LBOT-28

“Or do you have another name?”

Zhan had a confused expression and only his eyes moved.

“I don’t know what the Director is talking about.”

“No way.” Wang Yibo quickly took off Zhan’s sunglasses.

Yibo thought that his eyes were full of life, unlike Mo Xuanyu, who stayed in his house. And he preferred this one over Mo Xuanyu.

These kinds of eyes made Yibo want to torture and force him to succumb.

“I was on a business trip to Singapore and I heard a very interesting story.”

Yibo paused and moved his tongue across his mouth.

Zhan kept his mouth shut and didn’t say anything. A cold sweat trickled down his back.

“So I was thinking about how to ask this, but I’m meeting you here just in time.”

“…”

“Aren’t you curious? What that interesting story was?”

Yibo kept his smile on his face like a messenger of good news, and Zhan remained silent.

“Someone is trying to kill me. And apparently that someone is in my house.”

The hand that was hidden behind his back was numb and he clenched it tightly. Wang Yibo knows all the truths. How?

Yibo gently caressed Zhan’s cheek.

“Explain it. After listening, I will decide whether to be deceived or not.”

There were about eight days to kill until the promised date, but with the situation as it was, there wasn’t much to do.

When Zhan saw Yibo’s bright, smiling eyes, he realized it was pointless to try to get away with it.

Zhan pushed hard on Yibo’s shoulder. He eventually took a knife from his arms and attacked.

Whosh!!!- The knife sliced through the air and attacked the underside of Yibo’s neck.

Wang Yibo ducked his head to avoid the knife and defended himself by clutching Zhan’s arm.

Zhan took the knife in his left hand and this time tried to slash Yibo’s arm. Zhan pushed Wang Yibo against the wall with all his might while Wang Yibo grabbed his arm.

Thump!!! Wang Yibo’s back smacked against the wall, and the tip of the knife stopped just below his neck.

Zhan pushed him hard, but the difference in physical strength was greater than he had anticipated.

In a situation where their arms were crossed and they faced each other, Zhan moved his left hand back and placed the tip of the knife in his palm.

The tip of the knife gradually approached Yibo’s neck as he pressed it with force.

Wang Yibo’s expression remained unchanged as the knife was about to pierce his throat. He instead smiled coldly and relaxed.

“Do you think anything good will come of this?”

Yibo pushed Zhan’s arm out with force after warning him.

When pushed, Zhan slammed his head into Wang Yibo’s face.

SLAM!! Yibo cursed and grabbed his nose.

When the knife appeared again, Wang Yibo bowed his head to avoid it, then pushed Zhan against the wall with a loud sound.

Wang Yibo quickly grabbed Zhan’s wrist and twisted it.

Ugh, Zhan frowned in pain. It was a situation in which his lower body was so close that kicking was impossible.

“Do it in moderation. Shouldn’t you be polite to your new employer?”

Zhan paused at the word of the new employer.

“What are you talking about.”

“Did you not understand? I am announcing that your client has changed from my father to me.”

Zhan’s expression became twisted.

What the hell do you mean by this nonsense? No, more than that, Wang Yibo knows that his father is trying to kill him. Looking at his expression, he doesn’t seem to be joking.

“Alan? He was a good friend of mine.”

Yibo laughed as he mentioned Alan.

Zhan’s face darkened noticeably when Wang Yibo mentioned the familiar name. It wasn’t something he was trying to say, no matter how he looked at it.

“So, can you put the knife away now? Before my patience runs out, huh?”

Their eyes were intricately intertwined.

Kim Yaan called Zhan from the in-ear he was wearing at the time. Zhan still pointed the knife and did not move.

[Zhan. Are you listening to me?]

Yibo relaxed his body and looked at Zhan with a more relaxed facial expression.

Zhan slowly walked away from him. Yibo leaned against the window, rubbed his nose, which had been hit a while ago, and frowned.

“I am listening. Talk.”

[Why are you getting it so late? Where are you now?]

“I’m in the boat yet.”

[Shall I go back in?]

Zhan’s eyes stayed on Wang Yibo.

“No. I’ll be out in a minute. Wait for me.”

Zhan finished the radio talk but continued to be wary of Yibo.

Yibo took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it behind the door, and handed it to Zhan.

“Aren’t your lungs still good?”

Instead of accepting the cigarette, Zhan looked at him.

“How did you know?”

“There are many ways to know. Instead, it cost quite a bit.”

“I haven’t heard of a change of employer.”

“That’s why I’m suggesting it myself right now.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of accepting your offer.”

Zhan put strength in the hand holding the knife.

“Don’t hold the knife too hard. My talk is not over yet.”

“…”

“I’m not talking about killing my father. You just have to kill me as planned.”

Wang Yibo said something completely incomprehensible.

“What are you up to?”

“As you heard. Of course, I will give you a more generous price. I’ll also guarantee your safety in the future.”

Zhan, who was arranging his words in his head came to a realization after a while.

