Something Beautiful and Wicked

0For the next few evenings, Wu Genji had seen Yuan Ning, but every time, he made no effort to acquaint with her in public. He kept his distance from her, and it was both a relief and disappointment. She couldn't tell which she felt more.      0

His appearances, however, attracted more guests, and her business bustled and busied. Whenever she passed by, he spared her a brief and searing glance, quick and fleeting, and her heart somersaulted when he did. She would clutch at her chest, willing her heartbeat to calm and steady.      

She left work early one evening, heading over to a location assigned by Shi Yen. She idled around a dock, pulling a boat party invitation from her purse.      

Shi Yen instructed her to attend an evening party with the intent to watch, listen, and to ask questions since she was going as Wu Genji and not as the Tiger Queen.      

Wu Genji wore a metallic ivory gown, with a large dip, exposing her backside. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders in thick waves, and she wore a glamorous necklace with a butterfly pendant.      

She boarded the megayacht alone, and servers offered her champagne at the entrance. She accepted, touring the front deck, trying to recognize any faces.      

Amid a small crowd of guests, her eyes scanned, latching onto a familiar figure she had not seen in a long time. Her eyes widened. Her body stilled, and she didn't move.      

The familiar figure's eyes met hers, equally widening. His smile died, his face tightening.      

Wu Genji's mind screamed to take a step backward, but her body froze in place. She gritted her teeth, her fists clenching. Her feet betrayed her until she heard a "Miss Wu" from behind. She turned at the low and smooth sound of Yuan Ning's voice, which freed her from invisible bonds that kept her in place. The tightness in her chest eased, her mouth quivered.      

Yuan Ning made a move to step closer. He lifted a hand, and it froze in mid-air, hesitating. He dropped it. "Genji…are you all right?"     

She glanced behind her, and the figure she locked eyes with disappeared, his companions still speaking to each other without notice.     

"I'm fine," she said too quickly, looking up at him. Yuan Ning's expression was blank as he looked at her. He observed her face, knowing that she wasn't telling him everything that was on her mind.      

Yuan Ning then offered his arm. "Well. Should we go further inside?"     

Wu Genji nodded slow, taking his arm, straightening her back. She followed him as he took the lead, no longer seeing the man of her past within her vision.     

"Are you sure you're okay?" Yuan Ning asked as they continued to trail ahead. Wu Genji latched onto him tighter. "Yes," she answered. "Don't worry about me. Focus on this evening."      

Yuan Ning then wrapped an arm around her shoulder, tucking her in his frame as they approached a group of guests. She followed his lead, as they were going to pretend to be on a date for the evening.      

"Mr. Yuan!" Shouted a gentleman who was wearing an all-white crisp suit. Yuan Ning shook hands with him immediately, muttering a "Mr. Shao."      

Mr. Shao then reached out to shake Wu Genji's hand, and Yuan Ning introduced her as "Miss Wu."     

Mr. Shao introduced them to his date before encouraging them to grab a drink. Wu Genji took the offer, but Yuan Ning hesitated.      

"I don't drink," Yuan Ning said politely, pushing it away.      

"C'mon, Mr. Yuan," said Mr. Shao, "Friends surround you."     

No, they don't.      

Yuan Ning flexed his jaw as he hesitantly took it, knowing there was not much of a choice. He wouldn't be invited to join Mr. Shao if he didn't indulge in the alcohol—and if he didn't follow the crowd.      

Wu Genji glanced at him, sympathetically. She knew of his troubling past with alcoholism and his recovery process. Wu Genji was there when Yuan Ning drank away days and nights, wasting to near expiration to cope with his grief. She was the one that helped him sober up, using her own techniques she learned as a recovering addict.      

With her help, he had slowly been recovering, and he didn't take a sip of it in months.      

Yuan Ning swallowed a small swig of it in his mouth, satisfying their companions.      

Wu Genji's lips thinned into a tight line, but he gave her a reassuring side-eyed glance, as if to say: I'll be fine.      

She gave him a curt nod, and Mr. Shao's mouth curved into a smug smile. He then led them up a short, spiral staircase toward the upper deck of the yacht, as the boat began to move.      

