Lord Ethan pushed the door open and came in. "Did you win the lottery?"
Kylie held Pupu, who was confused about no longer being able to touch the ground. "Pretty close," Kylie replied. "Director Johnson just told me that I haven't been replaced and that a mysterious, powerful man is helping me!" Kylie made up the last half of her sentence.
"Well then, congrats." Ethan nodded a little, with one hand in his pocket. Kylie released Pupu.
"Probably the boss of Peak Pictures fell in love with me at first sight when he saw my video... I don't know whether the boss is handsome or not... But if Peak Pictures could thrive within such a short amount of time, the boss must at least be super intelligent."
"Are you sure the boss of Peak Pictures fell in love with you at first sight?" Ethan's face remained expressionless.
"That must be it!" Kylie was so proud, but then something dawned on her. "I need to go to the Baleney scenic zone for shooting, and I'll be out there for a long time."
Ethan's eyes lightened, but he didn't say anything. Apparently, Pupu didn't know what was going to happen next. He ran several circles around Kylie, then squeezed out the door.
Kylie thought that Pupu wanted to play ball with her again, and decided to follow him. Pupu came back with the old mess of mud in his mouth.
Kylie took it, glancing at Ethan. She said, in a resigned, yet delighted way: "Pupu, are you wishing me good luck with this amulet?"
Ethan looked at the abstract mess in her hand, and his brows softened in a way she'd never seen. He allowed her to take the mud with her to Baleney.
Something definitely needed to be prepared before they headed off. Kylie had to prepare the daily necessities for herself.
The new clothes in the closet were extremely expensive. It would be flaunting to wear these with the crew. So she consulted Ethan, then went out shopping, carrying a small backpack.
Just outside the villa, she saw a man cross the road and head towards her.
The man who stood in front of her was Aiden. When she saw the familiar and handsome face, she clenched the straps of her backpack.
When he saw her appear, he strode closer. Her long hair was twisted up in a bun. She wasn't the same hippie-chic he had known; now, she wore a simple and elegant dress, which made her look more graceful and less biting than before.
Only her complexion hadn't changed. She wore a coolness that seemed to warn him to keep his distance.
Aiden didn't know what to say. As Kylie walked past him, he asked: "You live with him?" His tone sounded jealous.
"Of course."
He frowned and said: "What does 'of course' mean?"
Kylie glanced at him and responded: "We're a couple: we sleep together and eat together. What's the problem?"
He noticed that the expression in her eyes became complicated. After a while, he spoke with a heavy voice: "You've only known him for a few days. You don't know him at all."
"I knew you for five years, and still, I couldn't see through you."
Because she obviously wanted to get away from him, Aiden was hurt, and continued, with insistence: "He doesn't love you."
After a moment of silence, she chuckled and replied: "I don't need love. He has wealth and influence, which can fulfill my vanity. That's enough."
Vanity? He had never thought she was a girl with vanity.
She expected that he would leave and not bother her anymore, so she walked away.
But later, a car followed her. "Where are you headed? Let me escort you."
She looked up at Aiden and said, after a moment: "I thought you had come here to explain what happened that night."
"That day... I'm sorry."
"I don't need your apology." She continued to walk forward. With her eye corners tilted upwards, and her standard slanted eyes, her smile was really charming. But when she didn't smile, she gave off a cold and lofty feeling.
"Aiden, you should know me better. I never bear any grudges, and if for some reason I do, I avenge myself immediately."
Kylie's insouciance made Aiden feel that she was not the same girl who had been extremely frightened that one night.
Aiden's car crept beside her. His voice was deep when he spoke: "I did plan to pick you up that day, but I saw a lot of reporters when I got to my hotel. I was afraid of getting you in trouble, so I asked my driver to pick you up."
Since she didn't respond, he continued: "I didn't know that my driver was close with Khloe's cousin until the police called me. It's Ken White—he stole a car key to pick you up."
"Really? Then how did he know where I was?" Kylie didn't look at him but stared straight ahead.
Aiden stretched his hand out of the car window and caught her wrist. This forced her to stop and listen to his explanation. "My driver said that Ken White gave him money, so he told him your address. I fired him already. Trust me."
Kylie looked at him and stood motionless.
They were surrounded by silence. Aiden licked his dry lips, and pleaded: "Where are you headed? Let me escort you."
Kylie nodded finally. "To the mall." And so she got into his car, and the Audi started to drive at a normal speed.
They were both quiet for a moment until Aiden spoke. "Kylie?"
"Eh?" Kylie turned to face him, surprised to hear him speak her name. Even when they had been in a relationship, Aiden had called her by her full name. Now that they were broken up, he seemed so much sweeter.
His voice was tight: "You should keep a good distance from my uncle."
"Ah, but he's my husband. You tell me how?" Moreover, she thought, what qualification does he have for such a request?
"At least, don't fall in love with him."
"You are really hilarious," Kylie answered drily. "I am your aunt, and you are my nephew. You should never speak to me like that."