"That the dumbass Hu Atian was your boyfriend?"

This hit her like thousands of needles on her body. she thought it was best not to tell Evelyn about him because she knew she will lose her temper and start barking at him. She feels guilty seeing that Evelyn is hurt for not telling her about it. "How did you know?"

Evelyn looks at her in disbelief and smiles bitterly, "Your Ex told me. You are still protecting him, Shi? Is that so?"

"No, that's not what you think. I-I thought it wasn't much important and it was all in the past. I don't want you to get worried over this" she holds her hand in reassurance, "Trust me, I didn't mean to keep it from you."

Evelyn still feels hurt but she believes Shi Lian. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she shakes her head, "Why are you still talking to him? You know what her mother did to you, yet you…"

"It was him who came to apologize and wanted to make a fresh start. We are only friends, nothing less and nothing more. And her mother too apologized which I already told you" Shi Lian sighs.

"But still! He still has feelings for you!" she argues, "Wait…do you have feelings for him as well?"

To this Shi Lian laughs, "Don't worry. My feelings have faded. I only see him as a good friend now."

Evelyn releases a sigh of relief, "At least you have some brains left." Shi Lian smacks her arm playfully to her joke and Evelyn smacks as well. they laugh forgetting their fight which lasted for only five minutes or less.

"You didn't say anything mean to him, did you?" Shi Lian asks but the look on Evelyn's face gives her the answer anyways. "Ah! Ev! What did you bark?"

Evelyn ignores her glare and says nonchalantly, "The things he deserved to be heard. You should thank me I didn't curse anymore. I just told him that he was a bad influence and his mother is a cruel witch."

Shi Lian smacks her forehead with her palm in regret and the stunt her friend pulled. He already feels guilty and now he must be very upset, she thinks. She calms herself and looks at Eveyln, "You will apologize to him. You can't say no. it's your fault here so you have to! You have to! You have to!"

"Geez! Are you kidding me? I am not wrong! If you have told me earlier about the situation between and you, I would stop myself from snapping at him." Evelyn debates, her hand flying dramatically in the air.

"I get it but it was wrong for you to say mean things to him. He is already is upset and you just sprinkled salt over that open wound. Ev, please" she requests, trying to persuade Evelyn by all means.

Evelyn says nothing, she turns around and starts walking from where they came. Shi Lian calls out, "Hey!" but Evelyn keeps on walking without looking back. Shi Lian sighs and follows her instead.

They reach the beach house they rented. Zichen is standing there, discussing something with Rong as the two approaches.

"Yo, Mr. Hunk! Are you staying here as well?" Evelyn questions, her mouth curls up into a smirk. Shi Lian gives her awarning look for sideways but Evelyn is too busy checking him out.

"Yes" he replies, his eyes meeting Shi Lian's and he smiles. Damn! This man looks too attractive with that smile! Shi Lian feels the heat rushing up to her cheeks and the piece of him kissing her earlier plays in her mind and her face goes all red.

"Well then, I am Evelyn." She chirps. She notices him smiling at Shi Lian and she gets the idea that something is going on between them.

Zichen turns her attention to Evelyn, "Fu Zichen. Pleasure meeting you Miss Evelyn" he says curtly with a formal smile. This smile is nothing like the smile he gave while looking at Shi Lian. Even though Evelyn wants to snap at him as he tried to take advantage of Shi Lian but she stops herself. She already had an earful from Shi Lian, she doesn't want another one.

Rong on the other hand is hesitating to ask. He does not want his boss to bark at him again for disturbing him but staying here is something new. Ziche didn't tell him about staying here. He wants to ask but looking at the moment he is unsure of whether to ask or not. After debating, he comes to a conclusion and he gathers the remaining amount of courage left in him and asks in a low voice, only for Zichen to hear, "Sir, shall I book a room here?"

Zichen nods without facing him which he is glad. "I'll book right away sir," his manager says and runs to make the booking.

