Chapter 156 - Underhanded Tricks (5)

Lina sensed Mana's mood go off. Even though she was still talking and smiling, she seemed slightly more absent. 

'Maybe she wanted this evening to be for only her and me' Lina wondered. Maybe she had been inconsiderate to her best friend by allowing Ayu to accompany her. 

She reached over the table and wrapped her hand around Mana's. 

"Hey, thank you for inviting me. I am really happy you reached out to me and am lucky to have you" 

Lina wanted her to know she appreciated Mana making an effort to apologise and take her out, even if nightclubs weren't her thing. 

The important thing was that in a world that seemed so unfamiliar to her, another person was coming to her and making an effort to spend time with her. She was still unsure about how much she trusted Mana right now, but she still had a soft spot for someone she had spent so many years with. 

One of the few people who's memories had anchored her.

For a second, Mana was reminded of the warmth of Lina's hands and how she had held her through tough times and been a pillar of strength. 

But then visions of everything Lina had and how she had been left behind to bite the dust came back to her, making the sweet feeling turn sour. 

But she held back and squeezed Lina's hand back with a smile, "Don't worry about it Li, I'm just happy you came! Let's all drink something?" 

Ayu and Lina nodded at Mana as she beckoned the bartender over. 

Lina couldn't remember the drink she used to be prefer before she lost her memories and she didn't really have any recollections of drinking with Mana or Shen. 

She had always been too busy to party with alcohol or lose control of herself. 

But Ayu was quick to order her favorite brand of wine. 

Lina shrugged and smiled at Ayu, "I'll have the same as her!" she told the bartender. 

Ayu, who had barely spoken at that point, felt her face go a bright red. She thanked her stars that the lighting was dim and that Lina wouldn't be able to see her blushing face clearly. 

"Are you sure madam— I mean, Lina…? It's quite dry" she asked, worried that her precious madam wouldn't like her drink of choice. 

Lina giggled at Ayu's awkwardness at referring to her casually by her first name instead of addressing her formally as the Madam of the Moshi house. But she thought it was endearing. 

"If I don't like it, then more for you!" she joked, making Ayu laugh suddenly. 

"It's nice to see you laugh, Ayu! I'd have thought you were demon just like that boorish husband of mine!" 

'Madam, you really insult boss so much when he's not around. You have him completely wrapped around your finger' Ayu thought, laughing in her head. 

At the Moshi Corporation offices, Shen sneezed violently as his employees immediately offered boxes of tissues, secretly hoping he was unwell so they could take a break. 

'Someone's badmouthing me' he thought to himself, quietly assuming it must have been his mischievous wife. 

Mana reached over to and put her arm around Lina, speaking to the bartender she said, her voice like honey. 

"Bartender, this is my best friend, please treat her well tonight!" 

Lina smiled at Mana, wondering when her friend had become so affectionate. 

The bartender smiled politely as he turned around to pour the two drinks. 

Mana turned back to Lina and Ayu to make conversation. 

"So did you find this location easily? I hope you did not have trouble getting in. If you had told me earlier, I would have asked Ayu's name to be put on the VIP entrance list too!" she gushed. 

"Oh it's alright, Ayu is beautiful enough to get in anywhere!" Lina joked with Mana, as Ayu almost choked on her own breath, her heart pounding out of her chest. 

'Madam thinks…I'm that beautiful?' 

Lina took one look at Ayu's shocked expression and laughed. 

"Ayu, you better close your mouth before a fly gets in!" 

On the other hand, Mana was concealing an intense burning anger in her chest. There her best friend was, praising another woman she barely knew for being so beautiful. 

'She must have always thought I was some simpleton she could drag along. Never again!' Mana's thoughts were now poisoned beyond return. 

Lina continued to praise Ayu. 

"Besides, she is already the second in command at the Moshi Corporation. I suppose that is VIP in itself!" 

