Chapter 214 Intoxicated Ru?
The Inconceivable Flame: A Fallen Angel's Disguise
Seeing Xiao Zhiren, Ru abruptly took a ninety-degree turn and faced the wall behind her. But her poor luck, the wall had a mirror on it. Her reflection was clear.
âArgh! Why am I stuck here?â Ru shouted in her mind. âAnd which idiot put a mirror in an elevator?â
The two people entered the elevator and being the nosy being he was, Adrian tapped on Ruâs shoulder saying, "Aly? What are you looking at? Donât tell me youâre hiding from me?" Adrianâs gasp made Ru roll her eyes at him.
âHide from you? I have the urge to hide you from the world. Perhaps, burying you in a hole would work.â Ru was scheming against Adrian in her mind but she stayed composed as much as she could. "What rubbish! Why would I hide from you? Canât you see? Iâm appreciating my peerless beauty. Ah, these deadly gorgeous eyes. You also see this reflection thatâs what real remarkable people look like."
Xiao Zhirenâs anger subdued just as he heard her usual narcissistic comment. She really never ceases to amaze him. How was he supposed to stay angry with her? He just couldnât do it!
"You and your narcissism!" Adrian said with resentment in his tone.
Ru turned around to face him and narrowed her eyes at him as she said, "Are you forgetting?"
"What?" Adrian asked taking a step back.
"I said Iâll beat the hell out of you if you showed me your face again." Ru reminded him which made him gulp.
Adrian instantly hid behind Xiao Zhirenâs body and said, "Donât you dare! Zoran, help me here."
Ru looked at Xiao Zhiren and then at Adrian who was using him as a shield. Ru was wondering what heâd say. For some reason, she wanted to hear what he really had to say. What was really on his mind? Was he that close to Adrian that this idiot Prince would tell him who she is?
Her unasked question was answered almost instantly as Xiao Zhiren spoke up, "Adrian, donât worry. I believe our Lord Alev Knight is not that unreasonable."
Ru closed her eyes briefly as he gritted out âLord Alev Knightâ with indignation. There was only one thing running through her mind, âBusted!â
"But Zoran, you donât know. This stupid lord is indeed very unreasonable." Adrian said while glaring at Ru.
Ru snorted as she said, "Yes, this lord is unreasonable. But at least, Iâm not a coward using my friendâs body as a shield." Her sneer hit right where it was supposed to hurt.
Adrian was livid as he pointed his finger at her, "You!" But he had nothing else to say. He was tongue-tied. However, his embarrassing state was covered when the elevator opened and he exited it saying, "Hmph! I donât want to be unreasonable like you."
"Oh please! You have nothing to say anyway." Ru wasnât laying back that soon either. She was already ousted by this dumb highness. She had to teach him a lesson about that.
With Adrian at the front, Ru and Xiao Zhiren walked a bit behind him side by side.
"You certainly love playing games," Xiao Zhiren whispered leaning close to her.
"I can explain," Ru replied which made him snort.
"Oh no, no! How can I dare ask for an explanation from the formidable Lord Alev Knight?" Xiao Zhirenâs reply made Ru purse her lips.
She wasnât liking his tone. He never talked to her like that before. He wasnât even mad when he got to know that she was a girl. What happened this time? Wasnât it just a matter of identity?
"You canât possibly be mad about this simple thing."
"Simple?" Xiao Zhiren repeated her words exerting a bit of stress on his words.
"Isnât it simple? You also have many things that you hide from me. Donât you?" Ruâs words werenât wrong. He did hide things from her but not intentionally. She just never asked. She was never interested in knowing him.
Xiao Zhiren held her wrist making Ru halt. He pulled her back and threw her over his shoulder. Ru was about to hit him when he said, "If you hit, Iâll shout and Adrian will look back."
Ru clenched her fists and stayed quiet while Xiao Zhiren brought her a secluded corner and placed her down. For the very first time, she really felt like she was treated like a sack. No one. Like no one had ever picked her up. Ever!
