Passion Raga Novel (Completed) - Chapter 9

“Did Xinlu cause some trouble?”

“No, not really. ……Though it seems like he’s constantly looking for an opportunity to cause trouble the moment a weakness appears.”

Jeong Taeui sighed and rubbed his temples. He showed no outward signs of distress, but it seemed he was bothered by it in his own way.

“That guy… he wasn’t like that originally. No, I should say he wasn’t like that at first. When I first met him, and for a while after, he was incredibly friendly and kind. He probably still is that way with people he gets along with without much trouble. That’s likely his usual personality.”

Yuri didn’t respond much to Jeong Taeui, who mumbled, ‘…if only the situation and emotions hadn’t gotten so twisted.’ He simply offered an ambiguous, “Is that so?”

Perhaps. He might indeed be friendly and smile kindly when dealing with people in general. Just considering how he treated Yuri himself, if you only looked at his tone and expression, wasn’t it friendly and kind, accompanied by a smile? Even though the maliciousness within him was clearly and unfiltered, if Yuri and he hadn’t encountered each other here in Selingay if Ille, Yi, and Yuri hadn’t been on the same side Ling Xinlu might have hidden that malevolent aura and only shown the image of a gentle and lively young man.

……But even so, it seemed unlikely that his personality would allow him to indiscriminately smile sweetly at people he didn’t particularly like. So, there was no doubt that he had been putting on an act in front of Jeong Taeui.

“When a person is pushed to the brink, their true nature comes out.”

At that moment, Riegrow walked out from behind Jeong Taeui, who had been silently brooding. His shirt was disheveled, as if he had been taking a nap in his room. He watched the almost-finished game, and as expected, Ille turned his head with an expression of complete disinterest, regardless of whether it was a domestic game or not, then sat next to Jeong Taeui and snatched his beer. Jeong Taeui let out a short yelp at the sight of him emptying the can in just a few gulps.

…They probably wouldn’t like to hear it themselves, but in some ways, Riegrow and Ling Xinlu seemed to have similar traits. For example, that very remark just now. Yuri had heard almost the exact same words, without a single syllable out of place, from Ling Xinlu that morning.

‘It’s true what I said about trying to bring back even a corpse. I’m still thinking that way.’

When Yuri casually replied, ‘Good luck,’ to Ling Xinlu’s declaration that he couldn’t stand to lose, that was the response he got. That he would bring back even a corpse.

‘Why are you telling me this? I have no intention of relaying our conversation to them. I haven’t done so until now.’

Yuri stared blankly at him before declaring his neutrality. To him, who widened his eyes slightly, feigning surprise and amusement, Yuri added, while he was at it:

‘Furthermore, no advantageous opportunity will arise for Mr. Ling Xinlu because of me. So,’

At that point, Yuri paused. He couldn’t immediately think of what to say next.

So don’t talk to me, don’t pick a fight with me, don’t provoke me. All seemed plausible, yet subtly unfitting. After a moment of contemplation, Yuri’s chosen reply came out in a weary voice.

‘You don’t need to struggle every morning, chasing away sleep.’

Ling Xinlu, whose eyelids were still heavy with the lingering sleep of dawn, blinked a couple more times after Yuri’s words fell. In that short interval, the sleepiness vanished from his eyes, replaced by a cheerful light.

‘Ahaha, are you worried about me? Thank you. But it’s okay. It’s not that much trouble. Besides, just like now, talking with you sometimes makes me very cheerful.’

‘That’s… appreciated,’ Yuri mumbled. Ling Xinlu, having shed his playful demeanor and returned to the image of a cool and sharp young man, perhaps one of his essential aspects muttered softly.

“I don’t wish for a corpse either. If possible, I’d like to return together in a gentle and peaceful atmosphere. ……But when a person is pushed to the brink, their true nature comes out.”

That still-young face, with its sweet softness and a touch of impishness, looked like the expression of a man far beyond his years when he spoke of his true nature. He wore a bitter, arrogant smile, as if he disliked his own true nature but couldn’t help it.

Yuri gazed at him with an expressionless face. He felt sorry to see that beautiful face furrowed. He pitied that face, which fleetingly showed emotions close to self-reproach. He wished it would stay beautiful.

‘……. It’s a common saying that a person’s true nature is revealed when they are agitated or cornered. Every time I hear that, I used to think: if someone lives as they usually do for eleven and a half months out of the year, and only reveals their true nature for the remaining half month, is their essential personality truly that half month? I see that person in their usual state twenty times more often than when they are agitated. If so, how important is that ‘essence’ really?’

He didn’t particularly intend to comfort Ling Xinlu. What influence did this so-called true nature, which people often spoke of, have on his relationship with him, if Ling Xinlu had no particular intention of harming him? He had wondered about this for a long time.

Yuri, who had been gazing into the air, shifted his gaze to Ling Xinlu, who was staring intently at him. The beautiful face was devoid of expression, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

When it came to being difficult to read, this man was no different.

Yuri sighed and picked up the water bottle he had thrown on the sand. It was about time to go back.

‘But I do think that half-month might be your essence. Because that half-month is far more intense than the other eleven and a half months combined.’

As he nonchalantly mumbled and took a step, Ling Xinlu, who had been staring at Yuri with an unreadable expression until then, suddenly wrinkled his nose. He pouted his lips, feigning displeasure.

‘Are you saying I’m inherently ill-tempered…?’

‘No.’

‘Seems like it?’

‘No.’

