Understanding the meaning behind his roundabout words, Ru squinted her eyes at him dangerously as a vein twitched at the side of her eye. "Did you just called me a clown?" Her voice was calm like it always had been but the way her eyes dug holes in his skull told volumes of how she was really feeling.

"I did not!" Xiao Zhi Ren shirked the insinuation as if he was completely innocent.

But did Ru believe him? No! A big fat NO! Only a nutter[1] would actually believe his lie and she definitely wasn't one.

"And you want me to believe that?" She scoffed totally unlike her usual self.

"Believe it or not, it's all up to you dear sworn brother. Because if you believe me it means, you have faith in this Hyung of yours and if don't believe me..." he sighed sadly and went on, "Then it means that you actually see yourself as a clown."

Ru's beautifully arched and thick brows were pulled together in a frown. If she said she believed him, it would mean that he's letting him get away with the fact that he actually called her a clown but if she refused to believe him, she'd be degrading herself.

Wow! He actually managed to shut her up. Because Ru didn't want to go with either of the choices she was given. So, she chose the third option; silence. The best solution ever!

But how could a prideful and narcissistic person like her could take this lying down? She had to have her revenge but in a subtle way.

Looking at his slim and black tie, Ru held it in her hand and tugged at it saying, "Why are you being a slowpoke? Pick up the pace bro!"

The way she pulled his tie made him almost lose his footing, that tug was intentional and he knew it. He was being dragged like a dog on a leash. At this thought, his brows crinkled up and he voiced out his suspicion, "Are you treating me like a dog?"

Ru curled up her lips with mischief dancing in her sparkling green eyes but when she turned her face to look at him, her face was solemn like it had been. She feigned ignorance and questioned, "What are you talking about?"

Xiao Zhi Ren pointed at his tie which was being used as a leash around his neck and said, "Doesn't this feel like I'm your dog and you're taking me out on a walk?"

Ru cocked her head to one side and asked innocently, "Does it?" Shrugging her shoulders, she added, "If you don't like it, then I'll just let go." After all, she was done with her 'tit-for-tat'. There was no problem in letting him free now since she was relieved in her heart now.

Xiao Zhi Ren fixed his tie and walked briskly towards his own Bentley. His own entourage was waiting for him and gathered around him in an orderly manner when he walked out. Ru looked at the row of about ten BMW cars and in between was a special edition Bentley.

"Let's go," Xiao Zhi Ren made a gesture for Ru to get on.

Shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, she wanted to take the passenger seat but it was already occupied Xiao Zhi Yuan who was surprisingly texting on his cellphone with a smile on his face.

"What's gotten you in such a good mood?" Ru inquired when the car revved on the road.

"Nothing special." He answered distractedly and Ru didn't pry any further. She had better things to do anyway.

For instance...

"Zhi, do you think Ji Family House has good chefs? I mean the food will be good, right?" Xiao Zhi Ren who was answering to some email on his phone pressed his lips together in a straight line at her question.

"I don't know." He answered but Ru wasn't satisfied with his answer at all.

"Oh, come on! It's one of the second-ranked families in the whole country. They must have good chefs." At this point, she was more of like talking to her own self. Or more like convincing herself that food will be good.

But her words unknowingly had attracted Xiao Zhi Ren's attention. Not just his, even Xiao Zhi Yuan's ears perked up as he leaned back to hear closely.

"What do you mean by one of the second-ranked families? Isn't it the only second-ranked power?" Ru gave him a look of ridicule.

"Zhi, do you think those in power are simple? If you do, you're really an innocent person and even I know that you only look innocent." She looked out at the slowly setting sun. "Innocence has been ripped apart by the vultures of reality."

[1] 'Nutter': A crazy person