"Madam, please, you're saying too much!" Ayu tried to prevent Lina from praising her anymore or her heart wouldn't be able to take it. 

Mana took a big sip out of her drink, and nodded politely, trying her best to look like she was agreeing with Lina. 

She wished there was alcohol in her drink, but it was just tonic water and lemon. She had to keep a clear mind tonight. 

But she had to get Lina and Ayu to drink. 

"Lina, Ayu let's raise our glasses for a toast tonight, shall we?" Mana said smilingly. "It's a beautiful night out and let's make the most of it" 

The three of them raised their glasses in the air at Mana's words. 

"To friendship and the bond between women" Mana said, a smile plastered on her face, her eyes boring straight into Lina's. 

Lina and Ayu toasted as well, "To friendship and the bond between women", as the three of them clinked their crystal glasses and raised the drinks to their lips. 

Mana's eyes remained trained on Lina as she tilted the glass to pour the wine into her mouth, but she suddenly stopped. 

She quickly opened her purse and pulled out her phone to see someone calling. 

It was the great demon king who slept in her own bed, bringing a smile to her face. He had wanted to pick out her dress tonight but had been caught up in a last minute meeting with one of his project teams and was unable to come home. 

She missed her hubby, she had wanted to embrace him goodbye before she left. 

Lina quickly put her glass down and stood up. 

"Will you two keep each other company for a minute, I will be right back!" and without waiting for a reply, Lina moved away to find a quiet place to pick up the call. 

"Wait— ", Mana had tried to say, but it was too late, Lina's back was already turned. 

Mana's eyes burned with a rage she couldn't show on her face in front of Ayu, while Ayu's eyes dimmed with a sadness she couldn't show on her face in front of Mana. 

Both women sat opposite each other staring into their drinks for a second before both took a small sip to calm their nerves. 

As they looked back up at each other, they put on her masks of pleasantry. 

"So, Ayu, tell me what your experience is working with the great Shen Moshi?" Mana asked, trying to make small talk. 

"Uh— great" Ayu replied shortly, her face returning to the stoic expression she always held. She would never say more about her work at Moshi Corp outside the office to strangers. That was her work ethic. 

A little distance away, in a quieter corner, Lina picked up her husband's call. 

"Baby, are you ok?" was the first thing she heard. He was always so concerned about her well-being, Lina's heart was instantly a puddle. 

"Yes, yes! I'm doing great. It's really noisy here thought. But I guess, that's natural at a nightclub" she laughed. 

"Has my hubby finally finished working for the day?" she checked her watch, it was already pretty late. 

She heard him sigh exhaustedly at the other end. 

"Yes, just wrapped up at the office for tonight. I'm heading home now" he said, his voice betraying his stress. 

"I will let Butler Min know you will be back soon and to prepare a nice hot meal, then" she said. 

"No, no! Stop worrying about me, you need to enjoy your night out. I just wanted to call and hear your voice and make sure you're okay because I wasn't able to come home." 

Once again, Lina's heart melted. If there was anyone who was always looking after her, it was her husband. He was such a softy behind his steely demeanour. 

"Alright, but promise me you will eat something? And don't worry, Ayu came home to drop off some paperwork and I dragged her off with me." 

"My assistant seems more use to you than me" Shen laughed, sounding entirely relieved that someone he trusted would be looking out for her. 

"But still, angel, can you tell me the name of the place you're at? I'm not trying to keep tabs on you—" he began to explain, but Lina cut him off. 

"Tresor. And I don't think you're keeping tabs on me, it feels good that you care. Thank you, my sweet hubby" she smiled. 

Ever since they fought about her freedom and his sleuthing behind her back, they had come to an easy, communicative and trustful understanding. 

"Okay baby, have a good time and call me if you need anything and I will be there" he reminded her. 

"You're the first person I will call, darling. Mwah!" she said, as she hung up, smiling giddily like a little schoolgirl at her phone.