Passion Novel - Volume 5 - Chapter 124

A memory suddenly surfaced.

A memory from a few days ago. The memory of himself in a miserable state in front of another person’s gaze.

Seeing Jeong Taeui’s face instantly stiffen, Ilay, too, briefly lost his smile. His hand gripping Jeong Taeui’s jaw seemed to tighten.

But it was only for an instant.

The very next moment, Ilay’s expression returned. It wasn’t the same face as a moment ago, when his expression had been wiped clean as if caught off guard. With his usual indifferent yet subtly smiling, cold expression, he briefly lifted his gaze into the air.

“This little kid, I thought he was out of sight for a while, but he seems to have grown quite bold.”

“Haha,” Ilay chuckled lowly. Jeong Taeui, who had slightly frowned at his words, then noticed. Over Ilay’s shoulder, Xinlu was aiming a gun at them. It was a .22 caliber handgun, small enough to be handled with one hand once one was used to it. But even such a small gun, at this distance and if aimed accurately, could easily kill a person.

“Riegrow. …I’ll shoot.” Xinlu said quietly.

Jeong Taeui watched him without blinking. Ilay’s hand gripping his jaw, the recent memory, the situation of Xinlu pointing a gun at Ilay—nothing came to mind. He was simply looking at the gun in Xinlu’s hand. And at those small lips from which quiet words flowed.

It was moments like this that made him feel unfamiliar. Moments like this, when he clearly felt that those fingers would unhesitatingly pull the trigger.

Jeong Taeui realized.

His feeling of unfamiliarity was his own fault. Xinlu hadn’t changed. He had simply misunderstood him. Ilay, who had been looking down at Jeong Taeui, suddenly narrowed his eyes and chuckled. The thumb that had been lightly moving on Jeong Taeui’s lips slowly fell away. Flick, he licked his thumb. His amused eyes continued to stare intently at Jeong Taeui throughout.

“I told you. You were mistaken. …Well, even so, your perception won’t change.”

Ilay mumbled lowly. And he turned around casually. A few steps ahead, the muzzle of the gun was pointed at his head. Click, the sound of the hammer being cocked was heard.

“Xinlu!” Jeong Taeui shouted, but no one answered. With the gun, its muzzle raised as if ready to spit fire at any moment, between them, Ilay calmly looked at the young man who could undoubtedly pull the trigger without hesitation. Then, at some point, he smiled.

“Indeed… it’s not.”

At his low whisper, Xinlu merely kept his gaze fixed. Ilay’s eyes narrowed further.

“I thought this guy played quite deliciously even when doing things like this, but you don’t. This is just… a fearless little puppy.”

Ilay subtly raised his hand. Simultaneously with that small movement, Xinlu pulled the trigger. It was then.

Clang.

A dull clang of metal striking metal echoed. At first, Jeong Taeui didn’t know what the sound was. But he soon realized. It was the sound of a silenced gun’s firing pin striking a bullet.

And with that sound, the gun flew from Xinlu’s hand, which had just been pulling the trigger. The gun, escaping his grip and bouncing, fell far behind, near the waterline where the seawater pushed and pulled. Its barrel was twisted.

Seeing Xinlu grimace and clutch his wrist, which must have been sprained, Jeong Taeui looked behind him. The dull metallic sound had come from behind him. Behind them, Gable was standing. He held a gun with his usual gruff expression, its muzzle pointed at Xinlu.

“I’ll kill him,” Ilay mumbled. But Gable, without lowering the gun aimed at Xinlu, said in a reluctant tone, “Take on such dangerous roles yourself. I have no intention of making an enemy of the Ling family.”

“I think you’ve already messed up.”

“No, I haven’t. I’m risking my life, you know.”

Gable said casually, then sighed. He already knew that the scope of a marksman, hidden somewhere in the forest overlooking the beach about 100 meters away, was precisely aimed at him.

Ling Xinlu. He was Ling Huolong’s cherished son. He wouldn’t be here alone.

Xinlu, who had been flexing his wrist slightly, glared at Gable.

