The Inconceivable Flame: A Fallen Angel“s Disguise

"Congratulations!" Jie said in a gleeful manner.

"For what?" Ru gave him an incredulous look.

"Finally, there is something that made you accept that you’re not as omnipotent as you believes yourself to be," replied Jie.

"Does it seem funny to you?" She looked at him with a warning gaze.

"It’s not funny. Not at all," he said. "But it’s slightly difficult to believe that someone has that much hold on you. It’s unimaginable."

Ru also thought about this problem. She had never let anyone have any hold on her. She was punished so many times in her life only because she didn’t have the will to let others control her. But now, a single man was messing with her. He even managed to get access to a heart she had sealed behind iron walls.

She rubbed her forehead anxiously as she said, "I need something to eat." With that, she already made her way to the food table.

Jie was left facepalming himself. He trailed behind her and pulled her ear saying, "Dumbo! Go and look for him. Stop eating!"

Ru slapped the back of his hand. "Let go, Sticky-fingers! My mind is on a break, let me eat first."

Jie rolled his eyes at her. At the name she just gave him and the excuse she came up with. "You need to do better than that to get rid of me, Spider-Monkey!" Ru shrugged him off and continued to stuff food in her mouth. "Aren’t you worried about him? What if he did something? Or what if he gave up on you?"

"He won’t give up," Ru claimed positively.

"And how do you know that?" Jie retorted while raising his brows at her questioningly.

"Because if there is one thing that Zhiren is proud of, that is his love for me. He cannot give up on that." Ru’s answer left Jie stunned. When did she start talking like this? She was a narcissist but her confidence came from within and only for herself. She had never shown this much confidence in another person before. Wasn’t she just being narcissist on Xiao Zhiren’s behalf now? How unbelievable!

"Are you just making excuses so that you don’t have to abandon your food?"

"Oi, Rat-Brain! Why are you always against me and my food? What? Are you that jealous of my love affair with food?" A blue vein bulged up on Jie’s forehead. "Even Zhiren doesn’t stop me from eating."

With a sneaky smile on his face, he said, "Are you really comparing me with Xiao Zhiren?" He clicked his tongue as he added, "I never thought you’d do it."

"Don’t act with me." Ru slapped his head. "You and I both are well aware that I can never compare you with anyone. You have been the only constant and normal one in my life. Unlike you, I will never bring a third person between our friendship. Blood is thicker than water and I’ll prove that you."

"I didn’t bring a third person between us as well."

"My Prince Jie, no matter what you say... We have indeed grown distant from the time you got married." Ru stated in an indifferent tone.

"But even with that distance, we are the closest to each other. There is no one who can claim to know me better than you and the same goes for you."

"That’s because I’m the smartest one between the two of us. And I’m still holding our bond together."

Jie really wanted to smack her head now. "Yes. I accept defeat. You’re the queen as you had been from the beginning." He held her arm and pulled her away from the food saying, "Now, My food ghost! I’ll give you the delicacies of the world. Just go and look for Xiao Zhiren."

Ru scowled at him and seeing the crumbs around her lips, he shook his head. He rummaged out his hanky and wiped her face like she was a kid as he said, "You are always clumsy with food."

"I am not." Ru denied instantly making him pinch her cheeks.

"Yes, you are!" He said but as he was about to pinch her cheeks again, a voice made his body stiffen up.

"What is going on here?" Both Jie and Ru turned and looked at Xu Mey standing wide-eyed before them. "Ah-Jie, what are you doing with this girl?"

Both Ru and Jie shared a look because they both realized the issue here. Xu Mey knew Ru in her male avatar and she had never met Ru in her female avatar. Well, neither did she know that Ru was, in fact, a girl. So, right now, their position was really ambiguous.

Ru wanted to help him out of this but he held her arm and turned to face Xu Mey. "Baby, meet..." He looked at Ru who getting his idea, continued, "Quinn Knight."

"Why are you holding my husband’s hand?" Xu Mey’s eyes were stuck on their hands that were only touching because Jie had to hold back Ru from having a fit of anger.

Before Jie could open his mouth, Ru replied, "Why? Is he your property?"

"He’s my husband." Xu Mey claimed as she stared at Ru hatefully.

Ru was quite indifferent considering all of Xu Mey’s anger was nothing before Ru. Also, all the tricks up Xu Mey’s sleeves were personally taught by Ru. Why would she be bothered?

That’s why her reply was overbearing as she said, "Husband. Not property."

Xu Mey’s fingers curled in her palms as she said, "He’s not your property as well."

"Naturally, he is not. That’s why I’m not trying to claim him like you." Ru replied with a smirk while Jie was confused whether to laugh or cry. He really wanted to laugh though. He knew Ru could tick off anyone with her words but damn! This was the first time, she did it in her female role. This was remarkable progress.

Someone remind him later to give a big round of applause to Xiao Zhiren who managed to put this femme fatale look on his stubborn and annoying best friend.

"You!" Xu Mey was ready to pounce on Ru.

"Don’t even think about being violent. I’m better at it." Ru warned her not out of the goodwill of her heart but just because of Jie.

Xu Mey turned to Jie, "Are you gonna stand there?"

Jie looked at Ru who replied, "Go. I’ll see you later." He nodded and planted a kiss on her head softly.

"Do what I told you. Don’t run back to food." Ru nodded her head reluctantly and watched him leave with his wife who was glaring all the way.

Ru shook her head seeing them leave as she mumbled, "She’s still cute but annoying as well." With a sigh, she turned on her heels saw a frozen statue not far from her. Xiao Zhiren’s face was pale as he looked at her indignantly. "Hey, Zhiren!" Ru waved her hand at him.

But he humphed and turned to leave. Ru ran after him and blocked his way. "What’s wrong? Are you still angry about what I said outside? I wasn’t thinking clearly. You know me. I am like that. I get those madness fits. It’s very normal."

Xiao Zhiren stared at her face oddly and said, "I also thought I knew you. But I don’t. I used to believe that I have seen all kinds of precious stones in this world but then you came in my life and made me believe that the most precious stone for me was your heart. I thought your stone heart just don’t feel anything but today, I learned that I was wrong. You just don’t feel anything for me."

"What are you getting at?" Ru asked in confusion.

Xiao Zhiren held both her arms and said, "What I mean is that... That guy just kissed you. You smiled at him lovingly and talked to him nicely. You even fought for him. But what about me? Am I not worth even that much to you?"

Ru pursed her lips as his words made sense to her finally. This vinegar bottle was over-imaginative as always. Did he just take Jie as his competition? Like seriously? Ru wanted to shout at him, ’Idiot! That’s my cousin brother you’re talking about!’

But instead of shouting at him, she laughed. Yes, yes. She laughed pouring her heart out with that mesmerizing laugh that made even Xiao Zhiren forget all about his anger for a moment.