CH 49

England.

Zhen Zhen opened all the curtains to let sunlight in. She was still shivering from her encounter with Shu Tang Jue. She sensed Shu Tang Jue did care about Nan Ma, but she didn’t feel good about keeping the truth from Nan Ma.

Yue Gu Zai walked into the bedroom, and he saw Zhen Zhen sitting curled up on the bed. He sat next to her and he hugged her.

‘Zhen Zhen, what happened?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.

Zhen Zhen felt safe in Yue Gu Zai’s arms, and she let herself cry.

‘Zhen Zhen, I don’t care what happened,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘I’ll always be by your side.’

‘Gu Zai, I saw Shu Tang Jue again,’ Zhen Zhen said.

Yue Gu Zai checked Zhen Zhen’s body for any injuries, he was relieved she wasn’t injured.

‘Gu Zai, I’m not injured,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘What happened?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.

‘I went to visit Nan Ma, he’s living with her,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘He threatened me not to tell Nan Ma about his identity. Gu Zai, do you think he wants to hurt her? What should I do?’

‘How long have they been living together?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.

‘I don’t know how long but they looked like they’ve been living together for a long time,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Zhen Zhen, I don’t think he wants to hurt Nan Ma,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘If he wanted to hurt her, he wouldn’t be living with her for a long period.’

‘You’re right,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Don’t cry,’ Yue Gu Zai said. He wiped Zhen Zhen’s tears. ‘I’ll take you out.’

‘Gu Zai, don’t you have to work today?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

‘I’ve cancelled my work schedule for the day,’ Yue Gu Zai said.

Zhen Zhen knew Yue Gu Zai put his work aside because he was worried about her, and he wanted to comfort her. But she didn’t know why she felt happy. What if Nan Ma was right about her being in love with Yue Gu Zai?

‘Zhen Zhen, why is your face red?’ Yue Gu Zai asked. ‘Do you have a fever?’

‘No,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘OK,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Where do you want to go?’

‘I want to go on a Safari,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘It’s too last minute for us to go to Africa,’ Yue Gu Zai said.

‘Mmm… then I want you to teach me how to shoot,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Why do you want to learn to shoot?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.

‘Because I want to protect myself in an emergency,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘OK,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘I’ll take you to practice shooting.’

Yue Gu Zai took Zhen Zhen to Ni Sheng’s headquarters in a secret location.

Yue Gu Zai held Zhen Zhen’s hand, and he gave her a tour of Ni Sheng’s headquarters. If someone saw Yue Gu Zai, they would greet him.

‘Boss,’ Zhong Shen greeted.

‘Zhen Zhen, this is Zhong Shen,’ Yue Gu Zai introduced. ‘He’s in charge of the shooting range.’

Huyen Di saw Yue Gu Zai and Zhen Zhen in the shooting range, and he ran outside to greet Yue Gu Zai.

‘Boss,’ Huyen Di greeted.

‘Gu Zai, if you have something urgent to attend to, go ahead,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Zhong Shen can teach me how to shoot.’

‘Um,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Be careful. I’ll come back here after I’m done.’

‘Miss Zhen Zhen, follow me,’ Zhong Shen said. ‘I’ll show you where beginners learn to shoot.’

Zhong Shen gave Zhen Zhen a shooting demonstration. She was impressed all his bullet hit the target.

‘Zhong Shen, you must be Ni Sheng’s best shooter,’ Zhen Zhen said.

Zhong Shen blushed.

‘Since boss turned sixteen, he surpassed me,’ Zhong Shen said. ‘Boss is Ni Sheng’s best shooter.’

‘Really?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

‘Yes,’ Zhong Shen said. He passed Zhen Zhen the gun. ‘Miss Zhen Zhen, practice holding the gun first.’

Zhen Zhen held the gun, it was heavier than she expected. When she saw Yue Gu Zai’s gang members hold guns, they looked like they were holding feathers.

‘Miss Zhen Zhen, this gun doesn’t suit you,’ Zhong Shen said. ‘If boss permits, I’ll make you a lighter gun.’

Zhong Shen was a good teacher. After Zhen Zhen practiced shooting a couple of times, she could hit the target.

‘You’re a good student,’ Zhong Shen praised. ‘You hit the target on your first day.’

‘Zhen Zhen, I’m back,’ Yue Gu Zai said.

‘Boss, your wife is a natural shooter,’ Zhong Shen said.

With Yue Gu Zai’s guidance, Zhen Zhen shooting skills improved rapidly. Even Yue Gu Zai was surprised at her natural shooting skills.

In the evening, Yue Gu Zai gathered Huyen Di, Bai Yu Tian, Chu Gian and Cheng Yi to his home.

‘William Hill is in trouble,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘I want everyone to pack. We’re flying to England.’

‘What happened to William Hill?’ Chu Gian asked.

‘I received news his elders are playing dirty,’ Huyen Di said.

‘Why would they want to harm the Hill Household’s heir?’ Cheng Yi asked.

‘William Hill refused to marry the woman that his elders want him to marry,’ Yue Gu Zai said.

‘They get to live off him yet they want to decide who he marries,’ Cheng Yi said.

‘He is still their heir,’ Bai Yu Tian said. ‘Would they actually kill him?’

‘William Homan has a connection to the Hill Household,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘He has a son, William Reynold. William Homan is one of the people who wants William Hill to marry Helen.’

‘William Homan is a greedy old man,’ Chu Gian said. ‘He wants to control William Hill through marriage.’

‘Boss, Tina asked Da Tu Li and the Tan Lang gang to protect her,’ Bai Yu Tian reported.

‘Tina should be scared for her life after daring to kidnap my wife,’ Yue Gu Zai said.

‘Miss Zhen Zhen, come out,’ Bai Yu Tian said. ‘How long did you intend to hide there?’

Zhen Zhen came out from behind a book shelf.

‘I didn’t want to eavesdrop on anyone,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘I was here first to get a book to read. I didn’t expect everyone to show up in Gu Zai’s study room.’

‘It appears it’s our fault that Miss Zhen Zhen was forced to eavesdrop,’ Chu Gian said.

‘Gu Zai, are you and everyone going to England?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

‘Zhen Zhen, this time you’re staying home with our son,’ Yue Gu Zai said.

‘Gu Zai, let me come with you,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘I’m worried about William Hill too.’

‘No,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘This time it’s too dangerous.’

‘Gu Zai, it was dangerous last time too,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘This time is different. I know how to shoot, and I can protect myself.’

Zhen Zhen hugged Yue Gu Zai’s and she rubbed her face on his neck. Everyone else quietly left to give them privacy.

Outside the study room, everyone placed bets on whether Yue Gu Zai would let Zhen Zhen go to England with them.

‘I bet one thousand dollars, boss won’t let Zhen Zhen come with us to England,’ Cheng Yi said.

‘Make it a return plane ticket to Hawaii and paid accommodation at a luxury resort,’ Huyen Di said. ‘I bet boss will let Zhen Zhen come with us.’

‘Deal,’ Cheng Yi said.

Chu Gian and Bai Yu Tian patted the Cheng Yi’s pitiful shoulders.

‘You’re pitiful child,’ Chu Gian said.

‘What do you mean I’m pitiful?’ Cheng Yi asked. ‘I’m not going to lose.’

***

End of Chapter Forty-Nine