Storm Movement — Mid-Act (1)

"It's you!" Ince stood up indignantly, but after hearing the heavy breathing of the two burly men behind him, he was forced to sit back down.

"It's me." Xu Xiaoyou spat out a sunflower seed shell, her expression unreadable.

"It cost me a lot of connections for you to be able to see me here."

"Do you think bailing me out means I'll forgive you for what you did to me before!"

"The damage to my delicate soul can never be mended!"

Xu Xiaoyou stood up and tilted her hand, letting the seed shells in her palm fall into the trash can. Ince watched her every move, determined to refuse whatever request she might have for him later!

"It seems Mr. Ince isn't very willing to cooperate." Xu Xiaoyou sighed softly, waving her hand nonchalantly. "Then send him back. Perhaps he misses life in prison more. I'll find someone else."

The two large men nodded and stepped forward, placing their hands on Ince's shoulders.

Just remembering the sight of his cellmate with a mouth full of yellow teeth, standing by the bed with a creepy smile, Ince felt a chill run down his spine, and his lower body tightened in fear.

Ince, who had just been full of unyielding integrity, immediately squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying. Snot and tears streaming down his face, he lunged forward to hug the girl's legs, but Xu Xiaoyou expressionlessly stepped aside, letting the man fall flat on his face.

"I hate collaborating. Collaboration implies equality. Do you think the current you has the right to bargain with me?" Xu Xiaoyou's tone was calm.

"Big sis, I was just joking. Let bygones be bygones. From now on, I'm yours to command. If you say go east, I won't go west. Just don't make me sell my body—I'll do anything else!"

Ince had a mournful look on his face, and fearing Xu Xiaoyou wasn't satisfied, he added in a whisper.

"Of course, if I absolutely must sell my body... that's not impossible either."

"Very good. It seems you've figured out your place." Xu Xiaoyou clapped her hands, signaling the two men to let go of Ince.

"Remember, since I could bail you out of prison, I can just as easily send you back in."

Ince knelt on the ground, his back straight. He knew exactly how heavy his sentence was—thousands of years. That high-and-mighty chord official had slammed the gavel and sentenced him to the same fate as those atrocious, madmen from the ascetic sect, even if the visual presentation of his disaster wasn't much different from what they did.

Since she could pull him out of jail, the power this blonde girl held was definitely not as simple as it appeared. At the very least, she must have a massive network of connections on the Star of Art.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Ince asked tentatively.

Xu Xiaoyou tossed a camera into Ince's arms. A photo of a blue-haired girl popped up on the screen; in the picture, the girl wore a white dress and looked back with a shy, radiant smile.

"Starting tomorrow, you will stay by her side and put your 'photography talent' to full use."

Listening to the girl's continued flat tone, Ince nodded with partial understanding and gave an OK gesture.

"Big sis, I'll follow your lead from now on. Ince has drifted for half a lifetime without finding a worthy master; if you don't mind, I'm willing to be your servant!"

Xu Xiaoyou allowed a barely perceptible smile to touch her lips.

"Do not mention anything related to me to anyone."

...................

Early morning, Life Elegy Hospital, in a patient ward.

Victor was undergoing his routine checkup by the medical staff. He had been confined in this hospital for nearly a week. After the events of that day, his mind had gradually calmed down, and his thoughts had matured significantly.

His aunt was an elder in the family; news of his presence in the hospital should have reached her ears long ago. Yet, over these past few days, not a single person had come to visit him. Even the entire hospital was eerily calm. He had almost been strangled to death by that old man, yet it hadn't caused even a ripple of a reaction?

He was the only son of his branch, after all. Could that Little Blue Bird really possess such immense power that even his aunt's faction was afraid to act?

Logically, it shouldn't be possible. She had only just returned to the family's muddy waters. She was clearly as fragile and powerless as a little white flower in a storm. How could she have developed her own connections in such a short time and rooted herself into the family's complex web?

Just what kind of means did she use to keep his aunt and the others in check...

