30 As lonely as a desert
In that video, Jun had captured every action the twins took to hit on Ai – their flirting, their intimacy and them ganging up on her like some pervert goons.
Jian was horrified. “You fucking idiot of a brother! Don’t even think about sending that to Leina!”
When did he even record all this!?
Xu Leina was Shui’s best friend and the daughter of Xu Liang and Xu Ah Cy who were the best friends to Shui’s parents Han Zhiyuan and Han Xinyi. They were close family friends.
Jun chuckled. “I have already pressed the send button. You might be getting their call at any-“
*Ring Ring*
*Ring Ring*
Jian and Nian’s phones rang at the same time. Leina was calling Jian while Nana was calling Nian.
They broke into a cold sweat.
Jun taunted. “It would be wise not to let it go on a missed call otherwise…”
They immediately pressed the green button.
“Jiaaaaaaaaan…” Xu Leina’s threatening voice sounded like death’s bell. “I see you getting quite cozy with another woman.
‘That’s a beautiful name. Ai means love. It indeed suits you.’
Oh and how I can forget the way you passionately held her waist and saved her from falling. Then all those times you flirted with her-“
“No, no, no! Of course not! I-It was just acting! Acting! How can I think about another woman other than my sweet Leina-“
“And of course such a heartfelt confession you gave to her. I had almost grabbed my favorite knife seeing you so close to her~”
“…”
“L-Leina hahaha…Don’t get mad, okay? P-please give this mortal a chance to defend! It was the Twins Trial of Judgment! We just wanna know who the woman was who-“
Leina sneered. “Well then Mr. Liu. I hope you are ready for Xu Leina’s Trial of Judgment now.”
Jian felt as if Death had summoned himself.
“It’s your turn to give the trial, and I will be the judge if I should break up with you or not. I should warn you it will be a treacherous road. Be ready.”
“…”
On the other side.
“Liu Nian!” Nana exclaimed in a fury. “Is this how I have raised you? You and Jian were totally cornering that poor girl like a hoodlum!”
Nian nervously laughed. “H-How can you say that, Mom? I am extremely righteous and upright!”
“Your sense of righteousness is leaning yourself over a woman and acting like a goon?”
“…”
“Is it showing advances when she is clearly not interested in you?”
“…”
“You two…you two have gone out of hands. Jian is even dating Leina! How will that poor girl feel? Just come back home right now. Don’t you dare run away. I will give you some nice ‘reward’ you deserve.”
Nian felt itchy in his throat.
Ugh…this won’t end well.
The twins exchanged glances and nodded.
Bro, we lived a good life.
Jun patted Jian’s shoulder and icily smiled. “This is my warning for you to not pull this stupid pranks anymore. Imagine if I had sent this video to Leina’s father, Uncle Liang, then…”
Jian puked blood.
Uncle Liang that monster of a father who makes his guards aim their guns at me whenever I meet Leina!?
Hell would have broken loose if he had seen the video! My love story would have been finished!
Jun glanced at Nian and shrugged. “You are dead now that Mom knows. All the best. I will definitely come to your funeral. Yours too, Bro Jian.”
He smirked and left them to fend for themselves while his brothers cursed him endlessly.
Just you wait till we get our revenge!
—
Back at the library Jun had packed his bag and was about to leave. He saw Ai saying goodbye to Mrs. Quan Su.
“Oh dear will you be alright?” She worriedly asked. “I was just talking to my friend who lives in the same neighborhood as you are, and she said that there has been a robbery. He also carried a knife with him. It’s dangerous, and it’s so dark now. How will you go alone?”
Ai kindly smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Quan. But I will be fine. My apartment is very close to the bus stop, and there is still a crowd at that time. I will be safe. The thief won’t attack when there are so many people.”
“Are you sure…? You are young and so beautiful. One cannot tell these days,” she glanced at Jun and beamed. “Jun! Why don’t you drop her at home tonight?”
They stiffened. They hadn’t talked to each other for three whole days after their kiss.
Ai quickly said, “It’s okay. I will be-“
“Let’s go,” Jun cut her off and moved ahead.
Mrs. Quan Su was elated. “Oh, that’s wonderful. I will feel assured if he is with you.”
Ai was a little startled with how he quickly agreed.
I thought he would…
She followed him into the bus and quietly sat beside him. She fiddled with her thumbs and said, “Thank you. My home is in the opposite direction of yours, so…”
Jun didn’t reply. She pursed her lips and averted her gaze.
Honestly, why would I agree to this? Jun shut his eyes and rested his head back.
‘There has been a robbery.’
‘He also carried a knife with him.’
Hearing that, the first thing that came to his mind was Ai’s death in his past life. It wasn’t due to any robbery or knife injury, but he couldn’t shake the strange feeling off. Recalling her bloodied face and her helpless gaze irked him.
Thirty minutes later, the bus stopped, and they stepped out.
“I will walk from-“
“Where is your house?”
He wants to drop me all the way? Ai blinked.
“There is no point if it’s not all the way,” he sternly stared at her.
Ai paused and then pointed towards the left. “That way.”
They silently walked with Jun facing the roadside. Ai peeked at him. Looking from that angle, she was average in height. Her shoulders were just a few centimetres above his elbow line.
Is it only me or my left arm feels a little warm?
She felt the distance between them closing in, making her a little conscious. At one point, their arms lightly brushed past each other. Their fingers briefly met for a moment before they swiftly took a step away. Ai cleared her throat and kept walking as if nothing had happened. Jun, on the other hand, felt a little rattled, but that expression faded away soon enough.
Ai wondered why it was so awkward between them?
It was an accident. There was nothing more to it.
Jun looked around and narrowed his eyes. He coldly glowered at her.
“What?”
“You said there are people around this time. Where are they? I can hardly see anybody. This place is as lonely as a desert.”