"Were you out of your mind?! Do you know the kind of place the beach is at night? Don't you have any common sense? It's fine in the day when people come and go, but no one likes to linger after nightfall except for some loafers. It's dangerous for a woman to be there on her own. No matter how mad you were, you shouldn't have ever left her alone there!"
Edward glared at Duke, showing contempt at his carelessness. However, he was no better than Duke when it came to their lovers. He had once left Daisy alone in a forest park and regretted it immediately afterwards. But Daisy was a colonel and by no means was she a woman to be trifled with. But Belinda? She didn't know any fighting skills. Duke had been extremely reckless to leave her alone defenseless.
"My repentance has reached the point of no return. Please don't add to it," Duke asked for mercy. Leaving Belinda alone on that beach had been the greatest mistake of his in his life. He wouldn't ever forget the terrible sight that greeted him when he returned. Belinda had been disheveled and was crying out for help. The drunkard had been approaching her step by step, ignorant of her screams. Her helplessness had stabbed him in the heart. The pain was still fresh. He would have killed himself if anything terrible had happened to her.
"If I don't make a strong enough impression, you would never know how serious this matter is. So, is Belinda okay now?" Edward was worried. Judging from Duke's demeanor, Belinda's injury must have not been severe, otherwise Duke would have killed that man already.
"She's fine. It was fortunate I returned in time. She has some minor wounds on her body. But psychologically, it has some effect on her." The suffering she would have undergone if he had been even a little late! The thought of it drove Duke crazy.
"That's good. Don't let Daisy know about the accident. If she comes to know of it, she will definitely admonish you and deliver a sermon." Edward shook his head. Men were alike. They were too overconfident to admit to their mistakes, but also reluctant to take advice from women. Their pride in the presence of women was the most important thing to maintain for them. Edward was, of course, the same kind of a man.
"What! I don't think Daisy will do that to me!" Duke exclaimed with a trace of uncertainty. Daisy had indeed warned him before for Belinda's sake. Maybe she would do it again.
"Don't forget who Daisy is. She's a colonel." Edward flashed Duke an evil smile. He would be delighted if another man received a taste of the lectures that Colonel Ouyang usually gave to him. Having been a leader in the army for a long time, she was really good at rebuking people.
"You're right, Edward. I can't let Daisy know about the incident. But news travels fast. I'm prepared for Colonel Ouyang's reprimand. Now, would you tell me what's up with you?" Somehow, Duke was fond of idle talk. He liked prying into others' secrets and usually disguised this peculiar hobby well under his cold demeanor.
"What do you mean? I'm fine. Nothing happened to me!" Edward frowned. Duke's question puzzled him.
"Stop playing tricks on me. Be honest, Edward. You know what I mean. Hero! Why did you ask Jerry to save him?" Duke was fully aware that he might not obtain an answer. But he still couldn't subdue the impulse to ask Edward. He was eager to know his motives behind making such a decision.
"Jerry seems less reliable than before. He should zip up his mouth. I must teach him a lesson for telling you the news," Edward said, as he kicked at one of his legs leisurely. A vicious smile emerged on his lips.
"You can save yourself the trouble of giving a lesson to Jerry. Just tell me why you made such a decision, Edward!" Duke was curious. Wasn't it strange for a man to help his love rival out of trouble? As far as he knew, Edward was too jealous to tolerate the attention of other men toward his wife. Duke needed to know the answer to the question that had been plaguing him all this while.
"I don't know what to say to you," Edward said bitterly. He himself didn't know why he had asked Jerry to help Hero. Hero had fallen in love with his wife. Edward should hate him. He should have kicked his ass. Instead, he had let Jerry save him. It puzzled Edward himself.
"Damn it! If you want to keep it a secret, Edward, then fine. But stop treating me like a fool!" Duke's teeth clenched. He had forgotten his true purpose of coming here. Edward's affairs had completely distracted him.
"I have no secrets, Duke. It doesn't matter what you think. Did you not come here to get the ointment? You're so interested in my affairs. What would people think, I wonder, if I tell them about this hobby of yours. Nobody will believe the seemingly cold Mr. Leng is such a gossip."
Edward snorted. Duke was a man of few words in the public eye. Edward was surprised each time he took such interest in other people.
"I have almost forgotten. Give me the ointment. I have to get home." Edward's words had reminded Duke why he had come here. He was in a hurry.
Aren't you interested in my story? Won't you give me a chance to tell you?" Edward blinked at Duke playfully, making fun of his gossipy nature.
"Tell me then! What's the reason?" Duke sighed. He was certain that Edward was just poking fun at him.
"Of course not." As Duke expected, Edward refused him resolutely.
"Obviously, I'm wasting my time here unnecessarily." Duke looked at Edward mockingly. He knew Edward very well. He was an unyielding man who wouldn't tell him anything, even if Duke's lips cracked by pleading to him repeatedly. Why should he waste his time talking nonsense?
"Hmm. It seems you don't have any perseverance. Maybe I'll surrender if you insist a little longer," Edward said as he walked toward his desk. Daisy had brought the ointment to the office once, forgetting that she had left it here. Since she was injured in those days, she always brought it along wherever she went.
Listen, don't fool me around. I don't believe you. There's no way to persuade you into telling me something you aren't willing to. I won't ask for further humiliation!" Duke touched his nose in defeat as he spoke to Edward. Duke had seldom triumphed over him at anything.
"Well, you are clever enough to know your place. Here you go, the ointment. Use it wisely. It's valuable." Edward tossed the ointment at him, unconcerned about Duke not catching the precious bottle.
"I always know where my place is. I'm a wretched guy with too many disadvantages, but I know better than anybody else what those disadvantages are. That's my greatest boon." Duke caught the ointment carefully. The medicine was important to him. It stood for his last hope, after all.
"Huh. That's your greatest advantage? I think you overestimate yourself! You think knowing about your own weakness can be considered a boon?" Edward sat down in his chair. Curling his lips, he pretended to be annoyed by Duke's ignorance.
"Belittle me as much as you like. I can't linger here for a minute longer. It's just a waste of my time. Bye!" Duke swallowed some water before standing up. He must send the ointment to Belinda as soon as possible.
"Go, please! I have work to do now," Edward spoke, already burying his head between the documents on his desk. He had come to the office a little later than usual, after spending time at the hospital. There was too much work waiting for him.
Duke took the lift and saw Rain outside as soon as its door to the lobby chimed open. Rain dressed like a male peacock in courtship. His odd dressing sense never failed to distinguish him. However, Rain looked so perfect with his strange clothes and make-up, that nobody thought he looked odd.
"Hi! Iceberg Duke! Long time no see! Are you leaving?" Rain whistled at Duke like a rogue, studying him up and down. There was a playful smile on his face.
"Leave me alone. Do you think I'm one of your beloved girlfriends? 'Long time no see'? Use that to start conversations with one of your dull girlfriends. Not with me," Duke spoke coldly as he stepped out of the lift. He had no time to talk rubbish with this playboy in public.
"My heart! What a boring man. You hurt my pure heart." Rain cried exaggeratedly. He laid a hand on his chest to pacify himself. Truthfully, he was a good actor.
Little Duke, are you mad at me? Damn, I can't believe you said I sickened you. Fine, I let you know what I'm capable of. Then you'll really know what it's like to feel sick.
Stop talking to me in that sissy way. Unlike you, I'm not unmanly. Duke hastened his pace as he finished speaking. He'd throw up his breakfast if he lingered around Rain for a second longer. Little Duke! Only he could come up with that disgusting name. Should I call him little Rain in return? Duke thought ridiculously. Absurd!