The Devil who devoured Snow White

Chapter 316  Gone

Rain was pouting hard and in the middle of a garden, a little girl, wearing a yellow dress, was sitting by the bench, drenched. Her eyes were red and puffy. The sound of heavy rain coated the soft sobs that came from the girl. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Why are you taking a bath in the rain?"

Upon hearing someone, the girl turned her gaze to the owner of the voice and saw a little boy who looked older than her by a year or two. He was holding a white umbrella and was looking at her with a worried look on his face the moment he noticed that she was crying.

"What happened Xiao Ruyi?" The boy asked as he went and stood in front of her to shed her from the rain. "I… I miss my sister…" During these times, Tian Ruyi was just recently adopted so her sister's death was still fresh in her. When she was bullied at school, Bai Jingye was the only person who helped her so she easily became friends with him. Since they were in different year levels, they would usually meet up during lunch breaks and after classes. They would always meet up by the school garden that's why Bai Jingye knew where to find her.

"I'm sure that your sister will be sad if she sees you like this." He wiped her tears gently with his hand. "But…"

"You look prettier when you smile so stop crying, okay?" The young Bai Jingye held her cold hand. "Your father's waiting. He came to pick you up."

"F-father came?" She asked in surprise. The man who adopted her would usually send someone to pick her up because of his busy schedule. "H-he'll get mad if he sees me like this! F-father will scold me!"

Tian Ruyi was drenched from head to shoe and she was worried that she would be scolded because of it.

Bai Jingye stared at her anxious gaze for a short while before he finally decided to release her hand just so he could close the umbrella, allowing the rain to pour on both of them. "Then uncle will scold me too."

"..." The little girl stared at him in disbelief.

With a soft smile, he reached out and gently patted her head. Just like how Tian Ruyi first met him, he made her feel safe and warm. When she thought that she would be dealing with things alone in a new environment, Bai Jingye appeared before her.

Holding her hand, the boy began leading her out of the place.

"We'll always be together, forever, right?" The girl suddenly blurted to him.

"There's no such thing as forever," he blatantly replied. "People age and die."

She pouted upon hearing his answer. "You're no fun Bai Jingye. Aren't you my friend? You're supposed to agree with me!"

Bai Jingye turned his head to look at her. Using his other hand, he flicked her forehead with a finger. "Oww!"

"I'm older than you, you should properly address me as one, Xiao Ruyi."

"So what if you're just? It's just age!" Tian Ruyi huffed, refusing to back down just like that.

He sighed helplessly at her stubbornness and decided not to argue with her.

While walking, she began swinging their entwined hands, feeling much better with him by her side. "I like you, gege."

Bai Jingye paused for a second until the side of his lips curled up into a subtle smile. "Hn, I like you too. I'll always be here for you when you need me."

"That's a given!"

(End of Flashback)

…

As Tian Ruyi stared at the bloody photo that was sent to her by an unknown person, her heart sank. It was a photo of Bai Jingye's body, lying beneath a pool of blood. The more she looked at it, the more she felt like her heart was torn into pieces as her eyes became blurry with tears that formed. "N-no…" Her voice quivered. She didn't want to believe the photo she saw. Bai Jingye was with Yong Liwei and his men, right? What happened? This was a joke, right?

She wanted to call someone but as she tapped on her phone's screen, her hands trembled that her phone ended up slipping from her hand.

They must be playing a prank, right? There was no way he could be dead. Not him. She picked her phone, her body was still trembling. As she was about to message Yong Liwei, she received a call and it was from Bai Jingye's mother.

Tian Ruyi answered the call and placed it against her ears. "R-Ruyi! M-my son… my son…" Xu Chen was stuttering, she couldn't even say the sentence straight. Tian Ruyi heard her sobs from the other side.

With Xu Chen calling, it only confirmed Tian Ruyi's fears.

"Mom, let me." Bai Jingye's older brother was heard in the background.

"Xiao Ruyi, it's me."

"Zichen-ge… it's not true, right? J-Jingye's fine?" "We're in the hospital and Jingye's surgery has just begun. He's in a dire situation right now…"

Her eyes widened upon hearing that he was still alive. She was relieved but at the same time, worried upon hearing that Bai Jingye's situation didn't look good.

"I'm going there! Tell me what hospital you're at!" She grabbed her bag and car keys as she hurriedly left her place. Tian Ruyi began heading to the hospital where Bai Jingye was taken but the moment she arrived in front of the operation room, she saw Bai Zichen supporting his mother's unconscious body while a doctor in scrubs shouted for the nurse to assist before he checked on the woman who fainted.

"What happened?" Tian Ruyi worriedly asked as she approached them.

Bai Zichen turned to her, his face pale and tears visible on the side of his eyes. "H-he's gone…" Slowly, she shook her head from side to side, refusing to believe his words despite knowing what it meant. She felt a lump in her throat but she forced the words out of herself just so she could ask him, "W-what do you mean gone, gege?"