Ai stopped shaking. She cleared her throat and spoke through the mask. "I see. It seems like an effective method."
"I know. It is effective indeed but annoying nevertheless. Ever since I became a victim of that, my heart has always thirsted for revenge. I am itching to try it on someone," Jun sneered.
"You shouldn't take your revenge on innocent people," she stated.
Jun smiled. "And when was this world ever fair?"
Ai agreed. "Yes…the world is never fair."
Slowly, she felt her breaths normalize. She looked up at Jun. "You saved me thrice today. Once from the shelf, then by making Yinyin confess and now…I don't know how I can thank you enough. Especially…for the last one," Ai clenched her fist.
This time, somebody had held onto her. This time, somebody hadn't let her fall. Strangely, it wasn't the man she had loved in her past life but someone who she had just met a few weeks ago and for a few moments in her past life.
Jun stared at her. He had a lot of questions to ask her about Yating, but this wasn't really the time.
Tch.
But then…
"You seem awfully close to that man," he squinted his eyes.
Well, I saved her thrice as she said. I have every right to ask a few questions at least.
Some other kind person would have refrained from asking, but Jun was evil through and through.
Ai was quiet. "...I am not close to him."
"It didn't seem like that."
"You were watching us."
"And thanks to that, you are here talking to me, not lying in an ambulance stretcher," he smiled.
"Of course, I am not blaming you. I appreciate it."
He hummed.
"He likes you."
"I don't like him back."
For the first time, he appreciated MissImperfectlyFine.
She might not write the stories that I like, but at least we share our hatred for the same person, he icily sneered.
"You got good sense," he smirked.
"...I didn't always have that," she murmured.
"What?"
"Nothing. Oh. I wanted to ask you. Why did you talk to Yinyin's parents? I thought you didn't want to help me."
"I didn't."
"Then why?"
"Because you didn't ask for it."
Ai was puzzled. "Where is the logic in that? If I would have asked you for help, wouldn't you have helped me?"
"No."
"..."
His gaze twinkled. "I don't like people begging. For me, they lose their value if they beg. Beggars are weak and pathetic."
Which reminded him of how he was one in his past life - A beggar for Shui's love.
But what happened in the end? Years of love only to be taken away by his brother.
Jun stared at her with concentration. "Why did you help that boy at the cost of your career? Taking the blame was disastrous."
Ai was quiet for several long seconds. "A long time back during my teenage years, I helped a boy in my neighborhood confess to a similar accident in a shop. He was afraid, but I assured him that nobody would scold him if he spoke the truth. The owner made his parents pay for the damages, and they left. The next day, I heard that the boy got into an accident and was severely injured. I came to know that his parents were financially struggling, and they scolded him very harshly at home because of the compensation. He got too affected by it, ran away and got hit by a car."
She trembled, tears threatening to escape her eyes. "Luckily, he survived. But I always blamed myself. I could have paid for the damages, and the child wouldn't have gotten hurt. Children's minds are fragile. I was afraid Yinyin would suffer a similar fate…"
Jun said nothing. Suddenly, he got up from his seat.
"Are you leaving? I will-"
"Just sit," he expressionlessly replied.
Ai watched him casually walk into the cafe's kitchen, much to the staff's shock. But with one sharp gaze from him, they immediately stopped all their protests.
Evil, she thought in her mind. Whether he killed that robber or threatened Yinyin or just walked into the kitchen as if he owned it - Jun always acted like an antagonist in a movie.
Jun came back, holding an ice pack in his hands. He grabbed her right arm and put the ice pack on it.
Ai stared at him. "Why are you doing it?"
He shot her a cold glare. "You should say something if your arm is hurting. You were rubbing your right arm frequently."
It must have been when I was pushing back the heavy shelf from falling…
It caused strain to her muscles, and now her arm was hurting.
"You noticed."
"That person would be blind if he didn't," he sneered.
Then he did things like these that made her wonder if he was truly a villain or not?
He gently massaged the ice pack on her arm. As his fingers caressed her skin, he couldn't help but wonder.
Her arm is as thin as Zhou Ai's…That day when I held her hand, it was just like hers…
Then he remembered the kiss, and his face blackened.
This is the second time…First in the elevator and now! Why am I comparing her to Zhou Ai?
No, why am I even thinking about Zhou Ai in the first place!?
His gaze fell on her fair neckline and unknowingly, a gulp passed down his throat. Once again he thought about Ai - back when he had been shamelessly feeling up her neck with his cheeks to reduce his temperature.
Her skin was soft and cold. Her waist was thin when he leaned on her. He couldn't remember if his lips had brushed on her neck at that time…
He gnashed his jaw.
Something is fucking wrong with me!
Ai asked, "You don't look so good. Are you okay?"
He glanced at her. "I should ask that question to you. What's with the mask and shades?"
Her mouth twitched.
"I am sick."
"Or are you hiding from someone?"
Ironically, it's you.
"I am very sick."
"Yet you came to the event today," he narrowed his eyes.
"...CherryBlossom insisted."
"Why would you listen to her?"
Her eyelashes trembled. "We are…friends since high school."
Jun blinked.
This is something I didn't know. This makes it even more interesting. Gu Yating will date her best friend five years later but is now pursuing MissImperfectlyFine. Huh…
He smiled. "Nice. Two good friends, both are writers working in the same company. Life must feel so wonderful."
She said nothing.
"Or maybe not."
"What do you mean?"
Jun changed the spot of the ice pack. "Are you two still friends? Or competitors now?"
She stiffened.
He smirked. "Your silence is the answer. Once competition knocks on the door, it's never good news. What was your good friend's reaction to the accusations?"
"She believed me."
"Hoo. So life is still wonderful for her. Not for you."
Ai stayed silent. Jun noticed her left hand slightly shaking.
How is she looking right now…?
He clicked his tongue.
It feels so weird when she is like this.
His hand slowly reached out and squeezed her palm. His fingers intertwined and pressed into her delicate fingers, providing reassurance.
Surprised, Ai looked down and found his big hand enveloping hers.
"Your right arm is already in pain. Spare your left hand at least. What would a writer do without her hands? You still have to write many stories that would make my life miserable."