Tian Ai slowly blinked her eyes open. An unfamiliar warmth surrounded her. Through dazed eyes, she glanced around. Warm water lapped softly on her body. 'ah...I'm still in that bath. Guess I slept here,'
She closed her eyes once again, but a small sound of argument woke her up fully.
"Did you leave your bodyguard outside?! With the racket they created this morning, many of those undead crawl up here. Fuck!"
"I don't understand... they were only guarding the door. How.. why..."
"From the moment you came here, all you ever do is create problems. Please leave."
"Xiao Yue. I only came here to apologise and to warn you. I—I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I didn't mean for my bodyguards to get hurt. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.."
Tian Ai moved closer to the door. 'Murong Shao..... Why is he apologising to that imposter? Weren't they planning something together?'
"I don't need your apology, please. Just leave us alone. The day m mother left the family house was the day our relationship was severed. Let me and Tian be in peace,"
Her brows scrunched up. Her heart started to pound a little faster. 'They... must be lying. Must be'
'But is it true? Is Yue not involved with that family?'
Tian Ai really didn't want to be hurt again by trusting them too soon. Steeling her heart she coldly clenched her fist. 'even so, I need to know,'
She opened the door slightly and looked out.
Murong Shao looked very apologetic as he stood in front of Yue.
"Please leave us alone. I don't need your apology and I don't need your warning,"
Shao handed him few papers. "I found this at my grandfather's desk. I.. I will be leaving now," he bowed to him and walked to the door.
"Wait," Yue went and handed him a knife. "Aim for the head. Don't get scratched or bit, its death sentence,"
Murong Shao awkwardly took the blood-stained knife. "I am exhilarated by your care, cousin,"
"okay that's enough. Get out of here and take your cronies with you. Go to another room or something and wait for them to clear out," Zou Yue said with a frowning face.
Tian Ai was very confused.
After Yue closed the door, she walked out.
"why did you give him your knife?"
Yue stumbled back startled. "You... oh my god.." he ran to her with his arms stretched but somehow he did not hug her. Rather he knelt down and checked her shin.
His trembling hands slowly pealed back the bandage. The soft cotton was soaked in a weird black liquid. The veins had changed back to their original colour. 'The virus is being pushed out by the body.'
He held her hand, happily smiling. "Thank god... I thought I would lose you too..."
Tian did not push him away this time. "Why did you give him the knife? Don't you hate that family?"
Yue chuckled. "I do. I do hate them, but that doesn't mean that I want to kill everyone in it. Only that Murong yang has sinned. Not his wife, not his grandson. Even so, I don't want to get involved with him. That's why I chased him away,"
Tian nodded. Still, she was not sure what that means.
She peered at their united hands. 'Are you really my brother... why didn't you come find me before. Why... why did you leave me to struggle here for so long?'
She let go of his hand. "Nothing. I... I want to leave too,"
Yue smiled and nodded. "Yes, let's go after changing."
Zou Yue swiftly pulled off his white t-shit and pants. He changed into a brown frilly top and a wide legged jean.
Tian silently watched his broad back. Even though this guy was slender, his shoulders were very broad and strong. That body was toned definitely from a workout. "Where did they train you? A*merica? A*fgan?"
Zou Yue strapped on his bag with a confused look. "um, japan?"
"Japan? I never knew about the hired guns there," she mumbled, changing her clothes.
Zou Yue swiftly turned his back to her. "What do you mean hired guns?"
Tian Ai just gave him a look. "The literal meaning.."
"Like the ones who kill for commission?" his heart started to pound loudly as he peered into her eyes for answers.
Only a cold honey coloured eyes peered back. "Yes."
"Tian.... were you a mercenary.." Yue tried to hold her hands, but she just moved away from him.
"Stop prodding."
"No, I need to know...are you one? From when?"
Tian Ai finally looked at him with a stern glare. "What if I say I am?" she stood up, pulled out the papers that Zou Yue threw into the trash and handed it to him with her brows raised.
With a confused heart, Yue read through the papers Shao gave him.
Only a few words he could comprehend in his dazed state. 'Assassination attempt... target Zou Yue....target assigned to... Tian Ai.'
"You underrated now?" she moved closer and gently gripped his neck. "I'm here to kill you, not to coddle you."
Zou Yue looked up at her in shock. "Is that why... is that why you have my photo?"
She just raised a brow at his obvious question. "For a smart person, you sure do sound dumb most of the times,"
Yue suddenly hugged her.
"w-what do you think you are doing?" she pushed him away, but he had a gentle yet firm grip.
"I'm so sorry.. I'm so sorry that you had to suffer so much in your life. I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner," he sobbed loudly.
His heart ached so much just thinking about the amount of hardship a little girl like her must have suffered.
'She... she must have been so lonely and scared. Just as I was....'
Tian Ai gripped his neck tightly. "Let go!" she growled.
Zou Yue shook his head. "Not until I can warm your cold heart..." he looked up at her. "I'm sorry that you grew up in such a harsh environment. I'm sorry that the family you sought out disappointed you,"
"I don't wish to be like that. Even through thick or thin, I, your family with be with you. I will not disappoint you Tian Ai...."