Chereads / The Peony and the Rose / Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

Ellen and Emmanuel were careful in re-tracing their steps back to the other two members of Asteroid. They were on high alert, knowing that if the media caught them together, they would have a field day.

As they were walking through an alley, Ellen spoke up suddenly.

"El, you need to be patient with Susie," advised the usually exuberant singer seriously.

The topic caught him by surprise. "Patient with Susie?" He parroted, confused.

"Out of the two of us, Susie is the most protective of Hienie. It will take her a while to accept that you don't have an unpleasant ulterior motive working for our Hienie," elaborated the short-haired singer truthfully. "And I don't blame her. I was cynical when I realised that you were Yi Manan. Anyone would wonder why a prince would willingly work for another. Besides, your terms are that you're living with her—"

"I'm her bodyguard," justified Emmanuel firmly. "We stay with our charges. That's common knowledge."

She lifted her hand, halting his tirade. "We never needed bodyguards."

"And I never needed remuneration," interjected Emmanuel heatedly. It irked him that they were suspicious of his intention when he was nothing but kind to Hien. "What I needed was a place to stay and food. I cannot access to my accounts here lest it made my presence public." His thick brows contracted and he looked belligerent.

Ellen sighed, meeting his gaze. "I trust you," placated the singer. "I trust that you are here to help Hienie and I'm grateful."

The tense lines of Emmanuel's face relaxed at once. He ran his hand through his short hair as he backpedalled the conversation mentally. He was too brusque and defensive. "I apologise for my poor tone. You do not deserve it. I am here because Hien wanted to see me. I decided to stay to help her as she starts her new career. If she's uncomfortable with the idea of staying with me, I could find lodging—"

"When Hien has a perfectly acceptable room?" prompted Ellen.

He blew out a breath he did not know he was holding, sensing that she did not mean to offend him. "Ellen—"

"Just Ellie, my friends call me that," quipped the singer playfully.

"Ellie," amended Emmanuel, earning a smile from her, "We are on the same side. I just want the best for Hien," promised Emmanuel solemnly.

She patted him on his back. "Keep it that way and Susie will come around. I trust Hienie to know what she was doing."

"Will Susie give me grief?"

Ellen chuckled wryly. "Of course. Just be frank and patient with her."

When they hit the road near the stall, they spotted a black nondescript van waiting for them, the typical transport for celebrities. Boss had sent a driver to pick them up from the stall after learning the matter of the paparazzi. The two other bandmates of Asteroid were inside the van, waiting for Ellen and Emmanuel. The prince slide the door open for Ellen to enter and followed after her.

Immediately, Hien and Susie frowned when they caught sight of Emmanuel's purpled jaw. He was conscious of the way Hien was staring very hard at him as he chose the seat in front of her.

Hien leaned forward, drawing away from the loose embrace of Susie. She touched his swollen jaw gingerly, her brows furrowed. "What happened?" She asked icily. She glanced at Ellen for an answer as she slid into the seat next to Emmanuel casually.

The prince took it as a cue to offer a summary of his encounter with the paparazzi, leaving out the detail that he had baited him. Hien's expression did not change as she gently traced his swollen jaw with a finger during his explanation, a hint of regret in her eyes.

"We were careless. We should have realised that we will draw attention," sighed Hien, bowing her head.

The bodyguard did not like that look of blame in her eyes. He shook his head vehemently. "It is not your fault. You have the right to be on the street without fear of being a spectacle," insisted the prince passionately. His stomach writhed at the sight of her upset. "If anything, I should be apologetic for not handing it discreetly and ruining your night out," admitted Emmanuel, bowing deeply. His training as bodyguard taught him that all confrontations must be discreet, this was so high-profile that he was certain that it would become a sensation.

"Did you allow the photographer to hit you?" Susie's sudden and pointed question struck him.

The atmosphere in the van became tense.

Hien glanced at her wife curiously. "Why would An do such a thing?"

