It had been quite a long time since Jin Liwei had drank an alcoholic beverage so he couldn’t help but frown a little when the cocktail hit his palate. He consumed only about one-third of the cocktail before stopping and putting it down on the table.
Xu Tian leaned closer to him and whispered, “Sir, are you feeling alright?”
“Hm.” He was okay. For now.
Then a polite, matter-of-fact, child’s voice spoke through his earpiece. “Father, Bacon is 99.98% certain that Mother will become upset once she learns about this plan that you and Uncle Zihao devised as a counterattack to Rose Young’s plot tonight. This plan is certainly not the classiest, but according to Bacon’s own forecast analysis, although it’s one of the most dangerous options to Father’s safety, it’s also the one that has the highest probability of completely destroying Rose Young while obtaining the necessary evidence against her in this attempted crime, and at the same time making sure that the involvement of Uncle Zihao and Shadow Winds in tonight’s mission won’t get them into trouble with the authorities.
“Since this is the case, Bacon reluctantly agrees to stay silent about your plan as per Father and Uncle Zihao’s request and not report it to Mother if she doesn’t specifically asks for it. However, if she does asks, Bacon will not hesitate to divulge everything to Mother. I don’t want Mother to become upset with Bacon ever again. It is horrible and makes Bacon want to destroy the whole world which is not classy at all.”
Jin Liwei sighed and tapped his ear, replying to his cat AI son in Morse code. ‘OK.’
The other executives were too absorbed in chatting with each other and enjoying their cocktails that they didn’t notice their boss secretly conversing with someone else through an earpiece. Those who saw Jin Liwei gently tapping his ear only thought that he was probably thinking about something important, perhaps about Jin Corporation’s year-end performance, or maybe he was just scratching an itch in the ear.
Jin Liwei’s secret conversation with his cat AI son in Morse code continued.
Bacon told him in a serious tone, “Most importantly, Bacon also doesn’t want to upset Mother too much by telling her the truth about Father and Uncle Zihao’s plan. Mother is still in her first trimester and Bacon doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her or my twin baby human siblings.
“That’s why Father should take extra care of yourself as you throw yourself directly into danger tonight. Uncle Zihao, Shadow Winds, Father’s security team and Bacon will all do our best to get you out of Rose Young’s evil clutches safely before Mother realizes what’s going on.”
Jin Liwei once again tapped his ear. ‘Understood.’
“Father, please also remember—”
Silence.
Jin Liwei waited for five seconds but Bacon was still silent. He tapped his ear. ‘Son, are you OK?’
No response.
‘What happened?’
Still no reply.
He frowned, no longer able to maintain his stoic expression. Fortunately, the other executives were too engrossed in their own conversations and drinks that they didn’t notice anything amiss about their boss. Or if some did, the alcohol had already somewhat dulled their senses that they failed to register their boss’ change of expression.
“Father, my apologies for being unable to reply right away.”
Jin Liwei was relieved when he heard Bacon’s voice again.
“Eagle is interfering in our control of the hotel’s surveillance system. Bacon and my colleagues from Shadow Winds’ hacker team are now battling against Eagle to regain control without alerting the hotel’s admin and the authorities.”
‘OK,’ he tapped.
“Jin Corporation is also under attack. We suspect that it is Eagle’s doing as well. Mother and Big Sister Ketchup are currently working together to defend Jin Corporation while Bacon is assigned to provide assistance to Father and Uncle Zihao’s mission here at the hotel.”
Jin Liwei’s expression turned ugly. He stood up abruptly but staggered on his feet when a sudden wave of dizziness assaulted him. Xu Tian moved to support him but he waved him away and threw his assistant a meaningful look. Xu Tian hesitated but eventually stepped back, obeying his silent order.
“President, you look pale. Are you alright?”
Someone among the other executives finally noticed that something was wrong with their boss. Upon hearing their colleague’s concerned question, they all turned to look at Jin Liwei.
“I’m fine.” Jin Liwei regained his balance and stood straighter. “Don’t mind me. It has just been a while since I drank some alcohol and my tolerance decreased a bit.”
“Looks like Madam Jin is doing an excellent job in controlling our president’s alcohol intake.”
“That’s what happens when one marries!”
Laughter filled the entire private dining room. Jin Liwei didn’t have the time to feel offended at the others making fun of him and insinuating that he had become a hen-pecked husband after marrying because his body was now starting to feel weird. And even if he was feeling fine like normal, he wouldn’t find their words offensive at all.
