"So, where had you been wandering?"
Sticking to the loss of her bet, Azalea came to work for Ye Jun. When it was almost time for her to go home, she received Xiamu's call that he was waiting for her outside. Right now, Azalea was sitting before Xiamu in a cafe near Ye Corporation when he asked this question.
"Just around the world," Azalea replied as she tried her best to not look into his eyes. It wasn't hard lying to her own parents but Xiamu was different. He knew her and that was her biggest disadvantage at that moment.
"Oh, really? How come I didn't receive a postcard?" Xiamu asked taking a sip of his latte.
"Postcard?" She laughed dryly. "I didn't really think of sending postcards to anyone." This must be one of the worst lies of her life.
Xiamu smiled knowingly since it was a lame lie even for him. "Okay. So, how about showing me your adventures? You must have clicked a ton of photos."
"Photos?" Her face paled.
"Yes. Now, don't say that you didn't take photos because Zelie and don't take photos, really doesn't suit in one sentence." Xiamu blocked her way out.
He really was pushing her in the corner. "Of course, I took photos. Lots and lots of photos." After telling this part of the lie, she was wondering how to turn it into truth. She couldn't even hire a professional to edit photos for her to fake since Xiamu was an expert himself. One look and he'd know that photos were fake.
While her pale face was turning into a thin white sheet, she heard the voice of her savior, "One Caffè mocha please!" Azalea looked at Ye Jun who just placed his order at the counter and ran up to him. She hugged his arm and dragged him towards the table where Xiamu was sitting.
"He has my memory card. All the photos are with him. Jun, where are my photos?" Azalea grinned awkwardly.
Ye Jun who was oblivious to what was going on looked lost. "Photos?" He eyed Azalea with an inquiring gaze.
She tried to pass some signals with her eyes as she said, "Yes, photos. From my world tour. Last year." She laughed out awkwardly as she slapped Ye Jun's arm and turned to Xiamu, "He's really forgetful."
Ye Jun rubbed the place where she slapped and understood her meaning. He was one of those people who actually knew about the accident. If she didn't want others to know, why would he be a busybody to spoil her plan? "About those photos... Zelie, I think it's somewhere in my office or perhaps, in my apartment. I can't really remember."
"Oh," Azalea replied displaying a bit of shock.
Xiamu was enjoying their act but he didn't say anything not until he saw the time on his Patek Phillipe watch. He shot up to his feet and said, "I'll see you some other day, little teddy bear. I have to get somewhere."
Azalea's eyes dimmed a bit but she didn't let her smile falter. "It's okay. You should go." Xiamu touched her head.
"Bye, Mr. Ye!"
"Don't be this formal. Calling me Jun is fine." Ye Jun said offhandedly and Xiamu nodded in acknowledgment before walking out of the cafe.
Azalea's eyes were still stuck on the spot where he disappeared as she sighed out.
"Sir, your Caffè mocha." Hearing this voice, Ye Jun pulled Azalea's ear and dragged her back to the counter.
"Pay for my coffee now." He looked amused by his own self.
"Why?" Azalea grumbled.
"Because I just saved your sorry self." He replied matter-of-factly and Azalea couldn't even retort. She silently but reluctantly paid for his coffee but before she could take her card back, she heard his voice again, "Pack that strawberry cake as well. Hmm... That chocolate mousse looks good as well. Give me that as well. Also..."
"That's enough. Mom has already confiscated my earnings in fear that I'd vanish again. And you're not even gonna pay me for my work as well." Azalea was already indignant about that fact. Not getting pocket-money was one thing but even her own hard worked earnings were not hers to use anymore.
"That'll be all." Ye Jun took pity on her and let her off the hook. Looking at her sad face, Ye Jun decided to offer his expert opinion. "If you love him, just ask him out. Isn't he single now?"
"Wha-What? What are you talking about, Jun bro?" Azalea was flustered at this sudden change of topic.
"Oh, please huh! If you want to hide it from me at least do a better job at hiding your feelings. It's written all over your face that you love him. Isn't that why you don't want him to know about your accident? Because you don't want him to pity you or see you as weak." Ye Jun's words hit right where it hurt.
"I don't want to tell him because he's really bad at lying. What if my parents got to figure out?" Azalea was still being stubborn by denying her feelings.
Ye Jun touched the tip of her nose and said, "It's not that he's bad at lying. It's just that you love him so much that it's easy for you to figure out his lies."