Work Text:
A deteriorating abandoned building is usually den for criminal activities. It hides the screams, turning it into haunting ghosts defied by the living. Its even better if its secluded by the wild tall grasses surrounded it. For this reason, it make it easier to bury corpses.
Gun shot fired suddenly, coming from the basement of this supposed to be deserted place. A dozen of men in black with firearms were present guarding the entrance. They are not fazed in any bit by the disturbance as if they are specifically called to keep the incident under wraps.
The sound was then followed by a timid voice, a desperate incoherent plea for survival.
"I don't... I-I don't really know anything... S-so please let me go..." This fragile voice of a man is coming from the cracks of the door.
He gulped and continue his attempt, "I will not report this to... The police... Just let me... Have a chance to go... I'm be-beg... begging you."
Inside the basement, a man sitting in a chair was positioned in the center. His eyes was covered with blindfold, his arms and legs are tightly tied to his metal chair he's sitting at. He was sweating all over his head, his hair soaking wet and his white long sleeves shirt already turned into the color of muddy waters. Despite his face being covered, it's obvious that he's clearly terrified of the situation he found himself in.
Before him, a scary-looking man with big stature who possessed a gun interrogates him. He shoot the ground every time he heard wrong answers he didn't want to hear.
"Are you sure you don't have any idea what is Naihe incense? Tell me where is it."
"If money... Is what you want... I-I can give it to you... I can pay... Just name your price."
The blindfolded man in a chair is at his wit's end. The questions are not sinking in him as if his brain already stopped functioning after being overwhelmed by fear, signs that he already gave up explaining what he know since he know the man refused to hear his excuses. So now, he's trying to buy his life with money like a true businesman.
"Dad, don't scare him. You can't get anything from him if this continue. How about you let me handle this alone." A youthful man interjected the heated situation. He was calm yet playful in his words. His steps were very light, even their prisoner barely noticed his presence not until the moment he speak.
Hearing that, the terrifying man handed his gun to him and left the basement. He called his men to follow him, leaving the basement with no guards. The big terrifying man show no hesitation and obviously trust this person.
After the youthful man was sure no people are around their area anymore, he carefully took off the blindfold of the man in the chair.
As soon as the prisoner get a glimpse of some light, he was shocked by what he saw. The youthful man's face is someone very familiar to him.
"You...! Zuo Yunqi?!"
Zuo Yunqi smiled cunningly, "Miss me, Lou Zhu?"
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
A week prior, Lou Zhu attended a party as distinguished guest. This office party is for police men in the district near his home. As an established businessman, Lou Zhu learned to befriend different types of people that he can benefit from and that include people in justice system.
Sure, he do have connection with questionable rich tycoons but it's also very important to him to have a connection with people who can possibly save him once these so called questionable individuals decided to betray him. After all, he never see himself as one of these rich men no matter how frequent he mingled with them but an ant who can easily be erased by these powerful people. So he's always scared and cautious.
Just like any other ordinary people, Lou Zhu is still full of plot holes. He's cautious but he's also not the type who brings bodyguard with him if he's only meeting his friends. Moreover, this friends of his are police men. So why bother a guard? Foolish as it may be, bad people find this chance the perfect timing to abduct him. He was surprisingly abducted near the police station. A place that supposed to be safe because of how strict the security is. For that reason, he questioned if actual police are involved in this incident to this day.
At that time, he's tipsy but not fully drunk so he insisted on going to the parking alone. The cold night wrapped his lonesome figure in the darkness. Once he opened his car's door, a masked man suddenly appear behind his back. A cold metal was pointed in his head in a matter of seconds. His fear took over his body instantly. He know it's a gun. He never use one all his life but he once touch a model from a friend because he's simply curious how heavy it is. After that, more men arrived to surround him. They feel his body first as if they are looking for something in his pockets. He guessed they are probably looking for self-defense weapons. Once they are sure he's harmless, they kicked him toward inside his car.
The kick made him fall toward the seat. Lou Zhu groaned in pain. Because of the pain, he didn't noticed these people stole his car key. They entered his car uninvited and even drove it with him in it until they arrived in this deserted place. It's a very traumatic experience for him that extend into a nightmare.
His nightmare don't just end there. It devoured even his precious memories. Meeting Zuo Yunqi in this place made it worse because he was once trusted this young man with all his heart.
