Chapter 30
By the time the painting was delivered to the villa and hung up, it was almost time for Zhuang Zhuoyuan to get off work. Iris sent him a text message, telling him to call a car to Repulse Bay, while she sat on the carpet in the middle of the living room, staring at the "brother-in-law" in the painting, seemingly locked in a battle of wills.
Most of what she knew about him was just speculation. Ella didn't mention him much, but her unusual behavior was enough to make Iris think of many things. She searched again and again, confirming her suspicions time and time again; if she hadn't realized the final result would plunge her into boundless fear, she would probably still be searching for the truth.
"BB, what are you staring at so intently?" Zhuang Zhuoyuan wasn't surprised to see the painting in the living room. The night before, Jennie had been so excited that she had sent him pictures she'd taken in England, even describing the people in the painting, including the one his girlfriend was currently staring at. He sat down cross-legged, pointed casually, and asked with a smile, "Doesn't the Kenny painting look like him?"
"What did you say?" Iris asked in surprise. "You called him Kenny?"
"Isn't that right?" Zhuang Zhuoyuan was a little confused by her reaction. "That's how Mommy introduced it to me last night."
Last night, she went back to the hotel to visit Yu Shitang at the hospital, so it seems her mother's call was timed carefully. Iris really wanted to know her parents' attitude; she had to figure out if this was a message exchange or a setup. "Baby, what else did Mommy say to you?"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan was somewhat puzzled. Judging from Iris's reaction, it seemed he knew more than she did. But seeing her so anxious that she was clutching her sleeves tightly, he couldn't joke with her anymore and honestly repeated what Jennie had told him: "Mommy said yesterday that Kenny was Ella's boyfriend during her first disappearance. She and Daddy weren't sure if Kenny was a kidnapper, a victim kidnapped along with Ella, or something else entirely. They only knew that after taking Ella to therapy, the doctor believed that Kenny had become Ella's pillar of support, so they had been searching for him ever since, but to no avail. Now that Ella has disappeared again, they'd rather believe the two children eloped than accept the news of her death, which is why they included Kenny in this family photo."
"Where did Kenny's portrait come from?"
"The records kept by the psychological counselor."
So who was deceiving her? Or was everyone deceiving them both? Iris felt uneasy again. She had been considering whether to postpone mentioning the man to Zhuang Zhuoyuan, but now it seemed she had to make a decision now, she had to make a choice.
Iris turned away from the punk-styled man beside Ella in the painting and solemnly said to Zhuang Zhuoyuan, "BB, listen to me. Kenny is most likely not a good person. At least he'll be a maverick, someone who walks the line between right and wrong. I don't know where he is, or if that day will ever come, but if you run into him, then follow your own rules and regulations. Don't worry too much about me or your family. Nothing is more important than your life, understand? Ella loves him, but that kind of love isn't necessarily normal. We don't even know if Ella is really by his side, or how much influence she has on him. So I don't want you to gamble your life on these uncertain possibilities. Although Ella and I are twins, we are also independent individuals. If we unfortunately find ourselves on opposite sides, it's because of our choices. From childhood to adulthood, we've always respected each other's choices and always understood the consequences of our choices. So if that day ever comes, don't feel any burden. Just follow your heart, OK?"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan was genuinely surprised that Iris would suddenly bring up such a serious question. He also sensed that Iris implied that Kenny would take his life without hesitation. So what kind of person was Kenny? An ordinary criminal? An assassin? Or a terrorist?
Love is blind.
Everything is speculation.
Both of them were unsure how to handle the situation, and even when they tried to sort things out, they didn't know where to begin.
Whether it's the writer's sensitive nature or Iris's inherent pessimism, in the face of not being able to grasp everyone's intentions, what kept coming to mind was the scene of Kenny and Zhuang Zhuoyuan pointing guns at each other. She was really scared, really scared that something would happen to Zhuang Zhuoyuan.
"Ah Yuan, or you can wait until I finish dealing with this first..."
She stopped halfway through her sentence. At that moment, Iris desperately wished Ella would appear before her and solve all her problems. Only Ella could do it; only she could.
