Chapter 696 - His time for redemption.

"Did you see that, Tinming? After witnessing her in front of yourself today all the time, do you think I was wrong with whatever I said before? I doubt" Chen Rui said suddenly, snapping the man out of his thoughts. She has just come out of her office, only to find her husband, peeking at the kids from a distance. 

Though his trance of thoughts broke, Shin Tinming didn't show much surprise as if he was kind of expecting her here. He just turned to glance at his wife shortly before nodding. "Hmm … you weren't wrong". He said before again turning to look at the duo of the kids. "She is different from what I thought her to be. Much like you". He added. 

And at the later part of his words, the woman could not help but raise his brows at him in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Like me? Did you say, she is like me?" She asked, still not believing the words the man had used earlier. 

The king nodded and agreed. "Yes, to me her aura felt much like you. Sharp and confident. Knows well of her standing and also has a right and proper way to deal with the things coming her way. Especially the smile she holds all the time on her expression, makes her look a lot like you were in your younger days." He said, keeping his eyes in the front. His lips, giving faint tinges of a contented smile to his expression, evidencing his satisfaction. 

"Mhmm. If it had been some other situation, where you have underlined my age like this, I would have not agreed to it. But since you are mentioning her, and drawing similarities between us, then I don't think I can bring my heart to refute. I don't know how much she is like me or even if she is or not … I don't care. I just think keeping her with us never feels like we are having some stranger by our side. She looks so much like our own, that now if someone says that she is a kid from our royal family, I won't be surprised. I won't show any hesitation in accepting her as one."

Chen Rui said and in her words, the man almost felt his soul flying away. His heart drummed hard against his c.h.e.s.t as he turned to look at the nonchalant expression the woman was having on her face while saying all this. 

"Rui, what are you saying? This …" He started slowly but before he could reach the completion of his words, the woman interjected. 

"Don't overthink my words, Tinming. I am just telling you what I feel. If possible, I would not hesitate in making her, my own daughter." She voiced her thoughts out and it only made the man feel helpless at the situation. 

Blames and mistakes weighed his shoulders down as he once again helplessly smiled and turned back to look at the front. 'Rui was right. One meeting with the girl got enough to change every perception I held in my brains'. He thought internally as his eyes caught a beautiful, vibrant smile playing on the girl's expressions at a distance. That smile was so pure.

"You are saying as if you care for me?" Shin You Jun said. His voice was very calm, not like the edgy one he had used earlier. 

Li Xue smiled at his normalized attitude. "I am not sure of the care you talked about. But yes, we have never shared any relation of enmity. So, against you there is no grudge in my heart, that means I will not think any ill of you. But it depends on your behavior towards me as well." She said, pausing to hear his reply. But what she heard next only made her brows wrinkle in confusion. 

"Will you do another race with me?" The young prince suddenly asked, returning back to his attitude. It was so quick that Li Xue could no longer be sure if even the boy had put any head to her earlier words or not. 

"Dear Crown Prince, how did it all go to the race? Did you misunderstand something in between my words?" She asked, confused. 

But to her confusion, Shin You Jun simply tucked his hands into his pant's pocket. "The last time's race did not satisfy me. So, let's do another one soon". He said and Li Xue could not help but shake her head. 

Did she really think the boy will get m.a.t.u.r.ed and thoughtful overnight? This would definitely need time and effort, and she no longer was sure if she was capable of making that effort. 

She forced a smile over his lips, before saying, "Let's talk about the race next time. I guess now I am getting late and I need to reach somewhere soon. Its already time." She said before checking the time on her watch. She has not forgotten that she has to reach school to pick WeiWei up. That was their decided plan.

"What? Are you doubting your skill now? I knew it, that night must be sheer luck for you", Shin You Jun said, deliberately testing the waters to force Li Xue to agree to his demand but right before Li Xue could say anything, a voice interrupted from behind. 

"Aye … you better not force her into your dangerous stunts. She is a model and she needs to be fine to carry on the projects entrusted to her." It was Chen Rui who emerged from behind, hearing the two talk among each other. She passed on a smile to the girl, who returned it back equally. 

Seeing his mother defending her, Shin You Jun pouted. "Ma, what are you calling dangerous? It's just a bike race and we will wear our safety well, don't worry. Furthermore, it's not like she is an amateur in this field. Last time, she dared to defeat me in it. There is no way it will be dangerous for her." He said, giving a known arrogant look to Li Xue. 

"Enough You Jun! Don't be adamant towards the wrong. Bike races are not safe. How can you even make a girl do that?" Shin Tinming followed the suit after his wife, as his eyes concernedly looked at Li Xue. He has not missed hearing his son say how dangerously the girl has ridden the bike last time. Seeing her so tough, kind of impresses him but at the same time fills his heart with worry.