THEIR WORTH...

"I've told you, Min. If Fen is your solution, your problems are as good as gone. No matter how much you need, she'll give it to you and even guide you on how to make real money and enjoy it."

These were Zo Ling's words as she sat with Min in Fen's living room, shortly after Fen had stepped out.

Min glanced around the room, admiring its elegance and sophistication, nodding as Zo Ling finished explaining her plan. Min had confided in her about her desperate need for money, regardless of the method, and Zo Ling had eagerly recommended Fen. She spoke about how Fen had set her up for success, connecting her with influential people.

Initially, Min had imagined Fen's home to resemble the flashy, questionable settings she'd seen in movies. No matter how much Zo Ling assured her otherwise, saying Fen didn't house just anyone and conducted her business professionally, Min couldn't shake her skepticism. But now, sitting in Fen's home, she saw a normal, tasteful residence, with nothing questionable in sight. Fen ran legitimate, licensed businesses, and there was nothing suspicious about her activities.

Her doubts had started to fade even before they arrived, especially when Zhan confirmed it was Fen's house. Zhan had mentioned that Aunty Rui had once sent him there to pick up a package, and Fen had even gifted him that wrist chain.

Fen recognized Zhan immediately when they walked in, greeting him by name. Still, Min felt uneasy about sharing her intentions in front of Zhan. Her gut told her Zhan wouldn't support her, so she asked him to wait outside, just as they'd done earlier when they left him alone in Zo Ling's living room.

By the time Zo Ling finished explaining Min's situation to Fen, emphasizing that Min was her friend and needed help, Fen welcomed her warmly. "Anyone Zo Ling brings to me is family," Fen said before asking them to wait while she stepped out.

"You weren't kidding, Zo Ling. This woman is loaded," Min remarked, taking in the luxurious decor. "She doesn't even look her age!"

Zo Ling laughed. "Of course! Look at how she lives. I told you, just relax. Your problems are over. The only reason you've struggled this long is because you were stuck chasing Chang. That guy's nothing but a distraction."

Min chuckled. "You're terrible, Zo Ling. But don't start insulting Chang. I still have feelings for him."

Zo Ling scoffed. "You'll see soon enough," she said, cutting herself off when Fen reentered the room, holding a bundle of cash that immediately made Min's heart leap.

Fen sat down and handed the money to Min. "Here you go, Min. This is 100,000 yuan. Use it to buy clothes and fix yourself up. Once that's done, we'll talk business."

Min's hands trembled as she got off the couch and took the money. "Thank you so much, Ma'am. I truly appreciate this."

Fen smiled. "It's no big deal; this is business. And call me Fen, just like everyone else."

Min nodded fervently. "Of course."

Her voice brimmed with gratitude and submission. She already knew she would do whatever Fen asked. She couldn't believe she was holding 100,000 yuan. If someone had added up every cent she'd spent in her entire life, it wouldn't have reached this amount.

Zo Ling laughed, watching Min's overwhelmed reaction.

"By the way, Min," Fen said, her tone casual but firm. "I have a favor to ask. Could your younger brother help me out with household chores while my helper is away?"

Min didn't hesitate. She nodded eagerly, feeling like Fen had just offered her another lifeline. It was the perfect way to avoid Zhan's questions, even though she knew he wouldn't interrogate her too much. She had told him they were job-hunting, and that was enough for him.

"Oh, of course, he'll come! We're done with our high school, so he's free. I'm sure Zhan will agree immediately."

Fen smiled, her mind already envisioning her plans falling into place. When Zhan was informed about the arrangement, he was genuinely pleased, especially when he heard Fen would pay him. He saw it as a great way to contribute to the family's finances. It turned out Min had been truthful about looking for work, even if it wasn't in the way Zhan had imagined.

Since that day when Fen first met him, Zhan's heart instinctively held Fen in high regard. Without realizing it, Zhan placed Fen among the rare few people he respected deeply in his life.

