Power and Wealth

Inside the presential suite.

It is tense inside the suite.

Zhang Longjuan shrugged his shoulders. “They are pointing their guns at me. How can I do anything to them? I am scared to death now.”

Shen Xiaomei shouted. “Who are you?”

Shen Xiaoyan tightens her grip on her gun. “How much have you heard?”

Dong Xuebing replied calmly. “I don’t know. But I think I have heard something I am not supposed to.”

“Stop talking nonsense, you brat.” Zhang Longjuan laughed and looked at the sisters. “Put down your guns. He is my friend.”

The twins ignored her and continued pointing their guns at Dong Xuebing. “We cannot let him off even if he is your friend. This is a top-secret mission, and we cannot afford any leaks. If we cannot complete the mission, it will have severe consequences. Our lives will be in danger.”

“Xiao Dong will not leak.” Zhang Longjuan replied.

“No. We cannot take this risk.” Shen Xiaomei shook her head.

Zhang Longjuan narrowed her eyes and said slowly. “Put down your guns.”

The sisters saw that Zhang Longjuan was angry and lowered their guns slowly. But they did not keep their guns.

Zhang Longjuan’s tone softened. “Keep your guns.”

Shen Xiaomei and Shen Xiaoyan hesitated. “Ms. Zhang.”

Dong Xuebing said. “Never mind. It is fine. I should not appear like this. Sorry.”

Zhang Longjuan was doing this for the sisters. She saw Dong Xuebing’s combat skills and heard what happened at the research center. She thought he had died inside, and the State Security refused to tell her anything. However, Xu Yan told her Dong Xuebing had returned to China.

He was alone at that time and had killed a lot of people.

Dong Xuebing could enter and leave the research center without any backup.

Zhang Longjuan knew Dong Xuebing’s combat skills were way higher than most. That’s why she stopped Dong Xuebing first earlier. The sisters were famous within the State Security and were good fighters. But she knew they were not Dong Xuebing’s match. She does not want him to injure the ones protecting her.

Dong Xuebing walked over. “Sister Zhang.”

Zhang Longjuan laughed. “You are making me sound old.”

Dong Xuebing cleared his throat. “I roughly know what is happening, Sis Zhang.”

Zhang Longjuan looked at Dong Xuebing. “It must be Old Xu who told you. Did she send you?”

“No. I came without informing Sister Xu. I worried for you and came to take a look.” Dong Xuebing replied.

“Thank you. But you need to work. You should go back. This has nothing to do with you. Why did Old Xu tell you about me? You must be busy in your County.”

Dong Xuebing waved his hand. “I am not busy now. My leader gave me two months of medical leave.”

Zhong Longjuan noticed Dong Xuebing was not standing properly, and his arm was cast. “What happened? Are you injured from that time?”

“It’s not from that time.”

“Who injured you?”

“Err… it is an accident at work. I accidentally fell off a building.”

“I did not expect you to come. When did you start hiding in the bathroom?” Zhang Longjuan asked. “How come I did not notice anything?”

Dong Xuebing replied. “I entered just like that.”

Zhang Longjuan continued asking. “How did you find me? I did not tell Old Xu which room I was staying in. She only knows the hotel.”

“It is easy to get the room number if you know which hotel.”

Zhong Longjuan thought for a while. This guy can go in and out of a research center guarded by the military. This small hotel cannot stop him.

They chatted for a while.

Dong Xuebing said. “Sis Zhang, I came to bring you back. Are we going back now or tomorrow?”

Zhang Longjuan laughed and lit a cigarette. She took a puff and gave it to Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing blushed and took the cigarette. The cigarette butt was wet from her saliva.

Zhang Longjuan said slowly. “I might not be able to leave. Old Xu had said the same thing, but I have lots to do in Hong Kong.”

“The State Security’s mission?”

“Yes. That is one of the reasons.”

“About your company’s cash flow issue?”

