Chapter 125 - That's Me

"Dev!" Devon searched for the voice, catching Bella waving at her in the lobby. Bella smiled brightly as she dashed towards her, but stopped when Lewis suddenly appeared behind Devon. 

"My lover, I will go talk to Bella." Devon turned her head to the side, smiling as she informed him. 

Lewis glanced at Bella briefly and then set his eyes on Devon. "Alright. I also need to make a call."

Devon didn't waste a second as she jogged her way towards Bella. The latter awkwardly studied Lewis and snapped when Devon stopped in front of her.

"Greetings, my friend," Devon greeted, tilting her head to catch Bella's attention. "Is there something wrong?"

"Ah, no. I just don't think I can get used to this."

"Used to, what?" Devon's brows furrowed.

Bella pursed her lips in a thin line, raising her brows. "You and Mister Qin. You don't know how shocked we are last night."

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you shocked?" Devon inquired, a bit confused about what was so shocking about it.

Bella was lost for words momentarily, wanting to explain it to her, but words were stuck in her throat. All she could do was stare at Devon, study the misplaced bafflement in her face. 

'Isn't it obvious? She is dating the most eligible bachelor in the country?' she wondered, noticing that Devon was clueless. 

"Uhm, how do I explain this?" Bella scratched her temple by her finger, humming as she wanted to find the right words to speak. "Ahem, never mind. Anyway, where are you up to?"

"For a walk. Lu said he will stay with me today." Devon gazed down, trying to suppress her smile, but failed as her cheek turned pinkish.

"Oh…"

Devon snapped her eyes to her. "How about you? Where are you heading?" 

Bella pursed her lips in a thin line, holding her hand behind her. "Just… idling." 

When Devon raised her brows in doubt, Bella cleared her throat. She leaned closer to Devon, linking her arm around her. Bella didn't notice how Devon stiffened at first, but soon relaxed after telling herself it was alright.

"Actually, I was waiting for someone," Bella whispered and smiled, biting her lower lip.

"Oh? You're going to meet someone?"

"No." Bella shook her head, a little embarrassed to admit her agenda. "Just waiting for him to pass by."

Devon furrowed her brows, tilting her head away, eyes on Bella. "You are strange. Dion stays in our quarters."

"Haha. It's not brother Dion. I moved on." 

This time, Devon frowned. She couldn't understand and would never catch up to Bella's fickle heart. It was obvious that Bella was interested in this person she was talking about, but didn't she have a long crush on Dion? 

"It's…" Bella trailed off as her 'Derek' radar rang in her head. She immediately turned her head towards the entrance and her eyes caught Derek's figure. 

Time stopped for her as Derek entered the premises, walking with imaginary flowers around him. Her eyes sparkled as her heart raced for him. Surely, Derek's charisma was different from any other man she had met — even different from Lewis. Lewis was just scary, but Derek was… hot in her eyes.

Devon narrowed her eyes as she studied Bella, and then moved her gaze and caught Derek. "Oh… it's Assistant Wang." This did not surprise her, though. Even Ghost Lin said Derek was an excellent choice, and he was undoubtedly good-looking, too.

Between Dion and Derek, Devon would surely ship Bella to the latter. Dion was just like a kid in her eyes. He could be her and Lewis' child if he kept acting like a fool.

"Gosh… he looks so cool," came out a muffled compliment as Bella covered her lips, following Derek, who didn't even look in their direction. "You're so lucky, Dev."

"Huh? Why am I lucky now?" 

Bella finally peeled her eyes away from Derek as she shot Devon a look. "Come on, Dev. Don't tell me you really don't know your position right now?" 

"My position?" Devon cocked her head to the side. "No, I do not. I do not have a proper occupation nor do I think I had other duties than being loved."

"Are you humble bragging?"

"I am not bragging."

Bella let out a deep exhale, as she didn't even doubt Devon. There was no point in doubting her friend as Devon's face literally scream '100 percent honest'. She didn't even need to write it on her forehead because anyone could tell.

"Dear, you don't need a job if your boyfriend is one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Come here." Bella grabbed her hand and guided her to one of the sofas in the lobby, facing Devon as they sat down.

