In the late-night, while Yue Ling prepared dinner for her and Lu Tian, a loud thud echoes inside the half-empty house back at their home.
Xu Long stood up from the empty living room floor, and both his fists lands on his h.i.p.s. He raises his chin up like a proud man and grins down at the three men sitting in front of him.
"Alright, boys. We got the cue to go. Let's get this show going."
Liu Shan, Lin Hui, and Qi Li stares up at the assistant with a dumbfounded expression.
After Liu Shan finished setting up the surveillance monitors in one of the spare rooms, they decided to go through their bosses' refrigerator to cook themselves dinner. However, just when they were about to eat and sit at the dining table, one of the monitors put up beeped in alert and sent a warning message to Liu Shan's phone.
At first, they thought it might be someone from Wolf Team or Alpha team coming back to join them in the sleepover, but Liu Shan knows his equipment better than anyone else.
The warning that sounded was to let them know if someone had entered the premises by climbing over the fence.
When he and Qi Li checked the monitors, they could see two unidentified vehicles with turned off headlights. The two cars were parked at a short distance on the road, while they could see six silhouettes peeking through from behind the gate.
Liu Shan, Lin Hui, and Qi Li wanted to report the situation to their boss but decided not to as they didn't want to worry her.
They all know that Yue Ling will be busy with taking over An Qing once the weekend is over and wanted her to get enough rest.
Left with no other choice, they could only have Xu Long call Lu Tian to report the matter.
Qi Li sat between Liu Shan and Lin Hui. He was no longer shirtless like before and had put on a plain black t-shirt. His head tilted to the side a little as he stares up at the man putting on a stance like Superman.
He doesn't question the man's odd behavior and calmly stood up from the floor.
"So, who wants to head out front?"
His naturally cold eyes scan between the three men from behind his glasses. However, not getting an answer, he shrugs his shoulders and walks towards the spare room he was sleeping in for a jacket.
"Guess it's me then."
"Wait!"
Before he could take another step, Xu Long abruptly stops him in his tracks. He turns his head to the left and stares at the assistant with an expression as if saying, 'what?'
Xu Long held his stance like he was standing his ground and size the man wearing glasses from head to toe then back up.
Knowing that the ill.u.s.trator was no longer as intimidating as before, he felt less inferior in body structure. Of course, he also has to pretend that the top of the owl's head engraved on the man's neck was not there.
He stuck out his chest more, and standing at the same height as Qi Li, he (Xu Long) raise his chin higher to make himself look taller.
"Who said you are the only one brave enough to take the front?"
Qi Li blinked his eyes as he was struck dumbfounded at why he was stopped. However, he was not the only one as both Liu Shan and Lin Hui were no different from him.
"Alright, alright. We're not kids anymore. Any more, and we're just wasting our time here."
Liu Shan came back to his senses and stood up from the floor as Lin Hui follows in pursuit. He (Liu Shan) takes a few steps forward to stand in the middle of the two men having a staring contest.
He turns his head to Qi Li first, then to Xu Long before coming to a decision.
"Qi Li, I know you don't mind checking the front, but I need you to secure the back. Lin Hui and Xu Long will go out front."
Given an order from someone who isn't his boss, Qi Li would usually have answered no. However, he does the opposite. He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly and goes on with his way to get his jacket.
Lin Hui was used to taking orders from Liu Shan when his boss isn't around. He turns around to leave but stops when he thought about something. He looks back at the assistant and frowns.
"What about you?"
Hearing this, Xu Long's attention shifts from the departing Qi Li to the other assistant. His hands lift from his h.i.p.s, and he holds his arms over his chest.
"That's right. While we three are taking care of the situation outside, what are you doing?"
Liu Shan rolled his eyes at the two men's childish fussing. He points in the direction Qi Li had gone and put his other hand on his hip.
"I have the most important task. I'm going to hold it down from here and monitor you guys from behind the cameras."
He doesn't wait to hear a response and walks away to where he had pointed. However, having taken only three steps, he stops in his tracks and turns back to look at Lin Hui and Xu Long.
Seeing that the two men weren't going to move, he heaves a long sigh then claps his hands a few times.
"Come on. Chop, chop. Time doesn't wait for anyone. Hurry up and get going before the rats outside find their way inside."
His words fell in a demanding tone, then walks away. As his figure disappeared from the living room, Xu Long was left with his jaw hung open, and Lin Hui shook his head.
"Come on. Let's go."
Lin Hui was the first to come back to his senses and interrupts Xu Long's dazed figure. He doesn't wait for the assistant and walks towards the front door.
He doesn't often agree with what Liu Shan has to say, but this time the man was right.
Time isn't waiting for them. Any second they spend inside the house is a given second for the people outside to make their way inside.
Xu Long finally blinked his eyes and stood alone in the empty living room. He looks around the room until he sees Lin Hui heading for the front door.
He darts after the man but doesn't forget to grab the jacket he had hung on the stair railing.
"Bro, wait for me."
Lin Hui stops in front of the door and looks back at the assistant without responding. His left hand held the door handle, and he puts his right index finger on his lip to silence the man before speaking in a soft, quiet voice.
"When I open this door, we have to act natural. Got it?"
Xu Long zips his mouth and vigorously nods his head. He quickly puts on his jacket and gives Lin Hui a silent nod to let the man know that he is ready.
Lin Hui rolled his eyes then opens the door as he and Xu Long step out into the darkness of the night.
