Xia Sha tried to force sleeping herself by reading the book Zheng Shuang share. But her damned heart just wouldn't stop pounding as images start creeping into her mind once again.
After tossing around a few times, she gives up.
"Might as well working till I fall asleep." She mumbles, dragging her feet to the hotel's minimalist desk. She grabs the hotel's paper and starts staring at the paper.
But her mind couldn't think at all.
She furrowed her eyebrow and forced to concentrate to write something. It works, she starts scribbling something on the paper just to stare at his name (she subconsciously has written) in a daze.
She stares at her pathetic self across the mirror who just happens to be on the desk wall. She frowned at her silly smiles.
She grabs her phone out of anxiousness. Flipping here and there before she got a notification message from Guan Xian. Her heart almost falls that very moment.
Her trembling fingertips move to click on the notification. It only takes a second for the screen to change into a chat room. She bites her lower lips while her heart reading his text out loud.
Guan Xian: It's nice, spending time with you. I hope you do, too. :)
Guan Xian: Good night.
At the same time, Xiao Zhan send her another message too. She reluctantly leaves her chat room with Guan Xian to see what Xiao Zhan has to send her.
Xiao Zhan: I'm back at the hotel, can we talk?
Xiao Zhan: Please?
Xia Sha thought for a second before typing her decision. She sighed at the reply she makes.
Xia Sha: 5 minutes.
Within that, she stands up, grabs her phone and oversized working suit, and went to the lobby.
On her way to the lobby, she thought about all the things that happen in the office. She should feel angry and irritated at Xiao Zhan right now, but strangely, she did not.
Why did she felt that way? Maybe because she knew there's a bigger problem than her stolen project, even though the project is her dream.
With the strength left, she sat on the sofa across Xiao Zhan. Wrapping her little body with her coat she looks at him with a flat expression.
"What do you want to say?" She queried.
"It's about the project, just to be clear I did not want to steal it from you. Like heck, you knew me, I hate working in an office." His voice was raspy. Xiao Zhan is nervous. she can see it by the way his leg won't stop moving and the pleading look he has right now.
"Well, I never really has good eyes and judgment." She surged carelessly. It was true, she failed to find someone she could trust over and over again.
And to add more bad decisions to her portfolio, she had a crush on the biggest womanizer in Capital City right now. Cheers to her stupid heart :)
"Oh come on, my grandpa just said your family need helps. That's why I agree with the first place." He said.
Xia Sha raised her eyebrow, did not buy his excuses at all. "You gotta be kidding me." She let out a forced laugh, a sarcastic one to be exact. "You knew what they are planning. This is not even about the project at all. Don't bullshit me by saying you did not see it through."
She is fuming.
"I see what are they doing, that's why I agree!" He said with a half-risen tone.
"And why did you?" She wonders with disbelief face.
"I don't see any problem with this at all. At some point in our lives, we are once a thing. What's wrong with trying again? They only wanted us to try Xia Sha, they aren't forcing us to get married!"
Xia Sha is so angry that she wanted to laugh at him. She looked up to the ceiling before staring at him with a gaze that colder than the winter night.
"You don't understand. They are looking down on me, on my identity as a female. Will they do this if I was a boy?" Xia Sha bravely glares at Xiao Zhan and answers her question. "No, they won't."
"Political relationships happen all the time. look at Guan Xiao Ni and senior Wang Kai. They are turning this city upside down with their engagement." Xiao Zhan frowned, he did like how Xia Sha blaming him and why is she so angry. He just wanted to help.
"Cut it off, Xiao Zhan. You never have a slight interest in helping your family business. Why bother now?" her eyes were piercing into his heart. like a blade. Facing her rage, he frustratedly finds the word to answer her question without spilling all the beans.
She was pressuring him with her looks. Looking all cocky as if she has known the answer. Xiao Zhan runs his finger through his well-styled hair before throwing it up in the air. "Fine, you got me. I still have to feel for you, that's why I suddenly care about the company. You are right, I'm using this moment as an opportunity to chase you again. Because the last time we meet, you act like you did not have the slightest love for me. Not in the past, moreover now. You are right, you are always right."
Xia Sha looks at Xiao Zhan's eyes which revealing all his frustration and hurt inside. Her heart weavers for a moment as she realized she might have hurt his heart when she said she never had feelings for him at all.
It was all for the show.
"But you cheated on me." she wanted to say she is sorry, but a defensive sentence coming out from her mouth instead.
Xiao Zhan lowered his head and glower. "I know, I know I did and you know why," he mumbles almost sound like he was on the verge of crying.
Xia Sha's heart sank, she did not know what to do right now. A long silence between them just makes things more awkward each second. For a moment, Xia Sha regretted coming down to meet him.
"Xia Sha, I just want another chance. Even though-" he can't finish his sentence as another voice rang out and interrupted them.
"That is not a way to chase a woman, junior." Another familiar pat on his shoulder. The same hand which has patted him a few hours ago. He turns around and was speechless when he sees his senior brother standing next to him again.
Xia Sha has the same dumbfounded expression as a little O formed on her lips. Cute.
"Come back when I see you left your laptop in my car. Hope I did interrupt your discussion. it sounds pretty interesting though." Guan Xian leaving Xiao Zhan's side and approached Xia Sha. Putting the laptop bag in her left hand on her lap.
She mouthed thank you to him while he walked past her and sat on the sofa next to her.
Xiao Zhan and Xia Sha have the same stupified expression while the intruders shamelessly fold his legs and lean his back to the sofa. "I think both of you might need my sight as a senior. Come on, you can continue your discussion." He looks at Xia Sha and Xiao Zhan back and forth.
Xiao Zhan looks at two people seating next to each other across him. He clenched his hand and look at Guan Xian with anger emitted from his eyes. "I don't think we need a senior's sight. Xia Sha and I can figure this out ourselves."
Little rude remarks from Xiao Zhan did not affect anything for Guan Xian. He still smiling lazily and even shook his head as if he was looking at a hopeless case.
"Well, you don't need my advice but need to hear my conclusion." He said confidently.
Xia Sha turns her head, facing Guan Xian, frowning. But she did not stop him from talking. To be honest, she is curious about his insight.
She is looking at Guan Xian, but Guan Xian has his sight focused on Xiao Zhan. His playful eyes slowly turning dull and icy. It's even more intimidating since he rarely showing his cold side to anyone.
But it was too late for Xiao Zhan to back off. He can only sit there and fake his calmness when he hears him say, "The conclusion is you fucked up your chance."
He used his cold face for two seconds before his lips curled into a wide smile, a mocking one but filled with intimidation. Xiao Zhan honestly shudders to face this scary Guan Xian. But he stayed there for Xia Sha.
He frowned and bravely replied, "It's up to Xia Sha to give me a second chance."
Guan Xian's smile grew even wider, but he moves his gaze to Xia Sha. Xia Sha is staggered by these two men to surround her. She looks at Guan Xian first, saying, "Xiao Zhan is right. It's up to my choice to decide."
Xiao Zhan's heart harrumphed when he heard her reply. His pupils reflect how hopeful he is right now.
"But I've decided not to try this with you anymore. You cheated on me, that is my most low line," she said after taking a breath.
Xiao Zhan's heart sank and shattered into a pieces. He did mot wanted to give up, thus say, "It's not fair, we are so young back then. I was immature!"
Xia Sha shooked her head. "I gave you chances to explain, remember?"
Xiao Zhan cracked, he looks at Xia Sha painfully. "At least give me a chance to pursue you." he pleaded.
"I'm tired, can I head back first?" she asked.
"Of course you can, go, take a good sleep." Guan Xian said as if he has the right to say those things. He received a glare from Xia Sha but did not mind it at all. Instead, he patted her head like a child.
Xiao Zhan looks at two of them with unspeakable feelings. Xia Sha runs away very quickly because Guan Xian irritates her. After she is gone, the tension between Xiao Zhan and Guan Xian tensed once again.
Guan Xian clears his throat first before standing up and flatten his coat. He is leaving the hotel. But before he leaves makes it clear to Xiao Zhan to listen to his words.
"You can pursue her. But just to let you know, I'm also pursuing her. And I think, I have a better chance than you."