Colors

"That'll do. Let's call it a day here." As dusk began to settle, Ji Jue washed his hands at the tap, rinsed off the grime, and nodded. "Thanks for your guidance, Engineer Yan. I pretty much understand the better half of it now." *Understand? The better half?* *Do you hear the absolute nonsense coming out of your mouth?* Yan Jian stood to the side, nodding with the look of a man utterly dead inside, too exhausted to even play along. *Whatever you say.* *If you say it works, it works.* "I also have a general grasp of the specific situation now." Ji Jue turned back to look at him. "It hasn't been easy for you to keep this place afloat all on your own all these years, Engineer Yan. Forcing someone to stay never ends well. If you want to leave, I won't hold you back, and I'll push for the maximum possible severance on your behalf. Of course, if you're willing to stay, that would be even better." Ji Jue offered a slight smile. "After all, resuming production won't be easy. With you here, my odds of pulling it off will be much higher." Silence fell. Stunned, Yan Jian didn't even have time to feel overjoyed. He stared blankly at Ji Jue as though he hadn't fully processed the words, feeling an abrupt emptiness wash through his mind. Instinctively, he wanted to be happy, yet he didn't know whether he should be celebrating the long-awaited freedom and severance pay or the resumption of production he had abandoned hope for so long ago. He was completely at a loss for words. Over the years, he had been fed far too many empty promises. Just seeing another pie in the sky terrified him now. Before he could react, a note scribbled with a phone number was thrust into his hand. "Sorry, I haven't had business cards printed yet. Once you've thought it over, Engineer Yan, feel free to call me anytime." Ji Jue extended a hand, giving him one last handshake. "I'll be back tomorrow." The young man nodded in farewell, turned, and walked away. Yan Jian was left standing where he was. In the prolonged silence, the chirping of insects rose faintly from the weeds. When he finally came to his senses and looked down at the slip of paper in his hand, he couldn't help letting out a self-deprecating laugh, though he couldn't tell what he was even laughing at. *I'm overthinking it.* *Since when does good fortune ever fall into my lap?* Shaking his head, he climbed onto his electric scooter and headed off to get some dinner. He had just sat down at his usual fried rice noodle stall when his phone rang. "Hello? Old Yan?" a familiar voice came through the line. "I called you several times this afternoon. Why didn't you pick up?" "Hm? Let me see. Oh, it was on silent. Forgot." Yan Jian glanced down at the screen, picking at his noodles with halfhearted bites. "What made you suddenly think to call me?" "I heard the plant might be resuming production? How are things looking?" "Pfft, some rich second-generation kid showed up, just treating the factory like a playground, doing whatever pops into his head on a whim." Yan Jian shook his head. "Looks to me like there's nothing but misery ahead. Anyway, I plan to get the hell out." "Then get out sooner rather than later." His friend sighed. "Need me to help hook you up with your next gig?" "Let's wait until I've actually jumped ship." Yan Jian shook his head, traded a few pleasantries, and hung up. He raised a hand to wave toward the old man running the stall. "Boss, another beer. Cold." "Coming right up!" Beneath the dim yellow light, tiny insects fluttered around the bulb. In the clamor of the night market, a child screamed and dashed about not far away, while behind him, several bare-chested workers shouted loudly as they drank. Yan Jian sipped the beer from his plastic cup, slowly finishing every last bite of noodles on his plate. As he ate, his head sank lower, and tears began to fall. *** Beneath the same night sky, Ji Jue was eating the same stir-fried flat rice noodles—the only difference being that he had added an egg. After carrying his takeout home and scarfing down a few bites, he rubbed his hands together in eager anticipation. Yet before the fuel he was longing for could be delivered to his doorstep, a knock sounded at the door. Outside stood a man whose suit, tie, hair, and buttons were all immaculate. Carrying a briefcase, he beamed at Ji Jue with a warm, cordial smile. "Pardon the intrusion. I hope I'm not disturbing you." The visitor warmly extended a hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ji." Ji Jue's eyebrows twitched slightly in confusion. "Sorry, I don't believe we've met?" he asked. "May I have your name?" "My humble family name is Yin. Yin Zhaoyang." Yin Zhaoyang maintained his smile as he presented an exquisite business card with both hands. It was understated and discreet, bearing only a name, contact information, and the name of an import-export company. Ji Jue had never heard of it, though it wasn't entirely unexpected. *Damn, they're fast.