QT: Against My Will

252 4.74 – All Eyes On Her – Dangerous Angels

“For eternity?” Ru Quan answered as he showed Bing Shi his infamous sly smile, “Bing Shi, you’ll have to learn how to look through ones acting better. Do not mistake me with someone else.”

Bing Shi turned away from the master manipulator, who could now switch his personalities at will. Kicking his hands away, she finished all the bananas on the table. Sniffing in a snot, she refused the traces of apology he drew on her ankle. Of course he wouldn’t acknowledge himself as Xuan Mu when those two personalities gave him an excuse to behave however he wanted without any restraints!

?Since when did you take control??

?Mr. Jelly:?Since the carriage sex we had two years ago. Happy? Bing Shi, we don’t know what will happen in the next world. Do not lower your guard, not even around my soul. No touching until I regain some of my memories, promise?

She knew that he was training her for the upcoming worlds, for her own good so she wouldn’t make a rash decision, but her current emotions were a jumbling piece of mess. Feeling all eyes on her, she held it in. She couldn’t stay unreasonable for long, she understood why he did that, but she couldn’t help but show a bit of irritation.

?Fine, but next time you have to look for me while I wait for you. Being world-famous is exhausting.?

?Mr. Jelly:? Nooooo. Bing Shi, courting you is a mission impossible.

When the Emperor and the Empress appeared, the competition between the young ladies finally commenced. Bing Shi watched enthusiastically how Mao An face slapped everyone with her poems and painting skills. Not speaking about that erhu performance that could make everyone present tear up. Four years was enough time for Mao An to pick up the four arts. Bing Shi, too, was so immersed in the music that she forgot the sulking miasma next to her.

?Still carrying enmity with every musician I like??

.....

?Mr. Jelly:? Just a little bit. Tiny bit. Bing Shi, sweetie, you can’t be angry at your patron for too long. You don’t want others to notice, do you?

Xuan Mu continued to rub her ankle with his thumb, trying to appease her anger, thinking how his soul had to mess up with one’s body genes, because not only Ru Quan was bad with instruments in the past, he too, was terrible at them just like Ziek. Hilarious as it sounded, this genius was tone-deaf. He didn’t have the ability to play an instrument to its full potential; he hated learning it as well.

When the little him was about to reveal the truth, the little Bing Shi threw a bomb at him that if she were to marry one day, it had to be a musician! Though she had a perfect pitch, she found learning instruments boring and preferred to listen to others instead.

To make himself feel better, Xuan Mu invested millions of dollars on a Stradivarius violin and paid a world renovated violinist to play at a stage for Bing Shi, whose ears were sensitive beyond comprehension. See? Not even a world renovated musician could afford the best instrument. It was the first and last time he did such a stupid thing as he felt like wrecking the expensive violin against the old violinist’s head. That old geezer dared to steal his Bing Shi away with his music!

Xuan Mu felt her little hand twirling themselves around his palm, interlocking their fingers together, she clutched his hand tightly.

The people around stared wide-eyed how that madman suddenly dropped his head on the table and started to pump his forehead against it, then at the exotic beauty who watched the madman with mirth in her eyes.

When Bing Shi was about to take her hand back, Ru Quan clenched her hand tightly.

He never wanted to behave overbearingly towards Bing Shi, but it was the only way how to show his existence. Because besides their names, it was the only thing that separated their personalities from each other. Why was he acting differently when it didn’t make him happy?

Ru Quan never wished for much besides finding a purpose in life, something that could stimulate his brain, something worth living for.

° Flashback...

° Ru Quan returned late at night to visit Bai Meili. After falling in love, he would stay loyal to one woman only; he gave freedom to the rest of his concubines. In better words, he never felt so refreshed after having a one good night’s sleep with Bai Meili.

° When he appeared before the entrance, he could smell a scent of smoke, deciding to follow it.

° Sitting by the tree, there was a little slave, baking a giant sweet potato above a fire. The same old routine every day. Standing up, Ting Zi performed a perfect bow, “Your Majesty.”

