Serenade

Jing Chi leaned against the doorframe with his elbows, gazing at Wei Zhaozhao's back with deep, brooding eyes.

Wei Zhaozhao sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees and sulking. "How many more things don't I know about you?!" she exclaimed petulantly. "I never knew you could play the guitar. You've never played for me before!"

Jing Chi's heart suddenly relaxed. So this was what it was about. "I wasn't trying to hide anything from you," he said expressionlessly. "I played today, didn't I?"

"I feel like you're keeping a lot of things from me. I can't see through you."

Jing Chi gazed at the deep darkness outside the window and said slowly, "Many things take time."

Wei Zhaozhao suddenly hugged him tightly from behind. "Jing Chi, let's move up our wedding date! I can't take it anymore. Let's get married right away, okay?"

"Let's talk about it after I get through this busy period. It's harvest season this year and my boss has new shipments to handle."

"I'll tell Dad not to give you any more work so you won't be so busy."

Jing Chi's hand suddenly clenched. He slowly turned around and embraced Wei Zhaozhao, suppressing the disgust welling up inside him. "This is my chance to prove myself. Zhaozhao, you wouldn't want a useless man, would you?"

He had never held her so gently before. Wei Zhaozhao's heart melted and she buried her head in his embrace, nodding docilely. "I'll listen to whatever you say."

But just then, Wei Song rushed in anxiously, bursting into Wei Zhaozhao's room. "Sis! It's bad! Teacher Chu was thrown into the swimming pool by them. She...she really can't swim!"

Wei Zhaozhao was about to angrily rebuke Wei Song when the man holding her suddenly let her go and rushed out of the room, crossing the yard behind the villa in just a few strides and running towards the endless swimming pool.

Wei Zhaozhao hurried after him as well.

Chu Zhao was flailing in the pool, having swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Despair and coldness gradually overtook her and her consciousness began to fade away.

The laughter of the boys and girls at the poolside sounded distant, as if from another world...

At that moment, a pair of powerful hands grasped her wrists and pulled her out of the water. Through her blurred vision, Chu Zhao saw Jing Chi's extremely angry face.

She wanted to reach out and touch his face silently, but no longer had the strength.

Wei Zhaozhao rushed into the chaotic crowd just in time to see Jing Chi giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the unconscious girl, patting her face and pressing on her chest alternately.

After coughing up some water, the girl gradually regained consciousness. She gazed weakly at Jing Chi, clasping his shirt hem tightly in her hand.

Wei Zhaozhao's expression gradually cooled. Jealousy coiled around her heart like a venomous snake.

The next day, Wei Xun severely reprimanded Wei Zhaozhao for this incident.

"It's bad enough that you fool around all the time, now you've even allowed your silly friends to nearly take her life!"

Wei Zhaozhao retorted, "She's just a servant, what's so special about her?!"

"Do you know how hard it is to find a Chinese tutor these days? No one wants to come here no matter how much we offer. It was so difficult to finally get one, and now you're going to ruin your brother's future!"

Wei Song sat to the side with a mournful expression, blaming himself, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have invited Teacher Chu to my sister's stupid party!"

Wei Zhaozhao glared fiercely at Wei Song but eventually gave in to her father. "Fine, fine, I know I was wrong. I'll stay away from her from now on."

Wei Xun glanced back at Jing Chi, who was standing expressionlessly to the side. "I have you to thank this time."

Jing Chi calmly explained, "Anyone would have done the same in that situation."

Wei Zhaozhao quickly said to Wei Xun, "Dad, I want to move up my wedding with Chaoyang."

"It's already scheduled for the end of the year. How much earlier do you want it?"

"I was thinking next month. I calculated and there are good dates next month."

"Next month? Nothing is ready yet. How can we have the wedding next month?"

"Dad~," Wei Zhaozhao whined. "I don't care about the formalities. We've decided on it anyway so a day earlier or later doesn't matter."

Jing Chi looked towards Wei Xun. Wei Xun pondered for a moment then shook his head. "No, these next few months are when shipments go out. I'm very busy and have no time to help with a wedding."

"Dad~~"

"It's decided."

Wei Zhaozhao pouted and left the dining table in a huff.

Worried that his capricious older sister would go bother Chu Zhao, Wei Song quickly wolfed down a few more bites of food and ran out as well.

Now only Wei Xun and Jing Chi remained in the room.

Wei Xun was only in his fifties, hale and hearty. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and spoke unhurriedly, "Times are tough. I have few capable men left under me. After you marry Zhaozhao, stay by my side. I'll take good care of you."

Jing Chi controlled his eyes to reveal just the right amount of ambition in his voice. "Yes."

"Recently a client from China made a huge request, saying he wanted to buy up all of my current inventory." Wei Xun smiled faintly. "When it comes to extravagance, no one beats you Chinese."

Jing Chi asked doubtfully, "Is he trustworthy?"

"I did a background check. His nickname is Sloth, he's been in the business for over ten years. The person seems fine but we can't let our guard down." Wei Xun lit a cigar and looked at Jing Chi. "I'm putting you in charge of this deal. Three months from now, at the Pingshan intersection near Highway 98, exchange money and goods hand-to-hand."

"I will get it done."

**

That night, Jing Chi went to the boxing ring again. Wei Zhaozhao was still sulking and didn't come to watch him compete. When Jing Chi went to the locker room to change, a lithe figure suddenly followed him in.

Jing Chi immediately shut the locker room door, backing the girl into the corner.

The cramped locker room was stuffy. His hot, sweat-drenched body was as if doused by water. Breathing heavily, he fiercely pulled the girl into his embrace.

