Arriving at the meeting destination the next day, Jin and Shui were all prepared for the presentation. After last night's short but grim conversation, she tried to break the ice today en route to the meeting place. But Jin was adamant on ignoring her and instead only buried his face in his laptop.
Shui sighed, shaking her head.
"Does it hurt now?"
Surprisingly, Jin took a check on her wellbeing after almost getting a scare last night. It took a moment for Shui to remember, but then her eyes sparkled with hope.
Oh, he is asking about my periods!
Thank God. At least he has not completely blocked all his communication towers.
She cleared her throat and softly nodded. "The cramps have gotten better…"
Jin heard this and nodded. Before Shui could embark on to the journey of continuing the conversation, he had already looked away and stared wide-eyed at the laptop screen as if his life depended on it.
He clearly doesn't want me to pry any further, her brow twitched.
Seeing Jin's body language made it sure to her that he wouldn't entertain anymore talk, especially about last night.
She released another sigh and looking out through the window, she wondered about Jin's responsibility and burden.
I don't get it. What could be coming in his way of confessing his feelings for me? What could be the responsibility, what could be the burden stopping him…?
In a way, Shui was happier to get at least some insight into Jin's problem which at first, he was hell bent on not admitting that there was a problem in the first place. If nothing else, this trip managed to change at least some part of the stunted information that she had. Jin confirming the existence of a problem was a big feat in itself.
Now the next step was to slowly but surely drill the crack in Jin's shell deeper and deeper until she reached the source of it.
But when…?
For some reason, she recalled the words of that handsome palm-reading man she met during the flight.
'It will take time. As much as he needs your forgiveness, so does he needs his own.'
Time…patience…
This ride went on in silence until they stepped out and walked towards the meeting room. Jin excused himself for a few minutes, and Shui was left alone. She thought of waiting inside the conference room and as she opened the door, her eyes slightly widened in surprise upon immediately seeing a man already on his seat.
Oh he is Kang Yuze…
The man heard someone's entrance and raised his head. "Miss. Han Shui?"
"Yes. Kang Yuze, right?"
He smiled. "Yes. Nice to meet you."
"Same here."
She slightly cleared her throat and took a seat at the corner of the table, placing her laptop on the desk.
I thought Jin and I would have gotten here earlier…
She looked up and curiously studied his figure, especially after remembering his confrontation with the woman at the restaurant last night.
Tall and commanding, his presence filled the room, yet it wasn't just his stature that drew attention. His posture was impeccable, projecting an air of assurance and confidence. Dressed in a tailored suit, he exuded a sense of refined style. The smile on his lips was neither too wide nor too slim that made Shui think of chivalrous men. It was that aura he emanated that made her quickly feel at ease. A sense of poise in his irises was strong enough to tone down anybody's restlessness.
"Miss. Han?"
Shui blinked and let out a cough. "Yes."
Kang Yuze thoughtfully touched his chin and asked, "Were you at the restaurant yesterday?"
"..."
Did he catch Jin and me spying on him?
"I think I did see you, but I am not sure…"
"Well…" she awkwardly smiled, "I was there with Jin. We had come for lunch."
"Oh you mean Liu Jin?"
"Yes."
"Makes sense," he slightly gave a nod. "I think I did see him too but my table was farther away. I couldn't really be so sure. I would have met you two yesterday itself but I didn't want to disturb your date."
She choked. "That wasn't a date. We were just out on lunch."
Kang Yuze stared at her intently. "My apologies. When I was leaving the restaurant, I noticed Liu Jin…"
Was blushing furiously with how close you stood against him so…I think I made a wrong guess.
He waved his hand. "Nothing. I guess I jumped to the conclusion too soon."
Shui paused and asked, "Did it look like we were on a date?"
Kang Yuze tilted his head. He wasn't really sure of the dynamics between Jin and Shui. He had only observed Jin for a few seconds and from his perspective, it did feel something more from Jin's side.
He had assumed Shui, who had her back to him, might have felt the same. But now…That was an answer he couldn't guess. If she wasn't interested in Jin, then would his answer make everything unnecessarily complicated?
Instead, he asked, "Did you want it to look like a date?"
Her brow twitched. "Not really."
"So you mean yes."
"What?"
"Not really is not a complete No. So maybe, you did wish it to look like a date."
Well…
Kang Yuze chuckled and let it go. "I understand. It's complicated."
"...Complicated is an understatement," she muttered under her breath.
"I wish you all the best," he laughed.
It was evident that he had clearly heard her muttering too.
"You have sharp ears," she said, slightly dissatisfied.
"And so do I have sharp eyes for noticing you and Liu Jin peeping into the corridor yesterday."
"..."
Shui pressed her lips, holding her breath. "I think you are mistaken."
"I'm pretty sure I am not," he smiled.
She tapped her finger on the desk and eventually gave up. "Okay fine. But mind you, Jin and I aren't so shameless. We heard the woman who you were with suddenly exclaim in the corridor and our attention fell to your side. Also, it felt strange because I had seen you at the restaurant too. You two seemed to be enjoying yourselves, so I just wondered wh
at had suddenly gone wrong…"
"I see."
"If you don't mind me asking, who was that woman?"
"Ren Alix. My ex-girlfriend."
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