The SID are back again, only this time they serve justice to the evil in their own way.
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This is lightly based on the Guardian drama only...
When he turned around, the table was empty. He ran out to the street but he did not see either one of them.
Calls to both his father and Shen Wei went unanswered. Shen Wei did not show up to the office the next day, or the day after that. Shen Wei had disappeared.
"Do you have another plan? You cannot face Dr. Ouyang alone."
Zhao Xin Chin sounded apprehensive and for good reason. Dr. Ouyang was well connected, both in the Ministry and the underground, and most of his bodyguards had questionable backgrounds. Deep down Shen Wei wanted S.I.D.'s help, wanted Zhao Yunlan's strength with him as they faced the enemy. But he could not be so selfish, not after what his brother had done to the Zhao family.
"I must. This is about protecting the one we both love. I will not endanger your son."
Someone's phone rang a couple tables away, and the two would not have thought much of it, except the owner of the phone hurriedly stood up and scuttled to a different part of the cafe. No one could mistake the man's profile with scruffy beard or the leather jacket. It was Zhao Yunlan. Both Zhao Xin Chin and Shen Wei quickly but calmly stood and walked out through the back of the cafe, then continued out of the hotel where they caught separate taxis.
Shen Wei was shaken - why was Zhao Yunlan in the cafe? And how much of the conversation had he heard? Maybe it was better that he found out; Shen Wei's heart hurt whenever Zhao Yunlan spoke about his father and he had to pretend ignorance. Yet he was not ready to face Zhao Yunlan, and now he would never have to. It was earlier than he had originally planned, but he would carry out Zhao Yunlan's mission as well as his own tomorrow night.
He called Zhao Xin Chin well after midnight. Both had many messages from Zhao Yunlan, obviously wanting to know what was going on between the two of them. It would be easy for Shen Wei to avoid Zhao Yunlan, but everyone knew where Zhao Xin Chin worked. Ministry or no, Zhao Yunlan would find a way to his father.
"Don't worry about me," Zhao Xin Chin said. "I can handle him, and I will tell him no more than what is in those documents. As far as you are concerned, it is your story to tell, not mine." After a pause, he continued, "I wish you would reconsider doing this alone – it's suicide and you wouldn't be able to get close to Dr. Ouyang. You should talk to Yunlan. He may or may not forgive you, but he deserves to know."
"Sir, I have posted a letter to you. I ask that you give it to him when all this is over." Shen Wei had to swallow hard to stop the sob that threatened to break his voice.
"Shen Wei! I forbid you - " Zhao Xin Chin started.
"Sir, thank you for all you have done for me all these years, despite what my family has done to yours. This is the only way I can try to make it up to you and your son, even though it will never be enough. And if I fail, I promise I will not go down alone."
The next day there was a commotion at the reception desk downstairs. Zhao Xin Chin received a call, saying there was a man claiming to be his son and was demanding to see him. He took a deep breath and told her to have him escorted to his office.
The door soon flew open, and there stood Zhao Yunlan, looking unkempt and tired, obviously not having slept much.
"Son," Zhao Xin Chin started.
"Don't 'son' me! You and Shen Wei have lied to me all this time and I want to know why!" Zhao Yunlan said through gritted teeth.
"Sit down and have some tea," his father gestured to the cushiony chairs.
"Tea, shmea. I want some answers NOW!"
"YUNLAN! Sit down!" Father raised his voice.
Zhao Yunlan looked shocked and quickly sat down. It had been so long since his father scolded him, much less paid any fatherly attention to him. While the yelling was not very pleasant, a part deep down inside felt warm. His father poured some tea and set the cups on the table. The sweet aroma of the good leaves had a calming effect and both were silent as they sipped the light green brew.
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"How long?" Zhao Yunlan sighed.
"A while." Zhao Xin Chin replied, taking another sip of tea.
"Why didn't you tell me? Don't you trust me?" Zhao Yunlan could not hide his hurt, especially since his own father could not confide in him.
"Trust is not the issue here. It wasn't the right time. We didn't and still don't know how you will react when you hear the truth." Zhao Xin Chin carefully said.
"So tell me now." Zhao Yunlan leaned forward.
"It is not my story to tell. You need to talk to Shen Wei."
"I thought he was my friend, but he's been lying to me all this time. I can't trust him." Zhao Yunlan leaned back and crossed his arms in front of him.
"Shen Wei only has had your best interests at heart. You're feeling hurt now, aren't you?" Zhao Xin Chin asked, and Zhao Yunlan nodded. "Shen Wei has been tortured for years, and it has been harder on him since meeting you and then having to lie to you every single day."
"He should have been upfront and told me."
"Yunlan, if you were told and could not handle the truth, our plans for revenge would have gone down the drain."
"So why this roundabout way with the S.I.D.?"
"That," Zhao Xin Chin smiled, "was Shen Wei's idea. Dr. Ouyang has powerful backers in the Ministry, which is why I cannot openly be involved. Getting close to him will be difficult and we needed more people. It wasn't my plan to hire ordinary people with such tragic backgrounds; after Shen Wei heard Chu's story, he could not ignore it or the others. Although he was able to kill quite successfully while in prison, he has a very soft heart."
Zhao Yunlan thought about the concern Shen Wei had shown the first time they met. "I want to make sure YOU are healed." He had kept Zhao Yunlan healthy, despite himself, and even drank that strong brew when they went on their mountain retreat, knowing Zhao Yunlan was struggling. Thinking back on the past year, he realized he had not really done much for Shen Wei, nor did Shen Wei expect anything in return. And the joy he showed after each mission had been accomplished was genuine.
"Alright. I will talk to Shen Wei and hear his story. Where is he? He hasn't been answering his phone."
"That's the problem. He's going after Dr. Ouyang himself. I've been trying to track him down since last night but am coming up blank." Zhao Xin Chin looked troubled for the first time.
"You disappoint me, Father." Zhao Yunlan smirked. "You have a former first-rate detective plus the capable S.I.D."
"I think he is going to do it tonight." Zhao Xin Chin started to tap on his tablet.
"Well we'd better get started. Where is the evil Dr. now and what are his plans?"
Father and Son bent their heads together and got to work.
