Jingliu the Admired

When they returned home, they slipped quietly into their shared room. The walls held onto the day's lingering warmth, a stark contrast to the coolness that had settled in their bones. Without exchanging a word, they moved in a practiced silence, each action a small ritual of their nightly routine.

Yasushi shed his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of running water a muted hum through the door. Jingliu changed into her nightwear, her movements unhurried, almost meditative.

Yasushi emerged from the bathroom, steam curling around him like a ghost reluctant to let go. He looked fresher, but his eyes still carried the weight of the evening. He joined her in bed, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. They lay there, side by side, their breaths synchronizing in the darkened room.

Minutes passed in silence, the kind of silence that isn't empty but brimming with unsaid things. Jingliu shifted, her body a shadow against the pale sheets. She crawled up slowly, deliberately, and pressed a gentle kiss to Yasushi's cheek, a simple gesture laden with unspoken comfort. She then settled back down, her head resting on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

Yasushi's arm found its way around her, pulling her closer. It was a natural movement, a reflex born out of familiarity and need. They held each other like that, letting the quiet of the room envelop them, their minds a tangle of thoughts they didn't voice. Sleep came gradually, a welcome escape, yet they both knew the night's events were far from behind them.

+-+

Morning light seeped through the thin curtains, painting the room in a gentle, washed-out hue. Yasushi and Jingliu were already dressed, their movements slow, deliberate, as if the weight of the night had sunk into their bones. They exchanged tired glances, a silent acknowledgment of the emotional exhaustion that had settled over them like an unwelcome guest.

Jingliu's eyes drifted to Yasushi's injured hand. The bandage was clean, and the wound beneath it seemed less angry than before. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the white gauze, her concern a silent promise to watch over him until he was whole again.

Outside, the air was cool and crisp, a brief respite before the day's heat set in. They stood together, waiting for Yinhaie, the morning's quiet punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves. Yasushi's phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen — Furuya.

"Hey, dude, those guys from Jingliu's family left, is everything over?" Furuya's message blinked up at him.

Yasushi's fingers moved quickly over the screen. "It should be, but for now, we'll keep them there. They're probably being replaced with new guards, for rotation purposes and things like that, so don't worry too much."

There was a pause, the seconds stretching out before Furuya's reply came through. "Wait, did something happen last night? Did what that maid say come true?"

Yasushi's eyes darkened briefly as he typed his response. "Yeah, something like that. I'll tell you in detail later."

A thumbs-up emoticon popped up, ending the conversation for now. Yasushi pocketed his phone, his mind already drifting back to the events of the previous night. Jingliu slipped her hand into his, grounding him in the present.

"Looks like Furuya is worried about you too," Jingliu said softly, her gaze lingering on Yasushi. "I might give him disapproving looks most of the time, but he really cares for you. And you care for him too, right?"

Yasushi nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, we've been through a lot together. Even if we don't hang out as often as we used to, we can rely on each other. It's like we're brothers from different mothers or something."

Jingliu opened her mouth to respond, but the sound of a car pulling up cut her off. Yinhaie had arrived, punctual as always. The ride to school was quiet, each of them lost in their own thoughts, the hum of the engine the only sound breaking the stillness.

As they pulled up to the school gates, Yinhaie turned around in the driver's seat, his eyes serious. "We handled most of the immediate issues last night while you slept. We're already conducting another round of investigations, and we should have some results in a few days. But I have to advise you both to keep your guard up. The gang Saisei was trying to infiltrate is known for its violence. They will retaliate once they find out what happened."

Yasushi and Jingliu exchanged a look, the weight of Yinhaie's words settling over them. They nodded, acknowledging the warning. The day ahead seemed daunting, a minefield of potential dangers. But for now, they stepped out of the car, the school building looming large and familiar, yet somehow different, shadowed by the uncertainty that lay ahead.

+-+

Yasushi had gone ahead, leaving Jingliu behind as she paused at her shoe locker, switching from outdoor to indoor shoes. He didn't think much of it. She often took her time with such things. Once he reached his classroom and settled at his desk, Furuya was there almost immediately, eagerness written all over his face, ready to hear the details of the previous night.

To Yasushi's surprise, Laura also walked in. Given the trauma she endured the day before, seeing her at school was unexpected. It showed a strength he hadn't anticipated. Xinyi joined Furuya, her concern and curiosity evident as they gathered around Yasushi's desk.

Yasushi held up his injured hand, the bandage stark against his skin. "Yeah, this still throbs on occasion, but it's mostly fine. I've got some painkillers with me just in case. But really, I'm okay," he assured them, though the ache was a constant reminder of how close things had come to going wrong.

