Something Beautiful And Wicked

Shi Yen arrived home with Yuan Shun after the nightclub, normally clothed. Shizi ran, leaping into Shi Yen's arms with excitement. Shi Yen coaxed her fur, taking her to the dog room, making sure she finished her food and water. 

Shi Yen then took some time to play with Shizi until she curled up on her bed, falling asleep. She then left the room, joining Yuan Shun in his—their—study room. Shi Yen sat by the desk while Yuan Shun lounged on the settee nearby. He waited for her to return so they can begin researching the Dark Forces. There was not much about them, but Shi Yen wanted to dig for more information and to assign each organization with different missions. 

…

The next morning, Wu Genji rose out of bed, feeling replenished from the ten-hour sleep she had. She knew it was time to head back to work soon, so she spent the morning at a legal firm owned by the Qian-Song family. 

She met with her attorney, Song Zhen, a handsome man of black hair and gold-flecked eyes. He was a toying with a rubber ball in his hand, looking disinterested in what she had to say. 

She grew frustrated. "Mr. Song," she began. "I appreciate your help, but if you're not going to listen, then I'd rather find another attorney." 

He continued to fidget with it. "It's because you haven't told me anything new, Miss Wu," he said. 

She furrowed her brows. "I've already told you everything I know. Behind my back, my mother planted those drugs in my house. She called the police, knowing that it would be in my 'possession' while I was with my nephew. Because of that, Child Protection Services deemed me unfit to be his guardian." 

"Why?"

"I already told you why," she countered. "My mother was pissed that I had claimed him. She wanted guardianship over him, but my sister left him to me." 

"Why didn't you let your mother take guardianship over him? You're still young. You don't need to shoulder the burden of a boy you didn't birth. You could get married and have children of your own. So, why?"

Wu Genji gritted her teeth. "What kind of attorney, are you? If my sister wanted me to be his guardian, then I shouldn't question it!" 

Song Zhen narrowed his eyes before he shrugged. "Yes, but that's the thing, Miss Wu. There's more that you're not telling me." 

She didn't say anything more. 

"Listen, Miss Wu. If you don't tell me all the information I need to know, then I can't help you. No one can. It's her word against yours, and you are on the losing side," he informed her. 

Wu Genji clenched her fists. "I can't let her win. She's an abusive parent—always had been. Social services are aware of that, but she has been behaving 'appropriately' so she could win over his custody." 

"And she will win," Song Zhen said bluntly. "Until you tell me something, I need to know." 

Wu Genji sighed, shaking her head. 

Her attorney leaned back lazily on his chair, entwining his hands. "I will give you more time to think about it," he said. "But think about this, also. You know how the justice system works. It favours those with money, with power, with a voice. You can tell me anything, and, as my client, I will keep anything you say confidential. But know this, anything you say, I will make sure it's in your favour. You'll win without having to reveal any details about yourself in public." 

Wu Genji shook her head again. "You don't understand. If she falls, she'll take me down with her." She then grabbed her purse and stood. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Song. I'll contact you soon when it's time for the hearing."

Song Zhen sighed and nodded. 

Wu Genji left, feeling heavy. She went back to her car and left to do some shopping. She had bought new clothes that were different from her typical sheer and transparent fabrics she usually had clad on. 

"It was counterproductive," she said, stabbing through her steak, her mind clouded with the day she had. "My lawyer was onto me, and the things he said were true. It shook me." 

He gave her a weighing glance as he ate his food, graceful and elegant. "Lawyer?"

Wu Genji paused. She had started to vent to Yuan Ning, forgetting that she hadn't told him what she had been dealing with. She had never opened up to anyone, and Yuan Ning was the last person she wanted to say all of her personal problems. "Yes," she answered. "I got busted for drug possession. It wasn't my fault, though. I was set up by someone I trusted, and now I could be in trouble." She told him a half-truth, leaving out the part of her nephew. She didn't want anyone knowing about him, the last, innocent family member she had left. 

Yuan Ning looked at her with concern. "Are you serious?" he questioned, almost angry. She knew he would be mad at her. It was the same reaction with every person she's told. 'Well, you were a former drug addict, are you really surprised you got caught?' and 'Why are you lying?' The point was that no one believed her without evidence, and without demanding the full story. 

"Who the hell framed you?" he asked. 

Wu Genji widened her amber eyes. He looked irritated, but he was irritated for her, not at her. 

"I…my mother," she found herself saying. 

"Why?" he asked, concerned. Why did he sound so sincere? She thought. 

"She…she's the former Tiger Queen. She's the reason my sister's gone. My sister left behind a son. He's in foster care. She wanted him, but I was afraid he'd go through what I did, so I set her up to get caught for abuse. She did. Then a few months later, she set me up the way I did to her, and my nephew was taken from me. Social services don't trust either of us, but we're fighting separate wars to get him back." 

"Genji—" he said. 

Wu Genji ran to her room and locked the door.