Xu Long stood rooted to the ground with horrendous eyes staring at his boss and the man wearing glasses. The corners of his lip twitch uncontrollably with a wish to strangle Qi Li to death.
He is Lu Tian's assistant and number one sidekick. Everything that needs to be reported always comes from him. Yet, at this moment, his position has been given to Qi Li.
How can this be? Is he getting replaced?
No, that's not possible.
Liu Shan took notice of the man's dumbstruck state and sighs. He walks over to Xu Long, locks one arm around the man's neck, and drags him (Xu Long) away.
"Quit crying over something so little. Can't you see, Qi Li was chosen because he isn't flexing his chest like the rest of us."
When Lu Tian greeted them, he (Liu Shan) was able to see the aloof man's expression from a mile away. He (Lu Tian) would repeatedly glance at their shirtless bodies. However, the more he (Lu Tian) looked, the more his expression turned dark, like something was making his blood boil.
He (Liu Shan) was sure that he wasn't the only one who noticed this because Lin Hui and the others from Alpha Team saw it too. He thought that since this was the case, Wolf Team should have the same thoughts since Lu Tian is their boss.
However, judging from Xu Long's reaction, maybe it was only him who didn't since he's not part of Alpha Team or Wolf Team.
Oblivious to this reason, Xu Long allows Liu Shan to pull away by the head. With himself walking backward now, he could only watch with teary eyes as his boss and Qi Li continue to conversate like they were closed acquaintances.
His lower lip trembles, and he wails into the sky with no tears to shed. Both his arms stretch forward like a baby being taken away from his mother.
"Boss! Save me! I am your assistant. Save me! Don't let them take me away! Wuuu."
Liu Shan rolled his eyes and walked away even faster. Behind him, Lin Hui stares at the crying assistant, and his face scrunches in vexation.
"What do you mean 'them'? It's only Shan who is dragging you."
"…"
Xu Long abruptly stops wailing, but his mouth remained widely open. Like a thermostat, his entire face turns red, and his eyes darts left and right. Seeing that those near staring at him with ridicule or pity, he lowers his eyes to the grass beneath him.
Grabbing Liu Shan's arm that held him in a chokehold, he raises it to cover his ashamed face. He thought that by doing this, no one will see him as he sobs silently.
However, what he did not know is, his little move only covered the top half of his face, leaving his trembling lips visible to anyone who saw.
Lu Tian ignored his assistant's wails as it was how Liu Shan said again. Out of all the people here, he chose Qi Li to fill him in on the report because he (Qi Li) was the only one adequately dressed.
As a person who prefers cleanliness, he wouldn't usually mind this since he and his men train in the field together. However, when he saw how well-built each person was and knowing his wife had seen what he saw, he couldn't help but eat a jar of vinegar.
However, understanding why these men were shirtless, he pushes aside his jealousy.
After all, his body is not inferior to any of the men here.
Looking at Qi Li, he was pleased that the young man knew how to keep his shirt.
"How is the process going?"
His deep voice sounds with no emotion and cold as ice. Qi Li looks at him without feeling intimidated. He turns to face the house and points at specific locations.
"We've added escape doors to these parts of the house. In total, there are five on the first floor, but with the short time given, we've only completed three. In the study room upstairs, we are still in the process of gathering the equipment needed to add in a secret room for weapons."
As Qi Li continues to give the report, Lu Tian listens as he stares at each location pinpointed.
In the distance from the two men, everyone looked like they had returned to their previous tasks. However, all heads couldn't help but stare in the direction of Lu Tian and Qi Li.
Huan Min, a member of Wolf Team's sniper group, stood with a level tool in hand like a cane. He crosses one leg over the other and stares with a slight frown.
"Is it just me, or does boss and the kid look like brothers?"
Hearing his question, Jiangyu, who was about to climb up to sit in the excavator, stops. He turns his head and looks at his boss. He hates to admit it, but Huan Min was right.
Compare to his boss and Lu Han being brothers, anyone who didn't know would think Qi Li is the spitting image of Lu Tian.
"Man, they really do look alike. Even their personality is the same. So cold and bone-chilling."
