A series of misunderstandings

Hye-rin arrived at the infinity pool, her posture composed and her thoughts peaceful as she had just finished her spa and then massage treatment, and was now here for a swim at this infinity pool, which seemed like it stretched seamlessly into the skyline.

She adjusted the strap of her one-piece swimsuit, a modest yet elegant design, and stepped forward to dive into it, only to halt in her tracks.

There, floating lazily in the water on a pool lounger, was the man from the Gym.

The fellow who troubled her thoughts for a while.

And here he was once again in the same space as her, lying back on a floater, eyes closed, his toned chest and abs visible for everyone to see.

Hye-rin felt a sudden hesitation.

She had come here to enjoy a quiet swim for a cool down, but now... should she even go in?

A small and irrational thought crept into her mind as no other person was in the swimming pool apart from this same fellow, and she wasn't the type to think that it was fate or something. "Is he here because of me? The coincidences are too much."

Theories popped up in her head automatically to fulfill the logic.

He hadn't spoken to her at the gym, perhaps because of the staff. Maybe he had been waiting for a more private setting to make his move.

After all, that was also a common move among some young, wealthy men. And she was a celebrity herself, a known face throughout the country.

Hye-rin glanced at him again, observing his relaxed form. But he looked too at ease, too indifferent for someone with ulterior motives.

Still, she hesitated for a few more seconds before deciding not to let his presence dictate her actions or thoughts.

With quiet resolve, she stepped into the water, letting the cool sensation wash over her.

The two of them remained in their own worlds, Hye-rin swam at a leisurely pace, occasionally glancing his way as if to wonder why he wasn't approaching her yet, while he remained undisturbed, drifting weightlessly.

The only sound between them was the occasional ripple of water.

Then, a sharp buzz broke the silence. Without checking the caller ID, he answered with a smile. "Hey, my baby."

Hye-rin, who had been floating a few meters away, paused.

His tone was affectionate and warm, completely different from the stoic aura he carried before.

Meanwhile, Tianzhu continued speaking. "Mm. I told you… You shouldn't stay up so late, watching those silly sitcoms. I don't even know why you are obsessed with those things. Anyway, did you eat breakfast yet? You were out of the shower already? When did you wake up?"

"Girlfriend?" Hye-rin couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly, contemplating. Then a sudden thought appeared in her head. "What if it is just an act?"

She had also seen it before. Some men deliberately make it seem like they were taken. And then they make it seem like they were going through rough patches, giving a hint that they were breaking up.

It's a psychological tactic. Not that common in the east, but it's still there, nevertheless.

Men who appeared unavailable were often desirable to women who were successful but lonely.

After all, if someone was already claimed, didn't that mean he was worth having?

And some single women, strange as it may appear, are attracted to those traits and would want to snatch such men when those men seem like they are about to become available.

She glanced at him once more, watching as he listened attentively to the voice on the other end of the line.

Was it real? Or was he just playing the game better than most? Or perhaps he was waiting for her to approach him or something? Her thoughts were filled with curiosity.

And the best way to be known is to see to what end he will try acting this way. No matter what, she should never approach him on her own, no matter how much curiosity she has. Or so she concluded.

However, contrary to her expectation, after finishing his call, Tianzhu stretched briefly, and then with the same quiet indifference he had maintained all morning, got up from the floater and put on his t-shirt that lay below his head earlier.

Water dripped from his t-shirt as he stepped out of the pool, grabbing a towel and running it through his damp hair.

Hye-rin, who had been subtly observing him, expected at least a glance in her direction—a smirk, a comment, anything.

But he walked past her without hesitation.

No lingering stare. No playful remark. No acknowledgment that she even existed.

Her grip on the pool's edge tightened slightly. "Seriously? C'mon…"

It wasn't that she wanted his attention. Not really.

But the fact that he completely disregarded her after she had debated so much about his intentions kinda hurt her ego.

"Did he really not care at all? Or perhaps he was truly committed and not putting on any airs. Maybe I misunderstood the situation all along?" Hye-rin couldn't help but stare at his back until he disappeared into the elevator out of her sight.

