Chapter 266 - A Rotting Lily

As Bai Jingye watched both Lu Mengjie and Tian Ruyi get along with his mother, he couldn't help noticing something from his childhood friend. He was someone who had been with her for a long time so he was quick to realize that something was wrong with her. 

Tian Ruyi would peek at Lu Mengjie from time to time whenever the other woman was not looking. It was as if she was being bothered by her presence.

By the time Lu Mengjie left, Tian Ruyi stayed longer. Bai Jingye didn't ask what was bothering her since his mother was still in the room.

"Tian Ruyi, can you accompany me out? I want to stroll around the place." He started as he got out of his bed. He could already walk freely on his own. He had no IV line attached to his hand. The only reason he was in the hospital was because of his mother who insisted on him to stay for a few more days.

"Yes, you should accompany him, Xiao Ruyi," Xu Chen said with a grin. Lu Mengjie was not a threat to their relationship anymore so she wanted both her son and Tian Ruyi to spend more time together. She had always loved Tian Ruyi for his son since she was like a daughter to him. It would be nice if they could finally get together.

And so, Tian Ruyi accompanied Bai Jingye out of his room. There were a few people; patients and health staff, walking, chatting in the lawn area.

"How have you been lately?" Bai Jingye started by the time they sat at the bench to admire the view.,

"Ah… I'm fine. The usual." She offered him a tight-lipped smile. She faced forward, staring at the child who was playing with his mother.

He looked at her, his eyes narrowed. "You don't look fine at all."

Tian Ruyi paused, the smile on her lips became stiff. In an instant, she felt something crumble inside her. The mask she had put on for others was easily seen through by Bai Jingye. He probably had finally noticed it earlier because of Lu Mengjie's presence.

"What do you think I look like now?" She wondered as she refused to face him.

"A rotting lily."

She gasped as she finally looked at him in disbelief. She touched her cheeks and quickly asked, "what do you even mean by that? My skin looks fine!"

His eyes softened. A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "What's that I see? Is that a wrinkle?"

Tian Ruyi had always been conscious of her skin, especially when she was a public figure so she quickly took out a small round mirror from her sling bag to check her face for wrinkles. Seeing none, she turned to Bai Jingye and glared. She lightly hit his arm. "Stop kidding! There's none!"

He laughed lightly. He ruffled her hair. "At least you look better now."

"Stop messing with my hair!" She growled as she slapped his hand away before she quickly combed down her hair with her fingers. "Ugh, seriously. What's gotten into you?"

The corner of his lips twitched up as he flashed her a gentle smile instead of saying a word. He was just glad to see the light return in her eyes. 

Upon seeing him smile that way to her, Tian Ruyi felt a pang in her chest. She knew what he was trying to do, it was already so obvious. Bai Jingye's eyes were so clear that she could see her reflection in them. He was the only person who could see through the pain she was currently going through.

"This is unfair," she muttered. She lowered her head and sighed in defeat.

"Have you finally fallen in love with someone? Is that why you looked so bothered lately?"

She pressed her lips as she was hesitant to tell him about her situation but… he had always been the person who had always listened to her since they were young. He was not only her best friend but he was also like her brother.

"Wait. Seriously?" Bai Jingye's eyes widened in shock. "Who's the guy?"

Tian Ruyi remained quiet which caused him to think deeper into it. He noticed that she had been giving Lu Mengjie a weird look earlier so could it be…? "Wait, don't tell me he's Lu Mengjie's husband?"

She shot him daggers as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "What? No! Ew! Why would I like that guy?"

"He's handsome." He shrugged.

"He's scary! No way I'm going to fall for a guy like him! I'm even surprised how Mengmeng could handle such a guy!"

"He's pretty good-looking and rich so I'm rather surprised that you do not have a crush on him." He knew that just like Lu Mengjie, Tian Ruyi was attracted to handsome men, all women were. The only difference was that Tian Ruyi was not too interested in hanging out with them even if they ended up becoming her crush. Admiration was different from love and that was one thing she knew.

She vigorously shook her head. Her impression of Yong Liwei would never change ever since she first met him. "I don't like him at all. It's impossible." Just the thought of seeing that man glaring at her sent shivers down her spine.

"If not him, then it must be another man that has been around Mengmeng," he concluded. 

This time, Tian Ruyi averted her eyes, her shoulders sank before she finally confessed, "It's… Si Hongqi."

"..." He was baffled. It was not like Bai Jingye never heard that name. He was Si Guanlin's younger brother. "H… him?"

"I don't even know how I began liking him." She let out a deep sigh. "I just recently got to know him. It's not like he's that lovable. Besides, I know that he loves Mengmeng so it also makes me wonder how I ended up liking him. I'm so confused right now, Jingye," she said in frustration. "I know I shouldn't be jealous but I can't help it. I can't stop comparing myself to Mengmeng…"

"Ah… that's rather complicated indeed." He patted her shoulder. He understood how she felt especially when he liked Lu Mengjie. "But I think it's not wrong to have such emotions. We're humans."

"Jealousy toward a friend, on the other hand, is wrong." She heaved out another sigh.

"But we can't control our feelings." He chuckled. "Haven't you felt jealous towards me back then when your father gifted me a book you also wanted?"

She huffed and rolled her eyes. "That's different, you know."

"It's the same." He patted her shoulder once again with a smile on his face. "Is that Si Hongqi guy taken?"

"No, but his heart is."

"Then? You can just make him like you. Even if he likes Mengmeng, it's not like he can stand a chance against her husband. He's not blindly pursuing her is he?"

"No… they had already talked about it. He was already rejected." She confessed.

"So what's the matter? If he was already rejected then it will only be a matter of time for him to move on. Getting jealous when they're not even in a relationship, are you trying to make me laugh?" He raised a brow and crossed his arms.

Now that he had mentioned it, Tian Ruyi realized that she was indeed wasting time getting depressed over nothing. She looked at Bai Jingye with enlightenment. "You really are the best." She threw her arms at him and hugged him close.

He chuckled a bit as he lightly rubbed her back. He may have said those words to her but it was also a form of comfort for himself. He understood Si Hongqi's situation now that he was informed of his feelings for Lu Mengjie. Just like him, Bai Jingye grew feelings for her too and he knew that he had to end it.

While they were on their way back, a strikingly stunning woman approached them. Her long blond hair was tied into a ponytail. Her attire made her look like a model especially when her clothes were quite trendy. She lowered her sunglasses, revealing her intelligent-looking dark eyes. "Excuse me, I'm currently lost. I can't read Chinese so… I was hoping you can help me?"

"You're speaking Mandarin so fluently tho." Tian Ruyi complimented, offering her a smile.

"Oh, thanks! I was only taught how to speak." She chuckled a bit. "I'm still having a hard time reading."

"So, how can we assist you?"

"I'm looking for the Rehabilitation Wardroom 403."

"Four…" Tian Ruyi paused before she turned to Bai Jingye.

"Who are you looking for?" Bai Jingye asked as he stepped in.

The woman ended up blinking a few times as she stared at the two. "I'm here to visit a man named Bai Jingye."

"That's me. What business do you have with me?"

She paused and was in shock with what he said. "You're… Bai Jingye?"

"The only one."

"Great! My name is Cecilia Bai. You can call me Cecil."

"Cecilia… Bai?" Tian Ruyi was rather puzzled when she heard such an unfamiliar name.

Cecilia offered her hand to Bai Jingye before she further introduced herself.. "Cecilia Bai, I'm your half-sister."