Having finished his dressing-down, Brian turned and walked away, back to the woman at the counter.
The radiance of his face reappeared as soon as he turned his back to Molly.
Molly bit her lower lip, ignoring the curious gazes from the few customers in the shop. Some might
have been careful enough to notice that the coat draped on Molly's shoulders had an uncanny likeness
to Brian's trousers and that he wasn't wearing any coat.
When she realized that Brian's dressing-down was now the subject of some of the whispers reaching
her ears, Molly was on the verge of tears. The curious gazes seemed to pierce her from many
directions, making her feel thoroughly humiliated.
As she emerged from the ladies' room, Shirley cautiously looked around the shop, checking to ensure
there wasn't a trace of Brian's presence hanging around. Even after she had settled back to her place
at the table, she kept casting anxious glances here and there. The miserable look on Molly's face and
curious gazes from the other tables made her worried. "Little Molly, what happened?" she asked with
lots of concern.
Molly swallowed hard and struggled to hold back her tears. Through a forced smile, she shook her
head and excused herself, "Aunt Shirley, I'm sorry. It's already late. I should get going now."
"May I escort you back?" Shirley said, sensing Molly was obviously distressed. She wanted to ask
about it, but felt it might be inappropriate.
"No, thanks. I can go back myself, " Molly politely declined, shaking her head.
Shirley frowned.
"I won't like to inconvenience you, " Molly continued. She lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, not
knowing how to frame her next words. "Aunt Shirley...I'm sorry to ask..." she began, but broke midway
for a brief moment, before picking up her line. "Could you please lend me some money? I have no
money to take a taxi now. Because... earlier in the South Street Alley, my money was stolen."
Those words moved Shirley, like she was looking at her young self. At Molly's age, she also was
disenfranchised, living in an inferior way like Molly did now. Obviously, Molly was also shouldering
some responsibilities, despite her physical frailties and financial instability.
"I...I'll pay you back two days later when we meet again..." The embarrassment of borrowing money,
without knowing how she'd repay the loan made Molly flush. She bit her lower lip and struggled to
restrain her tears, although a snuffle or two came through. Undoubtedly, this one month would be her
darkest and most humiliating time of her life.
"Okay, no problem!" Compassionately, Shirley looked at Molly and handed her some money. "I won't
escort you back home since you don't want me to. But, please call me as soon as you get to the house.
I'd want to know you're safe."
"Yes, I will! Thank you so much!" Molly said, taking the money from Shirley's hand. She promised to
call.
Shirley slightly nodded her head. As she watched Molly walk away, she sighed despondently.
*
"Brian, who was that girl in the dessert shop?" Sitting in the car, Wing asked in confusion.
"Someone insignificant, " Brian replied, unfazed.
Rolling her eyes at him, Wing snorted, "Insignificant? Are you sure? Then why are you pulling a long
face?"
"I am not!" Brian denied and threw a glance at Wing.
Looking at Brian's angry and childish face, she laughed and raised her hand to pinch his handsome
face. "You're not a cute guy. You are the same cold and dull man as Richie."
"Huh!" Brian snorted.
Since he was sly about every question, Wing didn't mind his attitude and stopped inquiring anything
more. Under Richie's teaching, everyone in the Long Family had to deal with their own issues, and
generally, they wouldn't intervene in each other's affairs. Except for Wing, who was the pampered
exemption.
With her own problem on mind, Wing sighed, a wave of resignation taking over in her eyes. She
wondered how long she still had to live. Maybe just a few days left, or counting on God's mercy, she
might be able to live a longer life.
"You're overthinking it! Stop your foolish worries, " Brian's deep and low voice interrupted her. "Hasn't
Weston Peng taken good care of you?" he complained.
Looking at his darkened face, Wing put on a sweet smile, pursed her lips and said, "I wasn't worrying
about anything. I have all of you around me. I am happy. I don't have time to waste thinking about
unnecessary stuff. And, Weston has always taken good care of me. I am fine!"
The sparkle once again back in Wing's eyes calmed Brian down, although he still complained, "Why did
he let you come here on your own this time? Wasn't he worried about you?"
"You know, Spark is a strange person with an elusive temper. He promised that he would come and
perform at the charity concert. But Weston is still worried that Spark might not show up in the end and I
would be so upset, " Wing shrugged before continuing. "And he knows that you are in the city, too. You
won't leave this city for the moment. So he must be relieved to let me come here by myself. What's
more, I took a Dragon Empire Group flight and you know that's quite safe for me."
Sometimes, Wing felt they were overprotective of her. She felt trapped. But she knew she had no
choice. Many years ago, she almost died at school during the summer camp. Ever since, her family
looked into every single detail of her safety. They couldn't afford another slip-up again. She knew their
worries and she would just take the yoke on her as something sweet and warm.
Her meditative look was having an effect on Brian. With a doting smile in his eyes, he gently pinched
her light-complexioned cheek and assured, "If anyone makes an attempt on your life, he'll have to get
past me first!"
The air in the car felt humid with Brian's cruel and bloody aura. Wing shook her head helplessly and
rolled her eyes. There was no point in trying to correct Brian, because she knew him well. It was a
waste of time and energy trying to disabuse him. 'He's more excitable than a bottle of soda, ' she
thought to herself, frowning on her brother's senseless temper. He was more ill-tempered than Richie
was, and he would surely get annoyed with himself in the end.
Right then, the car steadily stopped. Tony's voice came, "Mr. Long, Miss Long, here is the hotel."
"Okay, thanks!" Wing said and waved to Brian. Grabbing the box of cakes in her hand, she was about
to get out of the car.
"I'll escort you to your room, " said Brian.
"I can go by myself..." Wing wanted to refuse, but as she saw Brian had already opened the car door,
she curled her lips and said helplessly, "Okay!"
Although Brian escorted Wing to her hotel room, he did so halfheartedly. Initially he wanted to drive her
straight back to his villa, but Wing insisted that it was not convenient. She needed to communicate with
the band staff, and the hotel was the most suitable place for that. Unable to persuade her, Brian had to
give up.
After he got in the car, he instructed Tony, "Arrange for some bodyguards to patrol around the hotel."
"Already done, " said Tony. Many years of experience in working for Brian had taught Tony what to
expect. Sometimes, he didn't have to wait for instructions from his boss to do the right thing.
"Then go back to the villa now, " Brian simply answered.
"Yes, Mr. Long!" Tony started the engine and steadily drove back to the villa.
Sitting in the car, Brian started to sulk silently when he thought of Molly's look earlier. A dash of
displeasure flashed through his eyes. He took out his phone and dialed her number.
"Sorry! The number you have dialed is not available. Please try again later. If you wish to leave a voice
message, please do so after the beep."
The soft, artificial voice echoed into Brian's ears. His eyes narrowed, in fury.
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