"Miss Ruo Xi is Pan An's ex-fiancée."
When Shu Xian heard this, she instantly became quiet. The moment Shi Lian told her who Ruo Xi was, it was then that Shu Xian put the pieces together.
She remembered what Pan An's mother, Cai Li, had said. She told Shu Xian that ever since the person he loved went away, he was no longer that happy—rather, he forced himself to look happy.
With how melancholic Pan An even looked a while ago when he was alone in his room, Shu Xian recalled how Pan An said Ruo Xi's name, sadness and pain obviously etched in his voice.
If Ruo Xi is Pan An's ex-fiancée, then it would mean that something serious had happened between them to make Pan An act this way.
"Shu Xian?"
The young lady snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Shi Lian said her name.
"What's wrong? Why were you asking about Ruo Xi?"
"Well..."
Shu Xian trailed off, heaving a small sigh before she answered.
"He said her name a while ago. He sounded sad, too. Do you know what could have happened between them?"
"No," Shi Lian answered truthfully, "but my older brother might."
"Your older brother," Shu Xian cocked her head to the side, "I rarely see him. What's his name again?"
"Wang Lei."
"Oh, yeah! Big brother Wang Lei."
"Yeah, Wang Lei…"
Shu Xian could sense the sarcasm in Shi Lian's voice as she talked about her older brother.
"My perfect older brother, that womanizer, that happy-go-lucky guy…"
Shu Xian couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head as she spoke, "He seems to be a funny guy to be with."
"Yeah," Shi Lian agreed, giggling as well. "Other than those traits, what I love about big brother is that he is fun to be with."
"Well," Shu Xian nodded, doing an Indian seat on her bed. "The humor runs in the family," she added, Shi Lian, nodding even though Shu Xian couldn't see her.
"He's here. I may ask him about it."
"Alright."
"Wang Lei!!!"
When Shi Lian shouted, Shu Xian winced once more for the third or fourth time. Shi Lian just couldn't help but shout if she's surprised or if she wants to call someone's attention!
"What!?"
"Come here for a second!"
"For what!?"
"My best friend Shu Xian is living with Pan An!"
"WHAT!?"
Shu Xian now had her phone on loud speaker. She couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard the siblings shouting as they talked to each other, making her think that the two really have a lot in common.
Being loud is one of them, other than being humorous.
"What is it about your best friend living with Pan An?"
Now Wang Lei's voice was closer, making Shu Xian hear him clearer.
"Hey, big brother Wang Lei."
"Hey, Shu Xian!" A cheery voice sounded as he greeted his sister's best friend. "We rarely see each other every time you visit my sister. But I thank you for putting up with Shi Lian's crazy antics!"
"Oh, whatever, big brother," Shi Lian scoffed, "Shut up and focus at the issue at hand."
"Oh, right…"
Shu Xian was stifling her laugh. Soon after, Wang Lei spoke again, getting her attention.
"So, you live with Pan An? How did that happen?"
"Well..."
Shu Xian trailed off, feeling comfortable of talking to Wang Lei even though she just talked to him just now. Maybe because he shares the same aura Shi Lian has.
"A lot has happened," she added, the two girls telling Wang Lei in brief what had happened.
As the two told him of what happened yesterday and today, even Wang Lei could not help but give his reaction—surprise more evident as he found her ups and downs unusual for it to happen in just two days.
"Wow!" Wang Lei exclaimed, "I have to admit you were lucky that Pan An was around because if he wasn't, who knows what might happen to you."
"That's right!" Shi Lian chimed in, "You should have told me earlier that you were kicked out so you won't have to go to the park!"
"Shi Lian..." Shu Xian groaned a little, "I told you I didn't want to bother your vacation with your family! And it's cool, alright? Like you guys have said: Pan An has saved the day!"
"But still, though," Wang Lei said, getting the attention of the two girls. "It is rare for these things to happen in one's life. If he wasn't around, who knows."
"I know…" Shu Xian's lips turned into a tight line. "Which is why I am thanking him by doing the work here at the house. He's letting me stay here. Other than that, I have this fake relationship with him so we could keep his mother at bay, like he said."
"Hmm…" Wang Lei's voice sounded serious. "It's rare for Pan An to make these decisions out of whim," he commented, Shu Xian's eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"Why?"
"Well, for starters about Pan An," Wang Lei started, "he is the kind of man who thinks things through before making an act on it," he added, Shi Lian, asking her older brother a question.
"Then, why act this way towards Shu Xian? And with him saying Miss Ruo Xi's name? Hasn't he gotten over her?"
The two girls heard Wang Lei sigh. The two of them silenced as they waited for him to speak, expectant of what he will say.
"Apparently, he hasn't. With these happening, I could say something may be amiss, but I have to meet with my friend and have a talk with him," he answered, Shu Xian's head cocking to the side.
"Big brother Wang Lei… do you think that staying in his house is… advisable?"
"Oh! You don't have to worry," Wang Lei immediately replied, "Pan An is kind and he really helps if he wants to."
"Oh, I see..."
Shu Xian nodded, a thought passing her mind as she asked the question to Wang Lei, Pan An's best friend.
"If I may ask… why did Pan An decide to become a professor when he is the son of the one who owns Invicta Corporation?"
"Well, pretty simple."
Wang Lei said, his answer making the girls find Pan An more mysterious and at the same time confusing.
"He hates the concept of inheritance and wants to decide for himself."