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"I had a free meal so why not?" He chuckled a bit as he washed the last bowl before handing it to her.

She rolled her eyes and huffed. "Right free meal. You still spent money for some of the ingredients so it was not entirely a free meal." She wiped the bowl with the towel before placing it back in the drawer.

After drying his hand, he turned to look at her with an amused smile. "If you put it that way, I guess you're right."

"See?"

"At least I was able to taste your cooking then." 

She had a flushed look on her face when she turned to face him. "R-Really?"

"Hm, yeah, really." He patted her head before he cast his eyes at the clock on the wall. "It's already late. I should head back now."

Tian Ruyi's shoulders sank. She was hoping that he could stay a while longer but he was correct, it was already late and she should let him go home. "Thank you for coming."

"Hn." He eyed her for a short moment before asking, "will you be fine on your own?"

She bobbed her head as she looked at him with a small smile. "Yeah."

"I can stay, you know," he offered. "Just to make sure that you have now been traumatized after what happened earlier." Si Hongqi was rather straightforward when he said those words.

Tian Ruyi paused and was rather surprised by the words she heard. Was that the main reason why he came and visited her that night? 

Once again, she couldn't control her heart from gaining speed. It was even pounding loudly against her chest that she feared that he might end up hearing it. It would be embarrassing. 

"You accompanied me even if I didn't want you to so I think it's only fair for me to do the same for you, don't you think so?" It was not like he wanted to repay her for the kindness she showed him, it was more than that. He wanted to be there when she needed someone.

"I-I'm fine, you know." She chuckled a bit, averting her gaze from him. She was already feeling uncomfortable out of the sudden shyness she was feeling. He really was bad for her heart. She felt like she was being pushed to the corner.

Thanks to her conversation with Si Guanlin, she was able to recognize her feelings now. She was currently experiencing the feelings written in the books she had read and the movies she had watched.

"Very well, if you say so. You can just message me if you want to have another drink." He patted her head once again before he finally turned and left the room, taking his leave.

Tian Ruyi didn't stop him. Instead, she watched him take his leave. She dug her nails on her palms as she balled her hands into fists. She wanted to stop him but even if she had those thoughts, she knew that she should hold back.

The man who just left had feelings for her friends. Si Hongqi hadn't moved on yet, not when his rejection was still fresh.

After years of ignoring love, fate had finally sent her a man who made her heart race. Maybe it was also a punishment for her since she had caused heartaches to the men who had fallen for her by coldly rejecting them without even giving them a chance to prove themselves to her. She ignored love for so long and now she ended up having a very complicated first love.

She lowered her head as tears subconsciously fell down her cheeks as jealousy began eating her from inside. She wanted to make him look at her but she knew… she knew that in his eyes, there would always be one woman. She couldn't help but envy that woman.

Bai Jingye, Si Hongqi… Lu Mengjie was surrounded by good men. She was blessed with people who had loved her unconditionally. She was perfect. She had a lovable personality. Beautiful. Kind. Intelligent. Lu Mengjie was the kind of woman who deserved to have all the good things in life… and she envied her for it.

Tian Ruyi felt terrible for having such shady thoughts but after meeting Si Guanlin, something dark began growing inside her. It was carefully and slowly eating her from inside.

"Stop." She bit her lower lip. She harshly brushed off the tears from her face. "Stop it." She aimed those words at herself. It was as if she was trying to control such gloomy emotions from growing further inside her.

Lu Mengjie was her friend. It was wrong to have such thoughts against her. She should be happy for the nice things she kept on receiving. 

The pain she felt on her palms somehow was able to bring her back to her senses. As she loosened her fists, blood trickled out. It came from the marks that her nails made out of her anxiety and frustrations.

Her eyes fell on the marks on her palms, her gaze grew cold.

…

Since Bai Jingye was currently in the hospital to recover from his malnourishment, a few people came to check on him, including his family and his friends. As for Xu Chen, Bai Jingye's mother, she had finally apologized to Lu Mengjie for what she had done to her back then to which Lu Mengjie accepted her apology, wanting to start anew with the Bai family. She was supposed to hide in Japan but after hearing what happened, she didn't get on the plane that was scheduled to fly her out of the country.

After Bai Keran died, it was as if the burden from each family member was finally lifted. Instead of continuing his father's dirty business, Bai Kai finally gave all evidence to the police. He didn't mind going into a life imprisonment since he had been Bai Keran's accomplice from the start. His sentence was decreased when he decided to help the authorities in going after the rest of the people who were connected to illegal activities Bai Keran had while he was alive. It was also found out that there were a few men with the surname Qi on that list which also made things hard to distinguish the 'Mr. Qi' that Bai Keran worked for.

It was Bai Kai's choice to be imprisoned for the crimes he had committed with Bai Keran and at the same time, it was so that he could protect his children, especially Bai Zichen who already had his hands dirty. Bai Keran's end was the new start for the Bai family. 

For the past few days, both Tian Ruyi and Lu Mengjie kept on visiting him although they never came at the same time. Whenever Lu Mengjie came in the afternoon, Tian Ruyi would come in the morning. Until one day, both Lu Mengjie and Tian Ruyi visited the hospital at the same time. They met each other in the elevator car.

"It's been a while Xiao Yiyi," Lu Mengjie greeted with a smile. She couldn't give her friend a hug since they were both carrying something; gifts, for Bai Jingye. She took a step in the elevator and went to stand beside her.

"A while, yes." Tian Ruyi chuckled in reply. "I've been so busy lately so I wasn't able to meet up with you after what happened."

"It's fine, fine. I'm just glad that you're doing well. I heard from the news that you've been taken as an ambassador of another jewelry brand."

"Yeah… I've been busy lately." Tian Ruyi was supposed to take the month off but with how her inner battle was going on lately, she decided to distract herself with work.

Upon reaching the floor, they went out of the elevator and walked towards where Bai Jingye's room was located. They entered the room and saw the patient, chatting with his mother.

Xu Chen turned and instantly greeted them when they entered the room. She also took the gifts they brought for her son and placed them on the table.

"How are you feeling, Jingye?" Tian Ruyi asked upon turning to him with a smile.

"Better." He sighed. "Ruyi, can you convince my mom to sign the discharge papers for me?"

Xu Chen rolled her eyes. "You are not leaving the hospital, not until you're in perfect condition."

Lu Mengjie chuckled. "If you were my son, I would have done the same, Jingye. You should understand auntie."

Bai Jingye heaved out an exasperated sigh. He was still thin but he was able to gain a few weights back. Colors were back on his face.

"I won't convince mom. Once you get out of this place, I know what you'll probably ask next." Tian Ruyi stretched her arm forward, giving Bai Jingye a flick on his forehead. "You're a workaholic man so you'll mostly go to war with your brother and steal his work."

"Ugh.." He groaned, looking at the three women before him in disbelief.