Planned Trip

Zhang Jin's eyes were intensely fixed on her, "Lian Qiang, I'll definitely not gonna let you come with us again anymore." He said while emphasizing every words.

Lian Qiang laughed a bit feeling guilty about her behavior. "Well, I'm sorry about that." She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She looked around, feeling embarrassed about what she just did. She burped loudly, causing the entire room to go silent and people around turned to look in their direction.

Zhang Jin sighed, scratching his forehead, "You're supposed to be a member of a special organization as what you have said, but you eat so messily. Have you no shame?"

"I already apologized, right?" She retorted, her tone dripping with exasperation.

They stopped arguing with each other when they heard Huan Zhao beside Zhang Jin, giggled.

"You know what, Officer Lian Qiang, you were different from typical girls I know." Huan Zhao muttered. "From the way you dress yourself and the way you act. You are something different." She continued praising the woman across them. But there was a question lingering in her mind that she wanted to ask. "Are you like...uhm." Huan Zhao couldn't get to finish her question while Lian Qiang on the other hand was waiting for her.

"...like you know what I mean?" Huan Zhao continued, carefully asked, not to make her surprise about her question. It took seconds before she could understand what she wanted to ask.

"Yes, she is." Zhang Jin answered nonchalantly as if she knew the woman personally. "So, don't you dare get close to her." 

"No, I am not. Can you please not respond if the question wasn't meant for you?" She calmly stated, glaring at him. Lian Qiang felt slightly uncomfortable.

"Anyways, honestly you're cool. Different in a good way. I've always admired strong women who aren't afraid to be themselves. Besides, if you wore a dress perfect and be girly sometimes you will definitely look different." Huan Zhao said with a warm smile while putting her hand on her chin as if thinking about an idea inside her mind.

"Can you please stop praising this woman?" Zhang Jin interjected, his tone dripping with annoyance.

Lian Qiang just rolled her eyes. "And can you please stop interrupting my moment?" She shot back, trying to keep her cool.

"Tss, then if you said differently ugly then I would agree." Zhang Jin turned to Huan Zhao and grinned pertaining to his girlfriend's statement.

"Gosh babe stop, here you go again." Huan Zhao said with a sigh, clearly irritated. "Officer, don't listen to him okay? He was just trying to tease you. You're beautiful and you should know that." Huan Zhao turned her attention to her. Lian Qiang just smile when Huan Zhao assuring her.

"As if." Zhang Jin just whispered under his breath while sipping his glass of water and shifted his gaze outside the glass wall.

Lian Qiang just rolled her eyes when she heard him mumbled. She avoided her eyes off him and started drinking her green tea. Fiddling with her phone, checking if there was a message coming from the headquarters.

The enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sizzle of steak on the grill filled the spacious dining room. As Zhang Jin took a bite of his perfectly grilled steak, Huan Zhao carefully sliced into her steak, paired with a sunny-side-up egg on her plate.

Placing her fork down gently, Huan Zhao looked up. "I've been thinking... with all the stress lately, maybe we need a break. A change of scenery."

Zhang Jin took a sip of his coffee, intrigued. "What do you suggest?"

"How about a trip? Maybe to that hill station you talked about or a beach town? Fresh air, different environment. It could do us good." Huan Zhao excitedly said.

While Lian Qiang who were pretending as deaf couldn't stop herself not to listen. She was fiddling her phone but her ears and mind were listening to their conversation. She needed to stop them.

"Maybe, a beach is a good choice." Zhang Jin suggested.

"When will it be?" Huan Zhao asked.

"The weekend after next?" Zhang Jin proposed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Lian Qiang couldn't hold back, "Are you guys planning a trip both of you?" She asked, trying to sound casual. Her gaze was at Huan Zhao.

"Yes. I thought it might be a good change of pace for both of us, considering the stress we've been under lately. Why do you ask, Officer Lian?" She tilted her head, curious about Lian Qiang's sudden interest.

"I thought you're not gonna listen to what we're talking about? And here you are, asking?" Zhang Jin exasperatedly said.

She shifted her gaze at Zhang Jin annoyed for interrupting their conversation. "I am your bodyguard Zhang Jin." She emphasized while glaring at him. "There's no way you could make a plan for a trip without my permission. Your situation right now is dangerous." Her serious voice made them feel serious as well. 

Huan Zhao's eyes briefly met Zhang Jin's before returning to Lian Qiang. "Actually, it was my suggestion to plan a trip," she admitted with a slight smile. "I am sorry for that officer Lian. I just thought it might be nice for Zhang Jin and me to spend some quality time together. With everything going on, we haven't had much of a chance to really connect." Huan Zhao's expression softened, and there was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "I hope you understand."

She put her finger underneath her chin as if thinking of a possible way to spend their couple time together. "It's actually okay although you need someone to be with you both. You know, for security reasons," Lian Qiang added, trying to emphasize the importance of her role without making it sound like she wanted to intrude on their personal time.

Zhang Jin scoffed, "So, does that mean you're coming with us?"

"Yes." She confidently answered took another sip of her green tea. "I promise I will not interfere with your trip. I just wanted to keep both of you safe." 

Huan Zhao interjected before Zhang Jin could respond, "I think it's a good idea. It's always safer with her around, and she just said she'll give us our space. So why not?"

Zhang Jin grumbled, clearly not thrilled, but realizing the sense in the suggestion. "Fine, but remember to stay out of our way. This is our personal time."

Lian Qiang simply nodded, masking her irritation with professionalism. "Understood. You won't even notice I'm there."