What Zhan didn't know, however, was that everything happens for a reason. What seemed like a mere task at the time was a fateful beginning to a journey filled with unexpected events.

:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

"Guangzhou? You're heading there today already, you're sick Yibo I hope you know that?" Peng asked, his voice tinged with surprise as he held the phone to his ear.

Sitting in the airport lounge, waiting for his flight announcement, Yibo leaned back in his chair, rubbing his nose before closing his eyes. "It's just a minor injury, Peng. I'm fine. All the fuss at the hospital was unnecessary."

Peng nodded, as though Yibo could see him. "Still, what's the rush? Why not wait until tomorrow? I know for a fact it's not Dad's orders since I've heard he's home today."

"Yeah, I spoke to him earlier. This is something personal I need to handle. I won't be gone long."

The mention of "personal" stopped Peng from pressing further, though his curiosity lingered. He nodded again. "Alright, but I wish we could've met before you left. I thought about heading to the hospital to see you today."

Yibo chuckled lightly. "Don't worry about it. Like I said, I won't be gone long. I called to ask you for a favor—please visit Aunty today. She's worried about you."

Peng ran a hand through his hair, guilt creeping in. "I'll go, I promise. Yesterday was just... complicated." He trailed off, knowing he had no valid excuse.

"You'll feel better once you do it. Trust me, Peng. Show her you care."

Peng stayed silent, unable to counter Yibo's words. Despite being an outsider to their family, Yibo had taken on a role far beyond that of Dad's personal assistant. In just over a year, he had become a brother figure, striving to fix the fractures within their family.

"Safe travels, Yibo. Take care," Peng finally said before they ended the call.

"Wait, is that Yibo, your dad's PA?" Zang asked from the passenger seat of Peng's car, having overheard parts of the call.

Peng nodded but didn't say anything.

"That guy meddles too much. What's his deal with your family? Shouldn't he just stick to his job?" Zang pressed, frowning.

Turning to him, Peng replied firmly, "He's right about everything, Zang. And Momma confides in him because Dad doesn't bother addressing her concerns. If it weren't for Yibo, half the issues at home would remain unresolved. He's not at fault for trying to fix things."

Zang shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, if you're okay with it, that's up to you."

Peng didn't respond, unwilling to prolong the discussion. He valued Zang's friendship but disliked confrontation, especially since Zang had once tried to sow discord between him and Yibo. Zang was a dominant figure in their friend group, often leading them into questionable activities. Even now, they were parked outside the house of a woman Zang had introduced them to—a convenient supplier of their vices.

The woman, Fen, was a shrewd and resourceful businesswoman. She sold everything discreetly, ensuring her operations never drew suspicion. Her charm and flawless business acumen allowed her to thrive, even in a bustling neighborhood. Fen's reliability and her ability to make her customers feel secure had turned her into the go-to supplier for Peng, Zang, and their circle.

Right now, Peng's mind was clouded with worry about how he would gather the money to buy the car he had been dreaming of and how he would deal with Momma, whose constant nagging seemed to increase daily. All he wanted was to live a carefree life like Zang, who freely spent his parents' money without a care in the world.

After waiting a few minutes, the woman named Fen finally invited them into the house. She led them into a cozy sitting room, welcoming them with her usual warm smile. The table was soon laden with snacks, just as she always prepared for them.

"Today, luck isn't on your side. Our stock is out, and the next shipment won't arrive until the day after tomorrow. One of our trucks broke down on the way from Dongguan. But you know, you've never come here and left empty-handed," she said, her eyes lingering on Peng, whom she had grown fond of since his first visit.

Peng sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. To him, the "day after tomorrow" sounded like an eternity.

What Peng didn't realize was that everything happens for a reason. His inability to get what he wanted today would lead to an unexpected discovery in Fen's house—one that would change everything.

:-*:-*:-*:-*:-*

Gideon glanced at Yibo, who was seated across from him in the restaurant. Yibo had just arrived in Guangzhou, and they had arranged this meeting before his flight. Gideon had been waiting at the airport to pick him up, and Yibo, complaining of hunger, had directed them straight to the restaurant.