It wasn’t entirely untrue, but Yuri denied it flatly with a calm face. He felt that if he admitted it, he would be picked on endlessly. He glared at Yuri intently, but then, at some point, he laughed silently. A quiet breath escaped his lips, forming a soft curve. Yuri found his gaze involuntarily drawn to his mouth.

Ah, it truly felt like a flower blooming. That luminous flower that had bloomed in the water so long ago, now gracefully unfurled its petals. How could he be so beautiful? Even knowing full well that he was staring intently at him, then narrowing his eyes, Yuri couldn’t tear his gaze away.

…Well, what did it matter? It wasn’t a sin, just staring blankly.

It was regrettable that he was a dangerous flower not to be touched, but thinking about it, he had never truly coveted it, even if he wanted it. If a flower was beautiful, wasn’t it enough to admire it? There was no need to pluck it and hold it in his hand.

‘Why are you staring at me like that?’

Only after hearing the slow question did he realize that Ling Xinlu was looking back at him. The slightly slanted eyes seemed to say, I know why you’re staring at me.

‘Because you’re beautiful.’

Since it was already obvious, there was no need to hide it. When Yuri replied, Ling Xinlu slightly furrowed his brows and then clicked his tongue with a deflated expression.

‘I’ve heard that thousands of times, but Mr. Gable is the first person to say it with such an indifferent face.’

‘You’ve heard it that often?’

‘Why, don’t you believe it? There were people lining up at our front gate every day, desperate to see me even once.’

‘It’s not a joke,’ he added. Hearing that, Yuri imagined himself standing at his front gate. It was surprisingly easy to picture him standing there regularly every morning, even though he wasn’t swimming.

That was why. A feeling Yuri rarely experienced suddenly surged within him. It was spite.

‘You should thank your face. A significant part of why I’ve never failed to get what I wanted is thanks to it.’

‘So you think you can get Jeong Taeui too.’

‘ Hyung, I know he’s not someone who can be swayed by looks alone, so I’m thinking of other methods.’

Ling Xinlu raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that Yuri had brought up Jeong Taeui. Yuri looked at the sky once, then the sand, and then at him.

‘Do you like Jeong Taeui, or do you just dislike someone else having him?’

Direct and to the point.

Those four words seemed to have fallen squarely on Ling Xinlu’s head. His face instantly lost all expression. Silence lingered for a while.

‘That’s very presumptuous.’

His voice seemed to have dropped in temperature. The cool voice was like ice. Even more than expected.

Yes, even more than expected.

And only then did Yuri realize that, while he had guessed his words would displease Ling Xinlu, the reaction was more intense than anticipated. Perhaps he had touched upon a certain weakness that Ling Xinlu himself was deliberately trying not to acknowledge. He hadn’t intended to.

‘Did my feelings seem that ridiculous to you? So much so that you could judge and trample them carelessly? ……So I seemed that ridiculous to you?’

A swirling smile reappeared on his face. As if he had never been caught off guard and angered. But his eyes were as black as an abyss.

Yuri remained silent. He hadn’t spoken out of ridicule, nor had he intended to trample on anything, but whatever he said wouldn’t reach Ling Xinlu’s ears anyway. In that silence, he regretted it. Due to a momentary surge of spite, he had wounded a child’s precarious pride.

Don’t be so childish, Yuri Gable. To someone ten years younger than you.

It was when Yuri silently bowed his head slightly instead of speaking.

Thwack.

A clenched fist ruthlessly struck Yuri’s temple.

He was more surprised than hurt.

No, even that surprise came a little while later.

His head shook, and he lost his balance, falling onto the sand before he could even think. After the white sand gritted against his legs, palms, and elbows, it was a moment later that Yuri could finally form a thought. And he was surprised.

Yuri wasn’t originally combat personnel, so it wasn’t surprising that Ling Xinlu had the skill to knock him down. Still, even though he had expected a punch or something to fly, he had no time to dodge. Furthermore, the impact was strong enough to make his head dizzy and cause a faint sensation of nausea.

He knew Ling Xinlu had the ability to enter UNHRDO as a chief, but that perception had been blurred by his gentle appearance. So Yuri was surprised once again by his own soft judgment.

‘I thought you were a rational and discerning person, so why were you so presumptuous? Is it because you expected my older brother to be your shield? Didn’t Hyung tell you not to do anything annoying carelessly and to be careful?’

‘…….’

‘You’re a smart person, Mr. Gable. And quick-witted. But you need to act more carefully. Who knows if next time, instead of a fist, a gun barrel will be pressed against your temple?’

Ling Xinlu shrugged his shoulders, asking, ‘Isn’t that right?’

He had come out, still half-asleep and unarmed, but if he had brought a gun, he might have shot Yuri then and there. Perhaps not the temple, but an elbow or an ankle.

Ling Xinlu clicked his tongue softly. ‘This… it’s no fun, just ruins my mood,’ he muttered to himself, then turned away. His stiffened shoulders, indicative of his displeasure, strode away quickly.

Yuri’s head was still reeling, and he felt he would sway if he stood up now, so he remained seated on the sand for a moment longer, watching him.

He felt a bit depressed. Yuri quietly savored the feeling of regret, a sentiment as distant from him as spite. He sighed quietly, recalling one or two emotions he usually barely acknowledged.

“What a strange thing, sighing like an old man.”

This man, who mumbled beside him without even looking at Yuri, would he ever truly feel things like depression or regret? Yuri watched Jeong Taeui, who had stormed off to the kitchen after having his beer snatched away, return clutching a beer can, and thought as he looked at Riegrow, who was blinking his eyes cheerfully.