Unaware of the situation that took place at Jade Condos, Yue Ling returns to De L'amour and enters her office. A few seconds after her, Liu Shan greets her by poking his head in and smiles at her.
"How did it go?"
Yue Ling doesn't pause in her steps and walks to sit down on one of the two white couches. She looks at Liu Shan and slightly signals with her chin to the couch across from her.
"Sit."
Hearing her, Liu Shan pout his lip. Her tone was normal but why does he get a feeling that something was bothering her? Actually, if he really thinks about it, it was like he had been turned into a cute little bunny and was being tricked by the big bad wolf.
However, seeing how composed she is, he brushes this thought away and enters the room.
"Was the meeting with Secretary Jiang that bad?"
He takes a seat and asks curiously with a trembling smile. He didn't go with her because he had to run some errands for her. Could it be that there was a disagreement between the two parties?
Yue Ling stares at her assistant without interrupting his movements or question. She waited until he had settled down and finally spoke.
"I personally interviewed her and decided that she will start next week."
Giving her a small nod in understanding, Liu Shan sounds an 'ah'. However, thinking about something, he purses his lip with a frown.
"Is this a good choice? How do we know that she won't become another Ming Yue?"
He had to ask as he was worried. Unlike him and everyone else, Ming Yue was the only person hired who had no connections to Fate.
Actually, Sophia could be considered the same since she hasn't worked here for long. Despite her having not having any personal connections to Fate, her deceased father was a close friend of Old Han.
However, the point is, what if Secretary Jiang turns out to be another Ming Yue?
Especially now that the world knows De L'amour and An Qing are under the same person, who wouldn't wish to get on Yue Ling's good side?
"I know why you're worried, but don't think too much."
Yue Ling interrupts his thoughts and leans back on the couch. She casually crosses on leg over the other and sighs a faint smile.
"We won't know until we give her a chance."
Her eyes calmly flutter, and she looks straight at Liu Shan with a slight tilt to her head.
"Instead of worrying about Secretary Jiang, I have a question for you."
Liu Shan was now at a loss by her words. He wanted to discuss the matters with Secretary Jiang, but seeing how her expression, he could only let it go. She was always someone with good judgment, so there was no need to question her decision.
However, when he heard her last question, he was struck at another loss.
Yue Ling was quick to read his thoughts. She decided to use this time as there was still ten minutes until their lunch break ended.
"Who is Ling Ni?"
Liu Shan's eye trembled at the name as he was not expecting this question from her. His brows ever so lightly scrunch together as he tries to recall if he ever mentioned the name. However, remembering their talk from last time, he heaves a sigh.
"She's no one important to me."
He looks away to the window and stares out to the sky.
"I don't want to hear that name again."
Yue Ling arch a brow at the man across from her. She knows that bringing up the name would hurt him, but she needed to know.
"I only asked because I saw someone I knew at the restaurant. Her name is also Ling Ni."
She stood up like their conversation meant nothing to her and Liu Shan looks back at her.
He doesn't know why she is planning by doing this, but one thing he knows is that she is trying to get information from him.
"Does she have brown hair that is a little below her shoulder blades?"
Yue Ling shrugs her shoulders and walks to her desk.
"The Ling Ni I know does have brown hair. She is also acquainted with Zhao Ya'Er and Xie Na."
Liu Shan's gaze followed her every move without missing anything. He clenches his fists tightly and inhales a deep breath before looking back at the windows.
"That's her."
He has never seen Ling Ni around Zhao Ya'Er or Xie Na. However, from the information he gathered before moving to Imperial, it mentioned that she knew the two women.
"The Ling Ni I know and the one you know is the same person."
Yue Ling pause in her steps and stares ahead with her back turned to Liu Shan. She closes her eyes and inhales a deep breath.
She wanted to know but after hearing his answer, why does she feel regretful?
"Shan, as your friend, I hope that you will promise me one thing."
Her eyes opened not too slow and not too fast. An unexplainable feeling flashes inside her bluish green eyes as she turns back to look at him.
"No matter how difficult it is for you. Don't be clouded by a love that is not meant to be."
She walks back to him without her gaze ever moving from him.
"Erase her from your memories."
She knows that what she saw at Moonlight is not wrong. No matter what reason Ling Ni has to be with Tao Meng, she does not care. She only hopes that Liu Shan never knows about it because it will crush the man.
Then again, he must have known since his heart was already broken. However, even if he knew, she would do everything she can to stop him from going back to Ling Ni.
Not because she is jealous, but because Ling Ni's reason for being with Tao Meng has to be more than what it is. As Tao Meng is a man who appears decent, but his ways are by far one of the cruelest methods.
If she lets Liu Shan fall back for Ling Ni, it will only be a world of pain for Liu Shan and that is the last thing she wishes for him.
She can never let Liu Shan be dragged into that kind of mess that Ling Ni is in.
Oblivious to her thoughts, Liu Shan stares at her as she walks over to him. He couldn't help but question her words, then decides to ask.
"Why would say that?"
Yue Ling doesn't walk to the couch she was sitting on but stops in front of the one Liu Shan was sitting on. She held a melancholy expression and sits down on the empty space next to him.
"Shan, you are someone I trust wholeheartedly. Please listen to me."
Her right hand slowly raises, and she pinches his chin. Turning his head slightly to the left, a sharp pain stabs her chest.
Even though his hair was blocking it from view, she could see the small bruise on his temple.
She looks back at him and her expression was not one of a lover's but that of a worried sister.
A very faint smile curls on her face and she parted her lips.
"I don't want to see you go back to that life."
