“Xiaokai,” Zhang Weiran said quietly, but Liu Xiaokai just brushed the hand off that was grasping at his arm.

“Most of my expertise is in the sex work part of the List. I have some knowledge of the other sectors, but the people who had the real expertise in those areas are dead now.”

“You mean Liu Baiyan and Bai Xue,” Daichi said, and Liu Xiaokai nodded. “Liu Xingyu doesn’t know about these things?”

“He had training for it and understands the management aspects, but he is largely ignorant on details that he couldn’t learn from the files Liu Baiyan left him after his…unfortunate death. Still, if he has something to offer,” Liu Xiaokai added, and bent down to exchange his glass of still-untouched alcohol with a fry from the basket Daichi ordered, “I can talk to him to see what he’s willing to do. I’m sure he would be willing to offer some information in exchange for your help in finding Bai Xue.”

“Excellent. I’ll get you in contact with the man who’s going to be largely in charge of the remnants of the List. Temple Sharp. Are you familiar?”

“A little. To my understanding, Xingyu sold Liu Incorporated to him.”

It really was just like Temple to sneak in and snatch something up like that. “Good. He’s easy to get along with.” He stood, stretched out one hand, and this time Liu Xiaokai took it. They shook. “I look forward to working with you, Mr. Liu.”

There was a wonderful, sharp intelligence in Liu Xiaokai’s eyes that Khun knew could entertain him endlessly. He gave Khun a smile—this slow, beautiful, flirtatious smile—and said, “It’s a pleasure, Dr. Khun.”

REFERENCE

NAMES

• Bai Xue – 白雪 – bái xuě
• Chen Jun – 陈骏 – chén jùn
• Chen Rang’er – 陈让二 – chén ràng èr
• Ge Daoxian – 葛道仙 – gé dào xiān
• He Peilin – 何佩林 – hé pèi lín
• Hu Yongzhu – 胡永助 – hú yŏng zhù
• Huang Fei’er – 黄妃儿 – huáng fēi er
• Kang Haichi – 康海池 – kāng hăi chí
• Liu Baiyan – 刘百延 – liú băi yán
• Liu Xiaokai – 刘小凯 – liú xiăo kăi
• Liu Xingyu – 刘星宇 – liú xīng yŭ
• Ni Chaoshe – 倪超社 – ní chāo shè
• Sun Yue – 孙月 – sūn yuè
• Xu Runshen – 徐润身 – xú rùn shēn
• Zhang (Zhu) Weiran – 张(朱)伟然 – zhāng (zhū) wěi rán

TITLES AND NICKNAMES