To Love You Again

Xiong Zhi continued.

"I want to find it out. But he said that he would handle it and finish it by himself. I don't know if finding it out before waiting for him to give an explanation is good. Besides-" Xiong Zhi thought about it.

If Linfeng did not detailed it to her it means it was one of the things he doesn't want her to know. With the knowledge of Linfeng from the past life and present time, Xiong Zhi knew that Linfeng wanted to solve his problems on his own. And her adding to that scene, would cause another problem.

Besides, they were not in a relationship where they could touch each other's belongings. Like his thoughts and beliefs, Xiong Zhi knew the current Linfeng wouldn't allow her to touch those.

"--Besides I'm afraid if I push more he would be estranged to me." Xiong Zhi was afraid of these. It's true that she managed to tell what her heart says to Linfeng. But she couldn't push more. The young Linfeng couldn't handle it.

But..even though she had those thoughts. Her heart wanted to ignore those and check on his situation. She trusted Linfeng. But having just thought of the two of them being alone made Xiong Zhi want to kidnap Linfeng and protect him from that snake.

Was it too much?

Lu Yin Ze watched as Xiong Zhi expressed some frustration in that usual cold face.

"Is it..your butler?"

Xiong Zhi did not answer him. She was in deep thought and couldn't hear him.

"Is it...Linfeng, the important person you are talking about?"

Xiong Zhi finally looked at him and nod with a complicated face.

Squeezed.

Lu Yin Ze doesn't know what he's feeling.

But he cheered up to console Xiong Zhi.

"Why he would take it against you? You are his master. And as I can see, he deeply cares about you. So, giving him care than any master does would surely make him happy. Just follow what you think will be good and also follow what will make you give peace."

Xiong Zhi's finally eased up.

"Is it really okay?"

"I really don't know. But if he got angry at you, just-" Lu Yin Ze shrugged his shoulders.

"-just make up with him."

Xiong Zhi finally saw the light.

"You're right."

Xiong Zhi nodded as she thought about it. She could chase after Linfeng again if he doesn't like what she did. She would please him.

Xiong Zhi looked at Lu Yin Ze with a small smile.

"You're intelligent."

Lu Yin Ze just scrunched up his shoulders.

"Not really. Just go. Make your mind at peace."

Xiong Zhi nodded and ran. She did not even bid goodbye to the other two who were bickering over a piece of cookie. (Song Xuantin and Gu Zhen)

Lu Yin Ze watched Xiong Zhi who ran like her life depended on it with a laugh.

But then..he could not laugh anymore.

Squeezed.

He felt bitter and a bit..hurt.

****

Linfeng was facing the three elders of the Zhou family.

It was his grandfather, grandmother, and granduncle.

They had a serious expression on their face.

"How come it comes down to this? What have you been doing?" His grandfather asked him angrily.

Linfeng looked down and did not answer.

They were outside the room of Xiong Wuyue. The doctor checked Xiong Wuyue and told them that she was fine. She got some injuries but they were not life-threatening. But it might scare the young miss since it might leave some scar for a few months.

"Let's sit down first. Your shouting will wake up the young miss." Linfeng's grandmother gently coaxed the Old man.

"Sigh. Your wife is right. Hold your tongue for a while." His grand-uncle looked at Linfeng with disappointment.

Linfeng followed them. He just stayed quiet as the trio bombarded him with another round of sermon as they sat in the living room.

"What's the matter with you Linfeng? How come the young miss is injured? Do you know what will happen if it comes out? It is the first time a Xiong visit here and stayed in this mansion. And there's an accident already? I thought you're intelligent. You must know how important that guest is."

Linfeng did not answer and kept staring down.

Grandma Zhou patted Grandpa Zhou who was red from speaking in a long breath.

"Linfeng, what happened? We are really happy that Mr. Xiong De personally asked you to take care of his daughter for a week. It is very important. I know, child, that you are not irresponsible. How will you fix this?"

