Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Imperialʼs night turned busy as the annual Fall Fashion Show took place inside Beauty. However, the night was quieter than usual with only little pedestrians and a few cars roaming to get to their destination.

Across from Beauty stood two buildings with no lights on as everyone had gone home. However, between the dark alley that separated the two companies, two figures can be faintly made out.

It was two homeless men that comes to view with faces smear in dirt. Their hair disheveled and oily like they had not showered in months.

Despite their shabby and torn clothes, neither men did not care because they each had a blanket to keep them warm.

One homeless man sat up as the blanket covers him from head down, while the other laid to the right with the blanket covering his entire body up to his nose as he sleeps.

The one sitting up rest his elbows on his knees with both hands near his eyes. He held a dark object and part his lips to speak.

”I see movement at 1 oʼclock.”

Saying this, his eyes narrow as if to get a clearer view through the dark object.

”Movement headed this way.”

His right hand quickly lowers and his dirty index finger hits the homeless man sleeping.

”Closing in at 100 feet… no 50 feet…”

Feeling the continuous taps, the homeless man laying down opens his eyes with murderous intents. He pulls the blanket away from his face and abruptly sits up.

”Stop hitting my forehead!!”

His eyes glares at the man. Anymore and he swore heʼs going to lose his mind.

He looks away from the annoying man to the street ahead at the supposedly movement. However, he was struck dumbfounded.

”Xu Long, are you an idiot or a big idiot? Thatʼs your boss.”

”….”

Xu Longʼs face turns red and he lowers his hand holding the dark object that turns out to be binoculars.

His bottom lip overlaps his upper lip and he sarcastically hums a laugh.

”Heh Heh… I knew that. I was just testing you.”

Lin Hui rolled his eyes and scoff.

”Youʼre really a big idiot. How can you not recognize your own boss?”

”If Iʼm a big idiot, then you are a bigger idiot.”

”Ha! Then you are the biggest idiot.”

Into their refute towards one another, neither men paid attention to the man approaching them.

Lu Tian walks up to the two homeless men arguing like an old couple. Stopping in front of them, he held back the urge to laugh at their undercover appearance.

After they had recovered, Lin Hui was paired with Xu Long. Of course, Lin Hui also chose their disguise and off all the choices, he decided on homeless men.

However, looking at them now, Lu Tian felt this identity wasnʼt so bad for them.

He clears his throat and looks down at them with his usual stern expression.

”Are you both done?”

”…”

Bickering at one another, Xu Long and Lin Hui both shiver at the sudden drop of temperature. Neither dare to look up but answers together.

”Yes Captain!”

Xu Long knew this cold air better than anyone, while Xu Long felt the cold air was far more menacing that his bossʼs.

Seeing they had stopped arguing, Lu Tian reach into his pocket and takes a cigarette and lighter out. Placing the cigarette in his mouth, he lights it.

”How is the situation on this side?”

Lin Hui stretch his arms and also takes a cigarette out. Lighting it, he used his mouth to hold the cigarette as he pulls the blanket over him.

”Over here has been cleared.”

His right-hand raise, and he points to a direction with his thumb.

Lu Tianʼs eyes slowly blink as he blows a puff of smoke. His head turn to the left and stares expressionlessly in the direction Lin Hui pointed.

In the far back of the dark alley, a pile of black trash bags are visible to the eyes of those nearby. However, amongst the bags laid unconscious bodies in masks.

He toss the cigarette on the ground and steps on it as he walks over to the pile of bodies.

Ten bodies and they were some of Chu Li Xiangʼs men sent to kill him.

Thinking of something, he turns away and walks back in the direction he came from.

”Stay alert. Chu Li Xiang has yet to show himself.”

Xu Long nod his head, but he did not look at his boss. Instead, his head is looking down as he held both hands out and count his fingers.

Seeing this, Lin Hui furrow his brows and looks at the manʼs hands.

”What are you doing?”

”Iʼm counting.”

Xu Long nonchalantly answers. Without letting the man ask any further questions, his words continue.

”Lately, my boss has been speaking in full sentences. Before, it was always, report, no, kill, speak, and en or mm.”

”....”

Lin Hui stares at the man and did not whether to laugh or cry. Each word Xu Long spoke, his head and hands motioned like it was the most intriguing thing ever.

”Ah!”

Xu Long shouts as he suddenly lifts his head and stumbles his way up. He quickly runs after his boss who had yet to reach the street.

”Boss! Boss! I forgot to tell you something!”

He caught up to Lu Tian and tries to catch his breath while explaining.

”J…Jiangyu… He.. He has something.. to.. report.”

Lu Tian nod his head without looking at his assistant and walks out of the alley towards another direction.

Walking back to his seat, Xu Long sits down and pulls the blanket to cover his head. However, he did not see the look on the other homeless manʼs face.

Lin Huiʼs eyes turned heavy without blinking at the assistant.

It was only five steps and yet, Xu Long is breathing like he had ran an entire marathon.

His head shook in self pity and lays back down. Next time, itʼs going to be Liu Shanʼs turn to be pair up with this imbecile.