Earlier that day, the loud knock on Yibo's door had shattered his thoughts and dragged him back to reality. Sighing, he set down the photo he had been holding and stood up. After locking his room securely—aware of the importance of the items he kept there—he headed for the door.

The chalet was simple, consisting of a sitting room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Yibo rarely had visitors, as he had distanced himself from the other residents long ago. Opening the door, he was met by Wu Jing, her face lined with worry. Her eyes darted to his right arm, where the dried blood from a removed IV drip was still visible.

"You're here, Yibo? I just came from the hospital. They've been searching for you everywhere," she said, her tone tinged with concern.

Yibo rubbed his nose and nodded. "I'm fine now."

"Fine? They said you haven't been discharged yet. There are still tests and an X-ray pending."

"Forget about it. I know I'm fine. There's no need for all that," he replied firmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Guo pushed the gate open, and a car drove into the compound. Before Yibo could wonder who it was, Qian stepped out of the car with Mei following close behind.

Yibo was startled. Was there some kind of gathering he wasn't aware of? How had they even found his place? As far as he knew, Qian didn't even know the exact address—only the neighborhood.

"So, it's true you came home, Yibo? What's going on? The hospital said you weren't discharged," Qian said, her voice filled with concern.

Yibo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stepped back and opened the door wider to let them in. Qian entered first, with Mei trailing behind, while Wu Jing remained standing at the doorway, her gaze fixed on Yibo.

She didn't need him to explain; she already knew. As long as Yibo was occupying the chalet, she had no business entering his room. With a quiet sigh, Wu Jing turned and walked away.

Yibo closed the door and turned to look at Qian, who stood inspecting the modest sitting room. Mei had already made herself comfortable in one of the chairs.

"Yibo, what happened? Why did you leave the hospital without being discharged?" Qian's tone was softer this time.

Yibo didn't respond immediately. He sat down before finally addressing her.

"It's nothing, Auntie. I've recovered, and there are urgent things I need to attend to. I asked them to discharge me, but they insisted on additional procedures, so I decided to leave."

Qian sighed and sat down as well. "But you broke their protocol. When we arrived, they were scolding even the cleaning staff about it."

Yibo shrugged nonchalantly. That wasn't his concern. His mind was occupied with two things: the accident involving the girl and the call from his boss, which he had been expecting since leaving the hospital. The office had informed him that his boss wanted to see him urgently, but he had yet to receive further instructions.

"They'll get over it. How did you even find this place?"

"We ran into your sister-in-law at the hospital. She was worried about you, so we followed her here."

Yibo nodded, listening quietly.

"She only told me this morning, or rather, Shi Lei informed me. I haven't seen Peng since yesterday, but his father mentioned they both stayed by your side at the hospital until everything was sorted. We could've visited you sooner."

"It's fine, Auntie. Thank you for coming."

"That's true. At least we got to see your place. Mei was saying it's important for us to know where you live."

She glanced at Mei, who was fiddling with her phone. Catching the look, Mei quickly straightened up. "Get well soon, Gege," Mei said, adjusting her position on the chair.

Despite their conversation, Yibo remained distant, giving little away. After a short while, Qian and Mei left. Before leaving, Qian instructed the maid who had accompanied them to bring in the food they had brought for Yibo.

Barely five minutes after their departure, the call Yibo had been anxiously waiting for finally came. He made sure to lock every door and secure the space before answering the second ring.

On the screen of the specialized tablet was his boss, Mr. Daniel Xunyu, an authoritative yet composed man who was always precise in his instructions. Yibo exhaled deeply, preparing for the conversation, knowing that important matters were at hand.

"Everything we suspected is true, Sir. Shi Lei is involved in arms smuggling and drug trafficking to every city currently experiencing unrest in this country. And he's not working alone—there's an organization behind him, with multiple members. I haven't identified all of them yet, but he mentioned the name of their leader…"

Yibo paused abruptly, his words hanging in the air. Even he realized the gravity of what he was about to say. It felt as though he needed to brace himself, to steady the chair beneath him for added support.