Turning his attention back to the girls, he says, "I'll be back. Excuse me"

After he is gone, Shi Lian requests Evelyn again, "Apologise. You have to." Evelyn rolls her eyes, waving her hand in front of Shi Lian. She is annoyed by the mention of Atian so she changes the topic to Zichen and latches on Shi Lian.

"Well, I'll see. Anyway, that Fu Zichen is one bachelor. So when did the two of you started dating?" she teases Shi Lian, hanging one arm on her shoulder.

Shi Lian's face heats up and she quickly denies, "What? No! We are not dating." Her flushed face shows there's something between which Evelyn notices. She smirks and thinks of teasing her more.

"He must be a skilled kisser.." Evelyn taunts, close to her ear. Shi Lian glares at her with her big eyes but she didn't deny too. "How far did the two of you go?"

"Way too far. You can't even imagine how far we went" Shi Lian joins in with the teasing. She gives her smirk as a challenge.

"In bed, he must be a divine to watch…his naked body...God! I can't imagine how hot it must be. "

"Okay, that's enough" Shi Lian pulls out from her hang and pinch her nose. Evelyn groans because she hates when somebody touches her nose. "I'm gonna go, take a shower and you go apologies to Atian, understand?"

"Gah! Whatever" grimaces Evelyn. Just now she was having fun but Shi Lian has to ruin it by the mention of Atian. Shi Lian sighs and walks to her room, while Evelyn goes in another direction to find Atian.

**

After showering, Shi Lian is now in her room drying her hair with the help of a dryer. She has changed her clothes to casual wear- pink cami and denim shorts. As she is drying her hair, a knock comes on the door. 'Must be Evelyn', she thinks and witch off the dryer before getting up from the small table and striding to the door. She twists the door bar and the door clicks open as she pulls it inside. She startles as the sight of the person is unexpecting but deep down she expected. "What are you doing here?" she squeaks.

Zichen stands on the other side of the door. The sight of her in those dress makes him gulp and the heat inside him rush. Those long and toned legs and the cleavage…God! He tears his gaze from his body and looks at her beautiful face. he clears his throat before answering him, "Just came to give you this." he hands her a sparkling bracelet.

Shi Lian blinks at the jewelry and then she realizes that she wore it earlier. Now to think of it, she had it on her wrist but how come Zichen found it? "Where did you find it?" she asks, taking the bracelet from his palm.

"You left it in the car" he answers, leaning close, his arm resting on the wooden wall. She regrets asking the questions because she knew he will taunt her. her cheeks are flushed as she stares at the bracelet on her hand.

"Th-thank you" she stammers, her breathing changing, "I will go back to my work. Goodbye!" Just as she was going to close the door, Zichen stops it with his strong hands.

"Not so soon" he smirks and steps inside, taking the space. He closes the door behind them, ignoring Shi Lian's scowls. "I returned your precious bracelet and you are saying just a thank you? That's not fair, Shi Lian" he says in his husky voice, approaching her. Shi Lian stumbles as she steps back from him but Zichen catches her before that.

"What do you want then?" she hisses, looking directly at him as she stays in his arms.

"How about a sweet kiss?" he smirks. Shi Lian gets up from his hold and stands some inches far from him.

She rolls her eyes at him saying, "That's too much you are asking."

"That's the least I am requesting. I can ask more" he continues teasing her. teasing Shi Lian is the best thing he had fun in. Never thought he would have fun teasing someone. The reactions she gives are the best and it makes him want to play more.

So horny, aren't you?" she eyes him, cocking her eyebrow as an accusation.

"For you, always" he whispers, stepping closer to where she stands. In the blink of an eye, he snatches the bracelet from her hold. "Let's try this way" he declares, his tone playful, "Give me a kiss and take your bracelet."

"Shi Lian snorts. "I don't want it anyway, you may take it."

"I don't like" he pauses as he grips her hand and pulls her towards him, "being refused" he adds. He holds the back of her neck and pulls her close to his face. Without listening to her protests, he hovers over her mouth, dominating it with his tongue.

