Xu Mey tiptoed inside the house, trying hard not to catch unnecessary attention. But after a while, she realized that the more she would act like a thief, the more guilty and suspicious she’d seem to others. Therefore, she straightened her back and composed herself.

  Taking the stairs, she heard a sound coming from the kitchen and frowned. Changing her path, she turned towards the kitchen. Even before she could enter the kitchen, Xu Mey could smell the sharp peppery aroma lingering in the air.

  "Ah-Jie, what are you doing?" Xu Mey questioned with knitted brows as she saw Ye Jie standing before a boiling pot.

  Ye Jie lifted his gaze towards her and narrowed his eyes at her indecisively. Without sparing her a glance, he turned to pour the ginger tea that he had brewed himself in a porcelain cup. Xu Mey was a bit taken aback by his nonchalance with which he disregarded her presence and her question.

  Xu Mey came to his side and looked at his face searchingly. "Ah-Jie, are you angry?" Xu Mey asked hesitantly.

  Ye Jie glared at her and taking his cup of tea, he walked out of the kitchen leaving Xu Mey gaping at his leaving figure. That was one way to answer. Xu Mey didn’t like being treated as thin air. She ran to block his way with both her arms and said, "At least tell me why are you upset? How would I know if you won’t even talk?"

  Ye Jie was still avoiding looking into her eyes to make sure that his resolve doesn’t weaken. There was a time when Xu Mey loved silence but right now, she hated his silence. Every second that he didn’t say a word was making her feel uneasy. She tugged at his sleeve. "Ah-Jie……"

  Hearing her woeful voice, Ye Jie’s stern look cracked as he turned her towards the wall clock and said, "Have you seen the time?" Xu Mey noticed that it was 2 o’clock in the morning. She was more than just late tonight.

  She pursed her lips and scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "I lost track of time with that group of the Japanese delegation. I’m sorry!" Xu Mey half-lied to avoid another argument. "Please, forgive your baby. Otherwise, I’ll start crying."

  Ye Jie finally looked into her eyes and was startled to see tears swimming in her bright eyes. That really scared him, breaking whatever resolve he had. He knew she was the drama queen but obviously, love is blind. He would choose to overlook that fact anywhere, anytime.

  He touched her head gently and said, "Fine! Go and take some rest." He knew he was too easy to appease and perhaps, even Xu Mey was aware of this fact. That might have been the reason that Xu Mey always ended up messing around without any care.

  It wasn’t that he was easy. He just didn’t like arguing with Xu Mey. Seeing a smile on her face was the only thing he would like. The rest of her expressions made him feel uneasy.

  He turned to leave for his study when Xu Mey held his wrist. "Where are you going? And what’s that ginger tea for?"

  "I have a slight headache. Now, go to the bedroom. I have some work to finish." Xu Mey still didn’t let go of his wrist and instead pulled him to the sofa.

  "If you have a headache then you shouldn’t be working this late. Now, sit down and don’t move." Xu Mey spoke sternly. She came behind him and with her soft fingers, she started massaging his temples.

  Ye Jie held her hands and tilted his face. "What are you doing? I’ll be fine with this ginger tea." He knew she was tired and didn’t want to tire her further.

  "Oho! Ah-Jie, drink your tea. Don’t bother me. Massaging is also helpful," Xu Mey remarked with a sweet smile and got back to work.

  "You’re also tired and I don’t want you to worry about this insignificant headache," Ye Jie said softly but his words touched Xu Mey’s heart too deeply. She felt giddy inside as she tought, ’Aww! Such a sweetheart my Ah-Jie is. How can he worry about me at this time when he’s suffering from pain? I’m surely gonna drown in his sweetness. Wait! I think I’m already drowned with no way out!’


  Xu Mey came around the sofa and perched herself onto Ye Jie’s thighs with her arms around his neck. She looked straight into his eyes saying, "If my Ah-Jie is my priceless treasure, how can anything related to him be insignificant?" She caressed his cheek and added, "I don’t like that frown you have because of the headache. It must be a pretty bad headache. But you won’t tell me just so that I won’t worry. Can’t you stop thinking about my feelings for a second and focus on yourself?"

  Ye Jie smiled to himself and placed his hands on her waist saying, "I can deal with any pain as long as it doesn’t get you involved." He kissed her forehead softly and didn’t stop her from massaging his head. After observing her face for a while, he asked, "Why do I feel like you are hiding something from me?"

  Xu Mey almost choked on air at his words. She knew it was impossible to escape from his scrutinizing gaze. "Nooo…… I’m not! How can I hide anything from you?"

  Ye Jie didn’t believe her even for a second. The way she dragged ’no’ was a clear pointer that she did something she shouldn’t have. The question was; what? But before he could voice out his question, Xu Mey interrupted him. "Ah-Jie, it’s weekend. I want to go out on a mini vacation."

  Her plan of distracting him worked since this ’mini vacation’ part caught Ye Jie’s attention. It was rare for Xu Mey to suggest a vacation and obviously, Ye Jie was more than happy to comply as he asked, "Where does my baby want to go?"

  Xu Mey thought for a moment before her eyes brightened up as she answered him excitedly, "Let’s go to the beach."

  Ye Jie smiled at her innocence. This was the first time she asked for something and that was also just for a vacation to the beach? How simple minded she was, he really couldn’t fathom anymore.

  "Okay! We’ll leave tomorrow," Ye Jie agreed, which was exactly how Xu Mey had expected.

  She planted a big kiss on his mouth saying, "Thank you, Ah-Jie! My husband is the best!"

  Hearing her giggles and seeing her infectious excitement, Ye Jie felt his headache subsiding and it wasn’t surprising to him at all. If her love was his life’s sweet poison then she was surely the cure of it herself.