Zimo stood behind the closed door in his room, looking at the sketch before him, feeling how literal chills crawled up his back.
"Did he find out who I am?" He whispered to himself.
Although he wasn't as powerful as Gu Yuxuan, he believed his cover-up couldn't be discovered that fast. But making sense of Gu Yuxuan words and knowing at what he was applying…
"What can you lose, when there was nothing to gain in the first place? Take the negative numbers for example. It disguises itself as being a lowly result. Many will believe it because they see it with their eyes. Others find it unbelievable and choose to investigate. While the minority can instantly see that they are faking it."
"Was he actually talking about the numbers or just comparing them to something?" Zimo asked, biting his inner lip.
"If you believe you have nothing to lose, but still want to gain something, there will be a loss. As for the numbers, they are masked to gain nothing. And as a result, it can't lose anything. So what if it backfires? Do you think it will affect anyone?"
"What are you saying?" He asked Gu Yuxuan, but Gu Yuxuan didn't respond.
Zimo looked at the years of investigation sketches he drew. And the blurry image in the middle was finally getting clearer but still too unrecognisable.
He took a deep breath and lifted his small suitcase and went out.
* * *
Gu Yuxuan and Zimo entered the plane in business class. Their seats were designated next to each other.
Gu Yuxuan wore a face mask to escape the mixed perfumes from passengers that turned into a bittersweet scent, blocking the ventilation.
The mild noises of the passengers, together with the noisy whistles of the plane taking off, played in unison.
For a long time, Zimo's eyes lingered on the water bottle in front of him as he zoned out. Completely drawn from his surroundings. Like dozing off from a long day's hard work.
And when he finally decided to reach for the bottle, he was reaching for Yu Yuxuan's hand instead, who had already grabbed it.
With his hand on top of Gu Yuxuan hand, no one pulling back, their gazes turned to each other. Their eyes rested on each other for a long time before Gu Yuxuan asked, "What are you doing?"
Zimo smiled and drew back his hand. When he looked to his front, a wave of heat filled his cheeks, seeing another bottle in front of him, realising that he was actually grabbing Gu Yuxuan's bottle.
"I didn't see."
"I don't care what's on your mind. Just don't let it interrupt me." Gu Yuxuan said, folding his arms as he laid back.
After just more than two hours, they had arrived, and Zimo collected their suitcases, carrying them outside to where Gu Yuxuan was already standing.
Their rented car stopped in front of them and the driver handed the keys over to Zimo.
Gu Yuxuan got in at the back while Zimo placed the suitcases into the bonnet first, then took the driver's seat.
They drove off beneath the yellow sky. The sun was just starting to rise.
For the whole ten minutes they had driven, Gu Yuxuan kept his head turned to the window beside him. His mind was always calculating, never taking a break. And going to this event was nothing but a task he was fully prepared for.
He took a deep breath and finally turned to the front, when his gaze suddenly froze as it fell upon the eyes of Zimo in the rear view mirror.
Zimo was focused on the road. His facial muscles slightly relaxed, making his eyelids half-lowered, creating a soft and dreamy look.
Gu Yuxuan looked at them as if he was seeing it for the first time. Breathing slowly. Thoughtlessly staring… Until seconds passed and turned into minutes. Gu Yuxuan never looked away.
Then the echoing silence was broken with the question.
"Am I handsome?" Zimo took small glimpses back at him. From his eyes you could tell he was smiling.
Gu Yuxuan looked away, like he wasn't the one staring for a whole few minutes.
Silence overpowered Zimo's question that was still looming in the air, until it dissolved by itself.
They made a final turn, and reached the hotel. Five stars with a grand entrance. The surrounding grounds were maintained with lush green gardens.
The booking had been done prior to their visit and Zimo just had to sign them in. After getting the room cards, they headed upstairs.
The luxurious rooms were big and elegantly stunning. Gu Yuxuan immediately went to sit down and opened his laptop while Zimo carried his luggage inside.
"Do you need anything?" Zimo asked, standing behind him.
"No", Gu Yuxuan responded.
Zimo took it as his cue to leave and went to his room. He didn't fall back on anything, enjoying the same luxury as his boss.
After taking a shower, wearing a white towel gown and hair still half wet, he went to sit on the bed.
From his bag, he took out a blue covered file. Opened it to the page that said "Attendance name list".
When he offered to help Lingling, he made sure to gather all the details of this event. Things he wasn't even supposed to know.
He was looking through each page, making small notes here and there. And taking rests in between by laying on his back, with his head on his arms.
When time struck 6 pm, he got dressed in his black suit. Slid his fingers through his hair to fix it and then he was ready to go.
He knocked on Gu Yuxuan's door and waited a few seconds before it opened. And as he looked up, his lips slightly parted.
Gu Yuxuan turned and walked to the bed with his naked upper body, to put on his shirt.
Zimo entered, closing the door behind him. On the bed, Gu Yuxuan's laptop was still open with documents lying around it.
"Is this event important to you?" Zimo asked.
"The event itself. No." Gu Yuxuan said.
Zimo's eyes sparked curiosity. "You've been preparing so much, not for the event?"
Gu Yuxuan stayed quiet while finishing up. When he was done, he just gave a glance at Zimo and while putting on his watch he smirked the words, "How long will you keep pretending?"
Zimo smiled but it was a nervous one.
"Let's go." Gu Yuxuan said, walking to the door.
But Zimo grabbed the handle and slid against it. Right in front of Gu Yuxuan whose body brushed against his.
Their eye contact was locked, focused and intense. Neither giving any slight movement.
Zimo squinted his eyes. He knew Gu Yuxuan knew something, and not knowing what it was, was gonna drive him crazy. The clearer things are, the better he functions. So he didn't hesitate when he asked, "What do you know about me?"