Seeing Iris's tearful face, Zhuang Zhuoyuan disregarded everything else and immediately comforted her, "BB, it's okay. Don't think so much, okay? These are just your speculations. Maybe things aren't as you think at all."
“I know, but…” The more she spoke, the more she wanted to cry. A year ago, when she guessed Kenny’s possible identity, she was just as confused and frightened. At that time, she was at most worried about Ella’s safety, but she never expected that a year later she would drag Zhuang Zhuoyuan into this vortex. “I shouldn’t have come back to find you.”
More than before, Zhuang Zhuoyuan was afraid to hear Iris's words. He realized that Iris was also prone to overthinking, and if he didn't clarify things with her now, he might not be able to find her by tomorrow morning. "Iris, calm down and listen to me. Things might not go the way you expect. Even if I really clash with Kenny, I'll still come back to see you alive, okay?"
He forced himself to calm down and analyzed the current situation as clearly as possible: "First, let's assume Ella is still alive. If she's not with Kenny, then we need to worry about her, right? Although Edward doesn't say it outright, I know he's actually secretly asking AK to continue searching for your sister's whereabouts. He's just afraid that you and Jennie will be disappointed again, so he's been keeping it a secret."
Iris sniffed: "Mommy and I both know this. Mommy even asked AK to help us with it."
"Then can we put this matter aside for now?"
"Um."
Zhuang Zhuoyuan really wanted to pull his girlfriend into his arms as she obediently nodded and wiped away her tears. However, the current situation wasn't suitable for being distracted by intimacy, so he simply held her hand and continued, "Your fear stems from Ella staying with Kenny, so let's continue from there. If Ella doesn't hold any place or importance in Kenny's heart, then she..."
“She is most likely no longer in this world.” The best way to persuade someone is not to talk to yourself, but to involve them in the reasoning. Iris bit her lip, but her hands gripped Zhuang Zhuoyuan’s wrist tightly, arguing in a way that was meant to persuade him: “But she is definitely not dead. I can feel it, Zhuoyuan, I can feel it.”
Zhuang Zhuoyuan didn't understand the telepathic connection between twins, but he always believed Iris's words, let alone needed her to calm down now: "Calm down, BB, I believe you, I believe you. Now let's continue, okay? Actually, considering Ella's disappearance before, Kenny might not necessarily be indifferent to Ella. You told me before that Ella is a very strong-willed person, so maybe her feelings for Kenny aren't just Stockholm syndrome; she might actually be in love with him. Now I need your help again, tell me what conditions are necessary for Ella to fall in love with Kenny?"
“Kenny must love her just as much.” Just like Zhuang Zhuoyuan and her, if he hadn’t shown her even the slightest bit of affection back in Amsterdam, Iris would never have searched for him for so long afterward. In matters of love, the sisters’ possessiveness is extremely similar: “Love can accumulate slowly. Even if his love isn’t enough at first, Ella will try every means to occupy his heart, unless one of them dies.”
"There will definitely be a cataclysmic change by then, but not now, is there?"
Iris instinctively breathed a sigh of relief: "They've hidden them very well."
“They’re all still alive, and Kenny still has Ella in his heart, so I only have one question left,” Zhuang Zhuoyuan finally managed to simplify things, “How much do you and Ella trust each other?”
Iris answered confidently: "We can entrust our lives to the other side."
"So now, are you still sure Ella loves you as much as she used to?"
"No matter when or where, no matter what changes occur, the bond between us sisters will never change, because she knows very well that I would be willing to sacrifice for her."
Outside the window at the corner of the staircase, a state-of-the-art drone hovered slightly, concealed in the blind spot of the two people in the hall. Zhuang Zhuoyuan and Iris's conversation was being transmitted clearly and accurately through the drone's internal eavesdropping device to a computer in a white container truck a kilometer away. The arrogant man sitting in the center stared at the screen, his smile eerie and chilling. He clicked his tongue twice, then turned his gaze to his girlfriend leaning against him, seemingly interested in her opinion: "Honey, your sister said she'd sacrifice everything for you, but not long ago, she wanted your brother-in-law to treat me 'business as business'."
