29: Chapter 29 The Arrival of the Shadow

The snow in Seoul fell thicker and thicker as the two stepped out of the restaurant and stood by the entrance.

"Come over to my place for a bit."

Son Ye-jin's voice suddenly broke the silence; she lowered her head, her fingers twisting the wool scarf around her neck.

She was nervous, knowing full well what those words implied.

Since Liu Zijun had already made up his mind, catching a glimpse of her reddening ears, he didn't act coy and simply nodded.

This woman truly intended to open her heart to him, taking him directly to her home instead of a hotel.

Son Ye-jin's residence was also tucked away in a high-end apartment complex in Gangnam District, with the elevator going straight to the twentieth floor.

The layout of the house was very cozy. Green plants grew on a flower stand by the floor-to-ceiling window, and unopened movie merchandise sat on the coffee table, exuding warmth everywhere.

Son Ye-jin took off her coat and hung it on the rack in the entryway, then took a pair of brand-new cotton slippers from the shoe cabinet and handed them to Liu Zijun.

"Make yourself at home. I'll go brew some citron tea; just a moment."

Liu Zijun sat on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the living room wall.

A pictorial poster of Son Ye-jin hung there; in the photo, her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, looking mature and intellectual, with the gentle air of a girl-next-door.

Soon, Son Ye-jin emerged, having changed into the white formal suit from the movie, with the inner buttons set quite low.

Carrying two steaming cups of citron tea, she walked over and sat down beside him.

She looked at Liu Zijun, suddenly burrowed into his arms, reached out to gently touch his cheek, and said slowly, "Little man, you look very tired. Have you been exhausted lately keeping up with Choi Sulli and the others?"

Liu Zijun took her hand, his thumb rubbing against her slightly cool fingertips.

"I'm fine, just had some other matters to handle."

Son Ye-jin didn't press further; she only snuggled deeper into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest.

"I know you have many secrets. I won't ask."

Though she said that, the breath from her nose made her sound a bit aggrieved.

Liu Zijun tightened his arms around her, the faint scent of gardenia from her hair lingering at the tip of his nose.

He recalled that snowy night in Busan; she had leaned against his chest then too, though back then she was both incredibly wild and incredibly fragile.

On The Peninsula, the status of film actresses was higher than that of idols like Choi Sulli, but the pressure was equally immense.

Especially for beautiful actresses.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, and the sweet aroma of citron tea gradually filled the air.

Liu Zijun looked down at the top of the head in his arms and finally leaned down to kiss her.

Son Ye-jin's body trembled slightly, and she immediately raised her hands to hook around his neck, responding passionately to the kiss.

Her lips were soft, carrying the sweet tang of citron tea.

(The following content is still something you don't like to see, so skipping again...)

As the night deepened, the lights in the bedroom were dim and suggestive.

Liu Zijun looked at the sleeping Son Ye-jin beside him; her brow was relaxed, and a faint smile played at the corners of her mouth, like a child at peace.

He gently tucked her in, got up to dress, and let his fingertips brush against her cheek, a trace of complex emotion rising in his heart.

Future matters had yet to arrive; at least for this moment, he only wanted to treasure this brief warmth in his heart.

This woman was very sensible.

Gently closing the door, Liu Zijun stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor.

As the elevator descended, he checked the time on his phone. It was already eleven at night; Shadow was arriving in Seoul tonight and should have arrived by now.

Walking up to his own front door, Liu Zijun's footsteps suddenly halted.

In the halo of the hallway light, a woman leaned against the wall at the entrance of the corridor.

She had a tall, upright figure, wearing a long black trench coat over a black OL formal suit. Her burgundy curls draped over her shoulders, revealing a fair neck.

Her features looked as if they were meticulously carved by an AI.

Her deep eye sockets had the three-dimensional quality of a Westerner, yet the curve of her eyes held the softness of a Huaxia person. Her nose was high and straight, her lip shape cold and elegant, and her skin was so white it was almost translucent.

Liu Zijun's eyes flickered slightly, and a helpless smile curled on his lips. "Shadow, you've arrived."

The woman looked up, a hint of playfulness flashing in her ice-blue eyes.

Holding her suitcase, the woman spoke in Huaxia Mandarin with a faint German trill: "BOSS, with your unsteady footsteps, were you drained by that Peninsula starlet?"

She took two steps forward and poked Liu Zijun's chest, her tone full of teasing: "Can you still handle me tonight?"

This was Shadow, Chinese name Jiang Hongshao (you read that right, she chose it herself), English name Kira. She was the mixed-race Chinese-German 'flower of agents' in the organization, and Liu Zijun's shadow in both his past and present lives.

Not only was she a top-tier combat expert in the organization, but she also possessed extraordinary business talent; most of the organization's business was managed by her.

Jiang Hongshao leaned in to sniff him, raised an eyebrow, and said, "As I thought. It seems the starlets of The Peninsula are quite charming, enough to make our 'Gu' look like this."

Liu Zijun pushed her hand away and turned toward the hallway. "Cut the nonsense, let's talk inside."

Jiang Hongshao followed with a smile, her footsteps as light as a cat's.

"Emily said I'm only the second person in the organization to know your whereabouts."

"It seems you really are infatuated with those Peninsula starlets."

"BOSS, why don't you devour me tonight? Isn't that why you keep me by your side?"

"Or do you just like starlets? If so, I could consider debuting too."

Liu Zijun didn't even give her a glance.

Entering the duplex apartment, Liu Zijun closed the door behind him, shutting out the cold.

Jiang Hongshao took off her trench coat, threw it on the sofa, walked straight to the bar, poured herself a glass of whiskey, took a large gulp, and smacked her lips.

Liu Zijun walked to her side, picked up another glass of whiskey, took a sip, and asked, "Emily said you'd arrive in Seoul in the evening. Why are you only getting here now?"

Jiang Hongshao set down her glass, took a tablet out of her black backpack, and said, "I went to check on a few things as soon as I landed."

"I'll personally keep an eye on Choi Sulli's side."

"As for T-ara, Emily said there would be results in a few days. However, Choi Jae-ho and that unknown person still need to be investigated."

"Though in The Peninsula, it's usually just those chaebols anyway."

She paused and continued, "I've already registered an investment company in Seoul. Next, I'll take charge of operations here as an appointed director, first making contact with SM Entertainment and T-ara's CCM Entertainment."

"SM Entertainment is hard to say yet, but CCM Entertainment is easy to handle now."

Liu Zijun nodded. It wasn't that he couldn't do these things, but rather that he didn't want to.

In his past life, he had developed the habit of being a hands-off boss, and it was the same in this life.

Moreover, with her in Seoul, Choi Sulli's safety would have an extra layer of protection.

Liu Zijun cautioned, "Shadow, remember! We are just passersby here. Don't expose your identity."

"Jin-ri is young and simple-minded; if she knew who we were, she'd probably be terrified."

Jiang Hongshao smiled, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'll take good care of the little sister."

"I've already thought it through. I'll pose as a new business partner for SM Entertainment Company and drop by the company occasionally. That way, I can get close to your little lover without raising suspicion."

Liu Zijun nodded. Shadow always acted with great discretion.

She knew exactly what to ask and do, and what not to, even if she was usually a bit flippant.

Not at all like Emily, who was always peeping at him!

The two chatted for a while longer until Shadow fell asleep on the sofa.

By Liu Zijun's side, she slept soundly and peacefully.

Liu Zijun picked up a blanket, gently covered her with it, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window to watch the snow outside.