Chapter Twelve: Dancing

Chapter Twelve: Dancing

After Dali left, Tian Haiming invited Bai Zeshou to join them for a game of cards. Bai Zeshou possessed excellent memory, allowing him to master the game with precision. Unconsciously, he would deal favorable cards to the other two, ensuring they won more often than they lost.

By playing cards all morning, Bai Zeshou gained a rough understanding of their personalities. Monkey was straightforward and outspoken, unable to keep secrets, while Tian Haiming was more reserved, shrewd, and prone to petty greed. Yet, by deliberately flattering them, the three grew familiar with one another.

As they finished a hand, Bai Zeshou shuffled the deck and casually suggested, "Team leader, Monkey, are you free tonight? Let me treat the brothers to a night at the Rose Dance Hall. Consider it my welcome gift as the newcomer."

"Alright! I didn't realize you were so well-off. That place is not somewhere ordinary folks can afford to go," Monkey said, patting Bai Zeshou's shoulder and winking at him.

"Monkey, it's nothing. I just have enough to feed myself," Bai Zeshou replied, glancing at Tian Haiming.

"Alright, but let me treat this time," Tian Haiming responded, feigning modesty though clearly tempted.

Bai Zeshou smiled inwardly but insisted, "It's settled then. After work tonight, we go. My treat."

A little after seven in the evening.

The Rose Dance Hall glowed with lights and bustle, as lively and splendid as ever. Bai Zeshou, Tian Haiming, Monkey, and Tiger found a table on the first floor. Thanks to the gold bar Sun Yanjie had given him, Bai Zeshou generously ordered rare and expensive drinks for everyone.

"Come, let's toast! Cheers to Xiaobai joining our team," Tian Haiming said, raising his glass with a smile.

"Cheers!"

Everyone lifted their glasses. After drinking, Monkey sighed contentedly, "This is the life, fine wine and beautiful women. No wonder they call this place the Rose Dance Hall. Too bad we can't come often."

"You'd like to come often, wouldn't you? With your salary, it's either spent gambling or at brothels," Tiger retorted mercilessly.

"Haha, Tiger's right," Tian Haiming laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits. "But tonight, you're lucky, thanks to Xiaobai."

"Enough talk, let me propose a toast to everyone," Bai Zeshou said.

As drinks flowed and conversation sparkled, the mood grew warm and lively. At one point, Monkey even got up to dance with a hostess in the ballroom.

Seeing that everyone had drunk quite a bit, Bai Zeshou asked nonchalantly, "Monkey, what were you talking about this morning regarding shifts? Now that I'm part of the third team, shouldn't I be included? I can't just take a salary for nothing."

"It's nothing special. We caught a Red Party on the fifteenth, but he won't confess to anything. The higher-ups are worried he'll commit suicide, so they have us watch him day and night," Monkey replied irritably. "But if you join the shifts, we can ease up a bit. What do you think, Tian?"

Tian Haiming, never keen on overnight duty, seized the opportunity. "That works. But Xiaobai, you're new—wouldn't it be too hard on you?"

"Not at all. I'm young and energetic," Bai Zeshou said with a smile.

"By the way, Xiaobai, how did you end up in our third team? Did you offend someone and get sent here?" Tiger asked curiously, putting down his glass.

"I don't know," Bai Zeshou shook his head. After half a day with them, he had a rough sense of the third team’s situation and was just as puzzled about why Liu Peiru had sent him here.

"Offend someone? Tiger, you don't know. Xiaobai was brought in by Secretary Qian herself this morning. That's not a privilege everyone gets. You know Secretary Qian—her brother owns this Rose Dance Hall, and her brother-in-law is Chief of Staff Fang at the Garrison Command," Monkey said, sipping his drink contentedly.

"Secretary Qian?" Tiger exclaimed.

"Exactly, Secretary Qian," Monkey nodded.

"Monkey, it's not nice to gossip," a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind Monkey.

Startled, Monkey turned to see Qian Huiwen, her wavy hair framing her face, dressed in a pale dress and smiling warmly at him. Remembering her status, Monkey sobered up quickly and stammered, "Sec... Sec... Secretary Qian, why are you... here?"

Seeing Monkey's embarrassed state, Bai Zeshou and the others chuckled, but they rose to greet Qian Huiwen. She took no offense and sat next to Bai Zeshou. "Why shouldn't I be here? And how could you host a party without inviting me, Xiaobai?"

Her words and demeanor shifted the mood; everyone looked at Bai Zeshou with curiosity, some with ambiguity, others with intrigue.

"Secretary Qian, that's my oversight. I'll punish myself with a drink," Bai Zeshou said, raising his glass and downing it, inwardly surprised by Qian Huiwen's identity.

"No more 'Secretary Qian.' We're off duty now. Just call me Sister," Qian Huiwen said with a smile.

"I understand, Sister Huiwen," Bai Zeshou replied.

"Good. Waiter, bring us some fine wine, and tonight’s bill is on me," Qian Huiwen called out.

"Yes, Miss," the waiter replied, leaving.

At that moment, the music in the ballroom shifted to a slower rhythm. Many couples entered the dance floor. Bai Zeshou turned to Qian Huiwen, "Sister Huiwen, would you honor me with a dance?"

Qian Huiwen, caught off guard, hesitated briefly, then nodded with a gentle smile. "Of course," she said, extending her slender fingers.

They stepped onto the dance floor together. Watching them, Tiger asked curiously, "What do you think is the real relationship between Xiaobai and Secretary Qian? Secretary Qian is friendly, but I've never heard of her getting close to any man."

"What are you thinking? Xiaobai's just a kid, and there's at least ten years between them," Monkey replied, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe it's just us overthinking. Don't forget how Xiaobai addressed her earlier," Tian Haiming reminded them. "Anyway, let's not worry about it. Tonight, let's drink without restraint!"

Meanwhile, upstairs, someone watched Bai Zeshou and Qian Huiwen dancing.

"Boss, shall we intervene?" a man in a black suit asked Qian Yong.

"No need. After all these years, it's rare to see my little sister so spirited. I just hope this kid isn't taking advantage of her. Send someone to investigate his background, but leave the rest alone for now," Qian Yong ordered.

"Yes, boss."