Ruthless to outsiders, soft as a saint to me.
The only times he ever confronted me were when I crossed his bottom line.
When I lost control, pulled a gun at the wrong time.
He couldn’t stop me, but he also couldn’t bear to knock me out.
Instead, he threw his own body in front of those who had broken my taboos.
“Coco, if you have to shoot, shoot me.”
“Don’t hesitate.”
My aim was notorious in the underworld.
Adrian didn’t fear death—he’d point at his own head.
More than once, my finger pulled the trigger, the muzzle smoking.
Adrian closed his eyes, and somehow the bullets always missed.
When I finally threw the gun aside in frustration, he would rush forward and hold me.
Using his body to steady me.
Eyes full of irrepressible joy.
“Be good, I know you won’t hurt me.”
I’d bite his hand in rage, showing my ferocity.
“Adrian, try using yourself as leverage one more time!”
But Adrian never listened. He always shielded others.
Sometimes I thought Adrian was sent from above to suppress me.
Without him, I’d have been killed by my enemies dozens of times, buried beside my father.
But this time, the person he wanted to protect couldn’t be saved.
“Adrian, since you won’t choose, I’ll choose for you.”