Here To Rescue You

2.7

The Mafia Head's Little Princess

At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and Huang Bolin emerged, a cloud of steam billowing out behind him. His expression was inscrutable as he looked at her.

Without a word, Huang Bolin moved past her, his wet hair clinging to his forehead. Zhang Liqin followed him into the living room, the air heavy with the unspoken. She watched as he tossed his wet clothes into a hamper, the sound of the fabric hitting the plastic punctuating the silence.

As Huang Bolin disappeared into the bedroom to change, Zhang Liqin remained standing in the living room, still completely drenched. Her heart raced, her purse bag gripped tightly in her hands as she absorbed the impact of his frustration.

When Huang Bolin returned, dressed in dry clothes, the atmosphere remained tense.

He broke the silence, his voice sharp and cutting, "Let's talk. There's something I would like to discuss."

Zhang Liqin nodded nervously, her expression reflecting her apprehension. "Okay."

Huang Bolin's gaze bore into her, his frustration evident. "I'll be honest. I don't like what you did half an hour ago."

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect the light rain to turn into a downpour," Zhang Liqin admitted, her voice laced with regret.

"But I told you in the beginning to grab a taxi, and you didn't listen and insisted on walking home."

"I know. I'm sorry. I tried to mend my mistake by grabbing a taxi in the middle of our journey, but you rejected my offer."

Huang Bolin's patience wore thin, his anger surfacing. "Liqin, there's only 5 minutes left in our journey. If you want to grab a taxi, you should've said so from the beginning!" His voice escalated, veins popping on his forehead. "You only care about yourself! You didn't care about me! Did you not think that I'll get sick from the rain? If I get a fever from this, would you even want to take care of me?!"

Zhang Liqin stammered, panic seizing her. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't think about it. I've never gotten sick from rain before so I assumed you were the same. I was also thinking of helping you with saving some money."

"It's only $15 for both of us! Why wouldn't I pay that much? Did you think that I'm a cheapskate?!" Huang Bolin's frustration boiled over.

"I'm s-sorry... I don't think that way of you. Please don't be mad at me..."

"Forget it! I'm tired of speaking about it!" Huang Bolin flicked his sleeves dismissively and turned toward his bedroom. "Leave! I don't want to see you today!"

Zhang Liqin's heart sank as she watched him storm off. The words hung in the air, a bitter taste of regret lingering. She wanted to reach out, to apologize and make amends, but the wall of tension between them seemed insurmountable.

As the door to the bedroom closed with a resounding thud, Zhang Liqin was left standing alone in the living room. The rain outside mirrored the storm inside, and the atmosphere in the apartment remained thick with unresolved conflict.

Feeling a mix of guilt, sadness, and frustration, Zhang Liqin decided to give Huang Bolin some space. She moved slowly towards the door, casting a last glance at the closed bedroom door. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out into the hallway, the echoes of the argument still ringing in her ears.

When she finally arrived at home, the rain had completely stopped, leaving behind a fresh, damp scent in the air. She got out of the taxi, and the rain that had soaked her earlier had ceased, leaving her body damp and uncomfortable. She walked past the huge gate entrance and the flowerbed at the porch. Her footsteps echoed in the foyer of the mansion before she finally entered the building.