They settled around a table, and Mr. Shao opened up and said, "Mr. Yuan, how did your transition at the bank go?"     

"Exceedingly well," Yuan Ning answered honestly.      

"I'm sure your brother and sister-in-law supported you with attentive care."      

"Very much so," he replied. "I wouldn't be here without them."      

Wu Genji's lips parted open at his words. She had wondered. What would Yuan Ning have done after his revenge if he didn't have the support of his family? She didn't want to think about it. And many believed that he was involved in an accident while others believed in different, unspeakable rumours.      

Mr. Shao smiled as he glanced over at Wu Genji. "And how did you two meet?" he questioned.      

Wu Genji was taken aback. She didn't even know who he was and what influence he had, but she would ask Yuan Ning later. For now, she didn't know how to explain. How did they cross paths? How did they manage to get this far, accompanying each other to a boat party?     

"The bank supports her finances, as they do for all of our clients. I met Miss Wu during a client-advisor meeting, and though unprofessional, I couldn't help but ask her for more of her time."      

Mr. Shao smiled brightly. "Then, as her advisor, you're aware of her personal information, such as the fact that she's Genji, of the Wu family of Beijing."      

Wu Genji widened her eyes slightly. It wasn't a secret that she came from Beijing, but she hadn't made it well known.      

Yuan Ning kept composed. "I don't expose the confidential information of my clients."      

"Client and date?" Mr. Shao questioned while lying back against his cushioned seat, wrapping his arm around his companion, turning to face Wu Genji. "You've rebounded quite well," he said to her.      

Wu Genji's heart sunk. She narrowed her eyes at Mr. Shao, wondering what he knew. She kept her ground, but he kept smiling.      

"Have another drink," Mr. Shao continued, offering it to both of them. Before Wu Genji could reject the offer on Yuan Ning's behalf, Yuan Ning took the drink and downed it quickly. She then gave him a skeptical glance before repeating the same action. They needed information, and Mr. Shao had it.      

But what did he know, exactly? And who was he?     

"Since we had some drinks to ease our minds, what could I do for you?" Mr. Shao asked.      

"I need information in regards to recent disappearances of certain people," Yuan Ning answered, pulling photographs from his pocket, passing it to him. The photographs were of seemingly ordinary people, but their tattoos told them that they were members of the Black organizations. And they've gone missing?      

"And you didn't want to go to the police because...?" Mr. Shao asked.      

"You know we can't," Yuan Ning answered impatiently.      

Mr. Shao sighed. He called on a server, offering them drinks again. Yuan Ning took one and another, satisfying Mr. Shao.      

"I expect a reward in return for information."     

"It will be on your way, the moment you answer our questions."     

Mr. Shao clicked his tongue. "I don't think your date over here would like it," he said, glancing over at Wu Genji.      

Wu Genji gaped at him.      

Yuan Ning looked at her briefly, registering how she began to look nervous. Her hands balled into fists, and her expression was blank, ashen.      

Yuan Ning realized she knew something, something she didn't want him to know.      

He looked at Mr. Shao challengingly. "I know everything about my partner," Yuan Ning lied. "You don't have to try to use this information to rattle her."      

Mr. Shao met his eyes, his mouth widening. "If you really knew everything about her, then you wouldn't be coming to me."      

Wu Genji stood up abruptly, spilling a drink over the table. She ran fast, dashing in between guests, stumbling over feet, crashing into intimate couples. She took a flight of stairs toward the next landing, she slipped between a bigger crowd, toward the end of the megayacht. She heaved, taking deep breaths as the waves crashed against the watercraft. The wind blew in her face, cold and harsh as a winter night.      

She turned, a breathless gasp escaped her mouth. Yuan Ning had already trailed and caught up to her fast and swiftly, drawing closer to her with a tight expression and worried expression.      

There was no escaping. Not from him. But did she even want to run away?      

"I think we should find a quieter place and talk about everything. No more lies and half-truths. We'll be honest. You and me," Yuan Ning said to her.