Crimson Instinct

Chapter 128: Xin Zhen

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*Xin Lei*

Tian Song led us inside the building, and as we kept on walking, my heart was racing in nervousness and excitement to meet my brother.

We got out of the elevator and stepped into a room that looked more like a lounge. 

Tian Song stopped, and so did we.

He turned and said, "Wait here for a moment." And he left.

"This place is so cool. It looks so mysterious like in the thriller movies." Liao Huifang looked around and exclaimed, seemingly excited.

But where she seemed excited, the expressions on the two men beside me were not so good.

Bai Li and Yuan looked a little - no a lot more distressed.

Bai Li said, exhaled. "Now that I think about it, it finally struck me that I am meeting your brother as your boyfriend too. I was only thinking about the case in the hospital. Is he going to eat me up?"

"..."

I couldn't console him otherwise. Big brother wasn't that easygoing.

"Rong Zhengsheng said that Xin Nianzu and he are polar opposites."

I couldn't agree more.

"Your Dad was so nice. I think he caught onto our relationship, but he didn't grill me. Will your brother be nice too?"

I pursed my lips.

"Xin Lei, I do not like your silence." Bai Li coughed.

I typed. "He is not that bad. Don't worry. You will be fine."

Bai Li's eyebrow twitched. "Previously, you said that 'we' will be fine and now it's just 'you.' Are you abandoning me, Xin Lei?"

Liao Huifang cracked in laughter. "Poor Bai Li. He is left all alone to fend for himself."

"Shut up."

I coughed and looked away in embarrassment.

I glanced at Yuan and typed. "Why do you look so pale, Yuan?"

Yuan cleared his throat. "Nothing it's been ten years since I met your brother, so I am just a bit nervous. After all, I was your ex."

I sighed.

I typed. "He is really not that bad."

"So how good am I, Xin Lei?"

I froze. I heard the familiar voice from behind my back. Well, not just his voice; I could feel the chills too.

I shivered and straightened up.

I slowly turned, and my brother's face came into view, his tall stature brooding over me as he kept on walking towards us. He got his looks from Dad, which was so apparent with the similar brows, eyes, and lips that were just like him. On the other hand, I looked more like Mom.

His gaze was sharp and alert, and a grave expression marred his handsome face. There was a light stubble grown on his chin, and I could see faint bags under his eyes. Just like Tian Song said, bro had indeed lost weight. He looked so thinner than the last time I saw him.

But what worried me the most was the way he addressed me.

Xin Lei.

I gulped.

He called me Lei Lei just like my Dad did, but when he was annoyed or furious, he would call me by my full name.

I wished to run somewhere far away and never come back.

Bro stood in front of me, and I immediately hugged him.

Let's just act pitiful and calm him down.

I typed. "Brother, I missed you so much! You disappeared so suddenly, and I got so worried about you."

Bro stared at me with a scrutinizing gaze, and he flicked my forehead. "Stop with that drama."

Ow! It hurt.

I lowered my head, pouting my lips.

"You are a doctor. Since when did you stop using your scalpel and start to use a magnifying glass instead? We have some vacancies. Should I hire you as a detective? After all, the doctor's degree is wasted on you now." He sneered.

Bro had a sharp tongue. In that sense, he and Bai Li were quite similar. 

I typed. "If you and Dad hadn't disappeared, then I wouldn't have to put my detective hat on."

Bro didn't respond. Instead, he looked at the others.

His glance fell on Yuan first. "Hello, Mr. ex-boyfriend, who couldn't make his relationship last for more than a month. Nice to meet you... again."

Everybody except him and Tian Song coughed hard.

I couldn't believe bro said that!

I quickly looked at Yuan, and awkwardly smiled. His smile faltered, but he still looked composed.

I internally cried.

"H-hello broth-" he coughed, "I mean Mr. Xin."

"Good that you realized that we are not close enough for you to call me brother." Bro coldly said.

Alright. His mood was really bad.

"Are you also giving up on your doctor's job like my idiot sister and joining the investigation line of work?"

