Chapter 244 - Under the Ocean Wave
Linfeng did not speak for a while, so Xiong Zhi continued on with her story.
"I guess you saw the news. I had a small fun with Wuyue. Who knew she would love to swim at that time. Don't worry, I won against her, and I also managed to get some trophy," Xiong Zhi declared with schadenfreude. She was clearly having fun.
Linfeng finally recovered from shock. He threw his anxious thoughts to the back of his mind. The trophy that Xiong Zhi mentioned was probably the meme picture of the month. She really PK'ed Xiong Wuyue this time.
However, Linfeng knew that this matter would not die down easily. Xiong De would surely not let it pass, considering that the debut that the father and daughter pair had been waiting for was ruined like that.
"I won't ask you why you did that, but be careful. I am afraid you've touched the inverse scale of Xiong De. Your third uncle have a great network. He knew some people with the underworld, too. Make sure you have the guards and butlers with you all the time," he instructed her. He also took note that he needed to inform his father to tighten his Young Miss's security.
"Don't worry. I am prepared. The sooner they attack me, the better it is. I have already expected that, Linfeng," Xiong Zhi said determinedly. She had been tricked by this father and daughter pair before. She would not be tricked again this time.
She knew what was coming in her way, she had prepared to face it and reveal it to the world. Now, she was protected by her grandfather, by the Xiong Empire, by IHZHI, and by Linfeng, too. She was not afraid.
Linfeng could hear Xiong Zhi's stubbornness. So, this little play she had done was only the start. She had more plans for later. He felt that Xiong Zhi really took a lot of effort in destroying Xiong Wuyue.
But why? It was not just a simple fight between ladies. Yet even as he was curious, he could not ask. He wanted to wait until Xiong Zhi was ready to tell him.
Linfeng sighed. He did not want Xiong Zhi to face it alone, yet the girl also did not want to worry him.
So he cheered up and decided to put his trust on Xiong Zhi.
"Alright. Just be careful. Remember, I am always at your back," Linfeng promised. Although he was busy now preparing for some things, he would prioritize his Young Miss once she needed him.
"Thank you. Same to you, if you want to meet me, just call me. I will go to you wherever you are."
Her man must be very busy, so she would not push to meet him although she really wanted to.
Xiong Zhi's suggestion was very tempting. Suddenly, he remembered that he was asked to go to the Xiong Mansion next week.
"Ah right. I will go to the Xiong Mansion next week. I will visit you again in the East Wing."
The girl's eyes lit up. She could see him next week! She was elated. She was so excited that she forgot to ask why he needed to go to the Xiong Mansion in such busy days.
"Alright. I will wait for you then," she happily said.
Afterwards, they both fell silent again.
Linfeng's mind ran quickly, looking for another topic they could talk about. He was not ready to end the call yet.
Xiong Zhi, too, wanted to speak more, so she organized her thoughts first. This resulted to another bout of silence between them.
When Xiong Zhi was about to ask if he would come on the last trip for the seniors, Linfeng suddenly spoke.
"I've heard music earlier. What are you listening in?" Linfeng wanted to add it in his playlist. When he did his paperwork, he would let it play in the background. This would remind him of his Young Miss, his greatest encouragement in his endeavor.
Also, listening to the same music as Xiong Zhi's, it felt like the two were together in one place.
Linfeng had such thoughts.
"Oh, that? It came from the music lamp that was gifted to me. Those pieces are all unfamiliar. I think Yin Ze had them especially made."
Linfeng: "..."
His dream of listening to the same music with his Young Miss in such a cold and lonely night was shattered.
'Yin Ze?'
When did the 'Lu Yin Ze' become 'Yin Ze'?
His smiling countenance froze in place. His dark lashes lowered.
The angelic figure of a silver-haired boy resurfaced in his mind. Those solemn, silver blue eyes felt more dangerous to him than those playful blue eyes of William.
That boy always followed his Young Miss around and managed to get close to her. With his angelic appearance, anyone would really let down their guard.
And now this boy gave something this... 'intimate' to Xiong Zhi. A music lamp. It also appeared that his Young Miss played it every night before going to sleep.
