THE SILVER LINING

'How is it?' The mysterious lady asked the hidden man.

'Everything is running so smoothly according to our plan...' The hidden man smiles as he put down two tin balls that he played a moment ago, 'The first part of our plan is almost completed...Just wait for the right time to execute the last stage...' He turns his chair to face the lady, 'You know what will happen if this last stage is executed...Are you sure that you will be alright?'

'I am...' The lady replied certainly.

The hidden young man snorts softly, touching the newton pendulum on his desk. 'You call me scary...But for me, you are even scarier...' He said as he pulls the first ball of the ornament then throw it softly, let the balls move rhythmically.

**********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************

'How is it?' Zhao YunLan asked Zhu Hong.

'Zhang Pharmaceutical was bought by a HaiXing entrepreneur a few weeks after Zhang JiKeng caught...' The lady replied.

'A HaiXing?'

'Mhm...' Zhu Hong nodded, 'His name is Mr. Ma TiHua, age sixty-seven...His family is the best entrepreneur in Dragon City since their ancestors...'

'Who's the seller?' Zhao YunLan cuts the lady's words.

'Zhang JiKeng's niece...' Shen Wei's voice suddenly echoed in the hall as his elegant figure is emerging through the entrance.

'What's her power?' Zhao YunLan asked, 'Ah, let me guess! Mind control?' Zhao YunLan started his wild assumption.

'None...' Shen Wei replied, 'She is a HaiXing...'

'What!?' Zhao YunLan was too surprised till he jumped up from the seat.

'Zhang JiKeng's uncle married a HaiXing lady and have a daughter without power...Their son in law also a HaiXing...Thus, their granddaughter is considered as a HaiXing...' Chu ShuZhi stated his investigation result.

'As Zhang JiKeng has no heir, his niece is automatically becoming his heir...Because she has no interest in business, she sold the company...' Shen Wei proceeds.

'She is...'

'An artist...A painter precisely...' Shen Wei said as he sits on the sofa.

'Damn...' Zhao YunLan slumps back to the sofa, 'So it meant that we back to the square one...' He sighed. 'Then how can we find out who was the one that entered the jail and freed Zhang JiKeng?' Zhao YunLan sounds upset.

'Boss...How about checking the background of Zhang JiKeng colleagues?' Lin Jing came up with an idea.

'That's good...' Shen Wei said.

'Just make sure you investigate them thoroughly...' Zhao YunLan added.

'Chief...Your father is here!' Guo ChangCheng shouted from the door.

'Pa...' Zhao YunLan stands up soon after he saw his father, 'What's happened?'

'It's nothing...' Zhao XinChi replied, 'I'm here to deliver Xiao Cài back. He is throwing tantrums. Crying whole day as he can't see Professor Shen...' He proceeds as he put the baby kappa down to the floor.

'Xiao Cài!!!' The girls were shrieking, running towards the baby kappa that oddly, was no longer afraid of them. Xiao Cài lifts his hands, asks to be carried and Wang Zheng happily takes the baby while almost everyone gathers around her.

'Xiao Cài...Looking for Papa Shen?' Guo ChangCheng baby-talked the baby kappa that started to open up. Listen to the question, Xiao Cài makes a voice like a chirping bird. Everyone can't hold their laughter as they heard it.

'He really misses Professor Shen...' Sang Zan said.

'Ah, we have Director Shen here...' Zhu Hong pulls the awkward man closer to Xiao Cài, 'Hey, Xiao Cài...This is Papa Shen...' She said.

Shen Wei sheepishly stretching his hands, offers his hug to the little creature but Xiao Cài recognizes the man who beat him, hides himself to Wang Zheng's hug fearfully. Those who don't know the reason are confused but they who know can't help but hide their laughter.

'Seems like demon-beasts are more sensitive than humans, they can recognize people well...' Zhao YunLan said amidst his chuckle. Shen Wei glances at Zhao YunLan, he feels irritated but sees the man laughing, he could let the teasing slide.

'Having fun?' Shen Wei asked finally.

'Ge...' Shen YeZun's voice was heard. Shen Wei is about to welcome his younger brother but when he sees Zhao MingAn besides YeZun, his smile is blown by the wind. And when Zhao MingAn greets him, Shen Wei does not even spare a glance at the young man. Luckily, everyone was busy with Xiao Cài just Da Qing that sensitive enough to catch the unusual aura.

'Ah, Professor Shen...' Zhao YunLan tried to mend the awkwardness, 'Seems like Xiao Cài is missing you...'

'Xiao Cài...'

Sees YeZun, the little kappa stretching his hands asks for carried out.

'Have you been a good boy?'

The little kappa nuzzles YeZun's chest as an answer.

'Awww...' The girls and Guo ChangCheng couldn't hold their shrieks.

'Is that a kappa?' Zhao MingAn asked with an admiration tone.

'Mhm...' Shen YeZun nodded, 'I name him Xiao Cài...I told you about him yesterday...'

'Aaahhh...' Zhao MingAn smiled.

