At Sky, Ai was seated on her chair, wheeling it round and round twirling herself round with it. Her little ride came to a halt as Xing Bi applied her breaks on the chair. "Do you want to feel dizzy with so much circling?"
Ai looked at Xing Bi, pondering whether to share her questions with her. "Xing Bi, can I ask you something?"
"Of course! I am always happy to help you. Tell this sister what is bothering you?"
"Have you ever felt that Nian acts suspicious sometimes?"
"He always acts suspicious."
"..."
"You should ask when he does not act suspicious," She snorted. "He always has ulterior motives in his shady mind!"
Xing Bi grabbed her shoulders and asked, "What happened? Why are you asking this? Did Nian do something to you? Did he bully you!?"
Ai felt dizzy with Xing Bi pushing her back and forth rather than the spin of the chair. "No. Nian didn't do anything. I am asking because Jun is acting suspicious these days."
Xing Bi stopped and blinked her eyes. "Jun? What do you mean? He cannot do anything suspicious. He is well-behaved than Nian anytime."
Ai's brow twitched.
Nian's heart would break into pieces if he heard this.
"I mean I feel like Jun is acting differently these days."
"Different how?"
Ai pressed her lips. "I don't know how to explain it. Like he went to the library to visit Mrs. Quan, but he didn't tell me about it. I thought he would tell me so that we can visit her together."
"That's it?" Xing Bi waved her hand. "I don't think it's such a big matter to dwell upon so much."
"Really? It's not just about that. Overall, I feel that Jun seems to be hiding something from me."
Xing Bi cleared her throat. "I am sure you must be mistaken. You know Jun isn't that kind of a person."
"I know…" her voice trailed off with uncertainty.
"Yes, yes! You don't need to worry about anything! I think you are feeling tired. How about you head back home?"
"Ah? But I am not tired."
"Sshh. If I am saying you are tired, then it means you are tired. Now shoo!"
—
"And so I was thrown out of Sky because Xing Bi feels that I am tired. But I am not."
"I see," Xie Nuying calmly commented. "However I find some truth to her words. Your eyes look puffy and your skin looks dehydrated. Are you sure you are eating well?"
Ai touched her face and frowned. "Really? My skin feels fine though."
She shook her head. "How can it be? After everything that has happened over the last few days, you must have been under so much stress. No wonder you are doubting my innocent son-in-law. Ai, you are being rude."
"..."
"I am not rude. I just feel that Jun is acting mysterious for some reason. I want him to share his concerns with me."
"There are no concerns because if there were, then he would have definitely shared them with you. Jun is such a sweet boy, after all."
"But-"
"If you will now allow me, I have assignments to grade."
"..."
Ai then went for her father's solace, thinking that at least he would understand her.
"Ai-chaaaan, you are overthinking! Jun-cute cannot be suspicious. He loves you so much," Zhou Yichen shook his head with lament. He then shed tears as he sniffled. "Ai-chan, you cannot become like your mother and start doubting your partner. Do you want to end up like we did? No, right? No, right? So have faith in Jun-cute. Men aren't as mean as you think them to be!"
At the end, Ai wasn't sure if he was defending Jun or husbands in general.
—
So Ai let the matter go, thinking that she might be really over analyzing until one day when she saw Jun returning late at night.
"Was there too much work today at Sky?"
He sighed. "Indeed. But I cannot complain. It's what I love doing," Jun smiled and kissed her forehead.
"How about I help you out?"
Since Hou Lin had left, Jun had took over all the management part in his bucket too, keeping him busy the whole day. Though Sun Bai was extending him a helping hand temporarily, she was still new to learning Hou Lin's responsibilities.
Jun quickly pecked on her cheek and smiled. "You are already so busy with your novel. Trust me, I doing well. This is only until the time I find a new assistant."
He swiftly pulled the duvet over him and went to sleep.
—
"And so I feel that Jun is doing something behind my back but I don't know what. Do you know anything?"
With a hardened expression, Jin threw a not so welcoming glare at her. "I don't know anything and I don't care either. Now leave from my room!"
*Meow*
The two cats purred against Ai, though Jun-cute kept his distance. Ai hugged the cats, feeling emotional. "Only you two love me."
Jin's mouth vehemently twitched. "You are being annoying! Leave me alone!"
"But I came here to ask you for help. Jun dotes on you a lot. He will tell you if you ask him," Ai seriously nodded.
He sneered. "And why do you think that I will help you?"
"Because I am a naturally lovable and warm person."
His fingers twitched with an urge of violence.
The next moment, Ai found herself kicked out of Jin's room. She looked back, pursing her lips. "How will we bond as a brother and sister if you always refuse to help me?"
"Exactly. I don't need any bond between us," he sneered and shut the door on her face.
---
Around almost midnight, Ai sat on the third step of the main staircase connecting the living room with the floors above.
"Everybody is being mean."
"Who dares being mean to my daughter-in-law?"
Ai's eyes widened and as she looked back, she saw Jinhai's tall figure leaning over her. He cocked his brow at her with interest and joined to sit beside her.
"Dad."
"Why aren't you asleep?" He asked.
Her expression sulked. "I am worried about Jun. I feel that he is keeping something from me."
"Oh."
She nodded. "After everything that has happened, I don't want him to carry any burden alone."
"I am sure that's not the case."
"Then I don't understand why he would behave so oddly since these few days."
"Isn't it because he is planning a surprise for you?"
Ai blinked at him, puzzled. "Surprise?"
Jinhai chuckled. He took out a small box wrapped in a gift wrap and placed it in her palm. "Happy Birthday, Ai."
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