Linfeng inwardly laughed.

Fix this?

'The real question is how the Xiong wanted the Zhou to fix this? And how the Zhou wanted me to fix it.'

To prove that his thoughts were right, his grand-uncle side comment.

"Mr. Xiong De would not take it lightly if he heard about this news. Sigh."

The oldies were troubled.

And this trouble should only be fixed by the person who made this trouble happen.

They all look at the quiet Linfeng.

Linfeng finally looked up at them.

He told them what they really wanted to hear.

"Don't worry. I'll fix this. I will coax Ms. Wuyue."

The three sighed out of relief.

If Linfeng said he could fix this, he would fix this. They at least believe in Linfeng's ability. That's why they were proud of this grandson. Many people even from the second branch of the Xiong family asked for Linfeng. It was a pride of their family that many families wanted the Zhou heir to be their butler.

"I'm glad you have the heart of a Zhou. Just take care of it properly. I don't want to hear any complaints about how we did not manage to take care of our guests. " Grandpa Zhou patted Linfeng. His anger was gone now. 

His grandson never talked back at them. He was just getting some steam earlier.

Linfeng expressionless face just bowed.

"I won't disappoint you, grandfather."

Grandpa Zhou patted Linfeng again with a satisfied expression.

His old hand was placing a huge burden on that young shoulder.

*****

Linfeng was standing and leaning at the window. It was pouring loudly outside. 

The weather was a bit funny.

It was just sunny and humid earlier. But now it was raining cats and dogs. The two opposite weather could actually exist in just one day.

How funny.

The weather was just like him. 

Linfeng who was just happy a moment ago was now feeling desolate and strained.

He glanced at the girl who was sleeping in the big bed.

He was currently inside her room, watching her until she woke up and console her of what happened.

He could not go out of this room until she woke up. This was of course arranged by the elders.

Since it was his fault, he needed to follow their instruction and fix this.

Linfeng fished out his phone.

He checked his messages.

It was all from Jang Shin and some unknown numbers. It was a report from SC and some information he asked for his personal investigation team.

He scrolled on his phone.

Then he finds it.

Xiong Zhi's text message earlier.

Linfeng read it multiple times.

[-.. Is everything alright?]

'No. It's not.'

Sometimes, Linfeng felt heavy and suffocated. He wanted to fly high to be freed from those feelings. From those responsibilities. 

But sometimes, he got tired of running forward to his goals that seemed to be hard to meet. 

He put to his young self the burden of freeing the Zhou family from those shackles. He wanted to be the one to break it. So his generation and the people after his generation could be free from this suffocation and burdens. So they could at least fly high and choose their own path.

But everything seems so hard.

Not only the way to break it.

But the mentality of the Zhou's. They were locked up as well.

All of them accepted their fate.

Except him.

Linfeng perseveres. 

When he was young and was thought things, he began to understand the world. He also began to question why these people around him put shackles on their dreams.

Was it a part of human beings to strive and dream?

But these people thought children like him to serve people in a democratic era.

Was the reason? Why did they decide the fate of future generations?

Maybe he was greedy.

Maybe he liked more power and authority.

Or maybe he just wants to rule his own life.

But he, as Linfeng, just wanted to be as Linfeng. Not butler Zhou. But Zhou Linfeng.

He was sure that with his ability, he could achieve his dreams.

Linfeng fell in a sea of his own consciousness. 

Beep.

A text message woke him up from his daze.

He opened it.

[I haven't received any call from you. I don't want to trouble you. But I'm worried. I am in front of the Zhou Mansion.]

It was from Xiong Zhi.

Linfeng felt like he was poured by a cold bucket of water.

His mind ran quickly. So was his body.

He took his coat that he left on a couch. He wore it and glanced at the girl in the bed. There was still no movement.

He opened the door and left.

After two seconds, Xiong Wuyue opened her eyes and stared at the door.