In Between the Lines | Completed

Chapter Ten | More than a Little Off Script

Xiao Mei Cheng

"Hello?" I answer my phone, not bothering to check to see who is calling.

"Xiao Mei Cheng, it's Du Shin-Il, are you busy this afternoon?"

I freeze as I recognize the smooth voice of Vivi's assistant, and I rack my brain to think of a proper excuse as to why I couldn't meet the man.

"Well, I—" I sigh, mentally having to remind myself not to speak in English, "I'll be stuck at home for the next few hours so I can't meet up with you, I'm sorry."

"Miss Jones has meetings till 5:30 so she won't be home. I'll just come to your apartment then. I'll be there soon." Du Shin-Il says.

"Okay then—" My eyes widen and my heart slams to a stop as I take in his words.

"Goodbye."

"WAIT!" Before I can stop him, the call ends and I am left to stare at my phone in disbelief. I stand up from my spot on the bed and look in the mirror. My hair is covered in foils, black paste, and neon highlights on the ends of my hair from the dye process I had just begun. There was no way I would be finished by the time he'd arrived at our place.

"I am so screwed..."

I sigh and look around my room, deciding that the mess hidden behind my bedroom door could wait. Grabbing a shower cap, I cover my wet hair as best as I can and grab a cute towel band to put on top of the shower cap, somewhat hiding the alien appearance of my hair. I grumble as I look around the apartment, picking up miscellaneous pieces of clothing and a few of SJ's toys before tackling the issue of me not wearing a bra under my silk pjs.

I thought he was supposed to be the ultimate gentleman...I mean he messaged me when he was gonna be less than 15 minutes early to our last get together. Why is he bothering me with less than an hour's notice?

I change into more appropriate clothes, tossing my pjs into my room and hurrying to shut the door as a knock comes from down the hall. I sigh and with a moan, I walk down the hall and let Du Shin-Il into the apartment.

"You really have to communicate when you're available sooner than 20 minutes before you're free to meet up," I mumble.

"My apologies. This time slot just opened up and—" He looks up from his shoes, pauses, and stares at me, a bewildered look on his face.

"You came on hair dye day and hung up on me before I could tell you not to come. Deal with it." I snap. "Guess we should continue this inside."

Du Shin-Il just nods in response, his eyes quickly averting to the ground where he slips off his other shoe and pulls on a pair of plain gray slippers I set out for him. He looks over at the fuzzy cat slippers on my feet but doesn't say a word.

"I have some other cat ones if you'd like those instead," I deadpan.

"I've never seen slippers like that before, my apologies."

"My brother sent them to me. He saw them in a mall in Shanghai and thought I'd like them. Every year he sends me a few pairs for my birthday." I lead the man down the hall and into the living room, motioning for him to sit on the couch.

He sits down slowly, back stiff as he perches on the edge of the sofa, ready to launch himself into an attack at any given moment.

Does he think I'm gonna attack him or something?

"Tea? Water? Milk?" I ask, staring at his stiff posture with a smirk.

"Water is fine, thank you."