Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Actually,  how dangerous can it be to go to Pei Ze’s house for dinner?   In her heart, Jian Yao knows it’s not that bad.  Like Bo Jinyan says, it’s highly unlikely something will happen to her.

    -

    Pei Ze’s home is lavish penthouse suite, with a panoramic view overlooking the city.

    Jian Yao is holding a drink, sipping slowly. Since she arrived, she has been quietly listening to the conversations of the others.   At the moment, the topic of conversation is Bo Jinyan.

    Shen Dan Wei is sitting opposite Jian Yao: “So… Director Bo has no girlfriend?” 

    Jian Yao replies: “I am not sure."

    Shen Dan Wei asks :”Well, has he ever asked you to order flowers for girls, buy presents on his behalf, make dinner reservations etc etc…  If not, he must be single.”

    Jian Yao smiles.  She does not answer.  Pei Ze hears the conversation from the kitchen. He shouts out: “Are you interested in him?  Well, if you are not afraid to lose your job, go ahead and woo him?”  

    Shen Dan Wei laughs loudly.  Then she continues to talk to others in the lounge: “I bet you he is still a virgin.”

    The men all laugh aloud.  Pei Ze shouts from the kitchen again: “I second that.”

    Then Jian Yao finally hears Bo Jinyan from the ear piece :”A bunch of morons!"

    Jian Yao smiles.

    Qian Yu Wen leans back on the sofa: “How can you be so sure?  He’s quite an attractive guy with a great body. Maybe he has a different side to him outside of work… “

    Faced with his doubts, Shen Dan Wei replies: “Man and woman who are deprived for a long time usually behaves strangely, like Director Bo and Manager Lin.  They are more critical and easily irritable, it’s a result from abstaining from sex for too long.”

   She glances at JYao: "You are a woman.  Do you think I am right?”

    Jian Yao thinks for a while.  She answers truthfully: “That’s possible…”

    Jian Yao hears a groan of disgust on the other end.  

    -

  Inside Bo Jinyan’s car.  

His seat is adjusted to a comfortable position.  His lap top is showing the images transferred from the hidden camera in Jian Yao’s brooch.  He has a walkie talkie on the seat beside him.

“Professor Bo, our team is in position.”  

He picks up the walkie talkie: “Good.”   

    -

    Jian Yao is chatting with others when she hears a lot of background noise from the ear piece.  She excuses herself to the toilet.  

    She ask Bo Jinyan: “Sounds like there’s a lot of people at your end.”

   Bo Jinyan: “I told you I have made some arrangements.”

   - So he is not alone.  He brought helpers.  

    Her heart  is at ease :”Thank you ....."

    Bo Jinyan  replies :” Don’t have to thank me. Critical and irritable people like to be cautious.”

    Jian Yao: "......" So vengeful !!

    -

    Food is ready.

    The main course was lobster and king crab, Pei Ze is sitting next to Jian Yao. He whispers to her ear: “I saved the best pieces for you.  They are in the platter that’s in front you. Enjoy.”  

“..Urr.. thank you.” She says.  He is leaning too close to her.  Jian Yao tries to moves away.  He smiles at her: “Oh, you blush so easily.”  

Jian Yao is repelled by his actions: “Really?  Maybe it’s bit hot in here.”

 After a few seconds, Pei Ze calls out to Jian Yao :”Look this way.”   Unconsciously, she looks up and sees a white flash. Pei Ze puts down the phone, and continues to eat leisurely.

    Jian Yao: “Why did you take a photo of me?  Delete it.”

    Pei Ze whistles: ”That is my freedom.  Nowadays, it’s hard to find ladies that blushes so easily."

    -

    After the meal, Jian Yao goes to the bathroom.

    "Hey." She whispers to Bo Jinyan.

    "Ah?" He replies in his deep voice. “What happened?”

    Jian Yao says: "When the case is over, I want that photo deleted from his phone.”

    "Of course." He replies.

    Jian Yao feels better.  She goes back to the living room. 

    -

Just as she reaches the living room, Zhou Qin is helping his son to put on his backpack:  “Bye Jian Yao! The little guy needs a shower, and he still has some homework he needs to finish.  See you at work tomorrow.”  

  “Bye”  Jian Yao replies.  From what she has observed this afternoon, Zhou Qin really is a loving and gentle father.  

    -

    The remaining four people play a board game.  When the game is over, Shen Dan Wei says to the others: “I am leaving now.  My boyfriend is waiting for me downstairs.” 

Jian Yao takes the opportunity: “It’s getting a little late.  I should go too.”

Pei Ze takes her hand bag from her: “ It’s hard to find a taxi in this neighbourhood.  I’ll drive you home.”  

Jian Yao: “…. that’s fine… I can..”

    Pei Ze starts to walk towards his room with her bag: “Just wait.  I’ll get the car keys.”

    Jian Yao is still trying to resist: “I don’t want to trouble you.”

   By then, Shen Dan Wei has left.  Pei Ze changes his mind: “ Hey, Qian Yu Wen.  Can you give me a hand with the dishes?.”

    Qian Yu Wen looks at him. He chuckles: “Am I your maid?"  But then, he still rolls up his sleeves and walks into the kitchen.  

    Only Pei Ze and Jian Yao are left in the living room.

    “Let me give you a house tour?" Pei Ze says.

    Jian Yao hesitates.  On the other end, Bo Jinyan is giving her the instruction: “Take the tour.”

    -

    It is obvious that the owner of the house is wealthy and knows how to enjoy life.  All the appliances are the latest models of top brands.  There is a special room with fitness equipment and game consoles. He stands next to a cabinet, where there are some novels and car magazines.  There’s also a lot of ornaments in the room- Cars, boxing gloves, flute, and even ink stone and a brush for Chinese writing. Jian Yao asks: "You like calligraphy?"

    He smiles: “Just a novice."

    A voice from the living room: “I’m done.” says Qian Yu Wen: ”See you tomorrow.”  Then they hear the front door closes.

   The house is suddenly very quiet.

    Jian Yao says to Pei Ze: "I should go too."

    Pei Ze smiles: "OK,  wait in the living room.  I’ll get my keys.”

    -

    Jian Yao collects her hand bag from the couch.  

    Bo Jinyan starts the engine.  He’s ready to trail Pei Ze’s car. 

    Suddenly, a voice from his walkie talkie: “3rd position reports.  He is shutting off the main electricity switch for his house.”

 The surveillance screen on Bo Jinyan’s laptop turns black.  

    -

   Suddenly, it’s dark everywhere.  

    Jian Yao tries to keep calm: "Pei Ze, is it a power cut?”

    No one answers.

    Bo Jinyan tells Jian Yao over the ear piece: “He switched off the power.  Wait and see.”

    Jian Yao reaches for the mini defibrillator in her handbag. She hears a light footsteps coming towards her.  

    "Ah, how unfortunate. A power cut." It’s Pei Ze’s voice, "I can’t find the car keys.