The Poisoned Pen: A Guardian Story

Chapter Eleven: The Unsettling Experiences

For the tenth time, Shen Wei looked across the darkened room to where his assistant was fidgeting on his chair.  Finally fed up with the endless disturbances, and feeling bad that the man would probably wake up with the most awful crick in his neck if he stayed there for much longer, he sat up.

"Zhao Yunlan?"

"Yes?  What's wrong?  Can't you sleep?"

"I should be asking you that question."  He reached out and switched on the table lamp beside his bed, and the other man suddenly appeared in view.

"Do you mind if we talk for a bit?" he asked.

"Sure.  Are you thirsty?"

The man in the chair got up and walked across to a tray sitting on the table near the window.  Once it became clear that the two men had no intention of leaving Shen Wei's room for the rest of the evening, Butler Lao had brought up a carafe of chilled water and some dried fruit and other snacks a couple of hours before they turned in.

The two had already spent a long time conversing with each other earlier, as Zhao Yunlan tried to distract the young author from more macabre thoughts by talking to him about everything from travel to music to favourite foods.

Still, he was more than happy to indulge the man further.  He enjoyed Shen Wei's company.  He did not talk nonsense, speaking only when he had something meaningful to say, and had revealed himself to have quite a dry sense of humour which was similar to Zhao Yunlan's own.

After pouring two glasses of water and setting them on the bedside table next to Shen Wei, he sat down on the other side of the bed and made himself comfortable.

"I don't want to have to raise my voice so late at night," he said, explaining his reason for the change in location.

Shen Wei smiled briefly in amusement.

"We are the only ones here," he pointed out.  "The other staff are in the employee accommodation."

"Ah. Yes.  So, what did you want to talk about?"  Zhao Yunlan quickly changed the subject.

"I was thinking about my next book," the writer explained.  "I have an idea for my main character.  Rather than a traditional police detective, I thought I might make him a private eye or someone who works in personal protection."

Zhao Yunlan's ears immediately pricked up as his heart rate began to rise.  Was this his employer's way of telling him that he had been discovered?  He focussed his attention back on what Shen Wei was saying.

"I hope you don't mind, but it was you who gave me the inspiration.  The way you took charge last night and earlier today with the police and the security arrangements.  And it makes more sense if I want to set the story mostly at night, like I said the other day."

Zhao Yunlan nodded slowly.  It appeared that his secret was safe, at least for now.

Shen Wei spoke again.

"Black Robe."

"Sorry, what?"

"'The Black Robe Detective Agency' is what I want to call it.  What do you think?"

"I like it.  It suits the theme of darkness."

"Yes, I thought so too."

As the writer reached for his glass of water, his companion did his best to stifle a yawn, but he was unsuccessful.

"I'm sorry," Shen Wei said, sheepishly.  "I disturbed your sleep."  He looked across at his assistant's makeshift chair bed and came to a decision.

"Why don't you sleep with me?"