It was almost midnight when Yibo reached the bar, known only to agents, and knew that he shouldn't have gone there. He was already drunk and drinking more alcohol would not solve his worries and problems. But, he hoped, maybe he would be able to forget his grief at least a little.

Yibo entered the bar and immediately the agents turned to him. He recognized two of them. They were colleagues from his agency. And as soon as they recognized him, they started whispering to each other while looking at him openly. Yibo was not surprised. Because not only had it become known throughout the agency that he was not only an idol who often visited his aunt, Agent Nax, but an agent like all of them there. But also what a huge mistake he had made a week ago, when he got distracted from his work while talking to Youn and let Zhan out of his sight for a few minutes, which then led to a disaster.

Yibo's carelessness had led to some bad consequences. Agent Lee managed to kidnap Zhan practically before his eyes. He stole half of Zhan's money that he inherited from Isla Isari, killed the lawyer and then managed to leave the country unnoticed in a private jet after leaving Zhan at a train station. The fact that Zhan was not killed as well was probably only due to the fact that Agent Lee had a "business relationship" with Isla Isari and he still respected her even though she was dead.

As it turned out, after his team, now led by Agent Chen, read the police report with Zhan's statement, Agent Lee had confessed to Zhan that he was working for Isla Isari. Agent Lee was the mole! Everyone was stunned. Because he was the one they least expected it from. And on the same day, Jackson Wang had found several recordings of Agent Lee entering and leaving Mrs. Isari's villa.

Yibo and his colleagues turned their full attention to Agent Lee and discovered that he had been planning all this for a very long time. Over the past three months, Agent Lee had created several new fake ID cards and passports with false identities. He had traveled the route between the agency and the lawyer's office several times, using different transportation and at different times. He had also obtained a pilot's license and bought a private jet. It was an old private jet that he restored himself with the help of a mechanic and made it airworthy again. To be able to afford this, he had sold his house and secretly slept in his office for three months. A simple sign on the door for the cleaners, letting them know that he was cleaning his office himself, was enough to avoid being discovered by the cleaning crew.

In their investigation, Yibo also found out, when he read Agent Lee's emails, that Agent Lee had contacted Pete Kapajewski after learning that a certain Xiao Zhan was going to inherit a lot of money from Mrs. Isari. He tipped Pete Kapajewski off as to where he could find Mrs. Isari! And that had been three months ago. Exactly at the time when he was making his plans and gradually putting them into action. Everything had been meticulously planned by him. Just like Mrs. Isari's death. Because in order for him to take half of the money from Zhan, Mrs. Isari had to die. And preferably at the hands of Pete Kapajewski. Thanks to the emails, Yibo knew that Mrs. Isari had confided a little about her past to Agent Lee. Which Agent Lee in turn let Pete Kapajewski know. Including some things that were probably made up. And that was just to get this killer to come to Beijing and actually kill Mrs. Isari.

All in all, Yibo and everyone else had been amazed at what a master mastermind Agent Lee had actually been. Had they all just underestimated the agent over the years? At the same time, they realized something else. Namely that they would probably not succeed in finding Agent Lee. He is an agent with special training who has learned to disappear into the crowd. He can slip into a new identity from one moment to the next and knows exactly what to look out for during his escape to avoid being discovered. And with his preparations, it will be virtually impossible to find Agent Lee.

Yibo finished his glass of whisky and placed the empty glass on the table in front of him. He almost laughed when he thought of what the director had told him that morning. "The only reason you won't be punished by us for your mistake is because you had no way of knowing what Agent Lee was up to. He was your team leader and when you saw him leaving with Zhan, you had to assume that he might bring Zhan to the office. You had no reason to assume otherwise."

That had sounded like a mockery to Yibo. Everyone in the agency already knew that he was an undercover agent and had made an unforgivable mistake. They were running their mouths about him. They pointed at him. Or told him straight to his face that they thought he was a bad agent and that he should concentrate on his career as an idol because he really was world class at it.

But the agency, the other agents, the director, he didn't care about any of them. Because what really bothered him was and is that Zhan no longer speaks to him! The last time was a week ago. And then Zhan had shouted at him on the phone and told him that he hated him and didn't want to see him anymore. And Yibo could even understand that. Very well, in fact. He had disappointed and hurt Zhan. That was worse for Yibo than anything else. And he really missed Zhan and didn't know how he could ever make it up to Zhan. Would Zhan ever be able to forgive him?

Tears streamed down Yibo's cheeks as he gulped down the second glass of whiskey and set the empty glass down in front of him. "What a fucking mess!" He growled to himself. No matter how much alcohol he had drunk over the last few evenings, it didn't help his grief and the feeling that someone had ripped his heart out of his chest with their bare hands.

