RNP Chapter 28 Do you two really think I'm blind?!
Chapter 28 Do you two really think I'm blind?!
The more you love each other, the more you have to pretend to be strangers, until even your true feelings grow the eyes of a spy.
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The next day, the three of them got up very early and headed straight to Universal Studios.
Zeng Jia generously paid for the Super VIP membership, eager to experience every single activity to her heart's content. This kind of opportunity—where a sucker pays out of their own pocket and can legitimately indulge themselves—is rarer than a windfall. The next time they could enjoy themselves this way would be a long time coming!
While the three of them were playing, Zeng Jia kept taking pictures with her phone, snapping a bunch of close-up photos of Zhang Zihao. After taking them, she sent them all to Zhang Zhishan, emphasizing that she had withstood Yu Li's "tiger parenting pressure" and had taken good care of the children to relax, balancing work and rest like a model student.
Zhang Zhishan called immediately, laughing heartily, "If he wants to play, let him play for a couple more days. If he doesn't want to go to school, then he can skip it. Let's see who dares to show their teeth to me!"
Zeng Jia was so frightened she almost flew her phone away. This little devil had been causing trouble for two days; her bones were practically shattered. If it went on for another two days, she'd be dead for sure!
Fortunately, Zhang Zhishan only vented his frustrations briefly. He quickly changed the subject, like a Sichuan opera mask-changing act, and began discussing serious matters: "Go back to the company tomorrow and contact the operations department for a meeting. Things are going very smoothly in Hong Kong. Has anything leaked out about Yu Li?"
Zeng Jia's heart sank. She had been so busy playing around with Zhang Zihao these past two days that she hadn't had a chance to find out what was going on with Wang Haowen.
"President Yu is keeping things very secret; he hasn't given any hints. Anyway, there's been no movement from his family. I'll go back to the company tomorrow to try and get some information out of him, and I'll report back to you as soon as I get it."
After hanging up the phone, Zeng Jia's palms were covered in a layer of cold sweat. Luckily, she had Zhang Zihao, that little devil, as a shield. Otherwise, if the spy didn't make any progress in three days, Zhang Zhishan would definitely be furious, and her salary would definitely be in jeopardy.
On the other side, Wang Haowen was taking a photo with Zhang Zihao and "Megatron" when his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and saw it was Yu Li. He quickly hid in a quiet corner and said, "President Yu."
"Why was Zihau's class rescheduled?" Yu Li's tone was icy cold enough to freeze someone's ears off. "I heard he didn't go to golf yesterday? Explain yourself!"
Wang Haowen had already prepared his lines, and he was quicker than a market vendor to shift the blame: "Oh my, Mr. Yu, don't even mention it! I don't know who told the young master that golf is something only old men play, and he absolutely refused to go after hearing that. And Mr. Zhang even called Secretary Zeng specifically to tell the young master to play as much as he wanted, but I really couldn't persuade Mr. Zhang otherwise..."
Yu Li snorted twice, but didn't delve into it further: "Alright, I understand. Zhang Zhishan's financing in Hong Kong is progressing well. You go back to the company tomorrow and keep a close eye on the operations department. I need to know the details there, understand?"
"Alright, Mr. Yu! You'd better keep a close eye on things, I promise I'll keep a close eye on you."
The three of them were having a great time, like wild dogs, but after receiving the death knell call, Zeng Jia and Wang Haowen felt like they had twenty-five mice crawling on their hearts, and they couldn't concentrate on anything they were doing.
They found a Thai restaurant that evening, and Zhang Zihao insisted on eating spicy crab. Zeng Jia and Wang Haowen let him have his way; this little rascal can do whatever he wants now, as long as he doesn't blow up the earth.
At the dinner table, Wang Haowen kept his head down, fiddling with his phone, looking as sullen as a newly unearthed artifact from the Sanxingdui archaeological site. Zeng Jia wanted to ask him something, but with her "little third wheel" peeking in, she could only take out her phone and text him: What's wrong with you? Did your boss shove something in your lungs? You're all sullen, like someone owes you eight hundred coins.
Wang Haowen's phone vibrated. He opened it and quickly sent a message to Zeng Jia: "Zhang Zhishan has secured financing in Hong Kong? Is he preparing to unleash his full potential and go all out?"
Zeng Jia was a little surprised, not expecting him to be so direct: "Your side should be done soon too, right? Yu Li told you to keep a close eye on our side, ready to sabotage us at any time?"
Wang Haowen: I have to deliver on my promise, don't I? What's wrong with you saying a few words?
Zeng Jia: We agreed to work for our respective masters and have a confidential meeting. Why are you selectively remembering things?
Wang Haowen: So you're willing to lose your job just to beat me?
Zeng Jia: Don't you ever think about what will happen if Zhang Zhishan fires me if I let something slip to you?
The moment the message was sent, the two of them looked up at the same time, their eyes meeting in mid-air with a "snap".
There's no need to say anything; everyone knows exactly where their own territory is, and the enemy and our camps are now completely out in the open.
Zeng Jia was a little annoyed. On New Year's Eve, they were hugging and talking about how buying a house and getting married were the most important things, and that they had to work together. But after only a few days, he's already prioritizing his own interests and only thinking about himself.
Wang Haowen also looked embarrassed and uncomfortable. The question had come a bit suddenly, but they had agreed to deal with the boss together. Why did she keep her mouth shut like a clam and not say a word?
