Chapter 139: Just Marry Them All

Chapter 139: Why Not Marry Both

After listening to Wu Zhengke’s words, Bai Zeshao nodded and then asked, "I suppose the people from the Party Affairs Bureau are probably hunting down Tian Yaopeng all over the world right now, aren't they?"

"Pretty much. They certainly can't just sit back and watch Tian Yaopeng fall into our hands; that would make them look far too passive. Harboring a wanted criminal like Tian Yaopeng was already a direct challenge to us, and now this mess has happened."

Wu Zhengke sneered softly and continued, "Still, those bastards are shrewd enough; they didn't take Tian Yaopeng out right inside the Party Affairs Bureau."

"If they really had killed Tian Yaopeng, we would actually have to thank them for catching the fugitive for us. As for the surveillance leak, the Party Affairs Bureau will just have to shoulder that blame all by themselves," Bai Zeshao said with a smile.

"Indeed," Wu Zhengke nodded.

"What about us then? Are we really going to track down Tian Yaopeng and drag him to the Party Affairs Bureau for a showdown?" Bai Zeshao asked tentatively.

"No need. Just shoot him on sight if we see him. The higher-ups won't let a full-blown conflict erupt between us and the Party Affairs Bureau. Even if he were captured alive, the top brass would simply sweep the matter under the rug," Wu Zhengke explained, well-versed in the unspoken rules of officialdom.

"So that's how it is. It seems Tian Yaopeng is doomed this time. With the Red Party, us, and the Party Affairs Bureau all searching for him simultaneously, three forces pushing together, I estimate this fellow will be exposed before long," Bai Zeshao said with a smile.

"Heh, the moment he resorted to surveillance, he stepped into a dead end. You probably don't know yet—aside from the three parties you mentioned, some high-ranking big shot has put out a ten-thousand-dollar bounty on the black market. Whoever brings in Tian Yaopeng's head gets the reward," Wu Zhengke dropped another piece of news, neither too big nor small.

"It seems this guy really offended people to the bone," Bai Zeshao remarked with a sigh.

Yet, he felt not the slightest bit of pity; if anything, he wished Tian Yaopeng would die sooner rather than later.

Shortly after, Bai Zeshao left Wu Zhengke's office, walked straight out of the Special Service Headquarters, and headed toward Yaren Hospital to have the wound on his left arm treated.

As it happened, Shen Guohua was on duty today. When he saw Bai Zeshao, he paused for a moment, then adopted a sarcastic tone and said, "Injured again? Looks like you've been up to more heinous and conscience-stricken deeds."

"Come on, Old Shen, is it necessary to curse me like that? Besides, I haven't done anything that goes against my conscience." Bai Zeshao didn't mind Shen Guohua's attitude at all; instead, he looked at him with a broad smile.

"What? Stung by the truth and feeling guilty, so you want to drag me back for a round of torture?" Shen Guohua teased as he began tending to Bai Zeshao's wound.

"You've got that completely wrong. I'm a reasonable person; how could I possibly arrest people indiscriminately?" Before Bai Zeshao could finish his sentence, he couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. "Hiss! Old Shen, can't you be a little gentler? I'm a wounded man here. Had I known, I would have looked for a female doctor."

"Hah, a reasonable person probably wouldn't even be able to get into your Special Service Headquarters in the first place. Arresting people randomly, kidnapping, and extortion—aren't those just the daily routine of your job?" Ignoring Bai Zeshao's yelps, Shen Guohua continued expertly and familiarly dressing the wound.

"It seems you have a very deep misunderstanding of our Special Service Headquarters," Bai Zeshao said meaningfully.

"Heh, it's not that my misunderstanding is deep; it's just that your reputation was never very good to begin with," Shen Guohua shot right back without hesitation.

"Old Shen, Old Shen, you really have a death wish, don't you? I'm just curious—with the way you act right now, how are you still sitting safely in this office instead of being thrown into a prison cell?" Bai Zeshao asked with genuine curiosity.

"I'm not an idiot. I only talk to you like this because it's you. I certainly wouldn't go around spouting nonsense in front of outsiders," Shen Guohua rolled his eyes, casting a look at Bai Zeshao that clearly labeled him an idiot.

"So after all this fuss, you're just banking on the fact that I won't arrest you, which is why you're talking big here," Bai Zeshao sneered, then suddenly turned serious. "You're forgetting one thing, Old Shen: when all is said and done, I am still a secret agent—an agent you described as rotten to the core."

"Will you arrest me? Will you?" Shen Guohua raised his head and looked straight at Bai Zeshao.

"What do you think? Do you think I'll arrest you?" Meeting Shen Guohua's gaze, Bai Zeshao countered.

"I don't know," Shen Guohua said softly, looking deep into Bai Zeshao's eyes.

Shen Guohua's response caught Bai Zeshao somewhat off guard. He hadn't expected Shen Guohua to answer that way; it seemed that in Shen Guohua's eyes, he really had become an unredeemable secret agent.

"Fine, let's drop the subject. Anyway, you'd better be careful from now on. It's better not to go around saying whatever crosses your mind; it'll save you trouble," Bai Zeshao cautioned, then let his gaze wander around Shen Guohua's office.

That brief scan, however, led to a discovery. "Old Shen, something's not right here. Since when did you have women around? There's face powder, and there's perfume—you rascal, are you messing around with some junior nurse right in your office?"

"Hiss, go easy! You're doing this on purpose!" As soon as he finished speaking, another sharp wave of pain shot from the wound on his left arm, prompting Bai Zeshao to complain.

"That'll teach you to talk nonsense! What makes you think I'm messing around with a nurse? Our hospital just welcomed a new female doctor who studied abroad. Her medical skills are exceptional, and although she's a young lady from a wealthy family, she doesn't have any spoiled airs. She treats everyone very kindly," Shen Guohua explained.

"Oh-ho! Looks like someone's heart has been touched. I'd love to know what kind of young lady actually caught our esteemed Young Master Shen's eye. Studied abroad, you say? Weren't you a overseas student yourself?" Bai Zeshao looked at Shen Guohua with an expression full of gossip.

"Stop talking nonsense. I haven't fallen for her; I already have a lover, and nothing could ever happen between us," Shen Guohua said, his face softening with unmistakable tenderness.

"What's wrong with that? Why not marry both? One as a wife, the other as a concubine! But seriously, who is your girlfriend? Where is she? When are you going to introduce her to me so we can all have a meal together? After all, I've been your childhood friend since forever—how can you get a girlfriend and not even let me know?" Bai Zeshao suggested with a crafty grin.

"I see all those years of reading books were wasted on you—talking about a wife and a concubine, such an old-feudal mindset! My girlfriend isn't currently in Shining, so you won't be able to meet her," Shen Guohua said as he finished bandaging Bai Zeshao's arm. "All done. Remember, absolutely no water on it."

"Alright, I know. But after all that talk, I still don't know who this young lady doctor you mentioned is," Bai Zeshao said, his curiosity piqued.

"You know her, or at least you've definitely heard of her," Shen Guohua said with a mysterious air.

"Who is it?"

"Wen Xiaowan," Shen Guohua gently spat out the three words.

"The eldest daughter of the Wen family, Wen Xiaowan?" Bai Zeshao asked with a hint of uncertainty.

"That's right, it's her," Shen Guohua nodded as he looked at Bai Zeshao.

"How does a wealthy young lady who lacks for nothing and lives a carefree life end up working in a hospital? Isn't that just having too much to eat and nothing better to do?" Bai Zeshao muttered under his breath.

"Xiao Bai, what did you just say? I didn't catch that clearly."