"You're lying," Xue Ning said, shaking her head in disbelief. "There's no way… Impossible. I know blood loss makes you woozy, but you shouldn't be lying!"
"Madame, the blood loss happened after we saw your father stand over us with a bloody knife in his hand, not before." Zhong Qing pointed out. "I'm not a master at getting stabbed, but even I know he's a professional! He looked like a wuxia pugilist!"
"You're not a knife holder or from a wuxia world, how would you know the difference?" Xue Ning retorted, quickly tying one last knot to ensure the bandage held. Her hands were steady, even as her mind whirled in confusion.
If her father had skills like these, why would he be content with being an owner of a small noodle restaurant in the middle of nowhere, one that had to give face and care about the opinions of all these small-minded folk?
Even if he were to live in some remote corner of the world, he should have been living like a king! Or at least, a very rich man.
Xue Ning wouldn't have seen her parents' heads bowed over the kitchen table, a dim light flickering above their heads as they murmured to each other, trying to budget restaurant overheads and her enrichment lessons.
She wasn't supposed to be awake to see that, but she had, and the memory had stuck with her. She remembered creeping back into her room, nausea building at the pit of her stomach as her guilt swept over her young mind. She wondered why her family was so unfortunate enough to be born poor.
The next day, her parents gave no sign that anything was wrong. They simply smiled at her and agreed to bring her to her martial arts classes! Xue Ning could only nod and stuff her face with rice, because if she didn't, she would cry and her parents would know she knew.
She also remembered her father bowing repeatedly to the instructor, pleading him to accept Xue Ning as a student, because she was diligent and hardworking, and would never give him any trouble!
There was no way he could be some skilled hitman! If he was, why would he bow his head so often? He wouldn't need to look for an instructor, he could just teach her himself!
"Perhaps," Zhong Qing grumbled, not wanting to die on this hill. Who knew if this daughter had inherited his knife skills or his murderous aura, or had some latent ability of her own? He read all those novels and watched a lot of dramas, he wasn't going to risk his life for this! "But if you're fixing us up, can you also go to the restaurant to check on my colleagues?"
"Fine, but this better not be a trap." Xue Ning grumbled.
"We can get some rope to tie these two up first, then I'll go with you!" Jingwei offered. Xue Ning thought it over, that was a pretty good idea, even as the two men looked less than pleased.
Within minutes, there were now three bundled humans lying on their front lawn like tasty spring rolls.
"Now stay here and be good, Xue Ning and I are off to the restaurant! Goodbye!" Jingwei said cheerfully. Xue Ning had grabbed a replenished bag of medical supplies and a flashlight, ready to march off, but Jingwei eagerly took it from her and held her hand instead.
"Stay here, he says. Not like we can do anything else!" Zhong Qing lamented as he stared up at the moon.
"At least we aren't dying." Luo Lan added. "And we can breathe from our nose."
As one, they turned their heads to look sympathetically at poor Wei Yan who was gasping through his mouth. Yep. No matter how pathetic they were, at least they weren't him!
======
As Jingwei and Xue Ning made their way to the restaurant, Jingwei whistled happily, swinging their clasped hands as though they were on a field trip. Xue Ning indulged him, because she liked seeing him happy.
At least one of them was happy.
Jingwei noticed that Xue Ning's mood was dampening, but he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason. Hence he had to ask.
"Xue Ning, why the long face? Is it because we're leaving this town soon?" Jingwei asked. Xue Ning only looked at him and sighed.
"I just… do you get the feeling that my parents are hiding something from me?"
"Yes… but then, which parent doesn't?" Jingwei shrugged easily. "I know my Dad is certainly keeping secrets from me. Mom too, when she was alive."
"And you're okay with it?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "They're lying to you!"
"Everyone lies to me though." Jingwei said. Xue Ning frowned, and he hastily amended. "Well, except you. But from what I see, your Mom and Dad love you a lot. If they lied to you, they must have a good reason."
Xue Ning paused her footsteps.
"What?"
"Nothing. That's… really mature of you." Xue Ning said, her face colouring at the realisation. Jingwei was right, there had to be a good reason! Besides, how could she trust the words of some random kidnapper over her parents!
Maybe her Dad used to be a stuntman, and he didn't let her know because she would want to be a stuntwoman. That made sense.
"Always the tone of surprise," Jingwei said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "To think I am held in such low esteem, my heart aches with the -"
"Shut it, or more parts will be aching," Xue Ning warned, lifting their joined hands higher. It looked like a fist.
"Yes Madam." Jingwei said agreeably. The mood was now lifted, and Xue Ning's footsteps sounded a lot lighter than before!
Then the both of them stumbled onto a dark figure lying on the floor. Xue Ning and Jingwei both raised a protective arm in front of each other, before they realised how ridiculous they were acting. The poor figure wasn't moving at all!
Xue Ning quickly used the flashlight, and immediately wished she hadn't. All the earlier light-hearted joy from earlier drained from her face as she took in the gory scene.
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