The next day, the sound of the alarm going off stirred Luo Jingyi up. Begrudgingly, she opened her eyes and was momentarily blinded by the ample sunlight seeping into the gaps of the heavy curtains. Her mind seemed to be asleep because she stared at the digital clock blankly. It was nine o'clock in the morning.
"Four hours," she muttered softly after counting how many hours of sleep she got. It was almost morning when she finally closed her eyelids.
Remembering what day it was, she crawled out of the bed.
Luo Jingyi was about to drive off when she spotted Yun Jinghan from her side-view mirror, heading towards her. He knocked on her window and gestured for her to open the door.
Yun Jinghan slid onto the passenger's seat. Because he was on his phone, she didn't bother him.
But it was difficult not to eavesdrop because he was speaking calmly yet there was a ring of anger in his words. He was obviously mad when she heard him order, "Crush them. I don't care."
'What could have happened?' she thought in curiosity. But before her mind wandered into another person's business, she reigned her thoughts.
"Sorry."
Luo Jingyi gave a diminutive shrug and focused her attention on the road.
"Where are you going?"
"Supermarket."
"Let me drive then." he offered.
She turned swiftly with a small smile. "Too late. Already here."
Yun Jinghan looked at the massive sign. Coincidentally, it's one of the supermarket brands under his grandmother's company.
Inside the supermarket, they each grabbed pushcart at the same time. Yun Jinghan let go of what he had because Jingyi was already moving forward.
He silently followed her, waiting for that opportunity to wrestle the cart from her. The second she left it unattended, he held onto it like it was his lifeline.
Luo Jingyi smothered the laugh that was about to escape her lips and looked away.
He never shopped. Hence, he had no experience in this. When they were at the snacks section, he grasped bags of chips and dumped them on the cart. She immediately lifted a bag and checked the packaging.
No." She put them on the shelf.
"I read that women like to eat those." He explained.
"I don't. I'd rather snack on fruits."
At the dairy section, she took a pack of yogurt in single-serving cups. He reached for another brand and showed her.
"How about this?"
She shook her head. "That company uses too much sweeteners."
Yun Jinghan put it down and glanced at it before following her. The factory is a subsidiary of his company. He noted down her opinion in his head.
'So this is how it feels to get a consumer's feedback on the spot.' A bit unhappy, he murmured inwardly.
In silence, he just trailed behind her, watching her movements. She seemed to know what exactly she needed and where the items were. Unlike other people, she didn't loiter around aisle per aisle. It was always quick. She was also very careful. She checked the packaging first before taking it.
"Do you think they are couples?"
"I don't think so. They don't seem close."
"Let's ask the man for his number."
The conversation behind them was loud that Luo Jingyi knew it was them they were referring to. Suddenly, an arm was on her shoulder.
"Sweetie, why don't we hurry. I still want to kiss you."
The two teenagers muttered an 'oh' and moved away. Giving him a warning look, she flinched away.
"I said no touching."
"The situation called for it." He winked and walked forward, leaving Luo Jingy behind. A bit perplexed but she let him go.
At the counter, when he handed his card to the cashier Luo Jingyi immediately swapped it with hers as she reminded him, "My treat remember?"
Past life and present life experiences taught her to be an independent woman. Hence, she wouldn't easily allow other people to take care of her. And perhaps it became a habit so she seized the bags right after checking out.
When she felt he wasn't behind her, she spun around and inexplicably, she was amused to find him brooding grimly.
"What's wrong?"
Petulant, he marched, closing the distance between them.
"This." He said and snatched what's on her hands.
"You make me feel incompetent when you do everything on your own." He complained.
"In the future, let me take care of you." He added.
As soon as she heard those, another voice echoed from memory. They were the same words.
"In the future, let me take care of you."
She froze.
She didn't know who it belonged to but she was certain they were directed to her.
It was definitely not the 2nd Prince.
"Who could it be?" she wondered.
But no matter how she tried to form the memories she had long buried, she couldn't place it.
'Or was it the original's?'
'Maybe I had long occupied her body that I mistook her memories as mine?'
Her name being called broke her trance. Shaking her questions away, she strode. Only when she was inside the elevator that he released the hold button which he'd been holding for a long time.
Glancing at the changing numbers on the wall, she was mentally preparing what she was going to cook.
When the elevator arrived in the basement, he swiftly took the bags and shot her a warning look when she bent over to reach them. Puffing her imaginary bangs, Luo Jingyi acquiesced.