30 Dinner (1)

The next day, Shi Yen missed work on both jobs. Master Wong and Shi Ailin covered her for the day once they've received word about Shizi's health.

Shi Yen kept watch of Shizi, giving her the antibiotics and medicine she needed to fight her infections.

'You need to gain empathy,' Master Wong had once said to her.

She cursed Master Wong for bringing something in her life to care and worry about. It was too difficult for her to let anyone in, and yet, Shizi now means everything to her.

Shi Yen's eyes stung. The Underworld made her unfeeling and adamant, yet, since she left, she felt herself beginning to thaw.

She took a deep breath, and the sting in her eyes and the tightness of her throat had vanished.

Shi Yen rose out of the bed, taking Shizi with her. They went towards the direction of the backyard, where Shi Yen never had time to step out, other than to let Shizi do her business.

She decided to sit on the bench swing, where she let Shizi run steadily in the yard, avoiding the pool.

With her busy lifestyle, Shi Yen never settled down to enjoy nature or do anything that didn't involve work. She kept herself distracted and busy as she always had for the last five years, and she never wanted to stop.

Shi Yen moved the bench swing slightly, allowing her skin to soak in the warmth.

She looked around at the garden, at the green grass, fully bloomed flowers, and the buzzing bees. Shi Yen then realized that the weather had been hot and dry lately. Had Yuan Shun been watering the plants?

Shi Yen realized that Yuan Shun must have a hobby in horticulture. She rolled her eyes. It annoyed her that she was only discovering pleasant and civilized things about him, rather than any dirt. He claimed that he wanted to know her secrets, and she wondered if he harboured any himself.

With her secrets, it's near to impossible to unravel them, unless she allowed it. But with the Emperor lurking around, hunting for her, she knew that was her only threat.

She had to remind herself that she was safe, for now. And Yuan Shun was something she needed to figure out. He was an enemy, a rival, but lately the dynamic between them changed. She felt it.

Shi Yen wants to hate him, but some parts of her doesn't. But she can't think of him as anything else. Could he be a friend? A casual hookup? She didn't know.

After letting her and Shizi get some sun and fresh air, they went back inside. Shi Yen's stomach growled, reminding her that she was hungry.

The doorbell rang. It was midday, and Shi Yen didn't expect any visitors. Puzzled, she looked through the peephole, finding a deliveryman.

She opened the door, and Shizi barked at the stranger.

The deliveryman smiled, holding two bags of food. "I was told to drop it off at this address. The gatekeepers let me through."

Shi Yen nodded. "All right. Thank you," she said.

She took the two bags, closing the door shut right after. She then went straight to the kitchen, opening it. The smell made her mouth water.

She realized there was a container of dog food and regular food. Attached was a note: Don't forget to eat, it said.

Shi Yen's lips curved upward. There was no name attached to it, but she knew it came from Yuan Shun.

She opened the bags, feeding Shizi and herself.

After she finished, she put the dishes away when she heard someone step through the living room doors. She forgot to lock them.

Thinking it was Yuan Shun, Shi Yen had walked out of the kitchen, stumbling upon Yuan Xinyi.

Yuan Xinyi's mouth gaped. "Sorry. I didn't know where these doors led to, but, Yen, you live with my brother?"

Shi Yen scoffed. "More like he invaded my home," she replied.

Yuan Xinyi's eyes glinted. She swiftly grasped her hands. "Well, I'm glad you're here. I have to wait until Shun comes home. I was giving myself a tour of the house to keep myself busy, but I'm terribly bored."

Shi Yen chuckled. "Come in," she said. "But, I must warn you that I'm not great company."

Yuan Xinyi gestured that she didn't care.

Shi Yen led her to her beauty room, a room she didn't use much, considering she was at work most of the time. Yuan Xinyi's lips parted wide open when she stepped in. "I nearly forgot you owned a beauty company," she said.

Shi Yen smiled.

"Can I paint your nails?" Yuan Xinyi offered.

"Why?"

"Isn't that what girl friends do?" she said.

Shi Yen nodded, somewhat agreeing. "All right, then." She went to grab a colour from her wide selection. Though she had many, she always chose reds and blacks. But this time, she was feeling yellow.

Shi Yen wanted to start with her feet, so she took a seat on the couch, instead of the reclining chair because she didn't want to make Yuan Xinyi kneel or sit on the floor. She put a cloth under her feet before giving Yuan Xinyi some tools and the nail polish.

Shi Yen's feet began to tickle when Yuan Xinyi began to file her nails.

"So, how did you and my brother end up in the same house?" Yuan Xinyi asked. Shi Yen then proceeded to tell her the whole story, surprised that his sister didn't know.

"Why didn't he tell you?" Shi Yen asked.

"Most likely because he didn't want me to tell our mother."

"Why?"

Yuan Xinyi grinned, but it didn't meet her eyes. "It would give her too much hope."

"For what?"

"Marriage."

Shi Yen was taken aback. She scoffed. "I don't ever dream of marrying your brother."

"I know," replied Yuan Xinyi solemnly. "But my mother hopes he'd marry soon. She's been…not herself since my older brother died."

Shi Yen understood well about grief. But, to lose a sibling, a son, young, was something she'd never want to experience.

"I think grandchildren would help her overcome her loneliness. Shun is her only son left. I'm only twenty, so she doesn't pressure me to marry, for now, and I'm glad of it."

Shi Yen shifted on the couch slightly.

"Also, if my mother finds out he's living with a woman, she'd probably propose to you on his behalf."

Shi Yen chuckled. "I'm sure your brother will find a great wife. Someone that would protect and adore him."

Yuan Xinyi faced her directly. "I'm all done," she said.

Shi Yen looked at her yellow toenails and wiggled them. "Thank you," she said.

Yuan Xinyi took her fingernails and began painting them. She had told Shi Yen what she had been up to: she's still a student; she works part-time as a manager for one of Yuan Bank's branches. Yuan Xinyi is also unsure about her career, which is why she had requested not to have a position in the main office.

They both spoke to each other, and Shi Yen returned the favour by painting her nails until Yuan Xinyi received a phone call from Yuan Shun, asking where she was.

"Yen, you should join Shun and I for dinner," she said.

Shi Yen ground her teeth slightly, "I don't think it's a good idea."

"Oh, please, Yen. He'd be glad if you joined us. I know he would."

Shi Yen was still unsure. Yuan Xinyi then left momentarily, and returned with Yuan Shun, dragging him into the room. She whispered loudly, "Tell her you want her to join us!" Yuan Xinyi pinched her brother on the arm, making her persistence obvious.

Yuan Shun glared at her. He then turned to face Shi Yen with a sarcastic smile. "Shi Yen, please join us. I insist."

Shi Yen looked at the pair skeptically. "I guess there should be no harm."

Yuan Xinyi clapped her hands and smiled widely. "Great!"