He suddenly felt that his heartfelt confession on New Year's Eve was a huge joke. He was the only one thinking about marriage every day; Zeng Jia had long since stopped putting him first.
Their gazes locked in a silent battle above the dining table, like two undercurrents clashing. On the surface, they remained calm, but in reality, a turbulent undercurrent was raging.
Zhang Zihao, who had been silently struggling with the crab legs, suddenly slammed his chopsticks on the table with a loud "bang," just like a county magistrate slamming his gavel!
"Aren't you two tired? You're clearly dating, but you act like it's a third party having an affair. Why can't you just say things out loud? Do you think I'm blind?"
Zeng Jia was startled. "Don't talk nonsense! Who's dating him? You have quite the imagination; you're wasting your talent by not writing science fiction!"
Wang Haowen quickly chimed in, "What are you thinking about all day? Something crooked, do you have a girlfriend? Let me see her picture." He quickly changed the subject.
Zhang Zihao, however, wasn't buying it. "Don't try to fool me. Dare to say you two weren't secretly exchanging WeChat messages just now? Whoever's lying, may their father die!"
"Sending messages doesn't mean we're a couple. I was just asking him about his plans for tomorrow. I still have to get you, my dear, back to school safely," Zeng Jia argued, forcing a smile. Zhang Zhishan would be furious if he knew about his constant swearing about his "dead father."
"Big sister, I'm 15 this year, not 5. Did I not see you two hugging and cuddling at home before? And the way your eyes were darting around these past few days, just like the kids secretly dating at my school. I may not have eaten pork, but I've seen pigs run, right?" Zhang Zihao insisted.
Zeng Jia was speechless for a moment, as if a fishbone was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a fart for a long time.
How do you explain that?
The more you try to explain, the worse it gets!
She was slightly less adept at lying through her teeth.
Wang Haowen pursed his lips, then resigned himself to the situation, admitting, "Fine, you've got a sharp eye, you really figured it out. But you know your parents' tempers, they're like two powder kegs. If they really knew we were dating, they'd definitely kick us out. We're just trying to make a living, otherwise who would want to mess around here!"
Zeng Jia glared at him. Why did he just confess? What can you do if he just stubbornly refuses to admit it?
Wang Haowen clicked his tongue, "You can fool them on the first day of the month, but not on the fifteenth!"
Zeng Jia sighed. Her accomplices had already confessed, so she had no choice but to bite the bullet and play the victim card.
"We're not like you, a pampered young master who never worries about food or drink, saving up for a down payment on a tiny apartment like it's a pilgrimage to the West. But we're on the same side, we haven't shared any information. I'll show you our chat history if you don't believe me!"
Zeng Jia opened her phone and handed it over, but Zhang Zihao impatiently pushed it away. "I'm not some gossipy tattletale. I just find it annoying and an eyesore to see you two acting so awkwardly, like twisted ropes!"
Zeng Jia and Wang Haowen exchanged a glance, a huge weight lifted from their hearts, but they were also pleasantly surprised. This guy is trustworthy! He's really loyal!
Wang Haowen immediately perked up, slapping Zhang Zihao on the shoulder, almost making him stumble: "Tell me, little rascal, what else do you want as hush money? I'm going all out today, I'll get it all for you!"
"Yes, yes, yes! What else do you want to do? I'll arrange it for you right away. Except for tomorrow when I have to go back to the company to work like a slave, you can choose any other time you want!" Zeng Jia wished she could swear to the heavens that she was loyal, but she could only admit that she was being manipulated by this little devil.
Zhang Zihao's eyes darted around for a while before he finally opened up: "I want to go bungee jumping! Surfing! Skydiving! I also want to apply to the Chinese mountaineering team! I want you two to cover for me, okay?"
Zeng Jia's head buzzed, as if a giant, inverted bell had covered it completely. This was a danger level that had far exceeded her parents' tolerance! Their only precious child, their only son—if something really happened to him, wouldn't Zhang Zhishan and Yu Li tear them apart and eat them alive? Just imagining that scene sent chills down her spine.
"The first few things are fine. Most tourist areas are open, and the safety level is guaranteed. It's not impossible to sneak you there. But shouldn't you reconsider the mountaineering team?" Wang Haowen analyzed quite seriously. "The physical requirements are like training for special forces. Are you sure your small frame can handle it? Don't end up dying before you achieve your ambitions, and we won't even be able to keep up with you when we're buried with you!" He really thought Zhang Zihao's idea was a bit reckless. Wasn't he just asking for trouble and torture himself?
"Of course I'll practice secretly! I'll worry about failing the exam later, but I have to try, right?" Zhang Zihao stamped his feet anxiously. "Are you two going to help me or not? I already said I'd cover for you. The three of us are in this together now, you can't just abandon me and go solo!"
Zeng Jia felt incredibly uneasy, and her voice trembled as she said, "Aren't you going to reconsider? With your delicate hands that are good at playing the piano, going to climb mountains, dig through rocks, and chew on sand? Let's not even talk about safety. Isn't this like giving up a golden nest and choosing to crawl into a rat hole and experience the life of a beggar?" She really couldn't understand it; she couldn't even avoid those miserable days.
Zhang Zihao sighed, a hint of resentment and rebellion in his voice. "Playing the piano isn't something I enjoy; I've hated it since I was little. It's all because my mom made me pursue the elite path, becoming an all-rounder, just so I could sound better when I went out. My dad's the same; he practically wants me to call on my friends to pull strings for him. Has either of them ever asked me what I want to do?"