Turning against each other
"Young Master, it's been confirmed that the person Mr. You contacted privately, as well as the group of people near Li's Sauce Shop that night, are all underground Communist Party members, according to our reports." The third brother's voice was low and carried a hint of barely perceptible worry. "They are very cautious in their actions."
"Should we get rid of him?" The third brother's voice carried a hint of probing. "If he really is a Communist, keeping him around will always be a threat. If he is discovered, it could very well implicate you."
Zhang Xiande frowned deeply, his tone tinged with displeasure: "I asked you to find out his background, not to ask me this kind of question."
The third brother immediately fell silent, lowering his head and saying nothing more. Having followed Zhang Xiande for many years, he naturally understood that this young master, though seemingly calm and reserved, was actually quite shrewd, and once he made a decision, it was difficult for others to change his mind.
This time, however, it involved someone with such a sensitive identity that he had to be cautious in giving a warning.
In the past two days, Zhang Xiande had clearly sensed a subtle change in You Jiale's attitude towards him. The young man who used to be carefree and jovial in his presence seemed to have become much quieter overnight. Although he was still dedicated to his work, their interactions lacked the ease and casualness of the past.
You Jiale's eyes seemed to hold a heavy burden on his heart.
He admitted that he initially agreed to let You Jiale work as "Le Ji" out of curiosity and a sense of testing. But as time went on, he was gradually attracted to You Jiale's contradictory combination of quirky cleverness, cowardice, and carefree nature. His insistence on investigating You Jiale's background was really just a way of wanting more time to understand his own heart.
So what if he's a Communist? Zhang Xiande told himself. In this chaotic world, who isn't striving for their own ideals and beliefs? What he valued was You Jiale. As for You Jiale's motives for approaching him, it seemed no longer important. What mattered was that he didn't want to lose this person, and even less did he want to personally push him into an abyss of no return.
However, just as Zhang Xiande made up his mind to protect You Jiale at all costs, something unexpected happened.
That day, You Jiale packed his simple luggage and looked at the guest room where he had stayed for quite some time, feeling somewhat conflicted. Since moving into Yunyin Hall, Madam Zhang had taken good care of him, showing concern for his well-being and often having the kitchen prepare his favorite dishes for him.
He didn't leave immediately, but instead headed towards the main courtyard of Zhang's mother.
Mrs. Zhang was sitting in the living room pruning the flowers when she saw You Jiale come over. She smiled kindly and said, "Little You, what brings you here so early today?" She put down the pruning shears and beckoned You Jiale over.
You Jiale quickly stepped forward and handed a delicate little box to Madam Zhang, a sincere smile on her face: "Madam, I'm moving out today. Thank you so much for taking care of me during this time. This... this is just a small token of my appreciation."
With some confusion, Zhang's mother took the box, opened it, and found a string of smooth, shiny pearls inside. She looked up at You Jiale, puzzled, and said, "Why are you suddenly moving away? Did that boy bully you? If he did, you have to tell me, and I'll stand up for you."
You Jiale quickly waved his hand and explained with a smile, "No, Madam, please don't misunderstand. The boss is very good to me. It's just that 'Leji Delivery' has been getting busier and busier lately, so it's more convenient for me to stay outside and handle things. Besides... it's not appropriate to always stay at the boss's house." He said this half-truthfully, not wanting to worry Madam Zhang, and also finding a suitable reason.
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang felt a little regretful, but she nodded in understanding: "That's true, it's a good thing for young people to have their own careers. But don't forget about this old lady in the future. When you have time, be sure to come back and visit me often, and keep me company."
You Jiale quickly replied, "Don't worry, Madam. Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll definitely come to see you often and bring you your favorite snacks." Looking at Madam Zhang's kind face, a warm feeling welled up in his heart. Even though there was a complicated relationship of interests between him and Zhang Xiande, the warmth that Madam Zhang gave him made him feel a rare touch of tenderness in this cold and chaotic world.
"Okay, then you'd better keep your word." Mrs. Zhang nodded with a smile, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
You Jiale chatted with Madam Zhang for a while longer, and seeing that it was almost time, she got up to say goodbye: "Madam, it's getting late, I have to go now. Please take care of yourself and get some rest."
Mother Zhang held his hand and gave him a few more words of advice, until You Jiale's figure disappeared at the courtyard gate, then she sighed.
You Jiale then took the initiative to walk to the door of Zhang Xiande's study.
"Come in." Zhang Xiande's voice remained calm, but a strange feeling rose in his heart.
You Jiale pushed open the door and entered, holding several documents in her hand, with a polite but distant smile on her face.
"Boss, this is the preliminary operating plan for 'Leji Delivery' next month. Please take a look." You Jiale placed the document on Zhang Xiande's desk, her tone businesslike.
Zhang Xiande didn't look at the documents immediately. His gaze fell on You Jiale's face, trying to catch the emotions in his eyes. "Is there anything else?"
