EIP 88

The car was filled with a long silence. The bouquet of flowers never reached the gravestone but instead scattered across the bodies of those standing in front of Governor Yong. Not a single petal landed on him. Mr. Shi, furious, ordered someone to drag Zhou Jun away before stepping forward to handle the aftermath. Thankfully, Governor Yong was willing to save him some face. After a brief exchange and a handshake, he forgave Zhou Jun’s rudeness out of respect for Mr. Shi.

Xin Wanjun, that foolish woman, clung to Zhou Jun on the way back, her eyes full of pity and an aura of maternal care. She was practically one step away from cradling him and soothing him with a gentle “Don’t worry.” Mr. Shi had a pounding headache and couldn’t be bothered with them. Zhou Jun rested his forehead against the cold window, the vibration of the car seeping through his skin and deep into his bones.

His chaotic thoughts slowly began to clear. All the mental preparation he’d done over the past few days had collapsed entirely. For the first time, he saw his situation with sharp clarity. Whether Yong Jin was dead or not, there was nothing he could do. Throwing a childish tantrum at Governor Yong was the best he could manage. If Mr. Shi hadn’t been by his side today, he would’ve been dead the moment he threw those flowers.

Xin Wanjun watched Zhou Jun worriedly. Even after he straightened up and turned to apologize to Mr. Shi, her concern lingered. Mr. Shi’s response was cold, ignoring Zhou Jun’s words entirely. He sat with his chin resting on his hand, indifferent and detached. After expressing his gratitude, Zhou Jun didn’t forget to thank Xin Wanjun as well. When he called her name, his already hoarse voice carried an added layer of emotion, brushing softly against the ear.

At least, that’s how it sounded to Mr. Shi, leaving him somewhat uncomfortable. But Zhou Jun’s gratitude was sincere. He promised Xin Wanjun that if she ever needed his help, he would repay her even at the cost of his life. Xin Wanjun quickly shook her head. “You saved my life that day. That’s something I could never forget.”

Hearing this, Mr. Shi frowned. From what he remembered, he was the one who saved the two of them. When had it turned into them saving each other?

Then he thought of how Xin Wanjun had lied about the father of her unborn child being Zhou Jun. His mood darkened further. Still, he knew how to solve problems efficiently. He was a sharp man who preferred decisive action. Turning to Zhou Jun, he said, “I suspect he’s not dead.”

Zhou Jun immediately tensed and leaned toward him. “What do you mean?”

Seeing his urgency, Mr. Shi smiled faintly. “If I give you this information, what can you offer me in return?”

Zhou Jun froze. He had nothing. What could he possibly give? He didn’t even know what Mr. Shi might want.

Without wasting time, Mr. Shi got straight to the point. “I need to import a batch of goods from Germany. I know you have the connections, and I need your help.”

Zhou Jun hesitated. He had worked so hard to leave the arms trade behind. Now, being dragged back into it, especially with someone like Mr. Shi, felt dangerous no matter how he looked at it.

But this was about Yong Jin. He couldn’t afford to hesitate. Reluctantly, he agreed. Still, he insisted on verifying the truth of the information. Otherwise, the deal would be unfair.

Mr. Shi propped his chin on the back of his hand, clearly pleased when Zhou Jun agreed. He nodded with a faint smile. “My people said the body was unrecognizable. And…” Zhou Jun’s back stiffened. He knew the next words could be critical evidence. But before Mr. Shi could finish, he stopped abruptly. “Give me a name and the trade location.”

Zhou Jun gritted his teeth. Truly a businessman, never taking a loss. “I’ve been out of the loop for years. Those contacts might no longer be useful,” he said.

Mr. Shi remained composed. “Whether they’re useful or not, I’ll confirm it myself. But if you dare lie to me…” His eyes narrowed, the menace in his tone making Zhou Jun’s pupils shrink. It felt as if he were being watched by a predator, every hair on his body standing on end.

Watching the tension between the two men, Xin Wanjun grew uneasy. When she was nervous, she had the urge to eat. Her trembling hands dug out a small pack of dried plums from her purse, and the crisp sound of her biting into one broke the silence. Mr. Shi glanced at her, a hint of exasperation in his eyes. Still, the sound seemed to soften his sharp aura, giving Zhou Jun a moment to breathe.

Zhou Jun asked for pen and paper, scribbled down a name and location, and handed it to Mr. Shi. Without even glancing at it, Mr. Shi passed it to his assistant in the front seat. Then he added, “I heard the relic used to confirm the body’s identity was added later. If he were truly dead, there wouldn’t have been such unnecessary effort.”

Zhou Jun’s heartbeat quickened, his body growing warm. The information was like a shot of adrenaline, bringing him back to life. His palms were damp with sweat as he finally managed to ask, “Can you be sure this information is real?”

Mr. Shi scoffed, refusing to dignify the question with an answer. Instead, he said, “I have more information, but it depends on how well you cooperate.”

Zhou Jun calmed himself, took a moment to think, then replied, “Looking forward to working with you.”

Mr. Shi nodded and instructed the driver to stop the car. Xin Wanjun let out a surprised “Huh?” as Zhou Jun was unceremoniously dropped off halfway. She stuck her head out the window, her voice anxious. “Mr. Zhou, why are you getting off here?”

Zhou Jun gave her a reassuring smile. “I can manage on my own. Thank you for today.”

Before he could finish speaking, the car sped off, leaving him standing in a cloud of exhaust. As he watched the car disappear, Zhou Jun thought to himself that Mr. Shi might care more about Xin Wanjun than he let on. He just hoped it wasn’t out of possessiveness, but genuine affection for that silly girl.

Inside the car, Xin Wanjun was feeling nervous being alone with Mr. Shi. He wasn’t much of a talker. After kicking Zhou Jun out, he leaned back and closed his eyes, as if resting. Xin Wanjun fidgeted, recalling how Zhou Jun had formally thanked him and sealed their agreement. It reminded her of her own unresolved debt. She hesitated, then carefully spoke up. “Mr. Shi, have you thought about how I should repay you?”

Mr. Shi opened his eyes lazily, his gaze settling on her stomach for an uncomfortably long moment. Xin Wanjun felt so uneasy that she wanted to curl up and hide. Finally, he asked, “Are they good?”

Xin Wanjun froze for a moment, her mouth slightly open. Then she looked down and saw her purse resting on her lap, which happened to be over her stomach. She realized she had overthought it. Trying to lighten the mood, she nodded eagerly and took out a round, plump dried plum from her purse, holding it out to him. Her palm was slightly pink, making the plum look surprisingly adorable resting in her hand. She offered it to Mr. Shi, but he made no move to take it.

The two remained in a standoff for a while before Xin Wanjun caught on. Embarrassed but determined, she brought the plum to his lips, feeding it to him directly. However, as soon as he bit down, his expression soured. He frowned deeply and swallowed the fruit with visible discomfort. “Too sour,” he muttered.

Xin Wanjun chuckled. “Ever since I got pregnant, my taste has changed. They say if you crave sour food, it’s a boy, and if you like spicy food, it’s a girl.”

She had barely finished gloating before realizing she shouldn’t have said such things to the man in front of her. Her smile immediately disappeared, and she straightened up, sitting rigidly. The half-eaten plum in her hand was quickly stuffed into her own mouth. Her cheeks puffed out as she turned to look out the window, avoiding his gaze entirely.

What she didn’t see was the conflicted and complicated look Mr. Shi gave her. After a long moment, he let out a sigh that sounded more like a headache setting in, then closed his eyes again.