Chapter 26 - Are We Close? (1/2)
”Ms. Bai?” Bo Jiu was the only one outside the Spa and as soon as she saw Xiu, she came up to her. ”What took you so long?”
Xiu heaved a long sigh, not wanting to disclose the fact that she lost her way and ended up like a soaked cat; dripping with water. ”Oh, nothing... I was just admiring the peach blossoms.” Xiu thought that was one crappy excuse. Actually, a crappy slap on the name of all the crappy excuses but at the moment, she could only come up with this. Well, don't blame her! The poor girl was under pressure. Or maybe, too much water went into her head. A reasonable voice in her countered which Xiu decided to disregard.
Bo Jiu narrowed her eyes at Xiu, suspiciously. ”Really? I thought you got into a fight.”
”Huh? What gave you that idea?” Xiu asked with a frown since she was certain that nobody knew of her encounter with that strange stranger. Hold on a second, she didn't even ask his name. Oh, well... Forget it, it's not like they were going to see each other again. And she was very pleased with that thought. After all, in this world of sadistic and hedonistic male chauvinists, he was an anomaly who actually accepted his mistake and acted like a chivalrous person. To be honest, the fact alone that he actually looked at her as a human and not just a woman who was below him, was already hard for her to digest.
It was safe to say that Xiu's experience with men wasn't something to brag about. Life of a Superstar is lived with thorns under your feet. You can't possibly move forward without letting your body pierced. The men who respected her wholeheartedly in her previous life could be counted on one hand but the ones who tried to trample all over her pride and use her for pleasure were countless. And she didn't even have to think twice to confirm this fact. According to Xiu, with her experience of two lives, she could be said to be quite well-versed with male egoism. And it was quite easy for her to read a man like the back of her hand.
But Darren didn't give her a chance to read him. Just when she thought he was just like any other man, he took a 180 shift in his attitude and apologized to her sincerely. Since she couldn't figure him out, her mind only had one conclusion that was to stay as far as humanly it was possible to do so. The things you can't figure out should be avoided at all costs. Especially the ones who make you question; Was she being biased when it came to men? Just because of her own worst experiences.
She was quite satisfied with that surmise to avoid him. It was better for both of them.
Bo Jiu had seen her pupils contracting as if she was zoning out and her assumption was proven when she touched Xiu's shoulder and the latter was startled a bit. ”What were you saying?” Xiu asked with a cough to hide the fact that she had really zoned out right before her eyes.
”I asked who managed to get you involved in a water fight?” Bo Jiu questioned a bit lightheartedly. A big mistake on her part though.
”Ms. Bo, are we close?” Xiu's eyes wore the cloak of ice which seemed too sharp for Bo Jiu's young self.
”No, Ma'am!” Bo Jiu replied seriously.
”Then I wonder why are we having this conversation?” Xiu's question made Bo Jiu want to shrink back in her cocoon just to avoid looking into Xiu's eyes. She might have not agreed with her peers before but now, even she had the urge to jump down a building. How could someone's eyes make someone feel all this? Weren't her words just enough that she even had to top it up with an overwhelming aura.
”I'm sorry for saying too much,” Bo Jiu took a step back from her and apologized sincerely.
Xiu left her there and went inside. She asked for some dry clothes and the staff was very attentive and active since they were ordered to take care of every single employee with the utmost care and attention.