“Haha… Why did Old Xu tell you everything?” Zhang Longjuan paused and continued. “I need to work with the State Security and cannot leave.”

Dong Xuebing asked. “But what about your safety?”

Zhang Longjuan interrupted Dong Xuebing. “I have people protecting me. Let me introduce them. They are…”

“Ms. Zhang!” Shen Xiaoyan stopped her.

Zhang Longjuan laughed. “Ah, I forgot you are not from the State Security. Anyway, they can protect me. Don’t worry, and thank you for coming to see me. I did not expect my Xiao Dong to be so concerned.”

Huh?

When did I become your Xiao Dong?

Dong Xuebing replied. “Sister Xu is worried about your safety. Listen to me and go back first.”

Zhang Longjuan shook her head.

Dong Xuebing sighed. “Fine. Since you are not going, I shall stay with you.”

Zhang Longjuan laughed and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Why are you staying here? This has nothing to do with you.”

“Your business is my business.” Dong Xuebing said. “I might not be able to do other things well, but I can be a good bodyguard.”

The twins looked terrible.

Dong Xuebing turned to the twins. “Sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you all. I am worried for Sis Zhang’s safety.”

Zhang Longjuan said. “Go back.”

“I will go if you are going with me.” Dong Xuebing is stubborn.

Zhang Longjuan looked at the twin sisters and said to Dong Xuebing. “I will get a room for you tonight, and we will talk tomorrow.”

Dong Xuebing knew Zhang Longjuan needed to discuss with the twins, and he nodded. “Ok.”

Zhang Longjuan called the front desk and booked a room on the same floor. She told Dong Xuebing the room number, and he limped out. He was injured badly and looks pathetic with the bandages and cast. The sisters were speechless when they saw his condition. You should be in a hospital and not come to Hong Kong to be a bodyguard. How will you protect others when you cannot care for yourself?

The door closed.

The three women remained in the room.

Zhang Longjuan looked at the twins and smiled. “I remembered the higher-ups told me I have the final say in this mission.”

Shen Xiaoyan said. “What are you trying to say?”

Zhang Longjuan said. “Xiao Dong is my friend. Let him follow us.”

“No! Absolutely not!” Shen Xiaoyan interrupted. “He overheard a lot. If he…”

Zhang Longjuan laughed. “Xiao Dong is trustworthy, and I guarantee it. You don’t need to ask for backup with him around.”

“What do you mean?” Shen Xiaomei asked.

“Are you saying he is a good fighter?” Shen Xiaoyan frowned. “Even if he is good at fighting, can he be better than guns? The person who sent the threatening letter should be from a gang. They can easily get guns. Even if he is a free-style fighting champion, he cannot do anything in front of someone with a gun. Moreover, he could not even walk properly. His arm is broken, and his waist has injuries. I think he also broke his ribs. He could not even walk fast. Why are you letting him stay as your bodyguard? He will burden us, and we must also protect him.”

Zhang Longjuan laughed. “He does not need you all to protect him.”

Shen Xiaoyan said. “The higher-ups let you be in charge because of your experiences and identity as a businesswoman. But we want you to consider and don’t put us at risk.”

“We are not on the mission yet. It will start two to three days later. I am settling my matters, and Xiao Dong can follow me. He also did not hear anything about our mission from the bathroom earlier.”

“But he…”

“Enough. Haha… it’s settled.”

“Ms. Zhang, something bad will happen if you decide like this.” Shen Xiaomei said.

Shen Xiaoyan looked at Zhang Longjuan. “We will protect you. We can escort you out safely if anything happens, but we are limited. We cannot protect two people at once. We cannot guarantee his safety if you insist on letting Xiao Dong stay.”

“Ok.”

“You… sigh…”

The sisters felt helpless. They had gotten a burden suddenly, and it felt uncomfortable.

Zhang Longjuan stretched and yawned. “Let’s go to bed. Haha… stop looking at me like this. My friend might be injured, and even if he had broken his legs, he would not be a burden to you all.”