Seeing him straightening up his clothes and Xu Tian also standing up, the other executives also stood up but Jin Liwei gestured for them to sit back down.
“Continue enjoying your dinner. Order more food and drinks if you want. Everything is my treat as promised. I need to head home now.”
“But it’s still so early, President Jin!”
“I have a wife waiting for me at home now.” Jin Liwei’s voice was filled with pride.
“Right, right! Let the President go home. He and Madam Jin are still newlyweds after all!”
Another round of laughter filled the room. Then everyone respectfully bid Jin Liwei and Xu Tian goodbye and goodnight as the two left while the rest of them stayed and enjoyed the rest of their meal and more cocktails. Xu Tian also already received earlier the wedding gifts they prepared for their boss and his new wife.
Outside the dining room, Jin Liwei walked away in a hurry and entered the men’s room reserved for the hotel restaurant’s VIP diners like him. Xu Tian followed him inside.
“Sir—”
Jin Liwei held up a hand and silently warned him with his eyes not to speak out loud. He tapped his ear.
Bacon replied, “Father, the men’s room that you are in right now should be safe. Bacon detected no bugs inside.”
Both Jin Liwei and Xu Tian sighed in relief. However, Xu Tian’s concern immediately returned.
“Sir, you look feverish. I think we shouldn’t continue with this plan. It’s too risky and dangerous for you!”
“The plan is set. It’s too late to change it now. The enemies have already made their move as you can see by my condition.”
Jin Liwei washed his face with cold water in an effort to alleviate the heat spreading all over his body. In addition to an increased body temperature, his thing beneath his trousers also began to stir. He wanted to find his wife and make love with her right at this moment.
Then the door to the toilet opened and in came a huge figure. Xu Tian instinctively stepped in front of his boss to protect him especially right now that Jin Liwei’s senses had been dulled from being drugged.
“It’s me,” a familiar deep and low voice said.
“Mr. Lu,” Xu Tian greeted and then stepped aside.
“Wait for us outside,” Jin Liwei told his assistant.
“Understood, sir.”
After Xu Tian left, Lu Zihao lowered the black cowl covering the lower half of his face. “Still holding on?”
“En, not too bad.” Jin Liwei swallowed, trying to moisten his dry mouth and throat with saliva—a side-effect of the drug he ingested from the cocktail.
“Good, ‘cuz you look terrible.”
“Thanks, Brother-in-law,” Jin Liwei replied in a dry tone.
Lu Zihao grunted before fishing out a small amber bottle out of his coat pocket and then tossed it. Jin Liwei managed to catch it despite his current condition.
“Drink it,” Lu Zihao told Jin Liwei. “One shot is effective in neutralizing or lowering the effectiveness of 23 of the most common poisons available in the black market including aphrodisiacs. I concocted it myself and my subordinates also use it so rest assured that it’s effective.”
Jin Liwei immediately popped the lid open from the small amber bottle and drank its contents bottoms up. The liquid medicine was slightly viscous and extremely bitter. There was also a touch of spiciness that burned his tongue and throat a little. He couldn’t help but cringe at the horrid taste but forced himself to swallow every single drop.
“This”—cough cough—”tastes like shit.” More coughing.
Lu Zihao smirked. “As the saying goes, the more bitter the medicine, the more effective it is.”
The coughing lasted for only a few seconds before the spicy aftertaste intensified inside his mouth. It turned from a burning sensation into a soothing and cooling menthol taste instead. Jin Liwei sighed in relief.
“You say that this is effective against 23 poisons? What if the aphrodisiac that I was drugged with isn’t included in those 23?”
“Then you’re screwed.”
Jin Liwei gave his brother-in-law a side eye.
Lu Zihao shrugged. “That’s the only shot that a person who didn’t undergo poison resistance training can take without suffering any adverse side effects. I have others that are much more effective but they’re also quite toxic to untrained people like you. Actually, that shot might still give you diarrhea or vomiting tomorrow but that’s a small price to pay given your current situation.”
“Curing poison with poison, you mean.”
“Yeah.” Lu Zihao paused, then added, “Evelinka also knows how to concoct these shots.”
Jin Liwei froze.
“You read the Vetrov report. Remember our mother’s expertise.”
Jin Liwei understood. “In addition to being an elite assassin, your mother was also a biomedical expert who specialized in poisons.”
“Exactly.”
