Redeeming The Golden Ticket To Life

[POV Bai Chang]

[Tingg… Ting… Ting]

My alarm went off.

I am still sleepy. 'After all the drama that happened at the Hu Residency, I am kind off burned out.'

The message left by Bai Chang's is so cryptic. It would take some time to get around it. But the implication of the final content of the message on my very existence is beyond limits.

I feel I am walking on thin eggshells as I live my life.

(Si Ming, where are you? Show yourself, what type of a sick joke are you playing on me? Is it very funny to watch me jump around?)

I reluctantly leave my bed and head towards the washroom.

We left from the Hu Residency, the day before yesterday. It's all kind of hazy. Mostly what I remember is Qiang bringing me back to the Villa. While Xiao Wei would spend the week with his grandparents.'

[Ring.. Rin..Ringrrr…]

My phone began to ring as it pulled me out of my reverie.

"Hello," I answered.

"My Queen, how do you feel this fine morning?" Qiang asked from the other side of the phone.

I look towards the phone, and then look around for a watch, its 10 a.m. in the morning.

(How did I sleep like a log for twenty hours straight?)

"I feel lazy," I replied while stretching my body lazily."

"Take care of yourself and take some rest, rest for at least a week. I have discussed your absence with Master Shi. He agreed with me i.e. you should take rest and take care of your body. You are still a recovering patient at the end of the day."

(Did I scare him or what?)

He sounded as if this is the least that I should do and the topic is not up for discussion. I reflect on what all happened for the past few days and realised that I need to cool down, otherwise soon my body will collapse due to overexertion.

"Okay," I replied and then disconnected my phone.

*****

[POV Hu Qiang]

After disconnecting the phone, I am looking forward to dinner tonight.

'I want to go home, now.'

I feel sad to even come to the office today. While leaving Bai Chang's side makes me feel guilty for some reason. It almost feels criminal to leave my weak wife all alone at home.

'But I know, she prefers silence over my presence. That's really sad.'

[Knock … Knock]

"Come in," I said.

Ming Li entered the office, for once he looked serious.

"What's the matter?" I asked him.

"Boss, we got called for the cyber-security bid that we placed on a recent government project, two months back."

"And…"

"They want us to attend their semi-official bidder's gathering. They sure are hell-bent to make the water muddy."

"How is the security on our side?"

"The cyber-security code is with Cyrus alone, other than him, no other person has the clearance to even peek at the file."

"Hmm. Still, make sure we are on our toes. Do not become careless!"

"Okay, Boss."

"What are their specifications for this gathering?"

"They haven't announced it yet, apparently they are keeping the bidding war open until a week after the gathering."

"They want to initiate a corporate war to weaken the Industrial sector. After all, there is a power imbalance between the two. While the scales are tipping towards the Industrial sector for the last few years."

"You are absolutely correct, boss. We detected several small movements."

"Do not need to act out against them but do watch out for them."

"Yes, boss."

He left the office fast.

'It seems the situation would escalate soon.'

"How long are you going to hide Feling?" I thought aloud.