In Between the Lines | Completed

Chapter Eighteen | Purple Noses

Du Shin-Il

"So, when is the game exactly?" Xiao Mei Cheng and Vivian sit in the backseat of the car, and I drive them towards the stadium to pick up Sj from practice. I was technically eavesdropping on their conversation, but pretending I wasn't as I tried to ignore them.

Had you not taunted her the other day you would have no reason to feel worried about what she might say or do today. Aren't you supposed to be the one who is careful? Disarming bombs, not lobbing them into your own path?

"Thursday afternoon. I'll have to pull Sj out of tutoring an hour early, but he'll be so excited to attend the game and be in the dugout," Miss Jones responds.

"And I'm going because?"

"I guess Ryan thought I might get lonely while Sj was in the dugout with him."

Lee Young-min is going to flip when he hears this. But I will not be the one to tell him this time. Maybe I can leak it to Bu Seok instead so that I'm not in the crosshairs this time around?

"Remind me how and why we got these tickets exactly?"

I can hear the teasing tone in Xiao Mei Cheng's voice as she ribs her friend and I look back in the rearview mirror to see her smirking at Miss Jones.

"Are you going to be able to attend or not?" Miss Jones deflects.

Xiao Mei Cheng laughs, and I take a second to absorb Mei Cheng's appearance.

She was wearing dark jeans with tears artfully placed on the knees and thighs. A t-shirt with some obscure band and a hot pink jacket with studs on the shoulders drew my eye up. Her heart shaped face was accented with matching pink lipstick that forced my gaze to her mouth.

"Mr. Du, I'll be out of the office from 4ish on for Thursday. I didn't see anything on the calendar, are you aware of anything?"

"The staff dinner was moved to Friday night so the only thing on the schedule is a block of time for you to work on your book. I have also arranged for one of the stylists to prepare an outfit for the evening of the dinner since the press will be present."

"Press for a company meal? What is the point of that?" Xiao Mei Cheng asks.

"Wednesday's episode will be the episode where Kar Jin-Ho learns about U So-Yong's family and finds out she's been spending time with his brother while he's been searching for her the previous year. There will be a lot of fans keeping an eye out for updates, so a company dinner was scheduled to promote the show." Miss Jones explains.

"This is one fan who will be upset," Xiao Mei Cheng responds with a pout. I look back in the mirror once again and catch her rolling her eyes. "You know what's going to happen afterwards."

"I told you this would happen if she watched the show," Vivian responds.

"As if I could tell her no. Have you met my mother? She's easily the most terrifying woman alive," Xiao Mei Cheng whines and I shudder when I recall Xiao Mei Cheng's call with the woman who sounded like a drill sergeant.

You might not have a choice if you keep avoiding your responsibilities to the family.

The bulldog's voice rolls through my memory, but I keep my face neutral as I work to hide my grimace.

"Is she still making you go to the auction?" Miss Jones asks, and my ears perk up at the question.

Xiao Mei Cheng is quiet, but I refuse to take my eyes off the road once again to watch her respond to Miss Jones' question.