Appeasing her

While she was sound asleep in the guest room, Cree endured a bout of insomnia. Ever since undergoing therapy to forget his former pains of being hurt by a woman, he had not anticipated that he would be emotionally injured once again. Why had this happened just when he had been looking forward to her answer? Cree took out his smartphone and scrolled through the photographs in the gallery of his smartphone.

He had about fifty photographs, of which thirty-two were candid shots he had taken of Qiao Ruo when she was asleep or occupied with other matters. If loving was so painful, what he could he do to forget all his pain?

He didn't understand what had caused her to go binge-drinking suddenly and as Lu Hanyang had said, she had even thrown herself into his embrace. Cree had figured that he and Qiao Ruo had a deep emotional bond, but everything that had happened that night had been out of his expectations. He didn't like how she tended to take risks that endangered her safety. This time, her poor decision making had created so much displeasure and discomfort when he believed he could have given her everything to ensure her happiness.

The sight of Lu Hanyang was revolting, and he wished he could call upon a magic spell to rid his existence from the world.

..........................

An intense pain radiated through her head, inhibiting her from getting up from the bed. Qiao Ruo realized that she must have had a drop too much the night before. Nevertheless, She struggled to pull herself up, clutching the side of her head. After a long battle with her headache, she finally managed to get up. She noticed the wet towel that had dropped beside her on the bed. She was also aware that someone had helped her change out of the clothes she had worn the night before. In this place, such a person could only be Cree Ye.

She was alone in the mansion, as Cree had already left for work. She knew it was not like him to go without a word, in spite that he had left her breakfast, a couple of painkillers and a note.

"Xiaoruo,

I have an urgent meeting and some clients. Not sure if I'll be back for dinner tonight. Don't wait up.

- Cree."

She knew that he had to be hiding something from her to avoiding her this way, and if she had not doubted him as well, she would have marched herself to his office and discovered the truth.

But in fact, this was the first day that Cree, as Ye Qi, would formally step into the publisher to familiarize himself with its operations. It would be a long day, and he had a lot of work to do to accustom himself to the ways of the company. Qiao Ruo had called in sick and would be continuing her work from home. Perhaps, she thought, it was a good thing that she would have to not deal with their faces.

After hours of lying in bed without anything to do while resting after taking her painkillers, Qiao Ruo grabbed her smartphone and was about to dial Cree's number stopped while dialling his number when she recalled how she had a night of heavy drinking. Following that, she had woken up back in Cree's mansion. Had Cree gone himself to pick her up? If so, why were they sleeping in separate rooms? Why was he avoiding her?

Previously, Cree had been sweet and caring, but just in the span of one night, he had evolved so much. She didn't know if he was still the Cree she knew. Had it all been due to Yueling's appearance? She shivered as she remembered how the day before, he had smiled at her. Things had transformed so rapidly that she couldn't see the future between them any longer.

She didn't know if there was a point in her remaining, now that Yueling had returned. If Cree liked her, and vice versa, couldn't she carry out the plan that Cree had wanted? Unless, if it was Yueling who didn't like Cree in that way yet. If that was the case, then it was just a matter of time before Yueling started falling head over heels for Cree, only as Qiao Ruo herself had experienced.

The romance between them was profound. Qiao Ruo fixated her mind on the past of how Cree attracted her like a magnet, followed by how they had spent several exclusive moments with each other. She could feel his tenderness and sweet taste around her while she reminisced on each memory of him cupping her cheeks and kissing her passionately.

Were these sweet times over, and would Yueling take over her position?

She couldn't burden herself with such thoughts now, could she? Two more days and she would be free of that place. She shuffled to the table located at the end of the room and flipped open the cover of her notebook computer.

After clearing wave after wave of her emails, Qiao Ruo came across an email that had been sent early in the morning. The email announced Ye Qi's identity and confirmed that he would be around for a few days to get used to the publisher.

