Looking at the time, she grimaces and gets up from the bed. Her whole body is sore and she do not feel like doing anything but getting back in the bed again. Grabbing her dress, hopefully not torn, she wears it in a hurry. It's almost dinner time and if she misses it again, there will be a lot of questions. She is relieved that her father isn't at home or else, whatever he said and warned her about, he will be disheartened to know that she didn't obey him.

Her hair is a mess. Going inside the bathroom, she finds the comb and does her hair, the way it was since she left home in the morning. Her face is flushed but she will apply some makeup in the car on her way home.

Coming out of the bathroom, she finds Zichen still on the bed, naked and beautiful. The sight of him makes her calm. Her heels tap as she rummages around the room, finding her accessories.

Zichen groans, wincing and slowly opens his eyes. The room isn't fully lit but it's manageable to see the person. Rubbing his eyes, he looks to his side, finding the bed cold and empty. He instantly gets up but his heart is relieved when he sees Shi Lian still in the room.

"What are you doing?" he asks, yawning.

Without looking at him, she says, "Finding my watch. I can't remember where I put it."

He remembers taking out the watch from her wrist and putting it on the drawer of the nightstand. Reaching the first drawer, he scans for the watch and gladly he found it. "Here," he says, taking out the watch.

"Thanks" she heaves a sigh of relief and goes to take the watch from his hand.

But as she is trying to take it, he backs it away and says, "Let me." Shi Lian can't help but smile. He is so cute and her heart flutters whenever he smiles.

Strapping the watch on her wrist, he nods, satisfied. Now that she has everything she had brought, it's time for her to leave.

"Well...I am gonna go now" she says, a tinge of sadness in her voice. She will love to stay here, in his bed and in his arms but she can't. She hates she cannot disclose her relationship and that her father will not tell her anything about his dislike towards Zichen.

He sighs, making a sad face, "Can't stop you. Well, I'll see you out." Grabbing his shirt, he wears it one goes and they both leave the room.

Giving her a tight hug, he whispers in her ear, "Don't be angry again. Please. I can't survive with that."

She smiles, "Only if you don't do anything stupid."

He chuckles, "I'll try."

Releasing her, he plants a tender kiss on her lip. "God, I want you again," he says between the kiss.

Shi Lian's car arrives, making her startle but she remains calm. "Alright, see you. G'night, honey" she winks, laughing at her usage of such a cheesy word.

Zichen blushes. "Shi Lian!" he calls but she hurries and reaches wherever the car is.

"Bye! " she says, still laughing, and gets inside the car. Turning back, she sees Zichen still standing there through the back glass of her car. His hands shove inside his messy hair and he is looking at the car.

The driver starts the car with Shi Lian's permission and the car starts moving.

**

The car stops and Shi Lian gets out of the car, taking the bag in her hand. Although she should not be worrying too much she cannot help but worry.

"Mother?" she calls, looking for her as she walks.

When her mother does not comes, she thinks maybe she didn't hear her so she goes to the living room.

Reaching the living room door, she freezes. She sucks in the air seeing her father.

Shit. Shit. No wonder she kept having bad thoughts. Calm down, calm down. She reminds herself and putting on a smile she walks further.

"Father, you are back!" she beams, or tries to and reached to hug him. But he stops her, his expression stern. She glances at her mother, who also does not look cheery as she always does.

"Wh-hat happen, father?" she asks, hoping that what she is thinking does not become the reality.

Her father's eyes are fixed on her. "Where were you?" he asks firmly.

She gulps the heavy lump down her throat. "At the company? The work was more and I didn't mind the timing."

Her father's expression becomes denser, his eyebrows knit together. "Since when did you started lying, Shi?"

The words hit her as if someone has punched her hard in her stomach. God, what does her father knows?

"Wh-hat are you talking about?" she shutters, glancing at her mother. Sha Sha does not looks at her and stays silent.

"I told you to stay away from him, yet you....yet you disobey me?" he grits, his temper rising.

"How do you know?" she asks meekly. This has always been a question but she never presses it. Back in America as well, she would feel sometimes as if someone is spying on her. Her father would remind her this and that and she didn't think much back then. She only assumed that perhaps Evelyn have reported her.

"That's not the point. The point is, why did you go to his house?"

She looks at him in utter shock. He knows she went to his house, what else does he know. She starts feeling creepy. "How do you know?" she asks again.

Making a grumpy noise, her father says, "I have my ways. "

"Were you spying on me?"

He glances at Sha Sha who looks worried. He sighs and drops to the couch. "It doesn't count as spying, Shi."

She cannot believe what she is hearing. "Then what father?" her voice rising.

"Shi!" her mother warns her, worried if the situation gets out of control.

Now she understands how every time her father knew what happened in America. "You are spying all the time, don't you? In America too."

He looks at her, his lips purse together and he does not decline what she accused him of. So it is the truth then. God, how can he do that?

"Why father? Why?" she yells, bile rising in her throat and she is trying not to cry.

"To protect you" he asserts, standing up and looking directly at her. "To protect you."

"To protect me? From what?" she scoffs. She doesn't mean to scoff but she is so angry that she does not realize it.

"There's a lot more thing that you don't know and it's better if you don't."

This is happening again. Every time she thinks she will get an answer, he closes the door at her face. Why can't she know? Why? Her head will one blast from the questions filling inside her.

"Father, I am old enough to handle things. Why can't you tell me?" she says, her voice tearing. He holds back the tear snd braces herself.

She then turns to her mother who she knows is also aware of everything. "Mother, you know this too," she says. It isn't a question, she knows she does and when Sha Sha escapes her gaze, she gets her answer.

"Why? What is it that you all are hiding from me?" she screams, feeling utter frustration and pain in her chest. She had enough of this. No one tells her the truth. She is as if surrounded by all the lies and the only reason they say is that it's for her good.

"Why did you went to his house?" Mo Zheng Yuan asks, ignoring all her protests. Shi Lian for the first time in her life cannot believe her father can be this heartless.

"Why can't I? You didn't tell me why should I stay away from me. Without any actual reason, I cannot do anything."

He rubs his temple. "Daughter, answer what I ask."

His demanding voice makes her shiver but she cannot just give in. She has to know why he is doing this.

"Fine. I went there to talk with him," she replies.

"Talk about what?" he asks, raising his eyebrow.

Shi Lian cannot comprehend why her father is being this protective. She had always liked this fact about his father that he never mingle with her private life but now, she thinks she is wrong.

"Why don't you answer my question? What is the reason that you don't like him?" she braves herself to counter question.

"Shi!" her mother warns again but she is not listening. She knows it's impolite but in this situation, it doesn't matter. All that matters is the truth.

"Because he isn't what he shows he is," her father says sternly, giving her chills. What does that mean? She somehow gets this feeling that whatever is coming up next, will blow her mind.

"What do you mean?" she asks but she isn't ready to face what's coming next.