Could it be that Ayin really cared so much for this daughter he had barely seen a few times? Just because she was a starry singer, he was willing to offend his aunt's side to support his daughter's recklessness?

Victor shook his head, choosing not to think further.

Having learned his lesson the hard way, he understood the consequences of speaking out of turn and had paid the price for his arrogance. Having been raised with a family elite education, even the most playboy-like family scion had to learn the essential lesson of recognizing the current situation.

If that Little Blue Bird truly held that much power, he absolutely could not provoke her again. If he accidentally brought disaster upon himself, it might affect his mother and implicate the rest of his branch—it would be too late for regrets then.

He had to find a way to mend the rift between them. Speaking of which, he was quite handsome. Once he was discharged, he could politely invite her to a candlelit dinner. She shouldn't have a reason to refuse, right? It could repair their relationship and show his aunt's faction that things weren't too tense. Surely that Little Blue Bird would understand that logic.

Just as Victor was thinking this, a figure he least wanted to see walked into the room. Old Quel was wearing a brownish-gray waxed jacket, looking travel-worn like an old hunter who had just returned from the wilderness.

Reeking of alcohol, Old Quel didn't say a word and plopped down onto the hospital bed.

"What do you want, Old Quel?" Victor's tone was unfriendly.

He could show a pleasant face to that Little Blue Bird, but he could never forgive this damned old man. The man had nearly killed him!

"The lady said you're being released this afternoon to reunite with your family. Have you figured out what you're going to say yet?"

Old Quel was drunk, still holding a bottle of vodka.

"Yeah. I won't tell my aunt or the others about what happened. Apologize to Sevia for me. Let's just let this matter go; I'll act as if nothing ever happened."

Old Quel chuckled, standing up to meet the young man's gaze. He pushed a wheelchair over to Victor. "Sorry for being so rough before. You must be bored out of your mind in this room. Let me take you for a stroll in the garden."

Victor snorted coldly but did not refuse.

The hospital's back garden was silent. Amidst the shrubbery, green leaves and flowers masked one another. Pitcher plants were dusted with white specks of snow, and silvery-white blossoms bloomed silently in the corners. Purple wisteria hung down from the trellis above. The wheelchair creaked as it was pushed across the bamboo and wood flooring.

Victor breathed in the long-awaited fresh air. The heavy gloom accumulated in his heart dissipated somewhat in the refreshing breeze. He reached out to pluck a white lily of the valley. Its fragrance was rich. He twirled the green stem between his fingers, and the blooming petals looked just like a girl's dress fluttering in the wind.

Victor couldn't help but think of that blue-haired girl again. Her eyes were as deep as the ocean, her face pure and moving, and her smile gentle and serene—it pulled at his heartstrings, making him want to protect that beauty. In her eyes, he found his own azure sky. If only one day he could hold her hand and run through a peaceful field of flowers...

"How is it here?" Old Quel suddenly asked.

"It's quite nice. I like lilies of the valley. My mother used to plant them in her room," Victor said.

"Then this is the place."

A cold wind blew between the two, scattering all the young man's beautiful fantasies. A suffocating, heavy pressure began to spread through Victor's heart.

He tried to stand up, but Old Quel's hand pressed down on his shoulder. Looking around, he realized the early morning garden was completely empty. Not even a guard on duty could be seen. A deathly silence grew within this cold, desolate atmosphere.

A cold gun barrel was pressed against the back of his head.

Fear instantly stripped Victor of all ability to think. His lips became as pale as his face. He tried to force himself to stay calm, but he couldn't suppress the tremor in his voice.

"She clearly said... she would let me go."

"Wait, does she want to kill me, or is this just your idea? Or that old snake Ayin!"

"You don't need to know."

Old Quel pulled the trigger. A flash of light crossed his weathered eyes.

The young man's body slumped powerlessly. His wide eyes were filled with terror and grievance. Vivid blood stained the pure white lilies of the valley on the ground.