Afterlife Department

Normal World, hotel. 

Hao Baiyun was fixing his sleeves and he looked at the mirror. He saw Gu Xingfeng's reflection behind him in the mirror. Gu Xingfeng is leaning on the wall near the door. With his strong arms crossed on his chest coupled with his frowning face, he looked like a door guardian. 

"Why come with me here?" he asked him. 

When he received an invitation letter, separate from his family's invitation, Gu Xingfeng was present. So, the other has seen the invitation and told him he wanted to come with him. 

"Isn't Huo Ling your friend?" Gu Xingfeng asked back. He is wearing an expensive black suit that perfectly hugged his body. Matched with his face, he looked like a son of a business tycoon. But, Gu Xingfeng is actually from a military family. So, he is qualified to attend Huo Ling's birthday party. 

Hao Baiyun smiled. "So, are you attending this birthday party as Huo Ling's friend, or as a member of your family?" he asked. The Gu family was also given an invitation by the royal family. 

Gu Xingfeng didn't answer and just stared at Hao Baiyun's reflection in the mirror. Hao Baiyun stared back at him through the mirror. None of them spoke and, after a while of staring at each other with a measuring gaze, they broke their staring contest. 

Hao Baiyun fixed his bow tie. But, for some reason, his fingers fumbled. Gu Xingfeng saw that Hao Baiyun is about to choke himself with his bow tie so he walked towards him and held Hao Baiyun's hand, stopping him from accidentally killing himself. Then, he pulled Hao Baiyun's fair hands away from the bow tie that is about to look creased. He touched the bow tie, and inadvertently touching Hao Baiyun's Adam's apple and chin. 

Hao Baiyun momentarily stiffened from the touch before he fixed his expression when he saw that Gu Xingfeng's expression remained normal, as if the fleeting touch was either an accident or his own imagination. 

After n hours, Gu Xingfeng finally fixed the bow tie for Hao Baiyun. "Done." He said before he also fixed Hao Baiyun's collar. 

Hao Baiyun remained silent and just stared at Gu Xingfeng. 

"What?" Gu Xingfeng asked when he saw Hao Baiyun staring at him. 

Hao Baiyun stared at Gu Xingfeng for a long while before he lowered his gaze. "Nothing." He answered and touched his bow tie, also touching his throat and chin. 

Gu Xingfeng saw Hao Baiyun's actions and the corners of his lips imperceptibly raised. 

Hao Baiyun felt Gu Xingfeng's gaze on him and he coughed. His fair cheeks slightly blushed. "Let's go." He said. "You be my driver today." He told him. 

"Sure." Gu Xingfeng answered. 

Hao Baiyun walked towards the door and opened it. He saw Jason Baurne and Maxwell passed along with Justin. 

Jason Baurne and Maxwell heard the door opening and saw Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng. "Hello, Mr. Hao." Jason politely greeted. He knows Hao Baiyun through Huo Ling. It was also him who mailed the invitation to Hao Baiyun. 

Hao Baiyun nodded at him, then to Maxwell, before he turned back to Jason Baurne. "You are here. Why aren't you in the palace?" he asked as they all walked together. 

Jason Baurne shyly smiled. "The royal palace is heavily guarded today, with many people coming and going for the preparation for tonight's celebration feast. It would be hard for my family to go out." He explained, then looked at Maxwell and Justin. 

Maxwell smiled back, then shyly nodded to Gu Xingfeng who was silently following behind them. 

Jason has noticed Gu Xingfeng earlier, but he thought he was just a driver and a bodyguard. Now that he took a closer look, he can't ignore Gu Xingfeng's temperament. "Is he your friend, Mr. Hao?" he asked Hao Baiyun. 

Hao Baiyun nodded. "He's from the Gu family, the second-born son." He answered. "Gu Xingfeng." He told him. 

Jason uttered an exclamation. He reached a hand to Gu Xingfeng. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Gu." He said. 

Gu Xingfeng shook Jason's hand before he immediately withdrew it. "Same." He spoke. 

Jason, although a prince, didn't take offense at Gu Xingfeng's lukewarm response. "Shall we go together?" he asked as they entered the elevator exclusive to the royal family. Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng were also there, so it would be impolite to enter the other elevator for guests' use. 