"Mmmhm…." She protests but she knows she will eventually give in because no matter what, she can never resist that mouth or him. His hand trails to the back of her waist, squeezing her ass and she moans. She wraps her legs around his waist, circling him and he holds her steadily without breaking their kiss.

"You have no idea what you do to me" he growls between kisses. Shi Lian's breath becomes shallow as her inside muscle clenches and goosebumps covering her body.

"Show me then" she whispers, shoving her hands in his matted hair. He grunts as he kisses her harder.

**

After wandering around the beach for an hour, Evelyn finally decides to face Atian. She knows Shi Lian won't let her go that easily, not after she apologized. She pulls her hair back into a ponytail as the sands all over her body slide as rising from the sandy ground. She pats the excess sand on her exposed thighs and legs and some behind on her shorts. But then she stops and groans as frustration boils in her head. She has no clue where Atian is at the moment and Shi Lian hasn't told her either. "Fuck this!" she curses under her breath. Now she has to look all around the beach and find him.

About looking for him for half an hour or so, Evelyn is exhausted. She searched the beach for how long she can but he is nowhere to be seen. She lay down on the spot they found before and try to calm herself, catching her breath. She closes her eyes and breaths long and hard. As she lays there in serene, some muffling sound comes into her ears, making her winch. She opens her eyes in annoyance to see who is there. "Who the-?" she stops as Atian gives her an awkward smile, his hands in the picnic basket. She releases a sigh of relief, thanking God that she found him. Well, he came on his own, she did not find him.

"I came to take some soda. Sorry to bother" he makes an apology and takes the two cans of soda hurriedly from the basket. He was about to leave when Evelyn stops him.

"W-wait….I…I need to talk to you," she says, not in her usual cheery tone. She looks away, clearly embarrassed. Atian gives a confusing look but he sits down again, anyway. After Evelyn stormed out barking at him, he sat at the same place he is sitting right now thinking hard and feeling guilty. He does not expect Evelyn to talk to him ever again but now that she wants to talk to him, he is curious as well as a little frightened of her starts latching out at him again.

"What do you need to talk about?" he asks softly, the usual he does.

Evelyn fidgets with her fingers looking down at them. She speaks quietly, "Earlier, I said some mean things to you." She looks up to meet his raven eyes and continues, "I shouldn't have said those. It's not your fault completely and you also weren't the one who did it. I am protective of her, you know….She has cried on her shoulder for countless nights. I guess I overreacted. I am sorry."

Atian blinks twice, he cannot believe she is apologizing. He is speechless, he doesn't know what to say exactly. He had no idea of this coming but he feels..nice not because he wanted her to apologize but because of the bond, she has with Shi Lian and the things he said now. It's not your fault completely, her words play in his mind and a small smile quirk on his face. All these years, he believed that it was all his fault, his fault for breaking her heart but now there's someone who believes it's not his fault, he feels warm and less guilty.

When he does not say anything, Evelyn thinks he won't accept her apology and Shi Lian will think didn't show much 'sincerity. "I understand for you to despise me after the way I behaved with you but I am truly sorry for the words I used earlier" she blurts.

Atian chuckles under his breathe seeing her all flustered and acting cute. He finally says because if he didn't she might keep blurting feeling all sorry. "I accept your sincere apology. I am sorry as well because I think I owe one as well" he half laughs. Evelyn smiles wide after hearing his acceptance. She does not hate him but does not like me as well. "Hey, I apologize for bumping into you at the party. My fault" he says playfully and Evelyn rolls her eyes laughing.

"I do have a name. I am Evelyn" she smirks and forwards her hand for a handshake. He grins and meets his hand for a handshake. 'She is not that bad' he wonders.

'He is not much hateful' she ponders. They talk about stuff and found that they share few similarities and many differences. They have different opinions and views on various topics which they chat about with ease. They joke, laugh and they seem to have a good time together.

It's going to be sunset so they decide to head back to the beach house. Packing everything, Evelyn takes the sheet rolled up and Atian the basket and other stuff as they leave their spot, striding towards the beach house.