You Jiale paused, her eyes flickering as if she was organizing her thoughts, "Well, there's one more thing... I wanted to tell you that I'm planning to move out of Yunyin Hall."
Zhang Xiande's fingers, which were gripping the document, tightened suddenly. He looked up, his eyes instantly sharpening as if they were filled with ice. "Move out? Why?" His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible anger.
You Jiale seemed to have anticipated Zhang Xiande's reaction, and he tried to sound relaxed and natural, "There's no particular reason, it's just that... it seems a bit inconvenient to stay at Yunyin Hall all the time. After all, everyone needs a private life, and it's not good for an outsider like me to keep bothering them."
"Inconvenient?" Zhang Xiande sneered, his tone full of sarcasm. "Who was it that cried and begged me to protect them back then? Now that they feel safe, they want to kick me aside?"
You Jiale's smile froze. He hadn't expected Zhang Xiande's reaction to be so direct and his words so unforgiving. "I..."
"What?" Zhang Xiande took a step closer, his tone accusatory. "I know what you're up to. You've figured out my background and think it's time to cut ties with me, haven't you? You Jiale, you're too naive!"
Upon hearing this, You Jiale laughed, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Zhang Xiande, don't play dumb with me! Is 'Leji Delivery' really that important to you? If you wanted it, with your wealth and connections, a hundred, a thousand 'Leji's' would be a piece of cake! I just want to ask you one question: why did you so readily agree to this deal with me in the first place? What were you after? Or rather, what did you want to get from me?"
Zhang Xiande's face darkened, his brows furrowed, and his tone turned cold: "You were the one who approached me first, proposing this so-called 'business plan'! You were the one who needed my funds and protection! And now you're turning around and questioning me?"
"Ha, I need your protection!" You Jiale said with a hint of self-mockery, as if she had heard the funniest joke. "I was stupid enough to think that clinging to you would save me! I lost my memory and knew nothing, so you made a fool of me by handing over that box to me, and I was even allowed to have people watching me! Now I just want to ask you, Zhang Xiande, what the hell do you want from me?!"
“I…” Zhang Xiande opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found himself unable to find the right words. He did have some doubts about You Jiale’s identity and purpose at first, but as time went on, he focused more on You Jiale herself and the potential of “Leji Delivery”.
Looking at Zhang Xiande's slightly surprised expression, You Jiale felt even worse. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the slight tremor in his voice, "If I were still living in Yunyin Hall, I'm afraid that every time I toss and turn at night, someone would report everything to you!"
"You think I kept you around just to monitor you?" Zhang Xiande's voice was low and deep, carrying a hint of barely perceptible anger.
“Otherwise?” You Jiale met his gaze without backing down. “You and I both know perfectly well that ever since I moved into Yunyin Hall, your ‘concern’ for me has never stopped. It’s less about protection and more about surveillance!”
"I admit that I initially had doubts about your identity, but I never intended to hurt you!"
"And what about you now?" You Jiale pressed on, lowering her voice, "Since you know I might have connections with the Communist Party, don't you think I'm a potential troublemaker? Why do you keep me around? Is it just because 'Leji Delivery' can bring you some petty profits?"
Zhang Xiande stared sharply at You Jiale, his tone tinged with hurt anger: "If I really only wanted to use you back then, do you think you'd still be standing here talking to me like this?"
"Then I understand even less!" You Jiale's voice rose several decibels, tinged with grievance and confusion. "Since you don't care about 'Le Ji' and suspect my identity, why don't you kill me? Why do you still let me live under your nose? What exactly do you want?"
Looking at the questioning and subtle hurt in You Jiale's eyes, Zhang Xiande felt a sharp pang in his heart. He wanted to explain, to tell You Jiale that he truly cared about him, but the words caught in his throat. He couldn't deny his initial probing and suspicion.
The two faced each other in silence, a stifling and bittersweet atmosphere filling the air. You Jiale's eyes held a hint of weariness and disappointment. He looked at the person he had once wanted to rely on, only to find the distance between them growing ever wider, as if separated by an insurmountable chasm. Zhang Xiande, meanwhile, looked at You Jiale, his heart churning with complex emotions: anger, confusion, and a trace of worry and reluctance that he himself was unwilling to admit…
"I have nothing to say. If I have nothing to say, then I'll be leaving now."
“I just feel…” Zhang Xiande finally broke the silence, his voice low and hoarse, “It’s not safe for you to move out alone.”
"Unsafe?" You Jiale sneered. "It's really funny to hear you say that."
After saying that, You Jiale stopped looking at Zhang Xiande, turned around and walked towards the door, his back view resolute and carrying a hint of loneliness that he himself did not realize.
Zhang Xiande stood there, watching You Jiale's departing figure, his fingers clenched into fists. He wanted to call him back, wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only sigh helplessly. Silence returned to the study.
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