Passion Raga Novel (Completed) - Chapter 18

It seemed James also noticed what Yuri had picked up on. He was silent for a moment before turning his gaze to Yuri.

“Ah, come to think of it, there hasn’t been any contact on this end. Did you hear anything from Seringe, Yuri?”

“Huh? Ah, yes, I received contact this morning, but nothing has really changed.”

Yuri, standing properly behind Ling Xinlu with his hands clasped behind his back, shook his head. “I see,” James muttered, his expression not particularly regretful. It wasn’t a matter he was in a hurry about anyway. Yuri briefly looked down at Ling Xinlu. He had subtly turned his head slightly in Yuri’s direction, even though he couldn’t see him, and there was a faint flicker of agitation about him. It was probably because of Jeong Taeui.

“There’s been no contact that could confirm Mr. Jeong Taeui’s location, but there’s also been no contact indicating any bad omens. It would be more accurate to assume that someone has simply gone into hiding, rather than being harmed.”

Yuri looked at James, but added those words towards Ling Xinlu. Ling Xinlu showed no particular reaction, and James nodded, saying, “I see.”

Soon, James seemed to guess what was bothering Ling Xinlu and let out a light laugh.

“Yuri is rarely wrong. He is a competent individual. You can probably trust him to protect you during your stay here.”

Only then did Ling Xinlu turn around. He turned his head until Yuri came into view in his right eye, and when their gazes met, he narrowed his eyes slightly. Yuri couldn’t tell if it was a sneer or a snort, but he met Ling Xinlu’s gaze as if he hadn’t noticed.

“Of course. That’s why Big Brother went to the trouble of entrusting my safety to him. …I look forward to working with you, Mr. Gable.”

“No, the pleasure is mine.”

Yuri quickly bowed back to Ling Xinlu, who had suddenly bowed to him. Though his demeanor was naturally stoic and didn’t show much, Yuri actually felt like he was on pins and needles.

Perhaps fortunately, whatever his true feelings, Ling Xinlu seemed much calmer on the surface. Since morning, he had hardly shown any disheveled or rough aspects, and his tone towards Yuri had reverted to their usual semi-formal, semi-casual speech.

However, only his outward demeanor was calm; his sharply honed gaze and tone remained. A beautiful smile would occasionally grace his pretty face, but it felt as if one wrong move could provoke him to find live ammunition anywhere and put a bullet through one’s forehead.

Yuri pretended not to notice and took a step back. And behind him, he looked down at the wide-open view outside the large glass window. What caught his eye before the neat rows of buildings that promised a rather splendid night view was the outdoor pool right beneath his feet, clear water lapping without a soul in sight.

Thinking about it, he hadn’t been able to get into the water yesterday or today. He couldn’t even soak in a bathtub when washing, having to settle for a shower. Perhaps, he wouldn’t be able to swim for the duration of his stay here.

The thought made him a little gloomy. He vowed to soak in the bathtub tonight, at least.

…Ah. Bathtub. Bouquet.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Yuri whispered briefly, just loud enough not to disturb the two men talking, and quickly went to the bathroom. The bathtub, where the enormous bouquet was submerged, was almost full. A little more and the water would have overflowed.

Quickly turning off the tap and pulling the top of the bouquet out so it wouldn’t be completely submerged, Yuri wiped his hands and quietly sighed. No swimming, and in this state for several days.

He wasn’t so sensitive as to be constantly on edge about others’ malice or hostility, but this time, it was rather tiring. Perhaps it was even more so because he clearly recognized that he was quite fond of the person.

“It’s hard to be disliked by someone you like, Annette.”

Perhaps because of a dream, he muttered the name of someone not present. She would surely have whispered, ‘Oh, my darling Yuri, you fool,’ and kissed his forehead, soothing his heart with kind words borne of experience. …After which, she would tease him endlessly.

Yuri glanced out of the bathroom. He saw the two men engaged in a normal conversation. It almost seemed as if the four characters for ‘a sword hidden in a smile’ were passing above their heads as they talked elegantly with bright smiles.