"Because he can," amended Susie, looking stern. She squeezed Hien's hand lovingly. Then, the sharp woman turned to regard him suspiciously. "What is your intention for doing so, El?"

Hien tugged the wary singer's hand pleadingly, hoping that she would cease this inquisition.

The new bodyguard froze.

Righteous anger rose at the singer's pointed accusation. What was his intention in allowing individual to attack him? He dismissed his rising irritation, trying to put himself in her shoes. As Ellen had predicted, Susie was very suspicious of him.

"Do you really think I allowed the photographer to attack me so that I could get into Hien's pants?" disputed Emmanuel brusquely, drumming his fingers on his thigh.

"An!" protested the youngest singer as her cheeks pinked at his insensitivity. That thought never crossed her mind.

A triumphant smile stretched across Susie's face. "Ah huh! I knew it. I knew that you did it intentionally. You just admitted it!"

Now that her close friend pointed it out, Hien realised that he had implied that he allowed the photographer to hit him. Her trimmed brows contracted and she gave him a calculating look. Her gaze settled on him long, hoping that he would explain himself.

Sensing Hien's measured yet hopeful gaze, he scrubbed his face tiredly. His chin was starting feel scratchy. He could not deny the older woman's request for a full explanation. "I admit that I did it intentionally." His voice was soft and steady. "I did it to discharge my duty as Hien's bodyguard. I knew that you had issues with the paparazzi," elaborated the prince, looking at at his charge for hints of disbelief or protest. "I looked through the files in the afternoon. I noted that the deterrence was ineffective—an illegal photograph of any of you was more profitable than a fine," snorted Emmanuel, shaking his head lightly. "It's usually seen as a civil case too." He continued as an afterthought.

Hien tilted her head curiously, wondering how his decision would change their circumstances.

Susie considered his answer thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "So, you tried to make it criminal?"

He nodded slowly. "It was not difficult since the other party was quite aggressive. The police were involved. The fallout coupled with the legal penalties of his actions will sum up to be an effective deterrence and warning to future paparazzi," summarised the nonchalant prince quietly, looking at the quiet singer with a hint of hope. It was in his very nature to strike at his enemy so viciously that they could never raise a hand at him. It was an effective deterrence since his other enemies hesitated before planning an assault.

A contemplative silence stretched among the occupants of the van, an effect of leaving them to their thoughts. Unknown to the rest of them, Hien was twirling with a small tie bar in her side pocket.

Emmanuel was not concerned about how the two other women judged him; he was only interested in Hien's opinion of him. Her face was relaxed, her expression vacant. He had to admit that she looked distant in this state—the lack of mirth in her eyes—which would deter anyone from approaching her. However, it was her unconscious dropping of façade that lifted her spirits since she trusted him sufficiently not to put up a front.

Next to him, Ellen had a hint of sympathy in her eyes as she regarded him. That glance, welcoming and troubled, warmed the cockles of his heart with the knowledge that she cared for him sincerely. He relaxed, remembering that Susie was acting out from a need to protect her best friend from an unknown entity, while the two other members accepted him.

"That's too noble of you," added Susie disbelievingly. Her punitive tone had softened marginally, a change only her closest friends could detect.

"My finest weakness," returned Emmanuel apathetically, shrugging.

"An," admonished Hien softly, knowing that Emmanuel was goading her wife on due to spite. She did not like the tone either of them was using on each other. She was helpless in view of Susie's open hostility to the arrogant prince. She turned to look at her irritated wife. "Su, An isn't like that. He's here to help me." She entwined her fingers with hers tenderly, hoping that she would see her point. "Besides, you know that I wanted to meet him again after the first meeting. Our meeting ended on a lousy note. I wanted to apologise to him and thank him for his help." She lay her head on her arm.

Susie inclined her head stiffly, looking grumpy. "He didn't need to stay with you," whined she softly. She turned to look at her best friend, ignoring the rest of the occupants. "What about your reputation? An unmarried man and woman living under the same roof, what would others say?"

