Adalson furrowed his brows. "Don't you know Joslyn is spending time with her family? She asked your brother to pick her up tomorrow."
Hearing his father's words, Wacian was stunned. He didn't know that at all.
Cecelia instinctively took a glance at Wesley. Her oldest son held the pitcher, filling everyone's glass with water. He wore a poker face.
Compared to Wesley, Niles was friendly and excited, a huge smile on his face. "We should get her over here. I want to hear about England. Can you help me out, Uncle?" Of course, that was just an excuse.
He had an ulterior motive—to help his elder brother be happy.
Cecelia glared at her younger son. "You brat! I gave you lots of opportunities to study abroad, and you turned me down. Now you want to hear about it from someone else?"
"What are you up to, Niles?" Keith saw right through the young man.
Niles looked at his discerning grandfather. Scratching the back of his head, he looked down in embarrassment. "Um…" Yet, he didn't explain anything, but looked hopefully at Adalson, expecting an answer.
Adalson smiled joyfully and instructed Wacian to make the call. "Call Blair. Ask her to come here ASAP. Tell her not to keep her elders waiting."
"Sure, Dad," Wacian nodded and left the VIP room.
When Blair got Wacian's call, she stood in a line, waiting for her turn to order. She wanted some oden. The thought of a steaming bowl of crab cakes, tofu fritters, potatoes and radish floating in a dashi soup was making her mouth water. There were only three customers ahead of her now. She picked up the phone. "Blair, are you friends with Niles?" Wacian asked as soon as the call was connected.
"We met twice. Why?" she answered, craning her neck to look at the front of the line. She wasn't that focused on the conversation. She was set on scoring some oden.
"Nothing. We're all here at the restaurant. Everyone's waiting on you."
'Waiting on me?' she wondered, confused. "Didn't you tell Uncle Adalson that I'm not coming tonight?"
Wacian walked over to the window and lit a cigarette. "I told him. Dad said Joslyn wasn't due back until tomorrow. He specifically invited you. What's more, Niles wanted to hear about your time in England."
While he was talking on the phone, he noticed Wesley come out of the room and walk to the window too. Wesley stood next to Wacian and pulled out a cigarette from the pack in his pocket.
"Forget it. I'll call Niles if he wants to know that bad."
Wacian felt confused by her unusual behavior. "What's wrong, Blair? You're acting weird."
"Nothing…" Blair stammered, not knowing how to make up an excuse. She wondered if she had been so bad at hiding her emotions.
"Then just come to dinner. Six elders are waiting for you here. Kind of impolite, isn't it? So where are you now? I'll swing by and pick you up."
Blair sighed inwardly. She was almost to the counter. The one ahead of her was paying. Yet, she had no choice but to walk away. "I'll get a cab. What's the address?"
"Okay, I'll text you. Be quick."
After sending the address to Blair, Wacian happened to see Wesley light a cigarette with a high-class lighter. "Nice lighter. A high-end brand of ZL Group, unless I miss my guess. A gift from your mom?"
Wesley took a glance at his lighter. He put it back to his pocket and replied, "No."
"So you bought it? You don't buy things just because they're cool. A lot like Dad." Wesley and Adalson held the same concept that buying luxurious goods was a waste of money.
Wesley didn't answer his question but changed the subject. "Your cousin coming?"
"Yeah. She's kinda strange after returning from England. She might just be shy." That was the only reason Wacian could figure out. After all, Blair didn't know many at the dinner.
Wesley said nothing. He smoked quietly.
After finishing his cigarette, Wacian stood by the window for a few more minutes to let the tobacco smell fade. He then returned to the private room to talk with the elders.
Wesley was left alone in front of the window. He looked outside, contemplating the night scene of the city while smoking one after another.
A few moments later, a waitress led a young woman to the VIP room.
The room Adalson had booked was at the end of the corridor, by the window. So when Blair came near, she saw Wesley smoking in front of the window.
Wesley heard the footsteps and tilted his head. Their eyes met. Blair hesitated a little and then nodded politely to him.
As she continued walking towards the door, she heard his voice. "Wait."
She thought he was calling out to someone else, so she didn't stop. "Blair." His voice rang in her ears again.
Now she was sure he was talking to her.
Confused, Blair turned around and looked at him. "What?"
Wesley blew out a mouthful of smoke, put out the cigarette and threw it into the trash. "Please come here."
The waitress left. Blair took a few steps in his direction and stopped a meter away.
Six months ago, she proposed marriage to him, standing the same distance away. And he turned her down…
However, Wesley naturally took a step closer to her this time. Maybe he felt the distance between them was a little too much. "You don't need to avoid seeing me," he said curtly.
Blair was surprised. Again, she wondered if she had been so bad at hiding her emotions. "It's not like that. I don't know your family well. They shouldn't miss me."
'Don't know my family…' Wesley stared at the girl. She no longer wore the same sweet smile as before when facing him. A part of him didn't like this change and he asked outright, "You don't know me, either?"
"Not really." On the outside, Blair forced a polite smile; deep down, she scolded him, 'I totally got it wrong, and you turned me down. I need some distance.'
Wesley took a step forward again. They were very close to each other now, physically, at least. Blair was confused. 'What…does he want?'
She could smell the reek of cigarette smoke from his clothes. It stung her nostrils. Involuntarily, she took a step back.
However, he walked forward again. "Don't you love me? Why did you say you don't know me?" 'Women are so unpredictable. They change at any time, ' he thought.
Blair kept stepping backwards until she could back up no more. A wall was in her way. She took a deep breath and said, "I loved you, but not anymore. Mr. Li, you think I'm still waiting for you? Think again. I'm engaged to a great guy. We'll get married after I graduate. Don't worry. I'll invite you to our wedding."
She smirked, eyes full of sarcasm. Her words got on his nerves. He felt he had to say something. "Really? You sell yourself cheap. You jumped into another man's arms a few days after I turned you down?"
"That's none of your business, Mr. Li. We're not lovers; we're not anything to each other. Stay away from me!" They were too close to each other now. Blair could have easily wrapped her arms around his waist if she wanted to.
The petite woman was cornered by a tall and strong man. It looked like he was bullying her.
"Wesley, what are you doing?" Hartwell's voice suddenly came from behind Wesley.
Blair's heart skipped a beat when she heard the voice. She pushed Wesley away, kept a distance from him and asked in panic, "Hartwell…why are you here?"
With his eyes staring at the calm Wesley, Hartwell took off his gloves and handed them to his assistant. "If I hadn't come at the right time, I would have missed this lovely scene. Think you can bully my cousin and get away with it?"
Blair hastily shook her head. "It's okay. Wesley just had a few questions to ask me… That's all…"
