Half-Truth

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Bing Rong’s apartment. Xiao Ning sat on the edge of the couch, his head lowered, his hands clasped tightly together. He had been sitting like this for what felt like hours, trying to gather the courage to reveal at least part of the truth to Bing Rong. He knew he couldn’t keep hiding everything from her, not when Dong Fenro was closing in.

Bing Rong stood near the window, her back to him, arms crossed as she gazed out into the fading daylight. She hadn’t pushed him for answers yet, but the silence between them was thick with tension. He could feel her frustration, her desire for the truth, gnawing at her. And he couldn’t blame her.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. “Bing Rong,” he said softly, his voice breaking the heavy quiet.

She turned slowly, her sharp gaze locking onto him. There was a flicker of something in her eyes....hope, maybe. Hope that he was finally ready to give her the answers she’d been waiting for.

“I know I’ve been keeping things from you,” Xiao Ning began, his voice strained with guilt. “And I’m sorry. I never wanted to lie, but… it’s complicated.”

Bing Rong arched an eyebrow, folding her arms tighter across her chest. “Everything’s complicated with you, Xiao Ning. But go on. I’m listening.”

Xiao Ning stood up, pacing a few steps before stopping in front of her. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him.

“There’s something you don’t know about me,” he said, meeting her gaze. “Something big. And it’s about more than just my job at the software company.”

Bing Rong’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

Xiao Ning hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke. “I’m not just a regular employee at the software company. I… I own it. And not just that one. I run an entire group of companies.”

Bing Rong’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “What are you talking about? You run a group of companies? Since when?”

“Since the beginning,” Xiao Ning replied quietly. “I’ve been the owner of Ni Magic, a conglomerate of tech companies, for years. The software company you think I work for? It’s just one part of it. I’ve kept it hidden, operated behind the scenes to avoid drawing attention. I wanted a quiet life, away from the spotlight. But now…”

He paused, his expression hardening. “Now, Dong Fenro wants to take it all away.”

Bing Rong’s face was unreadable as she processed his words. “So, let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “You’re not just an office worker.....you’re the CEO of Ni Magic? A company that owns several other companies?”

Xiao Ning nodded, his eyes filled with regret. “Yes.”

“And Dong Fenro?” she pressed, her voice sharp. “What does he want with you? Why would someone like him care about your companies?”

Xiao Ning ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Dong Fenro… he’s been after Ni Magic for years. At first, he tried to infiltrate from the outside—hostile takeovers, underhanded deals but I always managed to fend him off. But now he’s taken it to a whole new level. He wants full control of everything I’ve built. And he’s willing to do anything to get it.”

Bing Rong’s eyes flashed with anger. “So that’s what this is all about? He’s been targeting you because of your business? That’s why you were so badly hurt when I found you?”

Xiao Ning nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Yes. He’s escalated things now. He’s coming after me directly. And when he found out I’m the owner of Ni Magic, he started playing dirty. He’s not just after the companies anymore—he’s after me.”

Bing Rong took a step closer, her voice low but filled with intensity. “And you didn’t think to tell me this before? You’ve been dealing with one of the most dangerous men in the city, and you kept it from me?”

Xiao Ning flinched at the accusation in her tone. “I didn’t want you to get involved. This isn’t just business it’s a war, and Dong Fenro doesn’t play by the rules. If you knew, you’d be a target too.”

Bing Rong shook her head, her frustration clear. “Xiao Ning, I’m already involved. I’ve been involved since the moment I found you in that alley. Hiding this from me only makes things worse. You should have trusted me.”

“I do trust you,” Xiao Ning said, his voice softening. “But I couldn’t drag you into this mess. You deserve better than that.”

Bing Rong scoffed, turning away from him for a moment. “What I deserve is the truth, Xiao Ning. No more half-baked explanations. No more secrets.”

Xiao Ning’s shoulders slumped as he watched her struggle with the weight of everything he had just revealed. He knew this was only a fraction of the truth, but it was all he could give her for now. Telling her about his true identity as Night Owl, his role in the Army Ministry Intelligence, and the poison in his system, he wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

But he had to give her something.

“I’m sorry,” Xiao Ning said, his voice heavy with regret. “I should’ve told you sooner. I didn’t want you to feel like I was keeping you in the dark. But I had to protect you.”

Bing Rong turned back to face him, her expression softer now but still tinged with frustration. “I can protect myself, Xiao Ning. You know that.”

He nodded, knowing it was true. Bing Rong was more than capable of handling herself, both as a police captain and as a martial artist. But there were some dangers like Dong Fenro that even she couldn’t face alone.

“I know,” he admitted quietly. “But this isn’t just about me anymore. Dong Fenro is ruthless, and now that he knows who I am, he won’t stop until he has everything I’ve built. I can’t let that happen.”

Bing Rong studied him for a long moment, her expression softening as she realized the weight of the burden he had been carrying. She stepped closer, her voice gentler now. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? About Ni Magic, about everything?”

Xiao Ning’s gaze dropped to the floor, guilt and fear gnawing at him. “Because I didn’t want to drag you into this. I wanted to protect you, to keep you safe. But now… now I don’t have a choice. Dong Fenro is closing in, and I need your help.”

Bing Rong’s eyes softened as she reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m with you, Xiao Ning. But from now on, no more secrets. If we’re going to face this together, I need to know everything.”

Xiao Ning hesitated, his heart aching with the weight of the truth he still hadn’t revealed. He nodded slowly, knowing that he couldn’t hold back forever. But for now, this was all he could give her.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “No more secrets.”

Bing Rong gave him a small, understanding smile, but there was a lingering tension between them. She knew there was more to his story, more that he wasn’t telling her. But for now, she was willing to let it slide.

“We’ll figure this out,” she said, her voice steady. “Together.”

Xiao Ning nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and dread. Dong Fenro was still out there, still a looming threat. And Xiao Ning knew that the secrets he had kept for so long were beginning to unravel.

But with Bing Rong by his side, maybe....just maybe....he had a chance.

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