Hien squeezed her hand comfortingly. "He didn't need to," agreed the singer. She sighed, brushing her hair off her face. "I allowed him. I allowed him because I have a spare room. His want to repay me through working for me is not required but welcomed. Isn't it better for me to have a guard twenty-four-seven?"

Here, he was amazed by how introspective the beautiful singer was. While the entire conversation was carried out in a playful way, his intention was an open book.

Hien held her pleading gaze at length before Susie finally relented indulgently. "I can never argue against you," sniffed Susie, sighing dramatically.

Hien smiled and burrowed into the embrace of Susie, looking like a contended pet.

Susie turned to regard Emmanuel guardedly. "It doesn't mean that I have accepted this arrangement. I think that this arrangement is too risky. Her career is particularly important to Hienie. A rumour that a man is living with her will have severe negative repercussions on her. You better be on your toes and be professional at all times."

Emmanuel was impassive however he met her gaze sincerely. "I want the best for her too." Promise rang in his words compelling them to believe in the prince who rarely gave his word.

Ellen shook her head. "I do love you, Susie. Sometimes, I think you need to scale down your overprotectiveness," advised the short-haired singer, pinching the air slightly to represent the amount of overprotectiveness allowed. "If this overprotectiveness persists, I'm not too sure when our dear Hienie is going to find a partner."

Susie flared up immediately. "Ellen Tan, I have enough of you!" She turned to bicker with the boisterous, short-haired singer leaving the two other occupants alone with their thoughts.

A cheeky gleam flashed in Ellen's eyes before she proceeded to goad her close friend further. She had to admit that Susie was very loveable when she was irritated since she would pout and looked like adorable pufferfish.

Hien, noticing that the matter has reached a resolution, lost herself to the passing scenery. Her brows were furrowed, a sign that she was lost in her thoughts.

Emmanuel did not know if the constant reminders that he needed to remain professional to protect Hien's illustrious career was sowing doubts in the singer. He sighed, wondering if he had to book a flight to remote island and spend his sabbath there instead.

The rest of the ride was unremarkable besides Susie and Ellie's legendary but playful squabbles. They were bantering so loud at one point of time that Emmanuel thought that they might exchange blows. However, noting that the driver and Hien seemed to be unbothered by them, he inferred that this was just a common occurrence.

Emmanuel caught a hint of unhappiness from Hien when she was particularly withdrawn from him and only entertained him with shortened and clipped responses. He learnt the very first rule while staying with her which was she would never air dirty linens in public.

Bon greeted them at the door exuberantly but when he noticed the mood of his owner, his tail dropped between his legs. The dog allowed Emmanuel to scratch him behind his ears before following his solemn owner into the living room.

Hien plopped on the sofa, exhausted as Bon climbed on the seat next to her. Her sensitive pet tried to comfort his owner by licking her face but he only received lukewarm responses. He rolled on his back and exposed his tummy, hoping that would put his owner in a better mood. Idly, she rubbed his belly just the way he liked it but there was no indulgent smile for Bon.

Emmanuel shuffled into the living room, preparing for the confrontation. The tense lines of her face as her inscrutable gaze lingered on him made him very nervous. He pulled an ottoman closer so that he could sit down and discuss the issue.

The new bodyguard scratched the side of his nose, searching for the words to begin this uncomfortable conversation. "I want to thank you for trusting me, Hienie." He bowed his head, resting his hands on his thighs politely. "Thank you for defending me. I'm sorry for my vulgarity, that was uncalled for. I know that I shouldn't annoy Susie."

"Why did you, An?" She frowned at him. "That crass comment was uncalled for." She bounced her legs up and down the seat, still upset. "What did you think I was? I'm not a mindless object for the taking. I'm a person."

Emmanuel nodded fervently, contrite. "I am sorry for making you feel that way. I...I spoke with thinking." He bowed his head in shame. Thinking before speaking was a habit that was ingrained in him since his words would make the headlines. He had been far too laxed.