Who knew if the person who gifted it had such impure thoughts towards the Young Miss like him?
[E/N: ...when did gifting a music lamp become intimate and impure? ML thinks too much]
Linfeng opened his mouth.
"Young Miss, have you heard me play the guzheng before?"
Xiong Zhi was confused why Linfeng suddenly returned to addressing her as 'Young Miss'. But sensing that his tone was a bit serious, she did not mention it and replied almost reflexively to him.
"Yes. No. No, I haven't." She almost slipped.
In the past life, she always listened to him play the guzheng every night, after she accidentally heard him play the instrument. Listening to him play the ancient piano made her feel refreshed, calm and peaceful. All troubles would leave her mind and her eyes would only focus on him, the dashing man sitting upright on the floor, running his fingers on the strings of the guzheng.
The man would only play it willingly for her alone.
Xiong Zhi smiled. Those belonged to the few beautiful memories she never wanted to forget in her past life.
"I want to hear you play it, if we got the chance," Xiong Zhi added.
Her dazed voice, softened to a waxy tone at this moment, made Linfeng's throat tighten. It was unlike the cool and flat tone she usually used. It was soft, low, and pricking at his heart, making his heart race once more.
It was as if she was here beside him, whispering directly to his ear.
Linfeng swallowed. For a moment, Xiong Zhi's voice was really s.e.xy.
"A-alright. I will record it and send it to you. So, you can listen to it every night, alright, Zhi'er?" he finally whispered.
He wanted her to listen to his music instead, so that she would only think of him every night. He would play a lullaby to lull her to sleep.
He wanted her to think of him, even to her dreams.
"Okay. I will wait for it." Xiong Zhi's eyes sparkled. Her smile widened, her pearly teeth showing in a happy grin.
She held down her laughter as she was too happy.
Then, her eyes caught the book she was reading earlier.
She wanted to ask him about the trip earlier. But, since she did not want to ruin the moment, she decided that she would ask him in person next week instead.
Right. They would meet next week. Just thinking about it made her truly excited.
*******
In the same night at the Lu Mansion.
A soft, soothing melody was playing in a spacious bedroom. The blue lights illuminated the room, giving one the illusion that the whole room was engulfed with sea waves in shapes of roses. It was truly a magnificent sight.
However, the boy in the corner of the room was not in a mood to appreciate the moment. His silver hair was disheveled and his silver-blue eyes reflecting the ocean waves were watery with unshed tears.
He had been crying. He dreamt of that night again.
This time, he had seen his mother's face reaching out to him and asking for help. Yet he could not help her. He could not scream nor call her name. He could not move his legs, as if they were made of lead. He could not wipe those abhorring blood stains.
He had seen his father's frightening eyes, and his brother's cold stare.
His nightmares came back.
Lu Yin Ze trembled. It had been long time since he felt it.
But this time, although he could not help but cry, he was not as overwhelmed as before.
He felt as if his mother was urging him to move fast. His mother was telling him to visit the old house.
After a while.
Lu Yin Ze remotely turned up the volume of the music lamp. It had the same design as the gift he had given to Xiong Zhi. There were only two of this in the whole world.
He listened to the soft music and stared at the ocean waves, and then he shifted his eyes to the slowly revolving blue rose.
Seeing the rose, he was reminded of the person standing in the dark, with the starry night behind her. He remembered her face which was illuminated by the faint blue lights reflected from the blue roses. Her dark orbs, peaceful and calm.
The memory made Lu Yin Ze's trembling slowly vanish. His palpitating heart slowed to a calm rhythm. The nightmarish images were slowly replaced by a beautiful, serene face.
Lu Yin Ze exhaled.
He could hear her cool voice again. It still did not have any ups and downs, but her words carried the cure he was looking for.
[You are strong, Lu Yin Ze.]
"I am strong," Lu Yin Ze repeated those words out loud.
He needed to go to the old house as soon as possible.
It was as if his legs were given the strength to stand up again.
Lu Yin Ze climbed up on the bed, lying flat over it, looking up ahead.
The ocean blue waves shifting in his room made him feel like he was under the sea, floating amidst the azure shadows underwater.
And his only life-saving boat was her, drifting calmly above him.
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