Power and Wealth

Night. 8 pm.

Florida suburb. Sis Zhang’s mansion.

Dong Xuebing and Zhang Longjuan returned to the mansion. She parked the car in the garage, and they entered the mansion. He had asked her to drive him to the places around the research center and thought about how to infiltrate it.

“Sorry to trouble you, Sis Zhang.”

“Haha…. It’s fine. I got a handsome guy accompanying me today.”

“Huh? Just let me know if you need anything. I might not be of any help overseas, but I still have some influence back home.”

“Oh?”

“Err…. Yes.”

“Hahaha…. Alright. I will look for you if I go back.”

“Sure. I will wait for you.”

“Let’s exchange numbers.”

“Yes. Give me your number, and I will give you a missed call. Do you want my home number?”

“Just give it to me. I will host you when you come.”

“Kid, how come you sound like you are leaving and not here for a holiday?”

“Ah…. I don’t want to disturb you or affect your work. I will go around tomorrow by myself.”

“You don’t know this place well. Where can you go? I should bring you around.”

“No need. I have troubled you a lot these two days and don’t want to trouble you anymore.”

“Old Xu had instructed me to care for you, and I cannot leave you alone. Alright. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

“Ok.”

“Great. Let’s have a drink.”

“Ok. Let me change first.”

Dong Xuebing went upstairs and returned to his room. He closed the door and locked it because he knew Zhang Longjuan had the habit of entering his room without knocking. He walked to the bed and took a map from his bag to compare everything he saw against it. He had confirmed the research center location. He does not want to bother Zhang Longjuan because he decided to act tomorrow. He cannot return to her place no matter the success, failure, or exposure himself. He cannot implicate her in this.

Map….

Sunglasses….

Two steak knives from Sis Zhang’s kitchen.

Dong Xuebing checked and kept his equipment properly before going downstairs to drink with Sis Zhang.

Downstairs.

The doorbell rang.

Zhang Longjuan, holding a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of red wine, turned and looked towards the door. She puts down the bottles and presses a small LCD screen. It showed the footage outside of the mansion. It was a man in his thirties.

Zhang Longjuan said in English. “Hello.”

That man looked up. “Hello. Are you Ms. Zhang?”

Zhang Longjuan heard that man speaking Mandarin and replied. “Yes, it’s me. Who is it?”

“I need your help. Can I enter? It is not convenient to talk here.” That man said.

Zhang Longjuan did not say anything and opened the door. “What is it? Hurry. I have a guest at home.”

That man looked at Zhang Longjuan. He seemed unfazed by her sexy dress. “I need to confirm again. Are you Ms. Zhang Longjuan?”

Zhang Longjuan smiled. “Yes. What is it?”

“Is it convenient to talk now?” That man asked cautiously.

Zhang Longjuan looked upstairs. “Yes.”

That man took out an ID and showed it to Zhang Longjuan. “I am from the State Security and was sent here in a rush. Mr. Lu and Mr. Chen sacrificed, and I will take over their work. I have only seen your particulars, but I must confirm your identity. After all, this is our first meeting.”

Zhang Longjuan narrowed her eyes and walked slowly to the couch. She took an ID card from her bag and gave it to that man.

That man looked at the ID and extended his hand for a handshake.

At this moment, Dong Xuebing came down the stairs.

Dong Xuebing heard the doorbell upstairs and overheard someone talking to Zhang Longjuan. He thought it was her friend or business partner and thought nothing about it.

“Sis Zhang.”

“Xiao Dong, you finished changing?”

Dong Xuebing had come down to greet the guest and wanted to return to his room. He saw that man and was surprised. “Brother Yao?!”

That man is Yao Lei. They sat together on the plane to the US.

That man was also surprised. “Xiao Dong?”

Zhang Longjuan blinked. “How do you two know each other?”

That man replied. “We met on the plane. We sat together on the same row.”

Zhang Longjuan smiled. “It’s such a coincidence. Xiao Dong, this is my friend.”

Dong Xuebing walked over and shook that man’s hand. “We met again, Brother Yao.”

“That’s right.” That man seemed to be uninterested as he answered Dong Xuebing.

Zhang Longjuan said. “Xiao Dong, wait for a while upstairs. I have something to discuss with Xiao Yao.”

“Alright.” Dong Xuebing could feel something was off, but he said nothing and returned upstairs.

Coincidence?

They met on the plane and met here again?!

Yao Lei said he came to Florida for work and is unfamiliar with this place. How does he know Sis Zhang? They do not look like friends. Dong Xuebing has worked in the Public Security Bureau for a while and is sensitive to these subtle clues. He knew something was wrong.

No.

I got to check this person’s identity.

Dong Xuebing immediately used STOP.

Everything froze.

Dong Xuebing returned to the living room and looked at that man and Zhang Longjuan. They were about to walk towards a room. He entered the room and looked for a place to hide. There were no closets or places to hide except under the bed.

Dong Xuebing does not want to waste his time and quickly deactivate STOP.

Time resume.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Dong Xuebing saw their feet. A pair of red heels and a pair of leather shoes.

The door closed.

They were in the room.

“Can we talk now?” That man said.

Zhang Longjuan nodded and sat on the bed. She crossed her legs and lit a cigarette. “What do you want to say?”

“That Xiao Dong is….”

“She is my classmate’s friend and is here for a holiday.”

“Holiday? Alright.”

Dong Xuebing thought to himself. This man is too cautious.

That man continued. “Let me introduce myself. I am Yao Shun, the former contact person for this area. You can call me Old Yao or Xiao Yao. Old Lu sacrificed, and you can contact me directly. Of course, I will not stay here for long, and the higher-ups will send a new contact person to you.”

Yao Shun?

Are you not called Yao Lei?

Contact person for this area?

How come he sounds like he is from State Security?

Dong Xuebing took a deep breath. This is too shocking.

Yao Shun is from State Security and is here to meet Zhang Longjuan. This means Sis Zhang is also from State Security!

Zhang Longjuan took a puff and said. “I don’t care which contact person you all changed. The Old Lu you talked about is that skinny guy? I met him once five years ago and made myself clear. I am not from the State Security and will not join you all.”

Yao Shun smiled wearily. “You are one of us in our records.” Zhang Longjuan had joined State Security much earlier than him and is older than him. He got to be respectful toward her. “The higher-up thought highly of you, and I need a favor from you this time.”

Zhang Longjuan interrupted Yao Shun. “I had made it clear previously. I can provide funds but don’t look for me for other stuff. I don’t want to get involved.”

“Ms. Zhang.”

“Please go back.”

“This is a grade-A mission.”

Zhang Longjuan frowned and laughed. “How can there be a grade-A mission in this small place? Although she did not join State Security, she heard much about their missions.

Yao Shun replied. “Old Lu and the rest were killed in this mission. You should know about our situation here, and I had no choice but to look for you. I hope you can help us this time. Please help us for our country.” He took a deep breath and continued. “Old Lu is from the same batch as me, and I don’t want him to sacrifice in vain.”

Zhang Longjuan did not reply immediately. She threw her cigarette butt on the floor and stepped on it. “Tell me what happened first.”