Chapter 144 - Quite Alarming

Present time...

"Wow... I didn't know Assistant Wang is a low-key player." Dion awed in disbelief, having a bit of doubt at Bella's story. 

"He is the man." Mike clapped, staring at Bella, who was blushing while telling them what happened. "Brother Di, I think you have something to tease Assistant Wang now."

Dion clicked his tongue, glaring at Mike.. "In our family, everyone knows the silent rule to never offend my big brother. But, do you know who is the second after my big brother?"

"Your Grandpa?"

"Tch. Assistant Wang." Dion snapped his tongue once again, shaking his head. "Even Grandpa respect Assistant Wang since he is the only one who can handle my big brother. Also, Assistant Wang is pretty scary himself."

"Really?" Mike raised a brow, studying Dion as he shrugged indifferently.

"Assistant Wang can beat me up and can get away with it."

"Wow, and you're just accepting that? Aren't you a proud Qin?"

"Do you want me to slap you to know how proud I am to be a Qin?" Dion spat out in irritation, glaring at Mike, who wasn't even showing an ounce of respect to the person he owed. 

"He is so cool." Bella blushed after listening to Dion's brief explanation. 

"So, after that kiss, how was the date?" Devon inquired, still intrigued by the rest of the story.

Bella cleared her throat as the other two men also set their eyes on her. "The place I thought he will take me is not what I expected."

"What? Did you take you to a yacht or what? Assistant Wang had all access to my big brother's properties — although I never heard that he use it for personal use." Dion cocked his head to the side, seeing Bella shake her head.

"Derek is a proud man. I'm very sure he won't use another person's property to impress someone." Bella chuckled, gazing down as her eyes softened. "He took me to a convenience store."

"What?" Mike gasped, blinking in surprise. "Convenience store?"

"Yes. Surprising, right?" 

Devon tilted her head to the side. "How was it surprising? I like convenience stores — they're, indeed, convenient. Lu and I always go there."

"Sis, Bella is a celebrity; she's popular, duh?" Dion sighed as there were more things Devon had to learn. He then turned his head to Bella.

"Did anyone recognize you? Or did you refuse?"

"Well, at first, I was reluctant." Bella raised her shoulder while the other two men nodded in understanding. "But, well, we still had some drink outside the convenient store."

"What? So, someone recognized you? How come there's no news about it?" Mike furrowed his brows in confusion.

The corner of Bella's lips stretched from ear to ear, reviewing her memory lane. 

"He bribed them," she explained without beating around the bush. "He bribed everyone and threatened the paparazzi that were following me. He told them if a word goes out, he will cut their tongues."

Devon, Mike, and Dion stared at Bella with concern in their eyes. Derek bribed and threatened people, and yet, Bella was blushing. Couldn't she hear the red flags?!

"Err... Bella, that is not something to admire about." Dion cleared his throat as he scratched his hair. "Are you into that kind of men?"

"No wonder you're best friend with Dev," Mike mumbled as he could see the similarities between Devon and Derek. They both had their way in their words that were obviously alarming.

To Mike and Dion's dismay, what they heard next rendered them speechless.

"Bella, are you sure about Assistant Wang? His choice of words was quite alarming. I'm concerned." Devon let out a deep sigh, thinking that Derek influenced her innocent Lewis. Little did she know it was the opposite.

"Sis, how can you say that with a straight face?" Dion gasped in dismay, sizing Devon up who had this misplaced innocence plastered on her face.

Just then, their attention shifted to the television. It was news of the Qin Empire breaking through the wine market.

"Wow... the Qin just got wealthier. Congrats," Mike murmured, still had his eyes on the television. "Also, I didn't know the Qin and the De Luca will reconcile."

Devon smiled as she watched the news. After their last 'major' argument, Lewis promised her to rectify his wrongs. Of course, she was doing her best to be understanding, but Lewis also acknowledge he dealt with the De Luca "quite harshly". If only she knew this shocked many people.

"Well, many people were surprised when my big brother gave those people a second chance. He's not the type of person who takes his words back," Dion muttered, sneaking a glance at Devon.

