486 Digital Devil

"Little brother, be a good boy when you're inside. No arguments with anyone," Xiu warned Jackie in a stern voice but she sounded more like a concerned sister. She already could see this little brother arguing over plenty of things. "I know you dislike Ah-Si because he made Nora cry but we are open-minded people. We shouldn't hold only one person accountable."

"Even if he is right, I can't just like him. No matter what he made my sister cry." Jackie was also firm on his stance which could become a headache for others. But Xiu already had a plan set up. Even this smart kid couldn't escape from her.

"But Nora also made him cry. What about that?" she argued back. "He must have been also hurt. Especially when he thought that Nora wanted to abandon their daughter."

Jackie thought about before saying, "But Nono didn't know about it."

"Just like that he also didn't know it," she replied.

"Isn't he too young to understand all that? Don't be so hard on him. He is just a kid after all," stated Ying when she noticed how Xiu was giving advice to Jackie standing outside the Xin Villa. Why was she even trying so hard? 

Jackie looked up at Ying as he replied on behalf of his sister, "I'm Jackson Jing. My intelligence is higher than my height. I might be seven but my mom says, I'm very smart for my age. I can understand a lot more than most of my age."

Ying's brows quirked up at his reply, "You sound like someone I know..." While saying that her eyes were looking at Xiu who seemed proud to hear him talk. But she couldn't deny she loved seeing Xiu with this little kid. It made her wish for a little brother as well. But her parents were too cruel! Everyone had a sibling except for her! How unfair!

She was about to follow them inside carelessly when Xiu stopped her. "What?"

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Inside. Isn't it obvious?"

"No! You have to go on that date!" 

Ying rolled her eyes and sighed, "Xiu, let me just say hi to everyone.I'll be scolded if Zizi got to know that I left from the door."

"Ying Jie, even if you think it's not a date, you still have to go."

"But why?"

"Because he helped you. It's common courtesy to return a favor. What's wrong with taking him for a meal?" 

"I will take him for a meal. I also know these things that gratitude should be timely set forth to show your sincerity. But we can't be hasty. What if he is busy?"

Xiu placed her hands on her hips as she asked, "And how would you know he is busy when you didn't even try asking?" Ying stared at her face while she went on, "Take out your phone and text him. If he says, he is busy. I'll let you off the hook for now."

"You aren't any different," retorted Xiu which made Ying look around sheepishly. "I know something is wrong with the way my brain circuit works but then again, what's wrong with that? Besides, I only want to gift happiness to the ones I love. It makes me feel accomplished like it makes you feel content seeing everyone being proud of you. If you think I'm nosy and annoying so be it! I don't really care!"

Ying contemplated her words for a long while before she took out her phone and texted Han Bohai asking, "Do you have time?"

It hadn't been a minute when she replied to Xiu, "See? He isn't replying. He must really be busy. Let's go inside now." Xiu frowned at her in displeasure but still followed her inside. Apparently, they both had stubborn personalities.

....

Meanwhile.

"Brother Han, your skin is flawless. You're making me feel self-conscious and I'm a girl! God is being unfair!" 

Han Bohai opened his eyes to stare at his assistant who was his personal makeup artist as well and said, "Xiao Qing, I have a headache. Please, don't talk."

"Is it serious? Do you want to go to the hospital?" Wen Qing, his assistant was immediately worried to hear that. "I think we should cancel the shoot for today."

He rubbed his temples and shook his head, "It's okay. I can manage. I can't let everyone waste time just because of my headache." She hesitated but nodded in understanding. His phone chimed and she literally saw his eyes sparkling in hope but after checking his phone, his eyes dimmed in disappointment yet again and he closed his eyes.

"Brother Han, are you expecting a call? A text from someone maybe?" she voiced out her curiosity in a small voice.

"What? No way!" He denied immediately.

"Then how come you have been looking at your phone every five minutes? It's been going on since yesterday." Now, she was suspicious of seeing him like this.

"I was just checking social media..." he answered which made her suspicion solidify.

"But you had never liked using your phone. Even your Weibo handle is managed by me and you only agreed to make an account because the company asked for it." He rubbed his chin awkwardly as she went on, "And you often describe social media as a digital devil that can take someone's life. You frequently voiced out how you despise social media."

"Brother Han! It's time for your shoot!" 

Hearing that voice, Han Bohai jumped up to run from his suspicious assistant. Why was she asking so much? But it was also true that he had been looking at his phone way too much. He couldn't help it. He was indeed waiting for Ying to contact him but she didn't. He left his phone in his van and went out for the shoot.

That's why he missed seeing that the moment he walked out, he got the most awaited text of his life.