Mrs Jiang grew up in a privilege life. This was reflected in AiLin's childhood as Mrs Jiang wasn't someone who could accept failure. After punishing AiLin and even learning that AiLin wasn't at fault, Mrs Jiang wouldn't apologize. As she lived a life where she didn't need to say sorry to others, she despised it even more when she was forced to apologize, feeling as if her insides were being torn in comparison to saying a single word of an apology.
To someone like her, an apology was equivalent to ending her life. It gets worse as she had to apologize to the woman who look like the child she raised with despise, the girl— Jiang AILIN!
"We don't have time to stay here all night," AiLin said aloud, "I'll tell ZiChen to drop this matter and close an eye over this problem tonight but my patience is thin."
Mrs Jiang bite down her lips until it began to bleed. She angrily scowl, "I'm sorry for hurting you!"
AiLin heard it loud and clear as well as the entire guests in the party hall and she broke into a wider smile. She went beside Li ZiChen and pulled him by his elbow, "Seems like the apologies was too short but I will let it off for now since I'm very compassionate. ZiChen can we go home now? I feel tired already."
Li ZiChen was frozen in spot as he stared at her arms circling around his elbow.
She tapped his shoulders and raised her eyebrow and only then did he smile back, "Then let's go back home. I'll also forget tonight's matter for you, AiLin."
Good. The faster they leave the better, she still needs to crack this puzzle beside her in form of a man!
But as soon as they stepped out from the stage, they were stopped by Jiang MengYao who had yelled, "Wait! We still believe the uncanny similarities between Hua AiLin and Jiang AiLin. We need proof."
"Why should I give proof to you?" Li ZiChen said without turning his head. "Remember young master of your own position. I don't need to explain myself but you are free to contact anyone and ask yourself about Hua AiLin. They will also tell you that they are two completely different people."
AiLin stared at Li ZiChen who had spoke about it with such firmness. She frowned but still held his elbow as they need to keep this act for a little longer until they leave the hotel. Once they stepped out of the party hall, AiLin tried to release her hands but felt his elbow grabbing her in place which made her frown.
"So quick to leave?" Li ZiChen sang his words melodiously.
"Yes, since I don't talk to liars," AiLin pushed his fluffy chest but he remained so stiff on the spot. "You know you have put me on a more difficult spot?"
He laughed at her words, unbothered by how she was trying to push him even more as she spoke. He then hummed, "More difficult spot? Aren't you reaping all the benefits of being my 'lover'?"
"Did I ask for that?"
"No but didn't I manage to help you out with your own problem?"
She narrowed her eyes, "I can help myself. I had a plan if you weren't going to bother me." And she heard him laugh which made her frown as she thought he was mocking her.
But instead he said, "Of course I trust you and I know you can help yourself."
"You also know that I am Jiang AiLin?" When she reached to her question, he had stopped responding. She took his silence as a "yes" and sighed, "Since when do you know it's me?"
"Since I first saw you," he said ambiguously and she noted that it must have been since she walked out of the bathroom. "Anymore questions?" He asked with a leisure smile.
"Yes of course, I have a lot."
"Then how about following me to another place? I have a feeling there will soon be more ears gathering around us, begging with their lives to eavesdrop to even a single sigh we both make."
She stared at him and crossed her arms, "I don't have a house," she was planning to buy one with the money in her black duffle bag which she had put in one of the hotel's lockers. "It's late and the cafes are close. Surely you're not telling me that we will be going up the hotel for us to have a talk? Or was this what you had wanted?"
LI ZiChen looked at her and broke to a small laughter. He placed his hand near the back of her neck and then lifted his thumb on her earlobes. She felt a shiver as those hands were warmer than her skin. The electrifying touch felt unexpectedly... bearable. Even though she used to despise being touched so much that she would occasionally be put in punishment during her serving time for fighting with people who had placed their hands on any part of her body, even her fingers. She was told that it's a condition of trauma but this whole time, she doesn't seem to feel that anxious being touched by Li ZiChen.
Something about those large hands...
"Why would I ask you to stay in a hotel?" Li ZiChen then responded with a mischievous tone, "You know this entire time you seem to insinuate that I would want your body but perhaps the truth is, you are the one who wants to ogle my body? You seem to like sleeping on my chest earlier."
"What? No!" AiLin frowned. "That's not true." It's just the pillows in prison felt hard and his chest felt like a soft pillow she felt for the first time in her six years. But she wasn't going to let him hear that and bask in confidence. "Whatever, let's go then. Do you have any place in mind?"
"I do," Li ZiChen released her hands and followed as she walked over to the hotel's locker, pulling the heavy duffle bag with her eyes glittering. "You seem to love whatever is inside the bag."
"Of course! This is my first love," she smiled. Money never betrayed her! She always find people she couldn't like, but she had never find a money that she couldn't love!
Li ZiChen frowned hearing the word "first love" when he knew what's inside the bag was money. Is it possible that his rivalry will be not against humans but rather materials...?