Chapter 5

“It wasn't something for you to brag about.”

I looked up at him, astonished. I hadn't expected him to say that—or to respect women so much.

I began to see him differently. Perhaps being with him wouldn't be so bad.

Lục Bỉnh Kiệt scrambled up, furious. Teeth gritted and fists clenched, he charged at Tạ Tử Kỳ.

“How dare you kick me, you pretty boy! I'll teach you a lesson!”

7

He had barely finished when he went crashing face-first to the floor again.

The man responsible was adjusting his cuff.

“Out you go. The door's on your right.”

Unable to beat him, Lục Bỉnh Kiệt could only yell, “Just you wait! Your luck won't last forever!

“Once the hotel owner agrees to work with me, I'll be rich in no time. Then I'll crush you under my feet!”

His arrogant gaze swept around the room.

I'd had enough. “I own this hotel. If it actually agreed to work with you, I'd be the one to blame. The Lâm Group isn't a place for every stray to wander into.”

His expression changed at once. He shook his head violently and stammered, “No... That's impossible. How could this hotel be yours? If it belonged to the Lâm Group, why wouldn't I know?”

Then he seemed to work something out and grew calm again.

“Oh, I get it. You know the owner wants to work with me, so you're lying to chase me away. Is that it? You think I'd fall for a trick like that?

“I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here until the owner comes and hands me the shares himself.”

I could see there was no point arguing. I called the hotel manager instead.

When the manager addressed me respectfully as “Miss Lâm,” Lục Bỉnh Kiệt finally believed it.

He deflated like a punctured balloon. Swaying, he backed away, his face falling.

“I'd rather not have to look at a fly while I eat,” I said, then took Tạ Tử Kỳ back into our room.

The manager understood at once and ordered the guards to throw Lục Bỉnh Kiệt out.

Once we were inside, I gave an awkward smile, unsure what to say.

“Sorry you had to see that.”

Tạ Tử Kỳ still wore that faint smile. Gently, he said, “Actually, I'm a little jealous of him. You cared about him so much once.”

I hastily waved my hands.

“No! I was young and foolish, that's all. I don't like him. I haven't for a long time.”

My flustered reply made him laugh. He placed a piece of pork rib in my bowl.

“Then can I ask you out now?”

His eyes lit up, as though a lamp had been switched on behind them.

For a moment, his sincerity left me speechless. I could only stare.

This was what loving someone looked like: warm and bright, impossible to hide.

In my last life, I'd never understood love. I'd wasted everything on a rotten man. This time, I wanted to experience something real.

When I didn't answer, disappointment flickered in his eyes. He pressed his lips together.

“That's all right. We can start as friends...”

“Okay.” I cut him off. “I mean, we can date. See how things go before marriage.”

I lowered my head, suddenly unable to look at him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the hand at his side tremble. It was slight, but I noticed.

He swallowed and carefully picked up another piece of rib for me, doing his best to look composed.

“You should eat a little more. You're too thin.”

He seemed so nervous that I couldn't resist teasing him.

8

“But I don't like ribs,” I said with a perfectly straight face.

He panicked and hurriedly took the piece out of my bowl.

“What do you like? Tell me. I'll remember. I'm sorry. You loved ribs when you were little, so I thought you still did.”

Seeing his embarrassment made me feel better. I couldn't be the only one blushing and losing my composure.

Once I'd teased him enough, I burst out laughing.

“I'm kidding! I didn't think you'd fall for it.”

He laughed too. Rather than getting angry, he smiled and went on putting food in my bowl.

“The truth is, I've liked you for a long time. I arranged today's meeting myself. When you were with that Lục guy, I thought I'd lost my chance. I was miserable for ages.

“But now I'm happy. At last, I can be your knight and protect you.”

His unexpected confession set my heart racing.

I immediately stood up.