“What’s that? Do you want to die, you bastard?”

Though his expression remained largely unruffled, Xinlu’s voice had become very rough. As if anger had burst forth all at once from the unfamiliar pain. Gable frowned slightly. He had a calculating look on his face, as if deciding how to respond. Jeong Taeui suddenly thought, If he dies trying to protect a monster like Ilay, that would truly be unfair.

“…Xinlu. Are you badly hurt?”

Jeong Taeui sighed, looking at the hand clutching his wrist. Concern naturally seeped into his words. Only then did Xinlu’s gaze return to Jeong Taeui. On that expressionless, cold face, a painful glint instantly spread.

“It hurts, Hyung. My wrist bone might be broken. It hurts so much.”

His voice trembled faintly. It was a voice that made the listener feel the pain.

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue and stepped forward. Ilay grabbed his shoulder. But Jeong Taeui calmly gripped that hand, removed it, and looked at Ilay. Their eyes met.

“Where are you going?”

“He said his wrist is hurt. I’m good at looking at those things. …Ilay. Don’t stop me. I’m not leaving.”

Jeong Taeui emphasized the last words. Twitch, Ilay’s lips twisted. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Jeong Taeui suddenly sighed. Then, he looked up at him intently and mumbled, “Alright.” He pulled him towards Xinlu.

“Okay, then you can come too. Together.”

Jeong Taeui dragged him towards Xinlu without giving him a chance to speak. He then positioned Ilay on the opposite side of the sea, with Xinlu in front of him. Finally, Jeong Taeui himself stood on the side of the sea and took Xinlu’s wrist. “Let’s see,” he mumbled, carefully moving Xinlu’s wrist.

Xinlu looked at Jeong Taeui with a strange expression. Ilay, who stood facing Jeong Taeui with Xinlu between them, also had a subtle expression.

And a little distance away from them, Gable lowered his gun. He could no longer aim at Xinlu from his position. Ilay was blocking his view.

Similarly, the person holding a rifle, aiming at Jeong Taeui from the forest some distance away, also had their view obstructed.

No one spoke, and Jeong Taeui alone examined Xinlu’s wrist with a serious expression. He carefully felt his wrist and the back of his hand, checking for any injuries. And Xinlu stared blankly at him.

“It’s probably just a slight sprain, but if it hurts a lot, go to the hospital. Still, it doesn’t seem like a serious injury.”

“…Taei Hyung.”

“That’s why, Xinlu.”

Jeong Taeui said calmly. After thoroughly examining Xinlu’s wrist and releasing it, saying it was fine, Jeong Taeui looked at Xinlu. He met his blank stare directly.

“If I wasn’t by your side, you would have thought it better to kill me instead.”

“…”

“That’s why.”

Xinlu remained silent. He just stared at Jeong Taeui. Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue bitterly and scratched his head. If you’re going to kill someone, kill that guy, that guy, I even gave you his position, Jeong Taeui muttered, gesturing at Ilay with his chin. He then looked at Xinlu, who was still silent, with a slightly awkward expression.

He hadn’t noticed or suspected it at first. But when he realized that a marksman was hidden nearby, Jeong Taeui understood without being told.

The marksman hiding to protect Xinlu wasn’t aiming at Ilay. Of course, not Gable either.

He was aiming at Jeong Taeui. Perhaps with a small gesture, a small signal from Xinlu, the long, thin bullet from the rifle would instantly pierce Jeong Taeui’s head.

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue, feeling unnecessarily awkward. Then, he glanced at Ilay, who was standing behind Xinlu. Their eyes met, and Ilay raised an eyebrow.

“But if you’re going to kill someone, why me and not him?”

He’s the one you should hate, not me, Jeong Taeui mumbled softly to Xinlu, in a voice too low for Ilay to hear.

Xinlu looked at him silently, as if he hadn’t heard Jeong Taeui’s words. He stared for a long time, as if lost in thought, then, at some point, he smiled. A little weakly, or as if amused.

