Seeing Xiao Zhiren, Ru abruptly took a ninety-degree turn and faced the wall behind her. But her poor luck, the wall had a mirror on it. Her reflection was clear.
'Argh! Why am I stuck here?' Ru shouted in her mind. 'And which idiot put a mirror in an elevator?'
The two people entered the elevator and being the nosy being he was, Adrian tapped on Ru's shoulder saying, "Aly? What are you looking at? Don't tell me you're hiding from me?" Adrian's gasp made Ru roll her eyes at him.
'Hide from you? I have the urge to hide you from the world. Perhaps, burying you in a hole would work.' Ru was scheming against Adrian in her mind but she stayed composed as much as she could. "What rubbish! Why would I hide from you? Can't you see? I'm appreciating my peerless beauty. Ah, these deadly gorgeous eyes. You also see this reflection that's what real remarkable people look like."
Xiao Zhiren's anger subdued just as he heard her usual narcissistic comment. She really never ceases to amaze him. How was he supposed to stay angry with her? He just couldn't do it!
"You and your narcissism!" Adrian said with resentment in his tone.
Ru turned around to face him and narrowed her eyes at him as she said, "Are you forgetting?"
"What?" Adrian asked taking a step back.
"I said I'll beat the hell out of you if you showed me your face again." Ru reminded him which made him gulp.
Adrian instantly hid behind Xiao Zhiren's body and said, "Don't you dare! Zoran, help me here."
Ru looked at Xiao Zhiren and then at Adrian who was using him as a shield. Ru was wondering what he'd say. For some reason, she wanted to hear what he really had to say. What was really on his mind? Was he that close to Adrian that this idiot Prince would tell him who she is?
Her unasked question was answered almost instantly as Xiao Zhiren spoke up, "Adrian, don't worry. I believe our Lord Alev Knight is not that unreasonable."
Ru closed her eyes briefly as he gritted out 'Lord Alev Knight' with indignation. There was only one thing running through her mind, 'Busted!'
"But Zoran, you don't know. This stupid lord is indeed very unreasonable." Adrian said while glaring at Ru.
Ru snorted as she said, "Yes, this lord is unreasonable. But at least, I'm not a coward using my friend's body as a shield." Her sneer hit right where it was supposed to hurt.
Adrian was livid as he pointed his finger at her, "You!" But he had nothing else to say. He was tongue-tied. However, his embarrassing state was covered when the elevator opened and he exited it saying, "Hmph! I don't want to be unreasonable like you."
"Oh please! You have nothing to say anyway." Ru wasn't laying back that soon either. She was already ousted by this dumb highness. She had to teach him a lesson about that.
With Adrian at the front, Ru and Xiao Zhiren walked a bit behind him side by side.
"You certainly love playing games," Xiao Zhiren whispered leaning close to her.
"I can explain," Ru replied which made him snort.
"Oh no, no! How can I dare ask for an explanation from the formidable Lord Alev Knight?" Xiao Zhiren's reply made Ru purse her lips.
She wasn't liking his tone. He never talked to her like that before. He wasn't even mad when he got to know that she was a girl. What happened this time? Wasn't it just a matter of identity?
"You can't possibly be mad about this simple thing."
"Simple?" Xiao Zhiren repeated her words exerting a bit of stress on his words.
"Isn't it simple? You also have many things that you hide from me. Don't you?" Ru's words weren't wrong. He did hide things from her but not intentionally. She just never asked. She was never interested in knowing him.
Xiao Zhiren held her wrist making Ru halt. He pulled her back and threw her over his shoulder. Ru was about to hit him when he said, "If you hit, I'll shout and Adrian will look back."
Ru clenched her fists and stayed quiet while Xiao Zhiren brought her a secluded corner and placed her down. For the very first time, she really felt like she was treated like a sack. No one. Like no one had ever picked her up. Ever!
Locking her between his arms he looked straight into her eyes and said, "Did you ever ask?"
