Aiden wasn’t sure when he turned away from Mr. Chen’s pleading. He remembered exhaustion growing the more excuses Mr. Chen shoved into his ears. His body clenched when Mr. Chen claimed that murder was simply part of the business. His brain groaned as the babbles continued, and finally, Aiden made his own way out of the bloody meeting room where the foundation of the organization collapsed upon itself with such little prodding on his behalf.
“You are holding onto nothing but a ghost,” he whispered to himself.
The future glimmered before his eyes when he opened the door to an anxious Brendan leaning against it. He laughed as the taller boy almost stumbled onto the ground, and he grabbed Brendan’s hand to help him regain his balance.
Brendan brushed his bangs past his eyes. “You ready?”
Aiden nodded. “Ready.”
He was confident in what he wanted to do.
The two arrived at one of the important locked doors. Their steps against the ground were not silenced, and the angle of the light seeped their shadows in from the bottom.Zhu Zhu’s not-yet fiancé will be ready.Aiden stepped to the side and kept Brendan behind him.
Diane unlocked the door and unceremoniously pulled it open. She grabbed the gun out of the young man’s hand and slammed the handle into the back of his neck before Aiden could properly blink or process what they needed to do. As the man fell to the ground, unconscious, Zhu Zhu screamed deeper within the room.
Aiden dashed in with open hands. “Zhu Zhu, it’s okay! I know you heard gunshots, and I know you have questions, but she’s not here to hurt you.”
Zhu Zhu stared back with unblinking eyes, a lamp grasped tightly in her hands. Her hair stuck out from all angles. Her flower hairpins scattered in front of the door in obvious attempts to pick the lock. Her jewelry was pulled off and strewn across the ground. Aiden opened his mouth to comfort her more, but Zhu Zhu’s eyes filled with tears.
“Aiden!” The lamp dropped from her hands. She ran across the room and hugged him tightly before sinking to the ground sobbing. “I thought you were certainly dead. I thought Ma had killed you. I’m so happy to see that you’re okay.”
Tears poured down her face. She huddled onto the ground, squinted her eyes closed, and cried every bit of herself out. Aiden’s chest squeezed painfully as Zhu Zhu’s fear slammed into him. He pulled her close and rubbed her back.
As she continued to sniff against him, Aiden pulled back to look her in the eyes. “I need to confess something. Your mom didn’t make up the traitor.”
“Ma didn’t lie?” Zhu Zhu wiped her eyes.
Aiden nodded. A breath shuddered through him, but he squared his shoulders and continued. “There was a traitor. It was my brother.”
“Your brother?” Zhu Zhu blinked. “He’s dead though. Oh my god!” Her hand flew to her open mouth, and her eyes shot open even wider. “Did she kill him?” she wheezed.
Wincing, Aiden nodded.
“Oh my god. She’s a murderer. She always was a murderer indirectly, but she’s truly a murderer! That’s why things haven’t been working out in her own words—everything makes sense now!”
Diane stuck her head in the room. “Excuse me, but can we talk about this revelation while we’re walking? We’re not exactly made of time here.”
Screeching, Zhu Zhu dove for the lamp.
“No, no, no, Zhu Zhu it’s okay!” Aiden snatched the lamp from Zhu Zhu’s hands, whirling toward Diane. “Diane, please, just a few more minutes.”
“Fine.” Diane pulled her head back out.
Sighing, Aiden placed the lamp down. “The woman over there was my brother’s partner. She made sure everything he set up would go through properly tonight.” He stared into Zhu Zhu’s eyes. “Infinite is over after tonight. It will not exist anymore.”
“Where’s Ma?”
Despite all the problems that existed in their relationship, Aiden understood the pain Zhu Zhu faced. Her shoulders shook, and her hollow eyes stared of expectant doom.
“She ran off somewhere. She’s still alive,” he said gently, and the tension in her body flew away. He tightened his grip around her hands. “But she’s not getting away with this. She’ll face justice. That’s why I am here, Zhu Zhu. Will you let me take care of you and your brother? If you come with me, I will make sure that you and River will remain safe and happy.” Heart suddenly thumping, he straightened his body and cleared his throat. “I don’t want to leave you and your brother in this chaos. Will you accept me as your family?”
His breaths quickened as he waited for her answer, but he never averted his eyes. He expected minutes of silence, but, after only a few seconds, Zhu Zhu nodded. She nodded faster, and a pained smile soon reached her face. She continued to nod.
“Yes. Yes, let us be siblings for real this time. Without being separated by our respective families and parents. Let us actually be brother and sister. Please. I would love it so.” She flung her arms around his neck.
He broke into a smile. “Let’s go find He Bao.”
Zhu Zhu pulled away, but her eyes shone of hope. She stood up, noticed Brendan who respectfully watched from a distance, and ran over to introduce herself to him. On the other hand, she kept a careful distance away from Diane.
