When Zhan arrived at the secret base, Xian Chu was already there, impatiently waiting for him. As soon as she saw him, she asked him, "After going to your ex-boyfriend's concert yesterday, are you finally ready to start the investigation for our mission?"

"It's not even quite 7 in the morning and you're already getting on my nerves. And I haven't even been here for one minute!" Zhan replied annoyed.

"Oh are you in a bad mood? Was your ex's concert that bad?"

"I got in a bad mood the moment I saw you. It has nothing to do with the concert or my ex. And just so you know, I didn't see the concert! Even though it's none of your business at all."

"But you had been there. I saw pictures and videos on the internet of the concert. In one picture, you're standing with a girl by the parking lot. And in several videos you can see your ex standing on stage calling your name. And you can be seen leaving the hall."

"Um, why is that any of your business?"

"Nothing at all. I was just interested because I like Wang Yibo's music too. Well, who knew he was gay and that my partner was his ex?"

"Don't you dare tell anyone that."

"What are you thinking? For one thing, I can't, because of our job. And for another, I don't hate you enough to destroy your career and Wang Yibo's career. However, I do have some advice for you. If your ex still means anything to you and you don't want his hard work to become an idol to be undone because it comes out that he's gay, you'd better stay away from him in the future."

"And you shouldn't get involved in things that are none of your business." Said the boss, who also just walked in the door. Xian Chu immediately winced and hurried to get to her desk.

"Thanks boss." Said Zhan quietly.

"You're welcome. But to be honest. Even though I hate to admit it, I think she's right. He is your ex and now world famous. And if you really don't want him back, get out of his way."

"Yes sir."

"Zhan, I mean no offense."

"I know sir."

"Stop with the sir! Go on, get to your work."

"Yes." Replied Zhan and went to his desk as well.

As Zhan sat at his desk, he remembered what else he wanted to ask Xian Chu. He called over to hers from his seat, "Hey Agent Xian? Did you find out in which boarding school in London the son is?"

"Were those 10 steps too much for you to come over and ask me? And yes, I did find out something. The son was in London until 7 days ago. But because the politician has huge debts and couldn't pay for the boarding school anymore, he had to bring his son back here. And I found out that although he enrolled his son in a school here, his son only came to school for one day and has been on sick leave since then." Shouted Xian Chu back.

Zhan got up from his seat and walked over to Xian Chu. "But the selfie of himself was posted online by the son less than a week ago. So it's safe to assume he posted it after the fact. Him or someone else."

"That's what I'm assuming, too. And there's another discrepancy. The boss found out yesterday that the politician has quite a bit of contact with shady businessmen."

"Meaning?"

"Well, these businessmen are primarily involved in illegal business. In addition, our fine politician owns shares in a company that does not actually exist. It is indeed in the commercial register. But under the registered address is nothing but farmland. Yet higher amounts of money from this alleged company regularly come into his account."

"Oh wow. Boss?"

"What is it?" Asked his boss.

"What did they say from the top? Do they want us to investigate further? If so, this could end badly for the politician."

"Well, I still passed on all the information we have so far last night and they said to go ahead. We're supposed to get everything out about him. And discreetly, of course."

"Discreetly? I'm not sure that's possible. If he's really involved in illegal business, he's not going to be stupid enough to let any strangers get close to him."

Xian Chu had been typing on her keyboard until just then, looked up and said, "There might be a way we can approach him."

"And which one?" Zhan and the boss asked at the same time.

"It's his birthday tomorrow and he's going to have a big party at his house. He invited many high-ranking politicians and businessmen." She explained.

"Mhhh, that's great. But what good does it do us?" Wanted to know the boss.

"Well, among the invited guests there are not only politicians and businessmen. There are some other guests, too."

"Do we know any of them? And if so, can they take us there and sneak us in?" Asked Zhan.

"We know one of the invited guests. But Agent Xiao, you're not going to like hearing who this guest is."

"Why?"

"Well, it is Wang Yibo."

"What?"

"He is on the guest list and his coming has already been confirmed by his management. And he doesn't have an escort. At least that's what it says here."

"So that means I should call Yibo and ask if he can take me, or both of us, and sneak in there so we can get closer to the politician?"

"Roughly speaking, yes."

"Damn."

"Can I be honest Zhan? You know I would always support you and never force you to do anything. But in this case, I have to ask you to contact Yibo. It's about our mission. Private matters must be kept out of it." Said the boss.