"What?" Ru asked in confusion.
"Did you ever bother trying to know me like I always do? Between us, only I'm running after you. As for you... You just run away from me." Ru bit her lip knowing well enough that she was indeed more interested in knowing about his family's matter than himself. Touching her forehead with his own, he spoke again, "I'm not upset that you hid this from me. I'm upset that you ignored my confession that night."
Ru's eyes widened as she stared back into his ink-black whirlpools. "The night I met Alev Knight. It was you. I clearly told you my feelings but you stayed quiet. You ignored my words. What's more, you even used your own alter-ego to make me jealous time and again."
With a cough, Ru voiced out, "It wasn't intentional. How would I know that you love drinking vinegar? Even when you know that I have no experience in relationships. Heck! People don't even know my gender. How can you be this jealous?"
"You don't understand at all. I'm not jealous that someone might really steal you. I know no one can love you more than me."
"Those are some really big words. Do you really have that much faith in yourself?"
Xiao Zhiren shook his head. "No. But I have faith in my love for you. And only for you." Ru stayed between his arms and also stayed quiet. She really couldn't compete with him. This love topic was out of syllabus for her until now. "Do you know why I'm drinking vinegar all the time?"
Ru knew it was not a question for her to answer. So, she waited for him to speak again. "I don't like seeing that there are people who can make you happier than me. You're my idée fixe. And I can't possibly imagine being not good enough for you."
"When other people know you better than me, it gives me a complex. I lose my confidence in myself. Not in my love for you. But in myself." Running his fingers through his hair in frustration, he added, "Damn it! I don't like the idea that I missed out on so many years of your life. And so many things about you."
Leaning her head against the wall, Ru kept her eyes on him but didn't make a sound. She didn't want to. She didn't want him to stop talking either.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Xiao Zhiren asked as he saw her looking at him so intently with an indescribable look in her green eyes.
"Your voice is sounding better and better. Keep talking." Xiao Zhiren gaped at her in disbelief. Was she enjoying herself right now? Was he funny or something?
"Am I a clown keeping you entertained?" He retorted.
Ru shook her head and her hand lifted slowly to touch the side of his face. And as her fingers made contact with his skin, Xiao Zhiren was stunned frozen. She voluntarily touched him. Is she drunk?
"You're not a clown. But your words have a nice sound to it. Interesting, isn't it?"
"Are you drunk, my little chili?" He questioned uncertainly.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Ru wasn't sure herself. And as she realized what she just said, she was really surprised. "But I have yet to drink this wine. How am I already intoxicated?" She mumbled and looked at Xiao Zhiren's concerned face as she spoke, "It's your fault."
"Mine? How?" He was perplexed. What did he do now?
"Your words are intoxicating. That's dangerous for health and my mind."
Xiao Zhiren's earlier outburst was deflated like a balloon now. She seemed too adorable with her confused look. Caressing her face, he said, "Do you know, you look so adorable that I want to eat you."
"Don't forget, I'm your little chili. I'll be spicy. Don't eat me." Ru might have not noticed her words. But Xiao Zhiren did. Especially at that 'Your little chili'.
Wasn't it like she subconsciously accepted that she was his? This enlightenment enlightened the whole world for Xiao Zhiren. Ay, this day was certainly a beautiful one.
But to ruin the good moment, Adrian's call came in. "Where did you both vanished? Okay, that Aly loves to disappear but when did you get this habit?"
"Shut up, Adrian! I'm coming." Xiao Zhiren grumbled and looked at Ru for a moment longer. Leaning down, he planted a firm kiss right between her brows and said, "I'll see you at home. Don't you dare run!" With this warning, he left her standing in that corner all alone.
"Don't run? Why is everyone reminding me this today?" Ru muttered to herself. Forgetting the fact that she was experienced in running. If Xiao Zhiren wasn't holding her tightly, she would have really run again long ago.