“Announce her death.” Zhou Jingren’s voice echoed inside his study. He shifted his body towards the window as he leaned against his chair. “Call Cathy and Yang Mi. I want them here before the announcement.” He added.
“President…” Secretary Go knitted his brows as he looked at his boss. He recalled Bei Tian’s words before leaving. He recalled the warnings. Zhou Jingren is not in his right mind, he should be careful. “Don’t you think… we should wait?” Bei Tian said that the body was badly burnt and there is no way to recognize it. He also said it may take a little more time because the only way to do a DNA is to extract it from the bones, which is also badly degraded.
“No.” Zhou Jingren answered. He then held the picture frame from his table. On it was Lily smiling in his arms. “Announce it as soon as possible.” Seeing this, Secretary Go bowed and left without saying a word. He immediately called Bei Tian and informed him about the matter. In less than an hour, the latter arrived with a stern look on his face. He went directly to Zhou Jingren’s study.
…………………………………….
“Why are you going to announce her death?” Bei Tian asked. He stood across Zhou Jingren, his brows snapped together. “I thought you said she’s not dead? I thought you don’t believe it was her body? Then why are you announcing her death?”
His words were only met with silence as Zhou Jingren continued to stare at the picture frame in his hands. His head was lowered, yet Bei Tian knew how he was looking at the image with tenderness in his eyes. He narrowed his eyes at Zhou Jingren. The friend that he knew would not make abrupt decisions like this. He couldn’t help but wonder if…
“Jingren…”
“Look at her.” Zhou Jingren sighed. “Her smile is so sweet. I always wonder if I deserve a woman like her.” His gentle tone made Bei Tian speechless.
He walked towards Zhou Jingren and sat across him. “I thought you said she is not dead.”
“Of course she’s not dead.” Zhou Jingren answered. He clenched his jaws and shifted his gaze at the window. “Someone took her away from me.” His voice was cold, almost freezing. “Someone took Lily and I — I will find her.” The abrupt changes in his mood immediately rung like a bell in Bei Tian’s ears.
“We don’t know who took her yet.” Bei Tian said. They don’t even know if she was still alive. At least not until the DNA result will arrive three days from now. While Bei Tian wanted to believe that Lily was indeed alive, he also could not ignore Zhou Jingren’s actions. His state of mind made Bei Tian question the authenticity of his claims.
Bei Tian was not dumb. He knew that the first stage of grief was denial. What if Zhou Jingren was only in denial? What if something in him snapped, making him think of the impossible? Bei Tian was no expert when it comes to psychology or people’s behavior, however, he is not blind. He can see the changes in Zhou Jingren’s eyes, his voice, his manner. It was… it was as if he was talking to a different person.
It wasn’t even a day since the accident! How could he change this much? He wondered if this was only his own way to handle the grief, to deal with the loss. And to be honest, he hoped that he was right. He hoped that this is only a stage, something that will pass soon.
“Why do you want to announce her death?” he asked, his voice calm. Bei Tian knew that If he wanted answers, he should keep his calmness and logic. Zhou Jingren was only grieving, he convinced himself.
“This is what the enemies wanted.” Zhou Jingren slowly put the frame back on his table. He smiled at the photo before looking at Bei Tian. “Since they wanted her dead… then I will announce her death as soon as possible.” Seeing the look on Bei Tian’s face, he added. “I also have to take care of her company, her people. I can’t do it without announcing her death.”
“What do you —” Bei Tian pursed his lips as Zhou Jingren’s answer sunk into his mind. Everyone close to Lily knew how she loved her company. Both of them knew that Lily would never allow her company to fall just because she disappeared. The facts hit Bei Tian like a tornado. He lowered his head, trying to hide the embarrassment in his eyes.
Here he was thinking how unstable Zhou Jingren had become. While the latter had been thinking of Lily all this time. He was only thinking of what Lily might feel once she comes back. While Bei Tian was thinking about revenge, Zhou Jingren was thinking of the future. “I’m sorry.” Bei Tian hated apologizing, but he knew he was wrong to judge his friend.
Silence penetrated the room as Bei Tian thought about Zhou Jingren’s actions when Qin Jinghua disappeared years ago. He had witnessed how he had gone borderline crazy and how he massacred those people just so he could go ahead and find Lily. He was there… standing next to Zhou Jingren, following his plans, his orders. He was there when he had lost a part of himself.
Because of this, Bei Tian knew that Zhou Jingren would not blame him for thinking he had snapped once again. However, he still felt that he owe him an apology.
He eyed Zhou Jingren and sighed. This was the difference between the two of them. This is why Zhou Jingren is the only man who deserved to stand beside Lily.
“I can’t say I blame you for thinking that I have gone crazy.” Zhou Jingren’s voice broke the silence. “Losing her would… eventually, make me one.” Slowly, Zhou Jingren shifted his gaze at the man in front of him. “But… I have to hold on. She would hate to see me like that… once she comes back.”
“How — How sure are you that she will come back?” Bei Tian could not stop himself from asking.
“She will…” Zhou Jingren answered. “She always does.”
