His past was really not one to be mentioned lightly.

Their eyes met, with Su Yang's pupils reflecting her clear face and glinting faintly, whereas ten thousand-years' worth of emotions lurked just beneath.

It was as if they were talking through gazes alone.

As Ji Weixi kept looking, the image of a fractured scenery suddenly appeared in her mind.

It was blurry.

Very blurry.

That was when two waitresses hurriedly brushed past each other beside them, colliding on their shoulders and dropping the water on their tray.

Su Yang's eyes tightened and he got to his feet swiftly, wrapping himself around Ji Weixi tightly.

Thud—

The cup broke into pieces on the floor while the contents steamed, splas.h.i.+ng all over.

The waiter quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"

Ji Weixi was stunned, and she could clearly feel the man holding her drawing a breath.

She quickly stood up and found that Su Yang's arm was now scarlet.

Without a word, she pulled her to the washroom in the shop, turned on the tap and kept was.h.i.+ng that arm with cold water.

"Are you alright?" She then asked, looking up.

Su Yang's face looked even whiter now. His pale lips were tightening as if he was enduring the pain.

He shook his head and forced a smile. "I'm fine."

From the side of the woman's porcelain face, he could see hints of worry.

He stared blankly for seconds, seemingly soaking in a certain memory.

"Thank you." When he recovered, Ji Weixi was already cleaning his arm with tissues.

She was looking at him with grat.i.tude and nothing else.

"Shouldn't you go to the hospital?" She asked, a little worried about his injury.

As the glint in his eyes went out, Su Yang shook his head. "No need."

It was but a scratch—he wouldn't die from it.

After all, would it compare to a wound in the heart?

***

When they returned, the cleaners had cleared away the gla.s.s shards while the waitresses approached them to keep apologizing.

Still, Su Yang's reaction was neutral.

He remained ever dispa.s.sionate, appearing uninterested in anything, and nothing seemed capable of provoking him.

Meanwhile, Ji Weixi was still worried. "Should I get you some burn cream?"

Some medicine should be acceptable even if he didn't want to go to the hospital."

Su Yang smiled. "It's fine. A little wound like this is nothing."

However, the more he said that, the more Ji Weixi was worried.

He protected her without a thought, and she was denied the chance to help him.

Being unable to return the favor left her feeling bad.

Seemingly able to tell what she was thinking, Su Yang grinned. "You don't have to feel guilty. I would help even if it was someone else."

That said…

He wouldn't give a d.a.m.n if it actually was someone else.

Absolutely not.

Then, he drew out a ticket between his long, thin fingers and gave it to her.

"I have a concert on the thirtieth…"

Then, afraid that she got the wrong idea, he quickly added, "Actually… music can be a little boring. You could skip it if you don't like it…"

Ji Weixi stared at the man's face printed on the ticket, looked up and smiled. "It's only boring because there are those who never try to understand it, that it only strikes a chord in those who enjoy it. I'll be there."

 For a split second, Su Yang seemed to see dazzling starlight in her eyes.

That was when Ji Weixi's phone rang.

It was Li Shaoling.

"Where are you?" His voice was very icy.

He seemed to be angry.

Ji Weixi looked around her by reflex, breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see him and lied, "I'm having lunch."

"Who are you with?"

"Myself."

Li Shaoling laughed coldly. "Little liar!"

With that, he hung up.

Ji Weixi was left dumbstruck. How did he know she was lying?

However, she was immediately scared out of her wits when she turned unwittingly.

Li Shaoling was standing just outside the window, glaring at her coldly and vengefully with killing intent.

There was a wall separating them, but she could still feel a chill creeping on her spine.

She sprung up, watching as Li Shaoling entered the café and approached her.

At the same time, Su Yang watched as everything unfolded, calm and unaffected.

With her lie immediately exposed and basically slapped most resoundingly, Ji Weixi's face was slightly red, while the air around them was stiff and awkward.

"Oh, you're here," she quickly chuckled. "I was just thinking about introducing you two—this is Su Yang, he's a pianist. You've met each other on the night before."

Neither of the other two men responded.

"Well," Ji Weixi hurriedly explained, "I ran into Mister Su by chance. What a coincidence!"

Still, neither of the other two men responded.

Su Yang even took a sip from his cup; he looked like he was waiting for Li Shaoling to speak.

After seconds of silence, Li Shaoling simply settled down, crossing his right foot over his left but stayed silent, radiating anger.

Ji Weixi felt like she was sitting on a carpet of needless, afraid that Li Shaoling the walking time-bomb would abruptly blow up the café in his rage.

She quickly feigned calmness and took a sip of her milk tea, but abruptly felt her chin being caught by ice-cold fingertips.

She looked up at Li Shaoling blankly, a splatter of milk tea still left on her lips.

Li Shaoling, eyes red, moved close and pressed his lips down on hers.

Her eyes promptly bulged and she stiffened, afraid to even breathe while her face turned scalding.

'There are others around! Aaaaaaaaaaaah!'

When Li Shaoling freed her, he rubbed his fingers on her scarlet cheeks, seemingly very satisfied with his work.

Extremely embarra.s.sed, Ji Weixi wanted to scream but could only bite her lip and glare at him hatefully, saying nothing.

And then Li Shaoling firmly pressed her into his arms.

"Urgh!!"

Annoyed, Ji Weixi punched him.

d.a.m.n it!

Li Shaoling then looked coolly at the man sitting opposite and smiled. "I'm sorry my wife is making herself look silly—she's just shy."

He bit down especially hard on the word 'wife' too.

Su Yang's face had whitened by several fractions, but he still forced a smile. "It's rare to see loving couples like you two."

Then, he got to his feet. "I shall take my leave—I have things to attend to."

His pace was fast, as if he could not wait to leave.

Ding—

The wind chimes were knocked when the café door was opened, and Su Yang almost ran headlong into a man carrying a bouquet of flowers.

All of a sudden, his face became red and he kept a hand over his mouth as he coughed, until he reached an alley where he leaned on the wall where he coughed even more violently, his eyes tightening in anguish that could hardly be concealed.

***

Inside the café.

Ji Weixi was still beyond embarra.s.sed.

How could Li Shaoling kiss her with so many people looking!

She was not really thick-skinned type!

As she turned and left, Li Shaoling followed and warned her icily, "Lie to me again and I won't just be kissing you."

Then…

It's going to be…

That!?

Ji Weixi stamped her feet indignantly. "Don't kiss me ever again!"

There was no telling how many times she had been taken advantage of.

It was more so the more she thought about it!

Heaving, she pushed the door and tried to leave, but Li Shaoling quickly caught her by the door, his cold presence stopping anyone about to enter or approach.

The wind chime dinged in the wind as Li Shaoling's sharp brows arched in devilish charm.

"Is that so?" He growled. "Then I'm definitely kissing you again."