Qie Xieling’s heart raced as he crouched behind the sturdy tree trunk, his breaths shallow and rapid. The dense forest seemed to hold its breath, enveloping them in an eerie silence. Faint sounds of gunfire could be heard coming from the direction of the mansion but it didn’t put him at ease.

A sudden snap of a twig jolted through the air, causing his body to tense even further. Slowly, beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he cautiously glanced over his shoulder.

President Yin’s voice echoed through the trees, calling out to him, attempting to coax him from his hiding place. "Xieling... come on out. I promise if you come out now I won’t kill you... Xieling!" he yelled clutching his gun.

Qie Xieling looked around looking for something to protect himself with. He found a thick branch on the forest floor. He clutched it tightly his knuckles turning white as he pressed his back against the rough bark of the tree.

As President Yin neared the tree, his heart pounded in his chest. With a surge of adrenaline, he swung the branch with all his might, connecting with a resounding thud against President Yin’s hand. The gun slipped from President Yin’s grasp, tumbling to the ground.

Chaos erupted as the two collided amidst the grass and underbrush. Their bodies twisted and turned, each fighting for the upper hand. Fueled by a fierce determination Qie Xieling pushed President Yin towards the very tree trunk he had been hiding behind. The force of impact rattled the president’s body as he slammed against the solid wood. He felt dizzy from the pain while Qie Xieling ran over to grab the gun.

But before he could pick it up, Qie Xieling was grabbed by his hair and pulled back. Qie Xieling grabbed his hand trying to minimise the pain before throwing a back kick striking him in his man parts.

"Fuck! You piece of shit!" he grimaced in pain. Qie Xieling ran towards the gun but then with a swift and punishing tackle the both of them were sent crashing to the ground.

Qie Xieling’s back pressed against the ground with the weight of the President pinning him down. Dirt and leaves clung to their sweating bodies as they grappled for control. He punched Qie Xieling several times before Qie Xieling reached out for a rock and struck the side of the president’s face. Blood dripped from his temple but he still pinned Qie Xieling down overpowering him.

Through gritted teeth, President Yin yelled, his voice laced with frustration and anger, demanding answers. "Why? Why do you fucking ruin everything?! What does he see in you that he would destroy everything he built for you?!" he yelled with his veins throbbing on his neck and temples.

The words hung in the air, carried away by the rustling wind and drowned out by the sounds of their struggle.

"It’s that face. It has to be that face. Maybe if you don’t have it he won’t risk everything for you," yelled President Yin his crazed eyes unsettling.

Qie Xieling suddenly saw something heading in their direction. When he saw what it was he cursed, "OH SHIT!!" and tried to push President Yin away but it was already too late. An explosion followed soon after sending the two of them flying in different directions.

His heart raced as he struggled to catch his breath, his body sore from the impact of the explosion. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the smoky forest, searching for any sign of Jolie or anyone else who might be lurking nearby.

Cursing under his breath, he pushed himself up from the ground, his muscles protesting with each movement. As he wiped dirt from his mouth, anger and frustration welled up inside of him.

’Jolie, did you do that?’ he asked. He was pretty sure it was Jolie who had thrown the grenade.

’I had to buy you time. You looked like you were having a hard time,’ she said and Qie Xieling replied,

’Are you fucking kidding me? You almost killed me. I knew you had it out for me.’

’No... noooo. It wasn’t on purpose I swear,’ she said but before Qie Xieling could respond he heard something.

"Lin Lin!" a familiar voice called out, cutting through the chaos. It was Luo Muchen looking for him with concern etched on his face. Relief washed over him, grateful that Luo Muchen was unharmed but before he could respond, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine, freezing him in place.

A cold steel pressed against his neck, and he felt the vice-like grip of President Yin’s hand on the back of his neck. Fear gripped Qie Xieling’s heart as he realised the gravity of the situation.

"Shut up and walk, otherwise I will kill you right now," President Yin threatened, his voice laced with menace. Qie Xieling’s throat tightened, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously as he swallowed, trying to regain his composure.

With a mixture of dread and resignation, he obediently began to walk, his every step weighed down by the presence of President Yin’s weapon against his skin. Thoughts raced through his mind as he considered his options, desperately searching for a way to escape this dire predicament. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

As they moved through the forest Qie Xieling tried to talk some sense into him. "Why are you so against me being with Muchen? I treat him well and he is happy. Isn’t that what his mother would like for him?... For him to be happy."

"What do you know? You betrayed him several times and even stole his family heirloom yet you preach to me about happiness."

"I really didn’t steal that from him plus I gave back all the money I stole. I really made amends and we love each other now," he said as they walked along the banks of a small stream.

President Yin gripped him tighter and yelled, "Shut up. Just stop talking. How could he be with someone like you? You talk too much and are annoying."

Qie Xieling, "..."

He didn’t think he was annoying and Luo Muchen never said that to him before. After walking in silence for a while President Yin suddenly broke the silence.

"His mother chose wrong... and she paid for it. She didn’t listen to me. She should have listened... She was a stupid romantic like our mother who ran off with some starving artists. She left us with that drunkard to suffer while she played house with another man."

Qie Xieling, "..."