CH 15

The main house garden.

On a sunny afternoon, Bai Yu Tian looked like he was relaxing in the garden reading a book and drinking tea while the other gang members were working. But the reality was Yue Gu Zai forced Bai Yu Tian to stay at the main house to look after Zhen Zhen when Yue Gu Zai was working outside the main house. Each time Yue Gu Zai left the main house, Zhen Zhen would cry and Bai Yu Tian easily stopped her crying. Bai Yu Tian would show her a needle and she would stop crying and play games.

Cheng Yi returned to the main house after completing a mission. He saw Zhen Zhen playing online games and Bai Yu Tian was reading and drinking tea next to her.

‘You must be enjoying your holiday,’ Cheng Yi said.

Bai Yu Tian turned the page. ‘I don’t mind if we switch. You can look after Miss Zhen Zhen and I’ll work outside. What’s happening in North America?’

Cheng Yi sat on a chair and propped his legs on the table.

‘No development,’ Cheng Yi said. ‘Mr Tao is relying on Shu Tang Jue’s support and spread the rumor Ni Sheng swallowed Mr Tao’s goods unprovoked. Shu Tang Jue used it as an excuse to detain some of Ni Sheng’s goods.’

‘How did Mr Tao manage to escape that day?’ Bai Yu Tian asked.

‘How would I know?’ Cheng Yi. ‘You should ask Huyen Di. Usually Huyen Di never fails his missions, but…’

Suddenly Cheng Yi remembered what was special about that day.

‘I heard Chu Gian will visit you today,’ Cheng Yi said.

Bai Yu Tian turned the page and he looked unaffected.

‘What were saying about Huyen Di?’ Bai Yu Tian asked.

‘Chu Gian!’ Cheng Yi called.

‘Do you think I’ll fall for your trick a second time?’ Bai Yu Tian asked.

Cheng Yi smiled smugly.

‘What trick?’ Chu Gian asked.

‘I warned Bai Yu Tian that he has no time left to escape,’ Cheng Yi joked. ‘Chu Gian, you can catch up with Bai Yu Tian in private. I’ll take Miss Zhen Zhen out.’

Chu Gian’s red hair like a phoenix and she wore a black outfit.

A smile appeared on Chu Gian’s beautiful face. ‘Do you want to escape? I didn’t know Bai Yu Tian who’s usually calm would run away when he sees me.’

Bai Yu Tian put the book on the table and crossed his arms. ‘Run away? When did you see me run away?’

Chu Gian shrugged her shoulders. ‘It doesn’t matter. In the past I agreed to give you a year to think clearly so I willingly travelled to South America to work. Now your year of thinking has lapsed. I don’t need to know your decision, because from today onward you’re my man. Unless…’

Chu Gian opened Bai Yu Tian’s white shirt and a phoenix birthmark was exposed.

‘You remove your birthmark and neutralise the curse,’ Chu Gian said.

Chu Gian kissed Bai Yu Tian’s lips and left the main house without giving him a chance to reject her.

Bai Yu Tian rubbed his lips and smiled. He couldn’t believe he didn’t get to see Chu Gian for a year. He looked at the phoenix birthmark on his chest and he remembered what happened a year ago. The tenacious Chu Gian declared she wanted to be his woman. According to the Chu legend, the Chu’s ancestors cursed the Bai’s ancestors. The Chu cursed that one of the Bai’s descendants would give birth to a boy with a phoenix birthmark and if the boy married someone who wasn’t a Chu’s descendant then the boy would die less than seven days after the boy’s wedding day.

Bai Yu Tian didn’t know why he had to be the boy in the Chu legend. But he fell in love at first sight the moment he met Chu Gian. He thought of subtle ways to attract Chu Gian, but he didn’t want her to marry him because of the Chu legend. He wanted her to marry him out of love so he agreed to let her believe he needed a year to think about her being his woman. But he didn’t expect they would be separated for a year. Luckily after a year she didn’t change her mind.

It was a pity no one witnessed how handsome Bai Yu Tian looked when he smiled sincerely.

Bai Yu Tian’s phoenix birthmark reminded him of Chu Gian’s parting words. Unless he removed the phoenix birthmark then Chu Gian was going to be his woman. He thought Chu Gian was a dummy. He didn’t know when the dummy would realise she always had his heart. But he was enjoying being pursued by the dummy.

Nearby the main house, Cheng Yi walked aimlessly with Zhen Zhen.

‘Cheng Yi, where are we going?’ Zhen Zhen asked.

Cheng Yi only wanted to let the Bai fox spend private time with Chu Gian. Cheng Yi didn’t have a specific place he wanted to take Zhen Zhen.

‘I want to go to the amusement park,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘We can’t go to there,’ Cheng Yi said. ‘If boss comes home and he doesn’t see you then he’ll send me off to be disciplined in a remote place.’

‘We can come home before Gu Zai’s back,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Gu Zai won’t find out. Can we go to the amusement park? I’ll cry if you don’t take me there and I’ll tell Gu Zai you bullied me then you’ll be sent off to a remote place.’

‘Miss Zhen Zhen, how can you say I bullied you when you’re bullying me?’ Cheng Yi joked.

Cheng Yi saw Zhen Zhen’s teary eyes and he sighed helplessly.

‘Ok, I’ll take you there but you can’t run around on your own,’ Cheng Yi said.

‘Cheng Yi is the best,’ Zhen Zhen said.

Cheng Yi thought Confucius was right about women were hard to deal with. He didn’t know how to deal with children either. If people found out he was babysitting at an amusement park then his manly image would disappear.

At Cavallino Matto, Cheng Yi regretted his decision.

‘Cheng Yi, let’s go on the roller coaster again,’ Zhen Zhen said.

‘Miss Zhen Zhen, let’s take a break and let me breathe,’ Cheng Yi begged.

Cheng Yi felt it was more tiring to entertain a child than fighting an enemy.

Zhen Zhen saw a bright merry-go-round and she ran off. The children on the merry-go-round were having fun. But it was crowded in front of the merry-go-round so she walked to a less crowed spot to take a closer look at the merry-go-round. She craned her neck then suddenly someone struck her neck and she lost consciousness.

***

Chapter Fifteen