Zion was in his room, lounging around peacefully.
The first thing he did after he entered the room was to open the laptop, and move around as much money from his account as possible to the online accounts which are not under the purview of the government.
He is absolutely sure that his clan will freeze his accounts as soon as they can. If he wants to have the slightest chance of getting away, he needs to prepare thoroughly. He chose all valuable items in his room, sent them to his rented house using the slowest mail possible, to be picked up at the post office.
After he finished the task, he continued lounging around, ordering for the best meal in the kitchen, to be brought to his room.
The servants complied.
At the same time, a report was sent to his grandmother about the extremely expensive meal he requested.
" Ha ! It seems he is a wimp in the end. Send him all he wants, and double the quantity. It will be his last meal. " Regina Sheng said with a mocking smile.
It really is very unsatisfying when a beast you wanted to play with for very long forfeits in the first game.
" Madam ! Young master Vernon has requested your permission to invite Zion to his barbeque party. " the servant informed Regina.
" Were they close ? " Regina asked curiously.
" No Maam. … Young master Vernon likes to tease his younger brother. " The servant answered delicately.
" Oh, you can say bully ! we are not that uptight, you know. Sure. let him go, two guards will follow to look after Zion's safety. Just make sure his face is as pretty as ever. " Regina answered, then returned to the work at hand.
That meant Vernon could beat Zion to death as long as his face was intact.
" Understood, Maam. " The servant replied, then walked away.
As soon as the evening arrived, a servant knocked on Zion's door. Zion was on his phone, checking for any latest news.
" Young Master Zion. Young master Vernon invites you to a barbeque party. " The servant informed him, lifting the cloche on a silver platter.
A blood red invitation letter bound with golden ribbon shone on the silver platter.
' There it is ' Zion thought as he retrieved the envelope.
All of his cousins liked to bully him in their spare time, but none more so than Vernon Sheng.
Vernon was his sparring partner. He had zero skill, but incredible strength. They used to train together, till Zion perfected the form and moved on to next class.
Most teachers who taught him lamented that if only he had a quarter of Vernon's strength, he would be the best swordsman they ever taught.
Zion was sure the teachers who taught Vernon lamented that if only Vernon had one tenth of Zion's skill.
All skills are useless in front of absolute strength. That was proven again and again and again in his spars with Vernon. Eventually, the teachers stopped the spars when Vernon tried to kill him, literally.
Ofcourse, if the party is inside the mansion, Zion will reject it.
Even Vernon had that much sense.
So, the party was arranged outside the mansion.
Despite knowing it's a trap, Zion had no choice but to walk into it, for it would be his only chance to run away.
The party is set in the stone forest.
It is a valley which has been transformed to resemble stone forests described in martial arts novels.
Zion passed by the guards.
There were colorful beanbags arranged all over the floor, and a cook was grilling the meat on the grill.
Vernon was sitting on a beanbag, his arms spread out wide.
A buxom girl with chestnut curls was frenching him, with her hand inside his pants. One does not need to look twice to know what's happening there.
The girl was wearing a slim A-line red dress, with a slt down her legs. She is pressing herself on Vernon as if she is desperate.
Zion's eyes fell on the scene, automatically he wanted to turn his head away. In that process, his eyes traveled down .. and there was a tattoo on the girl's ankle.
He recognized it.
' that … that tattoo is similar to the tattoo on Leste. She got it for their first anniversary. '
A horrible realization dawned on him, as his brain started taking in information on autopilot. The girl … everything about her is very similar to Leste.
" Master… The 'Bitch Slap' you ordered. " one of the waiters brought a tray, with the creamy cocktail on it.
The girl stopped kissing him, and looked at the waiter with hooded eyes.
It was Leste.
Lightning went off inside Zion's head.
He has imagined a thousand ways for this to go, but Leste .. Leste is pure, sweet and loyal. She never liked money. Her dream was to create a small family with a picket fence, two dogs, one cat, and three children… Zion and Leste… they made their plans for this beautiful future ..
It felt like the ground moving under him.
Zion felt such a violent mix of emotions, his legs gave out on him.
" Hey! Hey! Hey ! I have so many things planned out. What are we going to do If you already collapse ! " Vernon scolded him.
Zion looked at Leste in shock.
" Leste.. It's not you, is it.. Please .. Please .. ! Tell me it's not you. Give me any excuse. You are not like this.. You have dreams.. You are good and kind.. Please, Leste .. " Zion begged on his knees. He had no idea what he was saying.
All he needed was one excuse. He is ready to believe it.
" Oh, dear ! You are far more gullible than I thought. Zion ! I was only with you for money. I thought since you are a Sheng, you will be rolling in money once you graduate ! Now, look at this ! Look at how you hurt me ? You are not only poor, you are also weak ! You have no future to be had ! To think I wasted beautiful years of my youth on you ! Hey, Loser ?! How are you going to compensate me for the years I lost ? The years of my life where I could have been with a boyfriend as kind and generous as Vernon ! Compensate for my loss, you weak loser ! " Leste scolded him.
Zion looked at her in shock.
" What are you looking at ! Turn away if you don't want me to pluck out those eyeballs ! " Leste threatened him, her face awash with a sweet smile.
" Oh, baby ! How could you be so unkind to my brother ? How can you say you lost the beautiful years of your youth ? From what I hear, you were playing with the entire football team, since the first year. They were ready to start a religion in your name ! Even I am afraid of their revenge for plucking off the prized rose in their garden. "
" My cutest boyfriend ! How could they compare to you ? You can kick them out of the ballpark any time you wish to. Moreover, they are just little things I played with, but you are the love of my life. " Leste assured Vernon.
" Really ? I am the love of your life ? Will you love me the same even if I beat this bastard to pieces ? You really have no love for him ? " Vernon questioned her, his face full of mock suspicion.
" Of Course ! There is nothing in the world that can make me love you less. " Leste assured him.
" Then .. Prove it ! " Vernon said, laughing shadily.
" Prove ?!! " Leste had question marks all over her face.
"Let's put the glass here. It better not spill … " Vernon warned her, placing the glass in between her bosom. If she trembles so much as trembles, the cocktail will spill on her dress.
" Hey ! This is unfair ! What if the drink spills accidentally ? This dress is expensive, you know ? " Leste grumbled.
" Then how about it ? I will compensate for it if the drink spills for any other reason. " Vernon reassured her.
" It is so, if my boyfriend says so. " Leste answered adoringly.
Zion was still shell shocked.
His brain recorded the words, but did not comprehend the meaning.
Thus, he was completely unprepared when two guards held his hands and yet another punched him in the guts.
" Blergh ! " he vomited out his lunch and blood mixed together.
But the drink stayed exactly like that, without even a ripple in Leste's bosom.
Even Vernon who was looking at her was shocked.
He expected her to pretend to be not affected. He was too shocked that she is really not affected at all.
' This bitch ! She is more dangerous and ruthless than I thought. ' he thought.
" Wow. .that's cold. I almost pity you, little brother ! " Vernon said mockingly to Zion.
Zion was still watching on with lifeless eyes.
For a moment, he welcomed the pain, because it's tens of times less than the pain he was feeling in his heart.
' Poor and weak ' Leste's words rang repeatedly in his head.