“I was planning to kill Riegrow myself. My father found a capable marksman for me, but he specifically instructed him not to cause trouble with that family unless I was directly harmed. …Besides.”

Xinlu, who had been mumbling in a weak voice, paused for a moment. Then, looking at Jeong Taeui with subtle eyes, he continued.

“His death and your coming to me are separate issues.”

So, you’d kill me if it came down to it? —Jeong Taeui was about to say, somewhat bewildered, but then closed his mouth. He suddenly remembered something his uncle had said long ago.

—That kid, he has an unexpected side.

Unexpected. That damn unexpectedness. The unexpectedness he had never thought of had been more than one or two things so far. Would there be more in the future? He hoped it wouldn’t get any worse than this.

Jeong Taeui wanted to tear at his hair, but hearing Xinlu’s weak voice, he felt his own strength drain, and he sighed. Xinlu lowered his head and looked at his hand. He quietly clutched his wrist, which Jeong Taeui had just seriously examined to see if it was truly injured.

“I was going to take you by force, even if I had to.”

His small murmur sounded like he was talking to himself. But after saying that and remaining silently lost in thought for a moment, Xinlu raised his head. A faint smile appeared on his face.

He smiled calmly and spoke again.

“If that doesn’t work, I was going to take your corpse back, but I’ll give up.”

Jeong Taeui looked at that bright smile, which he hadn’t seen in a long time, and pondered for a moment. Should he say thank you in this situation, or should he be angry? However, before Jeong Taeui could finish his deliberation, a chuckle was heard first.

“Even if he becomes a corpse, he’s not yours. Even if that guy became a corpse, I’d swallow every single strand of his hair, but I wouldn’t give him to you. I wouldn’t even bury him in the ground.”

A slow, languid voice flowed from behind Xinlu, from Ilay. The expression on Jeong Taeui’s face vanished for a moment. Rather than vanishing, it froze.

Ah. I just got goosebumps. When that guy talks, it never sounds like a joke. He’s just too mentally abnormal.

Jeong Taeui rubbed his chilling arm and looked at Ilay with a disgusted expression. Ilay slightly raised an eyebrow and met Jeong Taeui’s gaze. Their eyes met, and he faintly smiled.

The smile vanished from Xinlu’s face. Xinlu, who had been silent for a moment with an expressionless face like a doll, twisted his lips. A low click of his tongue escaped through his teeth.

“I don’t want to leave him by your side for a single moment, but… Taei Hyung. Tell me. Will you come with me? If you say yes, I’ll take you no matter what—no matter what it takes. But then, you’ll be mine.”

His voice was rarely this serious.

Xinlu spoke, looking directly at Jeong Taeui, as if it were a separate matter from Ilay standing behind him. His tone was quiet but firm.

Jeong Taeui stared blankly back at Xinlu. Then, at some point, he chuckled faintly.

“What would you do with a corpse? Skin it and make clothes?”

“No. I’d put it on a body pillow and hug it every time I sleep.”

“…”

Why are their jokes so gruesome…?

Jeong Taeui clicked his tongue, muttering, “Oh, really?” Xinlu smiled quietly, seeing Jeong Taeui’s bitter expression. Jeong Taeui also smiled, looking at his face.

“I won’t go with you.”

When he answered quietly, Xinlu nodded.

“Alright. Then, I’ll wait.”

“Oh… um?”

“Anytime is fine. I said I’d take you no matter what if you wanted. I’ll stay near you and wait slowly.”

Xinlu said with a light sigh. Jeong Taeui looked at him, tilting his head slightly.

At first, he had taken his words superficially. But there was something about Xinlu’s words, as he brushed the sand from his trouser leg, that bothered him. As Jeong Taeui wondered what it was, Ilay, whose gaze had turned cold, spoke beside him.

“You’ll hover nearby…?”

Xinlu, who had meticulously brushed off his trouser leg without seeming to hear him, straightened up, then turned to look at him.