"Mhhh, all right. But give me some more time before I call him, okay? I need to prepare myself mentally. And it's still early in the morning now anyway. So he'll still be asleep anyway."

"Yeah, no problem. The main thing is you do it today."

"Yes boss."

"And Zhan? I know you can do it."

"I know that too. I'm more concerned about Yibo."

"Ah, I see."

"Yes. I'll continue here for now, though. I think we should do a background check on the wife as well. If the politician has really committed criminal acts, I'm sure not all crooked deals are in his name."

"Okay, then you do that. Xian Chu. You check the cell phones of all three of them. The politician, his wife, and his son. Maybe using the cell tower data, we can get a profile of their movements and find out when the son's cell phone was last on and where." Ordered the boss.

"Yeah, I'll do it boss." Said Xian Chu, typing on her keyboard again.

While Zhan was doing the background check on the wife and even found what he was looking for, he didn't even notice how time was passing. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't even feel hungry. It was then Xian Chu who made him aware at about 3 pm that they had all forgotten breakfast and lunch because of their eagerness to work. Only then did Zhan feel very hungry and his stomach immediately made itself heard.

The boss sent one of the younger colleagues to get something to eat from a Japanese restaurant and meanwhile the three sat together, drank tea and talked about the politician's wife. Zhan had explained, "She also owns shares in the company which does not exist. She also regularly pays higher amounts of money into her account in the form of cash. And this money then goes to a Swiss numbered account a few days later. What surprising is that she earns a lot of money in cryptocurrency. I couldn't find out if her husband has access to the money. And despite all the money, they are broke and have high debts. Moreover, they live in a mansion and have employees in the house. How do they pay for all this? And how can they finance a huge party for the politician's birthday?"

"So she's either deep into these illegal businesses herself, or her husband is handling the finances and she has no idea." Said Xian Chu.

"She must know something, though. After all, she deposits the cash into her account herself. These are not small amounts. And I guess she earns from cryptocurrency herself. I don't think her husband is doing that on her behalf." Said Zhan.

"So in short, a lot of money comes in every month and then disappears without a trace?" Asked the boss.

"Yeah, something like that."

"Mhhh, the Swiss numbered account thing is one thing. Finding the money is hard. But not impossible. However, we can't do anything until we can prove she committed a crime in this matter. And trading cryptocurrency is not prohibited for now. It depends on who she is trading with and with what. But that's going to be hard to figure out as well. What I'm most interested in right now is from where does the cash come that she regularly deposits into her account? And why doesn't she leave it in the account if the family has such high debts? Maybe that's exactly why? What do you think?"

Xian Chu shrugged her shoulders. "Where the cash may come from, I don't know. But maybe she doesn't leave it in the account so her husband can't gamble the money away?"

"Right now, I don't care about the money or where it came from. I care about whether the son was really kidnapped and if so, how we can free him. But I would also say that this mission is probably not as easy as we assumed. We have only been investigating since yesterday and we have already found out so much. Who knows what we'll find if we go deeper?" Replied Zhan.

Since the colleague came back with the food, they postponed the conversation until later and ate something first. Afterwards, Zhan went outside and for the first time regretted not being a smoker. Because at that moment, he would have loved to smoke a cigarette to calm down before calling Yibo.

With his heart pounding hard and his sweaty palms, Zhan dialed Yibo's number. He still had the same one since they had arrived in Seoul and his uncle had bought him the cell phone card, as Zhan knew from the countless emails from Yibo's uncle. And where he got that cell phone number from, too.

It rang only twice before Yibo answered the call. "Hello?" Yibo asked. Zhan thought his voice sounded a little sad and wondered if something had happened. But then he shook off those thoughts and refocused.

"Hello Yibo. It's me, Zhan." Zhan finally said after waiting a good 2 seconds to reply.

"ZhanZhan? Is it really you?"

"Zhan will be enough. And yes, it's me."

"You would not believe how happy I am that you are calling me."

"Mhhh. Maybe."

"So you're ready to talk now after all?"

"That's actually not why I'm calling you."

"Oh no?"

"No Yibo."

"Then why are you calling me?"

"I'd like to tell you in person because it's about my job. Do you maybe have time to come here to the office?"

There was nothing to be heard for a moment, and Zhan was beginning to think Yibo just hung up. 3, 4 and then 5 seconds passed with Yibo saying nothing. But then finally he replied, "Send me the address." And subsequently hung up. Zhan promptly wrote him the address in a message and somehow had a strange feeling.

