"Is this what they call, you can't beat a lucky person?"
The young man dressed neatly like a secretary asked, while sitting in front of a small poker table with some cards scattered there. In front of him are many small televisions showing scenes in other rooms in all areas of the villa, including the place where the game had just ended between Wei Sheng and Lai Ting, played by the two women.
"Do you think the woman wearing the golden dress is luckier than the woman in the red dress?"
Answered the man in his forties, who was standing facing the window, where the view of the dark night sky without stars was clearly spread out there. So black, dark and mysterious like the nickname that people always gave him.
"Do you have any other thoughts, Director Xiu?" Asked the young man again while glancing at his boss who had been standing with his back to him towards the balcony, since the game ended. It seemed that Director Xiu was thinking about something, because the young-looking man always acted like that when he wanted to empty his mind. "Do you think there is another level higher than luck?"
Director Xiu did not respond immediately, the man with square glasses with gold frames seemed so immersed in his own thoughts and preferred to respond to the voices in his mind. Until finally he himself decided to get out of the complicated discussion going on in his head with a short sigh.
"Kun, after all these years with me, do you still not understand?" Director Xiu turned around and looked at his loyal assistant with both hands in his pockets. "The most successful people, in work and life, are those who have the belief that their actions have a direct effect on their results."
Kun with an innocent face, was seen sitting quietly in his position. Ready to hear the next lesson from the man known as the Black Tortoise.
Director Xiu sighed inwardly, feeling half regretful for talking about it with his assistant. Because letting Kun be curious, it was the same as having to prepare for sleepless nights for the next few days.
"Just like the game of Tetris, you can think that every block that falls makes your position better or worse than before. If you think of it as 'Better' then it is the Positive Tetris Effect." Director Xiu indirectly analogized the woman in gold with this. "In life, if you follow the 'Positive Tetris' mindset, everything that happens to you will make you better than before, then you will see more opportunities."
"Isn't this like a psychologist's call?"
Director Xiu snapped his fingers, as if Kun's thoughts had already gone in the direction he meant. "Have you ever heard of this saying, 'Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum to place it on, and I will move the world'." He began to explain from a deeper perspective, "The fulcrum is actually our mindset and the lever is the power or potential. This principle teaches us, we only need to gain greater power and mindset, then anything is possible!"
"What power do you think Wei Sheng has?"
Director Xiu shook his head, "Not Wei Sheng, but the woman in gold." Trying to correct Kun's answer, "Have you found the Dealer's information on their table?"
Kun rose from his chair and approached Director Xiu with measured steps. "There is no employee by the name of Han Yao on our records, in any department," he stated.
"Then what about the guards who guarded and checked the invitations earlier?"
Kun shook his head, "We can't find them either." He replied resignedly, "After the game was over, the two of them seemed to have disappeared without a trace. It was as if they were never there."
Director Xiu's previously neutral gaze turned slightly cold, as if he could read the cunning plan carried out by the couple who were in his territory. Then those two eyes looked straight at Kun again, as if answering his curiosity earlier.
"You mean, the bodyguard and the dealer are working together with Wei Sheng?" He replied with a shocked expression and one hand raised to cover his wide open mouth. He did not expect anyone to dare to prank and humiliate Director Xiu like that, even on his own dominion.
"It is still unclear whether it is Wei Sheng or the woman in the golden dress." Director Xiu said as he turned his body towards the window and looked at the vast sky, "And to answer your question earlier, about a higher level than luck. It is a person who is very well prepared."
***
"Thank you, Han Liuyao." Nicole said, starting a conversation with the woman on the other end of the phone.
"You should thank Han Yao, not Han Liuyao." The woman replied in a casual tone.
Hearing that, Nicole smiled faintly. "Are the owners of those names two different people?"
"Of course," She replied confidently. "Han Liuyao is your friend. Meanwhile, Han Yao is your soldier."
