Please, Love Me Again

Chapter 76: It's Too Late

"You actually know how to stutter now? Yes. She is right behind us!" Arthur shouted, hands covering his head.

Arthur was not a martial arts practitioner. He just excelled in numbers, computer work, driving, and other tasks that did not require physical strength or fighting abilities but only his brain. He just handled tasks that involved papers, business transactions, and his boss' work scheduling.

He has never been used to brutality, bloody, and dangerous activities though his master has never failed to attract the attention of enemies.

Chen Lei was a great man, a legendary young entrepreneur, a genius man, a dream of every woman, and most importantly, the idol of men. His role to people was very important. He was like their faith to pursue what they wanted and so, he was also the subject of jealousy.

If the majority of the people worship him like God and adore him like their favorite actors, there were also some people wanted to erase him in this world.

"Why are you looking for her now? You're worried about her? You're worried about her now? Then why did you leave her alone earlier? Chen Lei, we are now in great danger and she is right just outside. Your worries have no use at all. It's too late. You can't save her. You better accept that."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Chen Lei shouted at him like a madman."Could you please give my ears a break? Huh? I have had enough of your noise and this gun's noise. I have had enough of your excuses. No. This won't work. I have to get Geneva back inside the car safely. I have to come out."

From the outside, Luther and his subordinates were exchanging bullets. They were firing at everywhere where bullets possibly came from while dodging the bullets aiming at them. They were like prey in the maze. Wanting to leave but unable since they failed to solve the puzzle.

How could they leave the place if their enemy was not taken down since they were hiding in the dark?

At the moment, there's no casualties to their team yet. Because of their help, protecting their boss, Chen Lei and Arthur finally got to breathe normally inside the car. Of course, worry was still evident in Arthur's eyes for his fellow, especially Chen Lei who was repeatedly forcing Arthur to let him out.

Suddenly, he realized how awful a person felt when he was forbidden to leave a certain place. Geneva must be feeling terrible inside the car at that time. "I should have not forced her. It's my fault. So please Arthur, let me out. I can just leave her alone."

Hearing Chen Lei's words and seeing him wanting to get down, Arthur panicked. Ignoring his own safety, he grabbed Chen Lei's arm, stopping him. "Where do you think you can go? There are plenty of people wanting to kill you outside. Coming out is just throwing yourself in the mouth of the beasts. Do you want to die?... Chen Lei, you are my boss. It's just right to listen to your every word and instructions. But this time, you can't be willful. Your life is more important than anyone else." Arthur pointed outside. "Look around you. Luther and others are trying to keep you safe, how can you get out of the car? If you come out and get hurt, will their efforts just go in vain? What? Is their lives just nothing to you? So, listen to me. Don't move. Just sit obediently in this car."

"I want to save Geneva. Do you hear me? Don't try to stop me anymore." Chen Lei shook Arthur's hand. He then hurried to open the door. However, no matter what he tried to you'll the door open, the door did not open. It was right shut, of course.

"Sorry, in this situation, I will never listen to you. Your life is more important than anyone else." Arthur locked the window and door. Chen Lei has no way to come out. "Young master, please calm down. Please stay. I believe that Luther and others won't ignore him."

Chen Lei did not speak as he glanced at Arthur. His voice was soft but his eyes were filled with fear. Fear that only rarely comes to him and every time it comes, it is all because of that woman— Geneva.

Chen Lei forcefully hauled the door open but again in vain. "Arthur, open the door."

"No. Even if you kill me, I won't open the door." Arthur firmly refused. His eyes began to turn red. He has an urge to cry but he forced himself to hold his tears in. He met his boss' begging gaze firmly.

"Arthur Jose, what are you doing?" Chen Lei blinked his eyes, and a drop of tear did not miss from his eyes. "Let me be willful this time for her. Open the door. I'm your boss, you must follow my words. Now open the door!"

Arthur closed his eyes. He turned his back against him. "Sorry Young Master, but I can't agree with you this time."

Chen Lei abruptly reached out for him and clutched on his collar, forcing Arthur to face him. Strangely, instead of wanting to kill Arthur, rare gentleness overtook his eyes. "Arthur, you are right. I am a bastard. I should not leave her there alone. But, there's no use regretting now. Open the door. I will save her."

"Chen Lei, Geneva and I have known each other for so long. I know her and she has been an old friend to me. I also hope she won't get hurt. But I can't allow you to risk your life for her."

"Geneva is important to me!!! You clearly know how important she is to me!!" Chen Lei could no longer control his emotions and he shouted at Arthur. His face reddened in anxiety that was not for himself. "Can you bear to see her die here? She is innocent!"

"But compared to her, there are thousands of lives waiting for you in the city. You tell me, aren't those lives also innocent?" Arthur said softly. "They can't lose you. We can't lose you. President Chen, you should know that yourself."

"But how about her? How about her?" Chen Lei shook Arthur by his shoulders. "I have not done that with her. How can I let her die in the mess that only aims at me? No one can touch her except me."

Arthur shook his head. "So, you mean… you just want to save her because you still have not avenged yourself from what she had done to you?”

"I—”

"Then I have more reason to forbid you from getting out of the car."

"Arthur. Do you really have to do this to me? I can't believe you are such a person. Geneva is also your friend."

"Yes. She is. But you are meant more than her to me. Not only to me. But to those people relying on you."

Arthur and Chen Lei stared at each other while outside in terrible chaos, bullets were falling everywhere like hail in the rain. They looked both calm but they were actually fighting over their conscience through eyes in silence.

It took them a while before Chen Lei spoke again, voice genuinely begging him. "Arthur, please. I beg you."

Arthur closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Chen Lei, we have known each other for so long. This is the first time you beg me. This is like yourself. Calm down."

