Work Text:
“So that’s how it is…”
Those were the last words Vein, or Xiao Weiying, managed to utter, before his body fell on the cold floor, like a sack of meat.
He had already seen this sight.
The myriad gunshots, bodies, lives taken away.
The countless times he looked at his victims (or perhaps benefactors) with murderous sight like that of a sharp knife, as he pulled the trigger against their forehead.
The countless times he saw their blood paint the world red, and his face with a grin of amusement.
This wasn’t unfamiliar to him.
Quite the opposite.
But he would never have thought he would get to experience it himself, from this slender, white-haired boy nonetheless.
“I hope we won’t meet again”. This tone of confidence in Lu Guang’s voice could have someone believe he will be gone for good.
Or so he thought.
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When Vein was commissioned with tracking down Wang Qing, a task seemingly easy for the leader of Bridon’s Chinatown, he was puzzled as his only clues were but a name and an identity card of a person barely mentioned since the Bahati incident.
Knowing he wouldn’t want to occupy his evening with such brain crackers, there was only one person he could tend to.
This wasn’t a call for help however, but an excuse.
Before he even reached for his phone, the ringing sound could already be heard from the pocket of his coat.
♪The slaughter’s on♪
♪I want to see you come undone♪
His eyes linger on the name written on the screen, as his lips start to curl up, forming a smile.
He then picks it up, only to hear the voice of a young man, the man he was expecting.
“I was just about to call you”
A slight giggle is heard from the other end of the line.
“Aw, I knew you would miss me, but not this much”, he teases.
“Shut up, Liu Xiao”, he responds with a slightly agitated tone, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks.
"I have some new leads on the LuCheng case. Are you interested in coming over and discussing it over dinner?"
"Why yes, I look forward to"
"It is settled then", Vein says with confidence, before hanging up.
He had barely noticed the flush on his cheeks while the other was speaking to him. I must have gone nuts, why did I act like this?
After a few minutes nervously roaming around his office grabbing onto his braid and murmuring things like this will not happen again or don’t you dare make yourself look vulnerable to this hat wearing freak, he was eventually sat on his chair, determined to get his work done by evening, while still humming a soft tune with a hint of excitement in his voice.
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As the sound of Vein's heartbeat from the phone was drowned by total silence, LX turned to the other side of his bed, for his sight to intertwine with the chessboard next to him, on a black rook standing in the corner of the board.
He is such a perfect pawn. Too perfect perhaps. I could hear his heart thumping ever since I first spoke to him. He sounded so… helpless.
He laughs to himself, before adding,
This film’s plot is unfolding beautifully.
He then stares at the rook with a lustful look before he grabs an open book that was lying on his bed’s pillow.
A last glance at the poem on the book, So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee, and at the word “Bahati” on the bottom right of the page, he gets up, grabbing his hat and keys, ready to set off for Vein’s place, without even looking at his expensive watch.
He leaves with a last fleeting thought;
this show must go on.
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As he strolls around the roads and alleys of Bridon, his gaze falls upon a small flower shop in Chinatown, decorated with beautiful claret red flowers.
Entering the store, the elderly owner soon acknowledges his presence.
“What would you like, young sir? A bouquet to surprise a special someone, perhaps?”
“You could say this is the case. A bouquet of Dahlias..."
"...red Dahlias, please”
He giggles.
“Dahlias, huh? Those are the leader’s favorite flowers. You don’t happen to be meeting with him, are you, young sir?”
“I don’t believe the details of my date seem to be very important, now, do they?”, he says with a somewhat irritated pitch, but obviously not irritated enough to put out the owner’s friendly smile.
“Of course, young sir. I will get your bouquet ready. You won’t need to wait for long”
His expression suddenly becomes more tender. “
Wonderful”
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After a short walk, he finds himself in front of a red building, large enough to stand out amongst the stores and houses of this area of Bridon.
Liu Xiao politely knocks the door, only for a man to appear in front of the entrance.
“I was invited by your boss. I suppose you have already been informed. Could you be a gentleman and show me the way to his office?”
“Liu Xiao, correct?”
He nods with a smile.
“Follow me then, sir”