Chapter 262 - 263 An Example of "Expectation VS Reality"

Inside the store…

"Mrs Song, welcome, welcome~!" Josh cheerily sing-songed with a blinding smile on his face as soon as he saw October walked in from the door. He was really expecting her but he did not expect to see her only a few minutes after the call.

Still, he glided toward October with the warmest smile and open arms.

'Cutie boss is not here so no one can stop me from getting close to the lovely October.' He thought sneakily to himself. He was really pleased to see that October came alone. With that, he was not at all reserved as he hugged October with his masculine body.

It was unexpected. The suddenness was so much that October stiffened and froze.

'This…' October really could not wrap her mind about it. Ma Rong was one thing, yet it could be said that she was already used to her since they knew each other when they were little; but having to have another person, especially a man who moved more feminine than her, who acts so overly touchy and friendly was a first for her. She does not know how to deal with Josh.

Fortunately, Josh pulled away with a wide smile, satisfied. He noticed that October was stiff all over but he thought that it was cute.

"Come, I'll show you the latest collection. Pick a bag. Anything you like. It doesn't matter. It's in the house." Josh said with a smug look on his face while winking at her. After saying that, his assistants pushed a table of bags. "No need to be shy. I'll give it to you as a greeting of our friendship, yes?"

'Is this okay?' October thought about it. Josh did say that he wanted to be friends with her and judging from their short interaction and Lexus' attitude toward him, she can infer that Josh was a good person and can be trusted.

"Okay. I won't be reserved then. Thank you." October did not expect that Josh would look at her as a friend. With that, she was happy to accept it. "I don't have anything to offer but if you have anything you need help with, call me and I'll help you as long as its within my capability."

"Ufufufu~" Josh giggled while covering his mouth with a hand, acting shy. "No need to be like that."

"No, I insist."

"Okay." Josh accepted. "Now, what's your pick?"

After getting confused about what to choose and got a suggestion from Josh, October had finally chosen a small bag that was simple yet elegant looking. It has an emerald gemstone adorned on the bag, the only design it has but was the centerpiece of it.

"Bye, honey dearie~! See you when I see you. Mwah!" Josh said blowing a kiss to October while sending her out of his store. He really did not thought that October was such a cutie. She was only cold on the outside but he had already grasped that deep within, October was just a person who was warm and kind, innocent even. 

"Goodbye." She said with a slight smile on her face. Her smile was a hard blow to Josh, like an arrow shot toward his feminine heart. 

Josh grasped his heart that was erratically beating in his c.h.e.s.t. 

'Oh my, oh my. I did not know that this girl would have such a destructive power. Really, that was uncalled for, Mrs Song! So unfair.' Josh chuckled to himself, calming his heart. 

October did not know the dilemma Josh was having as her face returned to its peacefulness. She only raised her brow at the weird look Josh gave her. But that was not important right now. 

"Okay, now go before your darling gets angry of me for taking too much of your time." Josh said while shooing October. 

"Hi." Zhihuan said, a dazzling smile on his impeccable face. His eyes looking at October was a little surprised. 

'Is it just me or Lanna became more beautiful? She's…shining. I-I can't take my eyes off of her.' Zhihuan was startled by his own thoughts. This was not how it should be. The first time when they met years after their break up, though showing him a cold shoulder, he was confident that October was just being shy and nervous around him. 

'Was their someone who does not like me? Who doesn't have their hearts accelerate from my single stare? Who doesn't blush from my smile? Who squeal from my voice? No. No one's like that. Even this woman before me had fallen head over heels and would get jealous when his eyes just stared at a girl for a second. See? Look how taken aback she is knowing that I'm waiting for her here.' His confidence was brimming that his smile perfectly dazzling was directed at October with his eyes that speaks "look at me and you'll fall for me." 

"What the hell is this shameless…thing doing here? Girls, help me clean the front of our store. I don't want a stinky brat loitering in front of my store. It's bad luck." Josh was very displeased with Zhihuan, cl.i.c.k.i.n.g his tongue in irritation.

He did not why he was thick-skinned and so full of himself that he would be booked as one of his models. No matter how much honeyed his words were, he was not at all moved. Not one bit…wait, maybe a little. But the thing was, he does not want to book a model who thinks he's such an omnipotent person who can get everything with a single word. 

Being a model, one should have the confidence of their own self. This is one of the selling point; "one of the" selling point, not "the only" selling point. There are other factors too, of course. But if it's too much, that's not confidence anymore, that's called arrogant and being conceited.

Not at all giving Josh an ounce of his attention, Zhihuan's smile was getting wider when he noticed that October was walking toward him. His heart quickened and he stood even taller than before. 'See? She's running toward me and couldn't wait wrap her arms around me.'

Or at least, that's what he thought. He was having a lot of positive reactions, expectations, from October that he did not notice that the smile on his face was getting brighter and sweet and heart palpitating in anticipation. 

And then, before his eyes, October's eyes came to life, dazzling. There was even a smile on her face, blossoming like a pink rose that was accompanied by her hypnotic perfume. 

'See? She's smiling at me with eyes full of infatuation. Yes. That's right. No matter how you try to distance yourself and act calm and cool and expressionless, you can finally not control your emotions as you saw me again today.' He thought so smugly. He never knew that October would smile so sweetly at him like this. No, actually, this would be the first time that he had seen her look like this. 

He already knew that October was pretty even without showing much emotions and expressions since university. The "Ice Beauty" of the campus was what she was once called. He liked that about her thinking she was cool.

"Lanna, I missed you." He said feigning sweetness and infatuation, coolly fl.i.c.k.i.n.g his hair on the side as he waited for the beauty to toss herself into his welcoming arms. 

As if. 

Soon, his overly sweet smile froze and turned sour.

*Swoosh*

October's figure went past him, only a brushing air was only left for Zhihuan. 

"Hubby." October run passed Zhihuan's awkward self without a care. As soon as she got out of the store, she immediately sensed the forbearing yet passionate gaze directed at her. This was a sense she knew all too well.

No one, except for Josh, had noticed the man that was painfully unnoticed as October and Lexus walked toward each other. The two did not spare him a glance.

'Ha-hubby?!' Zhihuan winced as he wondered if had heard that wrong.

"Wifey." Lexus' cold voice rang behind Zhihuan. Even though his voice was cold, the affection and gentleness in his tone was undeniable. And this only made Zhihuan wince a second time.

"Don't run. Be careful." Lexus became nervous as he said this in worry. But in truth, he was just exaggerating. October was not running, only walking at a faster pace yet to him, it was an action that made him broke out in cold sweats.

As soon as the two were at arm's length, Lexus pulled October and dropped a quick peck on her cherry-like lips. He did not care if they were in the streets, in public where a lot of people will be there passing by. All he wanted was to not part with her for even a second for him to protect her always.