Chapter 34: Rip’s Background

"That's enough."

Ian stepped out from behind a wall. 

"Young master Ian! What brings you here?" The cooking instructor quickly walked up to Ian and greeted him respectfully.

"I'm here to visit Rip." Ian smiled and revealed the purpose of his visit without any hints of concealment.

"Trainee 132?!" The instructor showed surprise on their face. 

"It has nothing to do with you or the other trainees. Carry on with your class," Ian dismissed the instructor and had them go away.

"Yes," the instructor said and went back to supervising the trainees and attending to some who accidentally injured themselves.

"Hello, Rip," Ian greeted Rip who looked very happy to see Ian. This was the first time Ian had come to see the special training after Rip joined.

"Big brother Ian!" Rip eagerly called out in his excitement, forgetting everything his father told him to keep under wraps.

Some of the trainees' hands slipped and their knife almost sliced off their entire finger while others dropped what they were holding from shock.

Even the instructor looked dumbfoundedly in the direction of Rip.

'How close are Rip and young master Ian for Rip to call him "big brother"? I don't think I ever heard of the Everetts having a third sibling.' Chase doubted.

'Oops!' Rip thought to himself, embarrassed. 'I really have a knack for exposing myself!'

Ian swept his gaze around the room, a gentle and polite smile on his face like always, he said, "Why are you all looking over here? Focus on your cooking, everyone needs to eat dinner, including all of you. Don't let us disturb you."

His words effectively had all the shocked trainees and the instructor come to their senses and look away.

Though while carrying out their respective assignments, the majority of them secretly kept their ears wide open.

Only Blake, who was in charge of the dessert station this time, could care less. He held no interest towards the conversation between Ian and Rip, he focused solely on his work. The small cake in his hands was exquisitely and carefully decorated, but it emitted a gloomy and dark aura that creeped out the trainees working at the same dessert station with him.

The instructor also did not have the guts to listen in. 

Noticing some of the trainees distracted and nearly pouring hot sauce into one of the salty and mild dishes, the instructor knocked loudly on the countertop and glared.

Ian looked at this whole picture with a gentle smile on his face, but was inwardly displeased. He should tell Sling to increase the intensity and seriousness of the training. Where do they get the courage to pretend to work while actually listening in on their superior's conversation? 

They need more and stricter training. Punishments must be in order as well.

"Big brother Ian, why are you here?" Learning from his previous slip-ups, Rip quietly whispered so as to not be heard by others. 

Ian finally turned his attention back to Rip and Chase.

Ian, "I obviously came to see you." Ian did not mention that he had also come to see Chase.

Chase might have a bright and vivid appearance and a sunny and easygoing personality, but he was also very cautious and alert towards others' intentions and motives. 

And right now, Ian had no plans on alerting Chase or forcing the latter to follow him. Not to mention, he'd never forced anyone to serve him, they'd always voluntarily come into his lap. Sure, he might've taken advantage of certain situations, but in the end, it was completely their choice.

As for those small fries that moonless, windy, red night where he rescued Shade, they don't count. At best they were merely his puppets.

Essentially, all Ian means is that he doesn't intend on forcing Chase to make the decision that best suits Ian; Chase is allowed to make the decisions he deem to be the best for himself. In his last life, Chase had willingly partnered up with Ian when Ian had brought up nothing of the sort. Nor had Ian ever entertained this idea.

In the first place, Ian had only picked up the battered and dying Chase on a whim and planned on ditching him after he healed and recovered to a suitable extent. 

Who knew that Chase would suddenly suggest the idea of partnering up?

In the end, Ian consented but he can't quite remember the exact reason why he agreed. He didn't need anyone and nor had he ever thought of wanting someone to accompany him on his journey for revenge.

Nonetheless.

A feeling that came from Chase made the darkness inside Ian at the time feel that Chase could be trusted and used as he liked. Which was exactly what Ian did.

After they partnered up, Ian noticed Chase subtly trying to get closer to him, and Ian didn't understand why. There was nothing good about him nor was he a charismatic leader or a good-friend material after what he had gone through, so Ian didn't understand why Chase wanted to be friends with him so badly. Chase had even once joked that he wouldn't mind becoming Ian's subordinate if Ian allowed him, to which he earned Ian's instant rejection. 

"Aww, come on, don't take it so seriously. I was just joking." The dismal and glum older-looking Chase tried to brush off his earlier words, knowing that Ian had not liked hearing it. 

Ian had pursed his lips, his eyes cold and bleak.

At the time, Ian didn't want to form any close connections or relationships.

Ian had always coldly ignored Chase's every attempt to get closer to him.

However, Chase never gave up. All that remained of his past self was his sanguine persistent quality which he aimed at Ian alone.

…Until one fateful day.

Ian really couldn't understand why…

Why?

Why does everyone around him leave him?

After that, Ian was alone once again.

He continued to plot his revenge, trimming away at their power and influence, shrinking down the endless supply of men at their beck and call. Everything seemed endless and complete revenge appeared out of reach no matter how many he killed and manipulated.

