268 Love & War

It was already night time when Ru arrived at a luxurious villa with Rong. Expensive chandeliers, gold pieces and the interior that could make one envious. Entering such a place, she gave her brother a once over. No matter how she thought about it, she really couldn't associate this luxurious place with her big brother's name.

Knowing his personality, she was willing to bet her life that this place was so not aligned with what Rong really was. So, to win this bet that she had somehow started with her own conscience, she asked, "Big brother, this is your place?"

Rong seemed to have read her thoughts and he replied, "What do you think?"

"It doesn't seem right," answered Ru without hesitation at all.

Rong's lips curled up slightly. "It's my first time coming here. It looks like my overly enthusiastic 'fiance' put a lot of effort into this place."

The word 'fiance' and the way he said it, both caught Ru's attention very well. She knew the said 'fiance' was Ji Caihong but she didn't know what feelings her brother had for her. Did he really just got involved with her because she is the daughter of Ling Qiaolian? She thought this conjecture of hers was actually more plausible than thinking that Rong was actually in love with Ji Caihong.

The former seemed far-fetched. Just as she was about to pass through a door, she heard a familiar voice, "Why aren't you telling me? Where is Xavier? I want to see him. What is wrong with you all?"

Ru's steps halted as she stared at her brother and asked, "Don't tell me that your bargaining chip is inside this room." Her face was twitching for some reason. When he didn't answer for a moment, she almost screamed, "Big brother, how can you use your own fiance as a bargaining chip here?"

Yes, the familiar voice she heard belonged to Ji Caihong and as for how or when she returned from that cruise was completely unknown to Ru. Well, no one could blame her, she had been pre-occupied trying to sort out her own emotions and a storm of information that was thrown at her so suddenly.

Rong's face muscles didn't even lift, he looked as calm as anyone could possibly be. But there was a ripple in his blue eyes for some reason as he stared at Ru in contemplation. "Little brother, I told you I have my reasons for being with her. By now, you should have already guessed."

Ru calmed herself down and said in a leveled voice, "I know. But she's still someone whom I like. I can't just use her like this. That too in this dangerous task."

"When did Young Master Ru learn these human feelings of like and dislike?" questioned Rong as a line appeared between his brows. "Didn't you use to despise having desires?"

Ru was startled as she heard his words. His words reminded her how far off she had wandered from who she originally was. She indeed despised desires and the concept of like and dislike was considered way below her. The only thing mattered in her life was family, loyalty, and friendship. The rest could never amount to that. Then how come she said she liked that little girl whom she was not even very well acquainted with?

But since she didn't want her brother to know that she had softened up, she retorted, "Hmph! Who said I had no desires? You know very well that I always wanted to taste the delicacies of the whole world. That was also a desire. In fact, it's you who has lived the life of a monk."

She was indeed right. Even when she had some wishes, the person standing beside her had none. He was literally the definition of a monk or a saint who had left all worldly desires far behind him as he had ascended on a path far beyond that. If he had any will to live it was... "You only spend your life trying to protect me at any cost. As if that was the reason for your own existence. Your sole purpose of life."

Rong didn't say anything but something had flashed in his eyes as he heard her words.

"Brother, you can't use her okay? We can find another way," insisted Ru, not knowing whether it was for Zhiren's sake who cherished Ji Caihong very much or because she herself thought Ji Caihong was just a small naive girl.

"I never said she is my bargaining chip," answered Rong as he touched his jaw. Ru's face lit up but it soon twitched again as he added, "She's the trump card, I won't be revealing unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Bro, you won't do anything like that. We can't bring an innocent person in this battle," said Ru.

Rong's expressions darkened as he said, "We were also innocent when we were dragged into someone else's battle of hatred and jealousy. Everything is fair in love and war. They started this war by using my love for you against us, now I don't mind playing their game with them. Besides, don't forget what grandfather taught you, 'Lose your life, but never let anyone lose your pride.' You are still my pride. And I won't back off that easily."

Ru had rarely seen expressions on her seemingly poker-faced brother. Even though they were alike, he still was someone who could challenge the cold aura around her. It was like he was a well-forged sword ready to strike anyone who came after her ever again. Even though she had been very familiar with his protectiveness over her but it seemed to have intensified now.

"But everything isn't her fault," said Ru in a small voice.

"Her fault is that she has a mother like Ling Qiaolian," replied Rong.

Ru could only sigh in defeat before his stubbornness, "Okay. Do whatever you want. But I'd like to see why we are here."

Rong nodded and took her around the corner of the hallway towards the last room. It seemed quite inconspicuous and ordinary. Rong opened the door of the room and gestured her to walk inside. Ru took a step inside and it took her a while to get accustomed to the darkness in the room.

In that windowless room, she could finally make out the silhouette of a person who was tied up with a pole. Ru frowned and turned to look at Rong who only clicked his fingers and the light turned on.