/*unedited*/

The air is stale and the atmosphere is dreary, even wind does not exist in the place which seems to be filled with no other color but gray.

A man in his 30's laying on the ground slowly opened his eyes.

"Ugh… wha…"

"What happened?" he muttered as he touches his head feeling a bit of pain.

"Where… where am I?" he said as he slowly stood up.

His eyes roam around and found the place he is in a bit weird. It seems like he is in a place where only a dim gray light can be seen in the sky that colors everything even the ground on his feet.

The man suddenly saw the car he drove at that time. It was the car he was supposed to use to kill someone and turn it into an accidental hit and run case. But he did not expect to be in an accident where he seems to see and hit a person.

"Is this all a dream? d.a.m.n it… But the money that the man gave me is real. I need to get out of here and have a nice vacation somewhere far. Hehe…" he muttered as he walked towards the car.

The man carefully rummages through his stuff in the car but found nothing. The bag that contains the money he received from the man is already gone and he could not find it anywhere.

"Where is it!? d.a.m.n it! Did someone take my money?" he cursed as he began to throw things out.

"Are you looking for this?" a voice coming from behind him made the man staggered.

Then he immediately turns around and puts his hand inside his pocket. But found that the folding knife he always carries was not inside his pocket.

"Oh, you might also be looking for this?" the voice added.

The man turns his gaze towards the shadow and saw a belt bag and a folding knife in the person's hands. A glint of anger and killing intent filled the man's heart as he suddenly runs and a.s.saulted the figure.

But before he can reach the man, he found his body slowly becoming heavier in every step he took.

"You're running a little slow… run faster!" the figure taunted.

The man pushes forth his effort and tried his best until he fell to the ground trying to catch his breath. Although he used all of his strength, it seems that he is unable to go near the figure. There was a moment when he thought he is only inches away from reaching the guy, but then it was still futile.

"Please… I beg you. Give me back my money… I mean my bag. You can have that knife if you want to. I just want to leave here and not bother with you anymore." The man said.

"Hehe… Do you think it's that easy? Tell me, who sent you to stage the accident?" the figure said.

The man's expression turned ashen but then he recovers and said with a confused expression.

"What do you mean stage? Nothing like that happened… right?"

"I mean, I was just driving my car and saw nothing on the road…" he added.

"I guess you won't say the truth until you experience something."

After the figure said those words, the man's eyes went wide in disbelief followed by a loud cry.

Aaaahhh!!! Noooo!!!

…

s.h.i.+n Jiao recorded the confession from the man as he confessed of receiving money from someone and his target for the accident is the woman named Marie Eleanor. He didn't know who the man is, and he didn't care. As someone who has committed the same crime before he is very proficient with his trade.

The cops then identified the man as a hitman for hire and are wanted in many cities in the province. The man has injured or even killed many before, doing the same thing and has always dodged the eyes of the authority. However, it was his unlucky day as he was caught.

The man was sentenced to prison for attempted murder and multiple counts of homicide. From what s.h.i.+n Jiao knew, the man would be receiving a life sentence without bail.

But his main concern is the person working in the shadow. However, he could not do anything about it for now.

After that day, Marie Eleanor became close to the three along with her secretary, Mowen Li.

Although she is not showing any sign of interest towards s.h.i.+n Jiao, Susan Tang and s.h.i.+ Anne Li can feel that the woman is acting differently. She is close to the two and also to s.h.i.+n Jiao. But they could not put any finger on it as they only have their intuition on the matter.

But of course, the two as a woman have sharp intuition hence they didn't let their guards down.

A week later…

8 pm, NXT Element Company building

s.h.i.+n Jiao has just finished a whole day of operation, crafting a lot of things, and experimenting. These are the things that gave him joy other than spending his night with the two women at home. He already felt that his life is fulfilled and would not ask for more.

As he walks out of the elevator, a beautiful face greeted him.

"Hey, you're out late already," Marie said beaming with smiles.

s.h.i.+n Jiao could not deny that Marie is a very attractive woman, her slim yet curvy figure and beautiful mixed race feature can make any normal man fall for her. However, s.h.i.+n Jiao is not a normal man. When it comes to the beauty he already has two of the most beautiful woman he has seen in his life, so the charms of Marie has no effect on him.

"Yes, you're not going home yet?" s.h.i.+n Jiao asked.

"Umm… I… I was waiting for you."

"For me? Why?" s.h.i.+n Jiao asked as if he didn't know anything.

Hearing his question, Marie was suddenly stumped as she didn't know what to say. Her blunt personality would almost always change since that day in Susan Tang's room.

The two just walked out of the building. s.h.i.+n Jiao didn't have to wait for Susan and s.h.i.+ Anne as they already went home earlier. The two wanted to cook something for dinner as they would be expecting a guest today.

When s.h.i.+n Jiao and Marie are already outside of the building, s.h.i.+n Jiao saw someone he immediately recognizes.

"Haha… You've arrived, and you didn't tell me." s.h.i.+n Jiao said while walking towards a very handsome young man with his arms wide open.

When Marie saw the young man, she was a bit flabbergasted.

Park Jiyong walked out of the cab along with his luggage. As soon as he got off, he accidentally saw s.h.i.+n Jiao's figure. He didn't expect the coincidence where he would see s.h.i.+n Jiao. In fact, Park Jiyong wanted to surprise s.h.i.+n Jiao for his visit, because his mother and father learned how close he became to the higher-ups of the NXT Element Company.

They were ecstatic at this news. Many businesses have tried to worm their way into NXT Element Company, which might hold the future, but to no avail. Even using force and show of strength is not possible. Plus their marketing team suddenly became dominant that those who tried to imitate and destroy the image of the company by making fake products were defeated.

Hence being close to these people is the best thing for Park Jiyong according to his parents.

However, Park Jiyong's goal is not the technology nor the company, but to have cooperation through implementing his own idea on software design and games.

As the two men hug each other, Marie slowly tiptoed trying to get away from the scene. But s.h.i.+n Jiao has already noticed that something is wrong with the woman.

"Hey, Marie, come here!" s.h.i.+n Jiao called out to the woman who already turned her back.

"Umm… I think I left something, I have to run first." She said as she suddenly bolted inside the company.

s.h.i.+n Jiao and Park Jiyong were stunned at her comical action. s.h.i.+n Jiao is already laughing inside his heart as the woman seems to be avoiding this friend of his, Park Jiyong.

"I wonder what their history is." s.h.i.+n Jiao thought.

Park Jiyong on the other hand squinted his eyes upon seeing the familiar-looking woman. Although he didn't saw her face, her figure looks familiar to him.

The two shook it off and walked towards the parking lot. They took a ride at s.h.i.+n Jiao's car and drove towards s.h.i.+n Jiao's house where Susan Tang and s.h.i.+ Anne Li have already prepared dinner.

Meanwhile, Marie is looking at the two men riding a car at the parking lot of the company.

"Why does s.h.i.+n Jiao knew that guy? Are they friends? No, that's impossible… Wait a minute… Does the Park family business group have an interest in entering this kind of business?"

"No, it can't be… Uncle Han is not that kind of guy. Out of all the old businessmen out there he is one of the people I respected the most… Hmm… Wait a minute, don't tell me? This is becoming chaotic… that guy is a hidden danger for me… I can't let him stay with s.h.i.+n Jiao and the two." She muttered while biting her lips in worry.