After that, Ian never saved anyone, never formed any sort of relationship and connection, besides client and customer, with anyone else.

Ian completely closed himself off. 

At present, in his second chance at life, Ian's light purple eyes lingered a little longer on the Chase Hack before him. He truly looked much different and changed from the Chase he knew.

Or rather, he was the Chase before he changed.

Ian noticed Chase's eyes. Red with a spark in them. A spark of hope, life, and spirit.

He hadn't lost it yet in this life.

Chase was once again confused by Ian's stare. 

'I know I entertained the thought that young master Ian might be interested in me, but I didn't actually think that would be the case. Is it really a good thing, like Rip said, to be noticed by young master Ian?'

Chase furrowed his eyebrows in thought.

'...No, it doesn't matter if it's a good thing or a bad thing, as long as he can help my little brother, I'll be his dog!'

But then, Ian turned away from Chase.

Chase, "?"

Chase was left speechless and bewildered. Maybe he really was thinking too much.

"How are you finding the special training, Rip? I heard from Butler Srca that you are having a lot of fun here and everything's easy for you," Ian said to Rip.

Rip puffed up his cheeks and said, "Don't listen to him! He's just exaggerating. There's no way any lesson here is easy, but yeah, I am having fun, and I made a friend—he's called Chase. We room together and he also finds this training to be fun." Rip dragged Chase by the arm in front of Ian. Not knowing that Ian already had his eye on Chase, Rip enthusiastically introduced and advertised his friend to Ian, hoping to get the latter interested and give his friend a ticket to success.

Chase forced himself to laugh. Fun? Seriously? Only someone like Rip can consider this hellish training to be fun.

"Really? Then maybe I should tell Butler Srca to add another month to the special training. I wouldn't want you to not enjoy yourselves enough since you like it so much," Ian seriously suggested with a light smile.

His words caused the hearts of the listening trainees to lift.

They all wanted to rush over and shout and persuade and assure Ian that one month was long enough, they seriously can't persevere for another month. He'll have no one left!

But they all restrained themselves. At least in this part, they were trained sufficiently.

"No, no, no! Thank you very much for your consideration, young master Ian, however, you shouldn't break this generations-long tradition of a one-month special training for us just because we are having fun. This burden would be too much for us to bear." Chase righteously declined, his eyes bright and serious, his orange and yellow hair swaying with his momentum.

Ian hummed. "You make sense. Alright then, I guess I'll have to disappoint you. Relish in the rest of your training as much as possible, because you'll probably never get to experience it again."

'I hope that to be the case,' Chase thought as he discreetly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.

'Yes!!' The trainees all cheered in their hearts. Thankfully, the crisis was successfully averted without disrespecting the young master thanks to the quick reaction of their second top trainee.

Rip stood on the side, at a loss. He didn't really mind extending the special training period from one month to two months. He really did enjoy his time here, every activity was so fun and he was constantly learning new and interesting things.

Naively, he thought that since he was having fun, others must be too.

Most importantly, the more capable he is, the more he can be of use to Ian. 

But hearing what Chase grandly and solemnly pronounced, Rip also thought he was right. They shouldn't be selfish and break tradition. Besides… Rip looked around, he could see the reluctant and relieved faces of the trainees after hearing Ian say that he won't lengthen the special training. 

'Maybe they didn't have as much fun as I thought,' Rip concluded to himself with a little disappointment.

"By the way, I heard you crying while in the hallway." Ian suddenly brought up this topic.

Rip blushed, embarrassed. He never knew that he could be such a crybaby. But he wasn't usually this way!

Rip looked at Chase. The latter also remembered what happened just before Ian appeared. A look of resistance appeared on Chase's face. Rip can sense that he didn't want to let other people know about his family situation. 

Respecting his friend's feelings, Rip shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I was cutting onions and it stung my eyes."

Ian raised an eyebrow, he inconspicuously glanced behind Rip and didn't see even the skin of an onion let alone anything that resembled an onion.

However, it's not like he didn't know what really made Rip cry. Rip was really sensitive. Even without Chase outright telling him that something happened to his little brother, Rip sensed it first and his body reacted.

"Be careful when you cut the onions, wash them before you cut them, it'll help lessen the stings." Ian advised. 

Rip nodded obediently. Curious, Rip asked, "How do you know?"

Ian smiled. "I saw it on the internet."

"Oh."

"Also…" Ian leaned in next to Rip's ears.

Rip listened intently for Ian's next words. What could be so secretive that his big brother Ian had to whisper it right into his ears?

"...Next time, either keep your mouth shut or say it's nothing. Don't lie to me again, understand, Rip?" Ian spoke his—already considered gentle—reprimand with a smile. If it weren't for the fact that he really sees Rip as his adorable little brother-figure, Ian wouldn't have treated his slight so lightly with just a reprimand.

What Ian hated the most in the world was someone deceiving him. It doesn't matter if it's with good or bad intentions. No one was allowed to lie before him.

