Going home

Chapter nineteen

The next few hours was spent in nervous apprehension. Lin wei nibbled on her finger nails till they almost bled. 

"We have nothing to worry about guys," Olivia tried to assure them. 

Shen yue was taking it harder than the rest of them. She paced up and down she almost wore the marbled floor down. 

"I'm sure I made a mistake somewhere, I'm sure of it," She repeated for the tenth time in the hour. 

"I'm sure you did fine. You did just fine," Lin wei assured her. 

She wasn't sure she could say the same thing for her own interview. It had gone rather badly. Much more than she expected it would.

How could she make such a fool of herself back in there? Staring at Lu Chen as if she could have him for lunch, dinner and breakfast and even midnight snack. 

"Did anyone see that Lu Chen? I heard he run some underworld business. But damn if my panties didn't almost fall off on their own," a woman in a pastel colored cloth, so bland she almost blend in with the potted flowers, said next to them. 

Lin wei found herself nodding. At least she wasn't the only one whose thinking faculty took a vacation. 

But really, it was time to restrategize and get her head in the game again. No thinking about his sinful lips on hers, or her fingers trailing across his tapered shoulder. 

"I was sure he didn't like me from the onstart," Olivia said mournfully after a minute. 

Indeed, she was also rethinking her interview just like everyone here was. 

Lin wei took both of their hand and took the role of the team leader, because that is what they are right now. 

"This is not a do or die right? True, we might all be in a situation that's hard right now, but we'll be fine. If not this one, then another one," Lin wei assured them.

"It's not everyday a rich hot catch needs a mother for his sons though...," Shen yue shrugged when two stunned face turned to her "I'm just saying," she added. 

"You're just saying that because you have other options. I know you're not here for the money Veronica. So, don't try to patronize us," Olivia warned sternly. 

Shen yue nodded in agreement. Lin wei gulped and released their fingers from her own. Her face heated up with shame and embarrassment. Did they really think she was rich and she was here just for fun? 

Was that how good her acting was? 

"Look, we did not mean to be a meanie about it. It's just that... thinking about it. Your situation isn't quite as serious as ours is. We don't mean to invalidate your feelings or anything like that," Shen yue said softly. 

If only they knew how serious her situation was. 

Olivia took Lin wei's hand and nodded. 

"I think we should be friends even after all this farce," Shen yue suggested impulsively. 

Olivia brightened and Lin wei shook her head in affirmation.

Before the reality dawned on her. If they were going to continue being friends, that would mean she'd have to keep up the lie and her font. 

She already feel so fake and guilty as it is. 

No sooner than that being said, did they begin to serve some refreshments. 

"Finally! I thought I'd die of hunger," Shen yue moaned as she helped herself to a third serving of the tanghulu and fruit wine.

"Interviewees can now take their leave as the next step will be communicated across to them. Whether or not they'll proceed to the next stage, Thank you everyone," The voice boomed from the speakers.

Tension radiated around the room like some alien electromagnetic waves and Lin wei fancied she could almost taste them on her tongue. 

"What now?," Olivia asked as she nibbled on the cheesecake in front of her. 

"Now...now we leave for our house?," Shen yue suggested a bit in a daze. 

Lin wei helped herself to some more wine, swirling the glass around just as much as her head was swirling with different thoughts. What now indeed? 

Something feels weird about this whole thing though, exactly what, she couldn't put her hand on it. It was like getting rid of one cockroach while a colony of other cockroaches was hiding somewhere in plain sight. 

Just thinking about it, gives her the chills. 

"I guess it's time to say goodbye then." Lin wei said with a smile.

"Oh no, not before I get your contact. Who's to say I'll be here for the next stage of interview? I'd like to be in touch with you..with the two of you," Olivia paused as she took in Lin wei's wide eyes before adding gently "if that's okay with you?" 

"Of course. Of course, do you have a pen?" Lin wei swallowed and smiled. She could do this.

Maybe after they had all been eliminated, because it surely looks like that to her, she'll eventually tell them the truth. Yes, that sounds good. 

After exchanging contact, Shen yue adjusted her turban and gave them a side hug before leaving. 

The hall was thinning with people and so, Olivia suggested they take their leave too. 

They outside and Olivia was suprised Lin wei boarded a taxi and didn't have her driver and car waiting for her. 

"I..I didn't think it was necessary. It felt so much like showing off," Lin wei lied quickly. 

Olivia peered down at Lin wei with a kind of gaze that was confused and yet knows something. Lin wei shifted uncomfortably under her stare and quickly change the topic of their conversation. 

"I'll be leaving now Veronica. It was nice knowing you and I hope we'll catch up soon." She waved and winked before boarding a taxi and when she was out of sight, Lin wei let out a heavy breath.

Today is going the history of one of the weirdest day and encounter of her life. And that was saying something, considering her life was always filled with absurdities.

"And that's enough lying for one day," she thought dully to herself. 

It was time to go home to a cheap coffee and a movie, and a call with Bai yue to bring herself back. 

No more of this Veronica rubbish for now.