* *Word hasn't even gotten out yet, so how did someone already sniff their way over?* *No wonder people say City Hall leaks like a sieve.* Ji Jue sighed. Pocketing the card, he asked solemnly, "How may I help you?" Once seated in the living room, Yin Zhaoyang wasted no time. He set the case on the table, cutting straight to the chase with polite deference. "Hearing that Mr. Ji was promoted to the rank of craftsman and took charge of Haian Group, I prepared a modest gift to offer my congratulations. Please, do not take offense at its modesty." Another case. And from the looks of it, identical in model... "One should not accept rewards without merit. Let's pass on that." Ji Jue sighed, really not wanting to go through the motions of such trivialities again. "Keep the gift, Mr. Yin. We have no prior relationship to speak of. If there's nothing else, please see yourself out." "A relationship is built through back-and-forth exchanges, after all." Yin Zhaoyang's smile remained enthusiastic, and he made no move to pull the gift back. "I imagine you already understand why I'm here, so there's truly no need to hide it. Still, I doubt I need to spell out just how much trouble lies within Haian's mess. A single misstep could easily blow back on you. Countless eyes are watching that piece of territory right now. Getting tangled up in it will inevitably lead to an ugly situation; under no circumstances is it a wise choice. As this year's Chief Craftsman of the Association, you stand above mundane squabbles and have a glorious future ahead of you. There is no need whatsoever to waste your time in such a quagmire. Why not extricate yourself early?" "To be completely honest, you're not wrong." Ji Jue nodded. He unscrewed a bottle of water, chugged several mouthfuls, and showed unmistakable agreement. "What you say makes sense. Frankly, I don't want to get involved in this mess either. But once you're in the jianghu, you can't always control your own moves." He paused and sighed. "Since you're being so open and aboveboard, Mr. Yin, there's no reason for me to beat around the bush either. When it comes to this matter, I don't really have a choice." "...How so?" Though taken aback for a split second, Yin Zhaoyang's smile never wavered, growing even warmer. "Though I possess little influence, my greatest strength is helping friends resolve their troubles. Would you care to elaborate?" "Truth be told, I harbored great ambitions from a young age and could never stomach those mediocre, misbehaving scoundrels." Ji Jue laughed self-deprecatingly and let out a sigh. "After wasting so many years, I finally managed to make a name for myself. Naturally, I wanted to accomplish something and secure some welfare for Yacheng. Who could have guessed I'd only end up battering my head against a brick wall? As things stand, the way I see it—the rot of Yacheng lies neither in the Wild Gathering nor in the Dragon Cult, but right inside the Governor's Mansion!" Before Yin Zhaoyang could even process the words, a loud crash rang out. *Bang!* Ji Jue slammed his hand onto the table, rising to his feet, unable to conceal his fury any longer. "The Federation declines, the President brews disaster, the state falls into ruin, years turn harsh, and turmoil spreads across the land! As a result, beasts feed on stipends in the high courts, and rotten wood holds office in the imperial halls! Now, an incompetent fool like Xu Chaoxian can actually become Governor—to speak frankly, I have never seen anyone so brazenly shameless!" At this point, Ji Jue grasped the visitor's hands tightly, speaking with profound gravity: "Since you are willing to aid me, Mr. Yin, why not raise your arm and rally the masses? Countless followers will surely answer your call! When that time comes, we shall unite in this grand endeavor, march upon the Governor's Mansion, and sever Xu Chaoxian's dog head! When the dust settles, you shall be the Grand Governor, and I shall be the Second Governor..." Yin Zhaoyang's face twitched violently, his composure practically shattering. In the end, he had to muster nearly all his strength just to wrench his hands free of Ji Jue's grip. He struggled desperately to calm his nerves. "Mr. Ji, you wouldn't happen to be joking, would you?" "Of course I am." Ji Jue nodded decisively, staring straight at him. "Weren't you the one who came to my home to make jokes first?" Yin Zhaoyang's expression