Hien was still frowning, staring at a spot in a distance. "You were justified in baiting the paparazzi but I didn't like that you put yourself in that position. I made it very clear to my security detail that their safety is important." She sighed, raking her hand through her brown hair. "You're my friend. I don't even know if you should continue to be my bodyguard." She shook her head to herself. "Why did you have to leave me out of this situation and made decisions on my behalf?"

"Hienie, it is the duty of the highest-ranking member of the security detail to determine the best course of action when your safety is concerned," explained Emmanuel gently. He rubbed his nape. "I just didn't want to ruin you night. I know it has been a long time since you have gathered with your close friends. I simply took the chance when I saw it." He bowed his head, his voice small. "I don't think my intention was terrible." He steepled his hands together.

Silence lengthened between them.

Hien's gaze became distant as she pondered over his answer.

Emmanuel sighed again when he noticed that she was still upset. "Hienie, I'm sorry. I won't make such decisions in the future. I'll consult with Ah Zheng or you in the future." There was nothing more they need to mention on that subject. Seeing that Hien was still quiet, Emmanuel rose to his feet, ready to leave her to her thoughts.

He felt a hand on his arm, steadying him.

Hien looked very solemn under the warm light. She inched closer, studying his face closely. "Where did he hit you?"

Emmanuel blinked owlishly. He touched his purpled jaw gingerly. "Just here, nothing serious—"

Hien's grave gaze silenced him immediately. Her inscrutable gaze cut to his swollen jaw and rested there for several heartbeats. Suddenly, she reached for his jaw slowly with her hands.

Emmanuel felt his heart pounding loudly when she touched his face with utmost gentleness. In the warm light, she looked very upset as she observed his injury, her finger tracing his injury. His heart skipped at beat at the gentle way she was touching him. This was such a unique experience. He could not remember the last time a member of the opposite gender touched him with ulterior motives. Her caress of his jaw was so feathery light that he blinked.

"Ouch," complained Emmanuel, covering his swollen jaw when Hien prodded the bruise hard. He frowned at her, surprised at her harshness.

"Sorry," gushed Hien. "I didn't realised that it was so swollen."

He sighed and relaxed. "Nah, it's OK." He grabbed her hands and placed them on his face again to reassure her that he wasn't hurt by her action. Somehow, her touches made it more bearable.

The singer glanced at him, studying his face for several moments. Seeing that he was open to the idea, she touched his jaw gently. She could tell that the right side of his jaw was swollen. Her heart ached at the thought of him getting injured for her. Her caress became motivated by her intrigue of his rough.

She tracked the way her finger chartered his face gently. The prince was a very good-looking man with defined and sharp jawline. Her fingers slowly mapped his jaw, making a pit stop on that fascinating cleft—a defect that added to his charms. She could feel his gaze, filled with warmth, boring on her. She turned and met his mesmerising cobalt eyes. "Don't you think it is a waste that you don't take care of your face, An?"

Emmanuel grinned boyishly, dimples appearing on both sides of his lips. "Is that a compliment?"

She clicked her tongue. "An, I'm not blind. Objectively speaking, you're attractive." She jutted her chin defiantly, challenging him to contradict her.

The prince knew when he ought to back down but he did not want to miss this golden opportunity. He paused for a long time as if he was contemplating over her words. "Objectively speaking, I'm attractive." He leaned closer to her, their shoulder propped next to each other. "Hienie, do you think I'm attractive?" He smiled rakishly.

Hien shove him away from her, upset. That response was what he wanted to see and he burst out in laughter, watching her storm away from the living room. "I was trying to be nice. There is an ice pack in the freezer, go help yourself. Goodnight," snarled she as she stomped to her bedroom at the end of the corridor.

Emmanuel touched his jaw absently as he shared a look with the curious Bon. The dog tilted his head cutely as he looked at him. "I didn't do anything," protested the prince.

