Chapter 156 - Do You Love Me?

Just like what Bella planned, she nagged Dion and Mike to come with them. She used Devon as an excuse, of course, as they didn't have a choice but to follow the queen. 

"Honestly, I feel like I've unconsciously changed my career," Dion mumbled, watching Devon and Bella hold hands and jump in excitement outside the cafe.

"I can still remember the peak of your career back when you are an artist," Mike muttered dramatically, looking at his friend with sorry eyes. "How sad that from stardom, you've become a nanny. Life can be so cruel sometimes."

Dion frowned but didn't argue with him. It was the truth, and denying it would only make him look like a fool. 

"Gah.... they looked happy," Mike murmured as he watched Bella and Devon talk outside the shop as if they hadn't met for a decade. "I'm already glad that no one will dare spread terrible rumors of this 'double date'. I don't want my name next to that Queen Bee."

His nose scrunched up, thinking of headlines with his name and Bella. She would kill him for sure. Everyone knew how Bella threw a huge fit when the two of them had a dating scandal. She was crazy about Dion at that time.

"Ah, now that I think about it," Mike paused as he gazed at Dion, who raised a brow. "Bella used to like you for a long time. Why did she dump you?"

"Dump me?" Dion scoffed in disbelief. "How can she dump me if I didn't even pursue her in the beginning?"

Mike nodded in agreement, but still curious about one thing. He cleared his throat, draping his arm over the back of his chair, and faced Dion on the other end of the square table. 

"My best friend, my best man, and my best colleague didn't you like Bella before?" he asked out of plain curiosity.

"Ha??"

Dion's dismal expression was enough of an answer to Mike. By the looks of it, Dion didn't even consider Bella, not even once. Poor Bella. 

Still, Mike wanted to clarify and hear the answer. "I mean, dude, didn't you notice Bella before? I know we're friends now, but she used to have a huge crush on you."

"So? It's not like she's the first person to have a crush on me?" 

"I know, but look at her!" Mike pointed in the two girls' direction while keeping his eyes on Dion. "Bella is pretty, smart, successful, and can be quite fun. Although I'm surprised how shy she can be in front of Assistant Wang, she's a head-turner!"

Dion pressed his lips together, blinking innocently as he gazed at Bella from head to toe. Mike wasn't exaggerating at describing Bella. Honestly, Bella's appearance was very pleasing in the eye. She was an A-list, after all.

"Well." He peeled his eyes away from her while scratching the back of his head. "I don't know?"

He wasn't lying by answering; he didn't know. It was just that no matter how good-looking Bella was, he wasn't romantically attracted to her. Being friends with her was alright, but he couldn't picture himself in a romantic relationship with her. Or rather, he couldn't see himself entering a romantic relationship now. 

"Oh..." Mike studied Dion's expression before nodding in understanding. "Not your type?"

"You can say that." Dion shrugged before his eyes drooped and smirked wickedly. "Now, it's my time to ask."

The look that suddenly surfaced on Dion's face sent a chill down his spine. Dion would sport that kind of look whenever he had an evil plan.

"Wait. I'm just asking out of pure curiosity! Don't give me that look!" Mike exclaimed defensively, glancing at the empty table near them.

"My question is also out of pure curiosity." Dion chuckled evilly while leaning closer to the table. "Why are you asking me those types of questions about our friend?"

"Well..."

"Don't you see her as our friend because she's an opposite gender?"

"What?"

"Do you not see her as equal?"

Mike nearly choked with his own saliva at the series of questions Dion threw at him. How could he jump from one question to another as if Dion answered it for him?!

"Hey, I answered your question. Why aren't you answering mine?" Dion knocked his knuckles against the table to bring his friend back to reality.

"Hey, what are you guys talking about?"

Suddenly, Bella inquired as they approached the table. Devon and she took their seat, eyes on the two of them.

"Well, I'm just asking Mike a question." Dion leaned back and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Questions?" Devon raised a brow as glanced at Mike before fixing them at Dion.