shifted slightly. He gave a gentle shake of his head, as if helpless. "I merely came hoping to make a friend. Why must you be like this, Mr. Ji?" Ji Jue chuckled, feeling as though he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "A friend? Who's trying to make friends here? Is it really you, Mr. Yin?" He asked curiously, "From the moment you walked in until now, you've kept telling me how candid you are, yet you haven't even dared utter a name. Who is it that you actually represent? Meanwhile, someone doesn't even show their face, sends an errand boy to my house carrying a gift, and tells me they want to be friends. But I don't see a friend anywhere." Ji Jue sighed, tapping the case resting on the table. "Why bother with the pretenses, Mr. Yin? You don't want to make friends. You just came here to brush off a filthy beggar." From the very start, the visit had been soaked in wariness. After all this beating around the bush, not a shred of sincerity had been shown; even that smile carried the calculating air of someone waiting to strike a bargain. The case hadn't been opened once throughout the entire conversation. Whatever was inside, Ji Jue didn't care in the slightest. "Please see yourself out, Mr. Yin." Ji Jue shoved the case back across the table. "I am not your friend." Yin Zhaoyang's expression remained steady, showing not the slightest hint of displeasure—only a lingering air of regret. "Since you are unwilling, it would naturally be improper for me to force the issue. However, I remain at your service should you ever wish to call." He picked up the case and rose to take his leave. "The days ahead are long. Time will reveal a man's heart." "Whether we meet again isn't up to me." Ji Jue walked him to the doorway, smiling in farewell. "It's just that some things are easy to look at, but might not be so easy to take." Yin Zhaoyang paused on the steps outside, glanced back at him, nodded, and departed. He vanished into the night. Returning to the living room, Ji Jue took out his phone, snapped a picture of the business card on the table, and sent it to Tong Shan. [Who's this?] Before long, a reply came back: [A broker. Well-connected, decent web of contacts. His main backer should be Echo Tech-Industry under Huanyu. He already came knocking?] [Faster than lightning. I'd suggest City Hall learn a thing or two about efficiency from them—specifically, Xu Chaoxian.] [...] Tong Shan pretended not to see the latter half. After a long pause, he replied: [Neither his record nor Echo's is clean. They don't come with good intentions. Stay safe.] [Words are useless, cough up the goods!] Ji Jue habitually began begging for support. Unfortunately, what came in response was a payment QR code. An invitation to scan and pay however much he liked. Along with a sticker: a potted plant with cut-out facial features glaring out of the screen at Ji Jue: [You, get to working overtime right this instant!] Ji Jue burst out laughing. "Sir, an anomaly alert from the street surveillance," Isis's voice rang out. "Two vehicles. The occupants have been watching us since the afternoon and appear to be armed." "Normal." "Should I eliminate them?" "Isis, human life is very precious!" "Please speak like a normal human being." "I mean, since it's nothing critical anyway, let them watch. If they don't know what's good for them, a dump truck will naturally drop from the heavens to deliver justice in due time. That won't be any of our business." Isis fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. "Humans are truly hypocritical." "You can say that again." *** After leaving Ji Jue's residence, Yin Zhaoyang walked two blocks with the case in hand before returning to his car, parked neatly in the camera's blind spot. A bodyguard-cum-assistant leaning against the car smoking reached out and pressed a hand against his shoulder. A blue light flashed and vanished, and he quickly pulled his hand back. "All clean." "Good. Keep watch for now." Yin Zhaoyang got into the car, picked up the burner phone he had left behind, and dialed a number. After four rings, the call connected. "Mr. Shang, I've met with him." The voice on the other end of the line asked: "How did it go?" Yin Zhaoyang hesitated for an instant. Although he had turned over his thoughts along the way and carefully prepared his words, for some bizarre reason, the image of Ji Jue sprang to mind. Those pitch-black pupils that seemed to harbor smoldering embers... "He's not like the ones before, nor is he what I expected," he said. "I'm afraid he won't be easy to dismiss." The voice on the other end remained unperturbed, simply instructing him: "In that case... let's teach him a lesson first."