Harringfort was convinced that something else was going on aside from this. Could it be that the organisation wanted to do to Lily what they did to Lilian? Are they going to kill Zhou Jingren soon and use Lily’s child to control her?
But how is that possible? Clearly, they have instructed him not to touch Zhou Jingren. They repeatedly told him not to provoke him either. Were they trying to use reverse psychology to him instead?
That is very possible.
However, if that’s the case, then those old people must have thought of killing him! They know that both Lily and Zhou Jingren were not pushovers. Meaning, they will retaliate, and if Harringfort made the wrong move, both Lily and Zhou Jingren would raise hell and kill him.
Don’t get Harringfort wrong, he is not afraid of them. However, he absolutely loves his current lifestyle. He would do everything to protect this privilege that he had over some people.
“Are you alright?” Levi asked, unaware of what was going on in Harringfort’s mind. “Your face is losing some colour… so if you want, I can make Eliza accompany you. It’s not really a big deal.”
Harringfort shook his head. “Maybe I lack some sleep.” How could he not understand that Levi wanted to create some space for him and Eliza? What a good brother, he thought as he remembered how Levi understood that Eliza was a little interested in him.
But who wouldn’t get interested in his charms? Harringfort laughed inwardly. He was handsome, smart, and young. He might be a little irritating, but that is something that most women love.
Too bad, he is only attracted to smart people; smart and capable people like Lily. To him, Eliza is too loud and childish. She does not understand a lot of things. She might be beautiful, but Harringfort was sure that her beauty would not be enough to last her too long in this cruel… cruel… world.
“Oh.” Levi nodded and turned silent. The group then enjoyed their afternoon tea before they each said their goodbyes and rested on their rooms.
…………………
“You are going to ask my permission to talk to her?” The Grand Duke’s voice echoed inside his office as he looked at Zhou Jingren, wondering what he is up to right now. “I already told Lily she could do whatever she wants in this country. As long as she won’t deliver drugs or kill people.” He chuckled to himself.
Twenty four hours had passed since the Grand Duke knew the truth about his friend and family, and the dark circles in his eyes already doubled, his cheekbones seemed to protrude, and cheeks were sunken. Was this because of the stress that he felt because of the big revelation? “You are making it too obvious.” Zhou Jingren’s voice was calm as usual. He sighed. “Did the Duchess ask you why you didn’t sleep last night? Wasn’t she worried that you seemed to have grown older overnight?”
The Duke avoided his head in response. “I am dealing with it.”
“You know that they are trying to assassinate you, right? You and your son.” Zhou Jingren repeated some information that he told him. “You should act swiftly and decisively.”
The Duke turned silent. “If your friend betrayed you and your family, what would you do?”
“Kill them.” Zhou Jingren answered without batting an eyelid. “By skinning them alive. I would revive them every time their heart would start beating slowly, remove their teeth and nails while they are conscious— “
“I understand.” The Duke interrupted him. Does he really need to talk about all the devious details?
“Why don’t you ask me what Lily would do if someone would betray her?”
The Duke turned his gaze back to the man who was sitting in front of him. “What would Lily do?”
“Nothing.” Zhou Jingren shrugged. “She would let the traitor go. Probably shoot the traitor in the leg or spine or gouge their eyes out, but then she will let them live.”
“Living like that is scarier than death.” The Duke immediately understood the difference between Lily and Zhou Jingren’s ways. Both of them were so different yet they share similarities; they are ruthless and both are scary.
“Do you want to kill them?” Zhou Jingren finally asked as he tilted his head, his eyes shone with curiosity. As expected, the Duke leaned back and said nothing. What was the use of killing them? Would it change the fact that they were poisoned?
Would it change the fact that their closest ally betrayed them? Would it erase the heartache of being betrayed?
“It would not erase the sin.” Zhou Jingren continued as if he understood what was going on in the Duke’s mind. At the end of the day, killing them would not heal anyone. Instead, it might open up to issues and more problems. “Our ways are different. But sometimes, this revenge would come as a threat, a warning for the people that are planning to hurt you in the coming days.” The world is cruel and brute; killing one evil would not stop the other evil from plotting your downfall. Unless… you show them how ruthless you are.
After all, animals, no matter how rabid, would always act like an animal and would run away from something that could kill them. However, Zhou Jingren was not interested in saying such things in front of the Duke. He understood that he and this man are so different.
“Old Lady Luo was Prince Fred’s ex-fiance.” The Duke switched the topic. “I don’t see why Lily wanted to talk to the old woman?”
“When she was with Lilian, the latter didn’t tell her anything about her grandfather. She knows nothing of him.” What Lily was interested in knowing was her grandfather and grandmother’s past.
“Then… no problem. Just please tell her not to mention the engagement as it would only make the older woman cry.” The Duke smiled. “Grandmother Luo had been through a lot.”
“I understand.”