"Didn't you notice how scared everyone was last night when the news about Dion broke out? If that article is about me, reporters and paparazzi are already outside with their cameras." She pointed at the entrance, staring at the transparent windows only to see a few cars, staff, and hotel guests going in and out.

Bella then cast her eyes back to Devon. "But despite how big the news is, no one dares come and harass Dion." 

"Lu said Derek settled the matter," Devon answered innocently. She didn't quite understand how 'chaotic' the situation should be, as the term chaotic in her dictionary was far different from just people flocking for gossip.

Bella let out another sigh. "Do you know how they covered up the situation?" she studied Devon's expression, and she already got her answer by looking at it.

"Today, news about the corruption of the minister of finance blew up and shook the country. Do you think it's just a coincidence? News like that right after the article about brother Dion's secret marriage?" she blinked ever so slowly, casting Devon a knowing look. To her relief, Devon seemed to get the grasp of her point.

"Mister Qin is not your ordinary man. There is this unspoken rule in the high society that says, 'mess with everyone, but never mess with the Qins.' Getting on the young master's bad side is the last thing a person wants in this life." 

"Why does it sound like my lover is someone… influential?" Devon narrowed her eyes. "Is being a merchant more powerful than a person in the government?"

"Merchant? I don't know why you don't seem to understand Mister Qin's influence, but even if you call him a merchant, his deals are worth billions! If something happened to him or the Qin Empire, the economy will surely get affected." Bella scrunched her nose, not intending to spoil everything that Dion held back on telling Devon.

"He is that important…?"

"Of course!" Bella affirmed proudly. "He doesn't have a crown, but he is definitely a king. Even I can't mess with him unless I want to die and ruin my future."

"A king…"

"That's why I said you are so lucky. Eighty percent of women in the country will be envious if you marry Mister Qin. I'm not one of those, don't worry. My eyes are all on Mister Wang…" Bella continued to chat happily, not noticing Devon's sudden change of mood.

Devon gazed down at her, fingers on her lap. It didn't seem Bella was lying. Actually, her words were the only ones she needed to hear to confirm the suspicion she had kept long ago.

'I already know he is remarkable, but…' she bit her bottom lip, fingers fidgeting. '… a king? Lu is someone whose existence has an impact on this world.'

Now, the question was, how about her? All this time, Devon just wanted to be free and happy. Ghost Lin's words suddenly hovered in her head.

"A goal…" she whispered, thinking that she had done nothing to make actual progress. "I need to be worthy to stand on the same ground as his."

"Yes?" Bella's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "What are you saying? You are suddenly murmuring over there." 

Devon slowly raised her head, staring at Bella. "I need to do labor work."

"Labor work?"

"I was thinking of searching for an occupation fitting for someone who will stand beside a king." Devon clarified, making up her mind to focus on her character development. And for that, she needed the help of the people in this world, since she didn't know the jobs they have in this world.

"Are you saying you want a job?" asked Bella, and Devon nodded. "Do you have anything in mind?"

"I have nothing in mind currently. I had an accident, remember?" Devon pointed at her head, tapping her temple lightly. "And I had to learn more about this world."

"Hmm…" Bella gazed at her up and down, sizing her up. "Well, if you like, I can take you with me."

"Take me, where?" 

"My job. I can recommend you to a minor role. I'll be doing a cameo on one of my friend's projects. It'll be good exposure for you to meet what kind of people we work with." Bella raised her shoulders, as she thought Devon's star quality and potential were topnotch. "Let's try that first and if you don't like the environment, I'll help you find what career your heart wants to follow."

"Bella…" Devon's eyes softened, as Bella was very thoughtful. "You have my gratitude."

"We're friends, it's nothing." Bella smiled back. "But do me a favor."

"Derek?" Devon raised a brow, almost moved to tears with Bella's help, but then her friend showed her ulterior motive immediately.

"Hehe. Can you give me his phone number?" Bella sweetly hooked her arms around Devon's, fluttering her eyelashes adorably. "Pretty please?" 

A low chuckle slipped past Devon's lips, shaking her head. "I will ask…" she trailed off as she caught something familiar in the corner of her eyes. 

Devon instinctively turned her head in that person's direction, and her mouth slowly dropped. Her eyes fixed on the woman with golden hair flowing gracefully down her waist.

'That's… me.'