85 ARE YOU SCARED? (2/2)

”Is this a base for aliens?” She paused in mock seriousness. ”Have you seen a UFO around here?”

Zhong Feng did not say anything in defence of the inane name. No one knew the reason the district ended up being named Area 99. Hu Lei kept making a range of terrible alien and secret base jokes until they arrived at their destination villa.

Hu Lei felt tense about staying with Zhong Feng once she saw the two uniformed guards as the gates opened. This tension did not arise per se from guilt. Instead, it was the realisation that the two of them were really not alone in the world. Here, she would have to face other people.

”This was a bad idea.” She spoke as Zhong Feng drove into a large garage.

When she had agreed to come to his villa, she had not thought about everything. At the time, she had only been thinking that she did not want to go to the Hu manor. The thought of returning to that place was too much for her. Not only would she be haunted by the few memories of her childhood, she would also have to live with the knowledge that her father was never coming back.

She had come with Zhong Feng because she knew that it would take time for her to sort through everything and find a home for herself. Moreover, it was embarrassing for her to admit that she was afraid of staying in a hotel.

In all her calculations, she had not thought about other people being in the villa. Her mind had pictured the same situation as the mansion in Azure Woods. After thinking about it, she realised that she had not used all her brain cells.

Zhong Feng was a powerful and busy man with countless responsibilities. If he did not have people to help him out, wouldn't he crash and burn under the weight of all his work?

”Are you scared?” Zhong Feng asked teasingly after turning off the engine. He had noticed her strange mood.

Hu Lei felt guiltier because she had indeed been a little afraid. Then, it had dawned on her just how much he must have overextended himself in order to accommodate her. Yet she had been afraid of staying in a huge comfortable house with other people.

She turned to him and looked at him, right into his eyes and clutched his arm.

”Ah Feng, I'm sorry for the trouble that I have caused you for these three years. I know that it can't have been easy to even find a clue about me. I never thought that anyone would care this much about me. This is grace that cannot be repaid.” She said with glistening eyes.

”There is no debt, Xiao Lei.” He responded with a small smile.

Hu Lei looked forward with unseeing eyes, reminiscing about the past.

”Do you remember what I said during our first meeting?” She turned back to him. ”Working for you during that time was the good karma I accumulated for over eight lifetimes.”

Zhong Feng wanted to speak, but she did not allow him.

”Ah Feng, I also do not want us to calculate debts. There is nothing I can do anyway to tip scales to my favour. Instead, I will ask you to give me the honour of accompanying you in this lifetime.” Hu Lei spoke unwaveringly.