Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 489: Only The Start
Despite being nemesis, He Juan had to begrudgingly acknowledge that he knew Ku Jin’s temperament quite well, and vice versa.
He was the type of person who acted based on only two reasons: personal interest and Luo Xuan’s commands. Last time, Ku Jin had played a psychological game on him and stressed him out for two weeks because of personal interest. How about this time? Because oh, he was so certain that Ku Jin was involved in the ongoing chaos. He couldn’t have mistaken this suffocating sensation as if he had stepped onto a deadly quicksand, one which would only drag him down faster the more he struggled. This was Ku Jin’s style of action.
He Juan could understand it if he were to make it to headline news, but to be put on top of the wanted list until the whole country united to hunt him down? It was not plausible. The speed at which the police had mobilized couldn’t be normal. Of course, unless someone was pulling their strings from the shadows. And what other person could be more suitable than Ku Jin?
However, if that was the case, then there was something important he needed to ponder over— how much of this accident was a coincidence, and how much was Ku Jin’s calculated scheme?
Ye Hu’s sudden manifestation, Xia Weisheng’s untimely death, and He Juan being thrust into the spotlight...
How much did Ku Jin know? Was he aware that He Juan had a younger brother? Was he aware of the dinner plan that had been discussed only among him, Marius, Ye Qiu and the children? The mere thought of Ku Jin knowing everything all along was... too terrifying. So much that He Juan felt shivers running down his spine.
The morning autumn air was nothing but fresh and invigorating around him, yet He Juan found beads of cold sweat forming on his skin because what if... what if Ku Jin had been keeping an eye on him – on them – from the start? Then He Juan’s effort to keep Ye Qiu and the children safe, his action to push He Xie away in order to protect him... wouldn’t it all for naught?
Slipping into the car, He Juan took a moment to steady his breathing or else he felt like he was going to empty the contents of his stomach. But then he realized that he had not eaten anything since noon yesterday, so there should be nothing he could vomit out aside from bile. He pressed a hand against his churning abdomen, ignored the discomfort and dialed Ku Jin’s number.
It was connected right away as if the man had been waiting for his call.
"Hello, XIU? Are you okay?" he asked, his tone dripping with concern. "I saw the news. You messed up, didn’t you? Tsk, and you even dragged Xuanlong down with you. How are you supposed to take care of this?"
Though his words seemed well-intentioned, He Juan could almost see a glimmer of malicious delight in Ku Jin’s eyes through the screen, and it utterly repulsed him. It further strengtened his conviction that there was absolutely no fucking way the two of them could get along in this lifetime! He Juan breathed in and out through his mouth in order to quell the growing wave of nausea. It’s okay, he told himself, just be quick and get it over with.
"I messed up?" He Juan retorted with a sneer. "Or would it be more accurate to say that you messed me up?"
Ku Jin let out a disbelieving gasp. "I messed you up? How could you accuse me like that? Though I have to admit, you catch on quite quickly this time. Bravo to you!"
It was an unspoken admission, a confirmation that cut through the air like a knife. He Juan closed his eyes and attempted to keep a cool head through the maelstrom of rage and sorrow that threatened to engulf him. "I didn’t," he ground out, his voice strained. "I didn’t get in your way this time. Fuck, I didn’t even do anything to you! So why would you—"
"You should be asking yourself that question," Ku Jin interrupted him, his tone abruptly flat. "Why did you make the Boss angry?"
He Juan had suspected this since the news first broke out. However, keeping the doubt within himself and having it validated by Ku Jin were two different things altogether. So it was really Luo Xuan... he did this for what? To vent his anger? Was it because of the conversation they’d had in Busan? Did Luo Xuan decide to take it out on him because of their argument?!
No, that’s not right... a chilling realization dawned on He Juan. It was not just an argument. To Luo Xuan, it was his grand vision, his lifelong goal, the future he had dreamed of creating. And He Juan had blatantly declared his opposition, asserting that he was going to stand in the man’s way. Such defiance was unpardonable in Luo Xuan’s eyes.
