On the eve of the storm
"What's there to eat! I just want to forget everything that happened last night!" You Jiale thought angrily as she buttoned her shirt.
That bastard Zhang Xiande, he keeps spying on me, but he just has to come and ruin things when I finally want to let loose! He did it at the dance hall last time, and this time he actually took me back to bed!
After getting dressed, she ran all the way until she saw the familiar "Lak Kee Delivery" sign, and only then did Yu Jiale feel like she had returned to reality.
The courtyard was as busy as ever, with employees moving about and phones ringing incessantly to receive orders. The hustle and bustle brought a sense of comfort. He hurried into his office.
"Xiao Zhi!" You Jiale walked up quickly, forcing a slightly tired smile on her face.
Hearing the voice, Lin Zhi turned around and saw You Jiale. She raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Brother Jiale, why are you here so early today? You don't look well. Didn't you sleep well last night?"
You Jiale coughed lightly and mumbled, "Yeah, I had a nightmare. By the way, how are the new guys doing?" As he spoke, he casually glanced at the young men standing in front of Lin Zhi. They all looked ordinary and inconspicuous in the crowd, but You Jiale knew that these people were arranged by Li Ming.
"They're all very good, hardworking and able to endure hardship." Lin Zhi nodded with a smile. "I'm teaching them some basic procedures, like how to accept orders, how to read maps, and some delivery precautions."
"Okay, I'll leave these basic training sessions to you, Zhi'er. I trust you to handle things." You Jiale patted Lin Zhi's shoulder.
After Lin Zhi finished her basic training, You Jiale took the newcomers to a secluded backyard, her smile vanishing and replaced by a serious expression.
"Thank you all for your hard work," You Jiale said in a low voice. "I am Yu Shanhe, or You Jiale here. I believe Comrade Li Ming has already mentioned me to you."
The group exchanged glances and then nodded in unison.
Yu Jiale continued, "To ensure the security of our communication and avoid unnecessary trouble, I have devised a secret communication plan, which you must remember."
He took out several folded slips of paper from his pocket and handed them to them: "This is our exclusive contact method. Remember, destroy it after you've read it, and don't leave the slips behind."
"This plan may seem simple, but its key lies in caution and meticulousness." You Jiale looked at the earnest expressions on their faces and said solemnly, "A negligence in any step could lead to our exposure. Therefore, you must thoroughly memorize these contents."
He paused, then pointed to several city maps in his hand and said, "Your next task is to familiarize yourselves with the routes in your respective areas. Lin Zhi will take you on a few runs, and you must become thoroughly familiar with every street and alleyway in these areas as quickly as possible. This is not only to better complete the delivery tasks, but also to lay the foundation for safely carrying out other tasks in the future."
Then You Jiale returned to his office and forced himself to focus on the mountain of ledgers piled on his desk. He tried hard not to think about what had happened last night, not to think about Zhang Xiande's all-seeing eyes. The only thing he could do now was to quickly expand the "Leji Delivery" network to provide a powerful cover for his clandestine activities.
Qin Zheng quickly walked in, holding several documents in his hand: "Assistant You, these are the cooperation agreements that need your signature today, as well as some information on new merchants. Please take a look."
You Jiale took the document and pretended to read it carefully, but his mind wasn't entirely on it. He knew Qin Zheng was Zhang Xiande's spy, and his every move was under his surveillance. Therefore, he had to be extra careful and not give himself away.
"By the way, I'm going to visit some important business partners in the west of the city this afternoon. Is there anything you need me to take care of while I'm there?"
"Not for now." Qin Zheng shook his head. "However, the boss instructed you to take care of your health and not overwork yourself."
"Please thank the boss for his concern on my behalf." You Jiale nodded with a smile, but inwardly cursed, "Hypocrite!"
Over the next few days, while busy with the daily operations of "Leji Delivery," You Jiale secretly observed the newcomers. He would occasionally find opportunities to meet with them alone, using coded language that only they could understand to conduct simple conversations and confirm that they had mastered the communication plan and their respective tasks.
The newcomers also performed very professionally, quickly becoming familiar with the routes in their respective areas under Lin Zhi's guidance. They rode bicycles through the streets and alleys, seemingly no different from other deliverymen, but only You Jiale knew that they were gathering strength for the storm that might come in the future.
"West?" Zhang Xiande put down his pen, looking thoughtfully in the direction Qin Zheng had left. He knew, of course, You Jiale's afternoon schedule, and he also knew that those so-called "important business partners" were just an excuse.
"Let him be." Finally, Zhang Xiande spoke silently to the air, his tone tinged with helplessness. He gave orders that You Jiale's safety must be guaranteed; this was the top priority. Since You Jiale had chosen to conceal the truth, he wouldn't force her to expose him.
But... when exactly did this rift begin between them? Zhang Xiande was deeply confused. He tried hard to recall every moment they had spent together, trying to find the turning point that caused this subtle change in their relationship. Zhang Xiande racked his brains but still couldn't figure out why.
Back then, You Jiale was such a carefree little guy, exuding a sense of unrestrainedness and openness. You were not at all reserved in front of him, grinning without a care in the world, calling him "boss" with great enthusiasm, your eyes sparkling.
He would barge into Zhang Xiande's office with a stack of "Leji" weekly newspapers, shouting, "I just want to come and freeload some tea today," and then sit down on the sofa with an air of self-righteousness. Although Zhang Xiande always frowned at him back then, finding him unprofessional, he never actually kicked him out.
He remembered that when he smoked in the corridor, You Jiale would come over with a small fan to fan away the smoke and say, "It stinks! If you keep smoking like this, your lungs will turn black." After saying that, she would cover her nose and look disgusted.
But what about now?
You Jiale still laughs and tells funny jokes. She works very seriously and reports things in great detail and with clear logic—you really can't find a single fault with her.
But something just felt off.
That smile, still beautiful, had lost its initial openness and unguardedness. That gaze, seemingly focused, always carried a hint of aloofness.
He had thought that this distance was only temporary, a brief emotional reaction caused by his overstepping certain boundaries. But the distance didn't shrink; instead, it widened, like an invisible chasm separating the two of them.
He wanted to get You Jiale to talk about it, to find out what had made him distrust him. But each time he tried, he only received a more cautious and wary look from You Jiale.
Zhang Xiande sighed and picked up the documents in his hand again. He knew that any hasty action could backfire when facing the increasingly vigilant You Jiale.
Meanwhile, on the Yunyin Hall side…
"Did you hear? Last night, Young Master Zhang personally carried Assistant You back from outside."
"Really? Wasn't it said that Assistant You got drunk at the restaurant?"
"That's right, he was so drunk he couldn't even walk—I saw with my own eyes Young Master Zhang carry him into the main house."
"And...they didn't come out all night."
"Huh?! Even the bed—"
"Shh!" The older one, with sharp eyes, gestured towards the front yard and whispered, "Shut up, or Young Master Pei will hear you."
But it was too late.
Under the osmanthus tree in the distance, Pei Zhiyuan stood quietly, his expression as usual, even with a faint smile on his lips, as if he had just happened to be passing by.
Upon seeing this, the maids were so frightened that they hurriedly bowed and retreated, not daring to even raise their heads.
Pei Zhiyuan watched them leave, his smile finally fading...
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