Deep in the Night - Chapter 14

It was six in the evening. Gu Mingzong walked out of the International Chamber of Commerce Building, one hand casually tucked into his trousers pocket. He suddenly noticed a silver Lexus parked quietly at the foot of the steps.

He paused, a faint smile flashing in his eyes.

“Then we will deliver all relevant documents to your legal department tomorrow, and at that time, please… Mr. Gu?” The chairman next to him stopped speaking, and the group behind him also halted. “Mr. Gu?”

“I know,” Gu Mingzong turned, smiling. “Thank you for your concern. We can discuss it tomorrow at the meeting.”

The chairman looked as if he wanted to say more, but Gu Mingzong strode down the steps, ignoring Wang Yu and others who were waiting patiently by the motorcade a short distance away. He walked straight to the silver Lexus and opened the car door.

“Director Wang, this…”

Wang Yu recognized the Lexus’s license plate and waved his hand to silence his subordinate’s question.

“That is not for you or me to worry about… Mr. Gu won’t be coming back tonight. Let’s go.”

—

Gu Mingzong fastened his seatbelt and said blandly, “Speak. What is it?”

Only Fang Jin was in the driver’s seat. He must have just come from the company as well, wearing a dark blue, tailored suit and a white shirt. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses while driving, which made him look extremely refined and composed. “Nothing much. I just wanted to return the favour for abruptly leaving yesterday.”

Gu Mingzong turned to look at him.

“What is it?”

Gu Mingzong did not speak. He simply narrowed his eyes and scrutinised him carefully. After a long moment, he said, “I’m thinking about what you looked like as a child.”

“…As a child?”

“Hmm. When you first came to the Gu family, you were frail, like a little girl, always on the verge of tears. I didn’t expect you to grow up so quickly. Children change day by day as they age.”

Gu Mingzong’s tone was purely conversational, but Fang Jin glanced at his expression with subtle alertness.

The car turned its front, drove out of the exhibition plaza, and merged into the flow of traffic on the road. The streets ahead were busy with traffic and crisscrossed by streetlights. Fang Jin focused intently on the road, then finally asked, “Was it better when I was a child, or is it better now?”

Gu Mingzong laughed:

“Now,” he said easily. “You used to be just a little thing. Now that you’ve grown up, you’re finally worth looking at as a proper person.”

—

The Lexus drove all the way to the entrance of the hotel Gu Mingzong had instructed him to visit yesterday. They took the elevator straight to the top floor, which was still the same revolving garden restaurant as the night before.

No matter what happened in the outside world, the extravagant luxury and elegant charm of a place like this remained unchanged. The difference was that yesterday, Gu Mingzong had the scene cleared beforehand, and there were almost no other guests on their side. Today, however, the restaurant was fully booked, with twenty tables spread throughout the vast space, all occupied.

A waiter respectfully led them to a window seat with a 270-degree view of the city nightscape, the same location as yesterday. Gu Mingzong took off his jacket and asked in surprise, “You managed to reserve a table here, and this exact spot, too? How long ago did you call the restaurant?”

“Today at noon,” Fang Jin pulled out a chair and sat down, answering calmly: “I used your name to make the reservation.”

Gu Mingzong immediately laughed, shaking his head and sighing after a moment: “—As expected, you are indeed finally worth looking at as a person.”

Fang Jin naturally possessed the qualities of an excellent assistant and subordinate. He was meticulous, thoughtful, and competent. If he wished, he could handle a task flawlessly, leaving the most demanding person unable to find a single fault.

For instance, before arriving, he had inquired with the restaurant and learned that Gu Mingzong had not dined yesterday. Consequently, the menu served today was identical to yesterday’s. A certain type of sea fish had been discarded after yesterday’s service, so the kitchen lacked the ingredient today. Fang Jin had quickly selected a similar-tasting fish to replace it.

Gu Mingzong forked a piece of fish meat, asking without raising his head, “What happened at the company yesterday?”

“…Nothing much,” Fang Jin said subtly. “The Young Master asked me to process some documents related to Mingda Shipping. I suspect their collaboration ran into trouble. The Young Master went out early this morning, but he didn’t take me, so I guess he didn’t want me to know, even if there was an issue.”

“Oh, he still doesn’t completely trust you?”

“The Young Master has his own core team.”

Gu Mingzong nodded with interest. “Perhaps he didn’t want me to know. Such a significant loss—he must be worried that the scale of the incident will expand and affect his status as heir.”

Fang Jin’s hand, holding the steak knife, paused slightly. Then he looked up and asked with a smile, “So you are aware of everything?”

Candlelight flickered, the scent of flowers was gentle, and the violin music from the indoor band drifted like silk. Gu Mingzong put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said nonchalantly, “Of course, I know. Mingda Shipping suddenly declared bankruptcy and privately transferred assets. The ten million dollars Gu Yuan invested is completely lost. Now, Mingda is relying on its government background to delay the bankruptcy liquidation process. With such a massive cash flow stuck and unable to return, Gu Yuan must be desperate.”

Fang Jin replied, “As long as they can afford my salary.”

