"No, that girl is way out of my league and not the kind I like, " said Duke. It was impossible for him to hook up with a woman like Belinda; a woman who was like a volcano ready to erupt any time.
"Really? Since then, tell me what kind of girl you like? A woman who is cool like you?" said Edward. As he said this, Edward thought of his distant and cold wife.
Don't change the subject. In fact, I think both of you would make a great couple, given that both of you have such sharp tongues, " Duke said giving voice to his true feelings. "But I don't know what horrible things would happen if two such people actually got together, " he inwardly thought.
"Don't forget that I am married, Duke. But you, you have a chance. You are still single. How do you know that she is not your types without even giving it a shot?" Edward teased Duke.
"Oh yeah! When did you become such a staid and moral man, Edward? Have you always refused the women who have tempted you at innumerable occasions?" he said turning the tables on Edward. 'When did being married stop you? Alas! Belinda Shangguan, You are disliked and rejected by both of us! Neither of us are unwilling to chase you!' Duke thought to himself.
Edward smiled and shrugged his shoulders, "I am not as bad as you make me out to be, " he said. 'After all, I have high expectations from the women I choose to date.' he thought to himself.
"Forget about all this. Let's meet tonight!" said Duke. He knew that Edward was just joking.
"I need to go home early tonight. Let's catch up some other time!" Edward replied. He remembered that someone was waiting for him at home. And the feeling of being waited for by someone was very comforting for him.
"How come? It seems that you are in a hurry to hatch eggs!" Duke joked with Edward, though he had his doubts. 'He used to be a party animal who stayed up and drank all night. Why is he acting like this now?' Duke wondered.
"Ha-ha! How can I compare myself to you - the free bachelor, the single bull ready to gore anybody who comes his way? Let's get together another time." He waved goodbye and left.
... 'What on earth is Edward up to? Since when has he started caring about going home on time?' Duke curiously shook his head and also left.
Daisy Ouyang stood in the balcony by her room. The breeze blew her black hair and gently swayed her dress. She frowned unhappily. Worry lines crisscrossed her pretty face.
Realizing that her legs were numb from having stood there for long, she moved away from the balcony. She didn't know how long she had been standing there. It might have been several hours because she had come there right after lunch.
'If I hadn't met him that afternoon, things might not have been so complicated, ' she thought to herself, straightening her messy hair.
'Neither would I have felt so depressed nor achieved such success. I don't know whether it's right to stay here, but I really want to seek the warmth and love that belongs to me.'
Tired, Daisy walked back into her room. She threw herself on the bed and smelled the lingering fragrance of jasmine. She couldn't help take a deep breath, enjoying the distinct smell of Edward.
Before this, she would have never dared to imagine that one day she would become such an intimate part of his life. Even now, in her mind, he was still the sacred and distant person she knew long back.
The harsh jangling of the phone interrupted Daisy's thoughts. She groped for the phone and saw a strange number flashing. She answered the call.
"Daisy Ouyang! Finally, you answer your phone!" Belinda Shangguan roared at her when she heard Daisy on the other line. She seemed to be very angry today!
"Oh, it's you, Belinda! How have you been?" Daisy moved the phone some distance away from her ear. 'Why is she so angry?' she thought.
"I'm fine!" Belinda retorted. "Don't change the topic. Why didn't you answer my calls till now? I have called you since the day I returned to S City. Or were you trying to avoid me?" Belinda Shangguan said angrily.
"Oh! You have came back!" Daisy was surprised. "When did you come back? I am sorry, Belinda. I didn't know you were back. I was training and was required to hand in my phone. That is why, I couldn't answer your calls." she explained. Daisy always felt like a weak mouse when she faced Belinda. She had such an overpowering personality.
"Forget it. How long have you been back? Let's get together, " she said. The friends hadn't seen each other for several years. Though they always kept in touch by the telephone, Belinda hadn't seen Daisy since she had left for the university. And now, she was dying to meet her.
"I came back two days ago and yes, let's get together, " said Daisy. "I missed you very much." Belinda was the only friend Daisy had. They had played together when they were children. And despite the fact that Daisy was not a noble princess any longer, they got along well with each other.
"Don't give me that crap! You are a heartless girl. How could you, of all the people, have missed me?" Belinda teased Daisy. She knew her well. 'Daisy isn't a sentimental girl. So why is she speaking like this today?' she wondered.
"I missed you every day! If you don't believe me, ask Justin." Daisy smiled as she tried to convince Belinda. She was lying on the bed and smelling Edward's fragrant perfume.
"And how's Justin? I want to see him also as soon as possible." Though Belinda had talked to him on the phone, she still wanted to see him with her own eyes.
"He is fine. I am on a vacation and if you are free, I can pick him and we can come visit you, " said Daisy. She really wanted to see Belinda.
"How about tomorrow? Let's go shopping together just like we used to. I haven't done this since I came back to S City." Belinda loved shopping, but had not indulged in it recently as she was busy administrating her own business after having taken over the company.
"Sure! See you tomorrow. And don't stand me up again!" chided Daisy lovingly. She was really looking forward to meeting Belinda. She was back to her lively and lovely self.
"Oh really! And when did I stand you up? You are not supposed to do that. I won't accept your apology if you do, " retorted Belinda. Before this Daisy always stood her up because she was asked to serve Yakira Mo and her daughter. Belinda detested them but could do nothing because she was young. She had been helpless.