Morning. Nine o'clock.
In the hotel suite, the four of them sat quietly and talked. Beep beep, beep beep—the Twin Sisters' phone rang, though it did not seem to be a call. One of them pulled out the phone and dismissed it. It seemed to be an Alarm Clock reminder, as if something was about to happen.
Shen Xiaoyan turned her head. "Director Zhang."
Zhang Longjuan nodded. "I know."
Shen Xiaomei hesitated. "But they said before noon..."
After thinking for a moment, Shen Xiaoyan said, "I also don't think it's appropriate to go out right now."
Zhang Longjuan smiled. "We'll do what we need to do. There's no need to mind them."
After discussing it, they still decided to go out and handle their business. They packed up their things.
Dong Xuebin knew their outing was related to a State Security assignment, so he tactfully did not ask any questions and pretended not to have heard anything. When they opened the door and went out, he got up and followed them.
Shen Xiaomei walked quickly and reached the elevator first.
Shen Xiaoyan stayed close beside Zhang Longjuan and then entered the elevator as well.
Dong Xuebin was the only one walking behind them. His legs were not very steady, so he could only limp along slowly.
One step... Three steps... Five steps...
The three women had been in the elevator for quite some time before Dong Xuebin finally dawdled inside. He smiled at them somewhat sheepishly, apologizing.
Zhang Longjuan did not mind. "I'll help you, then."
Dong Xuebin said, "No need, Sister Zhang. I'm not that fragile."
Zhang Longjuan said, "All right, then watch where you're stepping. Don't trip."
The elevator doors closed. Shen Xiaomei looked at Dong Xuebin, speechless. Earlier, they had told Zhang Longjuan that Dong Xuebin could