Chapter 85 - Bad Habits

Long Mei picked up on Jin Qing's routine. 

He often woke up early, made some coffee, and then left for the station. He would then not return home until midnight. 

The man operated on a few hours of sleep with little food, and she would hardly see him. At first, Long Mei did not mind, but she felt rather bored and lonely after returning home from her long days of shoots.

She figured out that he might be avoiding her, just when she thought their "relationship" had improved. 

After she had woken from her coma, she realized her supposed friends were not her friends. They did not want anything to do with the young, naïve girl who nearly eloped and got herself in an accident. She was called a "washed up" model, no longer had a place in the industry. 

It wasn't easy. 

But she was determined to book shoots, walk runways, and find herself again. Make new friends again. 

The only people she had now were her family, who believed she was doing better, but that had been a lie. 

Long Mei jumped at the opportunity to move to Jin Qing for another reason: She did not sleep well. 

What she had experienced before waking up at the hospital was traumatic.

She remembered how Jin Hu had become more irritable, more physical, and his paranoia incited fear in her. He said he wanted to elope, but what had actually happened was that he was running away and taking her with him. 

When she realized he had taken her—basically kidnapped her—she wanted to turn around and go home. She wanted out of the relationship. She had not seen the red flags, had not heeded to the warnings. 

And then they were driving, and another car found them. 

Long Mei was relieved. Someone came. They can save her. 

But all she remembered was the window rolling down, a gunshot sounded, and she steered the wheel trying to gain control and then nothing. 

When she had woken and learned of Jin Hu's death, she had little reaction. 

Jin Hu had been dead to her since the moment she realized he had taken everything from her. 

Since then, she had not been able to sleep well. All she could think of was how she almost died and how bad guys were coming for her. 

And yet, she found herself in the home of one of them. 

Yet here is where she felt safest. 

Demons were constantly chasing after her, but the Devil himself seemed to scare them away. 

Jin Qing had not caught onto her sleeping pattern, which was just as bad as his. 

Her parents were beginning to catch on, which is why she was desperate to leave. She did not want to worry them. She did not want to bother anyone. She had already felt like a disappointment—a burden. 

She did not want to turn to her sisters. Long Xia was busy, and Shao Lin had the problems she was dealing with. Her brothers would not know what to do for her. So she decided to leave was the best choice. It was easier to hide. And Jin Qing did not seem to notice it. 

Long Mei heard Jin Qing come home shortly after midnight. 

She was in the kitchen making tea when he dropped his things on the counter. "Why are you awake?" he questioned. 

She poured two cups as she answered, "I was waiting for you." 

Jin Qing looked at her, momentarily surprised. "You should not wait for me," he began as he took the cup from her. "I'm not home most of the time."

"And that's the problem," she replied. 

"Why?" 

"I have spent the last two weeks barely seeing my fiancé's face since I moved in. So, if I want to wait up for you, I will." 

He stared at her for a moment, trying to puzzle her out. He asked with a low, insecure voice, "What does it matter?" 

She nearly laughed. "I know we're not in a real relationship, Mr. Jin. But, we live together. And it concerns me that you are only home for about six hours during the twenty-four hours of the day." 

His eyes met hers. "I'm a busy man," he replied. 

"Even so," she countered. "I don't think you're eating well or sleeping well. I would say many of your habits are unhealthy." 

Jin Qing placed the cup of tea down. He then approached her quickly; he was in front of her now, face to face. He lifted a hand, brushing a finger across her upper cheek. "From what I see, Mei, you look as if you have not slept in weeks. Before you come for me about my unhealthy habits, please take your word." 

He then stepped back to walk away. 

"I still think you should take care of yourself more!" she said. 

"Don't," he began. Turning half of his head. "I made it clear since the first day that we are not meant to be friends. So, please, do not worry about me." 

"But you made an exception with my sister to be your friend." 

He was silent. "I made Xia an exception because she is just like me." 

Jin Qing continued to walk away when Long Mei followed him. "What made you like this?" she questioned. "Why have you been avoiding me?"

He fully turned then. "You want the truth?" he began. "It's not something easy to hear, so I will make it short. I grew up in a poor region of Moscow. My mother was killed, so I lived as an unwanted Orphan, eating scraps, stealing change, sleeping under bridges. Then my shitty father found me, moved me in with his perfect family that hated me, in a foreign country where I did not know the language." He stepped closer. "My half-brother made sure every day of my life was a living hell since I got here, and I wanted to repay the favour. And then I met a woman who was so beautiful, so fascinating, who was searching for something, a place to belong. And I thought maybe, just maybe, she was like me too." 

He looked at her up and down. "But she ended up making it perfectly clear that she hated me too." 

And then he was off. 

Long Mei stared at his disappearing figure, stunned. 

She never realized how much he was hurting.