As the two sat in the car, Zhan asked, "What do you think of Agent Xian?"

Yibo looked at him questioningly and wanted to know, "Why are you asking me that? It's obvious, isn't it? I don't trust her. I think she has more secrets than she should. Don't you think so?"

"Mn. I see it the same way you do. I watched her earlier when the politician declared he had poisoned the champagne. She did what any agent would do in our country. She took her little round pillbox out of her purse and took a red pill. But she took it secretly, pretending that her life was still in danger."

"Red pill? For what?"

Zhan took out a small blue round tin from the inside pocket of his jacket and told Yibo to open it. Yibo did so and saw there, three green pills, three oranges and three red pills. "These are the pills every agent has with us. The green pills are for known mild poisonings. The orange ones are for stronger poisons. And the red pills are for strong and unknown poisons of any kind. So it's an antidote."

"I see. And she took a red pill, so she's not in any danger of dying at all?"

"Correct. But then why is she still pretending to be poisoned? I set a trap for her and told her that she was also poisoned and better stay there. She didn't say she was taking the antidote and immediately agreed. I just don't know why she lied."

"Mhhh, I don't know that either. But let's change the subject. Do you trust He Peng?"

"No, of course not."

"But then why did you free him too?"

"Because I don't trust him doesn't mean he's innocent. I suspect he was dragged into the whole thing. There were no names on the invitation cards. So I'm assuming someone gave him the invitation to the party to distract from himself and make him a scapegoat."

"The CEO of the company he works for?"

"Mn. And I think we should call headquarters now and get some information from Wong Chang."

"Okay. I'll dial." Replied Yibo.

After the second ring, someone answered the phone at headquarters. "Agent Xiao. What can I help you with?" Asked the man.

Zhan explained to him what had happened that evening and where they were currently headed. "I want a background check on Wong Chang." He said.

The sound of typing on a keyboard could be clearly heard. Shortly after, the agent on the phone explained, "Wong Chang, married to Wong Gina. It is the second marriage of the two and it has been going on for a year. The two have a daughter, Wong Anna. She is the stepdaughter of Wong Chang. He also has a son with whom he has regular contact. His name is Huang Hu. His ex-wife's name is Huang Yen. They took the name of his mother's new husband. Wong Chang is a successful businessman. Although his company is very small, with about 30 employees, the business is doing very well. Wong Gina is active in her husband's company as a consultant. Um, about their finances. Mhhh, that's strange."

"What's strange?" Asked Zhan.

"Although the company is doing well, they've been having money problems lately. The taxes on their land for the company and their house, have increased drastically. In addition, they are really bombarded with fines for all kinds of things. It seems to me that someone is targeting the Wong's."

"So someone is practically trying to persuade them to do something by making their lives miserable?" Asked Yibo.

"Yeah, looks like it."

"And what about their son?" Wanted to know Zhan.

"Oh that's interesting too. Apparently he attends the same boarding school where your target's son was. Hold on, I'll take a look at the files." Silence and typing noises followed for two minutes, then the agent continued, "So it looks like the target's son and Huang Hu weren't exactly friends. The student files say that Huang Hu was often bullied by your target's son. It was so bad that they wanted to expel him from the boarding school. But then he had to leave the boarding school after the politician could no longer pay for the place in the boarding school. Apparently, the politician's wife complained and demanded that Huang Hu also leave the boarding school. It doesn't say why, though."

"Well, it looks like we have another link to the son's kidnapping. If he really is where we think he is, then we know who is responsible for the kidnapping. How far are you with the guests at the birthday party?" Asked Zhan.

"Nothing new yet. Our agents and special police forces, are on the scene. But so far they have not intervened. It seems there is a problem. Do you want me to keep you informed?"

"No, not necessary. We'll go to the company now and see if the boy is there. Then we'll go back to the politician's house."

"All right. Good luck."

"Thanks." Said Zhan and Yibo ended the conversation.

"Do you think we'll find Jing Baihu in the basement of the company?" Wanted to know Yibo.

