Shentu Tian-Yin transferred Shentu Ren to a villa in an upscale neighbourhood for ease of treatment. However, Xia Lei did not proceed to treat Shentu Ren on that same day. He needed to have some practice and gain some experience before he did it. Shentu Ren was a frail, bedridden patient and he could not afford to make a mistake.

“Give me a week. Get a dietitian to advise you on foods and medicinal products for cardiovascular health, oh, and nutrition for the brain,” said Xia Lei to Shentu Tian-Yin after she’d helped Shentu Ren settle in.

“Nutrition for cardiovascular health?” Shentu Tian-Yin looked at Xia Lei uncomprehendingly.

“Your father’s condition is mainly due to clogged blood vessels. Giving him nutritious food and medicinal products for cardiovascular health will help his blood circulation and increase his vitality. It will also lessen the risk when I perform the treatment on him,” said Xia Lei.

“You know quite a bit. How come I don’t know that you’ve studied medicine?” Shentu Tian-Yin had wanted to ask this question at the Shentu residence but she did not ask in front of the clan.

Xia Lei was expecting her to ask a question like that and had an answer long prepared. “My Master taught me. Martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine are quintessences of national culture and many aspects of both overlap.”

Shentu Tian-Yin smiled. “Looks like your Master doesn’t treat you as any old disciple. He’s taught you all his special skills. Who knows, he may have been cultivating you to turn you into his son-in-law from the beginning, hm?”

Xia Lei laughed awkwardly.

“All right, I’ll stop teasing you.” Shentu Tian-Yin asked, “What are the chances of my father waking up?”

Xia Lei thought for a bit. “Fifty percent.”

“Fifty percent?”

“Yes, fifty percent,” said Xia Lei, “I can't guarantee more. You can choose to give up if you feel that the risk is too great.”

Shentu Tian-Yin considered it. “No, we’ve gone to all the best hospitals in the world and there was to treatment. If this keeps on, my father’s days are numbered. I think he’ll be willing to take this risk even if it’s for just one minute of consciousness. Do the treatment and don’t worry about the problem of failure.”

“You trust me that much?”

Shentu Tian-Yin gave a half-smile. “Would I ask you to help me if I didn’t trust you?”

“All right, then I’ll come here in a week to treat your father. I’ll be going back now. Contact me via phone if there’s anything,” said Xia Lei.

“I’ll send you there,” said Shentu Tian-Yin.

“No need. I’ll just take a taxi back,” said Xia Lei.

Shentu Tian-Yin wrinkled her brows. “We’re a soon-to-be-married couple and I am with your child. How can I let you take a taxi back on your own?”

Xia Lei thought about it and found that what she said made sense. He agreed. It wasn’t anything major to take a taxi back but it would become a hidden danger if unwelcome eyes saw it.

Half an hour later, Fu Ming-Mei drove Xia Lei in Shentu Tian-Yin’s Rolls Royce Phantom to his neighbourhood.

Before he alighted, he nagged, “Based on the situation today, the Shentu clan might go after you first. You be careful. Stay away from public places and don’t go to any places which are sparsely populated or isolated.”

Shentu Tian-Yin gave Xia Lei an odd look. “You’re showing concern for me?”

Xia Lei smiled. “Of course I’m concerned. Okay, goodbye.” He alighted.

Shentu Tian-Yin watched through the window as Xia Lei walked into the neighbourhood and out of sight before she said, “Let’s go, Ming-Mei.”

Fu Ming-Mei joined the flow of traffic. As she drove, she said, “Big Sister Tian-Yin, how is it that he’s become Liang Si-Yao’s boyfriend? I wouldn’t get into a relationship so early if I were him. He’s outstanding so he’ll definitely be able to find an outstanding woman too, like…”

Shentu Tian-Yin cut her off. “Xia Lei and Liang Si-Yao have been together for quite some time. It’s common for romance to start from daily interactions. Besides, Liang Si-Yao is also an outstanding woman. You have to remember that money is not the standard to use to judge whether a person is outstanding. True love has nothing to do with money either.”

“But…”

“Don’t say anything more. Drive,” said Shentu Tian-Yin, “Get Uncle Fu to gather his past subordinates when we’re back. Just the two of you are not enough for this period of time.”

Fu Ming-Mei stepped on the accelerator and the Rolls Royce Phantom lunged forward.

Half an hour after Shentu Tian-Yin and Fu Ming-Mei left, Xia Lei, too, left the neighbourhood in his black BMW M6. He first stopped by a pharmacy which also sold medical equipment and bought a set of silver needles, a first aid kit and some needed medicinal items. Following that, he drove to Thunder Horse Manufacturing. There was still a bit of time before it was time to clock out.

Xia Lei first went to Beauty of Beauteous Supermarket to look for Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang was eating snacks - a whole pile of them. Chocolates, pine nuts, pistachios, and so on; they were posh snacks. He’d been cracking a pine nut between his teeth, looking rather pleased when Xia Lei walked into his office.

