Chapter Text
Feilong sat around the desk in his office at Baishe headquarters, looking diligently over a copied police report about investigations into some of his business practices, which he obtained from an officer on his payroll.
The money filtered through his import/export business located in the central business district in Beijing was being investigated. So was his high scale department store in Hong Kong. From what he’d read, the fifth division of Guo An Bu* didn’t have any leads and were only grasping at straws. He was a person being closely watched and he knew this, but he did not take chances and so far, he was operating under their radar.
Yoh stood close to the door, waiting and watching as usual. His most favoured and dependable bodyguard was always kept close.
The morning had been dreary, more than a little repetitive and he longed for a change, something else to occupy his time. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the stronghold he had over the Chinese underworld, but after years of the same thing day in and day out, he felt like a flower wrapped in a cocoon.
After a while, filtering money through various off shore accounts and ordering hits seemed routine. As a matter of fact he felt a little thirsty when the smell of his favourite tea reached his nostrils.
“Tea, Feilong?”
Yoh stood before him with a small tray housing his favourite cup of green tea; Junshan Yinzhen*. There was a small tea station in a corner of his office and his bedroom. Only Yoh and Tao were allowed to make him tea; no telling who might try to poison him again.
Feilong smiled. “Thank you, Yoh.”
Yoh bowed formally before putting the tray on a tea stand to the side of the room and returning to his original position. After numerous sips of the flavourful, warm beverage, Feilong could feel his mood lifting already.
“Fei-sama!”
The door was pushed open and an excited Tao entered and ran to his desk. Tao was never so forthcoming before, so Feilong wondered what had happened.
“Master..!”
Feilong leaned his elbow on the desk and steeple his finger. Seeing his charge in such a good spirits always put a happy spark in his mood.
“And to what do I owe such outburst?”
Tao immediately went rigid and blushed. “Sorry master, I’ll remember to knock next time.”
Feilong smiled. “Continue.”
Tao smiled brightly. “I received a call on the house phone while I was cleaning your room and the man with the long candy stick is coming to visit today!”
At this Feilong paused. He looked at Tao for clarification. “The man with the long candy stick?”
“Yes, Master. He says he’s bringing lots of candy and there’s one specifically for you to lick.”
Feilong’s eyes widened, because the meaning of those words weren’t lost on him.
Don’t ask, you know who it is. “What’s the name of this man?”
“He said before I tell you his name, you should know you'll be calling it to the heavens in the night. It’s your friend with the sun for hair and the sky for eyes.”
I had to ask. Feilong made a sigh of intolerance. “Thank you, Tao. I’ll be sure to give our friend a piece of my mind later.”
Feilong had all intention of not allowing Mikhail Arbatov access to Baishe headquarters. As soon as he got off on the plane in Hong Kong, he would beat him to a pulp for sending corrupting messages through his young one, then he will put him on a plane back to Russia in broken pieces. He smirked to himself at the hurt he would put on Arbatov.
“Oh, and Fei-sama? Your friend promised me an extra special gift that he’ll bring just for me from his home. Please allow him to stay, I haven’t received a special gift in so long and I’m really excited. Please?”
That pleading, watery eyed look was out in full force and something tugged at Feilong’s heart. It was so similar to the look that helpless little boy he’d seen at the nursery where he went to kill the owner gave him when he passed by. It was so many years ago and He was a victim of those eyes.
Feilong knew he will regret this later, but he’ll regret even more seeing Tao sad. Only for Tao. “Fine.”
Tao’s heart swelled with happiness that lit up his face and Feilong smiled warmly.
“Thank you, Fei-sama. Thank you!”
Feilong watched Tao skip away and when the door closed behind the youngster, he could see the uncertainty on Yoh’s face when he looked at him.
“He’s a nuisance.”
Feilong’s brows knitted and looked back at the report. “I know.”
*****VF*****
Feilong just had his evening bath, and while he sat in his room dressed in a cool, silk Changsan, he decided to read a book before bed. He still had his hair pinned up in a bun on top of his head since the night was a little warm.
Mikhail had arrived at Baishe headquarters an hour earlier and his greeting was brief and clipped, taking no longer than necessary.
Mikhail had tried to hug him, but Feilong held back from the punch he wanted to through because Tao had come between them, greeting Mikhail enthusiastically and taking him to his room. While one of his underlings handled the luggage, Mikhail had turned around and winked at him. He was just glad the man was out of his hair, literally.
He still planned to hurt the man for sending sexual innuendos through Tao. Though right now, he was just glad Arbatov’s room was on a different floor, the one below his. Only himself, Tao and Yoh resided on the last floor.
Just then there was a knock at the door and Feilong answered for the person to enter without taking his eyes off his book. If its one thing he knew about Mikhail Arbatov, it’s that he wouldn’t have knocked.
“Your tea and a snack...”
Feilong marked the page of the book before closing it, then he looked at Yoh. “He’s settled, I take it?”
Yoh put the tray on the night-table beside Feilong before straightening and looking at him. “As settled as a restless person could be. He talks too much.”
Feilong resisted the urge to chuckle at Yoh’s plight. “Keep an eye on him. I don’t know why he’s here or why he had to make sure he stays at Baishe, but I’d prefer it if he stayed out of my way.”
Yoh nodded before turning around and walking away.
Feilong put thirty more minutes into his reading after his tea and the sliced fruits Yoh prepared, then he went to bed for the night.
Guo An Bu-Chinese equivalent of the CIA.
Junshan Yinzhen tea-Silver needle tea.