "But Lu Jin might die."
The couple was silent.
Linfeng stroked Xiong Zhi's hand. "He knows it. That we are coming. He should know how to save himself."
Although Linfeng said that, he could not help but remember the last meeting they had with Lu Jin over two months ago.
....
After Lu Jin handed them the list, Xiong Zhi and Linfeng were still unable to recover from the euphoria in getting the priceless support that Lu Jin gave.
Soon, Linfeng looked up at the man. His eyes were sharp.
"You give this to us knowing that it will condemn Ming Zhi Yi, your own father," he drawled. "With Ming Zhi Yi's cautious nature, he will suspect that there is a high ranking spy around him. You are the first person he will suspect. Do you think that you will be safe from his rage?"
Lu Jin stared directly at Linfeng's eyes. "Mr. Zhou Linfeng, are you perhaps worried about me?"
Xiong Zhi looked up at Lu Jin, too.
The truth was, she also had the same question as Linfeng.
Once everything was put in place and Ming Zhi Yi was cornered to a dead end, Lu Jin was the first one who would be suspected.
Linfeng did not answer Lu Jin. He merely continued to stare at him.
Since this person risked everything and gave this incredibly crucial information to them, they could not help but feel responsible for Lu Jin's safety.
Lu Jin seemed to see that from their eyes. He lowered his gaze.
"You two should not concern yourself with my safety. The matter of my survival is something I prefer to handle alone. "
The couple remained silent.
Lu Jin looked at them again. This time, his eyes held emotions that were hard to read.
"Just remember this. No matter what, do not stop. The only payment you can give to me is to end everything."
....
Linfeng's eyes lowered at the memory.
'To end everything.'
Lu Jin gave them the answer through those words.
Xiong Zhi also remembered that conversation with Lu Jin.
Right. In the end, they would still have to do this. She spoke in a determined voice.. "Now that we cut off Ming Zhi Yi's greatest support, it is time to push him around the corner."