It felt like an eternity before Lin Li and AnLing were able to enter Fates Gate but even when they entered they found themselves to be nowhere close to the ordering counter.
Lin Li had long gotten used to these types of situations so she calmly took out her phone.
With Lin Li's attention completely focused on her phone, AnLing felt alone but she wasn't about to make small talk with her. Lin Li offering to come and help her was a good enough step forward and she didn't want to push it.
To distract herself as she waited, AnLing looked around the room but many people obstructed her view.
She was shocked by the sheer amount of people that were there today but the strangest part was that they all dressed pretty well, even for Fates Gate standards. Some had even come wearing dazzling clothing, forcing her to forcefully look away.
AnLing would never mistake the look of socialites though she recognized none of them, which made her happy.
She didn't want to see anyone she used to know. Seeing Shuya today was enough.
From a table far from AnLing, near the window, sat Mingyu and Mei Xue eating pastries.
Since the time AnLing had been waiting in line outside Mingyu had noticed her but he was conflicted whether to call out to her or not. With Mei Xue in his presence, he didn't think it was a good idea.
What if she told Qiao Lan?
Though that wasn't going to be a problem for long. They had come to Fates Gate pretty early in the morning. Both he and Mei Xue weren't feeling too well but Qiao Lan had insisted that they go out today. Since it wasn't an event, Elder Kang saw no problem with Mingyu going out. The boy needed some fresh air anyways.
Plus he believed that the two kids were feeling unwell because of the amount of time they'd spent in the house.
Feeling slightly sick, Mei Xue excused herself from the table.
A female bodyguard followed the little girl straight to the bathroom. Mingyu turned to look at her leave then he turned to look AnLing's way.
He wondered why she had come.
For the first time in a long time, AnLing began to feel trapped.
All the other times she had come to get things at Fates Gate it had been close to closing time and so not many people were there.
Abroad AnLing hadn't experienced much of this either. She had lived on campus when she was in France, and when she went to the United States and Canada she was staying with a roommate. They lived close to her school and work so she never had the chance to feel claustrophobic but today, she finally experienced it and it made her skin crawl.
She tried her best to ignore it but there were moments, here and there, when she could feel hands brush up against her body. She wasn't sure if they were real or if she was just delusional but the discomfort was beginning to show itself plainly on her face as she paled.
Seeing this, Mingyu walked over to a man sitting in the corner. He was a bodyguard employed by the Kang family.
"Help her out, but do it discreetly," Mingyu commanded.
Hearing this, the man was shocked.
Did the little young master actually speak to him?
He immediately stood up and gestured to another man.
The two bodyguards put themselves in front and behind AnLing. Lin Li and the two bodyguards formed a type of triangle around her, shielding her from the crowd.
She noticed this, but she quickly ignored it believing it to be a coincidence. Lin Li and the others didn't notice a thing either.
The bodyguards were wearing civilian clothing so they just seemed like two guys getting in line. Some people began to complain about the two cutting in line but realizing that the two had been seen with Qiao Lan, they quickly shut their mouths.
AnLing quickly began to calm down. She felt as if she could finally breathe again and thanked the two men in her head. Though if she had known what Mingyu had done for her, she would have gone to thank him instead.
Seeing her finally relax, Mingyu did the same. Unconsciously, he began to walk towards her.
Meanwhile, AnLing was looking around the room, when she suddenly felt her phone buzz. She looked down, about to reach for it, when she saw a fluffy head of hair approached her.
AnLing bent down to talk to him.
"Little cutie, what are you doing here?"
Mingyu looked at the head bodyguard sharply. If eyes could speak, the boy's was obviously saying, 'leave', and as if they could hear the command, the bodyguard walked away and the other one followed shortly after.
Their job was to watch him, not stick to his side, so they saw no issue with watching him from afar.
Once they were gone, Mingyu's face softened and he looked into AnLing's eyes.
"Hello, auntie."
Hearing him calling her auntie made her smile. He was such a polite boy. But feeling eyes on her, AnLing turned to see Lin Li starring at her.
"He's a friends kid." AnLing quickly explained.
Lin Li shrugged.
"If you want to talk to him I think you should get out of the line, you're blocking people's way." When she finished saying that, Lin Li went back to her phone and AnLing obeyed the girl.
Despite Lin Li being younger than AnLing, she was also her senior sister when it came to working in the entertainment industry. So AnLing had gotten used to the way Lin Li spoke to her.
Mingyu led AnLing to the side, where she then bent down once more. Noticing his pale complexion, she frowned a bit.
AnLing: "Are you sick again?"
Mingyu paused a moment and then shook his head quickly causing himself to become slightly dizzy.
"Then why do you look so pale? You need to go home and rest. Who'd you come here with?" AnLing couldn't help but worry. The first two times they'd met he had a horrible fever if she hadn't been around to help him she feared what could have happened.
Mingyu didn't say a word. He just looked at AnLing.
A couple of people passed by them causing both Mingyu and AnLing to lean towards the wall at their side. Seeing this, the girl patted his head.
"Should I call your uncle?"
"…" The boy didn't say a thing but he looked up slightly alarmed.
The bodyguards watched as the two interacted. They couldn't hear a word. Usually, they were meant to keep anyone and everyone away from Mingyu and Mei Xue but seeing as how their little young master knew the girl they didn't do anything rash.
Despite not knowing the girl, they just assumed that she was one of Qiao Lan's friends or maybe a friend of a friend. She had come out of the Halo Stars building, after all. They knew it from her badge.
They didn't think she was an artist though because she looked plain compared to the sea of socialites that surrounded them.
AnLing looked back to Lin Li who was ordering. She stood up quickly and then said, "I should probably go."
But as soon as she said that, Mingyu grabbed onto her pants.
AnLing looked down to meet the boys pleading eyes.
AnLing: "Did something happen? Did you miss me or something?"
She slightly teased him but the boy shook his head side to side first and then up and down; indicating that no, nothing had happened and yes, he had missed her.
AnLing couldn't stop a smile from appearing on her lips. She found it strange and a shame that he had reverted to the way he was when she'd first met him but the boy was direct when he answered her questions.
Changing her smile to a softer one, AnLing said, "You don't need to worry. We'll be seeing each other this weekend. Your uncle and I arranged it today so, he should be telling you about it sooner or later."
Despite what she thought, Kang Jun had actually never mentioned bringing Mingyu. He had just used the boy to see if AnLing would accept his invitation to go out.
Since when did a date include a child, anyway?
As much as he cared about Mingyu and knew that the girl also liked the boy, a part of him wished to know how it would be like if he and AnLing would go out together.
Alone.
Though now, it was different, Kang Jun was busted…
How was he suppose to know that Mingyu and AnLing would meet each other there?!