Act 18

(UNEDITED)

The chapter's been completely wiped a couple of times when it was almost all finished. :"(

So I apologize for the long update delay:"

Thank you for your understanding

***

Inside an eerily empty office-themed room, where not a single cacophony could be heard, a tall and lean man decked in black could be seen, standing still in place as if he wasn't a living entity.

With his two hands buried in his pockets, a loud sigh could be heard coming from him, whilst mutters followed and danced to it.

He tilted him away from the white walls he previously saw, directing an empty gaze to the window, embellished by the setting sun he saw above.

With dark eyes reflecting the vermillion, a solemn expression could be seen from emanating from them.

His trance lasted for mere minutes before his soul returned to him, awakening him from his previous stupor as a loud sigh was exhaled yet again.

The man grimaced on what he had experienced, pondering the reason why she had to remain violent every time they met. Though he knew very well the reason for her resentment, he didn't know enough of her current temperament.

With an ashen complexion, numerous thoughts riddled him, as he felt that it was nearly impossible to change her mind. He wanted to rid of his previous stained image, changing it to one where she wouldn't feel disdain whenever she laid eyes upon it.

Yet, three years of effort only amounted to this. All that proof of affection only grew to worsen his current position.

He followed her around to simply show his infatuation. He helped her in a lot of undisclosed ways to show his care for her. He supervised her to show his worry and concern for her well-being.

But look at what all that struggle resulted in.

Yue XiFeng simply found him even more distasteful, not barricading him completely, all due to the fact that he was an important shield. The sturdiest one of them all, one that was coupled with weapons alongside benefits on the steel that forged it. And also one who placed itself to her in a silver platter.

He knew very well of that crude perception of hers, yet he was lenient enough to turn a blind eye to it, all to receive the benefit of the doubt.

However, she was leaving the school, which would make it harder for him to track her whereabouts as some had fallen due to her realization of them.

*Not killed

Fear and anxiety blossomed in the roots of his heart, causing his restlessness to overwhelm him.

'She is leaving.'

He heard the news from countless sources as he pondered about it.

If he didn't do anything now, she would vanish from his sight completely. Only to reappear again as a fully grown Phoenix, with someone else by her side.

The notion caused a painful throb to pulse from his chest, leaving him to grip it tightly with a hand.

A dark and empty laugh came out from his thin lips, his nose crinkled as it winced.

'Desperate times call for desperate measures.'

His hand that was deep in his pockets appeared insight to reveal what seemed to be a black smartphone.

A sneer was released as he dialed a number he was seemingly familiar with on it.

Soon after, the phone beeped, revealing the pleasantly lovely voice of a woman, who worriedly asked the man who was in a sorry state.

"Li Qiang, are you alright?"

The woman in the phone asked with a worried tone of voice, further enhancing the sweetness in it.

Her distress wasn't quelled as the man remained silent, pondering over a decision that could possibly lay weight upon his current life.

He avoided doing this as he previously wished for sincerity above everything, for the things she did to him, the things they did to each other to be genuine, for that person to paint a new him in her heart and soul.

Yet, at this point, he even wondered if it were possible for her impression for him to raise, even by a single percent.

So what was the idea he came up with to possibly increase her affection to him?

To get her into an actual engagement of course, as he knew that she would not show up tomorrow.

And so, he decided to earn the sympathy of her friend as a bait to lure her to meet him. But he needed the documents to be quickly made to fabricate the 'believable' story he was going to tell her friend.

Though it was strange, he only knew of Lian Ji when one of his subordinates pointed her out. Though the girl rarely appeared in front of him, just one photograph was enough to tell that Yue XiFeng cared about her 100000x more than him.

And he didn't like that one bit.

"Send me all the files regarding the investigation of Lian Ji. And sign the necessary documents for marriage."

"What?"

"Do as I say. My future wife is waiting for me tomorrow."

****

"Atchoo!"