Chapter 23 - Late Night

When everyone had started packing up their materials in their bag, Mei stood in front of the mirror, continuing to rehearse what she had just learned from Wei.

Kuan slightly tapped her finger on her shoulder, indicating to Mei that she was about to leave,

"Gotta head out now, do you want to grab a bite with me later though?" Chuckling, she started stepping back, still facing her, "I can see that you're very engrossed in the training right now so hit me up whenever you want to, you can find my number on the work phone."

Holding on the handle, she opened the door, waving back to Mei, calling out,

"See you later! It was nice getting to meet you, newbie."

Mei smiled to herself, flapping her hand back as she felt a tingle of excitement course through her body.

'I didn't expect them to be so nice. These people are a breath of fresh air in so long.'

She continued her practice, falling to the ground multiple times however determined to do her best, she got up, not wanting to waste one more second.

After some hours, she dropped on the floor, staring at the ceiling with her arms and legs stretched out, her abdomen heaving intensely, drenched with sweat that dripped down her face.

"This wasn't half bad," she giggled, swaying back and forth, she looked at herself in the mirror, a soft gasp escaping her mouth.

"I look so red," she laughed at her reflection, taking a sigh of relief.

"I should go take a shower."

While Mei tidied up her belongings in the bathroom and got ready, on the other part of the building Jian stayed back, working overtime for there were an immense amount of documents for him to review at the Liu Academy.

After discussing with Chen and Ai, he had decided that he would start his position at the Academy rather than the entertainment building where all the higher board directors and CEOs worked at.

Choosing to stay at his temporary office, he planned to overlook Mei to ensure and keep a close eye on her so that her debut goes as smoothly as possible.

Assured that he was the only one in the building, he laid back, relaxing while looking out at the lit streets through the window.

Jian glanced through his documents, confirming that he had completed the measures for the day.

Slumping down further on his chair, he picked up his phone and called Bao Zhai to ask if Mei had already eaten her dinner.

"She hasn't arrived yet. Aren't you with her?" she questioned him.

A scowl forming on his forehead, Jian replied,

"I'm still at my office Nainai, she should have left the Academy more than 3 hours ago."

Rubbing his eyes, he continued, "I'm about to leave now. I will see if I find her on the way back."

Walking out of the breakroom, Mei took a bite of a small rice cracker she picked up from the counter.

Her earphones plugged in, she hummed along with the rhythm, spinning across the floor cheerfully, she halted in front of the elevator, tapping her foot on the ground, waiting for the doors to open.

As they opened, she went straight in, her eyes focusing on her phone, she didn't notice Jian's surprised face in the back.

Gawking at her in annoyance, he shoved her roughly, scaring Mei, who pushed him aside in response with her bag.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" she screeched at him, bending down, huffing as she tried to regain her breath.

"Are you seriously f##king with me right now? It's 11 pm, why are you still here? You're lucky that I was still in the building otherwise they would have locked it from the outside." He snapped, glaring at her.

"That wouldn't have been an issue. I could have just spent the night in the breakroom."

Ignoring her comment, Jian started criticizing her actions,

"You are very well aware of the fact that it's been less than two weeks since I have started working here. I don't care if it was your first day or not, you are not jeopardizing my career by making the paparazzi aware of the fact that a lowly trainee is living with the CEO."

Frowning at him, Mei tried speaking up only to be interrupted by him again,

"I don't need your foolish excuses lady, We made a deal and one of the conditions clearly stated was that we cannot leave any premises at the same time."

Hearing a ding behind her, she turned back to see the only two cars waiting in the basement.

Curling her upper lip in vexation, she shrugged him off, not wanting to ruin her positive mood.

Stepping outside with Jian, she pointed out the door with her hands,

"You're right. Go ahead, I can just practice for another hour or two while you head back home."

Hearing this, Jian fumed, "You can't stay back alone this late. I already had some extra work left so I am heading back instead."

Putting her earphones on again, she rolled her eyes at him, disregarding him as she pressed on the button for the door to close.

Sliding his hand, Jian stepped back in, harshly forcing her to the back and placing his arm on the wall as the doors shut behind him.

"Don't make me repeat what I say every time I tell you something Mei," His deep blue eyes glared in hers.

Her heart beating in her chest, her anger mixed in with shock, she stammered out, "I...I need to p...practice. The debut is way too close and I have very little time."

"And I said No. It's too late, go home. If you want, you can reach here early tomorrow morning instead of staying here in the middle of the night with no one around," slowly inching his chin down to look at her trembling hands.

"B...But I...I"

Grabbing her arms, he lifted them over her head and held them with one hand, the other on her waist, he growled,

"Another word from that pretty little face and you would regret it."

Gritting her teeth, she grimaced, stepping on his foot and pushing him off her, she stormed up to the door while she kept on pressing the open button for it over and over again.

"I'm leaving. Don't expect me to listen to your ridiculous wails again."

Feeling his breath on her neck, she bit her lip hard ignoring him completely, hoping that the door would open soon so she could finally leave.

When they opened, she didn't look back at Jian and swiftly walked out, stumbling a bit, she took her car keys out as he remarked behind her, chuckling,

"Yet you always do."