Back in his suite, the room was now filled with the soft hum of hairdryers and the faint scent of perfume.

Vera was already dressed, standing in front of the mirror as she carefully adjusted her white turtleneck sweater. Her dark hair, still slightly damp, cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves.

She turned at the sound of the door opening.

"Dad!" she chirped. "I thought you were at Aunt's house. Where were you?"

Tianzhu picked up the towel on the floor and tossed it onto a nearby chair. "Came back earlier. Then hit the Gym. Then the pool. And please don't throw things around. Look at the clothes on your bed. It is so much of a mess."

"I'll do it later." Vera wrinkled her nose. As an afterthought, she added. "It would be nice if Theo had been with us. He would have done everything in a jiffy."

"Veraaa… He is your brother, not a butler." Tianzhu narrowed his eyes, walking to his bed, which was placed a few feet away from hers.

"Well, he always tries to put me down, you know." Vera sighed, dropping her head down, but then making a serious face as she continued in a deep tone. "Vera, you are a lady; you should know how to do laundry. Vera, how are you ever going to become an idol if you just focus on the guitar? Vera, your arms are too thin to fight. Vera, don't just eat salads. Eat meat. Vera, don't embarrass me in front of my friends. Act like a lady, you are not 10 anymore. Vera, you are a wolf, so act like one. Don't make those puppy eyes. Vera…"

"I get it…" Tianzhu was forced to interrupt her as she kept on mimicking her brother's words. "But, you know, Theo. He was just being overprotective because he thinks I was a bit too lenient on you, and you might pick up bad habits. That's all."

"Yeah, whatever…" As the teenage girl sat down with her shoulders drooped, Tianzhu looked at her. "Anyways, young lady, you have fifteen minutes. I'll go to shower, and by the time I return dressed up, I should see the bed empty and your clothes in your bag or neatly folded in the wardrobe. Or else, you are staying back at the hotel."

She pouted, crossing her arms. "What? That's not fair."

Qin Tianzhu smirked slightly at her reaction but didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed a fresh set of clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.

By the time he came out dressed in a fitted black coat over a casual white sweater, he saw Vera had already put on her coat and boots, quite matching his attire. All of her clothes disappeared from the bed. She was sitting there, playing with her smartphone.

She bounced on her feet. "Let's go."

Qin Tianzhu shook his head, chuckling under his breath. "Alright, alright."

*

Just as they stepped out of their suite, heading towards the elevators, a familiar presence appeared in the hallway.

It's the same beauty he saw in the gym and later at the pool.

This time, she was wrapped in a plush white bathrobe, her wet hair tied loosely behind her. She had just returned from her swim, holding a bottle of water in one hand and her key card in the other.

Her eyes flickered toward them, almost instinctively.

And then she froze as she spotted an excited teenage girl, looking undeniably foreign, yet there was a hint of Chinese features on her face.

It wasn't just her exotic appearance that surprised her. The girl's youthful energy, the way she clung to Qin Tianzhu's arm while skipping slightly ahead with a bright smile, and both of them wearing matching attire… it all once again brought up misunderstanding.

"Is she… a sugar baby?"

The thought came so suddenly that Hye-rin barely registered it at first. But the more she processed the scene, the more her frown deepened.

Everything just fits Hye-rin. Perhaps she couldn't think of other possibilities at all due to the embarrassment and guilt she felt earlier for a possible misunderstanding.

As a result, she assumed that Qin Tianzhu had an inappropriate relationship with the girl next to him. Whether the girl gave her consent to such a relationship or not is of no use because she is a minor, and it is an outright criminal offense to have such an inappropriate relationship with her. A flash of disgust crossed Hye-rin's face immediately.

She was about to confront Qin Tianzhu, but just as she took a step forward, a flash of another thought appeared in her head. "What if it is his niece?" The fact that she misunderstood two times in a row made her hesitate whether she misunderstood once again. She doesn't want to make a fool of herself.

While she was busy sorting out her conflicting thoughts, Tianzhu and Vera had already boarded the elevator.

After thinking about it for a moment, Hye-rin headed to her suite, intending to get ready and later go downstairs to enquire at the hotel reception.