Nikita

"What is it? You've already made me anxious enough, brother," Qiao complained when Nikita took too long to tell him what it was he wanted to say.

As much as it was relieving to hear Nikita wanted to take some time and heal, as much as he wanted to applaud his best friend for finally seeing things from their point of view, Qiao was anxious, and he was almost bashing Nikita's head if he didn't talk.

"Oh c'mon soldier, you shouldn't be anxious now; I doubt they train you to be this anxious over some piece of news—" Nikita said, but Qiao looked at him, giving him a deathly glare.

"Alright, alright, fine. Don't eat m,e up, man," Nikita said dramatically. He knew he was pissing Qiao off, but this was fun. It was kind of a payback for Qiao embarrassing him about the peeing situation. Now he knew what it felt like, right? But were those situations similar in any way?

"I'm not going to try and clean my reputation, and I know they will always try to scandalize it. So why not let them try scandalizing what's been scandalized, and that will make their agendas foul and their attempts desperate.

"The public won't even be interested in the issue anymore because it will be like the evening news and the daily boring bulletins," Nikita said seriously, making Qiao smile. So his best friend hadn't died after all.

"I'm surprised you have brains too. That is really a smart idea," Qiao said, visibly relaxing. However, even he knew that there was more to the situation than Nikita just remaining the black sheep of the public.

"That's not it; what does that have to do with Carrie and me?" Qiao asked.

"Well, I may or may not—" Nikita began, but Qiao cut him short again. His brother wasn't serious, really. Was there something wrong with Nikita's brains? Was there something he needed to know? Was he high on anything?

This man was stressing him out, and he would just lock him up here; sadly, there was no door, and the maintenance people would take two hours to show up.

They had a lot of time, and that wasn't good for Qiao Xi's peace of mind, not with him and Nikita in the same room. How was he supposed to escape from here?

"I totally don't like the direction this conversation will take, Nikita," Qiao said, stuffing more crisps in his mouth. How long was this even supposed to take?

"Listen, brother, the worst part is over," Nikita laughed, making Qiao anxious again. This was interesting for him, huh? Qiao couldn't believe it. Nikita could be dying snd he still would make stupid jokes to cover up the situation. This man was unbelievable.

"I'll throw this bowl on your head if you don't keep talking sense," Qiao threatened, and Nikita just rolled his eyes at his friend's barbaric behavior.

"That's so barbar— Oww, you little son of a bitch," Nikita whɨnėd when Qiao actually went through with his plans. His head hurt, even though the bowl was plastic.

"I'm still a patient, you barbaric man. Do you know your hit could have erased the most crucial information about surgeries, you little twerp? Sitting next to you isn't even safe for me anymore, and I'll just move my ȧss over th—" Nikita said as he eyed the farthest seat in the room.

However, one look at Qiao was enough to make him change his mind. Damn, his best friend could be scary at times. What was he supposed to do with him? This man could even make cruel repentance.

"—Well, I think I'll just stay here, y'know it's comfy and all, but first, allow me to clear the table; I just don't trust you with anything around you anymore. I may even lose all my brain cells today, you stupid twart?" Nikita said, but Qiao just rolled his eyes at Nikita.

How a man could be such stupid, intelligent, and naive yet very powerful was still a wonder. Maybe his friend was bipolar. Or perhaps they needed a doctor, ut the bastard was already a doctor, a hopeless one right now.

"Nikita—"

"Okay, okay, fine. I'll talk to you. Damn, maybe you could smile and make the room a little less tense, y'know—"

"Mykolajki Rostova Pavlenko '' Qiao called out, spelling out the names in a tone that made Nikita start talking asap.

"Okay. Jeez. I may or may not have— Alright. I put you and Cassie as the guardians of all the Pavlenko wealth—" Nikita said, his tone back to being serious.

"You what?" Qiao looked at Nikita, scrutinizing his best friend, wondering what part of Nikita's brain cells had been spoiled and hit.

Maybe he needed therapy really bad because who the fuċk entrusted billions of wealth to two strangers just because they are best friends?

Wasn't the young Pavlenko aware that people permanently changed because of money and sometimes greed made people despicable?

"I—"

"Oh, I heard you alright. Maybe we need to call the doctor because it seems you're becoming stupider by the day. I give you brother," Qiao said, getting his phone to make a call, but Nikita snatched it from him.

"Qiao. I know it's a huge burden, and I know it's a risk. I know what you're thinking, that I trust you guys too much. But that's the thing about Qiao. I trust you and Cassie. Maybe a little too much, but I can't rely on anyone.

"Yuri is somewhere out there in Qiao. I know my brother didn't die in the crash, but I can't go for him when I'm still this messed up," Nikita said as Qiao just held his head between his arms, almost like it was too heavy.

Well, it was probably heavy from worrying about the next impulsive decision his best friend would make.

"I need to get better, and that's why the scandals, I won't try cleaning any of them. Let the world believe what they want. You and Cassie can sign the official documents on my behalf no matter what happens. I already know Cassie is in the country and that you called her. It's perfect timing if you ask me—"

"How did you—" Qiao asked, and Nikita just openly stared at him.

"I have a legion of hackers, remember? Anyway, that's not the point here. With Cassie back in the country, both of you can take over Pavlenko.

I know she'll kill me for this, but I already gave Rael the go-ahead to call the press. They are waiting for you the moment you walk out of this room and into the lobby—"

"You have definitely gone crazy, Nikita."