The smile on Nicole's lips grew wider. "Then, thank you, Han Yao."
Liuyao's giggles were heard on the other end of the phone, "It's okay… It's okay…" Then her laughter died down, "I never thought I would meet that woman one day, in person."
Nicole knew who the woman Liuyao was referring to was none other than Janice who had played poker with her earlier. "Why?"
Now a heavy sigh could be heard from Liuyao's voice, "Considering the betrayal she committed against you, by leaking client secrets to her opponent, then leaving you alone at that time. I can't believe that the bastard can still smile and laugh when meeting you, without the slightest regret or shame."
Nicole's mind briefly drifted back to a few years ago when the person she had always considered a best friend stabbed her in the back. It taught her a very important life lesson, which made her more selective when grouping her coworkers or friends. Where the two groups could never be united as one, like the analogy of Han Yao and Han Liuyao who were two different people.
"Back then, I also owed you a lot." Nicole said as she recalled how Liuyao helped her out of that nightmare. "I will remember it, forever."
Liuyao's long sigh was heard, then the woman spoke again. "How long are you going to keep talking about it? Haven't you helped me a lot before?" She said, sounding a little annoyed, "Maybe if you count, the help you gave me when my father's company was almost taken over by my half-brother is greater than what I have done for you."
Choosing not to irritate the woman further, Nicole finally answered. "Then, I will ask Director Han for more help in the future to repay my favor."
"Of course," Liuyao said immediately, "Just call me anytime."
The sound of footsteps behind her entered the living room, making Nicole realize that Zhaoyi had finished his phone call. Not expecting the same misunderstanding to arise there again like this afternoon, Nicole chose to hang up the phone and talk to her friend again another time.
"Then, talk to you again later." Nicole said finally and ended the call.
Turning away from the large glass window in front of her, Nicole saw Zhaoyi enter the bright and spacious living room area. They had now changed into casual clothes and were resting in the man's beachside villa in Macau. Although this place seemed smaller than Director Xiu's, the atmosphere was much more comfortable and peaceful. There was no sense of tension or anxiety, like she had felt before, that made Nicole want to get out of the villa immediately. She wasn't sure if it was because of the owner or simply the different environment, but she definitely felt safer here.
"We got the call," Zhaoyi said, shaking the phone in his hand, then plopping down on the long and soft white sofa placed in the middle of the room. "Director Li contacted me directly."
Nicole nodded her head in understanding, but did not seem happy or surprised. "That's good." Her comment, "Do you think Director Xiu will come tomorrow?"
Zhaoyi seemed to consider something, until he finally answered. "After seeing your acting earlier, I'm sure Director Xiu will come tomorrow."
Nicole's eyebrows raised at Zhaoyi's statement. "Why do you think so?"
Seeing the displeased expression on the woman's face, Zhaoyi then patted the empty sofa next to him gently as a signal for Nicole to sit there. Noticing the gaze, Nicole finally stepped onto the sofa, but did not take the position where Zhaoyi's hand had been. Instead, she chose to sit on the stiff arm of the sofa and was slightly higher than the man's shoulder.
"Speak," Nicole said straightforwardly.
Zhaoyi and Nicole looked at each other, but the man's gaze seemed more serious. "Isn't that female 'Dealer' your friend? And the person you just contacted is Han Liuyao?"
Nicole didn't expect Zhaoyi to have seen through her plan, but she didn't expect him to know Han Liuyao.
"I've seen her a few times when I was on a business trip in Macau," Zhaoyi explained as if he could hear the voice in Nicole's head. "But, what I want to emphasize here is that your previous actions were not only beating the drums of war against Director Li, Janice or Lai Ting. However, there is also Director Xiu who is watching you from afar. Aren't you afraid that he will feel offended by what happened earlier?"
