Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

  It was finally the last period of the day, and it was self-study time. Lu Xia asked for a leave from her class advisor, Wei Mingzhe, telling him that she had to go for practice.

  Wei Mingzhe disapproved of students leaving early, but considering the improvement in Lu Xia’s grades, he allowed it.

  Lu Xia stepped out of the school gates and felt a lot better after suppressing her feelings for the whole day. She put on her mask and shades and stood at the road. She retrieved her phone and looked for Huo Tingrui’s number.

  Her fingertips hovered over it before she dialed the number.

  Huo Tingrui was in court, so he had handed his phone to his assistant for safekeeping. Since his assistant knew how much Huo Tingrui valued privacy, he did not answer the phone when Lu Xia’s non-work-related call came in.

  Lu Xia called twice in a row, but no one answered, so she stopped trying any further. Hidden behind the sunglasses, her eyes turned dark.

  They had lived together for ten years, but she had been defeated by his newly found biological sister. Had it come to the stage where he even stopped answering her calls?

  Huo Yao seemed to be pretty good at tearing them apart.

  Lu Xia smiled in self-ridicule. She turned to flag a cab and gave the address to the driver.

  Half an hour later.

  “Why did you suddenly come over? Don’t you have classes in the afternoon?” asked Huo Yanxi after he told the secretary to pour some water for Lu Xia.

  Lu Xia took the proffered glass and thanked the secretary. She had already removed her shades and mask.

  She replied in a warm voice. “My last period was self-study. Since there’s nothing much to do, I asked the teacher for leave. I wanted to ask you out for lunch, but you didn’t pick up when I called, so I didn’t know you were busy.”


  Lu Xia even acted puzzled as she spoke.

  Huo Yanxi narrowed his eyes. He checked his watch and said, “I still have some work to finish. You will have to wait for a bit.”


  “It’s ok. We haven’t hung out in so long. Why don’t you call Brother Tingrui and ask him along as well?” asked Lu Xia gently with the glass in her hand. Looking at ease, she took a sip.

  Huo Yanxi could not help recalling the things Huo Tingrui said the other day. He went quiet for a couple of seconds before he continued. “He’s going to be quite busy for a while, so let’s forget it. We can discuss it when he’s free.”


  Lu Xia tightened her grip on the glass. She acted nonchalantly and said, “Sure. Works for me.”


  After a pause, she said, “I’m just worried that Brother Tingrui might have misunderstood me.”


  “Misunderstood?” asked Huo Yanxi with a frown. He did not seem to get what she was driving at.

  Lu Xia bit her lip and said softly, “Yaoyao doesn’t talk to me much because of what happened. I called Brother Tingrui, but he wouldn’t answer, so I can’t help feeling anxious. I’m worried that Brother Tingrui might have gotten the wrong idea.”


  Huo Yanxi frowned even harder. After some time, he said calmly, “You’re overthinking it. Tingrui isn’t the type who gets easily instigated.”


  Lu Xia’s expression froze instantly. She swiftly strived for normalcy in her voice and said, “Then…… then that’s good.”


  “Wait here till I settle my work,” said Huo Yanxi before he turned to go back to his office table.

  The office quickly went silent.

  Lu Xia sat and watched as Huo Yanxi read the documents before him. For the first time, they had fallen into an awkward silence.

  It felt as though it was a momentous day, where everything and everyone seemed to be changing.

  Lu Xia felt annoyed by this loss of control.