Xinyi's eyes were wide with worry as she gently took his injured hand in hers. "That was reckless. Why would you agree to such a plan?" Her voice was a mix of concern and reprimand.

Furuya nodded in agreement, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by genuine concern. "That's just wild, dude. Why not involve the police? You could have had them accompany Yinhaie's group while you confronted those guys. As soon as they saw the fight, they could have broken it up."

Yasushi leaned back, fingers steepled under his chin, and let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand nights. "We had our reasons, believe me. It's mostly handled now. Saisei won't be a problem for a while. But we're keeping the guards around both families. The gang might catch wind and try something." His eyes flicked to Xinyi, who nodded, a brief but telling gesture.

Xinyi, always methodical, picked up the thread. "We'll split the protection detail. Some of my family's staff will stay with Laura's family. For the Furuya household, it'll be divided — Jingliu's team will cover the first half of the week, ours the latter."

The door creaked open, and Jingliu entered. Her steps were heavy, as if each one carried an invisible burden. She moved to her desk, sat down with a thud, and stared at the surface. Her eyes were distant, lost in a labyrinth of thoughts.

Xinyi watched her for a moment, concern etching lines on her forehead. She stepped closer, her voice soft but firm. "Jingliu, is something wrong?"

Jingliu's eyes flicked up, scanning their faces one by one, lingering on Yasushi. She nodded slightly, a movement so small it almost went unnoticed. Her hand dipped into her bag, and she extracted a note, its edges slightly crumpled from anxious fingers. She extended it toward Xinyi, who accepted it with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Xinyi unfolded the note, her eyes skimming the handwritten lines. Around them, their classmates remained absorbed in their own worlds, snippets of laughter and chatter blending into a background hum. Furuya, ever vigilant, glanced around and then leaned closer to Xinyi. "It's okay," he murmured, giving her a reassuring nod.

Xinyi's eyes widened as she read, a soft gasp escaping her lips. "You…" she started, her voice barely above a whisper, "this is a love letter? I didn't think anyone did this anymore, but I guess some traditions never die."

The group fell silent, their attention snapping to Xinyi. Laura, unable to resist, reached for the letter. She scanned its contents quickly before passing it to Furuya, who then handed it to Yasushi. Each of them read it in turn, the same look of surprise and concern flitting across their faces.

Yasushi read it carefully, his brow furrowing. It was indeed a love letter, addressed to Jingliu. But there was something off about it. The tone, the choice of words — it hinted at something darker, something that sent a chill through each of them as they passed the note around.

Yasushi leaned forward, the letter trembling slightly in his hand. "Doesn't this sound like it's crossed the line from love into obsession?" he asked, his voice heavy with concern. His eyes locked onto Jingliu's, seeking her reaction.

Jingliu nodded, her face pale. "Yes, it does. I stayed behind earlier because I found the note. I opened it, thinking it might be something trivial. But the moment I read it, I felt a chill. The words... they were so wrong, so unsettling. It genuinely disturbed me."

Furuya reached out and took the letter from Yasushi, his curiosity piqued and tempered by a growing unease. He scanned the text, reading aloud some of the more disturbing lines. "'My love for you is like a never-ending star, always watching from a distance. Anything you throw away, I will take with me, as it's more precious than anything in this world.'"

He paused, the words hanging in the air like a dark omen. He shook his head, a shiver running down his spine. "What the fuck?" he muttered, then continued with a line that made his skin crawl. "'Anytime you pass me, I take a silent but big whiff of your scent. That degenerate who you're always with doesn't deserve you, my love.'"

Yasushi leaned in, his gaze steady and probing as he looked at Jingliu. "I have my own feelings and opinions on this, but what do you want to do?" His voice was gentle but firm, anchoring her amidst the storm of emotions.

Jingliu met his gaze, her eyes flickering with a mix of apprehension and resolve. She opened her mouth to speak, but the shrill ring of the bell cut through the moment, signaling the start of homeroom and the official beginning of the school day. The spell was broken, and reality came rushing back.

Yasushi exhaled, glancing at the clock. "We'll have to continue this during lunch. Let's put it on hold for now." He turned to Furuya, who was still clutching the unsettling letter. "Can you skip the lunchtime baseball game?"

Furuya nodded without hesitation. "Of course. This is more important."

A quick plan began to form in Yasushi's mind. "I can get us a room the baseball team uses during their meetings," Furuya offered, his voice steady, grounding the group in practicalities.

The others nodded in agreement, murmuring their thanks. The room would provide a safe space, away from prying eyes and curious ears, where they could dissect the troubling letter and decide on their next steps.