Batter My Heart,Mr Xi (Book 2)

Chapter XVIII

Xi Jinwei stood at the window of a dimly lit room gazing out the window. It was a full moon today and the breeze swayed the plants and trees in sight. The single bulb in the room, casting long shadows across the disheveled marble floor.

Xi Jinwei's men had backed into a corner waiting for their Young Master who seemed lost in thought. No one dared breathe a word about anything or move an inch.

Behind him, a man named Django sat bound to a chair, his face bruised and swollen. He had a cut to his forehead and it was bleeding out staining his face.

"You know, Django," He spoke softly, his back still turned, "I've always admired the view of the moon. It reminds me of how small we all are in the grand scheme of things." He turned slowly, his expression eerily calm. "And yet, the choices we make can have such... profound consequences."

Django struggled against his bonds, fear evident in his eyes. "Mr. Xi, please... I was just following orders. I didn't know—"

"Shh," Xi Jinwei interrupted, raising a finger to his lips. He approached Django, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room.

"Orders. Yes, I understand. Fu Tuying has always been good at giving those, hasn't he?" A small smile played on Xi's lips, not reaching his eyes. "My old friend. Tell me, how is he these days?"

Django swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. "I... I don't know who you're talking about ."

Xi Jinwei chuckled softly, the sound devoid of warmth. "Of course you don't. "

Xi Jinwei had always guessed it right. Fu Tuying had taken over the mercenary group Koi long ago. Fu Tuying had colluded with Ling Zhirou years ago to get rid of Xue'er. He had made a plan to hire a mercenary group to protect her and deal with the issue amicably.

Due to the past relationship and respect he had for Ling Zhirou then, he didn't want to take drastic measures. But after she and her brother laid hands on Xue'er and took her life, it was the last straw .

He made sure to wipe her and her brother from the face of the earth. He made sure to do it 'thoroughly'. This ultimately gained him a lot of enemies. Enemies which also included the mercenary group Koi which soon was taken over by the Young Master Fu.

"But you knew enough to send your lackeys to drive a car into mine, didn't you?" He continued voice remained calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it now. "Did Fu Tuying tell you who would be in that car with me? Hmm? Did he mention Yang Zhilan?"

At the mention of Yang Zhilan's name, Xi Jinwei's eyes flashed with a mix of emotions – anger, fear, and something darker. Django flinched, realizing the gravity of his situation.

"Mr. Xi, I swear, I didn't know she would be there. It was supposed to be just you. I... I'm sorry," Django pleaded, his voice breaking.

Xi Jinwei placed a hand on Django's shoulder, squeezing slightly. "Why are you lying to me Django? Your lackeys told me a different story."

The man named Django began to sob. Tears poured out his eyes mingling with the blood oozing from his forehead as he repeated begged for his life.

"Begging Django? That's a start, I suppose. But apologies won't undo the damage, will they?" He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you know what it felt like, Django? To see her lying there, bleeding, unconscious? To wonder if I'd lose her."

He didn't realize how much she meant to him until that moment.

Django's eyes widened in terror as Xi Jinwei's grip tightened. The room seemed to grow colder, the shadows deeper. In that moment, everyone present could feel the barely contained rage emanating from Xi Jinwei.