Less than an hour later, Yibo arrived at the secret base of operations. One of the colleagues had taken him to the office of Zhan, Xian Chu and the boss. Xian Chu wanted to be the first to greet him and shake his hand, but Yibo ignored her and immediately walked toward Zhan. Wordlessly, Yibo wrapped his arms around him and clung to Zhan tightly for a moment. Then Yibo turned to the boss, saluted him, and wanted to know why he should come.

Xian Chu defiantly folded her arms in front of her chest and explained, "We know you're invited to a high politician's birthday party tomorrow night and don't have an escort yet. We have a mission that requires us to get closer to the politician. And because you're invited to this party, we were hoping you could take me along as your escort."

"Um Agent Xian, we haven't even..." Began Zhan.

"What is it now agent Xiao? What are you trying to piss me off with again now?" She asked angrily.

"Do you have to be like this again? Can't you just stay friendly for once?"

"Why should I? I already told you yesterday, I'm here to work and not-"

"Stop! Stop it!" Scolded the boss.

"So you want my help yes?" Yibo asked, giving Xian Chu a sinister look.

"Just to get into the party. From then on, I'll be fine on my own." Replied Xian Chu.

"Hahaha, yeah as if! Like I'm going to take you with me. This won't happen in a hundred years." Said Yibo shaking his head.

"And why not?"

"Well, if I'm going to help you, and I haven't decided yet, I'd just take Zhan with me. It's clear, isn't it?"

"Why is it clear? Agent Xiao and I are equal-ranking agents and both know our job."

"That may be. But I would still only take Zhan with me."

"Why?"

"As a super great agent, don't you realize that? I want to win Zhan back and I would do anything for him and take any opportunity to be with him. For Zhan, I would just do anything! But not for you. Especially not after you were just so rude to him. I guarantee he's a better agent than you! So how can you presume to say you're both good at your jobs?"

"What the hell? I'm a special agent for the government. How are you talking to me? You think you get this job if you don't have any skills?"

"Even if you were the King of England, I'd talk to you like this. I don't like you and that's it."

"Yibo, please calm down. So what Agent Xian just said was right so far. We can't tell you everything, but it's about the life of a 9 year old boy who seems to have been kidnapped." Said the boss.

"His son, right?" Asked Yibo.

"Yes. We have to help him. But unfortunately, the politician is playing a false game, claiming that his son has not been kidnapped."

"I see. Well, I would already like to help you. But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"I want you to include me in your mission. I want to work alongside Zhan. I've helped with a mission before and proved that I can do it. So if you want to go to the party, it's only if you agree to my condition."

"Zhan? You haven't said anything yet and you should decide for yourself." Said the boss.

"Since the life of an innocent child is at stake here, I'm willing to agree to that condition. As long as Yibo doesn't get in my way or pose a threat to our mission." Explained Zhan.

"ZhanZhan, I can do this and you know it." Replied Yibo.

"How would I know that? You helped us on a mission 5 years ago and yes, thanks to you we were able to complete the mission successfully. But since then you have had no further experience in this field. You're not a trained agent, and as an idol, you're difficult to use undercover."

"Fair enough. I'll just go with what you tell me okay?"

"Glad we got that cleared up."

"But just so you know ZhanZhan. I will still do my best to win you back. No matter what you say! I'm not going to be talked out of this! We belong together!"

Zhan coughed hard because he choked when he heard Yibo's words. "How can you just say something like that? Do you really think you can just win me back? Don't you think it's arrogant of you to think that you can come back after 5 years and say we belong together after you just ran away back then?" Zhan asked, coughing.

Xian Chu wanted to interfere and say something. But the boss covered her mouth and pulled her out of the office with him. Yibo stepped towards Zhan, pressed his index finger on Zhan's chest and said, "I know I have a lot to make up for. And I will. I am aware of my guilt. But still, I know we belong together. I still love you and I can feel that you still love me too. So you better get ready to be won back by me!"

"I think you must have been hit on the head too many times in the last 5 years. Otherwise you wouldn't just talk such nonsense."

"Think what you want Zhan. You know, I'm not the shy reserved naive man I was 5 years ago. I've matured and I know what I want. And I want you back. I know I hurt you then and I can't tell you how sorry I am and how many times I regretted just leaving. But I will prove to you that I am still worth to be loved by you! And now I have to go home to my mom. And both of us will see here tomorrow afternoon." Yibo leaned over, kissed Zhan's cheek, and left.

Zhan stood in the office, speechless. Was this still the Yibo he knew? And what do you suppose was going to happen while they were working together?