Long story short, Lewis simply proposed another feasible condition with the De Luca. Although Lewis didn't directly admit his wrongs, as people would question his authority, he managed to get the De Luca back on his side. 

One would think the De Luca were fools, but their contract favored them more than the Qin. It was a tempting offer that the De Luca accepted, whilst keeping cautious so Lewis wouldn't cut them off again.

"I still don't know if this is actually good news." Dion continued indifferently. "Well, it's not like it's my problem."

"Brother Dion, weren't you reprimanded because of Gabriella?" Bella raised a brow as she had heard no news about that. 

"Nope." Dion shook his head, closed-lipped. It was still a surprise to him that he didn't hear a word about it; neither from Lewis nor from Derek. 

"I see. I guess she didn't tell anyone about it." Bella nodded in understanding, thinking Gabriella didn't seem to be that unreasonably spoiled. Unlike what she appeared. 

She then turned to Devon. "Have you been in contact with her, Dev?"

"We exchange messages sometimes, but I was busy." Devon pursed her lips, diverting her attention.

"You mean, you are avoiding her." Bella raised her brows, as it was obvious. Although Devon was busy studying, there was no way she couldn't spare a minute with Gabriella.

"You can say that. I have nothing to do with her." Devon didn't continue lying and just shrugged. "It was not like we should be together. She will not stay in the country for too long as well."

The three of them studied Devon's expression with narrowed eyes. They'd been hanging out with her, and after spending more time with her, they got used to Devon. Therefore, they could tell that they were another reason she was avoiding Gabriella.

They didn't ask, though, nor did they point it out. 

"Right. Let's watch something else. Let's watch a horror film." Mike clapped as they had been chatting instead of watching. Everyone agreed and Mike brows some horror movies they could watch.

The four of them watched at least two movies. They would chat every once in a while about random things, but that was all. A day spend idling after their busy schedule.

"Won't you have dinner in here?" asked Devon, as she walked the three of them to the main door. "Lu will definitely be happy to have you in here."

'I doubt,' Dion responded inside his head. 'The last thing my brother wants is sharing.'

"Next time." Bella looked back and smiled politely. "We've been here since morning, and we don't want to spoil your quality time with CEO Qin."

"We don't want to get banned in here." Mike chimed in. "I'm only allowed to go to places, and this place is one of my favorites."

"Come back anytime, alright?" Devon sighed heavily as they reached the door.

"By the way, when will be the premiere of the movie?" Mike asked.

Devon and Bella answered at the same time. It was two weeks from this day.

"Right! I will put that in my schedule." Mike grinned, giving Devon a thumbs up.

"You don't have to. I will drag you with me, anyway." Dion spat out in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"I'll see you in two weeks, then." Bella chuckled as she opened the door. 

The three of them stopped as soon as she opened the door, gazing at the person standing outside. 

Lewis.

"Your Master Qin," Mike awkwardly greeted as he bowed, followed by Bella.

"Ge, you're home early." Dion raised his brows as Lewis stepped aside.

"Is there something wrong if..." Lewis trailed off as he shifted his eyes to Devon, clearing his throat. "... I finished my work early."

'Geez... my brother trying to be polite is scarier.' Dion scrunched his nose up as Lewis was trying so hard.

"Are you three going home?" Lewis inquired, diverting the subject as he studied them.

"Yes, Mister Qin. We don't want to..." Bella couldn't finish her sentence upon laying her eyes on the person behind Lewis. 

Derek offered her a subtle smile, bowing. "It's good to see you, Miss Chang."

"You should stay over for dinner." Lewis proposed, taking the three of them by surprise. 

"Ge, what did you..."

"We plan to celebrate," Derek explained, raising the champagne. "The more the merrier."

Devon's face brightened up as she grinned. "Really?" 

Lewis set his eyes on her, concealing his annoyance that these people were blocking his way. Although he was sincere in inviting them, he couldn't hug her as they stood at the entrance.

"If you are fine with it, why don't we head in?" Lewis proposed, gazing at the three who were seemed shocked into silence.

"My boss means to get out of the way." Derek translated Lewis' words before his boss's patience could expire.

With that being said, everyone went back in to celebrate the success of Lewis' wine project.