"You want more Kimchi?" Mo Li asked her after everyone started eating their food.
Again, Bella nodded without saying anything. Right now, she could feel some staring daggers at her, and she knew that saying no to Mo Li would only sharpen this dagger. She sighed inwardly and watched as Mo Li started putting various food in her bowl. "I'm good." He said while gritting her teeth. She should feel a little irritated, but she wasn't.
In fact, she felt nothing. It was like… she was expecting him to do this. She wasn't even surprised that he knew everything that she liked. From the type of meat and her kimchi. She looked at Jen, who was winking at her, beaming as she stuffed some food in her mouth.
"Mr. Mo… How long did you stay abroad?" one of the professors asked for the umpteenth time. Right now, everyone felt that it was only Mo Li and Bella at the table. If not one of them would start talking, they were sure that Mo Li would continue acting like they don't exist and would only cater Bella's needs.
"A lot of years. Seven." He said without looking at the man who spoke.
"Oh. That means… you immediately came here after coming back to the country? Was it perhaps because of…." The man cleared his throat when he saw Amy Sy glaring at him. "I mean… was it because you wanted to pursue teaching?"
"Hmmm." Mo Li nodded nonchalantly.
"So…" This time, Jen spoke. "Tell me about you two? Clearly, you already know each other, right? Are you like… previous lovers?"
"Jen… I don't think that is an appropriate question." Amy butted in. "I mean… no offense meant, but Bella just got divorced. Is it really alright for you to ask that when you know that Bella is still stalking his ex's new wife?" Amy sneered. "You know this and— "
"Yes, we were." Mo Li answer shut Amy up. He smiled at her, making her choke on her food.
"Miss Sy, talking while your mouth is full is just…" Bella shook her head, showing a disappointed look on her face. "It's alright, you don't have to feel any embarrassment. No need to feel awkward at all. Just, please …. remove the kimchi stuck in between your teeth next time. After all, all of us here work in the academe. It would be embarrassing to have our students see us like that." Bella gave her a gentle smile. "Isn't that right, Mr. Mo?"
Bella's sharp words surprised everyone at the table. She was never the type to confront someone. Of course, everyone here knew of Bella's sad past with her husband. Because she was already divorced at twenty-four, Amy loved to make fun of her, announcing her marital status to new teachers that they met. However, they never once heard Bella confront Amy or even act angry towards her.
She would always lower her head and keep her silence. Or pretend that she needed to go somewhere and leave. Bella was the exact opposite of Jen's vocal personality.
"You— "
"The Kimchi is in between your lower teeth." Bella interrupted Amy. "Do you need a mirror?" Anyone on the table cannot hear any anger in Bella's voice. In fact, her face was smiling, and her tone was too calm. Despite all this, they couldn't help but feel the hairs on their necks standing as they listen to Bella's caring words.
Even her gentle smile made them a little intimidated!
Seeing Amy got a mirror to check herself, Bella went back to calmly eating her food while Mo Li would occasionally add food to her bowl. Of course, the situation immediately got awkward after Bella's harsh words. Most of them continued eating their foods silently while Jen started asking Bella and Mo Li random questions about their past.
Surprisingly, both refused to talk about it and just dodged Jen's questions.
"Aish… you two… you were so similar, ah." Jen helplessly laughed before she shook her head and decided to finish her food instead. Obviously, Bella and Mo Li doesn't want to talk about their relationship however, she wasn't giving up. She knew that Bella would soon tell her the truth. All she needed was patience. After a few more minutes, someone finally suggested that they go back to the university as some of them still have classes to attend to.
"Why are you here?" Bella finally asked when Mo Li walked next to her. They are now on their way to the university, and Jen finally decided to walk ahead of them, giving them the space to talk.
"You already know why…."
Bella pursed her lips as she fought the urge to act like a teenager. It seems that acting like a mature woman is actually quite difficult. "You want me to work for you? But you already know that someone from the Qin Family might run against you, right?"
"And? Are you someone from the Qin Family?" He asked. "Give me your phone."
"Hm?" She looked at him. However, her hand was already handing him her phone— an action that surprised her. It seems that her body was thinking on its own? Isn't that weird? She watched as Mo Li pressed some numbers before giving her phone back to her.
"I already gave you my number. Call me in case you need anything."
She immediately lifted an eyebrow. "Why would I need anything from you? It's not like..we live…" She paused and nodded. Understanding flashed in her eyes. "You live… in the same apartment building as me… " She stated. This casual conversation was too weird! She stared at him, wondering how much did this body know this man. Did the original body love this Mo Li so much for her body to react like… like she was already used to his presence?
"You are still as smart as ever." He smirked. "Of course, I would live close to you. After all, I am going to work hard to make you work for me."
She blinked as she felt her heart skipped a beat when she saw him smirk. Yep, her reaction towards him was definitely weird. 'Hey, robot. Is there a part of Bella's soul in this body?' she couldn't help but ask.
[Do you want Bee to scan this body?]
'Yes, please.' She wasn't expecting an answer from this robot but was really happy that it offered a scan. After all, she can't have this body compromised in her quest.
[Scanning in 3…2…1]
[Scanning Complete. Bee cannot detect any other soul inside the body.]
Bella bit her bottom lip.
"You should stop staring at me like that, you know."
"Hm? Is there something wrong?" She asked, wondering if her large eyes looked like a serial killer's. Does she look too weird? Wait, why was she even worried if she looked like a serial killer? No, why was she worried about her appearance at all?
Mo Li chuckled. "Nothing. We should go." He said before holding her hands. The urge to push his hand away immediately swirled inside her mushy brain. But her body somehow decided against it.
This— Isn't this too weird?
'Hey, robot! Are you sure there is nothing wrong with this body?'
[Bee is positive]
Bella nodded inwardly. This body's reaction towards this man is definitely weird and she couldn't explain it. Not even the robot could detect that there is an anomaly somewhere. Perhaps she was only overthinking? Or perhaps, she found Mo Li really handsome? A crush?
She looked at the man who was pulling her towards the gates of the university. White hair, six foot two, leaned and muscular. The man was definitely an eye candy. Compared to her plain appearance, Mo Li looked like a sparkling jewel next to a… plain silver. Alright, maybe her comparison was a bit too much.
With her plain appearance, how did Mo Li liked her when they were still teenagers? That sounded like a mystery to her. From the memories that this body had, Mo Li acted really gentle and kind. Of course, her opinions towards this man changed when she knew that he was actually from the Mo Family.
At that time Bella felt betrayed, and she immediately concluded that Mo Li only dated her because she was someone from the Qin Family and he wanted to play with her emotions. These thoughts made her frowned. She halted her steps, forcing Mo Li to stop walking too.
"Is there something wrong?" Mo Li asked, almost innocently. "Do you feel pain, anywhere?"
"…" This man… was really acting too familiar with her. "I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Why did you date me when we were still younger?"
Mo Li lifted an eyebrow as he stared at her. She immediately concluded that he was only surprised at her bold question. "Why are you asking now?"
"Well… I find it useless if I would continue to assume while you act like this. I can't have you lead me on and started treating me like a princess only to leave, again." She uttered before wondering where did she had all the courage to be this direct. This… This should be something from Lily and not from the real Bella.