Yiqing and Shaofeng walk over to join the two men as they stare in one direction. However, noticing something, Yiqing stroke his chin like an old man.
"Did you guys notice something about the members of Fate?"
"Notice what?"
Shaofeng asks when he heard the question. He looks around at the people who were not a part of Wolf Team. Seeing nothing out of place, he scratched the side of his head.
"I guess they look normal?"
Like the young man, Jiangyu and Huan Min also looked at the seven people from Fate. However, unlike Shaofeng, they were able to see what Yiqing was referring to.
"Tattoos."
Both men spoke at the same time, and Yiqing nods his head. He takes a step to the side and leans on the excavator as he stares at Liu Shan, then Lin Hui. His line of sight doesn't stay on them for too long before he looks at the other four shirtless men from Alpha Team.
"If I didn't know who they were, I would have never thought them to be from Fate at all."
Jiangyu, Huan Min, and Shaofeng couldn't help but agree with Yiqing. When they all met for the first time, it really shook them to know that such simple looking people like Liu Shan and the others were from Fate.
However, now that they've become closer as comrades, everything made sense.
Each person from Fate has their own dark past. When they have their shirts on, they look like an average person getting by with life. However, underneath those clothes are the tattoos that told their past or who they were.
Shaofeng's eyes opened wide when he saw how detailed Liu Shan and others' tattoos were. He was amazed and curious to the point he suddenly felt like getting a tattoo too.
Seeing the young man's eyes beaming with plans, Huan Min shook his head while Jiangyu pats Shaofeng's head.
"Kid, if you want a tattoo, wait until you're older."
Being treated like a child, Shaofeng pout with a sulking expression. He pushes Jiangyu's hand away from messing up his hair and raises his head to act like he was taller.
"I am older. This year I turned 24."
Jiangyu, Yiqing, and Huan Min stare at Shaofeng in silence, but that didn't last long when each person lets out a laugh.
"Alright, you're older now. Then let's wait until you are 25 to get a tattoo."
Shaofeng glares at the three older men. He knows that they were only joking with him since he's the youngest amongst all Wolf Team members. However, he is already an a.d.u.l.t and can make his own decisions.
Turning his head to look at Liu Shan, an idea came to him. Maybe he should ask the assistant where he got his tattoo done.
As he thought about this, he looks in Qi Li's direction, who is still discussing the report with his boss. He tilts his head a little to the side and ponders before speaking.
"All the other six have tattoos, but what about him?"
"Ask him, and maybe he will show you."
A voice sounds from behind the four men staring in one direction. Shaofeng didn't turn to see who spoke and answers without thinking.
"Maybe I will ask him."
"Huan Min, can I borrow that leveler for a second?"
The same voice sounds again, but this time to Huan Min, who was still using the level tool as a cane. When he heard the question, he uncrosses his legs and hands the level tool to the person.
"Oh, my bad, Gui Zhongmin. Here, I'll ask for it when I need it later."
He subconsciously glances at Gui Zhongmin then back at Qi Li. However, the second he turned his head away, his eyes slightly widen, and he does a double-take at the stylist who was already walking away.
Not only him but the other three as well.
They had been so curious about whether Qi Li has a tattoo or not that they didn't even hear Gui Zhongmin walk up to them.
Yiqing pats his chest like he just received the shock of his life and raised his other hand to wipe his forehead.
"Man, these guys really know how to give someone a heart attack."
Jiangyu stares at Gui Zhongmin's departing figure, and he heaves a long sigh.
"Alright, that's enough. Let's get back to why we're here."
He doesn't mind discussing the topic some more, but the sun was setting. When he saw Gui Zhongmin, he felt a sense of guilt. He and the other three men here were slacking off while others continue to work hard.
Paying no more mind to Yiqing, Shaofeng, and Huan Min, he climbs up to sit on the excavator.
As he reaches to turn the vehicle on, he subconsciously glances at the setting sun, and he suddenly felt a tingling ache in his heart.
Although Liu Shan, Lin Hui, and Alpha Team were here, it was only the men. Ju Suo and Lian Ni Shang were told not to come.
Thinking about his Ju Suo, Jiangyu sighs, depressingly inside as he really wants to see his little monkey.
