The whole night Ethan Lee couldn't sleep a wink, his head was pounding while his eyes were wide open. He was scarred by tonight's turn of events, his fragile little heart was weeping silently throughout the night.
Peering out of the windows with his fists clenched tightly Ethan felt his body ablaze with anger.
"How can she forget everything after tormenting me whole night..!", he gnashed his teeth.
"Ahem!", Xia Ruo Lan cleared her throat awkwardly, she walked on Ethan grumbling something and felt odd.
Ethan turned around, his dark eyes collided with her midnight black, clear orbs and time seemed to stop.
Xia Ruo Lan sauntered through the door with her straight hair flying, her eyes twinkling as a subtle smile rest on her full lips. The outfit was a perfect fit for her shapely figure.
"Good morning!", she dawdled with a wry smile, he kept looking at her face feeling conflicted.
*knock* *knock*
A round of knocks on the door was heard breaking the awkward moment of silence between them.
Xia Ruo Lan averted her gaze from Ethan to the delicately decorated door with a golden lion symbol. Ethan zoomed past her in a flash, the door opened revealing the hotel staff pushing a cart. It was their breakfast.
"Sir, this is the breakfast you ordered", flashing a professional smile the young man glanced at Ethan, his eyes reaching Xia Ruo Lan when the grumpy Ethan blocked his sight.
"Heh! There are complimentary cookies included in the breakfast set, especially for the VIP guests!", he chuckled trying to lighten the atmosphere.
Ethan's face turned black at the mention of cookies while Xia Ruo Lan's eyes twinkled with pink hearts.
"Thank you, we'll enjoy them!", she chimed standing behind Ethan, his expression turned ugly.
The young man smiled gratefully at her and arranged the dishes on the table before meeting Ethan's gaze, it sent shivers down his spine. Scared, he scurried out without even glancing back.
"I'm starving..", Xia Ruo Lan mumbled behind him, his furrowed eyebrows relaxed easing the stiff expression on his face.
Ethan turned around to look at Xia Ruo Lan hungrily eyeing the plate of cookies, his mouth twitched as he remembered her biting his shoulder.
"Let's eat..", he shook his head before his low voice was heard as he sat down.
Xia Ruo Lan followed suit and the pair had their breakfast in a stifling silence.
Ethan couldn't stomach the food whereas Xia Ruo Lan gobbled up everything with no hesitation at all.
"Bad, bad cookie!!", his ears buzzing with her drunken voice.
He felt distressed, a hint of disappointment in his dark eyes as he gazed at her face stuffed with cookies.
After their hearty breakfast, Ethan dropped Xia Ruo Lan at the Xia house before leaving for office.
- - -
Sera woke up quite late after her late night talks with Lucifer. She had her brunch with Lu Jinan who was unexpectedly free that morning. It was one of the rare days where he would be free the whole day. It was his holiday.
The Lu parents were visiting their close friends in the nearby village while Grandma Lu was missing Grandpa Lu and decided to visit his tomb with Aunt Zhou.
"How's the work coming along for your gallery? Do you need any help?", Lu Jinan asked while lounging leisurely on the wooden bench in the garden.
The brother-sister duo were enjoying the cool breeze and soothing scenery sitting before the lake in the garden.
"Uh-huh.. It's been just a week or so. Xia Ruo Lan is really good, even Ethan is helping a lot. Su Yin would be joining soon as well.. I reckon things will fall into place before the stipulated time of two months", she replied, her eyes glimmering with hope.
"I know you're capable but still you have to let me know if you need anything!", he gazed at her meaningfully, she nodded her head.
"Last time my friend was here she really admired the roses..", Sera mumbled reminiscing Maya's joyous face with a wide smile, her dark chocolate brown eyes sparkling.
"Your friend? That girl who gave you the paintbrush?", his eyes flashed, a grim smile on his face as he remembered her sad face.
Lu Jinan sincerely wanted to apologize to Maya but she seemed to vanish in thin air with no traces of her. He could only wait for an opportunity to make it up to her and earn her apology.
"Yes! She's my bestfriend..", she exclaimed in an excited manner, he chuckled amused by her dazzling smile.
They sat in complete silence perusing the lake, the birds feeding on the flowers and it's beauty. It wasn't suffocating or uncomfortable. It was in fact calming and they seemed to relax under it's rejuvenating effect.
"Brother! It's been a while since we had a great time together..", she stated admiring the blooming lotus in the lake.
"Hmm.. What do you want to do? Adventure sports?", he observed her face, her back turned stiff before she turned to shoot a sweet smile at him.
"Sure!", she agreed in a heartbeat. He shook his head smiling, ruffling her hair with a doting expression on his gorgeous face.