"You're almost making me want to disown you as my assistant."
Raelle's plain voice was heard again leaving Cloe baffled. 'Disown' her? Seriously?!
Cloe almost retorted, 'You're not my parent who can disown me!' But she stopped herself at the last moment. First, she couldn't snap back at her boss who paid her. Second, if she thought about it seriously, Raelle wasn't much different from a parent. At least, Raelle cared more about her and her life than her own parents.
"Did you forget that you have a blind date today?"
Cloe's eyes widened, "Shit!"
"Oh, you really forgot," said Raelle dryly. "But then again, I had expected that from you."
Cloe felt like Raelle was roasting her but she couldn't even retort. She really messed up. It was her blind date and she was the one who forgot about it. It was her boss who called to remind her! Like, what the hell!
"Chief, you even remember such an insignificant detail about my life?" Cloe actually felt she was touched.
"Well, my brain doesn't have holes like you," answered Raelle and the touching feeling in Cloe's heart instantly evaporated like it was never even there. Sure enough, how could Raelle Xiang be nice? Something must be wrong with her own brain to actually feel this way because of Raelle.
"I..." Cloe didn't know what to say for a moment. "I really forgot." She chose to admit the truth in the end. After all, it's not she could escape the human lie detector Raelle. It was better to come clean in front of her than to drag this out and make it worse for herself. "But it's actually because of you."
"You're throwing the blame on me?"
"No," said Cloe meekly. "I'm just stating the truth. Who told you to drop a bomb on me the other day? My brain was so muddled because of your matters that I actually forgot I had a date today."
"What bomb did I drop that you weren't able to defuse in time?"
"You suddenly chose to ditch work," stated Cloe matter-of-factly. "How can that be any better than a bomb? I was shaken by this sudden development."
"So, it was my fault," said Raelle softly. "Then, I apologize to you."
Cloe was left gaping on her own. Why did her boss always go down the wrong road? How was she supposed to keep up with her?
"It's my negligence," added Raelle.
"Chief, don't scare me like this," said Cloe hurriedly. "I have a weak brain that's my fault. You don't have to apologize."
"If I did something wrong, I should apologize. What's wrong with that?" responded Raelle. "Besides, as a boss, I shouldn't torture my employees to the point that they'd even forget their personal life. If I'm giving you so much work pressure that it made you forget about your own life, then it's definitely my fault."
"Chief, there is no pressure of work from your side," said Cloe as she calmed herself down. "Stop always evaluating yourself so strictly. Do you even realize that you're harsher to yourself than to others?"
"A wise person should always have the ability to judge himself before pointing fingers at others," was Raelle's answer that Cloe's lips turned upward.
"Chief, did you wish me luck for the blind date?"
"Oh, that's correct," answered Raelle. "You dragged me off point. My intention to call you was to wish you the best of luck for your blind date."
"Chief, you want my blind date to succeed?" asked Cloe.
"Is that what you want?" Raelle asked in return.
Cloe was stumped for a moment. She didn't know how to answer this question really. She didn't know it herself. She had no answer for now.
"I honestly don't know," she answered truthfully to her. "Why don't you give me a tip for this blind date? After all, you're quite an experienced person."
"My blind dates ended in failure," told Raelle as if Cloe already didn't know that. "So, don't you think you're asking the wrong person?"
Cloe suddenly laughed out. "Your streak of failed blind dates should go down in history!"
Raelle didn't comment on that. No one could say what she had to say about that.
Cloe took a deep breath and added, "I'm a little nervous now that you've reminded me that I have a blind date to meet today."
"Since when did my assistant become a scaredy-cat? I should really disown you."
Cloe felt like there was a hint of disdain in Raelle's words and it made her sulk.
"I haven't dated anyone in years," reminded Cloe. "It's normal to be nervous. Not everyone can be level-headed and always confident like you."
"It's such a shame that you didn't learn anything from me in all these years," stated Raelle. "Shouldn't you feel ashamed of yourself?"
"Yes, yes, I should," Cloe actually agreed with her in a humble tone. "But the point is, I don't feel ashamed at all. That means, at least, I learned something by staying by your side, no?"
"Being cheeky, are we?"
Cloe chuckled, "Sorry, I just felt like messing with you a little. It helped in easing my nervousness."
"There was no reason for nervousness, to begin with," said Raelle. "You should trust Soren. He wouldn't choose the wrong person to go on a date with you."
"It's because that Soren won't choose the wrong person that I felt scared. I am not sure if I am even ready to be in a serious relationship."
"That's not good enough to hide," was Raelle blank reply.
....
On the other side...
Yue Yue had woken up late today. When she came down for breakfast, everyone was always seated at the table waiting for her. She looked at Grandfather Xiang and seemed a bit embarrassed.
"Just sit down, Yue," said Grandfather Xiang. "There is no reason to feel bad."
"Yes, mum," added Hyson. "It's normal to wake up late. We can't possibly be like Ellie now. She is not a human. But we are."
"Fai, you seem like you're missing Elle," said Mu Chenyan in an obvious tone.
Hyson didn't even disagree. He jutted his lips out and pouted, "Maybe it's because I have nothing to do these days but I really seem to miss her." He lowered his voice and looked around as he added, "But don't let her know. It's a secret between the four of us."
Mu Chenyan laughed out while she rubbed his head, "Silly cutie. How can you be this adorable?"
Hyson grinned at her shyly, "It's because I want Yanyan to spoil me."
Yue knocked on Hyson's head making him grimace.
'Don't always butter her up.'
"When did I butter up Yanyan?" Hyson felt offended by that statement. "I don't even have enough butter for my toast. Why would I waste my butter on others?"
The three elders at the table chuckled at Hyson's words.
"Anyway, mum, why do you look like a ghost?" asked Hyson out of nowhere as he faced his mother.
Yue's eyes widened and she pulled his ear.
Hyson shrieked even though the force she used wasn't that much. "I was just telling the truth. You have heavy dark circles. Your face is paler than before. I even feel like you've lost weight."
Yue let him go and touched her face in worry. She looked up at Mu Chenyan as if asking for confirmation.
Mu Chenyan shook her head and told Hyson, "That's because Yue has been staying up late at night worrying about you."
"Me? What have I done now?" questioned Hyson.
"You suddenly got into an accident," reminded Mu Chenyan.
"Isn't that old news by now?" asked Hyson.
"It's not old news for us. At least not until you fully recover."
Hyson looked down and pursed his lips. Why did he feel like he was being guilt-tripped? But this trap was actually working. After all, his main concern had always been his mother? How could he not feel guilty now that she looked like she was losing weight because of him?
Turning to Yue, he said, "Mum, you stop worrying about me." He placed a hand on his stomach as he showed her, "Look, I've been eating so well that my stomach is even bulging out now. I'm even resting as I've been told. I'm almost fully recovered. There is nothing to worry about me."
Yue looked at him lovingly and stroked his face before she told him, 'Chenyan is messing with you. I've been staying up late because of her and she is throwing the pot on your head now.'
Hyson turned his accusing gaze towards Mu Chenyan who lowered her head concentrated on eating. She really couldn't stand this cutie's gaze.
Grandfather Xiang had a soft smile on his lips as he watched this lively scene before him early in the morning. Since Hyson came to live here, there hadn't been a day when this big mansion seemed quiet to him. He could always seem to hear either his loud voice or his hearty laughter.. And both made this cold mansion feel alive and warm.
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