QT: Against My Will-Chapter 536 - 8.53 - Ghost Of The Past - Monster Heist
Lu Kai really took his love for role-play to a whole new level. Bing Shi didn’t expect much from a man who called his cars babies. Sharkie, his pet shark. Baby Shiro, his system. But when it came to referring to himself as Scorchy and Frosty, it was a step too far.
It wasn’t until later that Bing Shi discovered the reason behind her slight irritation whenever Nathaniel was present. It was not because of his handsomeness, but because he exuded an intriguing blend of flirtatiousness and aloofness. This left her feeling uncertain about his intentions and level of interest.
"Are you going to sleep with that mask on?" asked Nathaniel as he set himself on his own bunk bed.
Bing Shi took off her mask and threw it at him, snuggling her face into the pillow, "Do you make a hobby out of giving people mixed signals, or am I just lucky?"
Nathaniel’s reflexes kicked in as he swiftly caught the monkey thrown toward him. Holding it in his hand, he turned it over, examining it with a curious gaze.
The monkey’s mischievous grin and playful expression made him smile. "You mean signals like this?"
When she peeked her eyes from the pillow to meet his, he leaned forward. His lips brushed against the monkey’s mouth, planting a tender kiss filled with affection and a touch of enchantment.
With a flick of his hand, he sent the mask sailing back toward Bing Shi.
"..." Bing Shi held the mask close, feeling its familiar texture against her skin, "So you do." She used her sleeve to rub its mouth as if erasing the imaginary kiss.
Nathaniel knew how to maintain a delicate balance between showing just enough interest and keeping an air of detachment.
His skill in navigating this delicate dance really impressed her. It made her think about the countless times he had to put on this act that it became such an integrated part of him.
Bing Shi: |"The time I came to visit you to show off my new dress...Why did you kiss me before Berta? You even stole my bubble gum."|
Lu Kai’s reply hit her like a gust of cold air.: |"You came to visit me as my wife, so I treated you as such."|
Bing Shi’s eyes widened as she processed the truth behind his words, |"So if I hugged Nataniel right now, he would actually hug me back?"|
|"You can always choose to break your character, and I’ll respond accordingly. But remember, it would just prove that you’ve lost yet again."| Lu Kai answered, |"Wifey, it might be time you notch up a few victories for yourself."|
Was it so wrong to be a lousy actress? Bing Shi wanted to shed a few tears in self-pity, |"Shina hates Nathan’s guts, but for me, it’s hard to overlook this tiny little detail of you being my hubby. But I also want to see your act crumble first, ah! Such a dilemma."|
|"There is no punishment for losing, so you are still good. Once you get used to this, we can raise the stakes with small bets if you want."|
|"Alright!"| Bing Shi jabbed her fists into the air, a battle-ready grin on her face. All in the name of fun bets with her hubby!
Lu Kai watched how Bing Shi wordlessly ventured back to her space for the night, ’How did I survive this long without her? What will I do if I lose her again? I can’t love her more than before, do I?’
Though a fleeting sense of sadness brushed against his heart, he swiftly lowered its significance, ’I won’t waste time questioning fate or calculating odds.’
Lu Kai had grown to prioritize logic over the ever-changing whims of the heart, ’Threats, schemes, destiny itself—bring them on. I dare them to try and keep us apart again.’
The once paranoid-adolescent him was but a ghost of the past, a relic of weakness that had already served its purpose.
· · ────────── · ⊱❈⊰· ────────── · ·
° Somewhere in the past ─ to the moment when Bing Shi made a decision to become Shina Night in the future.
° Bertha’s voice broke through the stillness, her tone tinged with vulnerability. "Would you miss me if I died one day?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the twinkling stars above.
° The question caught Bing Shi off guard, yet she sensed the genuine yearning for connection in Bertha’s voice.
° Bing Shi found herself sitting side by side with Bertha, their backs resting against a tree near the hospital park.
° "Of course, I would be devastated if anything were to happen to you," a tender smile touched Bing Shi’s lips as she responded.
° Bertha’s eyes shimmered with a mixture of gratitude and relief, "Me too, I just can’t bear the thought of seeing you getting hurt."
° Bing Shi’s fingers intertwined with Bertha’s, their hands clasped firmly together, "I thought you wanted to see Silvia LeClere burn in hell like everyone else."
