Shanghai morning

At the Beschmidt house, all the masters went out, and Torres asked another servant to look after the house, and he left on the grounds of going to the store to pay the bill.

In a small cafe with no business, Ivan was already waiting on the seat at the back.

Torres looked around frightenedly, then lowered his head and walked to sit opposite Ivan: "Your Highness."

"How many times have I told you not to call me that," Ivan said.

"Sorry, I forgot again, Mr. Braginski," Torres apologized nervously.

"Get down to business," Ivan said.

"Mr. Luther seems to be in some trouble recently," Torres said, "The Chinese servant who committed the crime before implicated him."

"Because he shielded criminals?" Ivan asked.

"No, he had already proved that he didn't know about this matter, but later a fugitive escaped from Shanghai. It is said that the Chinese servant died for the fugitive." Torres said.

"What does this have to do with Ludwig?" Ivan felt that what Torris said later was the key point.

Torres went on to say: "It is said that there is a strange thing: before the Chinese servant was executed, a suspicious-looking car left Shanghai one night and turned back. There were originally a foreigner and two Chinese men in this car. With a Chinese woman, when I came back, I lost a Chinese man."

Ivan nodded knowingly: "This is the car that sent the fugitive away."

Torres said: "Mr. Ludwig Beschmidt is suspected to be involved in this matter. He may be the foreigner in the car, because he once took that man named Wang Yao to visit his Chinese servant in prison."

Ivan didn't quite believe it: "That guy Ludwig would be so desperate? He's not made to be a hero!"

Torres said: "Mr. Luther is very troubled by this matter. He has cut off contact with Wang Yao, but his suspicion is still not resolved."

"Why did he cut off contact with Wang Yao?" Ivan asked, "What does this matter have to do with Wang Yao? Just because he went to the prison to see the condemned prisoner?"

"I overheard the conversation between Mr. Luther and Wang Yao that day," Torres said, "It sounds like Wang Yaocai is directly related to the fugitive, but I can't guess more."

Ivan nodded: "Go back first, and tell me immediately if you have any news - keep an eye on them."

"Understood, Mr. Braginski," said Torres faithfully.

Wang Yao went back to work in the foreign firm again, but he was still not energetic and seemed to have lost a lot of weight.

Arthur didn't criticize him, but patted him on the shoulder reassuringly. It was obvious that Al should have explained the situation to Arthur.

Wang Yao returned to his desk with a backlog of work, sorting out the messy documents.

"Yao, are you okay?" Al leaned over and asked.

"I can't die for the time being." Wang Yao's tone was not very good.

Al looked at the top of Wang Yao's head and sighed softly: "I know you don't want to come back, but you won't be more comfortable no matter where you stay now." Moreover, at least he can protect him in the foreign firm, and Al did not take this Ideas speak out.

"I don't know which is worse, whether to be anxious at home or to do something useless here." Wang Yao suddenly raised his head and looked at Al worriedly: "Al, what should I do?"

Al was stunned for a moment, for some reason, Wang Yao's helpless expression moved him so much.He hugged Wang Yao tightly and pressed Wang Yao's head on his chest: "Don't think about anything, it will be fine."

Wang Yao's face was pressed against Al's chest, and Al's steady and powerful heartbeat was transmitted to his heart, which made him feel more at ease. He wanted to rely on Al quietly like this, and no longer have to worry about his troubles and pains.

The employees around looked here. Although these two people usually chat non-stop, their behavior at this moment is really not quite right.Some people have already started whispering and speculating about the relationship between the two.

Arthur's voice broke the weird intimacy: "Al, Wang Yao, you two come here."

Wang Yao subconsciously pushed Al away, jumped up from the chair, and followed Arthur upstairs first.Al slowed down a beat and followed suit.

Then the whole hall returned to a numb calm.

Arthur's office was not so peaceful, Wang Yao shouted excitedly: "The Japanese party? Why should I go to that kind of thing!"

Arthur said: "The Japanese invited us. They are the most powerful people in Shanghai now. I can't help it."

