Even if Tian Miaomiao looked rather masculine, she remained a girl of delicate skin and tender flesh.

Now, her face was purple-blue while her eyes were red and swollen, as if she was a completely different person.

Ji Weixi hurried to her and checked on her injuries. "What happened? Who hit you?"

Tian Miaomiao chuckled, but it tugged at her wound and she winced in the pain. "I'm fine…"

Ji Weixi's eyes turned cold. "Tell me, who hit you!"

They must have gotten tired of living, bullying her people.

"Oh, it's fine…" Tian Miaomiao mustered a smile although her eyes remained evasive. "I went out to get some food last night, and got hit by a drunkard."

"Really?" Ji Weixi narrowed her eyes, staring at her judgmentally.

"Of course. Would I lie to you?"

After Ji Weixi got to his feet and left, the little one came to Tian Miaomiao, clenched his tiny fists and grunted. "Anyone who bullies Miaomiao is ugly!"

She stared at him. "You bully me too."

He quickly put his hands on his hips. "Other than me, Daddy and Mommy, anyone who bullies you is ugly!"

The brat really never forgets about defending his parents.

As Tian Miaomiao kept up with them with a twitching mouth, she asked, "Hey, why are you going?"

Ji Weixi frowned. "To call the cops, of course. You are quite badly beaten."

"Who would you report?" Tian Miaomiao said, pulling her back. "There are many people loitering around at night, and I didn't even see that guy's face—they would never find him. Moreover, I gave him a good kick in the nuts and he's probably not using it from now on. All I got is just some flesh wound."

Ji Weixi felt hurt looking at the parts of her face that were purple here and blue there.

"Alright, get to work. It's not like I'm disfigured… hehe." Tian Miaomiao stuffed her into her seat, before returning to her own seat and pretended to work.

The headaches from her hangover almost killed her when she got off the bed.

She felt so faint and light-headed that her head felt like it was splitting. Nothing came out when she tried to vomit and her stomach was in burning agony, whereas her entire being felt afloat and without a center of gravity.

Thank goodness she made it in time to buy some hangover remedy at the pharmacy that she was now better.

Still…

There were colors flas.h.i.+ng just beneath her eyes as she tried to remember the man who saved her.

Was it a handsome or an ugly?

Must be handsome, given that voice…

The only thing she remembered was that he wore shades.

Tian Miaomiao clutched her own head then, depressed.

Was she really so unlucky with good-looking men?!

The world is so huge and men-wearing-shades innumerable. Where should she even start looking!

Finding a pained look on her face, Ji Weixi quickly asked, "Are you alright, Miaomiao? I'll take you to the hospital."

"No, I'm fine!" Tian Miaomiao quickly smiled.

Ji Weixi sighed and warned her, "Don't go at night alone, you hear me? It's so dangerous for you to live all by yourself… maybe you should move back…"

"N-no!" Tian Miaomiao quickly refused, waving her off. "How could I bother you and President Li!"

Moreover, Li Shaoling had told her in private when she moved out that all that awaits was death if she dared to return.

The little one nodded too. "That's right. You can't come back, or you will affect my sister's looks. Daddy said that n.o.body must disturb when he does it with Mommy… And since I'm so handsome, my sister mustn't be ugly."

"You stay quiet!" Ji Weixi blushed, her rage meter against Li Shaoling rising.

Duping a child just because he was an adult…

She realized then that Li Shaoling is a first-rate liar.

***

It was almost lunchtime when Tian Miaomiao leaned back on her chair and stretched. "By the way, Xixi, are you going for the company dinner tonight?"

Working, Ji Weixi paused for a moment, twirling her pen as she thought about it.

"Of course," she replied.

Didn't Qiao Ai said that there were many in the company prejudiced against her? She would see for herself who they were.

It was good for her own understanding too, since she had made waves when she arrived at CBS. There would certainly be those wanting to have a good look at her, and she is only too happy to oblige.

Tian Miaomiao promptly sprung up as if she had chicken-blood therapy. "Wonderful! I'm going too… I want to check out CBS for handsome men!"

The little one blinked. "What about me?"

Both women turned to him at the same time. "You stay home!"

"I wouldn't go even if you brought me along," The little one deliberately breathed a long sigh. "Women. Always so troublesome."

"…"

Kid, should you be saying that?

***

When noon arrived, Tian Miaomiao said that she was on a diet and didn't want to eat, whereas the little one had a meal earlier at nine since he was hungry.

Having no appet.i.te, Ji Weixi simply found a café and took a window seat, at the furthest end of the corridor.

She ordered a cup of milk tea, and finding herself bored, started to flip through the news on her phone.

It was about star celebrity Lin Xiaoman, who appeared to have some issue with her wardrobe.

Ji Weixi felt her heart thump for a bit, but when she was about to keep reading…

"Miss Ji?" A voice that could only belong to a man suddenly spoke over her head. 

She looked up to find a pair of amber eyes and a messy head silver hair.

It was Su Yang.

"Mister Su?" Ji Weixi stood up in surprise; she did not expect to meet him here.

He was wearing a simple white short-sleeve s.h.i.+rt, paired with jeans and converse shoes.

However, he still had no bright side to him despite that match of clothes, and looked as depressing as ever.

He was quite infectious.

Su Yang looked around and smiled. "I'm afraid there's no other seat now. May I sit here?"

"Of course." Ji Weixi nodded.

The truth was that she would have refused if it was any other man.

On the other hand, Ji Weixi had a mysterious familiarity despite this being their third meeting.

She wanted to ask if they were acquainted before, but kept quiet since it would be too awkward to actually put that into words.

After both of them sat down, Su Yang crossed his long fingers on the table.

"Do you work around here?" He asked lightly.

"Yes," Ji Weixi nodded, hesitating a moment before asking, "You are here for…?"

"I have a performance here later. Come visit if you're free." Su Yang smiled breezily.

A silence ensued, leaving the air awkward.

The waiter arrived and put the ordered milk tea in front of Ji Weixi. She took a sip, before her gaze met Su Yang's sharp look.

She was almost scorched then, and quickly took out some tissues to clean herself.

"What is it?"

Su Yang lowered his gaze, a mysterious look flas.h.i.+ng beneath his eyes before he smiled. "I just feel that you resemble an old friend of mine."

"Old friend?"

"Yes." Su Yang then looked outside the window, his gaze becoming distant. "I have been looking for her for years… I thought she was dead."

He then paused and turned to look at Ji Weixi, his voice becoming quiet.

His melancholic air seemed to thickened then, exuding a sadness that could not be hidden.

"I eventually found her, but… she could no longer be mine."