What was he doing, defending himself to a pet?

He walked to the kitchen to grab the ice pack and pressed it to his jaw. He returned to the living room and turned on the screen so that he could catch up on international affairs. Bon just lay at his feet. He began his research about the judiciary system of the country. His research took such a long time that it was almost day break when he had completed it. He returned to his bedroom and changed into a set of exercise clothes to start his day.

His morning routine consisted of a daily workout of at least two hours. When he stepped out of his room, he was surprised to see Bon awake, waiting for him.

"Would you like to go for a run?" He considered that it was not an issue to bring him along. If the run were too vigorous, he could always carry the medium-sized dog home. However, he would need to explain to the protective owner why her pet was exhausted. He went through a series of warm-ups and fed Bon with water. After attaching his leash to Bon's collar, he started the jog.

He set a route through her neighbourhood using the GPRS on his watch. It was a nostalgic and weathered neighbourhood, vibrant with life. He could understand why Hien selected this neighbourhood because it was near the city and it bellied many secrets in the crooks and crannies of its streets.

Some of the breakfast stalls had begun to open to serve the morning crowd. A quick glance of the breakfast parlour gave him the idea of dishes that were common for breakfast.

Mid-way, Bon was panting harshly, a sign that he was nearing exhaustion. He found a bench by a small park tucked neatly in the quiet neighbourhood to rest. Emmanuel realised that he was more used to larger, well-maintained gardens. This little park had a small empty area next to a very basic playground. There was a slide made of bricks standing at two-storey high. Another metal structure—a mass of vertical and horizontal monkey bars was next to it.

"Stay," commanded Emmanuel. To be safe, he tied the leash of Tien Bon to the bench.

He stared at the metal structure with interest.

Curiously, he ran his hand along one of the bars, noting that it was cool to touch despite the sun. It was far too early for this structure to be heated up. He glanced around, finding the park empty.

His lips curled into a smirk.

Emmanuel distanced himself from the structure. Then, he sprinted towards the structure as quickly as he could, his arms outstretched, his wrists locked. When he approached the structure, he grabbed both of his horizontal bars and lifted himself up easily.

Using the momentum, he began to spin and twist in the air, performing aerial acrobatics as he moved along the perpendicular bar steadily.

This felt good.

Perspiration beaded his forehead as he slowly worked through the bar as he savoured the way he had to exert his body. The adrenaline of performing in the air flooded him with child-like excitement. Mustering his strength, he tossed himself out of the bar and landed with both feet on the ground, his knees slightly bent to absorb his full weight.

He frowned when he found himself slightly out of breath, a sign that he was completely out of practice.

A smattering of applause broke his concentration.

His eyes widened when a bunch of elderly, dressed in their workout clothes, cheered for him. They flashed him thumbs-up when he met their gaze.

He paused for a moment, unsure of what to do. Then, he sunk into a bow, thanking them for their appreciation. He scratched the back of his head, wondering how he was going to leave this area without gathering stalkers.

There was a whispering in the group.

"That foreigner is a really good gymnast. Is he new to the area?"

"I haven't seen him around. The dog looks familiar…"

Embarrassment flashed through him. Emmanuel untied the leash, grabbed Bon and returned home. This was a nice conclusion to his usual exercising routine.

He scouted the area for a grocery shop to stock up her refrigerator. He noticed that she did not have much food in her fridge when he had checked. Carrying large bags of groceries, he returned to the quiet apartment.

From her closed bedroom door, he was certain that Hien was not awake yet. He began the process of cooking breakfast while he hit the shower in the common bathroom.

The singer was awakened by the scent of breakfast instead of alarm. She leapt to her feet, puzzled by the scent permeating her room before she remembered her new tenant, An.

"That's really early, "mumbled Hien to herself sleepily. She patted her elephant soft toys absently, greeting them. Wearily, she swung her legs out of her bed and completed her morning ablutions. If she was only needed in the afternoon, she would usually start the day walking Bon, feeding him and cleaning his sleeping area.