Nicole noticed the unease on Zhaoyi's face and could hear the fear in his voice. She knew it was because he was afraid of being dragged into her plan, especially if it failed, since they had made a bet about Wei Sheng. "I understand," she replied gently, feeling a twinge of guilt. "But we're already there and we have to lure Director Xiu out no matter what, even if we have to use extreme means."
Zhaoyi waved his hand towards Nicole, asking her to come a little closer. Then his finger flicked the woman's forehead and made her instantly reach up to rub the spot while winced in discomfort.
"You could have at least informed me beforehand if it had to be done that way. There was no need for you to put yourself in danger or make sacrifices." Zhaoyi responded.
Nicole felt like her ears had misheard Zhaoyi's words at that time, because she could feel the sincerity in the man's anger directed at her.
Neither of us have ever crossed paths with Director Xiu and there isn't much information about him available. According to rumors, he is notorious for his cruelty and vengeful nature. No one dares to provoke or upset him, as he is known to retaliate three times worse than the initial offense." Zhaoyi hesitated before continuing, "I'm sure you've heard these stories, so aren't you at least a little afraid?"
Nicole took a deep breath and replied, "Next time I'll be more careful when bringing up Wei Sheng's name."
"It's not about Wei Sheng or me, but about you that I'm talking about." Finally, the frustration that Zhaoyi had been holding back all this time came out of his mouth. "Out of all the people there, you're the most important to me."
Nicole didn't know how to respond this time, she was too shocked by Zhaoyi's statement.
"I don't want to see you get hurt or put yourself at risk for someone else." His tone softened, indicating that he was returning to his usual demeanor. "Especially not for me, after all the ways I have let you down and hurt you."
From Zhaoyi's two eyes that were staring at her, Nicole could feel the man's deep regret towards her. But, what did Zhaoyi mean just now? Why did she catch that the man was talking about something else?
"I already know everything that happened ten years ago," Zhaoyi began. "The truth about who you really are, what kind of life you've lived, why you begged me so desperately that day and the truth about my sister that you never told me."
Nicole felt the world spinning around her, the dark clouds in front of her slowly began to form a large circle that was ready to swallow and pull her in. The truth that Zhaoyi said, must not be the same as the truth she thought, right?
"What are you talking about?"
Zhaoyi's gaze directed at her seemed to show the man's sincerity, "Thank you for being my sister's good friend," There was no expression on Nicole's face when she heard those words, "When everyone avoided her, you stayed by her side until the end."
Nicole's throat felt dry, her breath a little tight hearing the statement that was not entirely true. As she suspected, the truth that Zhaoyi knew was not the one Nicole had been hiding all this time. Because if the truth was revealed, Nicole was not sure if Zhaoyi would still look at her or talk to her the same way. After all, Nicole was one of the people present at the incident who should have been able to save her sister.
"Also, I'm sorry for everything I've done to you."
After all these years, Nicole has learned many valuable lessons. But she still couldn't bring herself to confess what happened that night to the man standing in front of her. It was as if there was a small gap separating her from Janice, the girl who bravely showed her flaws while Nicole remained as fearful and timid as she was in the past. Will she carry this guilt until the day she dies? Could Janice's presence be the result of the karma she created by letting Zhaoyi's little sister die alone?
"Every year on the anniversary of her death, you keep asking people to send all kinds of flowers to her burial site." A grateful smile appeared on Zhaoyi's face, "I really appreciate it."
Each sweet word that Zhaoyi spoke was like a sharp blade piercing Nicole's heart, causing her pain and grief without any bloodshed. No amount of flowers could make up for the fact that Wu Zhaoxing was no longer in this world and would never receive them. Nicole had failed to help his younger sister before, but now she will redeem herself by helping Zhaoyi achieve his dreams. She is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means sacrificing everything, so that when she reunites with Wu Zhaoxing later, she can properly ask for forgiveness.
Therefore, in this life, she and Wu Zhaoyi would never have a chance. No amount of forgiveness or honesty could change the truth, she was responsible for Wu Zhaoxing's death.
***