A PR Team

It turned out that fear was the stronger motivator.

Not long after dawn, Fu Qian welcomed his first visitors.

He said visitors, plural, rather than a single visitor because, besides Sawada, whom he hadn't seen in ages, the man had even brought someone along.

She was a woman in red-framed glasses, looking not quite thirty, dressed head to toe in standard office attire. At a glance, her figure was striking.

She followed closely at Sawada's side, plainly playing the role of his secretary.

Sawada had come first thing in the morning, but he paid no attention to the alluring secretary beside him. From the moment he entered, he'd fixed Fu Qian with a stern stare.

"Where have you been all this time?"

It was only one question, but it carried a complicated mix of emotions.

"What should I call you?"

Fu Qian didn't hurry to answer. Instead, he looked the secretary up and down, not missing a single strand of hair. He seemed to be assessing how she might taste.

"Asao Sakura."

The beautiful secretary was clearly uncomfortable under his scrutiny. She lowered her head and answered quietly.

"Lovely name."

Fu Qian offered his praise, then finally turned to Sawada. Ignoring his question outright, he greeted him with easy familiarity.

"Been a few days. Did you get promoted and a raise? Congratulations."

"It's been more than a few days, and you still haven't answered my question."

Sawada didn't look in the mood for small talk. He immediately steered the conversation back on track.

"Where exactly have you been all this time? We had an agreement, but you didn't show up for any of the later tests."

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me?"

He grew sterner with every word, until even the secretary beside him was