Chapter 25 (2/2)

Jian Yao hopes that day never comes.

Friday night.  Bo Jinyan and Jian Yao are in a j.a.panese restaurant.  They are just starting dinner when Pei Ze calls.

Jian Yao sees the  caller ID on her phone, and shows Bo Jinyan: “It's Pei Ze.”

Bo Jinyan: “Take it.”

Pei Ze:  ”Jian Yao,  the rest of the team are coming to my house on Sunday for dinner.  Zhou Qin is bringing his son too.  You have to join us.”

Jian Yao looks at Bo Jinyan.

Bo Jinyan: “Go!” He is moving his mouth but there’s no actual sound coming out from him.

Jian Yao hesitates.

She covers the mic of her mobile with her hand and whispers to Bo Jinyan: “Will it be too dangerous?”

Bo Jinyan gives her a haughty look, as if she’s raised a very stupid question.

“Would I throw you in the lion’s den and not protect you?” He whispers.

Jian Yao picks up the phone: “OK.  What time?  Can you give me your address?”

-

It’s close to midnight. Jian Yao has brought half her wardrobe to Bo Jinyan’s house.  They are trying to find something suitable for her to wear for Sunday’s dinner.

“What should I wear?”

Bo Jinyan takes a look at the clothes she brought.   Just as Jian Yao thought he’d give her some advice, he says: “You want me to imagine how you would look in these clothes?  Sorry, I am not very good at that.  Get change and show me.”

The first set is a white T-s.h.i.+rt with beige pants.  Bo Jinyan is sitting in the sofa.  He is holding a book in one hand, and a coffee in the other.  When she walks out, he looks up for a few seconds, then goes back to his book. ”No,” He said :”Next.”

Summer clothes use softer fabrics.  It’s not easy to hide a pinhole camera and listening device without looking conspicuous.  She tries on another five sets.  Bo Jinyan will occasionally ask her to turn around, and look if there’s a good place to attach a listening device.

They finally settle on a strip blue pinstripe cotton dress.  The b.u.t.ton like black circular pinhole camera is fixed on the V-shaped collar.  And further down, a listening device hidden inside a silver brooch.

Next is to fit the ear piece, which obviously needs to go into one of her ears.

Jian Yao is sitting on a stool.  Bo Jinyan kneels down facing her.  His hand is holding the small piece of electronic device.  Jian Yao can feel his soft fingertips touch her ears.  It’s a little numb, a little hot and a little itchy.

He’s so close to her.  She knows her face is starting to get red: ”Are you done yet?”

”No.” He looks at her: “Can’t seem to fit it in with my fingers.”

Jian Yao takes the mini communicators from his hand: “Let me try.”  She carefully slots it into her right ear.

“Will it fall?” She asks

Bo Jinyan:  ”Yes, so keep your head movements small tomorrow.”

Jian Yao: ”...... alright.”

-

The next day, Bo Jinyan was out for the whole day.  He didn’t want Jian Yao to go with him.  On Sunday afternoon, Jian Yao gets changed into the dress they’ve decided on.  She goes to Bo Jinyan’s apartment.

She is still nervous: “I’ll be leaving soon.  Are you sure I’m going to be okay?” When she asked him earlier what are his plans for protecting her, he just asked her to trust him, and that It’s not something she needs to worry about.

Bo Jinyan smiles: ”Take it easy, they are not going to kill you today.”

-  Gee.. thanks for the rea.s.surance.

Jian Yao takes a taxi to Pei Ze’s apartment.  She speaks softly: ”I am there”

”Ah, I know.” Bo Jinyan’s deep melodious voice is coming through her right ear.  Jian Yao thought he is seeing through the camera, and then she hears him say: “I’m right behind you.”

Jian Yao turns around and sees a familiar black Lexus - It’s Fu Ziyu’s car, parking on the side of the road.  Then slowly, a dark window is lowered down, a man puts out his hand and waves upward.  He is motioning her to go.  .

Jian Yao suddenly laughs.

Is that his arrangement?  To follow her here?

But knowing he’s nearby gives her the courage.  She lifts her head and walks into the apartment building.