Mascarade

Light And Shadow

Vampire Hunters' headquaters. One of the more desolated places, a room not exactly abandoned but obviously used for some dangerous experiments a few times already. Maybe that was the reason, why every other office moved somewhere else. Although for once, the room was not engulfed in smoke nor loud noises of breaking glass.

The sun rays were gently dancing amongst the dust particles filling the air, making them sparkle, just like the occasional glass shards from broken chemical utensils. Two adult men were quietly sitting down, facing each other.

"How is it now?" Lin Jing moved away frow the Chief, back towards the window, watching his reaction.

Chief Zhao squinted his eyes, focusing with every bit of effort. "I can see the light and your silhouette..."

"Awesome! It's getting better, boss!!!" Yes, now the monthly bonus was gonna happen for sure!

Zhao Yunlan, however, put back on his sunglasses. "Not a word to anyone. For the whole world, the infamous Chief Zhao is blind."

"Not even our team? Both Zhu Hong and Xiao Guo are really worried for you and Lao Chu can already see himself in your place..." Lin Jing whined.

Zhao Yunlan shook his head. "That might as well still happen. Who knows how much is my eyesight going to come back."

Slumping his shoulders slightly, Lin Jing nodded. Afterall, it was him who said this first to the Chief, just like the doctors in the hospital. There seemed to be no structural damage to Zhao Yunlan's eyes but also no neurological damage. So his eyesight SHOULD come back. But will it come back completely? Partially? Not at all? Nobody could tell for now.

"As you wish," Lin Jing sighed.

* * *

"It is not safe for you to be out so much," Shen Wei scolded Zhao Yunlan as soon as he opened the door, seeing the shameless man grinning in front of his appartment door. He was smiling brightly but his shirt was wrongly buttoned, the pants had traces of numerous falls and his glasses sit on his nose quite askew. His bird's nest hadn't seen a comb for a while as well.

"I believe, you were placed off duty until further notice." Despite the scolding, however, Shen Wei gently slid his arm under Zhao Yunlan's elbow, leading him carefully inside.

"You are well informed, I see," Chief Zhao raised his eyebrows and let Shen Wei lead him into the safety of the living room couch.

"Not by my own interest. Your collegue had warned me last time that he had taken over your role for the time being and that he's not as... forgiving as you are towards our kind." Shen Wei headed over to the kitchen counter to make tea.

Zhao Yunlan laughed, Chu Shuzhi definitely didn't use such mild language.

"If you want to know where my brother is..." Shen Wei continued. "...I myself have no idea, even if that's not very believable."

The Chief leaned back in the couch, listening to the calming sound of hot water being poured over the tea leaves. "What's even less believable is that I believe you on that," he answered. For a moment, there was no movement from Shen Wei, he was probably surprised by the statement, maybe wondering whether this is some kind of vampire hunter strategy, some kind of mind game. Truth to be told, for a few days already, he's been expecting a vampire hunter raid or at least a pick up for some rough questioning. He had all his neccessities and papers ready, just in case he was allowed to take anything with.

"I see." Shen Wei took the finished green tea to the coffee table, setting it down. Then he took Chief's hand in his and guided it towards the cup. "Be careful, it is hot."