Which meant that today, Cree would be seeing Yueling, and when she came back to work the next day, she would have to face him for two days, or even more, if she could not complete her handover placidly.

At this juncture, she knew how awkward it was between them. She didn't know how to face Cree either, at work the next day. As she was pondering on the matter at hand, her smartphone started to ring. She switched it off immediately upon realizing it was Cree who had called. Next, her email messenger beeped with a new message.

"Xiaoruo, we need to talk."

She typed back, furiously, "What's there to talk about, now that your childhood lover is back?"

She realized she had sent the message without thinking, and it was too late to unsend the message now.

"If you have doubts about me, all the more we should speak," his reply said. Though the fact another man taking her home had maddened him, it was evident that the man he hated did not possess ulterior motives for her. Otherwise, he would not have sent her to Cree's mansion. It was probable that there was something more to it, and he was after a bigger fish, but he didn't know what the man was after. He had to believe that nothing had transpired between them in her intoxication, but he still didn't feel comfortable that Lu Hanyang had got to her while she was in such a state. He saw her as his woman, and he detested others touching his woman.

"It's pointless for us to keep avoiding and running away from the problem."

If she had agreed to him sooner, perhaps it wouldn't have come up to this. But since it had, he had to do all he can to rectify the situation.

Qiao Ruo's eyes streamed with tears as she browsed their shared memories in the past. Perhaps if she had sealed the deal, their relationship would not have taken an unexpected turn. But she had to admit that he was correct in his statement that they should talk to clear their doubts, and that it was useless to keep avoiding.

She heard the sound of the main door unlocking and the doorknob turning. Cree, no, Ye Qi, walked into the mansion. She averted his gaze, feeling peculiar about the situation with Yueling. She believed that Cree and Yueling had some involvement with each other in the past, and since Cree was still single, he still had the chance to pursue Yueling.

Qiao Ruo almost squealed at the suddenness of Cree's embrace. He spun her around to face him afterwards and lifted her into his arms.

"Let's go to the meeting room."

Her heart was thumping wildly, and this provoked him even more. He opened the door to his bedroom and lay her down on his bed.

"What do you want to talk about?" she trembled at his dominance. He was obviously in a sensual state, and he seemed to want her now.

"Xiaoruo, I don't like it when you got wasted in the bar," he said, joining her on the bed.

"You started it," she said with a huff. Cree knew what she meant.

"Why do you think I would be with my 'mei' (little sister)?"

"I don't know," she said. "I saw how you both look at each other. You weren't cold to her."

"Are you jealous? Or do you prefer me to be different when I'm with you?" She was startled by his response, and he cupped her cheeks, kissing her slowly. She wrapped her legs around his waist and returned his kisses. She felt her desire kicking in slowly as they embraced each other more tightly under the blanket.

"Cree, stay with me." She didn't want to appear needy, but she couldn't let him go, fearing that it would create more opportunities for him to be alone with Yueling. She pulled him closer and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Xiaoruo, I don't have feelings for Mei in that way. But you and Lu Hanyang..."

She cut him off. "He is only a classmate and a friend at school. I promise."

"Are you sure?" he taunted her, caressing her hair as she spoke.

"My heart is with you, Cree. I admit I have fallen for you," she sobbed. She was letting herself down this moment; maybe he would find her cheap, but she needed him to resolve her insecurities.

"The offer still stands, Xiaoruo. While you are around, nobody can take me from you. I love you, Xiaoruo."

His words caused a halt to her crying, and she kissed him. Qiao Ruo trembled as Cree's lips moved to create a trail of kisses from her neck and down to each part of her body. He had naughtily peeled off every piece of clothing that was in his way, but she allowed him, simply because she liked what he was doing. She was ecstatic, and it was the best 'meeting' they ever had.

Cree decided to let the matter the night before, slide. All that matters now was that she was now truly his Xiaoruo, and he would do everything in the best of his ability to keep her satisfied.