Chapter 16 / Yibo - The man he deserves!
It was Thursday morning and Yibo was not ready to start the day. At the thought of his work, he already had no more desire. He had been staring at the monitor for hours the last few days, watching his target do nothing. Nothing at all, he sat at home in his garden and got drunk. Nothing else happened. Slowly it dawned on him how tough it was for the agents in the surveillance center. They sat there every day, watching their target, writing reports, recording, and watching again.
Yesterday, Yibo noticed for the first time when a target was transferred. On the big screen, they could all watch live how an access took place. How they approached the target, made arrangements, formed a formation and finally the access took place. It was all done with routine and professionalism and Yibo thought for the first time about how Zhan had repeatedly demanded this kind of professionalism from him. But Yibo was just looking for fun. He also wondered if they had been watching their bets on the big screen.
When Yibo openly admired the stakes with Tao Long during the break, he told him that Zhan was also a professional and that Yibo could become just as professional if he made an effort. Tao Long had also told him that he had watched some of Zhan's and Chuyue's performances and how they proceeded, how he admired that these two young men worked together so professionally and quickly. Yibo had worked with both of them and knew their methods and more than once was speechless, how they understood each other even without words. He wanted to learn that too, he wanted to be just the same, to be a professional and to become Zhan's partner again and prove to him that he can be like that. That he can rely on him.
Yibo drove to work, Tao Long was already waiting for him and told him that he would get a new target, because his target committed suicide last night. But since a new target has to be found for him first, they both had some time left and so they went to the canteen together and got some breakfast. Tao Long explained to him with his mouth full, some codes that are used for access. Yibo stared in disgust at the chewed food, from which every now and then a crumb of it would steal away and land next to Yibo's coffee cup, trying to remember the codes. But that was easier than done if he couldn't turn his gaze away from his trainer's mouth.
When the otherwise quiet atmosphere in the canteen suddenly changed and many of the agents suddenly started talking in disarray, Yibo turned his gaze away from the mouth of his trainer and looked around. And then he saw him, after days without contact and accompanied by two strangers. A beautiful young woman and a handsome man. Both seemed very close to Zhan, too close for Yibo's taste. For the woman was hanging on his husband's arm and the man had put his arm over Zhan's shoulder. Yibo stared at Zhan, his heart was beating like crazy and he would have loved to run to him immediately. But Zhan and his two companions came towards them. Yibo felt his cheeks blushing and he suddenly felt nervous.
Zhan suddenly seemed so hard and cool. Somehow Yibo turned it on. When the three were almost there, Tao Long stood up abruptly and bowed low to Zhan, pulling Yibo off his chair and glaring at him sincerely. "When a higher agent arrives, you must greet him properly and bow down." He said to Yibo.
Zhan: Ah Special Agent Tao Long, I'm plainclothes here, all good. Good to see you.
Tao Long: Xiao Zhan, good to see you too. And I see Special Agent Park Seo Joon is visiting. It's an honor to meet you. And who is this young lady?
Seo Joon: Thank you very much and it's an honor to see you too. Your reputation is well known even in Seoul.
Xiao Lan: My name is Xiao Lan. Zhan's future wife.
Zhan: Shut up, don't always say crap like that. She's my cousin and is visiting me for a few days.
Xiao Lan: ZhanZhan, that wasn't nice of you now.
Seo Joon: Who says he has to be nice to you?
Xiao Lan: Hey, he's my cousin, I can expect that.
Seo Joon: No way! Now just let go of his arm for once.
Xiao Lan: Only if you let go of his shoulder.
Seo Joon: Why should I?
Zhan: Enough, both of you!
Seo Joon and Xiao Lan: Sorry.
Yibo stood there with eyes wide open and mouth open and watched the arguments between the two of them. He didn't know either of them and found it very strange. When she introduced herself as the future wife from Zhan, Yibo wanted to break down. Fortunately, Zhan made this clear right away. Nevertheless, Yibo felt this burning in his heart. It hurt.
Zhan: So this is Special Agent Tao Long, as you have noticed. And the agent next to him is Wang Yibo.
Seo Joon: Ohhh, so this is your husband.
Xiao Lan: Ah? Husband? Did I miss something?
Zhan: Shut up.
Tao Long: So, so, very interesting. What brings you here on your vacation.
Zhan: I wanted to talk to Yibo about something.
Yibo nodded, then left with Zhan while the others were waiting there. Yibo followed Zhan to his office. He wondered what Zhan wanted to talk to him about. He was a little afraid of the conversation.
Zhan: Don't worry, it's nothing bad. So don't look like the world is about to end. I just wanted to inform you that the property manager called me and told me that renovations are about to start in the house. There may be some drawbacks, like power failure, no water, no heat, that sort of thing. He said it is advisable to make arrangements for this time or to live elsewhere for as long as possible. Also, a new security system will be installed, for that you have to be at home, because they have to go into the apartment as well.
Yibo: Oh OK. Thanks for the information.
Zhan: And could you please tell your two siblings that they don't have to keep texting me?
Yibo: What kind of text messages?
Zhan: It doesn't matter. Just tell them that we solve our own problems.
Yibo looked at the floor. He didn't know that his siblings were writing to Zhan, he hadn't asked them to. Was Zhan mad at him for that? Didn't he and Zhan have enough problems? Did they have to get involved now? Zhan was angry enough and had already left him, so why did they have to annoy him even more?
Zhan: Yibo? Have you been listening to me?
Yibo: Huh? Sorry, I was thinking.
Zhan: I said I'm not angry about it, I just don't like other people interfering.
Yibo: Oh OK.
Zhan: Good. By the way, one more thing, I already paid this month's rent.
Yibo: ZhanZhan, I miss you.
Zhan: Please let's not talk about this right now OK?
Yibo the tears came. He missed Zhan so much that it hurt him. He wished he could take Zhan in his arms or that Zhan would smile at him at least once. That he ell him that he still loved him. That maybe one day he would forgive Yibo and they could be together again.
Zhan: Yibo, take your chance and learn from Special Agent Tao Long. He is a very good and experienced agent from whom you can learn a lot. Not only about work, but also about life. Always listen carefully when he tells you something, you never know what that knowledge will be used for one day.
Yibo: Understood.
Zhan: Good. Now don't look like a sad sack and laugh again.
Yibo: Understood. I am trying.
Zhan: Not just trying. Remember, you learn from the best. It is an honor, be proud of it and enjoy your time with him.
Yibo: Understood.
That was all he could say. He reached out his hand to Zhan, said goodbye and left the office. He went back to Tao Long and accompanied him to the surveillance center, which now had a new target for him. He pulled himself together all day long, trying to ignore the fat lump in his throat and not let on anything. As Tao Long said goodbye to him, he said to Yibo, "Nothing is lost yet. Learn, grow up and prove to Xiao Zhan that you mean it this time. I'm sure your husband still loves you. All you have to do now is make an effort to prove to him that you're worth loving." Grateful for these words, Yibo said goodbye to his instructor and hoped he was right. Because he wanted to prove to Zhan that he could change. He wanted to become the man Zhan deserved to be. But as soon as he was home and had closed the door, he began to cry bitterly.