“What’ve you been up to the past two days?” Qin Xiang’s voice was muffled by the pine nut between his teeth. “Didn’t see you around.”

“I’ve something on, of course.” Xia Lei smiled. “Why so many snacks? Did you get pissed and are using food to vent?”

“Fuck you.” Qin Xiang rolled his eyes at Xia Lei. “I didn’t buy these. Liang Si-Yao bought them for me.”

“She’s a thrifty person - would she buy you so many snacks? Impossible,” said Xia Lei curiously.

“I found it weird too. She bought an entire shopping trolley full of snacks when she came to work today, then gave out sweets and melon seeds to familiar faces. Oh, right, she also bought cigarettes and gave them out to the smokers she met. She even gave out two sticks.”

Xia Lei was speechless.

Giving out sweets and cigarettes, and two cigarettes at that, was something that a newlywed bride did. He understood why Liang Si-Yao was so happy and he found it comical. He hadn’t expected Liang Si-Yao to have such a funny side to her.

“You aren’t getting married, are you?” Qin Xiang suddenly asked.

Xia Lei was shocked. “How can it be so quick?”

Qin Xiang paused, then chuckled. “So it is as I thought. You two are in a relationship. She’s so happy she’s giving out sweets and cigarettes to everyone she knows. I knew it! She usually looks for me in the supermarket to get discounts - how can she just buy so many yummy snacks for me? Have you two done it? You must be great, huh? How long did you last?”

“Ahem! Let’s stick to serious matters.” Xia Lei was very embarrassed. He took out his phone, opened the photo-album and selected a picture.

Qin Xiang drew close and looked at the three people in the picture. “Who’re they?” he asked curiously.

“Shentu Yi, Shentu Tian-Feng and Wang Fang,” said Xia Lei. “I need your help. Keep an eye on these three people, especially this Shentu Tian-Feng.” He pointed at him in the picture. “I want to know who he meets, who he calls and so on. Find whatever you can on this person.”

“No problem. What happened?”

Xia Lei leaned in to Qin Xiang’s ear and told him about what had happened in a low voice. How could Qin Xiang do things for him when he did not know the truth? It didn’t matter if he told Qin Xiang about Shentu Tian-Yin’s secret anyway - he had absolute trust in Qin Xiang.

“Okay, I’ll prepare for a bit before I make my move. I’ll contact you once I find out anything,” said Qin Xiang.

Xia Lei patted his shoulder. “Be careful. The guy is a tough one.” He then added, “I do feel quite bad to ask you to do these sorts of things for me all the time.”

Qin Xiang laughed. “Why the formalities? You know what I do. I’m getting bored just sitting in the office. Good thing you have something for me to do every once in a while which uses my old skills. I’m quite happy with this, so why feel bad?”

Xia Lei smiled. “You go prepare then. I’ll go see Si-Yao.”

“You guys sure are lovey dovey. When will you invite me to the wedding?”

“Eat your snacks!”

“Remember to tell her to bring the shopping trolley back.”

Xia Lei was speechless.

In the office, Liang Si-Yao reviewed a document. She was doing what Xia Lei should have been doing since he wasn’t in the office. She looked focused and didn’t notice Xia Lei come in.

Xia Lei was about to call out to her but he changed his mind. He stealthily went behind Liang Si-Yao and slowly approached, reaching out two hands to cover her eyes. He disguised his voice and said, “Guess who?”

Liang Si-Yao did not react violently. A faint smile appeared on her lips. “Hm, Beckham?”

“Guess again.”

“Andy Lau?”

“Guess again!”

“Pang Chang-Jiang?”

Xia Lei relaxed the hands covering her eyes and said wryly, “You already knew I came in, didn’t you?”

“Yep, I knew it when you walked in. I wanted to see what you were up to.” Liang Si-Yao giggled. “This is a game children play. You actually like to play games like this? Don’t worry, I won’t laugh at you. Haha.”

“You’re laughing.”

Liang Si-Yao suddenly pulled him down…

The two of them did not lose themselves, however. This was the office after all and anyone could come in at any moment.

Liang Si-Yao pushed Xia Lei aside gently, her face red with bashfulness. “No, we can’t. Not here.”

Xia Lei retracted his questing hand, nervous yet still wanting to continue.

“You’re a greedy cat.” Liang Si-Yao scratched lightly at Xia Lei’s cheek with a white fingernail. “Always having secret affairs. I’ll tell my dad. He’ll tie you up and beat you.”

Xia Lei laughed. “No, you can’t bear to do that. Master too.”

“Tell me - did you hold hands with Shentu Tian-Yin today?”

Xia Lei shook his head.

“Kissing?”

Xia Lei shook his head harder.

“Sex?”

Xia Lei paused, then shook his head.

“You pervert!” Liang Si-Yao grabbed Xia Lei. “I’m going to check!”

“Cut it out… Ah! What are you doing?”

“Strip! Let me check you!”

The office was filled with laughter.

Outside the door, the head of Human Resources, Du Bai, stood holding a list of newly-recruited employees, his head beaded with sweat and wondering if he should go in.