The Assassin's Enemy Lover

Unfortunately, he underestimated the weight of Zi Han in Yi Chen’s heart. In less than a second Yi Chen had already figured out the best outcome. He suddenly turned on his heel and said, “Fine,” his tone decisive like he was really going to tell Zi Han the truth.

He was bluffing but his father didn’t know that. Only the heavens know how devastated Zi Han would be if he finds out the truth, especially from him. There must have been a reason why Zi Xingxi never told her son about it. Even Zi Feiji made the very same decision. It must be that they really didn’t want him to know.

Yi Chen stepped over the threshold his expression serious but he was silently counting down in his heart. As soon as he reached one he heard his father calling him back.

“Come back here and sit down. I am tired of talking to you while you are standing there. It’s putting a creak in my neck,” said the Marshal with slight annoyance.

Once again he had been outsmarted by his son but he would never admit it. He also couldn’t imagine the consequences of Zi Han knowing about his father and his family history.

Zi Han was better off not knowing otherwise he might overreact and expose his identity to enemies that had already retreated into the shadows.

“I still need you to accept the arrangement,” said Marshal Yi before lowering his voice and saying, “you promised me before that if I return Zi Feiji’s map of old earth you will accept one request of mine..... You should honor your promise to me.”

Yi Chen’s heart sank hearing this. He regretted ever making that promise. His mood that had improved exponentially fell that he couldn’t even hold his unreadable expression and a hint of emotion spilled out accidentally.

.....

Meanwhile, Zi Han was dealing with his emotions differently. When he got home his grandfather was in the kitchen using a blender with fruit pieces, ice, and a familiar bottle of liquor.

It was that bitter spirit that left a shadow in Zi Han’s heart. He blacked out from merely drinking three shots and now couldn’t remember anything that happened that night.

“Ugh, why are you making cocktails with that? It’s so bitter,” he said his body shivering involuntarily.

“That’s because you drank it straight. Here try one of these and I promise you won’t regret it,” he said pouring out into a tall glass a cocktail that looked more like a slushy than alcohol.

Zi Han was a little hesitant at first but seeing his grandpa’s eager gaze he couldn’t help it.

He picked up the glass and before the rim touched his lips he asked, “Where is mom?”

Zi Feiji poured a second glass for himself and answered casually. “She went out to relax a little so don’t expect her to answer her phone,” he replied and the two tacitly understood what relaxing meant.

Zi Han was about to ask his grandfather how he spent his day when an image flashed in his mind. It was about him wanting spicy seafood that night and from his slurred speech he was definitely drunk.

There was a theory that if one wants to remember something they forgot all they need to do is put themselves in the very same environment as before. Of course, half the time it never worked but today was especially different.

“Grandpa I am going to go and change out of this uniform. I will be right back,” he said but he seemed so distracted that Zi Feiji couldn’t help but be concerned.

Zi Han sucked on the umbrella straw and walked out of the kitchen. He vaguely heard Zi Feiji saying something to him but his mind was on the memory that flashed in his eyes.

He wanted to retrieve those lost memories and if drinking would help then that’s what he was going to do.

Instead of changing out of his school clothes like he said he would he lay flat on the bed, sucked on the straw one more time, and lay there summoning the memories that had vanished like wisps of smoke.

Ten sips in and an expected brain freeze, Zi Han finally remembered something. He remembered watching that funny dance show his mother used to watch with him. He recalled how he had his feet on Yi Chen’s lap while promising him he would dance for him when he was sober.

He recalled himself hugging the wine bottle like a baby hugging a baby bottle and how he.....

“Oh shit,” he swore as he sat up, “what the fuck.”

His body trembled slightly disbelieving what he had recollected. Reserve what? A kiss? And why reserve when you can get it now?

He couldn’t even recognize himself in that memory. It looked like and it sure sounded like him but were those words coming from his mouth?

Clutching his hair tightly on either side he mumbled, “Shit, shit, shit, shit,” while pacing back and forth in his room.

He suddenly didn’t want to remember any of it anymore. He just wanted to repress all those memories, stuff them inside a chest, lock it and toss it in the middle of the sea.

He might not want to recall any of that but his brain wasn’t cooperative. He saw it all and the more he recalled the redder his face. Flustered he screamed into his pillow letting it all out. At some point, the scream turned into smothering himself with it letting it all out.

But soon his body froze and his muscles tensed up remembering something. Did Yi Chen recall all of this or like him he forgot?

“Fuck,” he muttered his hair strands disheveled and all over the place like he was a crazy person.