The woman he called out bore a striking resemblance to Iris. If she obediently dyed her long hair back, it wouldn't be difficult for her to use her sister's identity to get into university and earn several more degrees. No one would suspect anything, and no one would be able to find any fault with her. Even if someone did find something wrong with her, Iris would clean up the mess for her: "She would indeed sacrifice herself for me."
"Feelings are the most unreliable thing, you know. Things are different now; there's Zhuang Zhuoyuan involved." Kenny, never one to miss a good spectacle, pointed and continued with interest, "How far do you think she'd sacrifice for you?"
Ella squinted at him and replied casually, "The worst outcome is that she will die in front of me."
The logic is simple. If Kenny dies at Zhuang Zhuoyuan's hands, then in order to stop Ella from seeking revenge, Iris will definitely sacrifice her own life to resolve this irreconcilable conflict.
Kenny couldn't help but applaud: "How loyal and devoted! But it seems your sister prefers the policeman."
“Because after I left, she realized that there was someone more important to me than her. So, it’s fair.” The two in the villa were having a similar conversation. Ella glanced at them, but Kenny stood up and turned her gaze back, tightly trapping her in his arms. He spoke slowly, staring at Ella's face, “What if I killed that policeman? Would your sister come looking for revenge? What would you do then?”
Ella chuckled, touched her nose, and then wrapped her arms around Kenny's neck: "You have no need to kill him. My sister won't let him kill you. Iris is smarter than any of you think. Even if you do run into him in an operation, Zhuang Zhuoyuan will spare your life so you can face the law. I don't think you'd deliberately provoke him just to spite him and drag U384 into this mess for no reason, would you?"
"Heh." Kenny smiled reluctantly, releasing Ella's hand but not immediately leaving the spot. Her words were clear in their purpose, and also revealed her father's current stance—if neither side interfered, he would support both sides; if U384 made the first move and broke the balance, then Zhuang Zhuoyuan would become the ultimate weapon to hunt down Kenny.
Ella saw the anger and ferocity flash in Kenny's eyes and could completely understand his feelings at that moment. She pressed her body against his, close enough that she could feel Kenny's heartbeat, before resting her chin on his shoulder: "Honey, if you're tired, I can go back."
Kenny wasn't happy to hear her offer him this choice, and his tone was clearly harsh: "Are you afraid of your father?"
"So, are you keeping me around now only because of Daddy?" She tilted her head slightly, her breath brushing against his neck. Kenny couldn't ignore her presence at all. In the past, when he tamed her, he also put himself in shackles.
“Ella”.
"Um?"
After waiting for a long time, Kenny did not respond. Ella leaned in and kissed his Adam's apple, then leaned back against his shoulder and whispered, "Kenny, Kenny, I will protect you. Protecting Zhuang Zhuoyuan is protecting you, and protecting you is also protecting Zhuang Zhuoyuan, so Iris and I have absolutely the same goal, and there will be no conflict between our two groups."
For a long time, Kenny remained silent. Finally, his arm wrapped around Ella's waist again. He knew that keeping her by his side would come at a price. He'd understood this from his first encounter with Edward. Fortunately, Ella's request wasn't unreasonable—just the life of a policeman. And thankfully, she knew how to soothe him. Seeing Kenny's anger gradually subside, Ella showered his neck and cheeks with soft kisses. She knew best what he liked, so she followed his wishes: "Just don't go too far with him. Having some fun with your brother-in-law is fine. We'll find an opportunity to get involved when they're on a mission sometime. I'd love to see who's better at shooting, you or him."
Kenny only completely sealed her lips.
Inside the villa, Zhuang Zhuoyuan's efforts to reassure Iris were nearing their end. Through their question-and-answer analysis, Iris gradually realized that Kenny's existence wasn't a significant threat to their lives. If he wasn't a criminal, all the better; if he was, at the very least, as long as he didn't commit crimes within Hong Kong, they wouldn't cross paths; and in the worst-case scenario, Ella and her boyfriend should have already anticipated that Zhuang Zhuoyuan wouldn't show favoritism, so there were no further concerns. Therefore, all Iris needed to do was trust Zhuang Zhuoyuan, trusting that he could complete the mission perfectly, just like every time before.
