Chapter 135 - A Misunderstanding

Xu Likun's hate and tear filled eyes met Shi Ai's the moment she came out from the office. If glares could kill,Shi Ai would have fallen dead at that moment,Shi Ai thought to herself. All her life she had never been an instigator or a person who gained perverse p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e from hurting others but somehow seeing the hate in Xu Likun's eyes gave Shi Ai an unreasonable d.e.s.i.r.e to hurt the woman even more. She did not understand it but did not ponder on it for long as well. Once the woman was gone,she made her way inside and saw Ah Hai staring at the scenery outside his window. Soon her arms were wrapped around Ah Hai's waist and her head rested between his shoulders. 

Without acknowledging her presence and action in any way,Ah Hai spoke,"I am sorry. I should have cleared this mess sooner. I have refused Xu Li many times in the past but she seemed to have not let go of her stubborn hope. This time she should be able to give up."

This one statement was enough to give Shi Ai the answer to her earlier question. Xu Li!Not Xu Likun.For the first time in her life she doubted herself. Was she really capable and worthy of standing by his side? A man like Ah Hai. If he had truly wanted Xu Likun to give up,would he have no means to crush that hope? Of course he did. He could be ruthless when he wished to. Was there something in his heart for that woman that even he himself had not acknowledged because of his past and maybe his misguided loyalty towards her? Though she had always treated her proposal to hi seriously,she knew that initially Ah Hai had treated it as a little girl's fantasy. The only reason he had accepted her was out of pity because he heard she was going to die soon.

Shi AI had heard the gossip as she had waited for him to come. She knew that most people had thought that Xu Likun may be the woman he had married because she was always treated differently by Ah Hai.  She wanted to question him but she dared not. Maybe she did not have the guts to hear the answer or she did not want to risk Ah Hai questioning his own feelings and realizing that he was on face in love with someone else. Her heart would not be able to take it. So she closed her eyes and kept the tears at bay.

When Shi Ai failed to say anything,Ah Hai was about to turn back to her but she tightened her arms around him and refused to let go. In a slightly hoarse voice she said,"Just stay like that for a while Ah Hai. Just for a while. Let me soak some strength."

Even though Ah Hai senses something different in her tone,he attributed it to stress and placed his hand on hers in reassurance. That small gesture almost broke Shi Ai but she regained control of her emotions and still asked in a normal tone,"She must be special. She is the only senior woman guard here,isn't she? And you were even hesitant in letting her fight me even though you know how hard you have trained me in the recent past. You would have refused if not for out plan to reveal my identity." 

Ah Hai who was unaware of Shi Ai's tumultuous emotions gave an answer that buried itself in Shi Ai's heart like a thorn."Yes. She is indeed special and she is very good in her job. Though you are well trained and as good as her,she has experience on her side. I would have rather that she befriended you than made enemies but so be it. Every one chooses their own path." 

The words 'she is special ' continues to echo in Shi Ai's ears but Ah Hai could never have thought that. It was only later that he would realize that he had unknowingly made her cry. In reality, since  Xu Likun had been his comrades younger sister hoth Shot and him had also viewed her as the same. So to Ah Hai,Xu Li had always been a younger sister and thus he had treated her like family. Because of his unusually low EQ in this matter, he had made a mistake causing Shi Ai to misunderstand.

Shi AI controlled her voice and then asked,"So what is the plan now? How are we going to see my grandfather?"

In an answer to her question,Ah Hai handed her a heavy ivory invitation card. Moving away from his and turning her back to him so that he wouldn't see her red eyes,she read the invitation CARD for a charity gala in Life Hospitals.  The invitation was addressed to Mr And Mrs Long and had already been accepted by Ah Hai on their behalf.

Nodding her head,Shi Ai placed her feelings aside and focused on their plan going forward. The invitation was for one month and participants had been invited to donate some rare or special items for the donation. Also they were asked to name the charity of their choice so that part of the money earned from the charity auction could be donated there. Looking up she asked Ah Hai,"What do you plan to donate?"

Ah Hai answered in a low tone, "Not me. You are going to donate. Your mother's bracelet. That is a way to.." 

Ah Hai turned towards Shi Ai to explain his plan but found her looking down at the carpet

Walking to her,he placed a finger under her chin and made her look up. He saw the rims of her eyes were red and mistook it for her reluctance to part with her mother's jewellery. Sighing, he picked her up princess style in his arms and went to sit on the couch with her in his l.a.p. Palming her face,he said,"Don't worry. I am not going to let that bracelet get in their hands. It is only bait to bring those people to you. We do not have to send the bracelet. Just it's origins and picture. Everyone believes that only Shi Ai survived that fire. If I am not mistaken, theybhave been after this box for so many years. This is our chance to bring them out and also it will give a measure of safety to the real Shi Ai who has been on run for so may years. The more high profile you are,there are more chances that you can have Shi Ai come to you for protection in the future. Alright?"  

Knowing that Ah Hai had misunderstood reason further mood and was only trying to reassure her gave Shi Ai even more terror. Why did he always treat her with kid gloves? As if she was a child. His reassurances on the past would have made her happy that he took the time to explain himself when he could not be bothered to do so for others but now she realized that may be he still saw her as a little girl. She resented that. She had worked so hard to dispel that image of her from his mind!

If Xu Likun could have guessed Shi Ai's thoughts,she would have laughed in delight. Without even trying to,she had managed to sow discord in Shi Ai's heart. If this continued,shebwould have won the game without even making a move.

Pushing down Ah Hai's hands from her waist,Shi Ai forcefully got up from his l.a.p and with an angry glare at Ah Hai,she marched towards the  office exit with her head held high. Midway she spied a glass of water in the table and changed her direction. Going to the table,shebpjcked up the glass in anger causing some water to spill on the table surface and the rest she went and poured it onto Ah Hai's head,leaving the man totally shocked. Never in his life had Ah Hai been treated like this without even knowing the reason. Leaving the man liked a soaked panda,Shi Ai then went out of the office muttering rude curse words under her breath.

It was only later that Ah Hai came out of his stupor and tried to think of reasons why he would have been attacked for no reason. He scratched his head but could not find an answer. He looked at the glass on the floor and thanked the heaven that it was not hot coffee or something else. Sigh. If this went on he would have to keep an entire wardrobe in the office instead of a few change of clothes. The girl had come to his office for the first time and already ruined two of his suits. But suddenly he was also angry!At least he should know why he had been punished!