"Where are we going?" Luo Jingyi paused getting inside the black car.
"Cinema." Yun Jinghan mouthed as he rounded the vehicle.
"Why?"
"Why do people go there?"
"Watch a movie?" Buckling her seatbelt, she answered.
"No." Starting the car, he shook his head slightly and winked at her, "To date."
After a moment of silence, she ordered, "Stop the car."
But he paid no heed to it. Instead, he reached for his phone and passed it to her. With questioning eyes, she held the device and checked what he wanted her to see.
"They've been following us since yesterday."
Luo Jingyi slid her finger on the screen successively to view the images of two men with high-end cameras. Having a grasp of Aunt Alice's character, Luo Jingyi ruled her out. The first two that crossed her mind was her stepmother and her father. But with Han Peng busy with the upcoming election, her suspicion leaned strongly with Wang Hua.
'But what is the connection of this to dating?'
"They were sent by my grandmother." Yun Jinghan answered plainly as if he was eavesdropping.
Luo Jingyi muttered a soft "oh" when she had a grasp of what was going on. "So you want to put a show?"
Dipping his chin to answer the question, Yun Jinghan slowed down when they neared the traffic light.
"Could you help me with this? If I didn't provide evidence I'm seeing someone, I might be married off next week."
Luo Jingyi was silent and as always, she mulled over it.
'Well, he helped you deal with your problem with Aunt Alice. So it's proper to return the favor.' The white-winged angel explained.
But it was refuted by its nemesis. 'No. Don't. You are purely inviting trouble.'
The white-winged one pinched the other's arm. 'It's just simply watching, how could it lead to that?'
'Are you stupid? This is where it all starts. Movie dates will lead to dinner followed by a picnic in the park or shopping together. And before you knew it, you will start developing feelings with each other. Remember that you'll break up after a year. Moreover, something is fishy.'
'Idiot!' The white-winged hit the black-winged one on the head. 'Why are you thinking so far ahead? He didn't say anything about love. Will you stop questioning every person's intentions? He already explained his reasons.'
"Stop bickering!" She scolded softly.
The next second.. Spoof…
They were gone.
"Sorry?" He thought he heard her mutter words of unhappiness.
"Fine. Let's go and give them something to do." Luo Jingyi forced a smile.
"Really?" He turned to her skeptically because he had foreseen that she was going to disapprove of this. Seeing her nod, a satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He couldn't believe luck was on his side.
Yesterday, he decided and planned to use what they agreed on —to meet twice a week—as an excuse. But who could have known that his grandmother sent people to follow him after he refused her blind date plans for him repeatedly. If he won't show her something conclusive, there'll be Song Huan, Hong San, Song Ah and whatever their names on his schedule. He hated the constant nagging to get married but for now, he would thank his grandmother for butting in his personal life this time.
"It's only because you helped me. So, it's a give and take. Don't even think I agreed because I like you or I want to jump on you." She conveyed her thoughts so he won't misunderstand.
At the same time, she was still peeved at what he did earlier. "One more thing, it doesn't mean I forgave you for—" Loss for words, she paused. "—that."
Feigning ignorance, Yun Jinghan briefly cast a glance on her. "Which that?"
"That earlier…in the living room," she answered uncomfortably, crossing her arms on her chest.
He pressed his lips together to smother the laugh that was about to escape his mouth. He found it amusing that she's blushing over it, albeit being annoyed of him.
"We were just practicing. That's not even considered kissing. Do you want me to show you the real one?" He let out with humor in his voice.
Shifting her position, she eyed him sharply on the side and warned in a voice that was as cold as winter, "Don't even think of doing it."
Unaffected of her glare, he went on teasing her. "Why not? Physical intimacy is given in every relationship."
"We are not even in that kind of relationship. We had a deal. An agreement." Luo Jingyi reiterated.
"Even business partners respect and treat each other amiably. Do you hate men that much?" He suddenly asked. Curiosity bugged him.
Luo Jingyi was silenced with that. Finding her voice after a minute, she spat, "Yes. So don't even try getting close to me."
For her, she would rather be alone than suffer the same fate as her last. Men could cheat on you and friends could stab you on the back—she didn't want any of those. So she'd been careful of who to interact with.
As for family, she found the Lacroix and she was contented with that. As for friends, her circle was very small but at least they could be trusted. As for the relationship between a man and a woman, she had no intention of going through the same heartbreak.
"That's a shame."
Yun Jinghan pulled over. Facing her, with all optimism there was, he stated, "Don't worry. I'll work hard on changing that resentment. Who knows, you might fall irrevocably in love with me and would never even let me go."
There was that urge for Luo Jingyi to extend her arm and hit him on the head but instead, she puffed air out to push her imaginary bangs up in frustration. Till now, she was unable to comprehend where all his confidence was coming from. One minute, he was charming and the next, he was annoying.
But what perturbed her the most was, why was she even bothered on what he was going to do?
'Urgh! Whatever! Let's just cross the bridge when we get there.' She decided, propelling all unwanted thoughts away.