Different from his attitude towards the others, the baby kappa only stares at Zhao MingAn intensely. He seems to can read something different between Zhao MingAn and Shen YeZun, a closeness that he doesn't like.

'You want to carry him?' Shen YeZun asked his younger lover.

After Zhao MingAn nods, Shen YeZun passes the baby to him. Xiao Cài is very sweet, he does not even refuse and clutches nicely to Zhao MingAn's embrace.

'Xiao Cài...Cucumber!'

Zhu Hong brings the offering. The baby kappa looks so delighted as he leaps in Zhao MingAn's hug with hands that flapping, making the young man troubled by the movement. The situation is not over yet because Xiao Cài suddenly flaps his hands excitedly and slaps Zhao MingAn's face hardly.

The whole hall is fell silent at once, Zhao MingAn himself is more than shocked but the baby kappa eats the cucumber nonchalantly. Everyone feels bad for Zhao MingAn but no one blames the cute baby.

'Xiao Cài...'

Zhao MingAn can't even rumble just massaging his hurt jaw and the baby kappa just tilts his head confusedly. The pain is not even gone yet, another surprise follows. Xiao Cài spits out every cucumber seed from his little beak just like shooting the seedlings towards Zhao MingAn. Could imagine how it feels to be hit continuously by little stones? While everyone is laughing, Zhao MingAn has to endure the stinging pain in his face.

'Wah...' Zhao XinChi laughing, 'Seems like he really likes MingAn...Xiao Cài plays with him happily...' The old man said, not realizing the fact that his son was being bullied.

'Xiao Cài loves Ming Ge?' Shen YeZun patted the baby kappa's head and Xiao Cài is lifts his beak's corner, more like a smirk than a smile. Zhao MingAn could feel something wrong but everyone seems to be fond of the charming little kappa.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Cài sneezes heavily, and a large amount of slime gushes right to Zhao MingAn's handsome face. Now, everyone is gaps in shock. No one knows whether that is incidentally or intentionally but as if already know the reasons, Shen Wei's smile is lifted unconsciously.

'Xiao Cài!' Shen YeZun almost shouted. Zhao MingAn was ready to blow and the baby kappa clenched his eyes shut as he thought will be scolded when YeZun strides closer to them. 'Are you sick?' Shen YeZun asked as he took the baby kappa from Zhao MingAn, making Zhao MingAn can't believe his ears.

'Maybe because he cried the whole day yesterday...' Zhao XinChi said, not even caring of his youngest son who was drenched in the disgusting stuff.

'Poor Xiao Cài...' Shen YeZun hugs the kappa and the baby starts to whine cutely, smiles smugly at the powerless Zhao MingAn.

'Hey, Ah Ming! Go clean up!' Zhao YunLan said to his stunned younger brother after clearing his throat as he laugh too loudly.

When everybody laughing, Zhao MingAn growls a little as he tries to hide his upset then glares silently at the baby kappa. Instead of being afraid, Xiao Cài secretly sticks out his tongue to mock the irritated yet helpless young man.

'Having fun?' Zhao YunLan asked Shen Wei who can't stop smiling.

'Obviously...' Shen Wei replied, keep gleaming.

The cheerful mood is not subdued yet when the main entrance is opened once again.

'General Shen...' Chu ShuZhi lowered his head.

'Sir...', 'Father...' Both twins welcomed their father.

'You are here?' Shen YongZheng asked Zhao XinChi.

'I'm here to deliver Xiao Cài back to his guardian...' Zhao XinChi replied.

'Xiao Cài?' Shen YongZheng frowned.

'Xiao Cài...' Zhao XinChi gestured with his head.

'Ehh...What's that?' Shen YongZheng was surprised as he saw a small green creature in his son's hug.

'It's Xiao Cài...' Shen YeZun replied.

Now, Shen YongZheng is in total dumbfound. His eyes sweep the entire room as he asked for an explanation.

'What?' Shen YongZheng muttered, speechlessly. 'Wait...Wait...Wait...' No matter how trained, his old brain is kind of exhausted when he heard the report. 'So many things happened lately...'

'Problems are like gourd...One pressed down underwater, the others are float into the surface...' Zhao XinChi said as he sipped the tea that was offered by Wang Zheng.

'If we look at these cases, it seems they don't relate to one and another...' Shen YongZheng said, 'Then we have to investigate them one by one...'

'Well...Lotus root may be severed but its fibered threads are still connected...' Zhao XinChi said again but now everyone is listening.

'So...Do you want to say that these events are related to each other?' Shen YongZheng asked Zhao XinChi.

'I think so...' The old man replied.

'Hmmm...' Shen YongZheng nodded, 'Then what should we do?' He asked.

Zhao XinChi who almost sips his tea halted as he heard the question, 'General Shen...Are you seriously ask me that? I'm just a civilian, remember?' He asked after a deep sigh.