Locking her between his arms he looked straight into her eyes and said, "Did you ever ask?"
"What?" Ru asked in confusion.
"Did you ever bother trying to know me like I always do? Between us, only Iâm running after you. As for you... You just run away from me." Ru bit her lip knowing well enough that she was indeed more interested in knowing about his familyâs matter than himself. Touching her forehead with his own, he spoke again, "Iâm not upset that you hid this from me. Iâm upset that you ignored my confession that night."
Ruâs eyes widened as she stared back into his ink-black whirlpools. "The night I met Alev Knight. It was you. I clearly told you my feelings but you stayed quiet. You ignored my words. Whatâs more, you even used your own alter-ego to make me jealous time and again."
With a cough, Ru voiced out, "It wasnât intentional. How would I know that you love drinking vinegar? Even when you know that I have no experience in relationships. Heck! People donât even know my gender. How can you be this jealous?"
"You donât understand at all. Iâm not jealous that someone might really steal you. I know no one can love you more than me."
"Those are some really big words. Do you really have that much faith in yourself?"
Xiao Zhiren shook his head. "No. But I have faith in my love for you. And only for you." Ru stayed between his arms and also stayed quiet. She really couldnât compete with him. This love topic was out of syllabus for her until now. "Do you know why Iâm drinking vinegar all the time?"
Ru knew it was not a question for her to answer. So, she waited for him to speak again. "I donât like seeing that there are people who can make you happier than me. Youâre my idée fixe. And I canât possibly imagine being not good enough for you."
"When other people know you better than me, it gives me a complex. I lose my confidence in myself. Not in my love for you. But in myself." Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, he added, "Damn it! I donât like the idea that I missed out on so many years of your life. And so many things about you."
Leaning her head against the wall, Ru kept her eyes on him but didnât make a sound. She didnât want to. She didnât want him to stop talking either.
"Why arenât you saying anything?" Xiao Zhiren asked as he saw her looking at him so intently with an indescribable look in her green eyes.
"Your voice is sounding better and better. Keep talking." Xiao Zhiren gaped at her in disbelief. Was she enjoying herself right now? Was he funny or something?
"Am I a clown keeping you entertained?" He retorted.
Ru shook her head and her hand lifted slowly to touch the side of his face. And as her fingers made contact with his skin, Xiao Zhiren was stunned frozen. She voluntarily touched him. Is she drunk?
"Youâre not a clown. But your words have a nice sound to it. Interesting, isnât it?"
"Are you drunk, my little chili?" He questioned uncertainly.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Ru wasnât sure herself. And as she realized what she just said, she was really surprised. "But I have yet to drink this wine. How am I already intoxicated?" She mumbled and looked at Xiao Zhirenâs concerned face as she spoke, "Itâs your fault."
"Mine? How?" He was perplexed. What did he do now?
"Your words are intoxicating. Thatâs dangerous for health and my mind."
Xiao Zhirenâs earlier outburst was deflated like a balloon now. She seemed too adorable with her confused look. Caressing her face, he said, "Do you know, you look so adorable that I want to eat you."
"Donât forget, Iâm your little chili. Iâll be spicy. Donât eat me." Ru might have not noticed her words. But Xiao Zhiren did. Especially at that âYour little chiliâ.
Wasnât it like she subconsciously accepted that she was his? This enlightenment enlightened the whole world for Xiao Zhiren. Ay, this day was certainly a beautiful one.
But to ruin the good moment, Adrianâs call came in. "Where did you both vanished? Okay, that Aly loves to disappear but when did you get this habit?"
"Shut up, Adrian! Iâm coming." Xiao Zhiren grumbled and looked at Ru for a moment longer. Leaning down, he planted a firm kiss right between her brows and said, "Iâll see you at home. Donât you dare run!" With this warning, he left her standing in that corner all alone.
"Donât run? Why is everyone reminding me this today?" Ru muttered to herself. Forgetting the fact that she was experienced in running. If Xiao Zhiren wasnât holding her tightly, she would have really run again long ago.