When Yibo and his mom arrived at his parents' house, his dad came out of the house. While Yibo's mom got out of the car, however, Yibo refused to get out himself. He wasn't ready to talk to his dad again. After all, it had only been a few hours since he spoke to his father and walked out of the conversation angry.

So he just waited until his mom and dad got the bags out of the trunk and wanted to leave right away. His dad, however, stood right in front of his car and asked him to stay and listen several times. Yibo yelled to get out of the way and didn't feel like talking, but his dad continued to refuse to let Yibo drive.

In the end, his mom intervened and told her husband, "Let him drive. He needs time to forgive you. And besides, he has an important thing to do tomorrow. So get out of the way and just let him drive."

His father stepped aside and as Yibo drove slowly past him, he called out to him, "I'm sorry son. Please forgive me." Yibo didn't stop, however, and continued driving. He felt a little ashamed of his behavior, though. Especially because he himself knows how it is to make a big mistake and hope the other person will listen and forgive you.

But at that moment Yibo was just not ready and not prepared to talk to his father. Not after all this had happened only a few hours ago. So he acted on his gut. And that told him to go home, rest, and prepare for the meeting with Zhan. Because the very next day he would see Zhan again and they would spend time together. Even if it was just work for Zhan.

After Yibo got home, it was already quite late and he was very tired. He ate a little of the food his mom had prepared and put in the fridge for him, took a shower, and then lay down in his bed. This time he didn't lie awake for a while, as he often did. This time he fell asleep right away.

The next day, it was already shortly after 10 am, Yibo woke up and first wrote to his manager that he should not make any appointments in the coming days, because he wants to use the free time to take care of some private matters and relax before the shooting of the series starts. He was relieved that the start of shooting was postponed by three weeks due to some disagreements. So he had 3 weeks more time, which he probably would need if he wants to get closer to Zhan.

Around 2 pm, Yibo's stylist arrived. She did Yibo a light make up, styled his hair and had the suit with her that he should wear in the evening at the birthday party. A courier still brought Yibo the matching shoes, which had to be delivered later. As is often the case, the suit and shoes were on loan from a designer that Yibo was promoting by wearing them. This, Yibo learned, is a customary course of action from which the idol and the designer benefit.

Two hours later, so around 4 pm, Yibo made his way to the secret base and Zhan. He was very excited and had to be careful not to drive too fast, just because he couldn't wait to see Zhan. He had just been waiting too long for an opportunity like this where he could finally spend time with Zhan.

Arriving at the secret base, one of the agents took him to the office of Zhan, his partner and his boss. When he entered the office, however, only Zhan was there. Yibo looked at him and was so stunned that he just looked at him speechless for a moment. Because Zhan was styled from head to toe. A fine black suit and matching shoes from a brand designer. Hair styled and accessories like a gold necklace and a gold ring on his middle finger, rounded out Zhan's styling perfectly.

"You look surprised." Said Zhan amused as Yibo stared at him with his mouth open.

"I am, too. You look amazing." Replied Yibo a little embarrassed.

"Thanks. So are you."

"Oh um thanks ZhanZhan."

"Well, until it starts we still have time. So I suggest I explain what we know so far about the politician and his family."

"Mn. Okay I'm ready." Said Yibo and sat down on a free chair at Zhan's desk.

Zhan explained to him in great detail what they had found out so far and Yibo listened intently. At the end of his explanation, Zhan asked him, "Did you understand everything? Do you realize now how important this mission is?"

"I understand everything. And yes, I realize how important this mission is. But I knew that before. Because otherwise you wouldn't have called me and asked for help."

"True."

"So that means it's about several things at once? First, finding out if the son was really kidnapped and if so, rescuing him. And finding out what illegal business the politician and his wife are involved in?"

"Exactly. It's a matter of finding out exactly what they're involved in. And also whether or not they are knowingly doing illegal business."

"Honestly, with what you just told me, it's rather unlikely that they didn't know what they were doing. I mean he's deep in debt and still has enough money to go gambling with, but not enough money to keep paying for the son's boarding school? And where does all the cash come from that his wife regularly deposits into her account and which is then transferred to a Swiss numbered account? In addition, there is the matter of the son. He claims that his son is still in London at boarding school. But he is not there anymore. He enrolled him in a private school here, but the son only attended for one day and hasn't since."

"Right. There are too many inconsistencies in this case. First and foremost, of course, is finding out where the son is."

"I get it. Do you think he was really kidnapped?"

"Well, the witness who testified to the police seemed credible. He was right about the debt. Besides, no one has seen the son. And it's been several days."

"Who is this witness and how does he know all this?"

"Well, as it turned out, the witness is the brother of the politician's wife. He stated that he put a private detective on his brother-in-law and sister, and he found out all this. And so he's considered credible."

"Ah okay."