° Bertha winced in pain, "Why would I? You are the most important person in my life."
° Bertha’s dream was to see her twin learn from her past mistakes and become a better person.
° Bing Shi raised a brow, "I thought you loved Nathaniel Hauxley."
° A blush crept into Bertha’s cheeks, "That’s a different case."
° Bing Shi recognized the immense strength and resilience that resided within the other girl, "To achieve what you want, I must let go of who I’m and embrace a new existence. Will you be able to let go of Silvia LeClére for good?"
° The glass trinket Bertha had meticulously crafted for Silvia was shattered in between their palms, and Bertha had to put up a forced smile to hide her disappointment.
° She felt a lump form in her throat as she felt blood dripping from her palm because of the wound Silvia had inflicted on it, "I’m prepared," she replied, her voice filled with conviction.
° "Alright, let’s seal our deal then," Bing Shi let go of their hands, showing sharp shards of glass etched onto her skin.
° She had been contemplating Bertha’s seemingly intense obsession with Silvia. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had always been this way, and if so, what could possibly be the reason behind such fixation. She even began to think that Bertha was a host who had to interact with Silvia as a part of her mission.
° "It’s getting late," Bertha bit on her lips when Silvia raised her pointer to draw a bloody heart on her cheek. She quickly got on her foot in dread, "I have to go. See you tomorrow."
° "Okay, good night." Bing Shi gazed down at her palm. Trust was a scarce commodity, and caution became her constant companion. But amidst all the deception, Bertha emerged as a beacon of light, defying the norms of her world.
° As she witnessed Bertha’s unwavering kindness and open heart, Bing Shi felt a deep yearning to treat her back with the same unwavering sincerity. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
° What about her husband? Oh dear, that man seemed like an incarnation of deception himself, as if he had attended a school of cunning and graduated with honors.
° She smiled as she looked up at Ru Quan, who was sitting on top of the tree, "Contemplating the meaning of life or plotting to challenge Bertha to a friendly competition?"
° Ru Quan let out a low chuckle, his brooding expression momentarily breaking into a smirk, "When you stop gazing at me the same way I look at you, then I will contemplate getting down to business with Bertha."
° Bing Shi couldn’t help but shake her head to try and put up a facade before him, then looked up again, "Am I that obvious?"
° Concern filled his eyes as he got a glimpse of her injured hand. Was she bleeding before him intentionally? Was it an attempt to get him used to the haunting trauma that had shadowed his past? Or to get back on him for the special trainings? Doubt crept in—that would be too cruel of her, wouldn’t it?
° "Quite a bit," Ru Quan admitted as he landed next to Bing Shi with a graceful leap. After skillfully treating her hand, his eyes lingered on her left hand, "I don’t care what sort of antics you’re up to with this body."
° It was then that he delicately put a ring on her left ring finger, "However, this," he whispered, his fingertip a silent promise against her skin, "stays right here."
° "And if not?" Bing Shi playfully narrowed her eyes. They were not in a realm of where a ring on a ring finger signified their marital situation.
° "I’ll resort to a more old-fashioned approach," he replied, a small threat woven into his gentle tone as his lips hovered dangerously close to her nape, "I’ll have no choice but to mark you as mine, the way an Alpha would."
° Bing Shi shook her head vigorously and attempted to slip the ring off her finger, "How will I rock my role as Silvia with this thing on me?" she huffed, acting as if the ring were more of an obstacle than an Alpha’s mark of possession.
° This little accessory was like a neon sign screaming: Hey, You are married! So you better act like that!
° "Consider this your heads-up." A mischievous grin tugged at his lips as he pulled her into his embrace, the warmth of his touch enveloping her in a cocoon of familiarity and affection, "I’ll make Leon fall head over heels for Silvia."
° "..." Bing Shi’s resistance melted into a defeated sigh as she leaned against his chest. She sighed softly, admitting her mistake. ’I have been probably taking advantage of my pain immunity a little too much, I guess.’
° Their relationship thrived on this never-ending game of mental gymnastics — a tapestry of unpredictability and mischief — woven with threads of trust and unwavering love.
° She didn’t want his reputation to suffer simply because he was Silvia LeClére’s man. Maybe it was time for her to step up her game so the both of them could be proud of their own choices.
