Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 341

Chapter 341: Ch 341: Keep Calm and Survive
“Your brother can be scary at times. I feel like he was about to chew me alive back there.”

Zhu Li shivered as he looked back at Mark from the window. He did not start driving until he was sure that Mark was gone.

“Mark is just a little obsessive about things he considers his duty. Listening to our relatives during childhood about how he had to be the ‘responsible one’ because he is an alpha warped his perspective of the world.

Don’t bother trying to accommodate him all the time. He needs to learn that there are things he should not meddle in.”

Rika assured Zhu Li, and the dominant alpha looked a little relieved and envious at the same time.

“It seems like you and your brother have a close bond. It is entirely different from my family! My older brother and younger sister are a beta from my father’s previous marriage. My Father only married my mother because I was a dominant alpha.

Not that he liked me much. I was more like his ‘assurance’ child to ensure no one ever came after him for not having a pepper ‘alpha’ heir. My siblings often gave me flack about it.”

From what Zhu Li said, it was clear that his father divorced his mother to get back together with his first wife and had another child with that person.

It was standard in the mafia world to have more than one partner.

Bonding was rare, so it was considered precious and a sacred vow. That was why Rika’s parents were considered oddities for being together for so long.

‘Ah, it’s not like bonding creates stable families. Or maybe it is just because of me. My family functions just fine without having me there.’

Rika’s thoughts were starting to take a path she did not want them to take. She tried to grip them and pull them closer, but Zhu Li’s voice diverted her attention toward himself.

“Mark surprised me when he decided to follow us around. None of my siblings would have done that. They tend to ignore me when we meet.”

Zhu Li assured Rika with a soulless chuckle.

“Ah, isn’t that better than ending up in the hospital regularly because you got ‘accidentally’ hit too hard by your siblings? I think I lost count of how many times I was injured because of Mark. The number is well over 30 by now.”

Rika’s words made Zhu Li look away from her.

Now that he knew Rika’s condition, the older man no longer had anything to say to her. Not that Rika minded the silence. It gave her time to think about her life and what to do next.

With Mark gone, Zhu Li drove for about 10 minutes before reaching the base, where his uncle awaited them.

It was another yard, which was a perfect place to escape in case of emergencies. Rika could see the wisdom behind choosing such a place as a hideout.

“There are not a lot of people around this place. It’s giving me the creeps to walk in here.”

Rika confessed as she walked across the creaking floor. The few people at the base looked at Rika before ignoring her and going about their daily lives.

Zhu Li sighed as he walked behind Rika. He made sure to glare back at the people glaring at Rika in warning, and they quickly diverted their eyes away.

“This place is newly occupied, so there are not a lot of forces here yet. It reduces the risk of being discovered by the police and other mafias…or uncle says. Ah, we are finally here.”

Zhu Li stopped in front of a door and knocked at it.

At first, there was no answer, but Zhu Li waited before opening the door without a reply.

“Uncle, we are entering now. I hope you are ready for us.”

The door opened, and Rika tried her best not to flinch as she looked at the older man and his company.

Ren Li sat straight in his chair, and his eyes looked at Rika hard before he turned toward the man sitting in front of him.

“I’m afraid that I have a guest today that I need to meet. We must postpone our meeting for another day, my dear friend.”

Ren Li let the man he was sitting in front of know.

The man bit his lip angrily before looking back at Rika and Zhu Li. He was not happy to see them.

“Just who can be-”

The man trailed off when he noticed Rika. She observed the man back, and he looked a lot older than Rika expected him to.

He could easily be his mother’s age, maybe even a bit older than her.

“As you can see, gentleman, I have company today. I will see you later. Please see yourself before I show you the way out.”

Ren Li smiled on the outside, but his hard and unyielding face made the man flinch before standing up to walk out.

“Fine! I get it! I will return now. I can see why you refused my offer! You have such a good weapon at your disposal, after all. I sure hope nothing happens to your secret weapon before you can use it, though.”

The unknown male left but kept looking at Rika until the end.

This encounter left a bitter taste in Rika’s mouth. She was not sure why, but she could feel a lingering gaze looking at her.

“Don’t let that man get to you, Rika. My friend is just feeling a little bit off these days. But he does not mean any harm to you or others. Now come, take a seat. I am sure that there is much we need to discuss.”

Zhu Li offered Rika the seat before him, and Rika took it without hesitation.

She repeatedly reminded herself why she was here so that she would not lose locus. She needed to be calm and gain an edge.