But, for this ride, Hao Baiyun has to refuse even though he is Huo Ling's friend. "Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness. But, I already have a ride." He said and glanced at Gu Xingfeng's emotionless face. 

Jason and Maxwell also glanced at Gu Xingfeng before they looked at each other and smiled. "Alright." He said and didn't insist. 

As the elevator descended, their group talked some stuff before they parted ways outside the hotel. 

In the parking lot, a middle-aged man is smoking inside his car. He is watching the live broadcast of a TV channel before he looked at the invitation in his hand. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the window. "Sir." A subordinate called when the window was lowered. "Wolf called and they still can't find the target." He reported. 

"Useless!" the middle-aged man cursed and punched the screen. "A mere preschool teacher…" he said through his gnashed teeth. "How did he manage to hook up with the MI6?! Who is his backer?!" he asked. 

"The preschool teacher's background is very clean. His parents are dead and he has no other relatives left, that's why he went abroad to work." His subordinate explained. 

"This is obviously fake!" the middle-aged man snapped. "Find him wherever hole did he hide!" he yelled before he closed the window. 

Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng were passing by, going towards their car when they heard someone shouted. They turned and saw the man standing beside the car with his head hung low. Obviously, he was yelled at by his ill-tempered boss. 

How unfortunate. Hao Baiyun and Gu Xingfeng thought before they proceeded to their car. Jason Baurne, Maxwell and Justin were fetched by their own driver and immediately left. 

"Where to?" Gu Xingfeng asked as he sat on the driver's seat. 

Hao Baiyun suddenly sighed. He looked outside the window. "I want to go see xiao Ling… but, the palace will be opened to the guests only this evening." He frowned. 

"As long as he is safe, then everyone can ease their mind and heart." Gu Xingfeng told him. He is referring to Huo Ling. 

As expected, Hao Baiyun smiled and the gloomy expression on his face disappeared because of what Gu Xingfeng said. "You're right." He said. 

Gu Xingfeng nodded. "Where to?" he asked again. 

"Then, let's roam around the city. I still haven't bought a present for xiao Ling." Hao Baiyun answered. 

Gu Xingfeng nodded and started the car. 

"You also have to give him a present, too!" Hao Baiyun told Gu Xingfeng. He refrained from hitting the man since the man is driving. 

Gu Xingfeng helplessly nodded his head. "Yeah, yeah, yeah…" he dispiritedly answered. Not only did he pay for his plane ticket, he also has to buy a birthday present worthy for Huo Ling, a prince. He is relieved that he hasn't spent a cent of his wage for over ten years. Who told him to follow Hao Baiyun because he is worried that something might happen to the other later? 

Hao Baiyun saw the distressed look on Gu Xingfeng's face and he roared in laughter. Gu Xingfeng glanced at him and saw him laughing. Then, he subconsciously smiled, feeling affected of Hao Baiyun's laughter. 

Their car stopped when it became a red light. Hao Baiyun turned to look outside with a smile, only for his smile to be frozen on his lips. "What… the…" he muttered under his breath and his eyes widened in shock. 

"Hm? What's wrong?" Gu Xingfeng asked when he heard Hao Baiyun's distracted voice. When he didn't hear Hao Baiyun answer, he turned to him. "Hey?" he called when he saw him sat frozen on his seat. His eyes are glued outside. 

Gu Xingfeng followed his gaze and his eyes also widened in shock. He can't help but utter a low curse when he saw Huo Ling's face broadcasted on the large television screen. 

"No, no, no… this can't be… how can this happen?!" Hao Baiyun asked, stunned, as he looked at Huo Ling's face being broadcasted. 

Gu Xingfeng immediately dialled Lu Si's number. Lu Si gave it to him before when Huo Ling was still in China. "Why was Huo Ling's face been broadcasted?!" he asked. "Didn't you – " 

Lu Si cut him off. "Those f*cking fame wh*res!" he cursed as he punched the table. "We've clearly issued a notice to all media to not show xiao Ling's face!" he said. Even on the birthday banquet tonight, Huo Ling's face still won't be seen because the party is a masquerade ball. 

But, no matter how much you plan and prepare, things can still go wrong.