"I was so scared just now..." Chu Zhao said in an extremely soft voice by his ear, "Don't fight with others again in the future, it scares me watching."

Jing Chi held her tightly. "I'll listen to you."

Chu Zhao cupped his face and kissed him.

The man's body was taut as a coiled spring, clasping her forcefully as if wanting to press her into himself.

Chu Zhao tasted a hint of bloody rust on his lips.

"Bo Yan is here," she whispered, nibbling his ear. "We can go home now."

Jing Chi's heart tightened. "You got to see him?"

"They don't restrict my personal freedom."

She was free to leave anytime. She had already told Xu Chaoyang's insider everything about the current situation at the villa.

"Tell Bo Yan I've been put in charge of the deal by Wei Xun, but he doesn't fully trust me so...he definitely won't feel assured with me delivering the goods alone, much less with so much money falling into my hands. He'll be monitoring me in secret."

"Also, once you've brought the message out, don't come back."

"Jing Chi..."

"Listen to me. You have no reason to return. Don't make me worry."

Jing Chi would never force her to do anything against her will, and Chu Zhao would never do anything to put him in a difficult position. This was the tacit understanding between the two.

That night, Wei Zhaozhao beat the maid Xiaohuai. Chu Zhao stepped in to stop her, infuriating Wei Zhaozhao. Wei Zhaozhao already greatly disliked Chu Zhao to begin with, and was also jealous of her because of Jing Chi. She figured she might as well go all out and just kill her.

She was only a tutor, after all. Even if Dad scolded her, at least she'd get the anger out of her system.

At the critical moment, thankfully Wei Song stopped Wei Zhaozhao and told Chu Zhao to leave quickly and lay low for a while.

This gave Chu Zhao a reason to leave the villa.

As she was leaving, the battered Xiaohuai grabbed Chu Zhao's hand and apologized, saying it was her fault.

Chu Zhao gently wiped away the sixteen-year-old girl's tears. "I'm leaving. You need to protect yourself. I'll find a way to get you out of here."

"If I leave here, where can I go?"

"Do you want to go to China?"

Xiaohuai's eyes filled with hope and longing. "I do! I want to go to China!"

Chu Zhao grasped Xiao Huai's hand tightly: "As long as you are willing to trust me, I promise you that I will fulfill your wish."

Xiao Huai looked at Chu Zhao's back hopefully as she disappeared into the vast night.

Xu Chaoyang immediately sent people to escort Chu Zhao back safely.

"I knew it! I knew Lao Jing would not betray us!"

After listening to all of Chu Zhao's account, Xu Chaoyang was extremely excited. He held Bo Yan's hand several times and said, "Now with Lao Jing cooperating with us from the inside, we will have no trouble taking down this poisonous tumor Wei Xun."

Bo Yan had always been cautious. He looked at Chu Zhao and asked, "Are you sure they don't suspect you?"

Chu Zhao shook her head again and again: "I have completely infuriated Wei Zhaozhao. They will only think that I'm afraid of Wei Zhaozhao and dare not go back. No one will suspect me."

Wei Xun was very angry about Chu Zhao's departure. He pointed at Wei Zhaozhao and scolded loudly: "You are useless yourself, and now you have ruined your brother's future!"

Wei Zhaozhao sneered coldly: "She was just a home tutor, is it worth making such a fuss about? We can just find another one."

"Easier said than done. Where can I find a home tutor of this caliber for your brother?"

Wei Zhaozhao shrugged indifferently: "I don't care. Anyway, I think this vixen was seducing Chaoyang. Either drive her away or I'll kill her."

Wei Xun sat down angrily, not knowing what to say. His daughter's recalcitrance was also spoiled by him.

Just then, Wei Xun suddenly seemed to have thought of something. He turned his head and asked Wei Zhaozhao, "Did you say...that woman was seducing Chaoyang?"

"Yeah, she was always making eyes at Chaoyang. She's not an honest woman."

"What was Chaoyang's reaction?"

Wei Zhaozhao said resentfully: "Of course Chaoyang completely ignored her. Humph, he only has me in his heart."

"Really?"

"Dad, what are you thinking about?"

Wei Xun was always astute. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and said no more.

Wei Song quickly defended, "You're talking nonsense. Teacher Chu is not that kind of person. You're slandering her! You evil woman!"

Wei Zhaozhao walked over and violently pulled Wei Song's ear. "Are you my brother or her brother! I've never seen you be so disloyal!"

The quarrel between the siblings gave Wei Xun a headache. He chased the siblings out, then called Jing Chi into the study.

Jing Chi stood respectfully in front of Wei Xun. If Wei Xun didn't speak, Jing Chi would surely not ask questions. Sometimes they would stand like this for an entire afternoon.

He possessed extraordinary patience and endurance beyond ordinary people, which was precisely what Wei Xun valued about him.

"I have a task for you." After leaving Jing Chi standing for half an hour, Wei Xun suddenly spoke, "Xiao Song's home tutor has run away. You know how difficult it is to find a decent Chinese tutor here in Nidan. Help me get her back."

Jing Chi listened expressionlessly.

"I heard she was scared away by Zhaozhao." Jing Chi finally spoke, "She may have already returned to China. It won't be easy to find her."

"That's what makes this task difficult." Wei Xun sighed. "I'm getting old. I can't capsize the boat at this critical juncture. Any potential threat should be eliminated. I want to see someone alive or dead. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Jing Chi nodded. As he was leaving, he asked again, "Why are you sending me to do this?"

A hint of cold smile flashed across Wei Xun's eyes. "Because you're the one I trust the most."

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