Shen Wei glances at the old man. For a mere civilian, Zhao XinChi is very calm when he hears about the news. He is not panicking, not wondering, even not curious. As if he already used with something like this and doesn't want to involve with it anymore, the line that the old man draws is somewhat very clear. While his father in another hand doesn't show any discretion around Zhao XinChi, as if they were used to discussing similar matters together.

'Father...' Shen YeZun decided to ask, 'You visiting this place...Is there anything you want to say?'

'Ah! Now that you ask...' Shen YongZheng brightened, 'I come here because I can't find you in your university...'

'Oh...' Shen YeZun nodded, 'I'm here because Da Ge wants to talk with me...'

'I see...' Shen YongZheng answered, 'But another time...No matter how busy, you suppose to call home...'

'I understand...' Shen YeZun lowers his gaze, hiding another story.

'Ahh...Another one...' Shen YongZheng shouted, surprising everyone. 'Your student, Xu Ying...She quitting University...The Dean asked me to tell you...'

'What!?' Shen YeZun was shocked, 'But why!?'

'Well...The personal reason they said...' Shen YongZheng replied

'Professor Shen...What is it!?' After hearing YeZun's loud voice, Zhao MingAn rushed downstairs.

'Xu Ying is quitting...' Shen YeZun replied makes everyone confused, why should he report it to the young man?

'Well, that's good...' Zhao MingAn replied.

'What do you mean by that's good?' Shen YeZun protested, 'That's not good...She is your friend, can't you sympathize with her?'

'If only she didn't threaten your life I will sympathize with her!' Zhao MingAn half-shouted, surprising everyone.

'What!?' Now, everyone looks at YeZun as they asked for an explanation.

'You didn't tell them!?' Zhao MingAn even more confused, 'Professor Shen, I don't believe you!'

'What the h*ll is happening here?' Shen Wei interfered, his voice tone is steady but the vibration is heavy.

'You tell him, or I will?' Zhao MingAn's eyes are not less frightening.

Shen YeZun gulps, 'I need the place to put Xiao Cài down...' He said as he fondled the sleeping baby kappa.

Shen YongZheng and Zhao XinChi both sigh deeply after they heard the whole story while the baby kappa sleeping peacefully in Zhao YunLan's office. 'So this girl is the one who "kidnapped" my son...Threatened you and almost kill you...' Zhao XinChi does not seem angry.

'YeZun! What you did is very dangerous...You should not do that again in the future...' Shen Wei scolded his younger brother.

'But Ge...I'm a DiXing...If something goes wrong, I can use my power...'

'You always refuse to use your power to the extent no one knows that you have one...How can I trust what you just say?' Shen Wei blows up.

'Hey, Shen Wei...Do you have to shout at him?' Zhao YunLan reminded the upset man who miraculously restrained.

'Student Xu was just desperate...Someone that she loves never loves her back...That's why she did it...' Shen YeZun tried to convince everyone.

'Yeah, right!' Both Shen Wei and Zhao MingAn snorted.

'MingAn...Would you keep silent if someone touches your lover?' Shen YeZun unconsciously tried to persuade his lover.

'If someone dares to touch my lover I'll break them into the pieces...But someone who does not return my affection is another thing...' Zhao MingAn not even subdued. At this point, everyone starts to feel weird to see the debate that is more like couples' bicker.

'Hey, Ah Ming...'

'Ge...If I didn't gain my consciousness at the right time, Professor Shen was as well as dead!' Zhao MingAn retorted.

'But at least let me talk to her...' Once again YeZun tried to persuade Zhao MingAn.

'Not allowed!'

'But...'

'End of discussion!' Zhao MingAn replied firmly. Sees Shen YeZun's dejected face, everybody is finally aware of their real relationship. However, nobody says a thing.

'Pa...I think you right' Zhao YunLan suddenly said, 'Everything is related...'

'What...Why?' Shen Wei asked.

'First of all the snake's attack...Somehow, it leads to Zhang JiKeng...Then we investigated Zhang JiKeng, the reason turned out something irrational...However, both snake's attack and Zhang JiKeng have similarities...The serum...As if there is someone that uses them as rat lab...Then, the one who visited Zhang JiKeng in the jail was someone with mind control ability...Ah Ming's case and Xiao Cài happened at the same time...Both use mind control even in different methods...' Zhao YunLan ordered the chronology.

'So you want to say that these events are planned by the same person?' Shen Wei asked.

'Right!' Zhao YunLan pointed his finger.

'But who?' Shen YongZheng asked.

'Nice question...' Zhao YunLan replied, 'Hey, Shen Wei...Are you still authorized to read the DiJun booklet?' Zhao YunLan sounds excited, somehow he feels like find the answer.

The cumulus cloud, the detached individual cauliflower-shaped clouds that only spotted in fair weather conditions many times tries to overpower the sun. However, the sun can't be stopped as it always shines even through the growing cumulus tower and creates a bright outline along the edge of the clouds that is called the silver lining.

The silver lining occurs when light is diffracted by cloud droplets along the cloud's outer edge which shows us that there is no obstacle shall stop us as every output will depend on our choice...