Chapter 64 - Volume II: The Princess And Her Rival

Long Xia felt nervous jitters down to the core of her stomach. 

Normally, nothing ever riled her up. 

She had always been cool and composed since toddlerhood. Having older brothers, she had to grow up. Fast. She had to let people know she was not to be fucked with. Her brothers knew it. Her schoolmates felt it. Her competitors had seen it. 

Yet, there was only one person who was able to unravel her, layer by layer, showing the most honest parts of her she liked to keep under wraps. And she hated him more than she hated anyone. 

"You've been slacking," said Long Ken, breaking her thoughts, thick smoke curling around his mouth. 

Long Ken was the playful one between the pair of twin brothers, the conventional "bad boy" if someone else were to describe him. He was wild and untamed. He drank, smoked, and fucked without reserve. 

Long Kun was the blunt, intellectual one and more modest than his look alike. But Long Xia loved them both equally. 

She feigned a smile. "I don't remember asking for your observation." 

He swallowed thickly, his lashes lowered. "Your last competition is soon." 

Oh. So that was it. Long Ken was worried about her. 

Long Xia could not tell if she should feel warm about his concern or offended that he needed to feel that way in the first place. It was rare to see this side of him, which meant, no, he wasn't worried, but still, he couldn't help but feel concern about his younger sister. 

"I've spent ten years preparing for this," was her answer. 

He looked at her, deadpanned in the eyes. "So has the other seven that will be joining you, and they've been preparing since infancy." 

Long Xia shook her head. Tension was roiling high around this time. Many families were preparing to say goodbye to the eight of them. This whole situation felt sinister, and yet it was what she wanted. But it made her feel sick. 

She hadn't been sleeping, but she was always tired. She hadn't been training as hard as she was before, even though she needed to now more than ever. 

Long Ken took a drag from his cigarette. "I need to ask you this, Xia. Have you been fucking him?"

Her eyes shot to him. "Who?" 

He chuckled. "There is more than one choice? Maybe we're more alike than I thought."

Long Xia rolled her eyes. "Oh, fuck you. You know what I mean." 

He laughed. "I was talking about Bojing." 

She narrowed her eyes. "How do you know—?"

He cut her off. "You don't think I've noticed how you look at him? Or how he looks at you? and I know that look." 

Long Xia sighed. "I don't see how that's any of your business." 

He blew out smoke, which danced around them. "It is because I want to do damage control. Jin Qing is not someone to be messed with, and if it gets out you've been fucking another man, he will be forced to withdraw the engagement. And we need someone like him in our game." 

She faked a smile. "How charming. And here I thought you cared about me?" 

He looked at her with a hard gaze. "I do, Xia. But it was you that accepted the proposal. It was you that was in it for this, for us, for your family." 

She took in a deep breath. He wasn't lying. She was doing it for all of them. It was a beneficial arrangement, and she would ruin it all just because she was infatuated with Yuan Bojing. 

Long Xia crossed her arms. "It was just sex. Besides, I ended it." 

"Good," Long Ken answered. "But it's not like you can do more, anyway. Suppose the Empress finds out you've found yourself in an…entanglement with another competitor. You two will be forced to withdraw. You will then never achieve your dream." 

Ice filled her veins. Long Ken reminded her of everything she'd lose and exactly why she and Yuan Bojing would never be a good fit together. 

"You're my sister," he continued, "but you're also one of my best friends. I may be rude and brutally honest, but I do it because I care for you. Truthfully, I have no problem seeing you with Bojing, but only if you weren't Xia and Bojing, but because you are Xia and Bojing. You two can't be together." 

Indeed. Even if she didn't engage with Jin Qing for the benefits, there was still no chance of being with Yuan Bojing. And it was not like she wanted to be with him, anyway…right? 

She nodded. "I appreciate your honesty," she said. It was true. Long Yat-sen might be someone that came close, but he was never blunt enough to tell her the truth the way Long Ken delivered. And that's because Yat-sen related to her most. 

Long Ken killed his cigarette in the ashtray and arose from his seat. 

"Where are you going now?" Long Xia asked. 

"To visit big brother and sister-in-law." He looked at her. "I heard their marriage is doing well. It warms my heart to know that at least one of us is happy and successful." 

Long Xia shivered coldly.

She knew her brother was a pessimist, but she never imagined him to have zero optimism for the rest of the family. It meant that he believed the rest of them will never get what Long Yat-sen and Shao Lin had. It meant he gave up. In some ways, it made her feel…sad to think about. 

What Long Yat-sen and Shao Lin had was rare. 

And Long Xia was going to compete in something deadly. Her brother was a playboy with the heart of a romantic when he pretends he's only made of ice. Her other brother hides behind books and computers. Her sister had amnesia, and she had forgotten she once had a lover. 

They were all broken, and though they did not want anyone to fix them, they still wanted someone to look at them—all of them, to take in all the good and bad, and still want them. But it was unrealistic for the sons and daughters of a corrupted society. Long Ken had known since the beginning. 

It was no wonder he gravitated toward screwing around instead of taking things seriously when he had the potential. He had simply just given up. 

Perhaps she was more alike to Long Ken than she realized. 

"Tell them I said hello," was all she said before he left.