“Yes. If Taei Hyung wants it, I’ll take him no matter what. No matter what it takes. If that happens, I’ll make sure Hyung never appears before your eyes again. …Just one word. Just say ‘take me,’ and I’ll take Hyung. Even if, yes, even if I die. But in return, then Hyung is mine.”

The last words were directed at Jeong Taeui.

He was clearly announcing. He would definitely help him escape from this man. But after that, he would not be able to escape from him.

Jeong Taeui said nothing. He just swallowed dryly, his mouth incredibly bitter.

“A little kid who’s grown quite bold, huh?” Ilay chuckled, muttering. But his voice was tinged with menace.

“You trust your father too much, Xinlu.”

Ilay smiled. He kept smiling even as he said that. But Jeong Taeui knew that smile was no longer a smile. As everyone else present knew.

“Ilay!”

A sudden surge of anxiety made Jeong Taeui call out to him. Ilay, who had just been about to take a step, glanced at Jeong Taeui, only his eyes moving.

“I’m not going. …So don’t touch him.”

Ilay stopped moving. His eyes, looking down at Jeong Taeui, revealed nothing of his thoughts. Flick, a finger moved. As if regretting the neck he couldn’t grasp and tear. Eventually, his gaze shifted to Xinlu.

Xinlu stood a few steps away. It was clear that if Ilay tried to harm him, it wouldn’t take more than a few tens of seconds. A few tens of seconds.

Ilay and Xinlu’s eyes met. A faint tension appeared in Xinlu’s eyes, overlaid with a hint of a smile. At that reddish smile, Ilay’s eyes narrowed.

A few tens of seconds. More than enough time for Xinlu to signal the marksman and make Jeong Taeui his companion to the underworld.

It was when Ilay was looking down at Xinlu, seemingly lost in thought. Jeong Taeui muttered, “Ugh, I was just enjoying the sea, why is it like this?” Then, he sighed deeply and said, “I think I’ll go back. If you guys want to stay longer, go ahead. And Xinlu. See you next time. But before that.”

Jeong Taeui, who had been speaking to Ilay and Gable, turned sharply to Xinlu and strode towards him. Jeong Taeui stopped in front of Xinlu, who was staring at him with wide eyes, then suddenly smiled faintly.

And the next moment.

Thwack, with a rough sound, Xinlu, who had been punched by Jeong Taeui, clutched his face and tumbled onto the sand.

“Taei, Hyung—?!”

Xinlu, his eyes wide with surprise rather than pain, looked at Jeong Taeui. Jeong Taeui muttered, “Oops, I hit him wrong,” and frowned, rubbing his fist. He looked at Xinlu with an expression of indignation, even though he was the one who had hit him.

“You deserve a beating today, but I can’t hit someone I haven’t seen in a long time too much… Don’t do that again. I don’t want to hit you again. Because it hurts me.”

“…My heart, or my fist?”

“Both! If you do that again, you’ll get another beating.”

Xinlu, still clutching his face, stared blankly at Jeong Taeui, but then obediently nodded. “Yes,” he replied. Jeong Taeui wondered for a moment if he had understood why he was hit, but he didn’t say anything more. If he started talking about taking a person’s life as he pleased, the conversation would probably get long. (And somehow, he felt that even if he said it, Xinlu wouldn’t really understand.)

Jeong Taeui looked down at him for a moment with complex emotions. Sitting on the sand, he looked pathetic and beautiful. But behind that face, there was clearly a distinct unexpectedness. He briefly considered helping him up, then turned away. Then, his eyes met Ilay’s, who was standing in front of him, looking on indifferently.

“Are you staying longer?”

“Well… I’m thinking about it.”

“If you’re thinking, let’s go together.”

“Hmm… well…”

“…I’d like it if we went together.”

Jeong Taeui hesitated for a moment, then subtly mumbled to Ilay, who seemed inclined to stay a little longer. Ilay’s gaze fell on Jeong Taeui.

“Why? Are you afraid of what I’ll do to that little kid as soon as you leave?”

“That’s not it, well, that too, but… The kid who brought me here earlier took a really roundabout way. I don’t know how to get back.”