“I know you’re worried about Ella, so don’t worry, I will do my best to catch Kenny before the ‘shoot to kill’ order is given, so that Ella will still have a chance to see him in the future.” Even close relatives should bear the responsibility for breaking the law. Zhuang Zhuoyuan cannot go against his principles. The only promise he can make to Iris is this concession.
But that was enough for Iris. She rushed forward and hugged Zhuang Zhuoyuan tightly, feeling both touched and guilty: "I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess. I can't even help you at all."
"Silly girl," Zhuang Zhuoyuan patted his girlfriend's head. Even though he had already prepared himself for the worst, he still treated Kenny's situation as her imagination when comforting her. "There's only a one-in-three chance at most. I don't think your accuracy is that high. Just ignore it and it'll be fine in a few days. Don't worry about things you imagine, okay?"
“Mm.” Iris nodded obediently, but when she heard him mention probability, she remembered something else: “I have a senior who is a math genius. He once did probability calculations for his and his wife’s meeting. Maybe I can ask him for help and calculate your chances of meeting Kenny with his assistance. How about that?”
Zhuang Zhuoyuan was unaware that his little princess was so good at math. Although his own grades in this subject were average, he knew that implementing her idea would not be easy: "BB, have you thought about how many possibilities you would need to consider in order to calculate this?"
Iris shook her head and then nodded: "From the changes in the universe to the details of clothing, every tiny change can lead to a change in the outcome. I heard from my senior that when he calculated the love formula, he considered all 28,693 possibilities. This was under the premise that there were already preconditions at the time. But your confrontation with Kenny has not yet occurred. The number of possibilities that need to be considered should be several times higher than that."
“Let’s multiply it several times over.” Zhuang Zhuoyuan repeated the last few words of hers, and Iris’s cheeks immediately turned red. He pulled her up, preparing to take them to a restaurant to solve the urgent problem of dinner, but Iris struggled with her words as they walked: “Give me ten days, senior. He’s amazing. He figured out the formula for love in three days and three nights. If we work together, we can definitely do it in ten days. I can ask Lala for leave.”
Zhuang Zhuoyuan stopped and turned around: "What's the use of calculating it? When that time really comes, will I be able to avoid all the factors that are unfavorable to me?"
Iris choked for a moment, realizing she was truly blinded by her own involvement and had made a mess of things in her haste. She then felt very discouraged: "I'm so useless."
Zhuang Zhuoyuan stopped using the same comforting words he had used before, and instead pointed to himself, asking her, "What is my role as your boyfriend? A sniper, you know, I always have to face challenges. If you solve everything for me, what's the fun in my life, right?"
Iris just pouted.
Zhuang Zhuoyuan had no choice but to change his approach: "If you still mind this much, then I think we really need to break up. But at this point, the reason for our breakup won't be that you're dragging me down, but that I'm the one who's hurting you. If I hadn't accepted your advances back then, oh no, if I hadn't shown my feelings for you in Amsterdam, or even further back, if I hadn't chosen to take a vacation, hadn't met you, or even hadn't chosen to become a policeman, wouldn't everything have been better?"
"NO!" Zhuang Zhuoyuan said too quickly. Iris didn't know where she started, but she wanted to shout "no" too. She didn't want him to change, and she couldn't bear to see them separated. Dwelling on the established facts would only make the past painful and the future chaotic. She didn't want her life with Zhuoyuan to become a complete mess.
“Then smile.” Zhuang Zhuoyuan winked at her, his bright smile just like their first meeting in Amsterdam. She fell in love with him at first sight because of the similar scene.
Zhuang Zhuoyuan is the sunshine in her life.
The gloom in Iris's heart gradually dissipated, and her eyes curved into a smile as he did. She tiptoed to kiss him, and the last bit of bitterness was replaced by sweetness.
Behind the hidden camera in the painting frame, Jennie watched the transmitted footage with satisfaction, patted Edward on the shoulder with a smile, and then raised an eyebrow at AK, who was in the same room, saying, "See, I told you Ah Yuan was good. Although this kid is a bit indecisive, he is still very clear-headed when he needs to be."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