She blinked in surprise when she realised that Bon did not greet him as usual when she stepped out of her bedroom. She walked to the kitchen distractedly, following the mouth-watering scent. Sitting on the marbled counter was a plate of steaming fry-ups.

The screen was turned on, mute. International news was playing.

"An?" She called out hesitantly, searching for him around the apartment.

He peeked out of the laundry area, surprised. He quickly hid something behind his back when she approached him.

Hien frowned. "What's that you're hiding?"

The prince was behaving too suspiciously.

He shook his head ardently, trying to keep a straight face. "Uh. Nothing. I-I made breakfast." He gestured wildly to the food with a hand. "Why don't you eat first?" Emmanuel hastily tried to slip past her, keeping a mysterious object behind his back. However, he missed the mischief in her eyes. She dived at him nimbly, her arm outstretched and trapped him to the tan-hued wall.

"Get off me, Hien!"

Hien grabbed the flat object he was hiding agilely and whipped it into her view. Her face brightened with triumphant smile, glad that she had won this wrangle. In their tussle, she had accidentally activated it, so she found herself watching a video on operating a washing machine.

Operating a washing machine?

Her jaw nearly reached the ground when she realised that the prince was learning how to wash clothes from an online video.

Her wide-eyed gaze vacillated between Emmanuel, the video and washing machine. Finally, her gaze was fixed on the humiliated Emmanuel. The tips of his ears were a bright red and he was rubbing his nape.

The sight of the confident prince embarrassed had laughter bubbling in her. She exploded into full, uncontrolled guffaws. She laughed so hard that she clutched her stomach, bent at the waist.

Emmanuel was surprised by the volume of her laughter but that was soon replaced with irritation. He grounded his jaw, unamused. "Hand that over," bristled Emmanuel in heavy London brogue, extending his hand to her. "That's just plain rude even for you."

Hien returned his iPad to him obediently, trying her best not to laugh at him. However, seeing that petulant look on his face, she burst into another round of laughter.

"Bloody hell. Laugh it up," huffed Emmanuel as he turned off the video, trying to protect a smidgen of his pride. "Breakfast's on the table. I am going to my room," sulked Emmanuel. He marched to the living room to turn off the television before locking himself in his room.

After her laughter subsided, she realised how mean she was to the prince. It was obvious that he led a privileged life and he was trying his best to fit in. She took a deep breath to calm herself down.

She would apologise to him after breakfast.

Her gaze cut to the plate of breakfast lying on the marble counter. It was a plate of mouth-watering greasy British fry-ups. However, he had matched it with a blended fruit juice. She slid into the high stool and tasted his cooking cautiously.

Her eyes widened at how succulent the fried bacon was. He had cooked the dish perfectly. The bacon was crispy on the outside yet maintaining its succulence. She closed her eyes in pleasure as she enjoyed his cooking.

Wow. The prince could really cook.

Soon, she was done with her meal. She washed down that meal with the freshly pressed juice he had prepared for her. Hien was very impressed by her tenant since he did have some culinary skills. The singer placed all the dishes in the dishwasher as she cleaned the counter. She hummed a tune under her breath as she mentally went through her schedule of the day before she remembered that she would have a change of schedule due to Emmanuel's actions last night.

Her conscience pricked at the thought of how mean she was to him.

"I should apologise to him," muttered Hien to herself. Reluctantly, she padded to the door of his room and knocked on it. "An, it's me. I want to apologise."

There was a soft 'click' of the lock before he opened the door. He stood at shoulder's width, peering at her impassively. He opened the door fully when he realised that she was not laughing at him.

She brushed her hair away from her face absently. "An, I want to apologise for laughing at you. That was rude of me."

He gave her a long look before he relented. "You're forgiven only this time," warned the peevish prince. "I had to consult online since I didn't want to wake you up."

