Standing at the entrance of the mansion, he knocked forcefully on the door. After a brief mont, a housemaid ca out from inside.
"You are...?"
"I’m looking for Hou Zicheng," the man said in a deep voice.
The maid couldn’t make out his features, but she could feel the unusual aura radiating from him—mysterious, dangerous, and eerily sinister.
"It’s so late; Mr. Hou has already gone to bed. Why don’t you co back tomorrow?" the maid cautiously suggested, not daring to offend this man who exuded an intimidating presence.
"Wake him up now! Tell him there’s a man here who he must see imdiately!" the man said, pulling out a watch from his pocket and placing it into the maid’s hands. "Show this to him."
"Understood, sir. Please wait a mont!"
The maid hurried back inside, arriving at Hou Zicheng’s bedroom door. She knocked lightly and called out, "Mr. Hou... Mr. Hou!"
Hou Zicheng, in the middle of a dream, woke with a start. Jolted by the knocking, he sat up, took a sip of water to clear his mind, and then got out of bed to open the door.
When the door opened, standing there was the household’s live-in maid, present 24/7.
"What’s going on? Knocking so late at night—can’t it wait until tomorrow?" Hou Zicheng yawned, his tone full of irritation.
"Boss, I wouldn’t disturb you unless it was important, but there’s soone at the door asking to see you!" The maid hesitated before continuing, "He didn’t give his na, but he said he’s soone you can’t afford not to et."
"A man or a woman? What do they look like?" Hou Zicheng asked.
"A man. As for his appearance, I’m not sure. He’s wrapped himself up so tightly; I couldn’t see his face," the maid replied, handing over the watch the man had given her. "He said you’d know who he is as soon as you saw this."
Hou Zicheng took the watch and, for a mont, a look of surprise flashed across his face.
However, the expression vanished quickly, almost as if it had never been there.
"I understand now. An old friend of mine has co. Invite him in, then go get so rest," Hou Zicheng said.
"Understood, boss!"
The maid went to invite the man in. anwhile, Hou Zicheng hurriedly changed his clothes, straightened himself up, and stood respectfully in the study, awaiting this unexpected guest.
Monts later, the man walked in.
Hou Zicheng imdiately invited him to sit down, then sent the maid off to rest. Once the maid had gone a good distance away, he quickly closed the door and drew all the curtains.
"Boss, why have you co in person?" Hou Zicheng asked, his tone a mix of shock and unease.
"What’s the matter? Can’t I co see how you’re doing?" the man replied, removing his hat and scarf in one fluid motion. A strikingly youthful face ca into view.
"Of course, of course! Your visit is an imnse honor!" Hou Zicheng bent low, his ingratiating smile practically dripping with servility.
"Oh, is that so?" The man smiled. His expression softened considerably, yet that smile—casual as it was—bore the allure of a red poppy swaying in the wind, beautiful but deadly.
"Yes, yes, absolutely!" Hou Zicheng stamred, sweat trickling down his face in steady streams.
"Let’s hope your words are genuine. But even if they’re not, it doesn’t matter," the man said. "I’ve never needed much from you. My demand has always been the sa, and I trust you understand what that is."
"I understand. I do, completely! But this ti, the Spider was compromised. The intel was obtained, but we couldn’t get it out!" Hou Zicheng vented his frustration.
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