So Wang Yibo devised a plan to remove Chairman Wang from his position by getting killed. If he could figure out who Zhan was, he’d already have proof that Chairman Wang had ordered it.

It seemed Zhan have figured out what Yibo was after.

Yibo’s eyes gradually softened.

“I will give you time to think. It seems like your friend is waiting outside, so that’s it for today.”

“What if I refuse?”

“I don’t think so. You are smart. And you like money.”

Yibo, who had been staring at him with a smile, stepped forward unexpectedly.

Zhan strengthened the hand that held the knife.

Yibo stopped in front of him and tilted his head. His eyes were terrifying.

When he reached out, Zhan hit his hand with the knife-wielding hand, and Yibo stretched his hand out again, removing the band-aid on Zhan’s neck.

Yibo’s eyes were strange when he saw the mark on his neck. Even when Zhan pointed the tip of the knife at his neck a while ago, he acted calmly but his eyes became terribly fierce now.

Zhan pushed him away, grabbed the band-aid, and put it in place.

Zhan avoided Yibo’s gaze, but then he grabbed Zhan’s neck as if he was going to strangle him.

“You must have had fun while I was away?”

His tone of voice was cold.

Zhan pushed his hand away and looked at him. Even though Zhan still had no idea why Yibo was angry.

Yibo raised the corners of his mouth and smiled nicely.

“Then shall we go? If we run into Wen Chao, I think we’ll be in big trouble.”

But his eyes were like a midwinter storm.

===

Zhan stood there for a long time, watching the water fall.

Even though the smell of blood had been washed away by the seawater, it felt like it was rising from under his nose.

As the crowd thinned, Wang Yibo led him up to the deck. The cruise was strangely quiet after the President Wen died.

As expected, Wen Chao will conceal his father’s death for the time being in order to avoid agitating the guests.

It was natural for the guests to be concerned as the rich man was murdered one by one.

Zhan climbed down the line under the cruise and swam to the boat that was anchored nearby.

Wang Yibo stood there and watched until Zhan got on the boat safely.

Kim Yaan approached Zhan with a cigarette after he had finished washing and wiping the water. He had a handful of patches in his hand.

Zhan’s body was not stabbed with a knife, but there was no place without a scar. Furthermore, he was still in a state of chaos after escaping from the ship.

“What happened?”

Zhan shook his head.

===

Just in case, he called Kim Joon after arriving at Kim Yaan’s house, but he didn’t seem to know anything. He felt compelled to tell him everything.

Wang Yibo was aware of everything, but what should we do? He stated that he had additional suggestions.

Yibo also agreed to double the money. Then it became twenty million dollars. It was about twenty four billion Chinan Won. It was an unimaginable amount.

Kim Yaan applies ointment to Zhan’s dry palm while he keeps his mouth shut and was lost in thought.

“Do you feel relieved?”

Zhan lifted his head and looked at Kim Yaan.

“Do you feel relieved after killing him?”

Zhan didn’t answer. Kim Yaan quickly tapped Zhan on the shoulder.

Then he brought Zhan a blanket and wrapped it around him. Kim Yaan’s phone rings as he cleaned out the paste and ointment on his hand.

He approached Zhan with a cheerful expression after checking the message.

“Look.”

Zhan’s gaze was fixed on the phone screen.

The children who had been brought from the factory a few days before were gathered in front of the camera. They didn’t smile brightly, but their faces appeared much more relaxed than before.

A greeting message was sent, along with a statement that they are doing well.

“I’m so proud that I could die. It seems that they go to school and study.”

“That’s a relief.”

“The eldest name is Zhou Shi. She’s smart, so she’ll do well in her studies.”

The child who was carrying drugs and grabbed the stone to save the other children instead took the pencil.

Zhan smiled without realizing it as he thought the school uniform suit her so well.

“I sent the money you gave to the orphanage.”

“Well done.”

“And when the kids asked for your contact information, I politely declined.”

“Good.”

“Do you want me to send you the pictures often?”

Zhan shook his head. “No, don’t.”

One should play in a place that suits them. This was the place for Zhan, and children should not step foot in this place.

Kim Yaan bid farewell and left the room after cleaning it up.

Zhan, who was left alone, sat on the bed with his legs crossed and remained silent for a long time.

The sun began to rise outside the window as time passed. Kim Yaan’s snoring could be heard all the way here.

He tried to sleep, but his eyelids were still light he couldn’t sleep easily. His entire body ached from muscle aches, and his mind was muddled.

Then he fell asleep and dreamed.

Wen Rouhan, who had died, and his son transformed into demons and chased him.

Wang Yibo with a gun appeared after he managed to escape from them. Zhan fell down an endless cliff after the bullet Yibo fired struck his heart.

Zhan opened his eyes and realized it was all a dream, but cold sweat ran down his back.

Damn it. He had only been asleep for about 3 hours when he awoke and checked the time.

The sun was already shining brightly outside.

