The Republic of Suman had been established for less than sixty years.
Before that, this fertile island nation in the Southern Hemisphere had endured nearly three centuries of colonial rule under Spain and France.
Over those three hundred years, the archipelago’s indigenous people and Chinese migrants who had traveled south to the region mingled with European settlers. Intermarriage between prominent families became commonplace, resulting in a complex ancestral mix among the Suman people who occupied the upper echelons of society.
Although most of these elite families adopted Chinese or indigenous surnames after independence to signal a break from their colonial past, their physical features—at least among the young people at this party—betrayed varying degrees of European ancestry.
They possessed sharp, defined facial features and tall, imposing physiques. Some, like Tao Wei, retained the bronzed skin and rugged features of the indigenous people; others, like Pei Jiangchen, inherited the pale complexions and deep-set eyes of their European forebears.
The youth known as Shuyu, however, possessed distinctly East Asian features.
He had a slender, well-proportioned—perhaps even frail—build, somewhat pale skin, dark brown hair and eyes, and a face that was regular but unremarkable.
He carried the quiet, reserved air typical of the Chinese diaspora, allowing him to blend effortlessly into the ranks of the servants. Had Pei Jiangchen not singled him out, no one would have paid him any mind.
Under the gaze of the crowd, the youth walked calmly to Pei Jiangchen’s side and spoke in a low voice: “Young Master.”
“Go ahead,” Pei Jiangchen said, requiring no further instructions. “Don’t embarrass me.”
Wen Shuyu gave a slight bow, signaled the Pei family’s steward, and began his preparations in an orderly, methodical fashion.
“So, is he the guy the old man sent to make it up to you?” Lian Yi asked in a low voice.
Pei Jiangchen gave a grunt of assent.
“What are his skills?”
Pei Jiangchen’s dark, well-defined brows arched slightly, conveying a hint of disdain.
“He cooks a decent meal, I suppose.”
“A cook?” Lian Yi asked in surprise.
“Hardly,” Pei Jiangchen scoffed. “He was the valedictorian at Yinghua Academy and got a direct recommendation to the Capital Naval and Land Academy—he’s actually my senior.”
“An honor student? That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?” Lian Yi said, sounding a bit envious.
“Do you know what he majored in?” Pei Jiangchen turned his clear, striking eyes toward him. “Human Resource Management!”
Lian Yi burst out laughing, his body swaying as he leaned against Pei Jiangchen’s shoulder.
The Lian family’s ancestors had engaged in extensive joint ventures with Spanish colonists, endowing their descendants with naturally handsome, alluring features. Even when Lian Yi wasn’t trying, his eyes held a captivating charm; when he laughed, that charm overflowed like a river in spring flood.
“Not bad at all. At least he looks capable of getting things done.” Lian Yi gazed at Wen Shuyu’s slender figure in the distance. “You’re never short of people around you, but you do lack someone to handle all the miscellaneous tasks. The old man really does dote on you the most—he’s thought of everything.”
Just then, Wen Shuyu walked over, carrying the guns he had selected.
Resting on the velvet lining of the case were two Walther PPKs. [1]The Walther PP (German: Polizeipistole — lit. “police pistol”) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3352180_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3352180_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });
Pei Jiangchen smiled the moment he saw them.
The Walther P-series is a classic among compact pistols and a standard-issue weapon for secret agents. Its exceptional portability made it Pei Jiangchen’s preferred choice for a personal self-defense sidearm.
Moreover, it features a simple design that makes it easy to disassemble and reassemble.
Even more notably, the PPK model is smaller and more refined than the PP, making it a favorite among women.
Tao Wei sneered, “What? Has the Pei family run out of stock? You’re bringing out toys meant for women?”
“Think it’s too hard?” Pei Jiangchen raised an eyebrow. “Then go pick a bigger one. How about the M9 [2]The Beretta M9, officially the Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is the designation for the Beretta 92FS semi-automatic pistol used by the United States Armed Forces. The M9 was adopted by the United … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3352180_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3352180_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });? Can you handle that?”
“I’ll take this one!” Tao Wei, unable to resist the provocation, retorted, “There isn’t a gun out there I can’t handle!”
Pei Jiangchen smiled and gave a slight nod of his chin.
Wen Shuyu handed the gun to one of Tao Wei’s henchmen for inspection, then walked around the pool to a decorative garden wall on the opposite side.
The young man stood against the wall, placed a green apple atop his head, and then remained perfectly still.
Being used as a human target didn’t cause him the slightest panic; instead, his composure revealed an absolute trust in his master.
Lian Yi felt his brow twitch involuntarily.
References[+]