Crimson Instinct

Chapter 157: Something stirring and changing

---

Ying Yue didn't know what went wrong that triggered him. He was dangerous and scary, and she knew that, but something felt different to her this time.

"Say that again," Rodey growled.

*Cough cough* She frowned and felt gagged at her throat.

"Y-your mom-"

Rodey took out his gun and pressed it hard on her temple. "Since you helped stay the night and treated me, I will not fucking kill you. But forget about whatever you heard. If you dare open your mouth and spit it out to others, then this time, I would not hesitate to shoot you through your head."

Ying Yue stared at him with a complicated gaze. To her, he felt akin to a wounded wolf. He seemed lazy and indifferent until now, but now it felt as if something had stirred him from within. She lowered her gaze, nodded, and said, "I am sorry."

Rodey narrowed his eyes. He was furious, but more at himself than her. It was a past he didn't like to touch, yet he uttered something like that to Ying Yue.

Knowingly or unknowingly, she was making him face something that he had already forgotten so long ago...or did he?

Rodey let of her neck, and she stumbled a bit. Then something struck him.

"Why did I not wake up from my sleep if I had that dream?"

Ying Yue blinked her eyes. "You were sleeping."

"Idiot, I know that. I always wake up when I have that dream, but how did I end up keeping on sleeping? That is my question."

He threateningly stepped towards her and touched her chin with his gun. "Did you do something?"

Ying Yue was puzzled. She thought for a moment and said, "Are you referring to how I patted your head?"

"What?"

"You were uncomfortable and restless. So, I thought to pat your head. I always feel calm when Mom does that to me whenever I am sick or tired. It took a while, but you seemed better than before, and then you slept quite soundly."

"You patted my head?" Rodey didn't know where to begin. Shock was an understatement.

"Yes."

"You patted a killer's head?"

"Yes." As always, Ying Yue didn't get the gist.

Rodey withdrew the gun and twirled it in his hand. "Do you know that I always have my guard up, and if in that fever, I had gotten up and didn't recognize you, then you would have been dead? I wouldn't have so much as spared a glance at you before I shot you."

Ying Yue frowned.

"You shouldn't carelessly and recklessly approach me, babe. Not good for your life."

She said, "But I couldn't just leave you like that. You are at my house. Technically, you are my guest. It was my responsibility to look after you."

He raised his brow.

Somehow Rodey failed to imagine what that scene would have looked like.

When was the last time anybody pat my head? He tilted his head as he wondered.

Nah. It was never.

Rodey smiled. "You have got quite the guts to do that. Anyway, babe, time for me to leave. Of course, you know not to say a word outside, right?" He smiled.

Rodey took a step towards her window, but he stopped and looked at her again. He slowly walked towards her, and Ying Yue straightened up as the distance kept on decreasing. Suddenly, her heart felt as if it would leap out of her chest.

Strange. I experienced this yesterday too. Why do I feel uncomfortable in the chest? Am I sick?

Rodey leaned in, and their faces were just inches apart now. A devilish smirk curved the corner of his lips.

"I don't like to force, but I think this much would be fine, and I don't see you would have any problem either."

Ying Yue confusedly blinked at him, but before she knew it, he slightly pecked her cheek and withdrew.

"Take this as my thanks."

She froze. She was dumbfounded. She was shocked. She was everything.

Ying quickly covered her cheek in utter surprise. For the first time, her mind went blank.

Rodey was already about to step outside, but she quickly snapped out from her daze. "T-that!"

He stopped.

"You are still hurt" she fiddled with her fingers.

"Doesn't matter."

Ying Yue quickly looked left and right. She found her handkerchief and handed it out to him. "Take this if your wound bleeds again."

Rodey raised his brow. "Aren't you quite caring for a criminal?"

"I am just doing what I feel is right."

"Didn't you say that you don't understand feelings?"

She couldn't retort. Strangely enough, her heart messed up whenever he was around.

He grabbed her handkerchief and jumped out. Ying Yue collapsed on the bed, and once again, she touched her cheek in a daze.