"Apparently the brother and his brother-in-law never got along well. He explained that a few weeks ago he overheard a conversation between his sister and brother-in-law and it involved a lot of money. That's when he started to get suspicious. In addition, his sister was suddenly acting unusually reserved towards him and always seemed tense around him. He wanted to know what was going on with her and her husband and whether he could help his sister in any way. But since she wouldn't tell him anything, he hired a private detective. And when he found out that his nephew was no longer in London and he wanted to visit his nephew, they lied to him and said he was still in London. His private detective then found out that the nephew was kidnapped. And that's when he decided to go to the police."

"Wow, luckily the boy has such a good uncle."

"Mn."

"ZhanZhan?"

"Yes?"

"I promise to support you well in this mission and not to stand in your way. I want to save the boy as much as you do. So I'll do what you tell me to do."

"Good to know."

"I know you're still mad at me and I'm sure you don't trust me anymore either. But I want you to know that I'm going to do everything I can to help you forgive me and to help you trust me again."

"Yibo..."

"Yeah, I get it. It's been five long years. I made a big mistake back then and just ran away. I've always regretted it. I really have. But at the time I was just overwhelmed with everything. Suddenly there was talk of marriage and then I remembered all the things I still wanted to accomplish in my life. I don't know why, but I panicked and acted impulsively and ran away."

"I know."

"I should have talked to you then."

"Yeah."

"But I was so confused that I thought running away was better."

"I know."

"Is there anything else you can say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know. Just not only, I know."

"All right. You yourself just said what your mistakes were. You've acknowledged your mistakes, which is good. But that doesn't mean I forgive you for it or want you back. It's true, I still care about you. But that's not enough to forgive and forget everything. And just so you know. When I read your farewell letter, I could understand you. So that you wanted to make your wishes and dreams come true. I knew you would go your way and make it. However, I was disappointed in you because you just ran away instead of talking to me. I wouldn't have stopped you if you had explained it to me. I would have let you go. But the way you did it, it just broke my heart. Because it felt like betrayal to me. It felt like your feelings for me weren't honest. We had plans together, remember? You wanted to become an agent? The Keno Academy offered you a place in agent training. You wanted me to help you train. But then you ran off in the middle of the night and disappeared without a trace. What was I supposed to think? How was I supposed to feel? And now you come back here after 5 years and say you want me to forgive you and take you back. Have you even asked me what I have been doing for the past few years? Do you even care or are you just thinking about yourself?"

A tear rolled down Yibo's cheek. He averted his gaze from Zhan and wiped the tear, and others that followed that one tear, with a handkerchief. Zhan was right. He was only thinking about himself and didn't even think to ask Zhan how he was doing and how he had spent the past 5 years. "I'm sorry." Broke out Yibo with difficulty. His throat ached, for a large lump had settled in it as he tried to hold back his tears.

"Now don't cry. You're messing up your makeup."

Yibo shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever."

"Look, I didn't say that to make you cry. I just wanted to open your eyes to my point of view."

"I know." There seemed to be no end to the tears.

"Do you want me to tell you what I did when you ran away?"

"What did you do?"

"I packed my things and left the country."

"What?"

"I asked my boss for a mission and I left the country. I hadn't been here in five years. I was in Europe and Eastern Europe and had several missions. I basically worked for 5 years straight and just got back a few weeks ago myself."

"Really?"

"Mn. And you know what? Your uncle found out my secret email address and wrote me everything you did as an Anonymous user."

Yibo turned around to Zhan. "So he lied to me. He said he couldn't find you, doesn't know where you are or how to contact you."

"Maybe he had a good reason for not telling you. Maybe he wanted you to focus on fulfilling your desires and dreams. To achieve your goals."

"Yeah, maybe. That would fit him. And what were those missions?"

"Well, I can't give you the details. But I managed to put some very bad people behind bars."

"And how have you been otherwise? Is there anyone...well, have you met anyone new?"

"My past five years have consisted of working, eating and sleeping. And no, there's no one new. I didn't have time for that at all."

"And why did you leave the country then?"

"Well, I guess I was just as impulsive as you. I just wanted to get away."

"So we're not so different in that."

"True."

"My mom said you were in contact with her."

"Yeah right. I've been calling her periodically."

"Mn. She told me about it. And also that you supported her financially."

"Yes I did. I wanted her to be able to continue her physical therapy and treat herself to something nice once in a while. Since I was financially supported by the agency and didn't need to use my salary, I could afford to support your mom."

"I really appreciate that."

"That's okay."

"And thank you for putting me in my place for only thinking about myself."

"I can understand you a little bit. You were excited and made it your goal to get me back."

"Right. That's all I was thinking about."

"I know. Um, I think we should go over the final details now and then get on the road soon."

"Okay." Replied Yibo. His tears had dried and he was relieved that Zhan was talking to him. Even though Zhan ended the conversation just at the point when it was about the two of them.

They discussed how they wanted to proceed that evening and what they had to pay attention to. Then one of Zhan's colleagues helped Yibo fix his makeup and finally the two of them set off together.