Chapter 105 - First (1)

Three Years Before:

Long Mei was tired. 

She put on a smile on her face in front of everyone. It used to be genuine. It did not take much effort before, but now…it felt exhausting. They say it takes more muscles to smile than to frown. She wondered when her smiles stopped becoming real and false instead. 

She was happy for most of her life. 

She had parents she adored. She had four older siblings that would back her up at any given time. 

Then what was it? What was she missing?

"You look bored," said a friend she had met the other night. 

Long Mei had many friends. It did not take much for her to sweet talk herself into someone's company. That's how she got invited to the best parties, the best events in the city. But she started to believe that not all of them showed their true colours yet. 

Long Mei's expression quickly changed into a smile. "Me, bored? Never. I tried a new drink that was too bitter." It's true. It was distasteful. 

Her friend smiled. "Then let's get you something better," she said. 

Long Mei loosened up, and she did not know how many drinks she had. She decided to wander the place when she realized she had a little too much, forgetting her company. She wanted to get away from them. 

"Hey, cutie. Would you like to dance?" a stranger said. 

She feigned a smile. "No, thank you." She continued to walk on, ignoring him. "Hey, beautiful," said another. Long Mei faked another smile and kept on moving. She had no idea where she was going. She did not know where she was or who the homeowner is. 

She searched for the bathroom and found the door locked. She banged the door, but no one came out, but she knew people were inside. "Ugh. You'd think there would be more bathrooms in this big house?"

An amused laugh sounded from behind her. "There are more in the upper level," a husk voice mused. She turned to see a beautiful man. Thick natural blond hair coated his head. But his eyes. They were angular like hers. He must come from a mixed background. Interesting. 

"Thank you," she mouthed before she turned to hike up the stairs. That was when she stumbled on the first step. She pursed her lips embarrassingly and turned around to see him watching her. 

"Do you need some help?" he asked with a smile that told her he was holding back a laugh. 

That smile was so genuine. Long Mei could get drunk on it. "Yes, please," was her response. 

She looked at him, nearly robbed of breath. The blond man grasped one of her hands. He was warm beneath her cool fingertips. She wondered how something as simple as a glance could make her feel so electric. And the way he looked at her…it wasn't lusting, but something else entirely. 

She held onto the staircase's railing with one hand while holding the stranger's hand with the other. 

When they reached the top of the staircase, he let go. 

She knocked on the door of the bathroom, and it was occupied. Again. 

The handsome man chuckled. He then gestured the other one, which was free to use, and she muttered a breathless, "Thanks." 

Long Mei stepped into the bathroom and relieved herself. She then suddenly felt a wave of nausea when she finished and hurled into the toilet. 

She lay in the bathroom in a fetal position. And for what felt like a lifetime, someone had barged into the bathroom with a key, finding her. 

The figure lifted her and carried her in his arms.

"Mister, why did you come in?" She questioned. 

"I was waiting for you," he said, looking worried. "And you took longer than normal." 

"You were waiting for me?" she asked unbelievably. She swore no one was keeping track of her. 

"Twenty-five minutes, to be exact. Then I felt like it was a reasonable time to come in." 

"What if I was taking a really long shit?"

The man laughed. "I contemplated it, but you were swaying up the stairs. So I believed that was not the case. I had a 50/50 chance on whether I was right or wrong. I took my chances. I'd find you in need of help, or I'd find you in a position where you'd most likely give me a verbal lashing for walking in on you." 

Long Mei pursed her lips into a grin. 

The man then took her into a room and placed her over the cool quilts. "I'm still a virgin," Long Mei told him. 

The blond man chuckled. "I did not take you here to sleep with you. That would not be gentlemanly of me. Besides, you hurled in the bathroom and haven't brushed your teeth. It's the last thing in my mind." 

Long Mei smirked. "In that case, I should freshen up!" 

"You can use my personal bathroom. It has everything you need. But I will wait here until you finish." 

Long Mei had no idea why but she liked the idea. She trusted him, and she didn't understand why. 

She stepped into the bathroom. She grabbed a new toothbrush as she washed and rinsed her mouth thoroughly, downing water, chewing on a mint. She then removed her ruined dress, washed her body, and placed on an oversized male robe. 

When she stepped back into the bedroom, she found the handsome man again, and he looked at her with parted lips. He stared at her longingly, and she swallowed hard. 

She felt like kissing him. She had never kissed anyone before. 

The blond then recollected himself and then said, "Many guests will be staying tonight. The courtesy can be extended for you if you like." 

Long Mei pressed her forehead. "Yes, thank you! My head hurts, and I'm tired." 

"Then you may get some rest in here," he told her. 

The blond man then left. 

Long Mei dove beneath the quilts, and sleep grasped her fast in the dark.