Chapter 193 - FORTUITOUS MEETING
Hu Lei was feeling a little lightheaded and surreal. However, the sense of euphoria that washed over her kept her dancing without tiring. The high energy songs were also had an electric effect on her. The more she danced, the more energised she felt. Even the dancers felt like they could not keep up with this type of high stamina person.
In the club, more and more people were taking notice of this cute woman. She was laughing as she danced and turned around on the floor. It was like watching a little fairy frolicking in the forest. Even though her movements were not as tight and refined as the professionals, her spirit shone through.
Already, there were some men who were plotting in their minds. With her cute and obedient appearance coupled with her hot body, she definitely looked like she would be the perfect lover. For an unknown reason, no one assumed that she had a man.
When the high energy playlist powered down to slower songs, there were a few people who wanted to stand up and ask the pretty woman for a dance. The soft ballads required a partner for maximum effect. Furthermore, all the dancers were paired up.
In the shadows, a handsome man who was seated in an inconspicuous spot drinking alone stood up. His burning eyes did not waver from the woman who had already started leaving the dance floor. His steps were purposeful, and his heart was racing. He felt that this was definitely fate helping him.
However, his plans were meant to fail from the beginning.
When Hu Lei would have left the dance floor completely, the tall figure of Zhong Feng appeared in her line of sight almost out of nowhere. The man pulled her body into himself in a quick and possessive movement, plastering her body to his.
The man who had stepped out wanted to rush out and defend the beautiful angel who had captured his heart. His steps quickened in anger as he saw how she was mishandled. However, instead of becoming angry, the girl looked at that tall man with a sweet smile and even a sense of dependence. His steps paused.
In front of everyone, the cute woman pulled the tall and cold man back onto the dance floor. Those who did not know this man's identity felt regret that they had not approached the girl first. It could have been them with a curvaceous lady in their arms. Those who recognised him thanked their good fate that they had not taken an action that they would regret.
Qi Han, who had almost reached the dance floor, could only retreat. Over the angel's head, Zhong Feng looked with sharp and cold eyes at that dark area, as if he had seen everything. Qi Han recognised him. However, that did not stop his regret and anger.
"Ah-Feng, am I a great dancer or am I a great dancer?" Hu Lei giggled happily, looking at the immortal-like face.
The man placed his hands around her waist, pulling her even closer to himself. Her hands were around his neck, and there was not even a little space between them. They swayed to the music lazily. Though they were not dancing much, the image was truly beautiful.
"You are not that bad." Zhong Feng said grudgingly.
If he complimented her too much, wouldn't she begin dancing everywhere? Wouldn't he have to spend his life chasing away hovering insects? He had been jealous though he had held back his possessiveness when she had been dancing. He had finally come out because he could not stand the people plotting.
"You are too stingy. Obviously, I can be a goddess if I want." She pouted.
"You don't need to be a goddess. It is better if you are a little devil." He smiled a little.
The couple danced for a while before going back to the VIP lounge. Hu Lei did not keep drinking. She had already used too much energy, and the high was already descending at a fast rate. In the end, she leaned on Zhong Feng and closed her eyes while listening to Wang Che and Shun bicker.
Hu Lei did not per se fall asleep, but her mind drifted to a dream-like state. She found herself standing on the rooftop of a building. It was dark and cold. The sky was completely without stars but she could see everything clearly. For a moment, she was dazed.
Then, she discovered another person. This person was standing on the edge of the skyscraper, looking down. Her black clothes and hair made her almost blend in the dark night.
"Jane!" Hu Lei called out involuntarily.
The woman turned naturally, as if she was not standing on the jaws of death. She was completely like Hu Lei, except for her black clothes and black eyes.
"You know I don't like that name." she responded with a look of distaste.
"Why? You are an identity I made, and I gave you this name."
"Ha-ha-ha, is that what you think?" The woman jumped down from her perch.
"Of course, I made you up."
The woman walked closer to Hu Lei. Hu Lei realised that her eyes were black, and even the sclera was almost completely dark, with only a little white remaining in the edges.
"Even without covering the fact that I am you and you are me, I can tell you that I did not first come to be when we got in contact with the criminal world. I existed even before you can remember. Who do you think holds those memories that you have hidden in the recesses of your mind?"
"How do you think that you were able to survive a childhood like you had? How do you think that you are not burdened by the weight of all the things that you have done? And how would you survive the last three years of your life? Do you really think that you are that strong?"
"I have been holding everything. We are only alive and somewhat normal for now because I am holding the darkness which wants to swallow us up at bay. I know that you think that I am the darkness within you."
"But I have only existed to protect you. In any case, I did not call you for an argument about our identities. I wanted to tell you that I am reaching my limit."
Hu Lei felt a chill in her heart at these words. But more than the words, she could see the wistfulness and sadness in her other self's eyes.
"What do you mean?" Hu Lei asked with a solemn look.
"I am not the darkness in you. I am the only thing holding back the darkness. I have brought you here because I can feel that I cannot protect you for much longer. That is why every time that you are emotionally or physically weak, the memories that have been hidden by me keep leaking out to you."
"Once the darkness swallows me up completely, I am not sure about what is going to happen. But I know that everything that has been held back will flow into you. All the darkness will become yours."
"What will happen to you?" Hu Lei had never wanted this person in her to disappear. Even though it seemed like an evil part of her, she had always believed that they were one.
"Ha-ha, are you worried about me now?" the woman looked amused before becoming serious once again. "In the best case scenario, we will become integrated into one. In the worst, I will disappear completely."
"What will happen if you disappear?" Hu Le was curious about this worst case scenario.
"Your mind is too fragile without me. If everything I have held back is carried by you, I am afraid that you might not survive. That is why I told you before, we are not separate. If one of us dies, our body might be alive, but our mind will break."
"What can I do to stop it?" She asked this question because they might the same person, but it was a different part of her consciousness.
"I don't know. I thought that exerting my consciousness a little more and suppressing yours could help us become integrated. But it weakens our body too much. I have tried to come out when you are asleep. But that only happens if you are vulnerable. I have no other idea. That is why I used this chance when your mind is inebriated to talk to you."
Hu Lei wanted to speak a little more with her other self and come up with a solution. However, their honed natural defences kicked in when they felt a foreign presence and an intense gaze. The two projections of herself stiffened at this unwelcome sensation.
Hu Lei opened her eyes with the usual eerie suddenness. Though the yellow colour was still there, there seemed to be some darkness and ice as she looked at the intruder who had approached their spot. That gaze caused Qi Han to pause for a moment.
But how could he give up on the angel after this fortuitous meeting?