Chapter 360 - One Way

It has already been a week since the passing of Qing Zihao's grandfather. His bullet-ridden body was already safely cremated and was back at their house. Qing Zihao and his grandfather had been a close pair. Now, he was just feeling hollow, like someone cut out a piece of his chest and refused to put it back.

He had beens spending most of his time in his bedroom, feeling the coldness of their whole house. It had been a few days of tears. He was too drained. He didn't know whhich one hurt most, his heart breaking because his grandfather died, or watching his father's heart break because HIS father died.

"You should get some fresh air," said his mother over breakfast. She was also being quiet for the past few days. She even looked like she had lost some weight because of the sleepless nights and the crying. 

"I don't want to go out."

"It's nice outside."

"I don't feel like going out." Just looking at the bright sun shining upon their green grass garden, it already made his eyes hurt. He didn't want to move. He barely got three spoonfuls of food before he disappeared to his bedroom.

Once he was in bed, he thought about Christina. Surely, she would be looking for him and was wondering how come he hadn't visited again. But most probably, she already saw the news. 

He should visit her… soon.

**

Another week passed and things somehow was starting to get brighter in the house. His mother already forced herself to push the curtains to the sides and let the sunlight in. His father was also back to work, quickly assuming position as the new president of The Kingly.

Qing Zihao already knew what was coming next.

The announcement came a few days later. "I'm naming you CEO," he said over dinner. There was no opening line. There was no inspirational quote. There was just the truth.

Qing Zihao nodded as there was nothing else he would rather do. This was something that had been written for him as soon as they knew he was boy. He would be the sole heir to everything and carry on the family name.

The following morning, his father took him in the grand tour of the office even though he had been there about a thousand times already.

"You would gain a new appreciation of things," his father said. "You would now see the people whose lives are now resting at every decision that you make. Teaches to have a back bone."

Qing Zihao breathed deeply, feeling the weight on his shoulders as he walked through the hallways. The Kingly was already getting to be a well-oiled machine but there was still much to do.

"You start tomorrow," his father said. "Enjoy the rest of the day having fun. That would the last one in a while." Then he spun on his heels and pushed his glass door open, leaving his son on the hallway.

Qing Zihao paced some more around the office, pulling up a smile to everyone who was looking at him. Then he went down to the first floor and got into the waiting car. He did not have a driver for today. He wanted to be left alone.

His phone had been blaring. The news already spread like fire and his friends already knew that he was named CEO. The calls were probably about inviting him to dinner or something chaotic like a bar or a club.

He threw the phone to the backseat and drove all the way to the far end of the city. He was in front of the diner before he could even think about going there.

"Where is she?" he asked the male owner.

The man shook his head. "She left about a week ago. Hasn't come back yet but she left her belongings."

"She didn't say anything?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "I thought you were writing to her?"

Writing? "Ah, yeah," he just said. "Let me know when she's back? You know the number to our house."

"Yes, Mr. Qing."

He pulled a smile to his face. "I'm not Mr. Qing… yet."

**

Qing Zihao went back home, wondering where the hell was Christina. And writing? Who had been writing to her? He was even half-tempted to check with the post office who had been sending her messages. But he doubted that they would tell him. Do they even keep a record of those things?

He was back in his bed, thinking there would be something like a divine intervention now that he was named CEO. Wasn't there something like a clearing or an enlightenment moment when you get to fulfill your purpose in life?

He closed his eyes and let sleep take over, pushing the bad and sad thoughts away from his mind. 

**

Christina had been in hiding for the past few weeks. They all knew that she was going to come back to Chengshi one way or the other so she went as far as she could travelling all the way, diagonally across the world. There, she left traces of herself and even bought a small house by the beach. That would leave The Order something to think about when they try to follow her.

What happened in the headquarters had been on the news. It was written as something like a terrorist bombing with a lot of casualties. Christina smirked at the news when she saw it. The photos of the dead bodies where in black in white, too gruesome to be shown in color. 

She started down listing down the names of all the assassins that she knew. There were also normal people who had been feeding them information, their past clients, and government coded files that should never resurface.

She didn't want to forget. Now, she had to find a place to hide this.

"One ticket to Chengshi please," she said to the woman.

"Round-trip?"

She shook her head. "One way, please."