Rui
In more normal circumstances, Rui might’ve laughed at the look of utter confusion on Matthias Lin’s face when he saw his daughter standing along the highway in the dark with two random boys—one twirling his long black coat dramatically as he gave instructions to the other, whose fingers were sparking with crimson electricity. But things felt so dire that she couldn’t find humor in the situation.
Hurriedly, she shoved Zizi and Yiran into the back seat and climbed in herself with only two words as a greeting. “Drive. Quick.”
To his credit, her father didn’t ask any questions.
Once they were in the car, the boys were on their best behavior. Her father had already met Yiran, so that wasn’t an issue.Zizi, on the other hand... The trio had agreed to keep his real identity and Rui’s descent into the underworld a secret, so she concocted a vague explanation for his presence and filled her father in about the Hybrids and their plans. When Yiran dropped the bombshell news about Song Liming, the car swung sharply to the left, tires screeching until Matthias regained control of the wheel.
“Liming was always ambitious,” he said. “But what he’s done, what he’s been doing...” Matthias shook his head, looking distraught. “If I could just speak to him...”
Rui couldn’t imagine how her father must feel, knowing that his old friend had lost his way in such a devastating manner.
“He won’t listen,” Yiran said. “You haven’t seen the way he speaks about his revolution. He was even willing to kill my grandfather. There’s no turning back from that.”
Yiran’s face was pallid, his eyes sunken and haunted, and he looked younger than his years as he huddled in the back seat. Rui was reminded of the expression Burning Flame had in her memories. The Emperor-to-behad felt abandoned, and it resulted in a series of decisions that brought devastation to his nation and people.
It’s different this time. You pulled him back from the brink, you showed him he’s not alone.She couldn’t save everyone in the world, but she had chosen to savehim.
After they arrived at the apartment, her father and Yiran settled in the living room. It felt like they were having a private conversation, and Rui didn’t want to intrude. Instead, she joined Zizi, who was making himself at home in the kitchen.
“What are you up to?” she asked, poking him in the ribs in a joking manner. She retracted her hand immediately, suddenly embarrassed, uncertain why she’d reached out. It had seemed like a natural thing to do.
Zizi startled from the momentary physical contact, almost dropping his knife. The tips of his ears reddened as he angled his body to show her his efforts. “What do you think?”
Rui smiled when she saw what was on his chopping board. He’d cut an apple into slices that resembled bunny rabbits with little ears and all.
“Cute. I’m impressed by your knife skills.” She popped an apple bunny into her mouth. The fruit was sweet and juicy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten a proper meal. Was it back at Zizi’s shophouse?
Instead of looking pleased, he seemed mystified. “Did you just compliment me?”
“Mm-hmm.” She grabbed another piece.
“Huh. Normally, you’d say—” He caught himself and shook his head. “Never mind.”
Rui stopped mid-chomp. “Was I horrible to you before?” she said, finding herself upset by the thought.
“Not at all. You hungry?” Zizi seemed to want to change the topic. “Unfortunately, the fridge isn’t stocked.” He lowered his voice, keeping an eye toward the living room. “Andyour dad only has store-brand instant coffee. How can someone live like this? I’ll order groceries in a bit, and a coffee machine and good beans for him.”
Rui stared at the strange boy-god. At the silver streaking his dark hair, the darkness in the pale blue of his iris, the way his jaw and throat worked when he spoke, and how deftly his pianist fingers moved to carve another piece of apple into a delicious bunny.
Words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “I listened to that song again—the one you played for me the other day. I like it. It’s catchy.”
The sharp jaw she’d been admiring clenched, and she felt a wall spring up between them.
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say or do,” he said, “but whatever happened between us happened in the past. That’s all.”
Rui stammered, “I—I thought—”
“Think nothing. Remember nothing.”
The edge in Zizi’s voice was so sharp, she was at a loss for words. Touched by how thoughtful he was about her father, she’d felt the sudden urge to connect with him, to get to know him and to remember what they supposedly shared. But her clumsy attempt obviously upset him, and she couldn’t understand why.
Yiran entered the kitchen, blithely unaware of the newly formed tension. “Rui? Your dad’s telling us to rest. He’ll put the spare mattress in the bedroom for you. Wizard and I get to fight over the couch—am I interrupting something again?” When neither Rui nor Zizi responded, he pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing, “I interrupted something again.”
Zizi said curtly, “I’m going out for some air. Don’t wait up.”
Shoulders stiff, he left the kitchen without another word.
