The car ride back to Jade Condos was in total silence as Zhao Ya'Er was immersed in her own thoughts. When she finally came to her senses again, she was already standing in front of the door to her penthouse.
She blinks her eyes a few times with a frown. When did she get here? How did she get here?
Wasn't she sitting inside Xu Long's car?
Remembering that she was with Xu Long, she looks in the direction of his place. He had saved her, but because she was so lost in her own world, she forgot to thank him.
Just as her head turned, she was taken back by surprise seeing that Xu Long had not entered his home.
He was standing in front of his door with his right hand on his hip and left elbow propped against the wall. He even had his left leg crossed over the other and was staring back at her like he was trying to read her.
"Uh…"
Zhao Ya'Er was struck speechless by his gaze. She found it strange that for someone interested in men, he was looking at her with such soft eyes.
The kind of eyes one has when they are in front of the person they like.
Her cheeks flush pink and she averts his gaze. She quickly tells herself to not overthink the situation. He is only looking at her like that because he has the heart of a woman and probably worried about her like a friend.
Thinking this way, she sighs a smile and takes a step towards him before gesturing a polite bow.
"Thank you for helping me back there. If there's anything I can help you with in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. I will help with what I can."
Xu Long was staring at her, but he was also lost in Lalaland. He had only spent a short amount of time with Zhao Ya'Er, but it was enough to make him find her interesting.
Most women experience what she had gone through would have burst into tears. However, she didn't. She kept her head high and held everything in.
Thinking this way, he was able to conclude one thing. Maybe she can remain strong because she has been putting up with this for too long.
Like it's to the point, she is doesn't care anymore about what Wei Hongyi does to her.
Imagining all the pain and suffering she had to go through alone, Xu Long felt another wave of anger wash inside him. It was the kind of anger that made him want to kill Wei Hongyi, only to revive him to kill him again and again.
Before his thoughts could trail further, Zhao Ya'Er's voice brought him back to reality. He inhales a deep breath to calm his mind and looks at her with a soft smile.
"You don't have to thank me. Any man with a good heart would have done the same to help, but if you really want to thank me, you should have dinner with me tomorrow night."
Zhao Ya'Er was in awe of his smile that could make any woman feel like they are on cloud nine. Her cheeks flush red at his words and she slightly purse her lip.
"If you say that, I will think that you like women and not men."
She chuckles her words then looks down at her handbag to get her house key.
"Anyways, thank you again for being my friend and sticking up for me. I am truly indebted to you."
As she retrieves her house keys, she looks back at him and gives him a sweet but friendly smile.
"I'll go inside now. I don't want your boyfriend to have any misunderstanding if he accidentally sees us and hears you."
Watching her unlock the door, Xu Long was dumbfounded. To be more precise, she had him at, 'like women and not men.'
It was a small sentence that most men would agree with, but the way she said it was like he is bent the other way.
His right hand slowly raises up and he clutches tightly onto his chest like he was in pain.
"Gay and friend-zoned at the same time."
And that was when he smacked himself on the forehead in his head. Throughout their lunch date, he forgot to clear any misunderstanding with her.
"I like women."
He quickly blurts out without thinking and straightens his posture.
"I like women and not men."
Thinking about his words for a quick second, he shakes his head before correcting himself.
"Not just any woman, I am interested in you and would like to get to know you better."
He spoke with confidence, but seeing her shocked expression, the air around them turned awkward. He flashes her a crooked grin and chuckles.
"If I came off as rude, I'm very sorry. I hope you think about what I said and let me know if I am worthy enough to be a part of your heart."
He quickly spun to face the door and unlocks it. Embarrassed at himself, he pushes the door open and jumps inside. However, before closing the door, he pokes his head back out to look at her.
Only think time, with a more serious expression.
"Please remember, I might act feminine, but I am a man who only has an interest in women."
Like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders, he grins from ear to ear at her then returns inside.
"…"
Zhao Ya'Er was left standing alone in the hallway. She stares at the spot Xu Long had been standing without batting an eye.
Feeling like an entire day had gone by, she finally came to her senses, and her mouth slowly opens agape.
"Oh. My. God."
Her eyes widen with each of her words and doing the same thing as Xu Long, she abruptly pushes open her front door and frantically darts inside.
She slams the door shut and presses her back against it as if she were trying to keep out the devil.
"H-h-h-he…"
She stutters one word before placing her palm on her chest to calm herself. The image of Xu Long's serious expression floated inside her mind and she swallows a hard gulp.
"He likes women…"
Her legs grew weak and she slowly slid down to sit on the floor.
"How… This… Oh, God…"
She raises both her hands and held her head as she squeezes her eyes shut. She is happy to know that Xu Long likes women and he specifically said her. However, thinking about something, she screams inside her head.
"Ya'Er ah, how are you supposed to face him now?"