"Well --"

"My best friend!" Mike gasped as Bella would kill her if she came to know the question he just asked at Dion. But the more one acted they wanted to hide something, the more it piques someone's curiosity.

"Why are you sweating so much?" Bella inquired as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What kind of stupid questions did you ask?"

'Shit!' Mike cursed mentally, grinding his teeth at the mischievous Dion.

"What did Mike ask?" Devon inquired without beating around the bush, perking up at Dion.

"Well, I'm so sorry, my best friend. My sister is asking." Dion sighed helplessly, but Mike knew he was just acting as if Dion was being forced! "You see, my sister..."

Dion's reluctant acting didn't last long, as he immediately tattled with passion. Mike's expression grew paler as he froze, feeling that death was glaring at him herself.

"I see..." Bella kept her bright smile until her eyes squinted into slits. She turned to Mike, and the latter glanced back at her.

The second their eyes met, his gut feeling whispered, 'run!'

So, he did!

Mike sprung up to his seat and dashed away before Bella could grab him. He didn't even look back, nor care about his image. She would kill him, for sure.

"Dev, I'll catch him for a moment. I'll be back." Bella's smile remained, but the dark shroud emitting from her back felt so strong.

Both Devon and Dion could only watch her stand up to follow Mike. Even without saying a word, they prayed for Mike's soul that he would go to heaven peacefully. 

"Gosh... is Mike stupid?" Dion wondered, staring at where the two left. "How can he ask me when he knows I have a big mouth?"

Devon glanced at him and chuckled. "I don't think stupid is the word. He is rather... unsuspecting."

"Unsuspecting." his face distorted at her choice of words.

"Well, you shouldn't betray him repeatedly, else he won't trust you."

"Who said he should ask such questions? Bella didn't even confess her feelings to me, and yet, he speaks about it as if those feelings are his." Dion shrugged nonchalantly, leaning back with his arms crossed. His remarks slightly surprised Devon, as she didn't expect such reasons from him.

"What is it, sis?" he asked as she looked at him for a long time, saying nothing. "Is there something on my face or what?"

"Nothing." She shook her head lightly, taking a deep breath as she patted the books she brought. "While we wait for them, I will just read first."

"Sis, don't you love me anymore? You will rather read instead of talking to your sweet little brother?"

A frown resurfaced on his face, followed by a sigh. Not that he wasn't aware that the purpose of this meeting was to help Devon review for her exams. Still, if she was going to read, what would he do?

"No. I love you." Devon shook her head once again while flipping through the pages of the book.

"What?" he muttered in horror, not expecting such a confession from Devon. 

Although he was aware that she meant it in a platonic way, it still felt strange to hear it from her. No, not actually strange, but scary! Dion couldn't speak a word about this or Lewis would kill him if he did.

She glanced at him, chuckling seeing his horrified expression. "Lu said those words aren't normal in the Qin Family. So, I want to express my affection by words."

Dion gazed at her, but she already shifted her eyes on the book. What Devon said was correct. Now that he thought about it, he never heard those words from his brothers or from Marshall. 

His fans had showered him with words of love and support, but his family wasn't very verbal about this type of thing. They would rather die — Dion included — than tell his brothers 'I love you'.

"Sis," he muttered, receiving a hum from her. "Do you love me?"

"Mhm. I do."

Dion covered his lips with his palms, sporting a weird expression. "You do?"

"Yes, Dion, I do." Devon sighed and raised her head, unable to concentrate on his repeated question. "I love you. Can I go back to reading now?"

"Oh, of course. Go on, please do not mind me." 

She looked at him for a moment before she sighed. He was helpless — no, the entire Qin family was helpless in expressing and receiving affection. His reaction reminded her of Lewis' reaction, making her smile and chuckle.

While Devon refocused on reading, Dion extended his head to the side, eyes on her. He was happy that Devon actually cared about him.

Had he truly become a nanny? He felt rewarded after getting the affection of the person he was babysitting.

"Sis... you are my salvation."Dion covered his lips, about to weep at this achievement.