Chapter 52 - Pure opulence

"SHEN MOSHI? Li, what the hell?"

Mana looked like she was about to collapse. Her best friend was not only almost assassinated twice, in a coma, now an amnesiac but ALSO MARRIED?

MARRIED TO THE KING OF COUNTRY J?

The man who controlled the economy and the basic eco-system of their habitat -- their entire livelihood?

The man whose life was pure opulence was her best friend's husband?

"Li, WHEN did you get married exactly? Was this during your coma? Were you a vegetable on your wedding day? HOW DID I NOT KNOW? WHAT AM I TO YOU?"

Mana was exploding.

Lina wondered if Mana even cared that she was going through amnesia and couldn't even remember her?

How had this woman completely forgotten that she had just told her about almost getting killed via assassination!?

Why wasn't she more concerned about that?

"Mana, are you really my friend? Do you not care more about my life and that people tried to KILL ME?"

Lina feigned disappointment.

Mana wasn't listening. Instead she was assessing Lina's fingers for the wedding ring.

"Where is it? Where is it? Li, why aren't you wearing a ring?"

"The marriage is a secret..."

Lina sighed and took the ring out from her purse and put the simple silver band on her ring finger.

Mana blinked a couple of times.

"That's it?"

Lina was confused.

"Li, the man basically owns...everything! Where's the stone that's supposed to be larger than your face?!"

Lina was still confused.

"What stone? Larger than my face?"

Mana was at the end of her wits. She decided to be as explicit as possible.

"Don't you have a massive, diamond ring? Why is there just one silver band. The man can afford any jewel, no matter how rare. And this is all he gave you?"

Unbeknownst to the two women, Ayu was standing quietly behind a pillar, listening in. Even though she was only there for Lina's protection, she couldn't help but smile to herself. The madam certainly was a little slow when it came to such matters.

Lina had never been in the least bit hedonistic. So naturally, she never cared to explore her husband's wealth or assets, even though they were always at her disposal.

Shen wanted her to do as she liked, and never pushed her to spend more or use his wealth. He admired her independence and wilfulness.

Ayu remembered that even before they were married, she never flung around an attitude or acted spoiled. Most girlfriends and wives of rich business executives and tycoons would demand big things and have their husbands' assistants slaving away for them.

Ayu never had to deal with that nonsense from Lina. She always treated her as an equal and was very respectful, despite Ayu's cold disposition towards her.

It was another reason her heart warmed up to Lina.

She thought of this with some bitterness. The madam still never cared about flashing around wealth or acting superior.

No matter what her past was, her heart had always remained pure and true to her nature.

Lina looked at Mana awkwardly.

"Is that necessary...he already gives me more than what diamonds and jewellery are worth. He stands by me no matter what I do or don't do. I've been so lucky."

Mana's eyes softened as she looked at the expression on Lina's face.

"Well, then...that's all I care about. It makes me happy to see you happy. Was there a wedding? How have you been hiding this from the media? And how did you even meet THE Shen Moshi?"

Lina became thoughtful at this.

"We don't go out together in public, we have our own cars and nobody can get close to the Moshi estate because it's heavily guarded. But I keep a low profile anyway, and since I woke up from the coma, I've just been out to work once and Shen's office a couple of times. There has been no opportunity for others to find out!"

As Lina explained these things to Mana, she wondered what it would be like to go on a public date, to a restaurant and hold hands while on a walk.

She craved that. A smile crept up on her face. One day they'd have that opportunity, she hoped.

"Mana, we actually even met at this café. It was quite fateful."

Lina thought about what a crazy coincidence it was that she met him at the one and only place her ever went out to. Since Shen hardly went to restaurants or public places in fear of being recognised and exposed to the public eye, it was a big thing to have bumped into him so randomly.

But right now, she wanted to know more about her life before she met Shen. And Mana was her resource.

"Mana, I want to know about university. Can you tell me how I used to be and more about the time we spent there together?"

Saying this, Lina looked some what melancholy. Seeing her like that, it dawned on Mana what kind of pain her best friend must have gone through, losing her sense of self.

It must have hurt her confidence, she must have felt so lost.

She reached out again and held Lina's hand.

"Shall we make a field trip then?"

Lina looked up, her eyes bright.

"Where?"

"Back to the beginning! We'll go back seven years ago, the first day we met. Capital City University!"

Lina nodded.

The women stood up and walked to Lina's car.

Mana got into the passenger seat and put on her seatbelt.

But suddenly it occurred to her that Lina had just gotten out of a coma.

"Wait Li! Can you still drive okay? Do you not have a driver?"

Lina glared at her.

"Why don't you sit still and find out for yourself."

Mana took a deep breath and decided to trust her.

"Well, just follow my directions then!"

As Lina zoomed off, a nondescript black car followed.