"They invited the representative of Jardine Matheson. It doesn't matter if I don't have it? Can't it just go with Al and you? Al is your partner, I am not. What role does a person like me have on that occasion?" Wang Yao explain.

"Your name is on the invitation, and you might offend the Japanese if you don't go," said Arthur, "and don't forget that you offended them not long ago, and you'd better not get into trouble again."

Wang Yao gritted his teeth dissatisfied. He didn't want to go, but he was afraid of another accident.

Arthur took Wang Yao's silence as agreement: "At six o'clock in the evening the day after tomorrow, at the Japanese club."

"Arthur, don't you think this is too much given what happened to Yao?" Al asked sharply.

Arthur said calmly: "I sympathize with Yao very much, so I don't want him to encounter more misfortunes. Instead of going to jail for disobeying the Japanese, it is better to endure a few hours of the party."

"If you don't accept the invitation, you will go to jail? Even the Japanese are not so unreasonable?" Al questioned.

"You guys know better than me what the Japanese look like," Arthur said. "This time, Honda Ju specially invited Yao to participate. Shouldn't you be very clear about it?"

"Honda invites me?" Wang Yao trembled violently.

"Of course you shouldn't go!" Al yelled loudly, "You can't let Yao be bullied by that bastard again!"

"I will go." Wang Yao said suddenly.

"Yao? How could you..." Al cried out in confusion.

"Al, I know what to do when the time comes," Wang Yao said, "I won't cause trouble."

Arthur said: "Then it's settled, don't be late."

"I see." Wang Yao whispered, and then exited Arthur's office.

Al caught up with him from behind: "Yao, why did you agree? You should stay away from that Honda Chrysanthemum, the farther the better!"

Wang Yao said: "Al, avoiding him is not an option. Since he wants to see me, I will go in front of him. If he is satisfied, Wanwan may feel better."

"Yao," Al held Wang Yao's arm, "can't you make yourself feel better?"

"I'm sorry, Al, nothing is more important than Wanwan." Wang Yao smiled wryly.

"Don't apologize to me, you never apologized to me." Al shook his head helplessly.

Wang Yao patted Al's hand holding his arm, signaling Al to let go.Al let go: "I'm afraid that Honda Ju will embarrass you again."

"Isn't there still you?" Wang Yao said with a smile, "You will also go then!"

Al smiled reluctantly: "Yes, I will go, this time make sure you don't get drunk."

Wang Yao couldn't laugh or cry, it was not a pleasant experience to attend the ball last time.

On the day of the party, Wang Yao put on the little dress that Francis gave him again. After the party, he wanted to return the dress to Francis, but Francis insisted that the suit was a gift for Wang Yao and refused to accept it. Taking it back, Wang Yao stayed behind.After putting it on, Wang Yao tugged at the waistband and hem of the clothes, feeling that the clothes were a bit loose, and it seemed that he had lost weight these days.

"Oh! Brother Wang is so handsome!" Xiaofei was very happy when she saw Wang Yao wearing this outfit for the first time.

"Where is it? A friend gave it to me. I wear weird clothes!" Wang Yao said shyly.

"What's so strange? All modern men wear it like this! Big brother Wang looks like a rich young man who came back from overseas, so I like it!" Xiaofei walked around Wang Yao lively.

Ivan didn't like Wang Yao's dressing up like this: "Are you going to that kind of rotten party again? You almost froze to death outside last time!"

When Wang Yao heard Ivan mention his embarrassment, his face was very uncomfortable: "It was thanks to you last time, this time it is better for you to stay on the road and wait to pick me up."

"Okay, I'll wait." Ivan agreed without hesitation.

Wang Yao was taken aback by Ivan's straightforward attitude. He rolled his eyes and said embarrassingly, "I will be careful, and I won't get drunk again."

"I'll get you back when I'm drunk." Ivan didn't look like he was joking.

"Okay...thanks." Wang Yao said, "I should go."

Ivan asked, "Shall I see you off?"

"No need."

"Be careful on the road." Ivan nodded.

"Yeah." Wang Yao turned around and left quickly, feeling a little disturbed for some reason.

It was already dark, and the lights in Shanghai were turned on one by one.

tbc