185 Trus (2/2)

”Yes.” She bowed before hastily closing the private room door.

With just the two left in the room, Rin finally took off the veil from her face with a sigh.

”It was getting quite warm wearing this veil all the time.” She raised her thin, delicate hand and brushed the hair on her face to the side.

When she looked up, she saw An Sun's usual stern face looking at her with no particular expression.

”Brother?” He raised his brows.

Rin faintly sighed and focused her attention on the tea before them.

While pouring the warm, fragrant beverage into their cups, she said, ”It's the only reasonable excuse I could give. It would be too conspicuous for a male and female to be alone together in a private room.”

Passing the steaming cup of tea to An Sun, she smiled. ”Here, try. From what I've heard it's one of the best teas in the northern capital.”

An Sun glanced at the cup in her hand before quietly taking it. A nice fragrance lingered in the air from the tea as the two sat in silence. The table faced the direction of the morning sun, so the sunlight was streaming in from a nearby window, warming them up.

Rin's face was bright and beautiful, the light makeup she wore showed off her great skin. She was currently looking in the direction of the large window with a deep and serene look.

”How come you don't dress like this often?” She heard An Sun suddenly ask.

Turning her head, Rin's brows suddenly rose. ”Are you suggesting you like this appearance of mine better?”

An Sun's eyes widened. After staring foolishly for a while, he cleared his throat with a slight flush in his cheeks.

”It was just a question.” He grumbled, lifting the cup of tea to his lips. His sharp eyebrows furrowed a little when drinking the contents. It was bitter.

The corners of Rin's lips twitched upwards in soundless laughter. She took a sip of her tea.

”I only dress this way when it's convenient. Similar to when I dress as a man.”

Right after she finished speaking, the two went silent.

”Do you also behave differently when it's convenient?” A trace of coldness flashed across An Sun's dark eyes.

Rin remained her usual calm and easygoing self. ”Is there a difference between that and survival?”

An Sun could not refute. If he were, he would just be a hypocrite. From his years of living in the An Clan, when didn't he need to behave cautiously?

If he were to act how he pleased, he was sure An Hongyu would have thrown him out by now. His pupils began to darken as he was lost in his thoughts.

When Rin's voice spoke up again, he looked up. ”However, those sorts of things are not necessary when it comes to the people I trust.”

An Sun was still staring at her, trying to decipher the emotions on her face.

He was calm as he replied, ”Then out of all your conveniences, is this your true face? Is this the real you?”

Rin glanced at him. She remained her usual calm and easygoing self and said, ”Do you not trust me?”

”That depends, who exactly am I to trust?” An Sun's tone was very cool and impersonal. ”Bai Lan, Bai Rin…or the identity you keep hidden?”

Rin kept calm and maintained a gentle, charming expression on her face, without any trace of anxiety. After staring at one another for a while, Rin sighed back in her seat.

”In the end, they're all a part of me. There are no multiple faces, it's just Rin.”

”Then can I trust Rin?”

”That depends.”

”On?” An Sun's brows furrowed.

The corner of Rin's lips curved up, exposing the two faint dimples on her cheeks. ”On whether not I can trust you, An Sun.”

The man was stunned for at least three seconds before he regained his senses. She had just hurled his previous words right back at him.

All of a sudden, An Sun broke out into a smile, and he let out a peal of relaxed laughter. That spontaneous, genuine smile shocked Rin silly.

That display of emotions was rare to see. Compared to his usual cool facade, Rin felt that this friendly, warm look suited An Sun more.

”Then I guess I'll continue to trust you, Rin.” He raised his cup toward her, a smile on his lips.

Rin chuckled. She lifted her cup. ”I too will continue trusting you, Sun.”

The two clinked their teacups together.

…

When the two left the tea shop, the sun had already begun to set. Just when they decided to return to the Bai Manor, a voice suddenly caused their movements to halt.

”Bai Rin?”

Hearing the sound of a man's clear and deep voice, Rin inwardly sighed to herself. Looking over her shoulder, veil on her face, she looked at him with clear but emotionless eyes.

The man adorned in brocade fabrics stood a few feet from the two, his black eyes wide. His features were absolute perfection, paired with his fair skin, he didn't lose to An Sun's looks at all. However, his aura was much gentler.

Standing before the two of them was none other than the Northern Empire's Crown Prince, Kang Jing.

Rin's former fiancé.

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A/N: I changed the Crown Prince's name from a previous chapter because I've come to realize his original name was in Japanese.