"How do you expect me to calm down? The woman I love the most is right outside and facing bullets, how do you expect me to calm down? Huh?"

"So you finally admit it."

On the other hand, outside the cars. Chen Lei's men were fighting fearlessly against the anonymous enemies lurking in the dark.

They heard bullets hitting on the metals, groans of pain, and the thud of body falling. But they didn't know who among them was exactly hurt or injured. They also didn't know where their injuries were and how serious they were.

"Everyone, be careful!" Xander dashed to a random person as he shouted. His goal was to save the man. He was one of Chen Lei's men and was close to Luther. Though the surrounding was spooky and the air carried the creepy stink of blood, sensed by his instinct, Xander managed to save that person. Right as Xander bumped into that person, a gust of wind passed through near their ears.

Xander and that person crawled on the ground.

"Thank you." The man said.

"Don't talk. Don't just aim at your enemies. While fighting, watch after yourself too." Xander said to him loudly. "How can you still protect your boss if you hurt yourself first?"

Xander stood up, one hand still carrying that arrow. He raised his hand and turned around. Looking firm, he shouted authoritatively, "I know you guys are just around. If you want to fight. Come out! If you are a real man, don't just hide in the dark! Come out and fight with us openly.! What? Don't tell me you are afraid of death?"

"What are you doing? Hide and let us exterminate the enemy." The man that Xander had saved earlier had pulled him down to stop him from doing things impulsively. "You know nothing about killing. Right?"

Xander shook his hand off, ignoring him. And continue provoking the unknown enemy."You bunch of cowards! I never knew you were that coward."

"It's you again?" Luther shouted at Xander. "Why did you come here and just mess around? I have been holding in my anger at you because of my boss. Yet, you still dare to show that annoying face of yours. Since I can't kill them, I will kill you first."

Luther pointed his gun at Xander, killing intent in his body was emitted in the air. Despite that, Xander stayed calm and ignored Luther completely.

"Luther, don't do that. He saved me just now. He did nothing wrong." The person that Xander had saved pulled Luther's hands away. "You can't do that to him. He is my benefactor."

"Get lost!" Luther whisked the man away. "Mike, I don't care if he just saved you. He must die today so that I can avenge the boss."

"No! Xander, watch out!" Mike tried his best to stop Luther from pulling the trigger of his gun at Xander but went in vain. What he could do was to shout, worry conquered his heart.

Though they were trained to be ruthless to become elite bodyguards of Chen Lei, Mike still had not forgotten to be grateful towards someone who did him a favor, especially that it was his life which was being saved.

Xander noticed the gun aiming at him but he still did not move. He ignored them. His main focus was on the people in their surroundings.

Because of Xander's presence, because of Xander's words, the gunshots ceased. The place regained their peace and the only sound they could hear was the sound of the rain starting to drop lightly and the smooth hiss of the cold wind.

'CJ, so you are back in the country? Just when? Why are you aiming at Chen Lei? Or, could it be that you are wanting to take me back? Impossible! We clearly had talked about it. I don't want that kind of life ever again." Xander thought as he continued observing and sensing his surroundings. He couldn't help but smile as the gunshots finally stopped. "It looks like my words worked. Then I have nothing to worry about for now. That scumbag, he dares to harm me. Just wait and see "

Xander turned around to inform them that everything was fine. Just as he turned back, the bullet was already flowing rapidly towards his head.

Everyone held their breath as they watched the show while Xander remained calm. Mike even warned him to watch out but Xander chose to stay still.

When the bullet was only an inch away from his head, he slightly twisted his body and the bullets passed through his side smoothly.

The gunshot just happened. Mike was about to snatch the gun from Luther when they heard another single gunshot rushing towards them.

Without second thought, Xander stepped forward and used his body to block the bullet that their eyes were unable to see. They found that latter's action very weird. Since no one was able to tell who that bullet was for, how could Xander just step in and block that invisible bullet.

Everyone was terribly shocked by Xander's action. When they thought that he was about to get hit, someone suddenly hugged Xander going to the side, followed by someone groaning.

Xander screamed as he felt something sticky from Chen Lei's shoulder. "Hurry and help! Your boss was hit on his shoulder! Hurry and bring him to the hospital! What are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

"This is all your fault!" Luther rushed at Xander. He wanted to punch him but was stopped by Mike and others. "I want to kill him!"

"Luther, enough!" Mike pushed Luther away. "Have you not enough? How could you blame him? We clearly saw that he wanted to save you."

"Did I ask him to save me? Huh?" Luther shouted like a madman. "If not because of him, my boss won't get hurt. You understand? It's his fault. How could my life be more precious than our boss's life, huh!"

"Enough with the fighting!" Arthur scolded. "Mike, prepare the car. Hurry up!"

Xander and Arthur helped Chen Lei up. They carried him towards the car where they prepared and got on hurriedly. When Luther saw Xander getting on inside the car, he rushed to him once more and pulled him out of the car.

"Where are you going? Get lost! You don't deserve to stay with my boss!" Luther shouted, eyes reddened in guilt and self-blame because of what happened to Chen Lei.

"Enough Luther." Arthur spoke up from the inside. "Stop stalling us. Aren't you worried about your boss' life? He is bleeding too much. Stop blocking our way and send the boss to the hospital!"

"Chase this man away first!" Luther pointed at Xander angrily. "I can't allow him to sit next to the boss!"

"Childish." Xander rolled his eyes. "Do you think I want to stay at your boss's side? You are paranoid. Get in and stop being stubborn if you really don't want him to die."

After saying that, Xander turned his back against the man and got in the car. Luther opened the window and insisted on chasing Xander. He only stopped when Chen Lei spoke.

"Luther, do you know what you did wrong?" Chen Lei said it softly. His eyes closed. His forehead was covered with perspiration. "You have been disobeying my order."