A message came as Zhan opens the lid to drink the bottled water he left by his bedside. He hadn’t expected to get a message from Wang Yibo, but it was.

[Have you thought about it?]

Zhan clenched his molars. He set his phone down without answering it, and it immediately rang again.

[I’ll pick you up when you’ve decided.]

His fingers stopped on the phone. He read the text several times.

Chairman Wang would no longer be a problem if he quit now. As far as Wang Yibo found out, whatever Wence he made was risky.

Zhan typed the message after much thought.

[Please come. I’ll wait.]

===

Zhan sat on the cafe terrace and watched the people passing by.

He didn’t have time to enjoy his daily life because he had been so busy since coming to China, but he felt free for a while because he was drinking coffee leisurely.

Inside the cafe, people his age or younger sat in groups of twos and threes to study.

Zhan leaned back on the chair and tilted his head back. He’d been awake all night and was exhausted.

When he closed his eyes, he heard the car door close. He straightened his body after turning his head.

Wang Yibo had just gotten out of the driver’s seat after parking his car alongside the road.

Yibo pulled out a chair and sat down in front of him, throwing his car keys on the table.

“I guess you haven’t slept all night. Your complexion is pretty bad.”

He reached out his arm and drank Zhan’s coffee as if it were his own.

“Sorry. I’m thirsty.”

Zhan looked at him but said nothing.

Wang Yibo tapped the table with his fingertips as he sat crookedly in a chair with his legs crossed.

That sound squeezed his mind like the watch’s second hand.

When the couple in the back disappeared and only the two of them were left on the terrace, Zhan spoke up.

“I will accept your terms.”

Yibo’s fingers stopped moving. As expected, a smile spread across Wang Yibo’s face.

Zhan clenched his fists under the table.

“Instead, there are conditions.”

“What is it?”

“Increase it by three times.”

Wang Yibo was expressionless.

That would be 30 million dollars. 36 billion in Chinan Won. That’s a ridiculous amount.

“You must pay that amount, plus a penalty for Chairman Wang’s commission.”

“Why the penalty? Because you couldn’t kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that a lot of money for that?”

Zhan continued speaking calmly.

“Isn’t that a small amount compared to what the Director gets?”

“It’s bigger than it looks. You say 36 billion is a small amount.”

“If you can’t give it to me, I’ll let go of both sides.”

Wang Yibo took off his sunglasses and raised his chin as Zhan tried to stand.

Yibo was going to see it, whatever it was because Zhan was in a position to work for money, but wasn’t he a little stiff?

When Yibo motioned for him to sit down, Zhan sat down and drank the cold water next to him instead of coffee.

Yibo chuckled. The fake Mo Xuanyu, who was sitting in front of him, was more brazen than he thought.

He wasn’t expecting to be intimidated, but he also wasn’t expecting to be asked for more money.

Yibo, who was unsure, nodded slowly.

“Okay. 30 million dollars. I’ll pay half of it in advance and pay the rest when the job is done.”

“The advance payment must be made before work.”

“It’s difficult right now. It will take three or four days.”

Zhan nodded.

“Is it enough now?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can tell me now.”

What do you want me to tell you? You already know who ordered it.

“I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”

“Your real name. Of course, it’s not Mo Xuanyu.”

Zhan remained silent and did not respond.

He called himself by more than ten different names. Mr. Kim took him and named him Sean, from which several other names arose.

However, he preferred the name Zhan. Even though he hated his parents so much that he wanted to kill them, it wasn’t the same with the name.

Yibo smiled absurdly as Zhan stubbornly kept his mouth shut.

“You’re too much. With 36 billion won, can’t you tell me your name?”

Zhan pursed his lips, overly bothered.

“Xiao…”

“Xiao?”

“Xiao…”

Yibo’s eyes narrowed. His eyes urged him to speak quickly, and Zhan had no choice but to do so.

“Xiao Zhan…”

“Xiao. Zhan?”

Wang Yibo pronounced each letter one by one as if to confirm. His name came out quite strangely through his voice.

Even those who knew him, beginning with Alan, rarely knew his original name.

What on earth was he thinking? Zhan immediately regretted it, but it was even stranger when he told him and then tried to deny it.

“Your age?”

“Is it important?”

“I’m just curious. Tell me.”

“Twenty-five.”

“Oh, you are four years younger than me. Your parents?”

Zhan frowned. Even though it was a name, he couldn’t understand why Wang Yibo even investigated his family register.

Wang Yibo moved his upper body forward and stared at him with his chin on his palm when Zhan didn’t respond.

The flowers on the table swayed gently in the breeze.

“I’m curious.”

“No…”

“A lover?”

Yibo then understood and laughed as Zhan remained silent and stared at him.

“Good. No lover, no parents.”

“…”

He smiled brightly, pushed the chair back, and stood up.

“Let’s go home for now. Mo Xuanyu must remain in the shed for the time being.”

===

Author: Next question ….Was Yibo really nice to zhan or he have other plans 🤔