Her lips curled with a faint smile. "It's my fault," agreed Hien without missing a beat. "It is very inconsiderate of me."

"I never needed to operate a washing machine because the housekeepers would clean after me," admitted Emmanuel softly, rubbing the back of his head.

"It's my fault."

"I wash my clothes by hand when I am in the army, so this bloody machine is foreign to me—"

She lifted a brow. "What were you washing? Obviously, you don't need a washing machine to clean a set of clothes." This was the first day that he was living with her so she was certain that he would not have that much laundry.

He looked at her as if the singer was an idiot.

"Naturally. I was washing the clothes in the hamper, along with mine," returned Emmanuel tersely, folding his arms. "I washed all the dark clothes in the hamper after sorting them by material."

Her eyes widened. "My clothes?" She pointed to herself.

"Well, we'll save water if we put in a full load." He hesitated for a moment. "That's right, isn't it?"

There was a long pause.

He did not notice that her cheeks had become bright red. However, he noted that she was shifting her weight uncomfortably between the balls of her feet.

"You're right."

His eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"

"You did my laundry." She looked at Emmanuel for confirmation.

He looked a bit put-off. "Yes, I did your laundry along with mine. I used to live with my ladies, so your clothes are nothing unusual." He gave an absent shrug until he realised what he had said. His eyes widened. "I want to make it clear that I did not handle your unmentionables," quipped the nervous prince.

She waved that off. "That's not the point. The point is that you did my laundry."

He gave her an arched look.

She sighed aloud. "A privileged prince did my laundry while I'm asleep. I am entitled to a moment of shock." She folded her arms before her chest.

"Oh." He shrugged absently, rubbing the back of his neck. "Will you prefer if I don't? I had the impression that I ought to pull my weight around here since I am your tenant."

She gave him a lopsided shrug. "I don't expect you to. Whatever that makes you comfortable. Anyway, I'm not too certain about my schedule. Ah Cheng will update me soon—"

There was a loud 'beep'. She went to check her message on her cell phone immediately.

She returned to him while reading the message on her mobile.

"Ah Cheng has scheduled rest for the rest of the week," cheered Hien brightly, twirling around the spot. It had been a long time since she took a proper break.

Emmanuel smiled, leaning against the wall. "That's great. You get more days of rest."

"I get to rest but you don't. Ah Cheng needs you to be in the office though, so she'll pick you up in an hour's time."

He glanced at his watch nonchalantly. "I'll have time. What are you planning to do for the rest of the day? Do you need lunch?" He had bought groceries in the morning so he could prepare lunch for them.

"You went shopping this morning?" Hien remembered giving him her credit card the day before.

"Yeah, while I walked Bon," replied Emmanuel, stowing his hands into his pockets.

"Great. Thanks for offering to cook. I think I'm going back to my family home. Ah Cheng is probably going to discuss about the incident last night," mused the singer, twirling a lock of hair. "I don't fancy the odds of taking that irritating company to court. It isn't the first time. I remembered that they usually get off with a light fine." Absently, she removed lint from her shirt. "My junior complained that one of them actually trespassed into his family home to get more photographs of him."

There was a lingering pause in the room.

"There might be a breakthrough this time," commented Emmanuel indifferently. "Should I return to the apartment or accompany you to your family home?"

She brightened up at the prospect at showing him her beautiful hometown. "I could get Ah Cheng to drop you at my family home when you're done with your duties. If you are needed for the weekend, then you should remain in my apartment. That will be more convenient."

Emmanuel nodded absently at her suggestion. "Great. Let me get ready for work then." He looked at her meaningfully and Hien realised that she needed to get out of his room.

The relaxed singer returned to the living room to search for her pet. It was uncharacteristic of the exuberant stray to be missing. She soon found him on his nap, snoring loudly. Huh. That was strange of Bon to be so tired. Emmanuel must have spent all his energy while he exercised today. She slid next to her pet, her legs crossed, as she observed her sleeping pet.