James was originally someone who could swallow a snake and still smile calmly if necessary, but Ling Xinlu was somewhat surprising. No, come to think of it, Ling Xinlu was also a character whose duplicitous nature was greatly emphasized, so it wasn’t really surprising, but it was still admirable. Just this morning, no, even when it was just Yuri and him before James arrived, Ling Xinlu hadn’t shown any expression other than sneers, sarcasm, and coldness, but now, he was wearing a gentle and lovely smile all over his face, as if nothing had ever happened.

Amazing… that man should be an actor.

Yuri, who had been admiring Ling Xinlu greatly in his mind, however, flinched the very next moment as Ling Xinlu looked directly at him, as if he had already known. For a fleeting moment, his eyes seemed to flash black, then softened into a gentle curve.

“Mr. Gable, why are you watching from there? If you’re done, please come over here.”

Following Ling Xinlu’s words, who gently beckoned and pointed over his left shoulder with his chin, Yuri murmured, “Yes,” and left the bathroom.

Having good intuition and quick wit doesn’t seem to be only an advantage. Yuri was now hearing a silent message: ‘I told you your gaze was unpleasant. Don’t stare from there, just stay stuck behind my left side, out of my sight.’

As he silently moved to return to his original spot, the bell rang, as if on cue, just as Yuri passed the intercom. It was an internal call.

He had wondered why a call would come from another room, but it was indeed from the lobby desk on the first floor. While Yuri briefly answered, “Yes, that’s right, yes, yes, just a moment,” the two men paused their conversation and looked at him. Yuri covered the mouthpiece and turned to Ling Xinlu.

“A guest has come to see Mr. Ling Xinlu. They said his name is Ling Paowin.”

Ling Xinlu furrowed his brow slightly, as if he couldn’t quite recall the name despite Yuri pronouncing it clearly as the desk had. But soon, he murmured, “Ah, I see,” as if he recognized who it was.

“He’s my cousin from near Berlin. It seems he heard the news and came to pay his respects.”

“How quick,” Ling Xinlu said with a wry smile. In front of him, James made to leave, saying, “Ah, then I suppose I should be going.” Anyway, the conversation between the two had been nothing more than superficial greetings. The serious discussions about this situation were surely raging between their respective legal teams so Ling Xinlu didn’t try to stop him.

James stood up and gestured to Yuri, who was replying, “Yes, please send him up,” and hanging up the receiver.

“If it’s a relative, there might be private matters to discuss. Wouldn’t it be better to give them some space for a moment? Since you can speak Chinese, too.”

Yuri briefly wondered if Ling Xinlu would truly not understand what James was saying in German, but he glanced at Ling Xinlu, who was silently watching them, and replied in German.

“No, because we don’t know who might be dangerous.”

The moment those words left his lips, a faint chuckle was heard from Ling Xinlu.

As expected, he understood. It seemed likely. He vaguely remembered Ling Tangwin once mentioning his youngest brother’s exceptional and diverse language skills in passing.

“Even so, he’s a close relative. Isn’t it a bit unfortunate to suspect him so openly?”

To the reproach from someone who couldn’t immediately recall the name of a close relative, Yuri humbly replied, “My apologies,” and bowed his head.

“He’s not the type of person to do anything dangerous. He’s probably just hoping to make a good impression on me so I’ll speak well of him to Father, and he’ll be obsequious.”

“…………”

Yuri thought that perhaps someone else’s open suspicion was better than a relative’s open contempt, but he said nothing. Ling Xinlu waved his hand with an elegant and pretty smile, as if asking who on earth had said such harsh words.

“But it seems Mr. Miller wants to talk more, so go ahead. I won’t do anything to worry about just because there’s no one watching.”

Yuri paused. He stared at Ling Xinlu, and when their eyes met, he spoke seriously.

“Surveillance? That’s not it. You can move freely as you wish. I’m just here to ensure nothing dangerous happens. No one is forcing you to do anything in any way.”

He didn’t want Ling Xinlu to think he was tied up, or imprisoned. Had he thought that all along? With an unpleasant and vexed feeling in his heart.

Perhaps. Yuri had certainly prevented Ling Xinlu from returning to Seringe. To prevent him, agitated and irrational, from meeting a senseless, dog-like death. To prevent his unhealed wounds from worsening due to neglect.

