’’I will report this to Second Master first...’’ As much as Ji Yan did not dare to, he had to...
That was his fate. His destiny. He pulled out his flower printed handkerchief and dabbed his sweat with it.
He approached a distant wall, then cautiously reached for one of the paintings hung on it.
With a slow, deliberate motion, he turned it clockwise. A faint click echoed. The wall trembled before parting, unveiling a dark and seemingly forbidden passage.
Ji Yan entered the room. Separated by a single wall, the room was situated right inside Adrian’s office but the atmosphere was completely different.
When Ji Yan walked down the stairs, it felt like he was descending to hell. The room was enshrouded in darkness, only a small row of lights dimly illuminating the space.
On the king-sized bed, Adrian leaned back on the headboard. A few buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned and in his hand, there was a wine glass filled to the brim.
His skin was ghastly pale, stretched over sharp cheekbones like moonlight over a frozen lake.
It was the kind of complexion one earned from dwelling too long in shadows, far from warmth, far from the living.
His sleeves were folded and his forearms were covered with bulging veins. Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, the man slowly looked up.
Ji Yan’s legs turned to jelly.
It was like standing in front of an apex predator—one wrong move, and he’d be shredded.
Those dark and dead eyes seemed to contain no trace of emotions or mirth. He looked like a blood-starved vampire king who finally spotted his prey.
Ji Yan gulped. I-Is it too late for me to go out and come back later?
Adrian looked at him emotionlessly.
’’Second Master, Miss Yu just paid a visit...’’
The aura turned more oppressive as if the single mention of that name wounded the man in his sore spots.
He was right for sending Ella away after all.
Feeling confident, he straightened up, ’’Don’t worry. Since you did not want to meet her, I sent her away...’’
Ji Yan was suddenly proud of himself—until the temperature in the room dropped like a guillotine blade. A wild guess formed in his head.
Don’t tell me... Second Master was merely trying to avoid Miss Yu but he did not want to avoid her for real?
A frigid gust swept through the room, sharp as ice, curling around Ji Yan’s spine like a noose.
At this moment, Ronan’s urgent voice sounded from outside.
’’Hey, hey, you can’t go in there!"
And it was followed by Ella’s voice, ’’Why can’t I? Did you think you could fool me into believing that he isn’t here when the both of you are camping here like a bunch of chiroptera? Baby, help me out! Your doctor is forbidding me from seeing you!"
Ji Yan’s mouth dropped. So, this lady had merely pretended to leave earlier?
But amidst the unbearable blizzard, he felt a trail of spring wind blowing at his face.
At the sound of her voice, the storm in Adrian’s eyes flickered. Color seeped back into his face, as if she were sunlight cracking through a stormy sky.
Looking at the Second master’s face that looked more humane suddenly, Ella’s voice rang like a celestial deity’s divine music in Ji Yan’s ears.
Hence just as the room seemed poised for destruction, the door flew open.
Ella burst in, her voice slicing through the icy tension. Behind her, Ronan scrambled, utterly defeated.
’’I tried to stop her...’’ Ronan trailed off when an emotionless gaze landed on him.
Adrian opened his mouth, ’’The new research center...’’
"Oh, it’s finally ready after six-months?" Ronan’s eyes widened in excitement.
’’It will take another six months.
Ronan looked at the man in disbelief,"W-What? When did that happen?"
Ronan clutched his chest, ’’Heavens! Ace, I was doing it for your good! You would throw rocks at your childhood buddy for this...’’ he was tongue tied.
Ella turned to look at him with a ’I dare you to say witch’ face.
Ronan grunted and tugged at his hair. Suddenly, his phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from the main mansion, his face darkened even more.
It had not been a few days since he had been shifted to the main mansion to look after those old geezers!
’’This...’’ He looked at Adrian but meeting the man’s aloof gaze, he groaned and left the place, completely tongue tied.
Ella, on the other hand, turned to look at Adrian.
Ji Yan held his breath and stole a glance at the man who was lying on the bed, his face cold and his expressions unreadable.
’’I haven’t seen you in a week and you have become more handsome!" Ella rubbed the puppy in her arms after observing Adrian for some time.
Ji Yan sighed inwardly. Miss Yu, you could flatter a stone into sprouting roses, but this is beyond saving.
How many people wait in queue to get a chance to bootlick him on an hourly basis? Why would your flattery be any different? Wait. Why does the Second Master look...pleased?!
However, the man on the bed suddenly moved. He placed the glass of wine aside on the bedside table and looked at Ella, ’’Mm...’’
Ella sighed, ’’You should come around more often so I get used to your handsomeness. My heart cannot take it when I see you after days or weeks...!’’ This beauty was at times lethal enough to distract her momentarily.
Adrian’s face looked even better, a few colors were back on his face.
Ji Yan looked at Ella in admiration. Miss Yu, forgive me for comparing you to that of others. Your bootlicking skills are totally top-notch. Completely formidable!
Adrian lifted his hand, palm open, voice low and commanding. "Come."
Sensing the ambiguous atmosphere, Ji Yan quietly retreated from the place.
Ella glanced at Adrian’s outstretched hand and paused for a moment. She did not move instantly.
Adrian’s face darkened.
’’Are you allergic to puppies? Or cats for that matter?" Just as the atmosphere had transformed to like that of the north pole, Ella suddenly asked.
Adrian glanced at the puppy in her hand, ’’Not allergic.’’
Then, he watched as the girl skipped over to his side and took his outstretched hand.
Adrian pulled Ella over to his lap.
"I’ll crush you." She hesitated.
Her years of unhealthy habits had landed her on a weight of nearly 180 pounds since she had checked it barely a few days ago.
Yet this man pulled her over to his lap as if she weighed nothing.
He didn’t even blink. "You are not heavy."
Adrian cupped the back of her head and nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck. The subtle scent of magnolias dominated all his senses and his eyes rolled back on instinct.
Hearing the man’s words, Ella was a bit taken aback.