Chapter 25: 1.25
"You want me to do what?" I sipped at my sweet milk tea bitterly.
"We've confirmed that the person trying to kill you is not only in the Mo clan, there are still defectors of the Li clan working with them, so this will lure them out," Lex explained, leaning forward across the table opposite.
"So I'll only be the bait?" I sighed, setting my cup down. I glanced to Jianyu who leaned in his chair, looking out the window as if not being a part of this conversation at all.
Maybe he was trying to be considerate, but the more he tried to minimise his presence, the more my chest felt stuffy and ached.
"Don't worry little sis," Meilin, who sat beside me, pulled me to lean against her shoulder, "we will all have your back."
I let out another heavy sigh. Poor Meilin, the only normal one amongst the four of us, wasn't aware of the fact that the three people she knew since childhood was dead and foreign souls were the ones sitting beside her. Could I really keep up with this?
"Think of the power we'll get from Zhiyue if you solve her unresolved drama," System encouraged me.
"Okay," I caved, anything to not feel so helpless again.
"Great," Meilin sounded excited, "we'll have Jianyu bring you to meet the elders officially as Mo Zhiyue, then the meeting of the clans is coming up in a few days, where they'll announce your marriage and the wedding, it'll be the perfect setting."
"What?" I jerked up, head pounding in my chest. Jianyu hadn't even flinched at the mention of his name. Still staring out the window like it was the most interesting thing in the room.
Lex leaned back, arms folded, "the elders all firmly want the Mo clan heir to marry Jianyu, whilst you were dead that was Meilin, but Meilin and Yongrui are you know…" He waggled his eyebrows amusingly making Meilin blush.
"So I still have to remain married to him or they'll try and force Meilin?" I frowned, feeling bile rise up my throat. Meilin was possibly pregnant with Dr. Wu's child, I'd like to see them try and force it then.
"No," Jianyu finally spoke, "we'll act, for now, then sort out what happens after later."
Finally, he spoke and his voice was just as pleasing to my ears as the first time I heard it. Fuck. Stop it, you stupid girl. He is nothing but a liar, a cold-blooded, ruthless liar.
"Fine." I stood up to leave, trying to hide my complicated emotions and still my beating heart.
They continued talking out their plan as I left, meeting James in the hallway, "I got it," he handed me a white paper bag with a pharmacy logo on it.
I snatched it and felt my mind racing as fast as my heart rate.
What if Meilin was really pregnant with Dr. Wu's child? Even if she wasn't, there's no way that she'd marry Jianyu is there?
Would the elders even give me a chance to say no to marriage with Jianyu? Why did a bunch of old people I didn't even know get to dictate my life like this?
Just give me those warm sunny beaches a million miles away, please?
***
"Why are you angry with our master?" Lex asked, snaking his arms around my waist from behind. I shivered at his touch. His chin rested on my shoulder as he nuzzled slightly into my neck.
"L-Lex please don't do that," I tried to shake him off, nervous that we were in the gym, and anyone could walk in. Jianyu and I were still married on paper. I did not want his affections, soulmate, or no soulmate. But if I pushed too hard would he still help me?
"Just five minutes," he spoke softly into my neck, the warm air hitting my skin making every muscle tense.
"He saw who I was right from the start and never said a word," I grumbled eventually, my hands both curling into fists.
I'd spent hours taking it out on the soft, but sturdy dummies. It still didn't feel like it was enough.
"Master would have had a reason, he always has a reason," he spoke some more, but the words were muffled as his lips started kissing my neck.
If he was so in love with his damned Master why was his getting so intimate with his wife? Do these immortals have no fucking morals?
"Why do we even do this?" I bit my trembling lip, trying not to cry.
He lifted his head, turning me to face him.
I couldn't get used to seeing those blue eyes look so warm and alive. I turned away, tears trickling down my cheek.
"What's wrong with just staying dead?" I whined, unable to hide my tears from him as he lifted my face by the chin, "if we can't reincarnate, why can't we just stay inside the void?"
He looked at me as if I'd just told him to go and kill himself.
"You'll understand eventually Luna, the void it…"
"Do you remember the void?" I asked System internally.
"I have information about it, but my memories are as gone as yours," it replied.
"Why don't we remember anything?" I asked out loud, "I understand forgetting Zhiyue's memories when I came here, but mine, ours?"
Lex pulled me into a sudden embrace, his hand stroked up and down my back as I let out a loud and ugly cry into his chest.
I was so scared. I just wanted it all to end. All these lies, all this responsibility to live for one measly soul I did not even know, it was too much.
"It's best you don't," his words were low as if not aimed for me to hear at all, but still I did.
"Try and trust Master for me Luna, if we follow his plans maybe we can have a peaceful life this time."
So this was all Jianyu's plan, how could Lex trust him so much?
"We could go to all this trouble and still get run over by a truck the very next day," I grumbled.
"Seriously, even without all your memories you remain a pessimist," he squeezed me tighter, so much I could barely breathe.
"Just try and talk with him, don't make the mistake of misunderstanding him," he finally pulled apart, letting me deeply inhale the much-needed oxygen, "promise me Luna."
Why was he trying to send me into the arms of another man so badly, whilst proclaiming to be my soulmate?
"I'll try," I submitted, trusting he had my best intentions at heart.
Though I promised to speak with Jianyu, I didn't expect to find him in my room when I returned to shower and change.
We had to leave soon for a meal with the elders. They'd been prompt in their planning, it did not feel like anybody had even anticipated me saying no earlier in the morning.
"Luna," he was sitting there on my bed again like he owned the damn thing, "I don't expect you to forgive me, but," he sighed, running a hand through his short dark hair unable to continue.
I ignored him and walked towards my bathroom, the sweat making my skin feel itchy and prickly, and my chest felt constricted and hot, making it harder to breathe.
He followed me into the bathroom, I leaned against the sink counter, feeling dizzy.
"Luna?" his hands hovered over my skin, hesitant to touch.
"Why?"
I thought I had cried all the tears I'd had whilst in Lex's arms, turns out there was plenty more to shed.
"I don't want you to remember because of me," he replied, "I just want to protect you this time."
When my legs buckled at his words he finally had the courage to hold my arms.
"Come let me take you to bed," he steered me towards the door but I dug my heels into the ground.
"No I need a shower, skins itchy," I wriggled out of his touch, gathering strength to head to the shower.
"Sit down," he picked me up and placed me on the sink counter, then began running the bath.
I leaned back against the cool mirror, watching him fill the bath with oils, bath salts, and bubbles.
When done he turned to me and lifted me back down onto the floor. He began stripping my clothes finally hesitating when I was left in just my sports bra and underwear.
"It's fine," I sighed, pulling the bra zipper down.
He had seen it all before and it was just a body I was wearing. I was too exhausted and sore to care.
Once naked I held the side of the bathtub, my legs still shaky and not cooperating with my brain to climb in.
"Can I?" He asked, his hands hovering at my waist. I nodded and he lifted me in. The warm water felt like bliss as I sunk under the bubbles.
Like he had done it a million times before he gathered my hair and began washing it.
"How long have you been Jianyu?" I asked, hugging my knees.
"Just over ten years," he replied, then rinsed my hair with the shower head, ending the brief conversation before I even had a chance to continue.
My nails dug into my calves unintentionally.
He left me to relax alone once my hair was washed, only I found myself more irritable than before.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone