The welcoming party proceeded without a hitch. Every employee was delighted to see 'Ji Haishan' and 'Bai Yulin' together. Even if the news of them dating was sudden, they still matched each other splendidly. Especially in the visual term.
Bai Yulin was happily snacking over some dessert while Ji Ke Mu was standing just beside her. In outsider's point of view, they looked like they had a very close relationship. Side by side, they were the president and the vice president entitled to lead the company together.
"So.. how was your study in US?" Bai Yulin decided to open up a conversation after she finished munching on her macarons.
"It was good. Nothing much to tell, actually. Since I finished my degree eight months ago." Ji Ke Mu gave 'Ji Haishan' a side glance and a small smile was secretly plastered on his lips.
He prefered for them to chat about silly things but he got a mission.
So he began talking about something else "Why don't you talk with jie jie? I know your relationship is awkward because of that time in the past. But shouldn't you two get along already? It was just an accident."
Bai Yulin raised a curious brow instinctively, indicating that she didn't have any idea what he was talking about. Ji Ke Mu saw this as a sign that Ji Haishan hadn't yet to tell Bai Yulin about it. He knitted his brows and heaved up a sigh.
'My cousin is a dumbass. How can he ask you to pretend to be him when he doesn't tell you the full story?'
"Gege, it's been 10 years. And the fact that you're in a relationship with someone now is a miracle in itself! I think you should move on. And be honest with your girlfriend too." Ji Ke Mu decided to plant some innate curiosity in Bai Yulin. So that later she would find the answer by asking Ji Haishan about it.
Bai Yulin forced herself to nod but it came out stiff. She didn't know what Ji Ke Mu was implying but she knew it had something to do with Ji Haishan's story regarding his father.
She still remembered that time when he opened up to her during their meals. But now it made her feel that his story was cut short and that he had many more things that he kept from her.
Ji Ke Mu saw Bai Yulin's difference in expression and smiled. Then he said "Gege, don't take it to heart. I'm just worried about you. Just take your time and think it over, okay?"
Bai Yulin turned to face Ji Ke Mu and somehow her heart calmed down. She appreciated his words and once again nodded in affirmative.
Ji Ke Mu chuckled and then spoke "Oh, I forgot to tell you that we'll be having dinner next week with grandpa. So be sure to come to the mansion. I won't take no as an answer!"
"Alright. We'll see." Bai Yulin said with a subtle smile hanging on her lips. She made a mental note to tell Ji Haishan about it later.
Not long after that, Ji Xia appeared and made attempts for conversation between Bai Yulin and Ji Ke Mu. When the three of them were together, Bai Yulin didn't see anything strange but soon she realized that Ji Xia was indeed having a hard time meeting 'Ji Haishan' in the eye. And she wouldn't talk with her unless Ji Ke Mu was paddling the conversation.
Bai Yulin planned to talk to Ji Haishan about it and she wouldn't accept anything than the truthful answer. She would make sure of it!
*
Inside the car where it was driving towards the Ji mansion, were the twins sitting at the backseat. They were going back home after the party ended. Ji Ke Mu laid his head back and closed his eyes. It was close to 10 p.m.
"Ah.. I'm beat!" he exclaimed. Those old men and their sugarcoating were stupidly excessive. Couldn't they tone it down? He was tired just from listening.
"You're the vice president. So just suck it up." Ji Xia said in a bored tone. She was also exhausted.
"Oh thanks for your encouragement." Ji Ke Mu rolled his eyes in response.
Ji Xia looked at him for one second and continued looking outside the window. A minute later, she suddenly spoke "Hephaestus, do you think I did well with my acting?"
Ji Ke Mu faced his twin sister and sneered "What do you think? You're not an actress."
"You're so rude!" she glared at him while pinching on his cheek, she deliberately plucked her nails against his face.
"Ah!! Stop!! Okay- okay! I'll tell you!"
When she finally let him go, Ji Ke Mu immediately rubbed his cheek with his palm, complaining about how she was a heartless and wicked woman. Now his face was red and there was even a hideous mark!
He let out a sigh and said sarcastically "You slayed it, Athena. I don't even know if you were just pretending at all."
Ji Xia eyed her brother with skepticism but she kept her own opinion to herself. She saw his acting too and there was something that kept bugging her.
Before they walked out to the podium, they had agreed to pretend not to know about Ji Haishan and Bai Yulin's situation.
They decided to play along with the act 'Ji Haishan and Ji Xia weren't in good terms since long ago' and it turned out well.
But the fact remained that the 'Ji Haishan' they fooled was in fact Bai Yulin. So it did feel strange to do it against someone else. Ji Xia felt a bit guilty towards Bai Yulin because she purposely acted cold with her just to prove a point.
"Well.. I guess I acted well. I just hope that guy won't get too worked up over the past. I'm not even angry but he's just too awkward." Ji Xia sighed, frustrated.
If she was the Ji Xia without Athena's memories, then she would still feel sad over their little misunderstanding from 10 years ago. But now, she felt like it was just a tiny, puny matter. Which wasn't worth any argument.
What was there to argue anyway?
Ji Xia went to give Ji Haishan a hug- but he shoved her away, and then she fell down and bled. Her hand got a few stitches and a scar.
Then, they drifted apart?
They would talk only if Ji Ke Mu was present?
And it had been 10 years since then??
What bullshit.
"Gege is an awkward person, you know that." Ji Ke Mu said, trying to cheer his sister up when he saw her expression turning ugly.
"I know that all too well, Hephaestus. But now that I think about it again- it doesn't make any sense!" Ji Xia turned to face him. Her face was bubbled in anger and he knew she was pissed.
But he didn't know she was pissed at something else entirely. Something that she tried to cover up.
"The fact that he's the mighty god of war- THAT one and only Ares- is now a puny awkward little mortal who can't even apologize properly to his own younger cousin- IS PISSING ME OFF!!!" she lashed out. Her voice boomed throughout the car until it was forced to a sudden halt. The screeching sound of tyres was loud and it hurt the ears of others.
The driver in front knocked on the partition with worry in his tone "Junior master! Young miss! Are you okay?!"