Chapter 78: Chapter 78
“Hmmm.” YuZhi gritted his teeth and picked up the fork in front of him, trying to not react like a jealous moron and aware it was making his mood evaporate. His stomach churned but not with hunger and he had to curb his impulse to say ‘over my dead body’, knowing he was being unreasonable. Acting like her dad and treating her like a possession.
“Are you okay with that?” TangShi probed, picking up her own cutlery and started cutting her food to avoid looking at him. “There will be other people around to help and I will probably only see him alone on the drive. It’s a two day show and no late evenings.” She held her breath, waiting for a verdict, tense as hell.
“Sure, whatever.” YuZhi knew he sounded sulky, but he also knew he had no right to interfere in her school or work. TangShi was an adult and capable of making her own decisions. “Just don’t trust him. Don’t let him bully you or I’ll break his face.” He added in afterthought then pushed food into his mouth before he said anything else. Simmering and unable to do anything because he knew he shouldn’t be this way.
TangShi watched him for a second, knowing it was probably best to drop that subject before he changed his mind and disagreed, besides, what she had to tell him now was probably worse. She readied herself with a deep inhale and let it out.
“Rhea came to my school after I was done today.” She mumbled it fast in a rush of words because she had no courage any other way and saw him pause his fork midway to his mouth. His eyebrow twitched and his jaw tightened. His eyes darkening as the new information seeped in.
“What did she say? What did she want? Did she do anything to you?” YuZhi was on full alert, putting down his cutlery as TangShi shook her head and placed hers down too.
“She wanted to clear the air and apologize.”
YuZhi snorted. Bad mood intensifying and not even falling for Rhea’s games.
“She thinks she can crawl to you, and I’ll forgive her. Don’t be fooled. This is a tactic because she cant get to me. Don’t be manipulated.” The thought of her kissing up to TangShi put a sour taste in his mouth and he got up abruptly to go fetch beer from the refrigerator before he got even more agitated with thinking about it. “She’s not your friend and whatever she said, it’s bullshit.” He still hadn’t lost his anger toward her.
“I know. I didn’t go with her like she wanted. I told her I had plans. We only spoke for a few minutes, and I left.” TangShi had made the emotional break and cut the ties with Rhea after that night. Standing up to her at the school gate and telling her she was leaving with little regret over it. No longer obligated to be her friend or care about her when she could do something like that. TangShi maybe wasn’t someone who had a lot of self-worth, but she knew when someone wasn’t genuine and should be avoided. She knew what a friend should be.
YuZhi, picked up a beer and then his temper snapped. Holding onto it best he could but somehow he had finally met his last nerve when it came to Rhea. The audacity of her games and tricks to manipulate what she wanted, by trying to sway TangShi because she knew she had a forgiving temperament. He marched around the table startling TangShi and bent down fast, scooping her face so he cupped her cheek and ear and pulled her to tilt her chin up to him. Fastening his eyes on her, one hand on the table to hold him bent over so they were almost nose to nose.
“Don’t trust her, ever. Don’t go with her, don’t listen to her. No matter what sob story or tears she pours, she’s lying. She’s a class A actress with a lifetime of getting what she wants from people. I really am done with her, and I need to know that no matter what you won’t be drawn in. You don’t need to have any kind of contact with her from now on.”
TangShi swallowed hard, his face so close they were sharing air and she could only nod in response to his somber expression and deadly serious tone. Affected by his presence more than his words.
“I mean it. Promise me. Rhea isn’t your problem, she’s mine. Keep your distance. I don’t trust her anymore.” After that night YuZhi no longer knew how far Rhea would go to hurt TangShi. She was a threat to her, especially now he had called everything off, and he wouldn’t stand by and watch her do anything to try and separate them.
“I promise.” TangShi whispered quietly, intimidated by how serious he was being and starting to waiver at this intimacy. YuZhi stared at her, scrutinizing her expression for a long while before leaning in and placing his lips on her forehead in a gentle kiss. Startling her with the sincerity in it. Brushing his mouth against her warm skin and closing his eyes as he self-calmed with her touch, inhaling the unique scent that was TangShi and melting her to the core with his softness.
“You mean a lot to me. I don’t want you to get hurt or caught up in this. Let me deal with her and if she shows up again, don’t talk, just leave. Call me and I’ll come.” He warned, his tone softer now, that edge of anger fading away. He let TangShi go after running his hand across her face with a featherlight touch igniting goosebumps. She was momentarily stunned and speechless and could only nod.
“Okay, let’s eat. I’m starving and looking forward to a movie on the couch with you. Can’t remember the last time I had time to do that”