“Oh?” Gu Mingzong seemed a little amused. “You were quite firm when you quit the bank card. Do you care about this small salary?”

Fang Jin slowly swallowed a piece of fish, took a sip of water, and then said after a moment, “That’s different—I was sent by you to the Young Master’s company. The label on my forehead is either yours or the Young Master’s. In any case, Madam Chi will definitely not think I want to side with her. If the Young Master successfully takes the helm in the future, even if he doesn’t heavily rely on me, I’ll at least have a peaceful life. The Second Young Master is another matter, so I am naturally concerned about this issue.”

This was the first time in many years Fang Jin had touched upon the issue of the heir apparent—before this, it had been a taboo subject for Gu Mingzong.

But his words were both logical and reasonable. Whether from a subordinate-employee relationship or a more intimate, covert relationship, he was one of the few who could naturally bring up the point.

As expected, Gu Mingzong did not get angry. He didn’t even show a hint of displeasure. On the contrary, he smiled:

“Is that truly what you think?”

Fang Jin said, “Yes, that’s exactly what I think.”

A waiter in an English vest came to clear the empty plates. Moments later, a trolley was pushed over, serving the next main course: charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef. According to etiquette, the waiter should have placed the small portion of beef on a specialized smokeless charcoal grill, introduced the cut and origin, and then carved the steak for the guests. But Gu Mingzong raised his hand to stop him.

“We’ll do it ourselves.”

The waiter immediately nodded and quickly withdrew.

“Gu Yuan has sharp claws, is too outspoken, and too ambitious,” Gu Mingzong looked at Fang Jin and said slowly. “This trait resembles his mother’s family. That’s why everyone says he takes after his father, but that’s entirely inaccurate.”

Fang Jin’s brows furrowed slightly.

Gu Mingzong, however, casually flipped the steak on the charcoal. He smiled and said, “But you don’t need to worry. No one can touch you before I die. After I die, you’ll just leave, so why would you need to fear anyone?”

He elegantly grilled the small piece of beef over the hot charcoal, then used a silver knife to cut it into two pieces, placing the more tender half on Fang Jin’s plate. Fang Jin thanked him and asked, “I just feel that, based on what you’re saying, you seem dissatisfied with both Gu Yuan and Gu Yang, so I was just a little curious.”

“What’s so strange about neither of them being up to par? Honestly, neither of them is as much like me as you are.”

Fang Jin was stunned.

“It’s a pity you weren’t born as my son. Whose fault is that?” Gu Mingzong tapped the table lazily. “—Eat. Don’t starve. The steak tastes good.”

—

For the rest of the meal, Gu Mingzong did not bring up the topic of the heir again.

Fang Jin did not mention a single word either—he knew he had just walked a tightrope over a precipice.

The Gu family was an old-money magnate, influential in both legitimate and illegitimate spheres. Its only, and most fatal, issue was that the patriarch was still in his prime, yet both sons had already grown sharp fangs. Both Gu Yuan and Gu Yang had attempted to force the succession issue into the open, but every attempt had failed with a heavy cost. Over time, everyone in the Gu family knew this was an absolute taboo.

After the main course, a waiter came to clear the empty plates and poured two more glasses of red wine.

“Excuse me, Mr. Gu,” Fang Jin rose and said to Gu Mingzong, “I need to use the restroom.”

Gu Mingzong nodded. Just as Fang Jin stood up, however, he backed up against the table edge because his chair was not fully pushed back—

The restaurant emphasized ambiance, using light, designer wooden tables. The table wobbled instantly from the impact, and the tall wine glass flipped over, instantly splashing red wine all over Gu Mingzong!

“I apologize, Mr. Gu!” Fang Jin quickly stepped forward. “How did this happen… Waiter!”

Gu Mingzong wiped himself with a snowy white napkin, indicating he was fine. At this moment, two waiters noticed the situation and quickly approached: “What is it, sir?” “Is there anything we can help you with?”

Gu Mingzong had a large patch of wine stain on his suit jacket and shirt front. As he stood up and took off his jacket, he said, “It’s alright. I have a private room on the VIP floor of the hotel. Go there and fetch a change of clothes…”

Fang Jin stood behind Gu Mingzong, his lower back leaning against the dining table, using his body to shield his actions.

In a place no one could see, a mobile phone silently slid from his cuff. He caught it, flipped it over, and placed it next to Gu Mingzong’s dinner plate. Then he quickly picked up the phone that was originally placed there and slipped it into his own pocket.

The series of movements was fast and precise, taking only a few seconds. He had already straightened up and stepped away from the table.

Behind him, the replacement phone looked exactly like Gu Mingzong’s actual phone; even the degree of wear and tear was identical.

“…Get the key card from your manager,” Gu Mingzong told the waiter. “I won’t go. Just bring the clothes here, and I’ll change.”

The waiter immediately acknowledged the order and quickly left.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Gu, I accidentally…”

“It’s nothing,” Gu Mingzong said easily. “You’ve stained my clothes countless times.”

Fang Jin’s expression stiffened, and Gu Mingzong chuckled teasingly: “What are you waiting for—go on.”

