Chapter 97 - Ugly Smile
After Ma Jin left to look for something to eat for him, Shui Xian placed his hand on the side of his neck. The hickey was covered by the turtleneck. And the only reason he wanted to hide it was because he didn't want to create a scene. It'd become the gossip of the year at his office if someone saw it.
But just now Ma Jin's reaction really surprised him a little. He actually thought it was a bug bite. Just what kind of image did he had in his employees' eyes? Did he seem like a monk? Is that why they'd just assume that it was a bug bite rather than a love bite?
As he went inside the building and found a table to sit at, he looked at his phone screen where Raelle's contact details were displayed. The picture he used for her called id was the one they took on the day they got married. His lips curved up slightly as he continued to stare at her photo and muttered to himself, "My bug has a very ugly smile."
He truly found her smile ugly. Even though she looked beautiful when she smiled, he couldn't see that smile in her eyes and that made his heart feel unsettled every time. That's why he really didn't like her smile. It was just an artificial smile but it actually looked pretty but he wondered how beautiful it'd be if she smiled genuinely?
Ma Jin came running back with a packed lunch box. He placed it before Shui Xian on the table and said, "Master Xian, this is the only thing I could find around here. I'll take you to a restaurant after the meeting."
"There is no need," said Shui Xian as he took off the plastic lid of the lunch box. He took the disposable chopsticks and looked at the very simple lunch before him.
Before taking a bite, he carefully took a picture of it and looked at it deciding whether to send it to Raelle just as she had asked for it or not. Ma Jin was staring at him intently and finally dared to ask, "Master Xian, what are you doing?"
"Collecting evidence," replied Shui Xian before looking up at him. He passed the phone and said, "Take a picture."
"Huh?" Ma Jin was taken aback again.
"Take a picture," repeated Shui Xian, and Ma Jin took the phone to click the photo. Shui Xian took his phone back and looked satisfied with this photo. He instantly sent it to Raelle before he focused on eating his meal.
Meanwhile, when Raelle got the picture, she continued to stare at it. Cloe's interest was piqued and she craned her neck to see. Raelle had zoomed on the meal box in Shui Xian's hand so she could only see a pair of hands on the screen.
"Is that your husband?" asked Cloe curiously. "He has such pretty hands." She looked at her own hands and hid them saying, "That's gonna give me a new complex now."
Raelle turned her head to give her a look.
Cloe instantly straightened up, "Hehe... I almost forgot that you don't like people eyeing your things. But trust me, I wasn't eyeing him. I just found his hands very pretty. Now, I'm even more curious to know what he looks like."
Raelle looked back at the screen and pressed the lock screen button before placing her phone on the table, face down. Since she was silent, Cloe thought she won't say anything. But unexpectedly, Raelle actually commented after a long pause, "He does have beautiful hands."
Cloe's lips curved up as she instantly came to a conclusion. Her boss's husband was definitely handsome enough to catch her attention. It's not every day you'd hear her giving compliments to someone.
On the other side, when Shui Xian was done eating, he wiped his face and only then Ma Jin informed him, "Master Xian, I just received the news. Ruan Meilin's negotiation with the other party has gone smoothly. After signing the contract tomorrow, they'd be holding a celebration banquet. So, she'll be able to come back over the weekend."
Shui Xian only hummed in reply before he looked at the time. He had finished eating as soon as possible because of the meeting time but the other party was still not there. Just as he was about to ask Ma Jin about that, he saw a familiar figure and paused.
He stood up to shake hands with the man and wanted to ignore the one he brought along but held himself back. "Mr. Ji, have a seat."
Mr. Ji smiled at him politely before introducing the one beside him, "This is my lawyer, Mr. Cui. I hope you don't mind me bringing him along."
"Since Mr. Cui is already here," began Shui Xian with a cold look. "Then let him be."
The warm sunlight shone on the side of his face from the windows beside him but no warmth could be seen on Shui Xian's face from beginning to end. In fact, his whole aura chilled.
From beginning to end, the one addressed as Mr. Cui didn't say anything. He just continued to observe Shui Xian with a smile on his face. Only when Mr. Ji stepped aside to take a call did he lean ahead and said, "Long time no see, Xianxian."
Shui Xian didn't even look at him as he replied, "Since your trademark smirk is still intact, I believe it hasn't been that long."
"How cruel!" remarked Cui Xukun. "That is no way to greet an old friend."
"I guess I forgot my manners," retorted Shui Xian in the same monotonous voice.
Cui Xukun's smirk dampened a little as he said, "But I think it's been far too long now. The Xianxian I remember... I can't find him in you anymore." He took a pause before adding, "Is it because of what I did?"
"How I act is my matter!" said Shui Xian. "It has nothing to do with you."