---

As Rodey jumped down the window, from the corner of his eye, he saw someone's movement and hid in a corner.

Xue Jingjing came humming outside, apparently in a good mood. She was nicely dressed up with an attractive dress and a new pair of sandals.

Rodey leaned on the wall and quietly watched her like a hawk.

It seems somebody is going on a date.

He observed her purse, and she was looking at it with a happy expression on her face. She seemed to be counting something and felt satisfied.

Rodey sneered.

He stepped out of the shadows and quietly walked behind her. His footsteps were quiet and silent like a cat. He grabbed her arm and pushed her against the wall, such as her back was to him.

Xue Jingjing gasped. "Ah!"

She tried to turn her head to look at Rodey, but to her horror, he calmly pointed his gun at her.

Xue Jingjing was scared shitless. She was trembling and shaking and all over. She was about to cry for help, but he pressed his gun even deeper.

"No sound, bitch. Not a word. I have a veeeeeery bad temper."

She froze and stood still. She got even more terrified of him, and tears already started to roll down her cheeks.

"W-who are you? W-what do you want? Please let me go. I don't have anything. Please, please don't kill me."

Naturally, she thought that he must be a thief, trying to steal at gunpoint.

Rodey chuckled. "Sure, you do. Something that doesn't belong to you."

"I-I don't understand."

"Open your bag, or I will drill a hole in your head, nice at the center. You will be a corpse in no time." He lazily said.

Xue Jingjing shakingly opened her purse. Sweat trickled down her forehead that mixed with her tears.

"Now, take out the cash."

Xue Jingjing bit her lip.

This is the money I took from Yue last night!

"You need my bullet to move your fucking useless hand?"

Xue Jingjing trembled and quickly took out all the money.

Rodey smiled. "Nice money you got there. Now, be a good girl and hand it over."

"S-sir can we please talk? I-I need this money. Please don't steal it."

"Steal?" Rodey laughed as if he heard the biggest joke. "Wow, bitch. A thief herself begging me not to steal? You steal someone else's money. I steal yours."

She froze. How would he know? That's not possible. It must be a misunderstanding.

"N-no! This is my money! Why would I steal it?"

"Heh, ~~ Then how did you get this money?"

She fidgeted with her dress. "I-I work."

"Where?"

Xue Jingjing was utterly blank. His threat was making her unable to think anything. But she quickly said as she remembered what Ying Yue did. "I work in a bar!"

"Which bar? What is the address?

Xue Jingjing bit her lip once again. She turned pale.

What is that bar's name where she works! Where is it!?

She never bothered or cared to know about Ying Yue or her life, so she naturally didn't know.

Rodey sinisterly chuckled. "Takes you so long to remember that bar's name?"

"T-that I am feeling a little sick, so I am f-forgetful.. "

"Yet, you have the energy to go on a date and enjoy while you are sick?"

She turned as white as a sheet. Rodey didn't wait any longer and grabbed the bills from her hand.

"T-that"

Rodey dug the gun in her temple until it was beginning to hurt and leave a scar.

"Ah-ah ouch!"

"Don't ever take me for a fool, bitch. I would have shot you already for your nonsense but...anyway, thanks for the cash. Enjoy your penniless date."

Rodey already disappeared in a flash as he stepped back.

Xue Jingjing quickly looked back but he was already gone.

"Fuck! All the money I took from Yue is gone now! What will I do now? I was supposed to go on a date with Yang Mo! Curse my luck for that thief to appear now!"

---

Ying Yue was taking a shower, still in a daze of what happened.

She couldn't help herself touching her cheek again and again, where Rodey pecked her. All these sensations were the first time for her.

Calm down, calm down, she said to herself.

No matter how hard she tried, the giddy feeling in her chest refused to calm down.

As she came out of the bathroom, still figuring out her thoughts, she saw some money bills lying on the bed.

Ying Yue blinked her eyes. There was a note at the side.

'Next time, fight and take back rightfully what you own, babe.'