Adopt

24. I Like You

Kun pressed on his temples as he looked scrutinised the proposal in front of him. It was a lucrative offer and indeed a great platform to advertise their product on the other online market site and he nodded in approval before signing the contract and handing it over to Yun Ying.

"May we have a good collaboration." He reached his hand out and shook hers before, closing the deal.

While escorting her out of the conference room, Yun Ying turned to Kun and suggested, "How about a celebratory lunch together?"

Kun pondered for a moment and quickly excused himself, walking to a corner of the walkway while dialing on his phone. The side of his lips lifted to a smile before he hung up and nodded towards Yun Ying. "Alright, let's go."

Raising her brows curiously, Yun Ying questioned. "Don't tell me you have to ask your girlfriend for permission to go out for a lunch."

"It's basic respect." Kun answered plainly.

Ever since that time Yun Ying caught Kun's fluttering gaze upon YuXin every now and then during their conversation at the party, she knew the girl must be someone important to him. Now that he didn't even rebuke her statement on his girlfriend, the truth was pretty much set.

"So how did you fall in love with your girlfriend? Was it love at first sight?" Yun Ying asked curiously. She'd never thought of relationship any more than just a mere transaction, that was how the relationship was between her parents. Not to mention friends, to her there's no such thing as a true friend, everyone is out there trying to get close to her for one reason or another.

Smiling Kun shook his head,"Not really. I dislike her a whole lot when I first saw her. But as I spend more time with her and get to know her better, I slowly come to realise I've already fallen for her before I know it."

"Oh?" Yun Ying raised her brows with doubt.

"You'll know if you get to interact with her. You will come to like her too." Kun replied confidently. 

As the two of them finished up their meal, Kun called for the waiter and ordered a tiramisu to go.

Yun Ying, "Are you still hungry?"

Kun, "That's for my girlfriend."

Smiling, Yun Ying shook her head at how devoted Kun was and said, "Why don't you come along with your girlfriend to my birthday party next week? I'd love to have a chat with the girl who could capture the heart of Mr Cai."

.

Kun wiped off the cream on the edge of YuXin's lips gently as he looked at her savouring the dessert with a blissful smile while flipping through the proposal on his desk.

"So what else did you talk about?" YuXin asked in between her bites.

"She invited you to her birthday party as well."

YuXin choked on the cake and let out a cough while soothing her chest. Kun quickly poured a glass of water and brought to her as she sipped on it slowly.

"She what?" YuXin looked at Kun in a confuse frown.

Smoothing her back, Kun replied nonchalantly, "She wants to meet you. Don't worry, she's just holding the party at her own house, it won't be anything extravagant."

That was pretty much an understatement as YuXin and Kun arrived at the Yun's house. The size of her house was close to Kun's and there were several cars lined up at their empty lots in the house.

Stepping into the mansion, YuXin looked around furtively, following closely beside Kun into the rather lively living area. Stacks of presents were placed neatly at the corner and they spotted Yun Ying greeting the other guests and walked towards her.

Finally having the opportunity to speak to Kun's girlfriend up close, Yun Ying shook her hands with YuXin and introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Yun Ying. Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday together with me."

YuXin smiled softly at her and replied courteously, "I'm YuXin. Thank you for the invitation." She held up a small wrapped gift and handed it over to Yun Ying, "Kun and I chose this gift together. We hope you will like it."

As Yun Ying accepted the gift, she requested Kun to grab some food for YuXin while she escorted her to the foyer outside to have a chat.

Flustered by the sudden invitation to be alone with Yun Ying, YuXin followed nervously, fiddling with her fingernails quietly and praying for Kun to come back quickly.

"You must have find it weird why I wanted to talk to you." Yun Ying started the conversation.

"Actually, I wanted to thank you for speaking up for me?"

YuXin raised her brows with a confused look.

"At the charity ball. I overheard the other girls gossiping about me in the toilet. I was surprised that you actually spoke up for me and told them off then."

"Ah.. That.." YuXin didn't know her interjection on the conversation was heard by the target of gossip herself. 

Before she could say anything else, Yun Ying continued. "You and Kun.. Do you really like him?"

Startled by her question, YuXin looked straight at her for a moment and nodded.

"Are you ready for what is to come? The gossips, the public scrutiny..." Yun Ying sighed softly and turned to face the lush garden from the foyer. "Hidden under all the glitz and glamor, we are supposed to live up to the expectations of others even if it's not our choice and sometimes the people who hold dear gets hurt in the process." Her eyes lowered as she exhaled deeply. 

Sensing the low mood in Yun Ying, YuXin walked over and tapped on her elbow lightly, "Are you alright?" 

Yun Ying mustered a smile and turned around to face YuXin. Seeing the look of sincerity and worries etched on YuXin's face, she realised why Cai Xukun is so fond of the girl. The purity and sincerity of hers towards others, that probably is something so rare to find in their social circle. 

 "I'm alright." She held onto YuXin's hand lightly, "You know Cai Xukun is pretty popular and successful, but I'm not sure if he's worth your freedom." Yun Ying joked lightly with her personal word of caution. 

Kun entered the foyer with two glasses of champagne and handed one over to Yun Ying who took it with a thankful nod. "What were the two of you talking about?" 

Grinning, Yun Ying replied, "Just telling YuXin if you bully her she can always come to me for help." 

Kun pulled YuXin over to his side and wrapped his arm around her possessively. "Don't worry, you won't have the chance.. Besides, since when did you start being so close to YuXin?" 

"Since today." Yun Ying smiled softly at YuXin. "I like you."