Gone Bad

Chapter 26

"So this is all Yu Junxi and Huang Shuo's plan." Zuo Hang used his working hand and brushed it on his hair. "Unbelievable."

I nodded. As absurd as their plans might've been, I could tell that their plan is working after all.

"And your mom is still alive? I didn't...kill her?"

I simply nodded. "You're not capable of killing anyone, are you?"

"Soon, maybe," he answered, silenced for a few seconds. He sighed and looked at me. "But I don't plan on losing my humaneness."

I made a small smile and caressed his back. Huang Shuo told me everything about Zuo Hang - the things he never wanted to tell me. How he was forced by his grandfather into his illegal empire, how he was manipulated into thinking that evilness is the way for justice. Zuo Hang was prepared to oppose his grandfather but everything changed when his friend: Zhang Zeyu was harmed.

I gazed at him. I never knew how his life turned out after we last saw each other on elementary. It pained me to think how he was put into a world that he's unfamiliar of, and slowly adapted to it. It must've been difficult going through all such things.

"Are you okay?" I asked out of nowhere.

He didn't answer and instead stood up from the chair and held my hand. Zuo Hang's shoulder is now bandaged with the cloth from my shirt and I'm not sure if its enough to actually help the injury. He wasn't even trying to talk about how painful things are.

He looked down on our held hands. "Your hand is abnormally hot."

I shrugged and looked away from him. "I think its because of the temperature here," I spoke, even though truthfully, my skin is shivering from coldness. Maybe its because I'm not used to wearing cropped tops.

Zuo Hang looked around the basement. "We better be heading out of this place before Zivar arrives."

"Your grandfather?" I asked and he nodded.

"But..." I knew how evil his grandfather might be but he's currently injured. He needs someone capable to help and rescue him from this place. That's the reason why Huang Shuo left in the first place: to inform his grandfather about his grandson's whereabouts.

"My grandfather is not coming here to save me, if that's what you're thinking." He looked at me meaningfully and all I could return is a confused display. I don't understand what he's trying to insinuate. "Zivar is coming to kill your Arthur... and you."

It took me a few seconds to process his words. "But— but Huang Shuo said that—"

"He obliges to Zivar's commands, not mine," Zuo Hang thinned his lips, hesitant to speak the truth, but still went on with it. "Tonight, he will take revenge on the Cortezes, and reclaim what was stolen from him."

Fear, betrayal, regret engulfed my system. I felt used. Taken advantage of. I just turned into someone's tool.

I agreed to Huang Shuo's plan because I thought it's what's best for Zuo Hang to finally become free from his grandfather's hands. I didn't realize that I was walking close to trouble as well. Even looking at Zuo Hang's situation right now, I definitely didn't help.

I shouldn't have followed with their plan in the first place.

Zuo Hang's grip on my hand slightly tightened. "It's okay, Florianne. What happened right now was probably for what's best. The rivalry between them should end sooner or later, and everything will be alright."

"Really?" I sniffled. I didn't realize that my nose is getting runny.

He chuckled. "Really." He let go of my hand, transferring his arm around my waist. "Trust me, Lori. No one can ever hurt you without going pass through me."