Lin Jiayi paused for a minute, staring at the tall building in front of her. It looked like a palace with the ancient decor and exquisite architecture. Expensive, yet low-key and classy. This was where she lived, her house.
Taking a deep breath, she licked her plump lips then walked inside.
"Young Miss..." An elderly woman called out, looking at the drenched Lin Jiayi with worry. She quickly collected Lin Jiayi's bag and placed a pair of fluffy slippers in front of her.
However, Lin Jiayi didn't wear them but stared at the ticking clock in the room.
"Is he around?" Her eerily calm voice was unusually soft and hoarse.
"Uh? Oh, yes. Master arrived not long ago. " The woman replied. Afterall, she knew whom the Young Miss was asking about.
Lin Jiayi turned and walked up the stairs. She had a determined look on her face as she stopped in front of a door.
"Come in." A deep baritone voice called out even before she could think of knocking.
Her fair hands pushed the door slowly.
"Uncle..." She called out softly as she entered the room.
Sitting in front of a desk covered with various documents and a laptop, was an handsome man in his late twenties.
His deep fox-like eyes carried a strong sense of charm and masculinity. He had a doting look on his well chiseled face as he stared at the beautiful girl in front of him.
"Did you miss me?"
Lin Jiayi raised her head and stared at the dangerously handsome man. The man who had always been with her as far back as she could remember. Lin Jiayi couldn't remember her childhood. However, everything she remembered involved him.
He taught her everything; to read, write, dance and draw amongst others. He was her father, mother, brother, best friend and only companion.
Although the young girl seemed cold and detached, her heart couldn't stop beating loudly in the presence of her so-called uncle, Zhao Zhiwei.
"I didn't." She replied, yet brazenly sat on his lap and engulfed him into a big hug.
Zhao Zhiwei chuckled deeply, patting the head of the little liar nestled in his arms. He didn't fail to notice her wet clothes and hair.
"Why are you wet?"
Calmly, Lin Jiayi proceeded to repeat what had happened to her to him.
"You saved someone?" Zhao Zhiwei asked curiously. He knew the little girl's habit the most and one thing he knew was she would never interfere in what wasn't her business.
And she wasn't a good Samaritan either, afterall, he had brought her up.
He doubted that she felt emotions, however, that didn't stop him from teaching her about them and what to do when she felt a particular way.
"Mhm, he didn't cry." Her voice had become hoarse.
"So you were interested because he didn't cry?" Zhao Zhiwei pestered further. If any of his business partners or staff saw him in this situation, they would have hit their heads on the wall and declared they were seeing things.
As if the fact that the King of Hell himself spoke more than three words and a few sentences wasn't scary enough, he was even coaxing a girl to talk to him.
And what was that disgusting doting look on his face?!!
"Yes." Lin Jiayi replied and raised her head. She was about to stand up from Zhao Zhiwei's lap but she was pulled back to sit firmly on him.
"Have you eaten?" The man asked as he gently removed the strands of hair clinging on her pretty face.
"No."
Lin Jiayi detested skin ship. For some reason, she didn't like people touching her. However, she loved when her uncle did that.
"Go and take a shower. We'll talk over dinner." Zhao Zhiwei lifted her up in a princess carry and walked into the bathroom.
Setting her on the floor gently, he rubbed her wet hair and walked out.
Lin Jiayi turned and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She thought back on what her uncle had told her.
He wanted to talk over dinner. Without asking, she already knew what he wanted to talk about. That was how much she understood him.
She sighed before proceeding to remove her clothes.
~
Zhao Zhiwei stared at the young girl who was wrapped in only a towel. He switched on the hair dryer and beckoned her to come closer.
After drying her hair, he told her to hurry up and come down for lunch.
On getting down, he ordered Aunt Chen, their housekeeper to make a bowl of hot porridge for Lin Jiayi.
Soon, his little hamster, Lin Jiayi would come around. Ever since he found Lin Jiayi half-dead, almost frozen on the empty streets, he knew his life would change drastically.
He watched her warm up, her temperature increasing very slowly, watched as she recovered and grew stronger than ever.
He watched her say her first word after a long time, watched as she went through numerous therapy.
He guided her despite her memory loss, taught her to read and write...
"Uncle." Lin Jiayi's calm voice pulled him out of his reverie.
"Let's eat." He said, placing the bowl of porridge in front of her. After a few seconds, he spoke again.
"I think it's time you stepped into the normal world..." His eyes didn't leave her face as he spoke so he saw the slight discomfort she felt.
"You've achieved a lot of things, in fact, things bigger than your age, but it's not enough for me. I don't want you stuck in my palace forever."
"Uncle..." Lin Jiayi's voice sounded coquettish but she stopped immediately she saw Zhao Zhiwei's eyes darken.
Fine, she probably didn't learn how to do that well since that wasn't the reaction the actors in movies she watched gave.
"I've decided that you have to go to the university. Whatever you want to study, whichever university you'd love to go to depends on you."
Zhao Zhiwei reached out and wiped the edge of Lin Jiayi's mouth that was stained with porridge.
"I have enough money." She replied, her mouth twisted into an angry pout.
"University isn't all about money, princess. I'll give you two days to think about it."
Of course, the 'it' referred to what course she wanted to study and in what university, not whether or not she felt like going. He knew the answer anyways.
Lin Jiayi turned away, staring at her food as she ignored the man.
"How are you feeling right now?" Zhao Zhiwei asked, only to receive silence as an answer.
"Baby girl, talk to me, hmm..."
More silence.
He sighed and moved his chair close to the girl who looked like she had spikes on her body, ready to attack.
"How are you feeling right now?" He repeated his question with unusual patience reserved only for Lin Jiayi.
"My heart is beating fast." She murmured and took a sip of the porridge.
"And?" He asked further.
"It's uncomfortable." Lin Jiayi's voice was hoarse for some reason she didn't know.
Zhao Zhiwei turned her chair then proceeded to blow air softly on her exposed neck. If they were not uncle and niece, one would think he was a lecher.
"Is it okay now?" He asked but Lin Jiayi firmly pushed his head away.
"It's not working. Do you think I'm a kid?" Strangely, the spot which Zhao Zhiwei blew on had turned pink .
"Hey, your manners!" Zhao Zhiwei's voice was firm and stern.
Lin Jiayi stood up and ran into her room, slamming the door as she did that.
Still filled with anger, she opened the door, peeked to look at Zhao Zhiwei who was staring at her helplessly, and proceeded to slam the door heavily again.
The loud sound reverberated and echoed down the hall.
Zhao Zhiwei sighed. She was so spoiled, his spoiled princess.
However, her tantrums didn't change anything as he was hell-bent on sending her to a university. Only then, would she interact with more people, grow out of her shell and possibly recover her memories.