Bing Shi flashed a small smile as she retouched her lipstick, seemingly unfazed by Guan Fei's judgmental glance. If she had heard Guan Fei's thoughts, she would have felt a pang of sadness. Makeup and fashion was her passion and Xuan Mu appreciated her beauty, both natural and enhanced.
Lucky for Bing Shi, she couldn't read minds.
As Guan Fei turned to leave the bathroom, she paused briefly to glance at Bing Shi's bruised hand. "I'm in a hurry, so if you would excuse me," she said in a dismissive tone. 'Ah, so she's the damsel in distress that Xuan Mu had to rescue.' Her thoughts dripped with scorn.
Her father mentioned that Xuan Mu also had to save Bing Shi from a stalker. 'Typical, putting on an innocent act to win sympathy. Is that what Xuan Mu likes, weak and helpless girls?'
Guan Fei's impressive demeanor crumbled as she caught sight of him, her soulmate. He was standing in the narrow corridor, draped in black clothing. His arms were crossed, and his gaze was directed at the wooden floor, his eyes hidden behind a veil of dark bangs.
The red scratches on his nose were a stark contrast to his flawless, pampered skin. Frozen in place, she couldn't help but stare at his devilish lips, they were like a siren's call, luring her in, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to them.
Xuan Mu's head lifted as he sensed someone's presence. He turned towards Guan Fei with a smile, his steps sure and steady as he passed by the young woman to approach Bing Shi at the back. He offered his elbow for her to hold, but the smile faded from his face when Bing Shi didn't accept it. Instead, she was focused on something or someone else, causing Xuan Mu's expression to fall.
"Xuan Mu, you forgot to greet your sister," said Bing Shi, her gaze on a back of a woman in a white dress, "Can you introduce us?"
As Bing Shi listened to Xuan Mu's introduction, her mind drifted to their past conversations, 'I don't spend every moment with Xuan Mu, but we share many life experiences and memories. Sometimes, he likes to make me jealous by mentioning other girls who are interested in him.'
'True to his words, there are many rivals, but the most interesting one is Guan Fei, Guan Lin's daughter.'
Bing Shi continued, 'Guan Fei never confessed to Xuan Mu. Before she made the sudden change, she used to throw knives at him for stealing her dad. She even challenged Xuan Mu in car racing, shooting, and all kinds of dangerous sports.'
'I know Xuan Mu can see through a person right away, and it was clear to him that Guan Fei's hatred was slowly turning into infuriation. However, he refused her challenges every time because...well... he doesn't like to waste time.'
Bing Shi added, 'I understand hating someone who I used to like, but I could never love someone who I used to hate to death. It's hard to make sense of Guan Fei's behavior. Nonetheless, she is a great actress.'
Bing Shi nodded approvingly.
"This is Bing Shi," Xuan Mu said gruffly, introducing the two women. Turning to Bing Shi, he continued, "And Bing Shi, this is Guan Fei, my step-sister."
Bing Shi's hands firmly grasped her purse as she remembered the unpleasant incident from earlier. She made a mental note to avoid physical contact with strangers from now on. "It's nice to see you again, Guan Fei."
Guan Fei took a deep breath before turning around with a forced smile, addressing Xuan Mu as "Brother." She glanced at Bing Shi and said, "Bing Shi, yes we did meet before. Sorry for not recognizing you earlier."
Guan Fei couldn't help but wonder why Xuan Mu was so taken with Bing Shi. 'Only if I were here sooner, then, it'd be easy to get his heart. Who is Bing Shi to gain his affection? Did she save his life, and now he is paying her back?'
Bing Shi had not saved anyone's life. Rather, it was Xuan Mu who had begged her to hold onto his life.
"No problem. Weren't you in a hurry? I don't want to hold you back," Bing Shi then took out a business card and handed it to Guan Fei with a friendly smile. "Let's go for some carrot cake together one day."
"Of course," said Guan Fei. 'What a white lotus' She accepted the card with a broad smile and left the couple with prompt steps. 'Only If he knew that I'm the better one for him... His loss, for refusing a soulmate.'
"Bye Bye," Bing Shi tugged at Xuan Mu's arms.
"Guan Fei." As they were leaving, Xuan Mu turned to Guan Fei and spoke in a neutral tone, "You've changed, for the better."
Guan Fei came to a halt on the spot, turning around to face Xuan Mu once again. "I know," she responded confidently, before continuing on her way, her hips swaying from side to side like a mesmerizing pendulum, drawing the gaze of any man in her path.
Bing Shi linked her hand with Xuan Mu's and let out a tired sigh. "Let's head home. I've had my fill of influential people for the day. Any more, and I might start feeling small in comparison."
Xuan Mu nodded in agreement, his attention drawn to the seductive sway of Guan Fei's hips as she walked away, his mind already making a vow to protect Bing Shi at all costs, even from someone as alluring as Guan Fei.
As they made their way to the helipad, Lu Ren crossed their path in search of Mia. Xuan Mu's smirk hinted at a playful mood. "She's outside, in the back of the yacht. We're leaving first. Happy birthday," he said, deliberately pointing in the wrong direction.
"Happy Birthday," repeated Bing Shi while looking down at her high heels, hiding her mischievous smile.
"Thanks," muttered Lu Ren, his voice nasally as he sprinted in the direction that Xuan Mu had pointed out to him.
'I know that if I was bullied, I wouldn't be able to stand up for myself fearlessly like Mia or Guan Fei. Am I weak?'
'While the strongest dinosaurs went extinct, the weak jellyfish, without a brain, survived until now. It's not about strength but adaptability.'
'Hm? Did I just describe myself as a Jellyfish without a brain?'
'And those dinosaurs...he he..'
'Hups ♪♫'
"Bing Shi, what are you thinking about?" asked Xuan Mu when he saw his girlfriend hiding her giggle with her palm.
"About dinosaurs and jellyfish." She continued to giggle, "I feel like a bad girl. I just imagined the pretty Mia and Guan Fei in a T-Rex costume."
"And you were in a jellyfish costume?" Chuckled Xuan Mu. Did she have to describe everything humorously?
"Yup," Bing Shi smiled gleefully, "The cutest one."
"What a bad girl."
"I know right? I'm such a badass," she said, flashing him a proud smile.