Difference Between Past and Present
Difference Between Past and Present
She cooked dinner for them, leaving it in the oven to keep it warm.
When Luo Wanting arrived, she dragged him inside, adopting the habit of sneaking around. But she realized it was her home, and there was no reason to be hiding.
Luo Wanting stopped in his tracks, glancing around the house. "It's clean," he mused.
Shi Ailin furrowed her brows and pouted. "It was clean before. It was just…a little disorganized."
Luo Wanting chuckled. He hung his coat, rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt. Shi Ailin then took one of his hands, guiding him to the kitchen, setting up the meal she had prepared for him.
He hastily devoured the food, asking her for more, and Shi Ailin fed him until he finished his third dish. She then remembered that Shi Yen used to eat like this after a stressful day or after a day of training. She wondered if Luo Wanting had a lot on his mind.
"Thank you," he said. "It was very delicious."
Shi Ailin smiled. That evening, she didn't want to think about their investigation. She only wanted to think of anything else. Her mind needed some time to unwind and relax, so she turned on the television after Luo Wanting helped her clean up and washed the dishes.
Watching the program, Shi Ailin said, "That villain definitely has a familial relationship with the main heroine."
"That would make him his long lost brother."
"I suppose," she replied. "Two brothers. One hero. One villain. Opposite sides of the same coin. Fascinating," she said.
Luo Wanting looked at her admiringly. "You're pretty fascinating yourself."
Shi Ailin rolled her eyes. "I don't understand why you would have this fascination for me," she said.
Luo Wanting casually shrugged. "Everything about you is fascinating. You continue to surprise me, taking on new challenges and thrive on it. I also think there's more to you then you let on. You're flustered one moment, and then you're calm and collected the next. Your personality adapts to how you feel."
"You're very attentive," she said, facing the screen, her heart racing.
"It's a simple observation."
Shi Ailin narrowed her eyes, but she didn't answer.
"Ailin," he said, grabbing her attention.
Shi Ailin turned her head to look at him. "Yes?"
"There's something important I need to tell you."
Seeing how serious he was, Shi Ailin paused the television, giving her full attention. His expression seemed troubled as he had some internal conflict rise in him.
"There's this woman—Li Biyu—who spent years trying to scheme her way into my family. I had no idea until my brother confided in me. He told me that she's the reason why he had left you years ago because she forced him to."
Shi Ailin furrowed her brows. She recalled that Li Biyu was the woman she had seen Luo Tian with not long after he ended their relationship. Li Biyu had powerful ties to the military and the government. She was untouchable, and Shi Ailin was certain that Luo Tian left her because Li Biyu was better. But she was forcing him?
"How did she force him?"
"She's a crazy obsessive bitch who only wanted Tian. She hired people to follow him everywhere when he was a teen, and he had no idea. She then found out he's part of the Black society, and she used it to blackmail him, and he had put up with it."
Her eyes widened. "Because it's supposed to be a secret."
"Hm," Luo Wanting replied. "Tian didn't tell anyone because he was afraid he had disappointed us. Once he finally told me, I instructed him that I would take care of it."
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked.
"Because I thought you should know," he replied. "And because…she's using that leverage over me now."
"What?"
"I told her to leave Luo Tian alone, and she agreed as long as I accept her marriage proposal."
"Did you?" Shi Ailin questioned, eyes wide.
"No," he said. "But I didn't decline either. Li Biyu has so much proof, and every time I tried to undermine her, she counters."
Shi Ailin clenched her fists. "She's blackmailing you?"
"Yes," he admitted.
Shi Ailin was pissed. She was fucking pissed. First, this Li Biyu took Luo Tian from her, and now she was trying to take Luo Wanting, like hell she would let that happen.
"I'm not going to accept it," Luo Wanting assured her. "But I don't have much time left to orchestrate a plan."
"We should tell Yenni!" She said. "She's very good at intimidating people. We can tell Shun any of our friends. They'll help us."
"Us?" he questioned with a smile.
Shi Ailin flushed. "I—I mean you."
Luo Wanting caught her wrist. His grey-green eyes looked in her walnut-brown ones. "Once I solve this problem, I am going to make you mine, princess."
Shi Ailin turned red. "Why me?"
He cupped her face, nearing her ear, whispering. "I thought I made it obvious how much I want you."
Shi Ailin shivered. She held onto his shoulders, melting against him. She lifted her head to collide their gazes, their faces so close. She then realized what she had felt this entire time, after denying it for so long.
"I will reward you," she said, her mouth nearing his, but not touching. "Once you've dealt with Li Biyu. I will watch to see how serious you are about this about me."
"Oh, I'm very serious," he replied.
Shi Ailin smiled. She then turned the television back on, continuing to watch their show. Luo Wanting wrapped an arm around her, keeping her tucked against him.
She was grateful that he told her the truth. She already had issues mistrusting people, but she was also beginning to understand Luo Wanting better. And there was a vast difference between who she was in love with years ago to who she's in love with now. The heart truly can move on.