Judging from Zhou Chun and Leah's expressions, this man was someone they knew. Based on the words of the assigned security guards at the gate, Zed frowned. This Wang Zimo looks like a suitor according to what he was carrying.
Wang Zimo was reported to be carrying a lot of flower bouquets and snacks in his car.
+++++
"Master, what are you thinking about?" Friday asked, noticing that its master's body had increased all four happy hormones.
"Nothing much. I am just curious about something," Leah answered mirthfully.
They were still in the garden and decided to have dinner there. Zed was about to leave the kitchen area but was stopped by Leah. "Wait, let Wang Zimo in. I will listen to what he has to say."
Zhou Chun was shocked and stood up. "Young Miss, he— he—" She was about to refute Leah but decided against it, "I will join Mister Yang." She stood up and decided to talk to Wang Zimo at the entrance or on the way back. She knew that she would not be able to dissuade Liu Leah.
Zed nodded at Zhou Chun, and they walked together toward the main gate. While walking, Zed browsed through all the information he had about Liu Leah and discovered that Wang Zimo and Liu Leah had a brief interaction before Liu Leah's engagement.
He frowned, wondering why Liu Leah's second-in-command showed such an extreme reaction when mentioning Wang Zimo's name. According to his records, Wang Zimo and Liu Leah had friendly relations after Wang Defu adopted him, but they were rarely seen together. They attended different schools and only occasionally hung out with familiar friends.
Maybe they are more than acquaintances? "Fuck," he muttered, realizing that after Wang Haoran, there was another Wang bastard interested in his wife.
He looked at the anxious assistant next to him. "What's the relationship between Leah and Wang Zimo?" he asked in an interrogative tone.
Zhou Chun stopped and looked up at Zed. She then looked at the path and continued walking. She didn't even think deeply about why Zed called their Young Miss "Leah."
"I don't know what past they have. All I know is that Wang Zimo suddenly appeared in the Young Miss's life, and she treats him like a younger brother. They used to be close like siblings. They might not meet regularly, but they talk often, either by phone or online."
Zed's sharp eyes were hidden by the shadows cast by the path's lamps. He gritted his teeth and gripped his phone tightly.
Zed opened and closed the door of the greenhouse while Zhou Chun continued.
"When talks of engagement were around the corner for the Young Miss and Wang Haoran, the Young Miss became busy and distant towards Wang Zimo. It was not only Wang Zimo but all her other friends. When both parties officially announced the engagement, the Young Miss had a meet-up with Wang Zimo for dinner. After that, they never contacted each other again."
Having a guess why, Zed still asked, "Why do you think that is?"
Zhou Chun looked at the man beside her and then looked back at the path. "I am sure you know why. Your guess is as good as mine."
Zed did not respond and continued reading up on some of Liu Leah's information that he might have missed. He did not want to be surprised or unprepared again regarding his wife.
There was no sound besides the rustling of the leaves, some insects, and small critters hidden by bushes and trees.
The silence was disturbed by Zhou Chun. "How did he find this place?" she asked Zed curiously. If she remembered correctly, they used four dummies to redirect all attention from the hospital after Liu Leah's discharge.
Even if she thought it was over the top, she did not oppose the head of security's decision.
While Zhou Chun's eyes were on him, Zed pointed up without looking at her. "He owns a tech company, which has one or two satellites stationed in orbit," he replied calmly.
"That's right. Wang Zimo's men just had to follow the helicopter's destination at the time." With an enlightened expression, Zhou Chun shouted, "Wait, he can afford to send not one but two satellites into space?" but was met with silence instead.
Zhou Chun mulled over the information Zed had given her until they reached their destination and were greeted by two guards. It took a while, but they finally reached the front gate, which was still far from the villa.
"Sir—"
"Miss Zhou."
Both guards greeted one at a time. The one on the left stayed at his post while the one on the right opened the side door meant for personnel.
"Please," he said, gesturing for them to proceed through the door.
Zed went outside, followed by Zhou Chun. As soon as they both passed through, the guard closed and locked the door.
Another guard saluted the two from outside. One stood on each side of Wang Zimo's car. A third person, without a uniform, stood next to the driver's seat with the car door open.
One of the closest guards came up in front of Zed and Zhou Chun and gave his report. "His car is clean. He only carries his phone, three bags of snacks, and three bouquets." He looked at his team lead without extra words while waiting for his next orders.
"Have him park the car to avoid blocking the driveway. Let him carry whatever he can. He is coming back in with us on foot," Zed ordered.
"Yes, sir." The guard nodded and went back to relay their lead's instructions to Wang Zimo.
Wang Zimo's surprised and excited expression was noticeable when he heard the news. He immediately returned to his car and parked on the side as the guard told him.
He got out, took all three bags of snacks and only one bouquet from the back seat, and locked his car. As he approached the two, he was about to say something but stopped when he saw their unwelcome faces.
Wang Zimo decided to drop all pretenses and just follow them inside. He gauged Zed as Zed did the same to him while Wang Zimo got closer. Neither wanted to break eye contact, as it would indicate backing down.
While the two men, standing at 190 cm and the other at 180 cm, intensely scanned each other up and down, Zhou Chun was amused. To onlookers, they might appear ready to start a fight at any moment, but to her, they resembled sexually frustrated beasts deciding who would dominate.
Ring— Ring—
Someone's phone suddenly rang, breaking the tense atmosphere at the main gate entrance.
Everyone looked at each other except Zed, who lifted his right hand with his phone close to his right ear without breaking eye contact with Wang Zimo, who still faced Zed.
"Sorry. We will return immediately. Hmm. Okay. See you." After answering the phone, Zed looked at the gate without addressing anyone. "Let's go back." He left these three words hanging as he entered the side gate door, which had already been opened by the inner guards monitoring from inside.
Zed walked in without looking back. Zhou Chun, understanding who had just called, followed soon after. The rest of the guards sighed and encouraged Wang Zimo to enter so they could all return inside.
The fourth main gate guard was the last to enter. He locked the gates from the inside and turned around. Noticing that their team lead and the others were far ahead, he asked his night shift teammates, "Who do you think would win if those two brawled, hand to hand, without weapons?"
All three other guards looked at him simultaneously, shaking their heads silently, lamenting that such a moron was part of their small front gate team and seemingly tired of living. The guard who started the conversation got creeped out and questioned, "What? What did I say?"