Chapter 238: Playing with Fire

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation     Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“If it’s neither here nor there, pulled to extremes, it seems like loving you, but it’s heartless to the extreme. It seems heartless, but there’s a hint of deep affection hidden within. It always leaves people… in a state of both ice and fire. You never know what he’s thinking!

So, he wanted to break Jiang Junlin’s legs and lock him in a dark room. If he can’t get out, he won’t cause trouble. He no longer has to worry about the conflicts between the Triads and Black Hawk, and he doesn’t have to worry about facing Jiang Junlin with swords again.

Ji Chi smiled, came over, and had some hot tea. He saw through it all, but he was still unwilling.

In the kitchen, the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall had been simmered to perfection, and its aroma filled the air.

“Today is New Year’s Day, and I invited you to meet because 1 wanted to celebrate with you,” Jiang Junlin said firmly, looking at Ji Chi. “When we parted years ago, 1 promised to spend New Year’s with you, but 1 broke that promise. I was lying in bed, and when I woke up, a month had already passed. To you, it may sound like an excuse or a made-up story, but it’s the truth.”

“When we reunited, why didn’t you explain? And why didn’t you answer when 1 asked you the last time?” Ji Chi asked, his emotions calm, as if this wasn’t a longstanding issue for him.

“There’s nothing to explain,” Jiang Junlin said calmly. “Breaking a promise is breaking a promise, regardless of the reason. 1 had a commitment and couldn’t fulfill it. It’s my fault, and 1 can’t erase the pain you’ve endured.”

Ji Chi smirked, but he didn’t find any solace in his heart. Between him and Jiang Junlin, there were too many lies and tests, and he couldn’t tell what was real and what was fake anymore.

“In that case, why bother explaining?” Ji Chi inquired.

Jiang Junlin rubbed his forehead, seeming tired and resigned. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

“Too late!”

“I know!”

“You don’t know anything at all!” Ji Chi’s eyes reddened with anger, but he suppressed his emotions and muttered to himself, “You don’t know anything at all.”

Jiang Junlin remained silent, his gaze deep and calm.

“Jiang Junlin, your emotions are all clearly priced. Every bit of emotion you give, you expect to get an equivalent reward. Our reunion was planned. I was your pawn in approaching Black Hawk. You never felt guilty or regretful about breaking our promise back then. You’re willing to act in this passionate reunion because you want to know Third Master’s identity, hoping to use emotions to manipulate me and split Black Hawk. The more resolute my stance, the more emotions you’re willing to invest, just like a business deal, isn’t it, Jiang Junlin?”

Jiang Junlin smiled, a gentle but somewhat wicked smile. It was the first time Ji Chi had seen Jiang Junlin so devilish. He was clearly the same person, but it felt like he had been possessed by a demon.

“Ji Chi, some things are understood but left unsaid. That’s the dignity of an adult!” he said with a touch of regret. “Since you’ve figured it out, why are you still willing?”

Ji Chi felt a sharp pain in his heart but laughed, “Yeah, how could 1 still be willing? Guess!”

Jiang Junlin leaned in, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement. His eyes weren’t suited for smiling; when he did, there was always a chilling and eerie sense of fear. “You hate me but want me, Ji Chi. I’ve given you what you wanted. But you’re greedy, so don’t blame me.”

“Yeah…” Ji Chi started to laugh without apparent reason. He laughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes. “Big brother, you’ve left nothing out. But have you ever thought that I knew from the beginning that you’d meet me tonight?”

Jiang Junlin squinted, looking at him coldly, with a strong sense of unease in his heart.

“Since that financial battle began, I’ve been going crazy, and I’ve been obsessed. Is it my nature, or is it what you wanted to portray?” Ji Chi’s smile was like the snowstorm outside the window. “On the plane, I showed weakness, I showed love, I bared my heart and soul, all hoping that you would look at me even once. Do you feel proud? You always stand high above, controlling my love, hate, anger, and sorrow, as if you have them in the palm of your hand. I can’t escape your cage, right? Are you pleased with yourself? You see, when a person becomes proud, there are bound to be vulnerabilities…”

Jiang Junlin took out his phone and called Zhang Qiang, but this time, there was no response. He took a deep breath, his pupils narrowing, a storm of anger brewing in the depths of his eyes.

“Ji Chi, 1 advise you not to play with fire.” Jiang Junlin’s voice was calm. He had been enduring Black Hawk all his life, but tonight, he felt like a hawk had pecked out his eye. Jiang Junlin felt powerless in his limbs.

Ji Chi had just been furious but was now smoking in the corridor and hadn’t left. He should have been on guard.

“Does the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall smell good? There’s a type of Indian incense I placed there.” Ji Chi took a sip of black tea, walked over, and looked down at Jiang Junlin on the sofa. He knew he was now a trapped beast, but Jiang Junlin showed no signs of panic. “Big brother, is it satisfying to control someone’s emotions, joys, sorrows, and desires? I want to give it a try too.”

Jiang Junlin was speechless.

“In the hospital, Lu Zhiyuan entered the emergency room because of a headache. After two hours, no cause was found. The doctor’s final conclusion was emotional ups and downs, stress, and all his physical data were good, with no signs of poisoning.

Gu Ci breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Lu Zhiyuan, who was unconscious, not understanding why he suddenly had a headache. She was eager to return to China.

Outside the window, the snowstorm intensified.

In the late night, Ji Chi came to the hospital. “How is Third Master?”

“The doctor said he’s fine,” Gu Ci said. Ji Chi’s usually smiling eyes seemed somewhat sinister, but Gu Ci didn’t think too much of it; she thought he was worried about Lu Zhiyuan.

Ji Chi was truly loyal to Lu Zhiyuan.

“That’s good!”

The church bells suddenly rang, marking the arrival of the new year in the early morning.

Ji Chi looked at Lu Zhiyuan, who was barely breathing on the bed. He pulled a chair and sat down, keeping vigil with Gu Ci. Gu Ci showed no signs of sleepiness and asked Ji Chi, “Why aren’t you keeping watch with your brother during New Year’s Eve?”

Ji Chi smiled and lowered his head. “He hasn’t wanted to see me lately.”

Gu Ci had overheard a phone call between Li Jiang and knew that recently, due to the affairs of the Triads, Jiang Junlin and Ji Chi had been at odds. Lu Zhiyuan was in a deep sleep, and a bedside lamp in the ward cast a dim light.

Ji Chi’s eyes appeared as dark as a void. “Gu Ci, if Third Master and Jiang Junlin were at each other’s throats, whose side would you take?”

Gu Ci had asked herself this question countless times but had no answer. “I’m just a doctor. 1 only know how to treat illnesses and save lives. What they want, they’ll have to fight for themselves.”

“You won’t take a side?”

“1 can’t.” Gu Ci was clear-headed. “Blood ties are unbreakable, and romantic feelings are hard to give up. But I believe they both know what’s at stake. 1 don’t think it will come to a life-and-death struggle.”

The best outcome would be for them to avoid confrontation!

“What about you?” Gu Ci smiled and asked.

“I will never betray Third Master!”

“Will you point a gun at my brother?”

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