Fang Jin nodded and quickly walked through the restaurant toward the restroom.

His expression appeared normal, but a closer look would reveal how tightly his lips were pressed together, giving him an unusually sharp and decisive look.

He quickly entered the restroom, locked the door behind him, and pulled out a thin tablet computer from the back of his shirt. He then connected Gu Mingzong’s phone and the tablet with a data cable, opened the cracking software, and began quickly unlocking the phone’s password.

—Time was extremely tight now. Even a brief second was precious.

Gu Mingzong had several phones, but the one he would take to an international trade conference would certainly be the full stainless steel embossed Vertu. Fang Jin had once owned an identical model. He had spent an entire night cleaning and refurbishing the casing, then played a small trick with the electronic components, causing the phone to repeatedly display the startup screen but fail to actually boot.

When Gu Mingzong waited for him, he might pick up the phone and start checking his emails, but he would immediately find that the phone wouldn’t start. A normal person’s reaction would be to replace the battery and restart repeatedly. Few would immediately suspect that the phone wasn’t theirs and begin scrutinizing the casing.

Fang Jin was betting on this time gap.

Ninety seconds later, the phone was cracked, and the system was accessed, beginning the synchronisation of text messages and emails. Fang Jin stared motionless at the constantly scrolling information on the screen, the cold light of the tablet reflecting in his glasses with an inorganic calm and control.

The clue to Lu Wenlei’s hiding place must be inside Gu Mingzong’s phone.

He needed to use this to break into the situation, figure out the instructions Gu Mingzong had issued as the mastermind, stop Mingda Shipping’s devastating collapse, and thereby regain control of the current crisis.

Four minutes and twenty seconds. Synchronisation complete.

Fang Jin uploaded the data to the cloud, restored the phone, and then decisively smashed the tablet computer.

Crackle! A few crisp sounds of breaking glass echoed, scattering shards all over the sink. Fang Jin cleanly threw the sparking fragments of the tablet out the window, then turned on the water to flush away the SD card and all the broken glass.

After finishing, he splashed water on his face. When he looked up, he saw his reflection in the mirror.

The brilliant light shone on his face, the faint blue veins beneath his skin clearly visible, and his facial features appeared extremely sharp, his eyes concealing an icy calm and resolve.

“—What’s so strange about neither of them being up to par? Honestly, neither of them is as much like me as you are…”

Like Gu Mingzong?

…How utterly absurd.

Fang Jin squeezed his water-laden eyelashes shut. A moment later, he opened his eyes again and strode out of the restroom.

—

In the restaurant, Gu Mingzong had already changed into a fresh shirt in the dressing room. He was now standing in front of the enormous floor-to-ceiling glass window, looking down at the city lights like a sea of prosperity at his feet.

Fang Jin had not yet reached the table when Gu Mingzong turned around and said, “You’re back? Let’s go.”

“Let me pay the bill first…”

“Already paid,” Gu Mingzong looked at him teasingly, grabbing the phone and keys on the tabletop and putting them into his pocket.

Fang Jin’s gaze lingered on Gu Mingzong’s trousers pocket for half a second. Then he looked up at him, hesitating: “But I left abruptly yesterday, and I wanted to make it up to you by treating you today. I am truly sorry, Mr. Gu, I…”

Gu Mingzong leaned leisurely against the table edge and said, “Then think of another way to apologize.”

Fang Jin seemed hesitant.

He stood gently, his hair falling by his cheek, which made his hair look softer black and his skin paler white. In the lamplight, he slightly lowered his eyelids, the water droplets on his lashes not yet dry, reflecting tiny, scattered light in the candlelight.

He was truly incredibly handsome. Without any fine clothing or accumulated wealth, just standing there, he exuded a sense of pure, complete, soul-stirring beauty.

The indifferent look in Gu Mingzong’s eyes gradually vanished, replaced by a deep gaze that fixed tightly on him.

Fang Jin sighed: “But… in front of you, I have nothing at all.”

There seemed to be a hint of helplessness in his voice. But then he stepped forward, reaching out a hand as if tentatively pressing it onto Gu Mingzong’s firm shoulder, and then initiated an embrace.

It was an intimate hug, like one between lovers. Fang Jin’s lips were practically against Gu Mingzong’s ear, his warm breath deliberately brushing against the side of his neck. For a moment, Gu Mingzong’s body paused. Then he laughed softly, reaching behind Fang Jin to pull his hair, forcing him to look up, and pressing a kiss onto his lips.

At exactly eight o’clock, fireworks shot up outside the window, bursting into a brilliant, dazzling display in the night sky.

In the light and shadow, their figures instantly overlapped, appearing like genuinely tender lovers. Then, in the next second, Fang Jin reached out a hand, pulled the fake phone from Gu Mingzong’s trousers pocket, and the real phone silently slid out of his cuff and into the pocket.

Everything happened in an instant. The fireworks dissipated, and the night sky grew quiet. Fang Jin gently stepped back.

His breathing was still slightly ragged. He asked, “Does this count as an apology?”

Gu Mingzong looked down at him, then nodded after a long while, saying with a smile, “It does.”