Silika Lin's parents' relationship had its roots in an arranged marriage. Her father had fallen in love at first sight, while her beautiful mother had been in love with her boyfriend at the time.
Her mother's parents preferred a second rich generation (her father) over a poor school idol, around whom girls flocked like little chickens. Her mother, who came from a middle-class family, had to consider her future aspects.
Silika's father had eventually won the love of his life. Sadly, even to this day, he continued to strive to win over Silika's mother's affection. Silika had been born as a product of only one parent's love - her father's.
Now that both of their prosperous families were falling apart, how could her mother separate from her father and chase after her now, a successful idol?
Her mother wasn't young anymore, and there were family, friends, and the scrutiny of the public eye to consider. How would they perceive her? She feared the judgment and rejection.
Could Bing Shi blame her mother? Well, she could care less about both of them. They were adults with a child, for heaven's sake.
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Checking her double eyelids in the compact mirror, and comparing them to her father's monolids, Bing Shi could see why Silika made such a choice. Before the operation, her mother would always look at Silika with a scowl.
'It's fine not to have perfect parents.'
'Life will raise you beautifully.'
'~ So it could later offer you to Death.'
'~ Kids remember, the power of love overcomes everything.'
'~ Note the sarcasm.'
'~ Don't forget to buy some protection.'
'Xuan Mu said no touching.'
'I don't even know his size.'
'~ Buy all sizes.'
'~ Lube too.'
'~ Don't forget the lube.'
'~ Lube is the most important.'
'I will buy some in case Xuan Mu decides to appear.'
With a grin at her reflection in the mirror, Bing Shi put on a face mask and pulled her ponytail through the small hole in the back of her baseball cap.
She grabbed her backpack and headed outside, carrying the heavy trash bags. Without the luxury of an elevator, she had to dash down the staircase from the fourth floor.
After disposing of the trash, she made her way to a nearby mall. While there, she received a notification from Lu Kai's credit card issuer, verifying her phone's validity. Manually entering his credit card information into her phone, she was now prepared to make payments using her phone.
If her father got to know that her debit card received a great sum of money from an unknown source, he would start overthinking.
(Silika Lin): Can I spend a lot?
(Lu Kai): There should be no limit. Ask for anything, and the private personnel from the bank will try and get it for you. I saved 188k dollars on this flight, try to spend that before I arrive.
(Silika Lin): Thank You! Do you want me to buy you something?
(Lu Kai): Call me after you buy yourself a pair of wireless earbuds and a power bank.
(Silika Lin): Alright! [gif]
While waiting for Lu Kai's arrival, Bing Shi decided to make the most of her time. She entered a tech store, where she couldn't resist buying everything that caught her interest, including a new laptop, camera, and a pair of hands-free headphones per Lu Kai's wish.
Next was the beauty and cosmetics stores, where she splurged a small fortune on skincare products.
Bing Shi tried to blend in with her surroundings, but with her height of 5,8 feet (172cm), she was taller than most women in this mall.
She was presently attired in a fake designer grey hoodie and washed blue jeans, which she didn't know until she searched up the brands.
Silika had been compelled to sell her old belongings due to her new financial situation. To avoid standing out among her wealthier classmates, she had turned to wearing counterfeit items.
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Bing Shi had casually offered Lu Kai if he wanted to be on the call as she shopped around as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Lu Kai readily agreed despite finding it a bit weird. He could hear the rustling of fabric, people's murmurs, and the occasional sound of a hanger being moved. These sounds had painted a vivid picture in his mind as if he were right there with her, sharing the experience.
To create a favorable first impression, Bing Shi changed into a lovely knee-length blue dress and paired it with an oversized black cardigan. Completing her ensemble with a pair of white sneakers, she couldn't help but smile at the eighteen-year-old girl in the changing cabin mirror.
She looked down at her occupied hands, thinking whether or not she should buy some branded items from the street across.
In the end, she sought refuge in a less crowded coffee shop for a break, selecting a seat behind a privacy wall made of potted plants. Removing her mask and baseball cap, she felt drops of perspiration forming on her forehead, causing a few strands of her hair to stick together.
Once her black drink arrived, she savored the iced coffee while continuing her shopping spree on the internet, a pastime she had indulged in for the past hour and a half.
Her heart rate suddenly quickened as she lifted her gaze and saw the tall man standing before her. With no face covering, his cerulean eyes locked onto hers with profound intensity, as if he wished to etch her image into his mind for all eternity.
"Silika Lin?" Lu Kai asked as he took a seat in front of her, deciding to surprise her. He removed his headphones and ended the call. When he appeared inside the coffee, he could locate her hiding spot immediately.
Bing Shi parted her lips, but no words passed through. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she found herself unable to tear her gaze away from him. The shape of his nose and the subtle curve at the corner of his lips... Apart from the difference in eye color and some variations in his bone structure, he bore a striking resemblance to Xuan Mu.
Lu Kai suddenly stood up. He took off his white coat and used it to cover her head, "You're staring too much."
He sat back down and looked around, searching for something to cool off. Rolling up his sleeves, he raised his hand to order some iced water. When the drink arrived, he took a gulp and studied the woman across from him who still hadn't taken his coat off.
He noticed a few curious gazes from the female customers and leaned over the table to tug at his coat as if urging her to do something.
The silent awkwardness was real. It was like a blind date where two parties suddenly decided to sign a fake marriage contract and move in together after a few hours of knowing each other.
Lu Kai didn't dare touch this precious thing. Why was her guard around him so freakingly low?! He nudged her sneakers with his shoe. Woman! Wake up! He was this close away from throwing her over his shoulder and kidnapping her into his car, "You'll suffocate."
"Mm... I will... From your handsomeness."
'Just stay composed, Lu Kai. Don't make a fool of yourself,' Lu Kai silently coached himself, 'Anything but that.' He leaned back in his chair, spreading his legs comfortably. He rested his chin on his palm, watching her every move. "People are starting to notice," he remarked, his voice low and observant.
"At your handsomeness?" she asked, obliviously.
Lu Kai felt a nervous flutter inside as he sensed her flirting, "No. At your silliness," he said. His heart raced, and he could feel himself reddening inwardly, but he maintained a composed exterior.
"Do you feel embarrassed to be with me?" she asked.
"Well, I wouldn't describe it as embarrassment..." Lu Kai tugged at his collar, "I'd much rather be in a place where the two of us can have some privacy," he suggested, screaming inside at how bad and inexperienced he was at flirting.
The movement of his neck and Adam's apple made a few women drool over this foreigner internally. Those who could hear his subtle words would start to overthink, and even more so after her answer.
"Mm, there's a hotel where they don't ask for any ID." After making herself presentable under his white coat, Bing Shi slid the cloak off and tapped his shoe back, "I just bought these sneakers a while ago. Pretty?"
"Pretty." Lu Kai paid for the bill and put on a face mask. Standing up, he picked up her shopping bags and both of them walked outside the mall.
"Why do you wear a lab coat?" Bing Shi asked. She noticed how their presence caused others to turn their heads their way. Mainly his. She had to say that his white coat added an irresistible charm to his already effortless sexiness.
The type where a man didn't have to put any care into his visage and still look hot with messy bed hair. Similar to the firefighters who despite getting out of a burning building could still look cool with charred, black faces and dirty uniforms.
"Xue Bi was a scientist like me," Lu Kai explained. "According to her, people in uniform look important. Important people are the kind of people most would trust and want to talk to. Uniforms give us a certain type of credibility."
"I can only agree," Bing Shi nodded, proud of her past self.
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