"Bella?" the man squinted at her, his white hair gleamed against the lighting of the store.
"Mo Li?"
"Hey." He awkwardly smiled before he grabbed the paper bags from the floor. "Let me help you out."
For a few seconds, Bella stared at the man's familiar face.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked, confusion laced his gaze.
"No. I just… " From her memories, this man was her first boyfriend when she was still in college. She tried to recall the reason why they broke up. It seems that break up actually hurt Bella a lot? Why was this woman's life so complicated? "I can carry it." She tried to snatch the paper bags only to receive a knowing look from him.
"Really Bella?"
She flinched, the familiarity of his voice made her heart raced. Does this mean Bella Is still in love with this man? But… she married her ex-husband, right? Too complicated. She smiled at Mo Li and tried to hide the confusion in her eyes. "I'm about to— go home." She lied. Sadly, her stomach failed to cooperate. It actually grumbled, loud enough for him to lift his eyebrow at her.
"How about dinner?"
"I can make dinner at home."
"You don't cook." His answer seemed so sure, it made her wonder if this man was actually a stalker?
"No. Actually I— "
"Come… let's have dinner."He said before walking out of the clothing store. Bella stared at the man's back for a few seconds as she tried to recall what happened back then. Then she froze. Mo Li is someone from the Mo Family— the same Mo family that had been the Qin Family's enemy in politics since the beginning of Lu City!
For some reason, Bella thought that this Mo Li tricked her into falling for him so he could break her heart. Meaning, she hated this man to her core. But wasn't it too late now? Mo Li already walked out with her bags. Should she act as she hated him now?
No. Her stomach is grumbling, her feet are aching, and she was really tired.
So, she followed him out of the store and went to the nearest restaurant. Bella didn't say anything as she lowered her head. Wondering what should she tell the man. Should she act as she hated him? But it's been years! More than six years, or was it seven?
"You look… different." Mo Li said after she sat opposite him. The warm wallpaper of the restaurant seemed to make her more nervous. Bella immediately wondered why this body's reaction towards this man is so different. Was this the effect of 'first love never die' saying?
"I would take that as a compliment?" To her surprise, the words that came out of her mouth didn't show the nervousness that she felt inside. It was cold and confident. "How are you? It's been so long… was it six? Seven years?"
"Seven." He smiled. "And I am good." He loosened his tie. "I was never expecting that I would see you in this part of the city." While this place is technically a part of Lu City, they were currently on an island. Lu Island had a mile bridge that connected it to the main City.
"Really?" she lifted an eyebrow. She had a feeling that this meeting was somehow intentional.
"Hmm." He made his order when the waitress approached them. "You here… alone?"
Bella nodded. She sounded crazy but her instincts were telling her that Mo Li was only pretending that he doesn't know she was here. "Why are you here?"
"Business."
She nodded and also made her order. "I heard you went abroad?"
"I came back… a year ago."
Bella bit her lower lips.
"What are you doing on this island? I mean… do you live here? I remember that the Qin Family— "
"I am no longer a part of the Qin Family." She sternly said. "Please stop pretending that you don't know that." She uttered. Her chest is aching once again.
"Alright. I'm sorry. Of course, I already know that— about what happened." He said, and for a few seconds, she thought she saw regret in his eyes.
She stared at him. "You — are you here to find me?"
"What makes you say that?"
Did she just saw hope in his eyes? Does this mean, Mo Li still liked Bella? Aish… she really hated this kind of complicated relationship. "I can feel it. Do you need something from me?" she asked. Mo Li turned silent. He gulped, his Adams Apple bobbed as he continued staring at her.
"I originally came here to hire you."
"Hm?"
"I wasn't expecting that I would see you here tonight. I was planning to see you a few days from now once I have settled on the island."
"Hire me for what?" she asked. Right now, she was currently working as a professor in Politics and International Study at Z University. What could he possibly hire her for?
"My Political Analyst."
Almost immediately her eyebrow lifted. "A political analyst? You— Are you planning to run for office?"
His gaze turned serious as he nodded. "I am, and to succeed, I needed to work with the best. And that is you."
The conversation was interrupted when their orders arrived. Frowning, Bella looked at the man. A political Analyst should be something that she was perfectly capable of. Moreover, she could also use this as her access to the female and male lead who was also planning to run for office in the upcoming election.
"No," Bella answered. She had ways to access the male and female lead. Right now, she couldn't work with someone that might complicate everything. After all, she could feel this body's reaction towards Mo Li. She was certain that the body still liked the man. She couldn't let that complicate her quest.
"Even if I offer you a lot of money?"
"What makes you think that it would change my decision?" She loved— or Lily loved money, but she wouldn't really act like that in front of Bella's ex-boyfriend. This man caused some major heartache to Bella. How could she let him smooth his way back into her life? Ex is an Ex. There is no coming back from that.
