Pandora's Heart | d.cx ✓

CHAPTER 22

The function was done by 9pm, so everyone was headed back home. The participants of the show all bid a proper farewell to Nikita, including Pandora who had to force such a smile when she said to her. But with the cameras in front of them, both had no choice but to smile at each other. Nikita still felt bad as Pandora left, but she decided to suck it in and not say anything.

Everybody sat next to the person they had sat with previously, so Chengxin was really excited that he was once again sitting next to Pandora. In the darkness of the van, he put his hand on Pandora's. She turned away from the window she was looking through then back at Chengxin, giving him a pretty smile. He smiled back at her before she looked back out of the window.

Thankfully, everyone was ignoring them and talking about the function. No one noticed Chengxin's hand was on Pandora's. The two of them weren't talking, but they both knew they were having quite an intimate moment.

Upon arrival, everyone excitedly left the van to have some rest. Most of them were immediately going to sleep the moment they arrived at home.

'Okay good job today everyone!' the director announced before everyone had walked into the building. 'Get enough rest, we still have so many activities coming up!'

With the announcement, he left with his team as well. Everyone now walked into the building and had found themselves talking in the living room, exchanging "goodnights".

'That was actually really fun and Nikita looked happy. I hope you no longer blame yourself Pandora.' Yaxuan said to her.

She smiled. 'Yeah, I'm better now.'

Most of the people were surprised with Pandora's sudden change of attitude. She didn't seem to be an angry or cold person anymore, and she didn't think everything that was said to her was offensive. The boys looked at each other in surprise.

'Okay we're all happy for you.' Jiaqi concluded, and everyone started to disappear to their rooms. However, seeing that Pandora was walking into the kitchen rather than to her room, Chengxin decided to stay behind as well.

He walked into the kitchen and saw that Pandora was pouring herself a glass of water by the sink. She didn't notice his presence, so she didn't even turn around to him.

He smirked to himself and then walked behind her, putting his arms around his waist. She flinched for a moment, but she knew only one person who would do that. She removed the glass from her mouth and placed it in the sink. 'Are you going to be all touchy just because I didn't push you that time? Don't make me regret letting you kiss me.'

'Well you're not pushing me now either.' he responded confidently.

Pandora removed his arms from her waist, then turned around and pushed him. 'Is that what you wanted?'

Chengxin frowned. 'You only pushed me because I told you to, otherwise you wouldn't have. Anyway, are you going to bed?'

'No. I'm just going to change out of my dress and heels then go to the rooftop.' She started walking out of the kitchen. 'And...don't follow me.'

'I will.'

She gave him a mischievous smile the left. Chengxin knew that smile didn't mean a no, so he knew he should go up to the rooftop once he had changed out of his tuxedo as well. He made his way out of the kitchen right after Pandora and took the corridor to the male rooms.

He had an awkward encounter when he met Haoxiang in the corridors as well. He had already changed out of his tuxedo and was heading out of the corridor. The two of them looked at each other, but no one said anything. Chengxin realized there was probably tension between them, but he didn't know how to solve it. So, he decided he would ignore it.

...

Chengxin made his way to the rooftop with a smile. Pandora was sitting on a chair with a blanket wrapped around herself beneath the night sky. Chengxin walked towards the chair as well and sat next to her.

'I brought a blanket as usual, I thought you were out in the cold again. Not knowing this time you got one yourself.' he held it out.

'Yeah, cover yourself with it.' She answered the obvious.

'No, I want us to share a blanket.'

'Don't be childish,'

Chengxin smirked and grabbed her blanket, then pulled it off her.

'Hey!' she protested as Chengxin tossed the blanket on the ground then wrapped the both of them in the blanket he had brought.

'See? Isn't that much better and warmer?' he snuggled closer to her.

'You think that was cute? I'm gonna punch you.' She balled her fist and jokingly punched his shoulder.

'Ouch, why are you so strong for a girl?' He rubbed his shoulder. 'Anyway, what's going on with you? It seems like your attitude has changed...well...most of it.'

She nodded. 'I guess. Well, before this I was changing because of what had happened to Nikita. But now I guess I'm changing because I don't want to be controlled anymore. My attitude problems were all because of Haoxiang, and I don't want to be controlled by the past you know. I thought about what you said, I should live my life for myself.'

Chengxin smiled. 'Then I'm happy for you for taking that step.'

'Uh-ha, now all I gotta worry about is keeping Apogee alive. Being the oldest member will be pretty hard right now.'

Chengxin turned to her. 'Hey, you and that girl Rio...do you get along well?'

Pandora shook her head and chuckled. 'Is it that obvious?'

He nodded. 'Pretty much. Then it's gonna be so hard having her as your only band mate.'

'Yeah.' She nodded. 'She just never liked me ever since we were trainees, I don't know why. So automatically, I started hating her as well.' She shrugged her shoulders. 'What else was I gonna do? Do you get along with all your bandmates?'

'Well yeah,' he nodded, 'I'm like the mom ya know. Anyway, I get along with all of them...but right now I'm not getting along with Haoxiang. Anyway, it's probably something temporary. I just don't know what he's mad at.' Chengxin tapped his chin in thought. 'Do you think he still loves you?'

She shook her head. 'No, I think he just doesn't want me to be happy. Because if he still loved me, he would have tried to approach me or text me right? But he never did that. Instead, all he did was target me whenever he had the opportunity.'

'I see.' Chengxin stroked her hair and nodded. 'By the way, you said he's mad about you and me because he doesn't want to see you happy? Does that mean I make you happy?' he smiled.

Pandora shifted away from him. 'Oh my goodness, Chengxin, why do you always have to make everything about you!?'

'It's not about me, it's about you and me.' he smirked. 'Come on, you know I make you happy.'

'Keep that up and I'll punch your beautiful face next.' She balled up her fist again and raised it to his face, but Chengxin knew she was being playful.

'Fine, fine,' he pushed her fist onto her lap.

The two continued to converse until Chengxin yawned a moment later. He looked sleepy, and Pandora had noticed almost immediately.

'Go to bed.' She told him.

'No, I want to stay with you.' his eyes were closing as he spoke the sentence.

'Noooo, I'm gonna be here for a longer time. Go to bed little Chengxin.' she teased and pinched his cheeks.

'Don't pinch my cheeks! Is that your way of telling me to go to sleep? Fine.' He stood up. 'Don't stay up too late okay?'

She nodded like an obedient little girl. Chengxin pecked her on her forehead and walked back into the house, while Pandora's eyes were still focused on the night sky.

'Pandora, I need to talk to you inside.' A voice said later, and it wasn't Chengxin's.

She turned to the speaker and saw Haoxiang standing by the door that led back into the house.