Chapter 78 - "Cringe"

Zhao Yang already picked up the glass, and his lips almost touched the glass' edge when Lai Jiayi suddenly shouted,

"W-wait, boss!"

Her loud shout startled the guy. He almost dropped the glass in his hand.

"...yes?" Zhao Yang tightened his grip on the glass as he slowly put it down.

The man didn't drink his alcohol yet.

'HURRAAAH!!'

Lai Jiayi instantly celebrated in her heart as she tried to find a reason for her loud shout earlier.

"Uh...that...b-boss asked me something before...w-what is it?" Lai Jiayi fiddled with her hair as she kept her alcohol away from her body.

This way, she won't subconsciously drink it, and Zhao Yang wouldn't drink it before she drank the alcohol.

That's what she hoped.

"...question?" Zhao Yang tilted his head. He crossed his legs and casually propped his left elbow on the table counter.

'Is the question...the one I asked her before the alcohol arrives? Then…'

"Ah. I asked you…" Zhao Yang gulped. He slowly lowered his eyes. "...you...weren't crying because of me, right?"

'Since she said that she cried because of the powder, then I'm not at fault, right?'

Lai Jiayi was silent for a few seconds as she stared at the man in front of her. She didn't know since when the guy started to act more casual around her.

"Mmm, yeah, i-it is not your fault, boss!" Lai Jiayi grinned.

'But to keep you from drinking that drink, I'll twist the truth a bit.'

Lai Jiayi tugged the corner of her lips. She then cast her eyes low and grumbled, "But I'm indeed sad because my boss avoids me."

"What?" Zhao Yang halted. He abruptly raised his head since he heard what Lai Jiayi said, even though the girl's voice was not loud.

"You– " Zhao Yang's eyes trembled. His eyes reflected guilt and a hint of nervousness. At this moment, he didn't even pay attention to Tan Xinya, who was still around them.

Lai Jiayi also acted as if the woman wasn't here.

"Mmm. I-I was sad...because boss…" Lai Jiayi crumpled her palm. She slowly lifted her head and put on a pitiful expression. "I-I wasn't crying because of y-you, boss, b-but...w-when you avoided me…"

Lai Jiayi gulped.

"I-I feel bad...and sad.."

The girl's last sentence pricked Zhao Yang's heart. He clutched his chest and let out a long sigh.

'Ah, so I still hurt her with my action.'

"...I didn't mean that." Zhao Yang drummed his fingers on the table. He glanced up at Lai Jiayi with eyes full of guilt.

"I just think...it is better for you if I go away."

...uh?

Lai Jiayi blinked. She peeked at Yaya as her lips twitched.

[Yaya, what's with this man? How come it's better for me if he goes away? Of course– that will be bad, right?!]

[He doesn't know that, ah, quack. Tell him.] Yaya shrugged. He then slapped Lai Jiayi's cheek so the girl would focus on Zhao Yang.

Lai Jiayi immediately looked back at the man in front of her. She took a deep breath before flashing an innocent-looking smile.

"W-why is that? I-I don't know why it's good for me...t-to avoid you…"

Zhao Yang fell silent. The guy subconsciously stretched his left hand toward the alcohol glass on the table.

"I'm just afraid I'll involve you in trouble, and...you might get hurt?" Zhao Yang spoke in a grave tone as the tip of his finger touched the cold glass.

The man slowly rubbed the glass, tainting his finger with the dew.

"You...have a fear of men. I don't want to worsen that." Zhao Yang trailed off. The guy shifted his head and just gazed at the orange-ish drink in front of him.

He looked extra melancholic tonight. So extra that Lai Jiayi couldn't help but cover her mouth, holding back her laughter.

[Pfff. I...I don't know Zhao Yang is so considerate! I mean– I thought he is emotionless. But he's so full of emotion instead.]

[I told you, quack. Zhao Yang isn't emotionless. He's sensitive and has a soft heart instead, quack.] Yaya nodded. The duck then nudged Lai Jiayi so she would continue the conversation.

"Mmm...b-boss...I don't think you will worsen my phobia.." Lai Jiayi giggled. The girl finally looked at Zhao Yang straight to his eyes, even though the guy wasn't looking at her.

All she could see was his side face.

Zhao Yang's finger on the glass stiffened. He slowly turned his head and looked at Lai Jiayi's face. "What do you mean– "

"If anything, I-I think...since you are considerate, m-my impression of men...change a bit." Lai Jiayi scratched her flushing cheeks. The girl looked bashful.

"I-It changes to a positive light."

'This is true. Somehow, I don't think Zhao Yang is annoying or a threat. Even though I still view other men in a negative light, at least...Zhao Yang is different.'

Lai Jiayi strengthened her heart to look straight to Zhao Yang's eyes. She relayed all her emotions into her pair of amber eyes.

In the dim light of the bar, in the middle of a noisy background around them– that pair of eyes sparkled. Like the sun, the only source of light in the dark.

Zhao Yang's heart skipped a beat. He subconsciously touched his bangle and nodded.

"O-oh. That's good." The man's voice was shaking. He hurriedly turned his body around so he won't face Lai Jiayi.

The man looked like he's escaping something.

Seeing this awkward reaction, Lai Jiayi didn't know whether to cry or not.

'Is he embarrassed? Or are my words cringe? Ughhh– Did I do something wrong?? '

Why is the atmosphere like this, ah?!

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