° “Continue what you were doing.” He couldn’t help but ask, “You only eat sweet potatoes. Why?”

° Sitting back, Ting Zi checked her sweet potato, “To avoid being poisoned by your Majesty’s jealousy.”

° “...” This maid and her sense of humor... Was she afraid of being poisoned? Ru Quan surveyed her detached expression, connecting her features with every person he met before, “How did you appear in Bai Meili’s homeland? Weren’t you the one taking care of the animals in the arena?”

° How could someone recognize her? Ting Zi’s heartbeat sped up. How could she say that she was sent here to kill the top warrior, Ru Quan? When she first met him, he was just a youth of her age. She was unable to kill him for three simple reasons. First, he could rip off her limbs with his bare hands. Two, he was immune against most poisons. Third, their goals matched.

° It was the first time she was put under a blood contract spell. The more she prolonged the mission, the more she wanted to finish it. The mission was like a drug, where completion was its antidote. The only way to breach the thick contract was to burn it. She was able to burn the first one, but not the second one.

° Instead of sharing her sweet potatoes, Ting Zi gave him a blank stare, “Your Majesty should stop being interested in this slave... If miss got to know that we kiss-.”

° “There is no need. I told her already,” He chuckled, “I presume, that’s why both of us received a cold shoulder...”

° Ting Zi looked away. That sly smile of his will bring destruction to her one day. Did he see her as a threat in their relationship? Because Bai Meili gave him the cold shoulder, he decided to take her down with him? To let him know, she didn’t really care if Bai Meili treated her coldly or not...

° “No, this lowly one thinks it’s because your Majesty brought a non-blood-related heir back from your expenditures.”

° “I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned about him not being my blood-related son,” Ru Quan looked at how she ate her food in delish with a raised eyebrow.

° “Your majesty’s body isn’t in a condition to bring life to a healthy child,” Ting Zi answered. Wasn’t it obvious? With all the toxins in his body, Ru Quan was a walking poison. It was a surprise that she survived their exchange of saliva.

° “So it was really you that time.” He looked away, his blank expression matching hers, “I never intended to raise my blood and flesh in such a disgusting world. I thought she would understand.”

° “Maybe your Majesty could try to understand miss first?” Ting Zi suggested.

° When Bai Meili got to know that she’ll never be able to bear a child of her own, her world shattered, she distanced herself from Ru Quan.

° “I tried. I took a step back and brought her a child to play with. Only for me to end up as a single dad. Ting Zi, do you want a child? I’ll give you one for free. Forget it. I’ll just return him from where he came from,” saying, Ru Quan manipulated with her emotions, “Back to the corpse of his dead mother.”

° Well, different from miss Bai Meili, he at least tried.

° Showing no sign of sympathy, Ting Zi nodded. “This slave thinks it would be for the best to send the kid into the orphanage.”

° “That would only increase Bai Meili’s rage,” he refused, “You know what she’s like.”

° So that was why he came to visit her?

° More importantly...

° She didn’t receive any pocket money these past few days.

° Ting Zi lifted up her palm, showing him five fingers, “Five hundred golds.”

° “Ting Zi, hm?” He turned her way, “I knew we could come up with a compromise.”

° “Your Majesty, what’s his name?”

° “I don’t know. You come up with one.”

° “...” Ting Zi blew on her sweet potato, taking a bite, she hid the bewilderment in her eyes. He was such an odd man. The oddest!

° That was the first time Ru Quan could hear her laughter, “I guess, the orphanage is a way to go.”

° Ting Zi nodded exuberantly, “For the sake of the child’s name. Yes.”

° Staring at the fire, the sudden closeness caused both to frown in dismay. It was as if they were betraying Bai Meili. Both came to a tacit understanding, agreeing to keep their distance without any words. Because it felt so wrong to be close, after that night, they avoided the other, not giving a chance for any forbidden feelings to sprout. They never spoke to each other again.

° End of flashback...