A Song For A Summer’s Night - Chapter 115

M: For Maturity (Mild)

…

“Get the fuck away from him,” Song Luli said with a slight sob.

Han Ru stood up slowly, holding his hands in the air. “Luli, what are you doing?”

Song Luli let the tears fall down her face. “You did this to him! Now, tell me what’s in his system before I seriously jabbed this thing in your neck,” she warned him harshly.

“Luli. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Han Ru said confidently.

“Stop lying,” she said to him.

“Luli. We’re friends. I could never hurt Long Jie. Believe me,” his voice shook with fear, his own eyes welled with tears. He looked at her horrifically. Song Luli clenched her jaw.

She poked at his skin, drawing blood. She then stepped close behind him, taking out the gun from his back strap quickly, aiming at him.

Han Ru gritted his teeth, creasing his brows; sweat trickled down his face. “He won’t die,” Han Ru replied coldly with a slight shout. “He’s just asleep.”

Relief washed over her, but she didn’t lower her guard.

“Back away from him,” she instructed him.

Han Ru took a few step backs. “You don’t know how to use the gun,” he told her.

“You don’t know me,” Song Luli gritted out.

Han Ru scoffed with a cruel chuckle. “You’re right. I thought I did, but maybe I don’t.” He said, dropping his arms, approaching her daringly swift.

She lifted the gun, and he approached her so close that the muzzle hit his chest. “Do it,” he told her.

Tears fell down her face. “We gave you so many chances to change, to stop this. We wanted to be your friend. We hoped that you would end this madness when you threatened my father-in-law,” she wept.

“When did you figure it out?” he questioned her.

“We’ve always known,” she replied, her throat growing hoarse.

“Then why didn’t you stop me?” he asked her.

“Do you think we want to harm you? Long Jie loved you. You were his best friend. He believed you’d change; I believed it, too.”

Something in his eyes flickered. Sadness? She thought; Song Luli wasn’t sure. His eyes then met hers. “Stop looking at me like that,” he told her.

“Like what?” she asked.

“WITH PITY!” he shouted. Song Luli recoiled, stepping towards Long Jie, trying to shield his body.

“I’m tired of pretending. I’m tired of your stupid face. I’m tired of waiting. I want Long Jie gone. I want his father to live in agony.”

Song Luli cocked the gun, ready to fire.

“I know you believe the Long’s made you grow up with an abusive mother and without a father. But, it was the actions of your family, not his.”

Han Ru gritted his teeth. His eyes gaped at her furiously; his nostrils flared. “Stay out of this.”

“I would have, but Long Jie’s my family, and you attacked the Song’s, too,” she told him.

Han Ru didn’t reply.

“You’re the reason why my father’s business was depleting, why my family almost went bankrupt,” she continued to say coldly. “When Long Jie told me why he thought you were behind this, I was suspicious. But they were confirmed when I visited my father-in-law in the hospital, the one you and the Xun clan arranged to kill. I put the pieces together, then.”

Han Ru narrowed his eyes coldly.

Their attention then snapped towards the banging door of the hall. He must have locked it when he came after them.

Han Ru stepped back. “I will be going now,” he said to her.

Song Luli stretched out her arms, aiming at him, threatening him.

“You’re not going to kill me,” Han Ru said with a teasing tone. “You can’t do it. Some part of you cares for me.”

Song Luli fought her tears. “You manipulated us.”

“I can’t be changed, Luli,” Han Ru replied softly. “I care about you, too. I hope you know that. I’ve loved you for a long time. But, when I found out you were a Song and not Lexi, I was angry at myself for loving you. So I bullied you. But I regret it so much. I love you.”

Song Luli dropped her arms, feeling defeated. She couldn’t look at him or comprehend any more words. “You have a twisted way of loving someone,” she said.

Han Ru then dashed and left through the front door. Her family entered through the back entrance as if Han Ru knew they would take a different path to find her.

Su Xiang, Lan Shufen, Song Zhen, Xun Zichen swarmed in, startled at what they were seeing. Song Meiling entered from behind them, running towards her, embracing her tight. Song Meiling held her; her eyes then searched her body, worried at her dishevelled, dress-torn appearance.

“Help him,” Song Luli looked at Su Xiang, asking her.

“I already called for an ambulance,” Su Xiang replied, checking Long Jie’s body. “His breathing is normal, and so is his heartbeat. He will be okay.”

Song Luli sunk to her knees, trembling. Song Meiling fell with her, clinging to her body. Song Luli held onto her older sister and cried.

Han Ru’s confession didn’t sway her, but it hurt to hear. It hurt that some part of her cared for him as a friend. That she spent months creating, talking, planning and maturing their friendship for nothing.

…

Chapter 43. 5

After her father-in-law and mother-in-law renewed their vows during a beautiful, heart-warming ceremony, Long Jie took Song Luli home.

Long Jie kissed her fiercely, and she broke it.

“Tell me,” she reminded him. He was keeping something from her, and she needed him to tell her, or there would be no trust in their relationship.

“All right,” he said, knowing it was only fair.

They stepped into the living room, settling on a sofa, where Long Jie sighed, running a hand through his auburn locks. He looked at her with a disheartened expression and a sad smile. Song Luli had the urge to reach out to him, but she was still trying to figure out what was going on between them. There had to be something between them, but she needed to find out if he was going to be honest, first.

“Han Ru is the one that’s after my business and family,” Long Jie informed her.

Song Luli was taken aback. She didn’t like Han Ru anymore, but it seemed strange that he would try to hurt Long Jie like this.

“Why?” she questioned. It didn’t make sense.

“He’s the son of Wang Weimin; illegitimate son,” Long Jie replied.

Song Luli’s eyes widened. “How’s that possible?”

“My mother courted Han Ru’s father for some time. He sought out other women behind her back during their relationship, but she didn’t know until years after she happily moved on with my father.”

“But, he’s a Han?” she replied.

“Mhm,” Long Jie responded. “His mother, Mrs. Han, had an affair with Wang Weimin. Her husband, Mr. Han, found out; she panicked and hired a hitman to kill her husband. She and her illegitimate son, Han Ru, got the entire inheritance.”

“So, Han Ru is actually a Wang?” she questioned.

“Correct. His mother abused him and used him,” Long Jie respond.

Song Luli took a few moments to absorb the information he gave her. “Oh,” was all she said. She had no idea that Long Jie held the weight of the company, that he had to fight the feud that began before he was born.

“And they’re both after you? Want Weimin and Han Ru?”

“They’re after my family, yes,” he responded.

She looked up at him. “How do you feel?”

Long Jie gave out a sad smile. “Not very good. He tricked me into becoming his friend.”

Song Luli brushed a hand over his fleetingly, offering only this touch.

She thought about it harder. She wondered if that made her a target, too. But, she figured, maybe not.

She remembered the story about the Wangs. They hurt Long Jie’s mother; they wanted to destroy Long Group due to some old rivalry. But, in the end, Long Group won.

She remembered that her mother was involved too; yes, she was the one who sent Wang Weimin to jail for decades in prison. Her aunt, Song Ren, had a part to play, too. She spoke against Wang Worldwide in court, defaming them, siding with the Long’s. Something inside Song Luli hit. What if everyone involved was targeted?