Chapter 11 – Temptation
Inside the guest room, Qing Linglong had just finished changing into new clothes. She sat down right at the dressing table, visibly bored, and waited until the time seemed right. Then, she opened the door. As she had expected, Guo Tai was standing at the entrance.
"Ms. Qing, I am truly sorry for my butler's mistake, and I'd like to apologize on his behalf for any inconvenience he may have caused," said Guo Tai rather earnestly as he bowed down.
"It was a simple mistake, Mr. Guo."
"Thank you for all your hard work today," said Guo Tai.
"It's nothing, we're just doing our job."
"Ms. Qing, it must not have been long since you joined the security agency, I presume?"
"Not exactly, seeing as how I joined National Security right after retiring from the army."
"Oh? Ms. Qing, you've been in the army?"
"It's nothing worthy of praise," answered Qing Linglong.
"It must be quite dangerous to work in the Secret Service department, isn't it?"
"It's relatively low-risk for me. I don't usually conduct operations personally."
"Oh…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
'Will you say something already? Your son is the one being held hostage by a murderer,' thought Qing Linglong, slightly annoyed.
"Ms. Qing… You said that… There's a way to save my son?" After a long series of cursory remarks, Guo Tai finally asked.
"Well…" Qing Linglong looked at the stairs behind him hesitantly.
"May I come in?" Guo Tai immediately proposed. His worries had finally settled down. 'This is doable.'
"Of course." Qing Linglong moved away from the door, and Guo Tai entered the room, closing the door behind him.
"Ms. Qing, let me make my intentions clear. If you can help me save my son…" The pair sat down on the red sandalwood office chairs. Guo Tai took out a check from his pocket, put it down on the side table, and pushed it towards Qing Linglong.
"Mr. Guo!" Qing Linglong instantly retreated. "You… Please have some self-respect." She seemed outraged, with a look of horror at the prospect of the corrupting her own integrity and disappointing the very people she had sworn to serve…
"Uh…" Guo Tai was dumbstruck, and quickly put the check back into his pocket.
'G.o.d, it's a pain to work with these brain-washed government people…'
"Ms. Qing… This is a misunderstanding." Guo Tai explained hurriedly, "I was… Simply overburdened by my worry for my son… I lost my calm…"
"I can understand your feelings… But…"
"Xiang'er's mother pa.s.sed away early on… He's my only son… And you could say that I raised him all by myself… It might look like my life is blessed, but…" Guo Tai choked back a sob and his eyes reddened. It was enough to tear up anyone who saw him and distress anyone who heard him.
"Mr. Guo…" Qing Linglong seemed moved by Guo Xiang's tale.
"If you know of a way, any way. Please help me save Xiang'er," Guo Tai s.n.a.t.c.hed Qing Linglong's hand, very visibly agitated.
"Actually… Actually…"
"Please do not hesitate. If you can help me save Xiang'er, my entire family will remember your kindness, Ms. Qing, and that of the country as well. After what had happened earlier, Guo Tai avoided all mentions of compensation—it seemed like national pride was what counted the most for these people.
"Well…" Qing Linglong sighed and looked at the shut door. "According to our data, Zhang Qiang was an orphan, and soon after he was born, he was abandoned by his family during winter. He was picked up by a wandering performer who raised him. Although that performer was someone whose livelihood was dependent on the generosity of pa.s.sers-by, he was the heir of a clan with extraordinary skills pa.s.sed on from generation to generation. Of course, something else was also pa.s.sed on: a moral code, the way of the Jianghu1, so to speak.
"I see." Guo Tai nodded. It was indeed true that even now, there were still quite a few people like that—individuals who maintained set principles that others would find idiotic.
"Zhang Qiang lived with his adopted father since his childhood, so you could say that he's no exception to these standards."
