𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡✦𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐱 𝐋𝐮 𝐒𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠

Chapter 17: Rachel Wang

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In this era,
Blind is the love;
And so is the law.

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I was savouring each bite of dinner, pretending I was the happiest girl in the world. In truth, I was just trying to escape, to feel something resembling normalcy, like I was still human. The eerie glow of the TV cast distorted shadows around my living room, my silhouette twisted and stretched against the walls. That cocoon of darkness and light was almost comforting until my phone beeped, shattering the fragile illusion.
'Ugh, 8:30 PM, Can I get some peace?!'

FROM JIWOO: We've got a problem. At the office ASAP.

I sighed, nearly choking on the tension. Jiwoo was more worked up than I was. I guess it's time to face the music. I threw on a casual dress, grabbed my phone and keys, and headed to Nexus.
'Hello there, giant. Thought I could avoid you today.' The words slipped out as I approached the towering firm, mocking its oppressive presence. My steps were sharp and purposeful.
Jiwoo's eyes darted with concern in the common room, her fingers nervously flipping through files. 'What's so urgent?' I asked, my voice steady but curious.
'You know Song Taehyun?' she started; her tone heavy.
'The high-profile guy from Seorin?' I raised my eyebrows.
She nodded. 'Yeah, him.'
'What about him?' I leaned in, sensing the weight of what was coming.
'He's been making transactions with NeuraLife. And there are records showing he signed a contract to push NeuraLife into the international market, again.'
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I narrowed my gaze, processing. 'What do you mean by 'again'?'
Jiwoo met my eyes, something dark lurking beneath her usually composed demeanour. 'Back in my dad's time, NeuraLife was on the international stage, pumping out aggressive drugs, addictive painkillers, all under the guise of legitimate pharmaceuticals.'
My brow furrowed. 'Okay... And how does Taehyun tie into this?'
She didn't blink, her stare piercing. 'Song Taehyun is a close associate of Lu Si Cheng.'
I felt a jolt of shock, but I kept my expression neutral. 'Are you saying they're both involved with NeuraLife?' The disbelief edged into my voice, though I tried to keep it in check.
'What? You don't believe me?' Jiwoo's tone was sharp and challenging.
'No, no. It's not that,' I quickly reassured, turning my back to her as I stuffed my hands into my pockets. 'Get me his data. I want every detail, every tiny connection.'
I turned back to her, a faint smile pulling at her lips. 'How's Luminar Technologies going?' she asked, shifting gears. This was Jiwoo's playground, where she could uncover the darkest secrets and make them her own. I knew she'd dig up everything this time too.
We walked out of Nexus, the conversation eased as we discussed the latest in tech, though the tension of what we'd just uncovered still lingered in the background, like a shadow waiting to strike.
But there's one thing that I'm certain of; is that Jiwoo's message had been clear—Song Taehyun was involved, and that meant Lu Si Cheng was, too. Fuck, he can't be that bad. A part of me wanted to believe in Jiwoo but another part kept on insisting that Lu Si Cheng wasn't the case. He might be rude...and helping the criminals or whatsoever but...involved in this?
Ugh. I grip a fistful of my hair in frustration, sitting in my bed.
Sigh.
Goodnight, world!
I couldn't ignore the sinking feeling in my gut as the next morning, I made my way to our office. I hated this part of the job—dealing with the moral ambiguity, the constant questioning of who could be trusted. But more than that, I hated Lu Si Cheng. His smug indifference, the way he brushed off my concerns, his refusal to see the bigger picture.
But today was different. Today, I had something on him. I pushed open the door to his office without knocking, my heart pounding in my chest. Lu Si Cheng was behind his desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand, his eyes narrowing as I stormed in.
'Rachel,' he drawled, setting the glass down with an air of nonchalance that made my blood boil. 'To what do I owe this unexpected visit?'
'Cut the bullshit, Lu Si Cheng,' I snapped, slamming the door behind me. 'This is both of our rooms and I know about Song Taheyun.'
The name had the intended effect—Lu Si Cheng's smirk faltered for just a fraction of a second, but it was enough to confirm my suspicions. He leaned back in his chair, looking at me with a cool, calculating gaze.
'And what exactly do you think you know, Rachel?' His voice was dangerously calm, a sharp contrast to our tension.
'I know he's connected to NeuraLife,' I hissed, stepping closer to the desk, my fists clenched at my sides. 'And I know you've been protecting him, covering for him. Why, Lu Si Cheng? Are you that deep in their pockets?'
Lu Si Cheng's eyes darkened, his expression hardening. He stood up slowly, his movements deliberate, as if trying to contain the simmering anger beneath the surface. 'You have no idea what you're talking about,' he said, his voice low and menacing. 'This isn't just about NeuraLife. There are things in play here that you can't even begin to understand.'
'Enlighten me,' I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. 'Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're just another pawn in their game.'
Lu Si Cheng's jaw tightened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, but then he seemed to regain control, his expression smoothing into that infuriatingly calm mask I had come to hate.
'Don't push me, Rachel,' he warned, his voice barely above a whisper. 'You don't know what you're getting yourself into. This is bigger than you, bigger than me. If you keep digging, you're going to get yourself killed.'
'Maybe I don't care,' I said, my voice cold. 'Maybe I'm willing to take that risk if it means bringing down NeuraLife and everyone involved with them.'
Lu Si Cheng stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge just how far I was willing to go. Then, without warning, he closed the distance between them, his hand gripping my arm with bruising force, startling me in the process.
Fuck.
Mothefucking Heart.
Don't beat so fast, asshole!
This fucker will undoubtedly kill me one day.
'You think you're so righteous, don't you?' he hissed, his breath hot against my ear. 'You think you can save the world with your self-righteous crusade. But let me tell you something, Rachel—there's no such thing as justice in this world. There's only power. And those who have it will do whatever it takes to keep it.'
My heart pounded in my chest, but I refused to back down, meeting his gaze with unwavering defiance. 'Maybe you're right,' I said quietly. 'But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying.'
For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills, the tension between us was so thick it was almost suffocating. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, Lu Si Cheng released my arm and stepped back, his expression unreadable.
'You're going to get yourself killed,' he repeated, his voice flat as if the words were a simple statement of fact. 'And when that happens, I won't be there to save you.'
I swallowed hard, my heart still racing, but I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my voice steady. 'Maybe not,' I said. 'But I'll die knowing I did the right thing.'
Lu Si Cheng's eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite identify, same as always—anger, frustration, maybe even a hint of something softer, something closer to concern. But whatever it was, it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the cold, calculating mask he wore so well.
'Get out,' he said finally, his voice tight with barely contained emotion. 'Before I do something we'll both regret.'
I hesitated for a moment, then turned on my heel and walked out of the office, my heart pounding in my chest. But as I made my way down the empty hallway, my visions kept on repeating the moment when he was so close, so fucking close to me, his signature perfume still choking me. He probably heard my heart that was beating like a crazy fucking psychopath. Lost in my thoughts, I get ready to go to the hospital to meet Ava.
Arriving at the hospital gate calmed my nervous system, as I was finally away from some money-making suckers but close to a deadly assassin who might be someone I'm looking for. I shake away the bad thoughts since my limbic system fucks too much, but oh my motherfucking luck, always pushing me toward the edge I hate.
'YOU?! What the fuck are you doing here?'

~feedbacks are appreciated.