Chapter 32

Not the horse .

Zhen Zhen thought Nan Ma would be proud of her if Nan Ma could see her eating in a civilised way . Then she looked at the elegant way William Hill was eating, and she felt ashamed to cut her steak . William Hill ate like he was giving an etiquette demonstration to a class of students .

‘We’re both eating steaks,’ William Hill said . ‘I can’t say my steak tastes better than yours . ’

Zhen Zhen was embarrassed she got caught staring at William Hill eating .

‘How do you know Gu Zai?’ Zhen Zhen asked .

‘When Phil was seventeen, he accidently rode my horse,’ William Hill said . ‘I saved him from falling off my horse . Don’t let his cold exterior fool you . He’s a rebel . When we got caught stealing a queen’s jewel . He ran off, and I copped the blame . ’

Zhen Zhen smiled while thinking about Yue Gu Zai as a rebel teen .

‘I can picture Gu Zai running away,’ Zhen Zhen said .

‘You know what the little boy said to me that day?’ William Hill asked . ‘William, I have an urgent business I need to attend to . I’ll leave first, and let you handle this situation . ’

Zhen Zhen laughed at the William’s perfect impersonation of Yue Gu Zai’s calm voice and indifferent facial expression .

Zhen Zhen reminded William Hill of his gentle mum . Zhen Zhen smiled and laughed like his mum . He shook his head . What was he doing admiring his good friend’s wife . But Zhen Zhen made him miss his mum . As a man he was expected to be strong, but there were times when he needed a gentle woman by his side to care of him .

‘Is there something on my face?’ Zhen Zhen asked .

‘No,’ William Hill said .

Yue Gu Zai returned to the dining room . He heard Zhen Zhen laugh happily . He frowned and he sat down next to Zhen Zhen at the dining table .

‘Zhen Zhen, what are you laughing about?’ Yue Gu Zai asked .

‘William’s telling me about how you ate flour and nearly fell off a horse in your teen years,’ Zhen Zhen said .

William Hill looked innocently at Yue Gu Zai, and Yue Gu Zai understood Zhen Zhen asked William Hill to tell embarrassing stories about Yu Gu Zai .

‘Gu Zai, are you done working yet?’ Zhen Zhen asked . ‘I want to go sightseeing with you . ’

Since the incident in Italy, Zhen Zhen was more cautious . She didn’t dare go sightseeing on her own in a foreign country .

‘Zhen Zhen, if you want to go sightseeing, William can be your tour guide,’ Yue Gu Zai said . ‘He knows the area well . ’

Yue Gu Zai trusted William Hill would keep Zhen Zhen safe in his stead .

‘I knew there’s no such thing as a free dinner,’ William Hill said . ‘You invited me to dinner so I’ll agree to be your wife’s tour guide . But I should warn you, I’m an expensive tour guide . ’

‘What do you want?’ Yue Gu Zai asked .

‘Your mum’s jade cup,’ William Hill said .

‘You can have something else,’ Yue Gu Zai said .

‘You’re so petty,’ William Hill said . ‘Alright . Give me a fifty discount for my next purchase . ’

Yue Gu Zai knew William Hill was robbing him in daylight . But as long as Zhen Zhen was safe, he would let himself be robbed .

‘Deal,’ Yue Gu Zai said .

‘Miss Beautiful Zhen Zhen, it’s my pleasure to be your tour guide,’ William Hill said .

‘I’ll go get change,’ Zhen Zhen said and ran off .

‘Is Bob causing you grief?’ William Hill asked .

‘There’s a traitor in Ni Sheng,’ Yue Gu Zai said .

‘Have you flushed out the traitor?’ William Hill asked .

‘There’s no rush,’ Yue Gu Zai said . ‘Soon the traitor will reap what they sow . ’

‘Since it’s an internal traitor, I can’t be much of a help to you,’ William Hill said .

‘I want you to help me take good care of my wife,’ Yue Gu Zai said . ‘Don’t let anything happen to my wife . ’

‘What are sworn brothers for?’ William Hill asked .

Zhen Zhen ran back into the room dressed in an graceful evening outfit . Yue Gu Zai and William Hill stared at her for a while .

‘I’m ready to go,’ Zhen Zhen said . ‘Do I look strange wearing this?’

‘No,’ William Hi said . ‘You look beautiful . ’

Yue Gu Zai stood in front of Zhen Zhen and he smiled at her .

‘Zhen Zhen, don’t make me worry about you,’ Yue Gu Zai said .

‘Yes,’ Zhen Zhen said .

Zhen Zhen scrunched her nose at Yue Gu Zai’s worrywart face, and she left with William Hill to go sightseeing .

Yue Gu Zai’s assistant walked into the dining room after Zhen Zhen and William Hill left .

‘Boss, Da Tu Li is here,’ the assistant said .

‘Escort her to the living room,’ Yue Gu Zai said .

***

End of Chapter Thirty-Two