Chapter 17: Hiding

Li Xia slightly moved on her right side before slowly opening her eyes. It took her some time to adjust her eyes to the light coming from the window. She felt a sharp pain in her head.

She lifted her hands and placed them on her forehead before groaning. The pain was unbearable and felt as if someone stabbed her repeatedly.

"Ah! it hurts!" she yelled while covering her eyes.

As the feeling of discomfort subsided she sat on the bed when the events flashed back in front of her eyes. A memory came back to mind and she froze.

Her mind kept replaying that scene again and again till she felt as if her heart was gonna beat out of her chest. She recalled how she confronted Luo Yuan and even asked him to apologize. Last but not least she even puked on him which was the worst thing in the world.

She covered her mouth with her hand and bit her lower lip. 

"Oh God, no way is he going to let me live after what I did yesterday," she said while chewing her nails.

The thought of Luo Yuan's angry face made her gulp down her saliva with fear. She blinked her eyes while pursing her lips together. 

What would she do next?

Her eyes darted over to the side where the clock was hanging telling her that she was late again for the shoot.

Will there be a day when she will not be late to work? 

She quickly got up from her bed and rushed to her closet. While looking for an outfit she realized that her hair was a mess and she smelled like wine.

She grabbed a white corset top with blue wide-leg pants and went inside the bathroom to freshen up before leaving the apartment. She combed through her hair and wore a bucket hat. After applying makeup she wore a black mask and sunglasses. 

"Will he be able to recognize me?" she mumbled while standing in front of the mirror checking herself one last time.

"I don't think he will be able to recognize me," she reassured herself before grabbing her purse and wearing her sneakers. She opened the door of her apartment slowly and looked outside to see if everything was safe.

"He must have left for work," she murmured.

She stepped outside and locked the door behind her. She precipitously walked outside of the apartment building and went inside the taxi she called earlier. 

"To the studio please!" She told the driver the address.

....

Luo Yuan was already sitting in his office. His gaze was fixed on the screen and his fingers typed rapidly. 

A knock on the door but it didn't break his attention. Without glimpsing at the door he gave permission.

"Come in!" he answered back in his usual serious tone without lifting his gaze away from his laptop.

The person came inside the office and closed the door after he stood in front of Luo Yuan. He closed the screen of the laptop then sat in front of Luo Yuan's desk and stared straight at him.

"Cheng Liang, can't you see I was working?" Luo Yuan stated while putting both his arms on the table and leaning forward on his chair. Cheng Liang's gaze was still fixated on Luo Yuan's expressionless face. 

"What's wrong with you? Cheng Liang asked while raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Luo Yuan answered and sat back in his seat moving his gaze to the window. 

"This is the file of the candidates I have shortlisted. You see it and think carefully about who we should collaborate with," Cheng Liang handed a piece of paper to Luo Yuan. Luo Yuan flipped it over carefully and skimmed it. 

"I think I told you about my decision regarding this matter," he said as he pushed the folder aside. 

Cheng Liang stood up and crossed his arms against his chest.

"Do you know Li Xia? Chang Liang asked as he leaned forward and placed his hands on the table.

Luo Yuan's eyes opened a bit wide after hearing her name. All the events of meeting her flashed in his mind. Her words, her actions, everything. He was regretting the day when he met her. She was the most sticky, immature woman. Her constant arguing with him was getting on his nerves. Even worse was the fact that he couldn't forget what she did to him yesterday.

"I don't know her," he answered bluntly. Cheng Liang sighed heavily and massaged his temple.

"Your secretary said that you two seemed pretty close," Cheng Liang said. Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow. Muchen was sure, asking for a beat, that he dared to spread rumors about them. 

"Muchen..! " Luo Yuan thought as clenched his fist under the table.

"Did you say something?" Cheng Liang asked as he snapped Luo Yuan out of his thoughts. Luo Yuan shook his head.

"Nothing," he said and cleared his throat.