Chapter 23 - There was Fire

Fire. 

Jian Yu watched the fire from a distance, looking at the thick gray smoke billowing into the skies. The once shining glow the full moon casted was now shielded by a veil of darkness as the smoke swallowed up the whole sky. 

Fortunately, the fire wasn't huge. 

But the entire situation had ended up in a total chaos. When the chefs working in the kitchen burst out of their workplace coughing. 

One guest screamed 'Fire!' and everyone was sent into panic. As though the situation was not bad enough, the sound of explosions could be heard from the second floor. Windows cracked and splintered all over the place. 

Shrieks of terror rose among the guests, everyone scrambled out to the only exit of the ballroom. Jian Yu had rushed to find Lady Clement, only to find that she and Lord Zero standing in front, watching the fire greedily engulfing a room from the second floor from outside. 

The air smelt of burning, acrid, chemical infused and choking. His eyes moved from face to face in the crowd gathered around the fountain, coughing as if trying to get the smoke out of their system. 

Jian Yu shrugged off his black tailcoat and covered Lady Clement with it. He sighed. How could something like this happen during such a blessed celebration?  

This would be a talk in the town for at least a year. 

He looked back at all the waiters and guards of the Roderick Family trying to extinguish the fire. Nausea clawed at his throat and he forced the bile down. His face was white and started sweating cold bullets.

Jian Yu harshly gulped down and thumped his ċhėst when it failed to take in the right amount of air. A hand clamping down on his shoulder made him jump in fright. 

"Is brother okay?" Rei's worried face appeared in front of him. 

"Y--yes, I am fine," Jian Yu forced out, his ċhėst was heaving up and down heavily. 

"Do you… perhaps…" Rei started out hesitantly. 

"Huh?" 

"Ah, no, nevermind," Rei shook his head. "It's not worth remembering anyway." 

He whispered softly. Taking out a handkerchief, he wiped Jian Yu's sweaty face. 

"Here," He handed it to Jian Yu. "I will go back with Inspector Han. Please get home safely, brother." 

Rei patted Jian Yu's shoulder before leaving and Jian Yu watched them from afar. He smiled when Inspector Han waved wildly at him and wanted to rush over but was held back by Rei. 

Not far behind, Jian Yu noticed Lord Roderick and Zeke whispering with frowns on their faces. And as if sensing being looked at, Zeke turned and their eyes met. 

Jian Yu flushed in embarrassment and ducked his head. It didn't help when he noticed Zeke making his way towards him. 

"Hey," Zeke greeted him, smiling brightly. 

"Hey," Jian Yu responded. He took in Zeke's appearance. Underneath those black smudges on his face and ruffled clothes, he looked amazing as ever. 

"I apologize, the party has to end this way," Zeke rubbed the back of his neck. 

'I don't even get a dance with you,' Zeke thought sulkily. 

Jian Yu chuckled. "I hope everyone's fine." 

While they were chattering and laughing, Derek watched from a distance.

"Oh my, who would have thought they are friends?" He muttered softly. 

"Well yes they are. To be honest, young master's pheromones always go haywire whenever he is around little Yu." 

Derek shrieked manly, please note that carefully, he shrieked in a manly way.  

"Gah! Don't sneak up on me like that!" 

"But I am always beside you?" Lynn replied cheekily. 

"And how do you even know about this?" 

"I have my ways." 

"Zeke told you?! Yet he never tells me anything? I am his father! How unfilial!" Derek pouted his lips. 

"With you as his father, it's no wonder," Lynn teased him back before seriousness crept back in his face. "My Lord, the fire broke out from your office. Do you think--"

"Hush, Lynn. Calm down, the culprit might still be here, observing our reaction," Derek muttered lowly. "Zeke had told me about it." 

"Zeke and little Yu," Derek pondered, rubbing his chin and making a thinking pose. "Things might actually go a bit smoother, I hope." 

"I just wish the best for little Yu," Lynn said, his face softening as he looked at them. 

"Me too, Lynn. Me too." 

XXX

The ride back to Zero Manor was silent as ever. Clement looked at Jian Yu with the corner of her eyes. He had been restless ever since the fire broke out. He wasn't even this shaken when facing gunfire. 

Could it be that… he was afraid of fire? 

"..."

When they reached the entrance of the manor, Jian Yu hurriedly pushed the door open and rushed over to open Lady Clement's, but she beat him to it. 

Opening the limousine door herself and going inside the manor, Jian Yu could only stare wide eyed at her leaving form before shrugging. 

'Well, that's hers though,' Jian Yu thought to himself. She paid for it. 

Tugging off his vest, he pulled off the black gloves and unbuttoned the collar of his white shirt. Tossing the mask onto the working desk, he plunged himself into the bed. 

His mind went through what had happened today, trying to analyze the situation. 

All of sudden, a bile in his throat had started to rise again. Talking to Sir Roderick made him forget momentarily about the situation beforehand. 

Now it was clogging up his throat and he had a harsh time gulping his saliva down. There were many things he wanted to ask Lady Clement about. He had noticed her eyeing at him during the ride back. 

How could they get out of the ballroom that fast? The place was swarming with humans. Not only that, when Jian Yu saw them outside, they looked calm, too calm. 

Well, they, as in, Malakhi Zero and his butler. Lady Clement looked angry, furious even. 

Unlike those who rushed out looking panicked and scared, all of them looked unruffled, like they had expected this to happen. 

There was another thing that bugged him. The fire only appeared from the kitchen and second floor. Wasn't it strange that only these two specific places were burned? 

Again, if, Jian Yu stressed out. If there were indeed someone planned on destroying the party, why not just burned the whole place down? 

This was as if… 

As if… 

Suddenly recalling the fire and explosion from the second floor made his stomach contract violently. This time, he felt it in the back of his throat and he wasted no time in slamming the bathroom door open and pushed his face into the toilet bowl. 

***

Adding 'little' in names showed endearment.. It was the nickname that families, relatives and good friends use to call the person, usually used by elders towards their children or grandchildren.