Yibo was just about to treat himself to another glass of whiskey when someone sat down at the table with him. It was one of his colleagues. He already had a few gray hairs and looked no less drunk than Yibo. "You know kid, nobody's perfect." He said to Yibo and pushed him a glass of beer.

"Um, thanks. And yeah, I know." Replied Yibo, thinking that his own voice sounded kind of funny slurring like that.

"You know, I don't believe you. You know the words. But you don't know what they mean. When I say nobody's perfect, I mean it doesn't make sense for you to blame yourself. Did you make a mistake? Oh shit yes. But I'm sure you've learned from that mistake. And believe me, every young agent, even the old ones, makes mistakes."

"Huh? You make it sound like it's okay to make mistakes. But that's probably just you. The other agents don't think like that. They think I'm a bad agent. After all, Zhan could have been kidnapped because of me."

"Stop now. Yes, you were distracted and didn't pay attention to Xiao Zhan for a few minutes. But who would assume that your colleague, who is also the team leader, would kidnap him and kill someone? Nobody could have guessed that!"

"I know. But..."

"But you blame yourself the most, don't you?"

"Mhm."

"But what if Xiao Zhan had stayed by your side, as he was supposed to, and not stopped? And what if Xiao Zhan had only got into the car when you got there? Listen to me. Agent Lee planned it all meticulously. In my opinion, he knew for sure that you would be distracted for a moment as soon as you started a conversation with Agent Kim. So he just had to wait for that moment."

"So you mean he deliberately set Youn on Zhan and me because he knew Youn was my best friend and we hadn't seen or spoken to each other for three months and I would be distracted?"

"Exactly. But of course Agent Kim didn't know about the real intentions."

"No, of course not."

"Agent Lee used both of you to kidnap Xiao Zhan. As I said, you had no way of knowing his true intentions. How could you? Agent Lee masterfully fooled everyone. To you, he was your colleague and new team leader, not someone who should be considered a threat."

"That's true."

"And that's why it wasn't really a mistake on your part. Yes, you had the task of looking after Xiao Zhan. But you'd think you could leave a grown man alone for a few minutes when there's an agency behind you with several agents who could have intervened immediately in an emergency."

"That's true. But Zhan is disappointed in me. He hates me and..."

"So? Of course he's disappointed and angry. He's been through a lot, hasn't he? Think about how many things have hit him in these few days. His life was shaken like a strong earthquake and he didn't have time to recover because new things were happening all the time. And the only person he still trusted wasn't with him at the moment he needed him. But!!! Xiao Zhan is also to blame. Because he was told to always stay by your side. Why didn't he go with you to Agent Kim and stop at Agent Lee's car? Why did he get into the car without you? So you're not the only one who should be blaming yourself."

"How do you know so much about all this?"

"Oh, oh yes. I'm Agent Fang and I work one level higher than your director."

"My director? Hardly. So you're one of the top bosses?"

"You could say that. And I personally took care of the investigation into this case. And that's why I can tell you that although you made a mistake, it was neither stupid nor unforgivable."

"Oh. And are you also investigating Agent Nax?"

"Yes and no. Don't worry about her. She's fine and I'm sure she won't be punished. To be honest, she was working for me. I knew about the USB stick. I gave her my okay when I caught her collecting this data, files and information. She explained to me what she was doing it for and I told her that she had my permission and that she should work for me. Because I've suspected some pretty well-known people of not being too strict with the laws of our country for some time."

"I understand."

"Good, and I hope you haven't forgotten what I'm telling you now. I want you to come to my office tomorrow. Because I want you to work for me, too. Together with Agent Nax, and on a secret mission, of course."

"Okay, fine. But what do I do about Zhan?"

"I'll explain that to you tomorrow. He's safe at the moment. He's in the country with his parents. Wen Rouhan has taken him there and is looking after him. Believe me, he's safe with him."

"Oh. So he's not in the city at all."

"No. After the fright, Chief Wen Rouhan of the 4th Police Station suggested taking him to a place where Xiao Zhan can recover. He himself will also stay there to look after Xiao Zhan. I've also spoken to Xiao Zhan and he's willing to talk to me as soon as he gets back."

"Can I be there for the conversation then?"

"Of course. I'll even ask for it."

"Thank you, sir."

"Oh, don't bother with the sir. We're in a bar here and we're both drunk. Today we're not boss and employee. Today we're two friends talking and drinking together. Tonight we'll have another good drink. And tomorrow we'll try harder again."

"Okay."

"Great. Then I'll order us another round."

"Thank you. I mean for the conversation and the encouragement."

"With pleasure. You're a good agent and, like everyone else, even me, you still have a lot to learn. But enough of that now. Let's drink!"

"Yes sir... I mean yes boss."

"Haha. Very good."

"Hehehe." Made Yibo, smiling and feeling an immense relief inside. Soon he would be able to see Zhan again. And then, he hoped, he would have the chance to apologize to Zhan.