Daniel Xunyu ran his hands over his face, staring intently at Yibo. His expression carried a mix of anticipation and dread, as if he already knew what Yibo was about to reveal. Despite this, Daniel remained silent, urging Yibo to continue.

"It's Mr. Yang Tao, the deputy director of national security and peace. He's their leader, Sir. With his influence, they smuggle and distribute illegal arms to the terrorists in this country."

Each word Yibo uttered seemed to lift a heavy weight off his chest. The relief of finally voicing the truth was palpable. He thought about the year-long struggle he'd endured, the countless efforts and sacrifices that had brought him to this moment. For the first time, it felt like his mission was complete, his determination rewarded.

But what Yibo didn't realize was that this moment wasn't the end—it was only the beginning.

What he had just disclosed was like striking a steel nerve—a revelation that would set everything into motion. In the fleeting seconds of relief he felt after sharing his findings, it was as if the weight of the world had been lifted. But when Daniel Xunyu finally spoke, his commanding voice shattered the brief calm, reverberating with an intensity that hit Yibo's chest like a sledgehammer. It was a sensation so profound that Yibo swore he had never felt anything like it before.

"I think we've reached the point I've been anticipating, Yibo. This case is over. I want you to forget it ever happened, destroy every document and piece of evidence you've gathered. As we agreed, this ends here—just between you and me. We'll bury it so deep it won't resurface, even between us. If you want both of us to survive, this is the only way!" Daniel Xunyu declared firmly.

From that moment on, Yibo couldn't regain his composure until he found himself in the bustling city of Guangzhou. He was certain that everything he had planned would soon fall into place.

"Are you sure about what you're about to do, Yibo? Have you thought this through?" Gideon asked again, studying him closely.

Yibo shook his head as he transferred the payment for his meal to the restaurant's account.

"Not for a second do I feel I'll regret this decision, Gideon. This isn't just any case—it's a matter of saving countless lives. I can't just sit by and let this continue when I know I have the means to stop it. No, I won't regret this," Yibo said resolutely.

Gideon nodded slowly, taking a sip of his water.

"But how do you plan to accomplish everything in just one month, Yibo? It took you over a year to get to this point. How can you finish it all within the days you have for your annual leave?"

"This time is different, Gideon. Back then, I knew nothing—I started from scratch. Now, I have a mountain of evidence that will lead me exactly where I need to go. Stop worrying. We'll do everything discreetly, and no one will know until it's done. All I need is your help, Gideon."

Gideon set his glass down on the table.

"Don't call it 'help,' Yibo. You know I'll stand by you no matter what happens in this world. My only concern is that if anything goes wrong, you'll be the one to take the fall. I know you'll never let anyone trace this back to me, but that's why I keep asking—you're the one I don't want to see in trouble."

Yibo smiled faintly, brushing his fingers over his nose.

"Don't worry, Gideon. Nothing will happen. Have you forgotten? We know every corner of this operation better than anyone. They can issue orders all they want, but they have no idea what we know."

Gideon nodded, lifting his glass in a small toast.

"That's true. Here's to success!"

Yibo raised his own glass, mirroring Gideon's smile.

"To success," he replied, taking a sip.

At that moment, his eyes caught sight of her again—standing at the far end of the restaurant. She wore the same dress he'd seen her in earlier, her expression warm with a smile that seemed ready to break into laughter. Slowly, she raised both hands, motioning for him to follow her, her lips forming the same playful smile.

Yibo closed his eyes briefly, letting the water slide down his throat. What was happening to him now, and what was he about to face?

Zhan at Fen's house…

Peng returning to Fen's home…

Yibo in Guangzhou, Zhan's image lingering in his mind…

What do you think will happen next?

Where do you think Yibo's mission will lead us in this story?

Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