"Something wrong?" asked Emmanuel absently, padding into the living room. His short hair was gelled backwards, giving him a polished look. He was dressed immaculately in a white dress shirt and black slacks.

He buttoned his cuffs and tidied his shirt once again.

Hien was captivated by his stunning physique. He had strong and broad shoulders that narrowed down to a trimmed waist. The plain black trousers highlighted the toned muscles of his long legs. She liked the efforts of his diligence in keeping himself in top form.

Hien did not know that Emmanuel had caught her appreciating his figure. There was a glassy look in her eyes as she scrutinised his body. He was familiar with the female gaze, however, the knowledge that she found him attractive was amusing.

Could he make fun of her?

He hid his smile and pretended to be impatient. "Hienie?"

She blinked at him. It took a while for her to realise that she was staring at him for a while. Blood shot to her cheeks as she apologised profusely.

"Don't be silly, Hienie There is no need to apologise. After all, it's healthy to appreciate beauty objectively."

Her eyes widened.

"You…" Her voice trembled as her gaze hardened. "You're making fun of me!" She pouted. The singer grabbed the cushion from the sofa and tore after him. Chuckling loudly, he dodged from her attacks nimbly, running circles around the beautiful singer as she tried to land a hit on him.

The chase stopped when she found herself completely exhausted. She dropped to the side, holding a stitch. The living room was ruined by their impromptu tag around the spacious room. She held up a hand, signalling she needed a moment. "You're worst than my yoga teacher."

He chuckled warmly before he went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water for her. He guided her to a comfortable resting position on the sofa as she smacked him a few more times to make a point.

He merely smiled at her indulgently as she glared at him. He guided the glass to her lips, encouraging her to drink the water slowly as he wiped the perspiration off her forehead with his handkerchief gently.

"It's your fault," complained Hien breathlessly, smacking his arm again. Her shirt was completely drenched with sweat as she caught her breath. To her horror, he did not even break into a sweat despite wearing a dress shirt and dress pants.

"Yes, it's my fault. Drink more," encouraged Emmanuel in a soft and soothing voice. He cupped both of her trembling hands around the glass and guided it to her lips again. Then, he set the glass on the coffee table.

He had never expected the singer to be so competitive. What a troublesome child. The prince sighed inwardly, rubbing her back in soothing circles.

Her glare grew less lethal. She fanned herself with her hand as she relaxed on the sofa.

"I need to meet your lawyer," mused Emmanuel. He returned to his room to fetch a black jacket to complete the formal ensemble.

Fuzhen was completely relaxed, her head hanging upside down as she leaned over its arm to look at him. Her eyes widened when he put on the jacket and straightened it carefully.

"Formal?" questioned Fuzhen, lifting a brow.

He nodded hesitantly.

She held up a finger, noting that he was missing something from his ensemble. This suit was far from being complete. She withdrew the tie and the tie bar that she had kept in a box carefully. She roped the tie around his neck carefully as she tied it into a neat Windsor knot.

"My tie?" He lifted a brow. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled broadly, touched that she had kept that tie and the tie bar. "I didn't think you would keep it since I used to it support your ankle."

"Are you kidding me?" demanded Hien as she slipped the tie bar in place to hold the tie. "That must have been the most expensive ankle support in the world. How could I throw them away? You're such a wastrel?" She backed away and studied his appearance again. She nodded to herself, pleased. "You're perfect. Good luck."

The prince pumped his fist enthusiastically. "We'll win this."

"Sure, sure. I'll see you at my family home. Please be at your best behaviour," bade the exasperated singer shoving him out of the apartment, much to her friend's amusement. "Don't pick a fight with a group of people again."

"You mean physical fight?" amended Emmanuel, laughing. "We're going for war."

She rolled her eyes. "Be safe. Don't give Ah Cheng too many wrinkles."

He chuckled, not making any promises.

It was only after he had left the apartment, Hien rested against the back of the door, smiling to herself.