As if nothing happened, the two slipped out of the nightclub without drawing attention from the club's security.
Hopping into Shen Jue's car, Mimi immediately took off her mask to reveal the dry blood on her nose and lips.
"Quick, pass me a wet tissue."
Shen Jue glanced around in his car and innocently looked back saying, "I don't have any."
Mimi: "…"
Well shit! Was she just supposed to come home with a bloodied face?
Having gotten so used to Tobias's motherly habits, she forgot Shen Jue represents the exact opposite of the godly man. If by chance he did give her a wet tissue, she would have only assumed the worst.
He must have performed some naughty deeds in his car and hid the evidence…
Shen Jue offered, "I can go into a convenience store and buy tissues for you if you want."
Mimi froze and glanced over at Shen Jue's appearance. She quickly rejected that idea in her head.
He looked much worse than she did! While she looked as if she was pounced on by thugs, he looked like he slaughtered a group of them!
However, recalling she hadn't made any plans with Tobias tonight, the little panic in her heart eased. She wouldn't want to scare Tobias to death with her appearance.
"No, it's fine. Just drive me home, and I'll wash up."
Shen Jue's eyes stared at her a moment longer before he nodded his head and launched the car. Neither noticed the man walking out of the club and dialing a number.
"The young miss is returning home now, sir. However, she got into an accident at the club."
The words at the other end were unheard, but whatever was said, caused the man to whiten and nod his head.
"Yes sir, I understand. Again, I apologize for failing to protect the young miss. I'll go receive my punishment right away."
The man ended the call and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ah, he nearly pissed his pants! Best of luck young miss!
…
On the way home, Mimi was holding her chin and looking out of the window with rapidly changing scenery pass by. She bore no expression on her lovely red-stained face.
Her calm eyes held little emotion as if there wasn't blood on her, but rather red paint.
"Does it hurt?"
Mimi glanced at the man briefly before looking back outside. "It did at first, but it's fine now. It's just a little nosebleed."
Thankfully, she wore a mask otherwise, her beautiful face would have been damaged! This was her chick magnet, how could she go on without it and attract big melons?
Shen Jue went silent. A strange light flickered across his eyes as if he seemed to recall something.
He cleared his throat and curved his lips. "I had the security footage cleared and deleted so your father won't look into your identity."
Mimi hummed but said nothing, seemingly lost in thought.
A moment passed before Mimi stole a glance at Shen Jue and parted her lips. "My sister, Emily…why did the two of you go to that nightclub together?"
Shen Jue raised an eyebrow. He had forgotten he had mentioned that to her before.
"Because she was my fiancé, I brought her there to meet a few of my friends and business companions. I thought it would be good to let her get to know them."
Mimi's expression immediately darkened. "At a nightclub? By herself with just a bunch of men?"
How could her sister marry such a man?! He had no sense of tact!
Shen Jue smiled. "She wasn't too pleased about the environment. She said it was too loud and rowdy for her taste."
"Mm, that sounds like her." Mimi's eyes lowered, her eyes softening.
Emily was the opposite of her. She liked things quiet and simple. The quieter, the better to hear her thoughts, she'd always say. Seeming to remember something, Mimi's lips tightened.
"That story you told to Yu Feng earlier, was it about her too? Was she the swan?"
Shen Jue's voice was unexpectedly relaxed and gentle. "Mm, I guess it can be seen that way."
"How else could you see it?" Her brows wrinkled in confusion.
Shen Jue chuckled, his slender fingers gently tapping the stealing wheel. "As a made-up fictional story."
Mimi: "…"
That story was obviously about her, yet he dared call it fiction.
Mimi could not be bothered by the man's play with words and sighed loudly.
"Whether or not it was fiction, I better not find out the reason you're helping me is the same as that crow. I don't need pity."
Shen Jue's eyes couldn't help but widen.
After a while, he smiled helplessly. "Believe me little one, that'll never be a reason."
"Stop calling me that." Mimi pursed her lips.
He laughed. "Nope!"
Mimi muttered. "Creepy bastard…"
…
By the time they arrived at her apartment complex, it was already dark. Before leaving, Mimi cast a glance toward Shen Jue, looking his body up and down. Because he wore his mask when hitting the men, his peerless, attractive face was purely clean of bloodstains.
As for the rest of his body…it looked like a crime was committed. In addition to his constant curved up lips and glowing bright eyes, he looked more deranged.
This guy was seriously scary looking!
Her eyes were slightly critical as she carefully scrutinized the man. She said, "Make sure no one sees you like that on your way home."
Otherwise, people will think you committed a murder.
"Haha, all right little one, goodnight."
Mimi's temples creased, but she was too lazy to critique his nickname for her. She hopped out of his vehicle and put her mask on to cover her face until she was inside.
Who knew if she'd run into any neighbors, especially Grace. If the poor old woman saw her current state, she'd drop dead from a heart attack.
Then again, the mask itself was also rather terrifying.
Walking up the stairs, she groped her pocket for her keys. Finding them, Mimi turned her head to see Tobias standing in front of the door, phone up to his ear, looking at her. She could feel his gaze burning into her with unbridled emotions.
"She's here. Let me call you back." His deep voice darkened, and he hung up the phone.
Mimi was shocked. The slight uneasiness she managed to tamp down re-surfaced with a rush. She was almost relieved for the mask on her face, otherwise, he would have seen her shocked and slightly panicked expression.
Crap! What was he doing here? Ah, she still had blood all over her face!
But what startled her the most was the almost unfamiliar, distressed and impatient look on his face. The expression he wore right now felt extremely foreign to her.
Mimi stared at him, a little unclear of the situation.
Ah, why did she feel like Tobias was slightly off?
As if not realizing the trouble she was in, Mimi called out softly. "Toby? What are you doing here?"
The man's deep, dark eyes were staring right at the girl with unfathomable emotions. Under his stare, Mimi felt at a loss on how to handle the situation.
Mimi opened her mouth to say something again, but she had not even had the chance before Tobias approached her with long steps until he was in front of her. By now, the two were very close to one another.
His eyes stared back at her without blinking.
Tobias tipped her chin up and stroked his fingers along the cheek of her mask. With fathomless eyes, he scrutinized her beneath lowered black lashes.
Mimi was unaware of the controlled, morbid, and chilling feeling swelling at the bottom of his heart.
By seeing the faint bloodstains on the mask, Tobias knew the words the man said were true. Due to his keen sense of smell, he could detect the heavy stench of blood accompanying her.
Slowly, his slender fingers lifted the mask off of her face. His fingertips were trembling slightly, revealing the concealed anxiety and fury within his heart.
"Tobias don't—"
Halfway through her sentence, she felt the air around had dropped down below the freezing point. Tobias's eyes were narrowed, rigid, and cold.
The man's expression darkened. "Who did this?"
Mimi felt a strong sense of unease when she saw his face. She had never seen Tobias like this before. His eyes had a dead stillness, his customary warmth gone.
Mimi blinked blankly for a moment. Shortly after, she nervously laughed, waving her hand. "Er, this…it's not as bad as it looks! I just had a nosebleed!"
The moment she finished her words, his expression changed. The unmoving gaze was accompanied by deliberate slow breathing as if he was restraining himself.
Mimi realized that something was not right at that moment.
From the slight narrowing in his ink, colored eyes and barely flared nostrils, Mimi finally came to a realization.
She understood then, Tobias was angry. Very angry.