Hidden Transaction

Shi Youxi lifted his leg and hooked the bodyguard's chin with the tip of his shoe, forcing him to raise his head.

He said to him, "Zhao Xu, remember this: you're just a dog of the Shi family. If you mess up again, I'll chop off your hands and feet and feed them to the sharks."

Zhao Xu... Jiang Qiao thought about it and found the name vaguely familiar. He was one of Fu Zhilan's male confidants in the original novel.

He had originally belonged to Shi Junyi's stepmother. Among the Shi family's many bodyguards, he ranked in the top three in hand-to-hand combat and first in marksmanship.

Because he was too capable, he had the rotten luck of being claimed by Shi Youxi.

Shi Youxi was arrogant and overbearing, a beast in human skin. Though still young, he was narrow-minded and had done plenty of things worse than an animal would.

Shi Junyi was ruthless toward enemies and traitors. Shi Youxi, on the other hand, did not distinguish between outsiders and his own people. Whoever displeased him became a target.

In the original novel, Fu Zhilan had happened to witness Shi Youxi disciplining Zhao Xu during an accident. He stepped in to help Zhao Xu, planting a seed of gratitude in Zhao Xu's heart, but also offending Shi Youxi.

Later, Fu Zhilan used a few small schemes to win Zhao Xu over, turning him into one of Shi Junyi's hidden pieces.

Shi Youxi knew Fu Zhilan belonged to Shi Junyi, so he did not dare do anything to Fu Zhilan openly.

But he secretly remembered it and found an opportunity to kidnap Fu Zhilan.

Then the protagonist's halo nearly blinded Jiang Qiao's dog eyes. Shi Junyi played the hero and saved the beauty, and their relationship took another step forward.

And now, such a perfect opportunity had simply been delivered to Jiang Qiao's doorstep for nothing.

But Jiang Qiao was not Fu Zhilan. He only intended to use that manipulative innocent act on Shi Junyi; everyone else could be spared.

So he carried his large floral plastic bag into the changing room and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, does anyone want to subscribe to—magazines? A complete range, excellent quality at fair prices, honest dealing for young and old alike."

His voice was low and pleasant, making it especially clear and abrupt in the empty changing room.

He had already decided that if Shi Youxi dared curse at him or lay a hand on him, he would first take Zhao Xu and retreat. Once the night was quiet, he would secretly teach that bastard a lesson.

Why not confront him head-on?

What a joke. Jiang Qiao was crazy, not stupid. He understood better than anyone that when you were under someone else's roof, you had no choice but to bow your head.

Old Master Shi was still alive, and Shi Junyi had not even made a move to deal with this bargain-bin younger brother. Jiang Qiao had no intention of inviting trouble.

Shi Youxi halted his raised whip and turned to look at Jiang Qiao, frowning. "Do you have the—kind?"

Jiang Qiao let out an ah. "Of course. I've also got a copy of Bizarre, published in New York in 1946. It makes for a better experience when read together. Want it? I'll give you a discount."

These magazines, including the one he had tossed onto the table earlier, had all been on Shen Guiyi's bookshelf.

The sheer breadth of her interests had deeply shocked Jiang Qiao and made him feel inferior.

Shen Guiyi had said she was already sick of reading them and planned to bring in a new batch in a few days, so she was giving this batch to Jiang Qiao.

Shi Youxi put away the whip in his hand and stared at Jiang Qiao. "Who are you?"

Jiang Qiao said, "The new bodyguard."

Shi Youxi asked, "Do you know who I am?"

Jiang Qiao nodded and answered honestly, "Young Master."

Shi Youxi studied Jiang Qiao closely. He felt that Jiang Qiao was different from the other bodyguards and servants, who trembled the moment they saw him. He was somewhat interesting.

He said, "My mom won't let me read them. We need to make this a hidden transaction. Bring it to the living room on the first floor where the sharks are kept at ten tonight."

Jiang Qiao readily agreed. "Sure. I guarantee I'll be sneaky and won't let anyone discover it."

He glanced at Zhao Xu on the floor, placed his large floral plastic bag on a bench, then pulled Shi Youxi closer and whispered into his ear.

"When I came downstairs just now, I saw the old master. I don't know if he's coming this way."

Shi Youxi narrowed his eyes at Jiang Qiao and asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Jiang Qiao looked utterly sincere. "Just in case."

Shi Youxi was young after all. The magazine deal had inexplicably brought him closer to Jiang Qiao and lowered his guard. At that moment, he believed Jiang Qiao's words even more.

He kicked Zhao Xu. "Why aren't you getting lost? Put your clothes on. If Dad sees you, I'll make you regret it."

Zhao Xu said nothing. He silently got up from the floor, put on his clothes, and limped out of the changing room. Before leaving, he discreetly glanced back at Jiang Qiao.

Shi Youxi opened a locker, tossed the whip inside, then locked it and warned Jiang Qiao, "You'd better know what you should say and what you shouldn't."

Jiang Qiao's eyes curved into crescents. "Rest assured, Young Master."

"Don't forget, ten tonight." Shi Youxi reminded him again before leaving the changing room with his backpack.

Watching Shi Youxi's retreating figure, Jiang Qiao gave a derisive laugh. "Idiot."

He quickly changed into his training uniform. The moment he entered the shooting range, he saw Shi Junyi in sportswear, holding a Colt and firing at targets.

He looked several years younger than usual.

Jiang Qiao walked over and secretly poked Shi Junyi's waist. "Didn't you go to a meeting, Brother?"

Shi Junyi had noticed Jiang Qiao in the corner of his eye long ago. Without turning around, he fired three shots at the moving target fifty meters away, each one hitting the bullseye.

"It's over."

Seeing that there were few people around and no one was looking their way, Jiang Qiao rested his chin on Shi Junyi's shoulder. "Brother is so handsome that my legs have gone weak."

Shi Junyi glanced sideways at him. The training uniform consisted of a black T-shirt and tactical pants. On Jiang Qiao, it highlighted his height, long legs, narrow waist, and rounded hips.

But because his shirt was tucked into his waistband, certain changes were especially obvious.

"Is that so?—"

Jiang Qiao was not embarrassed either. "—Clear division of labor, no interference with each other."

Shi Junyi chuckled and set down his gun. "What did you say to Shi Youxi?"

Jiang Qiao was surprised. Only a few minutes had passed since he met Shi Youxi, and he had not stayed in the changing room for long. Yet even that could not be hidden from Shi Junyi.

"I made a small deal."

"Tell me." Shi Junyi said.

Jiang Qiao shook his head. "Keep it secret for now. I'll tell you after it's done, Brother."

Shi Junyi looked into Jiang Qiao's eyes. "Jiang Qiao, don't try to be clever. If you dare betray me from within or ruin my plans, don't blame me for not sparing you."

Jiang Qiao met Shi Junyi's gaze. "Trust me, Brother. I'm not an idiot."

There was not the slightest flicker of evasiveness in his eyes.

Whenever Jiang Qiao looked at Shi Junyi like this, Shi Junyi remembered the blue bay shepherd dog he had raised as a child.

Shi Junyi withdrew the hand he had been about to use to touch Jiang Qiao's cheek and spoke indifferently. "Where's your gun?"

Jiang Qiao took out the Glock, then took Shi Junyi's hand on his own initiative and asked, "Is Brother going to teach me personally?"