"Where the hell were you?" Evelyn growls her hands on her waist. She glares at Shi Lian then at Zichen, her eyes thin as she continues growling.

"What is up with you?" Shi Lian retorts. Without any reply, Evelyn grips her arm and pulls her to her side. She walks to the other side taking Shi Lian forcefully with her.

Shi Lian looks back where Zichen is standing, trying to say something but he did not. She faces Evelyn scowls, "I can walk by myself. And why the heck are you angry?"

Evelyn stops when she finds they are far from them. she wants to talk to her in private without no one poking. "Why didn't you told me?" she accuses.

Perplexed, Shi Lian arches an eyebrow asking, "Tell you what?"

"That the dumbass Hu Atian was your boyfriend?"

This hit her like thousands of needles on her body. She thought it was best not to tell Evelyn about him because she knew she will lose her temper and start barking at him. She feels guilty seeing that Evelyn is hurt for not telling her about it. "How did you know?"

Evelyn looks at her in disbelief and smiles bitterly, "Your Ex told me. You are still protecting him, Shi? Is that so?"

"No, that's not what you think. I-I thought it wasn't much important and it was all in the past. I don't want you to get worried over this" she holds her hand in reassurance, "Trust me, I didn't mean to keep it from you."

Evelyn still feels hurt but she believes Shi Lian. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she shakes her head, "Why are you still talking to him? You know what her mother did to you, yet you…"

"It was him who came to apologize and wanted to make a fresh start. We are only friends, nothing less and nothing more. And her mother too apologized which I already told you" Shi Lian sighs.

"But still! He still has feelings for you!" she argues, "Wait…do you have feelings for him as well?"

To this Shi Lian laughs, "Don't worry. My feelings have faded. I only see him as a good friend now."

Evelyn releases a sigh of relief, "At least you have some brains left." Shi Lian smacks her arm playfully to her joke and Evelyn smacks as well. they laugh forgetting their fight which lasted for only five minutes or less.

"You didn't say anything mean to him, did you?" Shi Lian asks but the look on Evelyn's face gives her the answer anyways. "Ah! Ev! What did you bark?"

Evelyn ignores her glare and says nonchalantly, "The things he deserved to be heard. You should thank me I didn't curse anymore. I just told him that he was a bad influence and his mother is a cruel witch."

Shi Lian smacks her forehead with her palm in regret and the stunt her friend pulled. He already feels guilty and now he must be very upset, she thinks. She calms herself and looks at Eveyln, "You will apologize to him. You can't say no. It's your fault here so you have to! You have to! You have to!"

"Geez! Are you kidding me? I am not wrong! If you have told me earlier about the situation between and you, I would have stop myself from snapping at him." Evelyn debates, her hand flying dramatically in the air.

"I get it but it was wrong for you to say mean things to him. He is already is upset and you just sprinkled salt over that open wound. Ev, please" she requests, trying to persuade Evelyn by all means.

Evelyn says nothing, she turns around and starts walking from where they came. Shi Lian calls out, "Hey!" but Evelyn keeps on walking without looking back. Shi Lian sighs and follows her instead.

They reach the beach house they rented. Zichen is standing there, discussing something with Rong as the two approaches.

"Yo, Mr. Hunk! Are you staying here as well?" Evelyn questions, her mouth curls up into a smirk. Shi Lian gives her awarning look for sideways but Evelyn is too busy checking him out.

"Yes" he replies, his eyes meeting Shi Lian's and he smiles. Damn! This man looks too attractive with that smile! Shi Lian feels the heat rushing up to her cheeks and the piece of him kissing her earlier plays in her mind and her face goes all red.

"Well then, I am Evelyn." She chirps. She notices him smiling at Shi Lian and she gets the idea that something is going on between them.

Zichen turns her attention to Evelyn, "Fu Zichen. Pleasure meeting you Miss Evelyn" he says curtly with a formal smile. This smile is nothing like the smile he gave while looking at Shi Lian. Even though Evelyn wants to snap at him as he tried to take advantage of Shi Lian but she stops herself. She already had an earful from Shi Lian, she doesn't want another one.

Rong on the other hand is hesitating to ask. He does not want his boss to bark at him again for disturbing him but staying here is something new. Ziche didn't tell him about staying here. He wants to ask but looking at the moment he is unsure of whether to ask or not. After debating, he comes to a conclusion and he gathers the remaining amount of courage left in him and asks in a low voice, only for Zichen to hear, "Sir, shall I book a room here?"

Zichen nods without facing him which he is glad. "I'll book right away sir," his manager says and runs to make the booking.

Turning his attention back to the girls, he says, "I'll be back. Excuse me"

After he is gone, Shi Lian requests Evelyn again, "Apologise. You have to." Evelyn rolls her eyes, waving her hand in front of Shi Lian. She is annoyed by the mention of Atian so she changes the topic to Zichen and latches on Shi Lian.

"Well, I'll see. Anyway, that Fu Zichen is one bachelor. So when did the two of you started dating?" she teases Shi Lian, hanging one arm on her shoulder.

Shi Lian's face heats up and she quickly denies, "What? No! We are not dating." Her flushed face shows there's something between which Evelyn notices. She smirks and thinks of teasing her more.

"He must be a skilled kisser.." Evelyn taunts, close to her ear. Shi Lian glares at her with her big eyes but she didn't deny too. "How far did the two of you go?"

"Way too far. You can't even imagine how far we went" Shi Lian joins in with the teasing. She gives her smirk as a challenge.

"In bed, he must be a divine to watch…his naked body...God! I can't imagine how hot it must be. "

"Okay, that's enough" Shi Lian pulls out from her hang and pinch her nose. Evelyn groans because she hates when somebody touches her nose. "I'm gonna go, take a shower and you go apologise to Atian, understand?"

"Gah! Whatever" grimaces Evelyn. Just now she was having fun but Shi Lian has to ruin it by the mention of Atian. Shi Lian sighs and walks to her room, while Evelyn goes in another direction to find Atian.

**

After showering, Shi Lian is now in her room drying her hair with the help of a dryer. She has changed her clothes to casual wear- pink cami and denim shorts. As she is drying her hair, a knock comes on the door. 'Must be Evelyn', she thinks and witch off the dryer before getting up from the small table and striding to the door. She twists the door bar and the door clicks open as she pulls it inside. She startles as the sight of the person is unexpecting but deep down she expected. "What are you doing here?" she squeaks.

Zichen stands on the other side of the door. The sight of her in those dress makes him gulp and the heat inside him rush. Those long and toned legs and the cleavage…God! He tears his gaze from his body and looks at her beautiful face. he clears his throat before answering him, "Just came to give you this." he hands her a sparkling bracelet.

Shi Lian blinks at the jewelry and then she realizes that she wore it earlier. Now to think of it, she had it on her wrist but how come Zichen found it? "Where did you find it?" she asks, taking the bracelet from his palm.

"You left it in the car" he answers, leaning close, his arm resting on the wooden wall. She regrets asking the questions because she knew he will taunt her. her cheeks are flushed as she stares at the bracelet on her hand.

"Th-thank you" she stammers, her breathing changing, "I will go back to my work. Goodbye!" Just as she was going to close the door, Zichen stops it with his strong hands.

"Not so soon" he smirks and steps inside, taking the space. He closes the door behind them, ignoring Shi Lian's scowls. "I returned your precious bracelet and you are saying just a thank you? That's not fair, Shi Lian" he says in his husky voice, approaching her. Shi Lian stumbles as she steps back from him but Zichen catches her before that.

"What do you want then?" she hisses, looking directly at him as she stays in his arms.