Rip's eyes widened in shock from the trace of coldness that leaked from Ian's words.

He hurriedly nodded his head. He also apologized, "Sorry, big brother Ian, I didn't mean to lie to you. I'll keep what you said in mind, I will never ever lie to you again!" He vowed seriously, gesturing with his hands to show his earnestness.

Rip did not take offense at all to what Ian had uttered to him, nor was he scared. He only thought that something bad must have happened to Ian for Ian to feel this way over such a small and insignificant white lie. Rip sensed a trace of sorrow and grief beneath the coldness.

What's more, he knows that his brother Ian wouldn't do harm to him.

Ian smiled, a little comforted by Rip's words and actions.

"Since I have seen you and everything, I'll be going now or else the main course for dinner today will never be ready. Bye, Rip. And Chase." Ian said his goodbyes to Rip and Chase before heading out. He didn't bother with anyone else and no one expected him to either. Though Ian briefly said something to the instructor in a low voice, who nodded and accepted the order, and then Ian left.

Both Rip and Chase got back to work. 

All the tense and distracted trainees relaxed and focused on their work. Even the instructor visibly softened in their attitude without their superior present.

No matter how polite Ian acted and how gentle Ian appeared, he was above all of them in status in this estate, and that fact alone made them all nervous. Besides Rip, Chase, and the peculiar Blake who showed disinterest to everything and everyone around him, everyone had felt constrained and pressured when Ian was present.

The class went along as usual and the dinner was soon prepared. While the Everett family's meals were brought over to the main mansion by Head Maid Eliza, the rest of the trainees quickly ate up their dinner and went back to their dorm rooms to relax and chat a little before going to bed.

"So," Chase casually started up a conversation with Rip while heading to the public shower room. "I didn't know you knew young master Ian."

"Huh? Uh, yeah, I guess I never mentioned it. Haha," Rip tried to laugh it off and avoid the question. He didn't know if he should spill or not, after all, big brother Ian didn't seem to care, but his father made him promise not to say anything.

Rip seriously pondered over this problem. 

An equation appeared in his mind:

Rip < his father < big brother Ian

'Hm, I guess I'll listen to big brother Ian, then. Anyways, father also has to listen to brother Ian's orders.' Rip sorted the hierarchy out in his head. 

Rip cheerily and easily resolved his own worries. 'Anyways, if Chase asks, I'll just tell him the truth.' He decided.

"How did you get to know young master Ian?" Chase asked, seriously curious about the mysterious background of his friend. He never was curious about this before, but that was before he knew that Rip had connections with young master Ian. And after today, the gut feeling he had previously that the teenager was interested in him, grew stronger.

Chase was sure that young master Ian had his eyes on him.

And that in turn made him feel complicated.

"I told you before, didn't I? My father works in the Everett Mansion," Rip explained and, after a little hesitation, added, "…directly under young master Ian. As the butler."

"The butler? As far as I know, there's only one butler in the Everett Mansion," Chase said as he went through his memories.

Rip nodded.

Chase's red eyes opened wide.

"What?!" Chase looked shocked. "Instructor Srca is your father?! I thought your last name was Bonds?!"

Rip looked sheepish as he said, "Yeah, that was my old last name. Big brother Ian helped my family to register a new last name, 'Srca', after my dad started working for him. Something about a new life, a new name." Rip casually tried to pass it off. 

In truth, Ian had them change their last name because he wanted them to change their fate. 

What he said to Sling at the time was, "Since you are about to leave behind your past identity, you might as well change your family name to start anew. Let the past be the past and cut off your old bonds and chains. Start a new life."

"Actually… My dad didn't want anyone to know that I was related to him and our connection to big brother Ian, I wasn't supposed to tell you this. So you have to keep it a secret for now," Rip looked around at their empty surroundings and said. Luckily, no one else seemed to have heard them. Everyone was still in their rooms, relaxing and playing around before bed.

"Okay, got it. It'll be our secret. Trust me, I am the best secret keeper you will ever meet," Chase smiled and boasted as he pointed at himself.

"Great!" Rip beamed.

Laughing and chatting, they reached the public shower area and entered.

Beside the public shower room was the public bathroom shared by the trainees on this floor of the building.

Out from the dark, lightless bathroom emerged a young man with black hair and black eyes. Looking at the direction of the shower room, no one knew what he was thinking as a shadow covered his face. Only the black beauty mark on the left side of his flat mouth was visible.

With his ever gloomy atmosphere surrounding him, he indifferently strode out of the bathroom and headed back to his empty dorm room. All his dorm mates had eventually quit and now there was only him in the now spacious eight-person dorm room.

Sitting down quietly on his single-size bed, Blake stared unwaveringly at the space in front of him without blinking, until all the noise coming from his neighbors disappeared. 

Blake moved. 

He laid down and tucked himself in. Closing his tranquil black eyes that possessed a mysterious feeling like he could see through you, Blake drifted off to sleep like the rest of the trainees.