"I hope so. And I hope he's all right. He was kidnapped over a week ago and we don't know what conditions he's being held in or if he's even alive. However, I don't suppose they would really hurt him. They are parents themselves and so I hope they have been good to the boy. Even if he was bullying Wong Huang's son."

"I guess we can't do more than hope. Why do you think they chose He Peng as a scapegoat?"

"Good question. Maybe because he's expendable as a lowly office worker? I guess we won't know until we ask the kidnappers."

"Mn. ZhanZhan?"

"Yes?"

"At first, I only wanted to join the mission because of you, so I could be close to you. But now I really want to find out the truth about everything, save the boy, and put the politician and his wife behind bars."

"Good attitude."

"And thanks to you, I don't have to worry about anything happening to me either. Because you're looking out for me."

"Of course I do."

"ZhanZhan?"

"Yes?"

"Could you stay by my side until the mission is over?"

"I am by your side after all."

"No, I mean... well, could you also stay with me when we're not investigating?"

"You mean..."

"I just don't want to be alone. My mom's back with my dad, and in the big new apartment, I feel kind of strange and alone."

"And how did you imagine that?"

"Could you stay with me? I mean, at my apartment?"

"We'll see. First we'll find the boy and then we'll see."

"Thank you."

"Mn. Oh I think we're there." Said Zhan, pointing to He Peng, who pulled into the parking lot of a small business. They followed him, parked their car as well and got out.

They walked to the front door, which He Peng opened with his key card. There were no security guards, so they could just go downstairs to the basement. And as He Peng had said, a lock had been put on the basement door. However, Zhan had no trouble picking the lock. With the right tool, which he always has with him, the lock was broken in less than 10 seconds.

Zhan entered the basement as the first person and was about to turn on the flashlight on his phone when he saw a streak of light at the bottom of a door. He pointed to the door, turned on his flashlight on his cell phone, and walked to the door. Yibo and He Peng followed him.

Arriving at the door, Zhan listened first. But he could not hear anything. So he knocked on the door and listened again. He could hear something very soft, but he could not make out what it was. Carefully he tried to open the door, but it was locked. So he used his precious tool again and opened the door.

And then, in the glare of a spotlight, he saw the kidnapped son of the politician lying on a cot. He was bound hand and foot and had a gag. Startled, he looked at Zhan. "Don't worry. We are here to free you." Said Zhan softly.

Jing Baihu nodded and began to sob. Zhan and Yibo untied the bonds and gag while He Peng watched in case someone came. When Zhan and Yibo freed the boy, he literally jumped into Zhan's arms and cried. Yibo gently stroked his hair and said, "We'll take you home okay?"

The boy nodded. "Do you know who kidnapped you?" Zhan wanted to know from him as he carried him outside.

"I think it was Huang Hu's parents, the Wong's. They said they wanted to teach my dad a lesson." Replied Jing Baihu.

"A lesson. Mhhh, and did they tell you why?" Asked Zhan calmly. They reached the parking lot and the cars.

"No. They just said my dad is a very Bad Man and must be punished." Explained the boy. Zhan put him in the back seat of his car and Yibo sat next to him. Then Zhan reported to headquarters and was instructed to first take the boy to the hospital to be examined. Meanwhile, headquarters would make sure the politician and his wife learned that their son had been found.

After 20 minutes, they reached the hospital. Zhan carried the boy inside and immediately two doctors and three nurses joined them to examine the boy. They took him to an examination room and just a few minutes later the politician and his wife appeared, accompanied by the police.

Because they poisoned and imprisoned their guests, they were arrested after they learned that their son was okay and surrendered. Agent Xian personally took over the arrest and arrived at the hospital shortly after them. At the same time as she arrived, several ambulances also arrived, containing the guests from the party.

As it turned out, the poison was not really poison. It was merely laxative. The elderly man died of heart failure because the uproar was too much for him. And the woman who held her throat and choked, choked because she had eaten something and it got stuck in her throat. Unfortunately, no one realized what had happened to her and so she died, because everyone thought it was because of the poison and no one thought that something could be stuck in her throat.