In the past, this youth asked him for a job. He plead in front of his company building with no shame. He's the one who felt embrassed instead. To fight his embarrassment from the lookers, he just say yes. Zuo Yunqi became one of the lifters and delivery boy in Lou Zhu's transportation department for a few months. Later, he said his goodbye through a resignation later. He explained he'll return to studying. Its short but Zuo Yunqi made a big impression to Lou Zhu. Lou Zhu is neither a bad or good person but it feel good that he did helped a youth find their way back to their path. He didn't expect he'll reunite Zuo Yunqi in a drug syndicate who abducted him. And worse, it seem Zuo Yunqi is not a victim but one of the trusted figure in the organization.
Lou Zhu was heartbroken that even a kid that supposed to be untainted by the world can betray him. If adults hide their intentions and kids take advantage of his sincerity, who should he trust now? Only himself?
Lou Zhu instinctively turn his gaze away from Zuo Yunqi. The youth who noticed it felt a pang in his heart. He then carefully cut the ropes, taking advantage of Lou Zhu's vulnerable moment. Despite all that, Zuo Yunqi can't helped but to try making a conversation.
"Any question, Lou Zhu?"
"..."
Of course, Lou Zhu has question. Too many questions. Yet he find that what he feel in his heart more painful than what his exhausted body feeling. So he decided to not respond.
Seeing that Lou Zhu acts like he didn't hear anything important, Zuo Yunqi pulled Lou Zhu's hands as if he want to follow him.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
The building that's already in ruins suddenly explode.
Fire devoured it like an inferno that eat any sinners alive. Aside from the sound of flickering fire, screams from living humans can be heard inside. They are asking for help but it only fell to deaf ears. Fortunately, its only cries for help and never cries of dying men.
"This is...!" Lou Zhu watched the scene unfold before his eyes. It seem Zuo Yunqi have guided him outside and safely escaped before the explosion.
"You see, I always want to destroy my father's operation."
"So that's really your dad?"
"Yes, it's my dad."
There's a moment of silence after that.
Zuo Yunqi added to cut the awkward silence, "Ah! Don't worry about it. The fire will be gone sooner. I prepared a water mechanism. I only destroyed the drugs specifically. I don't want to kill people. I'm not that kind of person."
It looks like Lou Zhu was not wrong in his impression of Zuo Yunqi. He's still a good child at his core. Wait a minute, why Zuo Yunqi came with him together?
"Wait, why are you still with me? Let's separate alre-"
Zuo Yunqi dragged down the tired Lou Zhu resulting him losing his balance and bend him a little bit. "Oh come on, don't be cold. Aren't we already close?"
"Close?? Your dad almost murder me because of whatever drugs you guys are looking for!!"
"I already cut ties with him. He's no longer my dad. So I'm a new person now."
Lou Zhu stare at him intently for a while, then squinted his eyes. He clearly know where this conversation will lead next so to avoid that he made his movement first. "Then good luck restarting your life. Have fun. Bye."
Zuo Yunqi pulled him down again. Lou Zhu fall to the ground this time.
"What are you doing!?" Lou Zhu voiced his complaint.
"As a good person, you're going to help me start a new life."
"What are you talking about? I didn't promise you any of that!! Let go of me!!"
"I did save your life. It shouldn't be a big deal if you hire me in your company. A bodyguard job will do. After all, a good adult should guide a youth who lose their way."
"You even have the audacity to choose your job? Unfortunately, my company is not hiring at the moment. Better luck next time, brat."
"You know, I can guard you for life so you'll not be abducted again."
Lou Zhu froze, his heart swayed from those earnest words.
"...A kid like you can't protect me."
"But I just did. I saved you. Who knows what's going to happen to you if I didn't do anything."
"Get lost."
"Lou Zhu... I don't know where to go after this. Your place is the only thing I can think of."
Lou Zhu got used to living together with deceits and lies. Despite all that, he's still soft and hopeful to any tiny bit of sincerity.
It might be foolish, but he can't look away from his heart that keep seeking someone he can trust fully.
Maybe this is what he's been waiting for. Someone who can destroy his beliefs.
Its so human to be attracted to goodness no matter how many times he can be betrayed. He thought.
Lou Zhu sighed, "Suit yourself."