Letting go for her sake

Xinyuan smiled as he stepped on the accelerator with a smug look on his face. Qiao Ruo snapped her eyes closed as hard as she could, fearing that if she opened her eyes, the worst would have happened. With both hands, she held the sides of her car seat, continuing her prayers in silence. She didn't want to die, at least not yet. Yet, Xinyuan carefully calculated his next moves.

His hobby of racing also played a part in the impending success in losing the pursuers. Switching course to another unpopulated lane assisted him to reduce the number of cars that were trailing after him by half. Then he continued to make a skilful, pre-planned swerve down a foreign route, that was highly unanticipated by the enemy. Eventually, his victory reduced this number to nil.

When Qiao Ruo opened her eyes again, she was relieved to see that they were safely parked in a secluded spot away from the busy roads of the city.

"We have to go to my parents now, before more henchmen of Li Yao or Ye Nantian arrive," Xinyuan said, switching the gear of his vehicle to resume their road journey.

"How do you know who sent them?" Qiao Ruo asked.

"If you observed, the vehicles pursuing us had an emblem," Xinyuan informed Qiao Ruo. "Ye Nantian's surname is ye, meaning leaf, so his emblem was a green leaf, and Li Yao's emblem is a red flower."

"You must be exceptionally sharp to notice that," Qiao Ruo commented.

"The Xia family has enough spies around for us to have known this a long time ago," Xinyuan said, and a wave of silence fell over them as he donned his sunglasses, focusing on his driving.

Xinyuan's home in the city turned out to be as large as a castle. Qiao Ruo wondered if he lived there often, as the grass outside his abode appeared to be not regularly maintained. A pair of kirin statues flanked the red door of the castle-like residence, and parked in the garage were three posh-looking cars. Though she wasn't very up-to-date on the automobile industry, she knew enough to know those brands cost a lot.

"Brother Lun, do you normally live here?" she stepped out of the vehicle, stunned by the enchanting sight before her.

"We normally reside in City N," he explained. "But the Xia family needs to have a presence in City A, don't we?"

She shrugged, following him to the entrance. "Who takes care of the residence here when you are in City N? Wait, what do the Xia family do, exactly, other than hotels and laundry?"

"To answer you, the Xia has originated from a generation of 'not-so-nice' people, but we have changed for the better. Although I am adopted, however, I do regard the Xias as my genuine family. My adoptive grandfather left his illegal ways and went to become an honourable businessman. However, don't be surprised if you do run into some such people affiliated with the Xia family, sometimes such dealings are inevitable."

She pondered for a few moments, and he patted her on her shoulders, a gesture she perceived as an intimate action, but something Ya Lun would do from time to time when they were little.

"Brother Lun, what do you think about it? Is it safe having such people around?"

"Call me Xinyuan, or Yuan," he hushed. "In society these days, we have to protect each other. The Xia family will protect you well; after all, it's what we owe you."

"Owe?" she looked flabbergasted at his speech.

"You'll know after you speak to my adoptive parents," he explained. "It won't take long, I promise. My parents are people of few words."

She nodded, and watching Xinyuan key in a six-digit passcode on a panel on the red door, gathered her courage and followed him into the castle.

.......................

Meanwhile, in a strange room distinct from the room earlier, Cree rubbed his eyes and gained consciousness. The bed he was lying on was unfamiliar to him, and while the reinforced spring mattress was large and luxurious, he was uncomfortable.

He was aware that a masked man dressed from head to toe in black was also in the room, and recalled this person was no other than the masked man who had served him his food while he was in the cell.

"Who are you?" was all he could manage to push out. His entire body was feeling weak and exhausted, but he couldn't understand why. The last he recalled was having a meal before he had passed out.

The man strode over to him and lifted his mask. Beyond the mask, a cold pair of eyes met his gaze. It didn't take long for Cree to realise who the man was.

"Sensei?" he gulped. He immediately grabbed the man's hands. "Please, let me know what I can do! I have to get to Xiaoruo quickly!"

The man appeared melancholic, averting Cree's gaze. "I cannot do that, Young Master Ye."

All of a sudden, Cree suspected something was amiss. He was not only tired, but a particular pain was lingering in his joints. Sha Qing lost no time in feeding him a pill, and weakly Cree accepted it. As soon as the tablet had hit his bloodstream, he started to sense some energy pulsating through his abdomen, and was able to stand up. Sha Qing assisted him in taking a seat in a velvet chair in the room.

"What happened, Sensei?"

"The meal was poisoned," Sha Qing said, staring at him emotionlessly. "I would advise you not to fight against Madam, young man. She helped you become who you are, but she could easily break you with a snap of her fingers. There's a lot you don't know about her."

"I could return everything she has given me," he stuttered breathlessly. "So that I can be with her..."

"Ah Qi, it doesn't work that way. Madam is getting more and more unstoppable. She has been this way ever since she split with Ye Nantian."

"Surely you have a way out," Cree said. "Otherwise, how could you have brought me here?"

"I convinced Madam to allow me to take you here on the account that I could persuade you," Sha Qing said.

"I can't accept anyone other than Xiaoruo in my life," Cree said. "If we gang up on her together, perhaps we could prevail against her. I don't care about wealth and status, as long as I can be together with Xiaoruo."

"Ah Qi, I can't do this. I am loyal to Madam," Sha Qing said. "Even if I could, do you have any idea of how many people she has under her command? She has plenty of underground connections, so many that you could never imagine. What I am telling you to do is simple. Just pretend to go on dates with the rich lady, get engaged to her and clench the deal to save the companies, then break up with the lady."

"Is there no other choice?" Cree pleaded.

"She has her eyes on Qiao Ruo's whereabouts. Look, this is what my colleague in the H squad sent me today." He showed Cree a photograph of Qiao Ruo in Xinyuan's car, taken from above, probably by a drone. "She was lucky to have escaped, but Madam could destroy her next time. For her sake, you have to weigh the odds. If you play along with Madam's plans and gain her trust, you could ensure Miss Qiao's safety and at the same time, take charge of the companies to prevent Madam and Ye Nantian from getting what they want."

Cree slumped back in his chair with a deep sigh. He recounted each memory deep in his heart, thinking of his and Qiao Ruo's first kisses, each date they had encountered, and how he had asked her to be his girlfriend time and again. He remembered how he had promised her everything, and yet he was powerless to give her the happiness that she had wanted and deserved. She was so adorable and sweet in his memory. These feelings and memories of Xiaoruo etched in his heart would never fade or be forgotten.

He knew it was the feeling of first love, a love that he would always remember, but yet it possessed a chance of not ending up together. He would make the sacrifice for her so that she would remain to be safe. But while he did so, he hoped that this Sha Qing would be on his side and assist him in his plans.

Sha Qing patted his head. "Ah Qi, a type of love exists, known as letting go. If you let go of her for now, that is the greatest thing you could do for her. If you are fated, you will end up together."

"But you're my mother's man. Why are you helping me?"

Sha Qing couldn't bring himself to answer Cree's question yet. In the future, he would get to know the truth.

"Persevere for her, Cree. I've been there and done that."

"You love my mother, don't you, Sensei?" Cree finally asked.

But in her heart, she would always love Ye Nantian, Sha Qing thought. But that was not the reason. The reason was a secret, and it wasn't time for Cree to know yet.