After Zhan gave his statement to the police officers, as well as Yibo and He Peng, the three of them were able to leave. He Peng was glad that he could help and just wanted to go home. However, Zhan and Yibo had to go back to the secret base and write a report. They thanked He Peng because without him they would not have found the boy and asked him not to say anything to anyone that Zhan and Agent Xian, were agents and they were after the politician and his wife. He Peng immediately promised, he wanted nothing more to do with all this.

Arriving at the secret base, Zhan wrote his report. Yibo sat next to him. He was so exhausted from all the excitement that he had fallen asleep and was sleeping with his head leaning against Zhan's shoulder. However, he did not sleep for more than 30 minutes until Agent Xian came bragging that he had arrested the politician and his wife.

Zhan just shook his head. But Yibo was angry that she was pretending to be a hero. He asked her, "And what good will that do? How long will they stay in custody until their lawyers get them out of there? Do you have any evidence of their illegal business yet? If not, then you should stop acting like a hero, right?"

"What do you want from me now? First of all, they're in custody. That gives us time to find evidence." Agent Xian replied.

"It's too late for that. I've just heard they've already been to the arresting judge and he's let them out on bail." Said the boss, who had also just arrived.

"What?" Agent Xian asked in shock.

"How long did you think this was going to take? And do you really think the prosecution will do anything? And even if they do, they're dragging this out for years, during which the two of them can continue to be free and live their lives of luxury."

"But they have..."

"That's enough agent Xian! And one more thing. I'm pulling you off this mission! You put the mission in danger today with your independent intervention. On top of that, you outed yourself as an agent for the arrest. That means you can't work on the mission anymore anyway. I received instructions from our bosses at the top to send you on a new mission. So you should go home now, pack your bags, and prepare to fly to Cuba first thing tomorrow morning at 7 am, where you'll get further instructions on your mission on the ground from an agent."

"Cuba? You are sending me to Cuba?"

"Yes agent Xian. Since you like to work alone and have proven you're not a team player, I'm sure it's fine for you to work alone on a mission. And it's also safer for our agents when you're away. I thought if I gave Agent Xiao as a partner, you would make a good team. But instead, you did your own thing, put the mission in danger, put Agent Xiao and Yibo in danger, and outed yourself, and that's even though the investigation has just begun. If it is so important to you to get fame for your work, then go to Cuba, do the mission and complete it successfully. And then you will get the fame and recognition you so eagerly want."

"But..."

"Just go. You don't have much time left. You can email your report. I don't want to see you here in the office anymore. So get out!" Shouted the boss.

Agent Xian grabbed her purse and left. Zhan and Yibo looked at each other, smiled, and Yibo then asked the boss, "So I guess you don't like her either."

"I hate her is more like it. Are you guys okay?" Asked the boss.

"Yes, very well." Replied Yibo with a bright smile.

"I see. I'm glad to hear that. You guys have done a good job. Keep up the good work. You can go now, too. Get some rest."

"Thank you boss." Yibo and Zhan replied at the same time. The boss laughed, waved to both of them and left.

Since Zhan had finished writing his report, they also went on their way. This time they took Yibo's car. For they drove together to Yibo's apartment. Once there, they went to take showers. Since Yibo has two bathrooms, they could take showers at the same time. Afterwards, when Yibo came into the living room and saw Zhan standing by the stereo, he asked Zhan, "What are you going to do? Do you still want to listen to music? Aren't you tired yet?"

"I am tired. But I still owe you a dance, don't I?"

"Oh right."

"So, let's dance." Said Zhan, holding his arm outstretched to Yibo. Yibo grabbed his hand and then snuggled close to Zhan. They danced to a slow quiet ballad and then they went to bed. Zhan stayed in the guest room and Yibo was in his room. Yibo fell asleep smiling because now after that night, he knows that not all is lost and maybe Zhan will give him a chance after all.

A/N: If you like the book so far, feel free to leave a like or comment. Both are possible as well of course hihi.😘