For He Juan was more than just a subordinate; he was Luo Xuan’s left-hand man. He Juan was supposed to support him, assist him, and offer his help along the way. Yet He Juan decided to diverge from that path, and for Luo Xuan, it might as well be a betrayal.
Right now, He Juan had become the thorn he wanted to get rid of.
A humorless laugh slipped out of his lips, unbidden. It was low, guttural and sounded more like a growl. He still recalled the words he had spoken to Marius, that he would try once again to get Luo Xuan to change his mind. And for that reason, he could not even bring himself to send the damned evidence to the Interpol, because he wanted to give Luo Xuan a chance, because he wanted the man to realize his missteps. Because he cared deeply for the man and was unwilling to drive him into the corner.
But here Luo Xuan was, dealing a quick and calculated move against him. It was cruel and merciless, making his earnest attempt feel foolish and laughable in return.
Pathetic, He Juan cursed himself inwardly. Just how pathetic are you going to be, He Juan? It’s all because of your indecisiveness that you are in this mess now. Not only that, you also dragged so many people down with youI
Maybe what everyone said was right. Maybe it was him who was too soft-hearted.
A blaze of cold determination flickered within He Juan’s eyes. Was there still a chance for him to set things right?
"Do you get it now?" Ku Jin asked through the phone. He clicked his tongue, his tone a mixture of amusement and annoyance, "I don’t even dare to cross him, so what gives you the courage to do it? Do you think you’re better than me, eh?"
He Juan’s fingers clenched around the phone, his jaw grinding with tension. He was about to end the call once and for all when Ku Jin’s voice sounded again, "Consider this my last compassion to you as a... colleague. He doesn’t think you will learn your lesson from this alone. This is just the start." After saying that, a click sounded as the line went dead, leaving He Juan in a state of shock and disbelief.
This... was just the start? For what?
An ominous foreboding crawled up his spine, and panic gripped him. There was not an ounce of doubt within him that Ku Jin might be bluffing to make him lose his composure, to push him down further to the pit of despair. Because he could tell that Ku Jin was telling the truth this time.
Was it not enough that Luo Xuan had driven He Juan to a corner like this?! Who would he mess with next? Ye Hu? Ye Qiu? The children? Or... He Xie?
The image of the pale and fragile man on the hospital bed flashed vividly in his mind, and for the first time ever, genuine horror and fear clawed at He Juan’s heart. No... he couldn’t let anything happen to He Xie. Anyone but He Xie, or else... he would not be able to forgive himself! Ever!
He tossed the phone aside and turned on the engine, ready to race towards the hospital. But then, as he sped ahead, he found that police officers had been stationed on every toll booths, stations and road inspection was taking place on every corner of the city.
"Damn it!" He Juan slammed his fist on the wheel in an outpouring of frustration, realizing that he could not leave this area for the time being.
He grabbed his phone, intending to call Chen Youzhi to increase the protection around He Xie, when a call from Huang Zhiyan came in. He Juan scowled and he unhesitatingly rejected the call to scroll through his contacts for Chen Youzhi’s number, but Huang Zhiyan’s call interrupted him again, persistent.
A cold feeling washed over him. His subordinate wouldn’t dare to bombard him with calls unless it was something of utmost importance. Had something happened? With that realization in mind, he finally picked up the call and placed the phone to his ear.
"Boss!" Huang Zhiyan’s anxious voice sounded from the other side. "This is bad! We’ve just received this news just now and..."
As He Juan listened to the rapid rundown of events, he finally comprehended what Ku Jin meant by this was only the start.
Luo Xuan’s target had not been Ye Qiu, the children, or He Xie at all— but Marius.
That day, the name ’Marius Morningstar’ made it to the top of Interpol’s most-wanted list.