“No one,…”

But Yuri stopped there. He blinked with his mouth open, then closed it. His words were stifled by Ling Xinlu’s gaze, which watched him without expression. Ling Xinlu looked at Yuri blankly, his eyes slightly widened, neither angry nor pleased, his thoughts unreadable. His black eyes seemed to bind Yuri’s gaze, making him unable to look away. Then, Yuri noticed another gaze fixed on him over Ling Xinlu’s shoulder and finally looked up slightly. James was looking at him intently, and when their eyes met, he smiled casually.

Ling Xinlu also seemed to feel Yuri’s gaze shift behind him, so he turned his head. James lightly shrugged his shoulders and said with a charming smile,

“He’s a man who values human rights greatly. And he’s diligent in his work.”

“So it seems.”

Ling Xinlu also smiled in response. But his smile felt somewhat formal and chilling.

It seemed this man was twisted somewhere again. Yuri thought, silently watching Ling Xinlu. However, he couldn’t tell where he was twisted, and without time to ponder, the doorbell announcing someone at the door rang, forcing him to retreat from the spot.

Yuri bowed to the visitor who entered with a pleasant face, then left the room with James, stating that he would be in the lobby downstairs until the conversation was over. He also didn’t forget to station another bodyguard, who didn’t understand their language, inside the entrance, where their conversation wouldn’t be clearly heard but they would be visible.

“He’s a difficult young master. What do you like about that young man, you?”

As soon as they sat down in the open, spacious café area inside the hotel entrance on the first floor, this was James’s abrupt first remark.

In front of a grand piano, whose location was ambiguous due to the café’s unclear boundaries it seemed to be part of the café, though a neat young lady sat playing quiet tunes that wouldn’t disturb people’s conversations.

“A piano, indeed. The sound of the live performance is truly special,” Yuri muttered as he sat down. He chose a seat closer to the terrace, with a direct view of the outdoor pool. As soon as he sat, he seemed to forget about the piano and his companion, giving the pool an anxious gaze. Only when James spoke did he belatedly turn his head.

“Huh?”

“’Huh?’ It’s not ‘huh?’ You quite like him, don’t you? Am I wrong?”

“Well, you usually pretend to be indifferent but secretly like people, but you seem to like him more than usual,” James said, opening the menu handed to him by the waiter. Without looking for long, he muttered “Espresso,” and Yuri, following him, said, “Same for me.” Then, facing James, who was staring at him, Yuri scratched his temple with a nonchalant and troubled expression.

“Yes, that’s right. …He’s not a bad person.”

“Hmm,” James tilted his head.

“I just thought he was a bright and clever youngest son, raised with love in a rich family, but he looks like a pretty cat and is a lion cub.”

Muttering indifferently, James turned his head, glared at a glass shelf next to the counter, and then called the waiter to order one of each type of macaron. Seeing someone who usually didn’t enjoy sweets doing this, he figured James must be under considerable stress these days.

“Do you dislike him?”

“Well, it’s not like I’m going to see him again, so what does it matter if I like him or not? But if I had to say, I dislike difficult people regardless of gender, age, race, or nationality. Among them, a forty-something German man who loves books to the point of madness is the worst.”

“Ah,” Yuri said, taking his hand away from his temple, and looked sympathetically at the bulging vein on James’s forehead. Then he asked about the whereabouts of that problematic forty-something German man.

“Where is he now?”

“Cordoba.”

“At least he didn’t go too far.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yuri, facing James’s fierce glare, muttered defensively, “It’s better than when he took a flight to Peru, saying he wanted to go to the South Pole, like before.” And for that slip of the tongue, he had to endure James’s complaints and curses, which began with, “Better? What’s better about it?!” until the coffee and pastries arrived. No, until the coffee cup was empty and all the pastries were gone.

It seemed he had a lot bottled up. Well, he probably did. There was probably no one who understood James as well as Yuri. Yuri, who had worked alongside Kyle, assisting James before going to the intelligence agency, still considered James to be the most excellent person in terms of character.

This man seemed cold and decisive, but in strange ways, he was subtly soft, or perhaps too rigid, so he was dragged along whenever Kyle wouldn’t accept his resignation.

Yuri gazed intently at James, who gulped down his espresso and macarons like water, and said half-jokingly, half-seriously,

“Why don’t you just tell him to hand over the entire management rights, then?”

“He was happy about it.”

“………”

Indeed, that man would probably be like that.