My mouth twitched.

"No, Mr. Xin. I am here for work only."

"Oh, yes, I remember now."

Then his sharp gaze fell upon Bai Li, and I already wanted to faint. He sized him up and down before it finally settled on his face.

"And hello, Mr. current boyfriend, who my sister seems to 'like' very much. Nice to meet you."

"..."

The emphasis on like

Bai Li turned his head in his direction and said, "Hello, Xin Zhen. Nice to meet you too. About the like part, it's not just her. The feeling is mutual."

I widened my eyes and stared at him, dumbfounded.

Wasn't he nervous just a few moments ago?

He didn't seem to be bothered with the ex and current stuff.

Bro narrowed his eyes at him.

I broke into a cold sweat.

What is this invisible pressure I am feeling?

"I am not impressed."

"I didn't mean to impress you either. I am just stating a fact."

Silence.

I have to do something, or there would be a world war three here!

I typed. "Bro. Meet Liao Huifang!"

Liao Huifang seemed startled.

She nervously looked at bro and smiled. "H-hello. I am Liao Huifang. I am in your sister's care-"

"My sister doesn't have the time to babysit. Why are you tagging along? If every victim's relative started to tag along with her, then it would be a noisy circus. This is a dangerous case, not a picnic."

She froze.

Bro!

I glared at him in disbelief. Actually, I understood that he didn't want civilians to interfere and risk their lives but his tone

Bro, you could have said with a little gentler voice.

I shook my head.

"This is not the way you talk to someone Zhen!"

Suddenly, I heard a woman's voice. She walked towards us, wearing a knee length business skirt beige in shade topped with a white shirt. Her hair was wavy in the ends with a streak of brown shade on it.

She was beautiful.

The woman sighed. "You just met your sister, and this is how you welcome them?"

Bro looked indifferent.

She looked at me and smiled. "Hello, I am Shi Ruiling. I work with Zhen and Song. We are colleagues."

I nodded.

She glanced at bro. "I imagined a tearful reunion, but you are such a party pooper. Who scolds everybody in the first meeting?"

I held in my chuckle.

"Clearly, you don't know me enough." Bro plainly commented.

She rolled her eyes.

"Come on in. If left to your cold brother here, then he would never let you in. He has been cooped up in his room for far too long that has forgotten the basic courtesies. Song, at least you could have reminded him."

Tian Song seemed unconcerned.

"My job was to bring them there. I did."

She looked dumbfounded. "You two...are impossible."

Shi Ruiling introduced herself to Bai Li. She suddenly squealed. "Aaaaahhh...you are the soldier! I was dying to meet you!"

I blinked my eyes. Huh?

Bai Li asked, "Me?"

She clapped her hands once. "Yes! My Dad is a soldier, too, in the army. He talks about you a lot. In fact, you know him."

She giggled. "Major General Shi Jianguo."

---

Dongcheng.

Ying Yue once again went back to the lounge after the owner received a call. She wondered if the other three men were still inside. 

She entered the lounge. Rodey opened his eyes and smiled. "You seem to attract pests wherever you go."

Ying Yue softly spoke. "You remember."

"Of course I do. My brain and memory work just fine."

She politely bowed. "I apologize for the trouble."

Rodey shrugged. "I must say. Your way of dealing with trouble is quite interesting."

Ying Yue was impassive.

She paused and asked, "The police didn't come asking regarding those goons."

He chuckled. "So naive. Do you think the police have the time to think about four worthless goons? Did you imagine me behind bars for killing them? You are indeed interesting."

Ying Yue said nothing.

Rodey lazily asked, "I am curious. Why are you working in a place like this? Shouldn't a prim and proper girl like you work in a more respectable place?"

"The pay is high here. It helps with my... family's expenses."

Rodey raised his brow. He got up and slowly walked step by step until he was just a few inches away from her.

Ying Yue's expression didn't twitch.

"Ho" he chuckled again, and as he lifted her chin, he asked, "So will you sleep with me if I pay more?"