"Why.. aren't you saying anything?" She asked when he just continued to look at her with his hands folded in front of him, without saying anything.

"It looked pretty." He said, "I didn't want anyone else except you to have it."

Joreen looked at him with that was akin to surprise on her face. He didn't want anyone else to have it except for her? Why?

"But... it.. is... reallyyyy expensive."

"You are not supposed to wear something cheap."

"Does it matter? Most cheap things actually look better. I know what I am saying." She beat her chest confidently.

"Quality matters Luo Joreen." He said before adding, "Also, remember you are a public figure. A 14 yuan earring would cause a big scandal."

"Yea yea." She rolled her eyes. "Jobless people have the time to analyze every single thing I am wearing." She hissed.

"But... I really don't care what people think of me. At least they know I can afford luxury right? I just like to patronize my fans especially when they sell something I like."

"So you also got that earring from your fan?" He asked, eyeing her earlobe which was almost hidden by her headwarmer.

"Yes." She nodded. "Do not get me wrong, I love the anklet and I really appreciate you for getting it for me but... I think... it is quite... too much? I.. don't know. It just kind of feel heavier around my ankle since I heard what it's probably worth." She explained.

"...."

"You... aren't mad at me right?" She inquired when he remained quiet despite all she had just said.

"I am not." He answered softly. "I understand what you are saying."

"You can keep patronizing your fans. But there are some ocassions where you won't be wearing those stuffs to..."

"I have other expensive jewelries I can wea—"

"No." He cut her off mid sentence and earned a glare from her..

"I don't trust your idea of 'expensive'. I'm sure it wouldn't be more than five thousand yuan."

"W...hat!?" She exclaimed with wide eyes. "Why would I buy a jewelry worth that amount in the first place?!" She quickly kept her voice down and looked around when she realised her voice had grew louder. A short laugh escaped Hoy's lips. Just as he had expected!

"I'll send some over to you after our vacation. And always remember this, you can patronize your fans when it comes to things like this, but do not buy any comestible from them."

"Of course! I don't just eat from anywhere." She huffed.

"I'm just saying. I know what a case you can be when no one is looking. If there is anything you are craving for, you should ask me instead of going to get anything on your own." He said, looking at her seriously.

"You should always be careful, especially after you turn eighteen." He hoped she would listen to him. Since she worked in the entertainment industry, there were a lot of people who had eyes on her and it was going to be worse after her eighteenth birthday. He knew he would have to put in enough effort to keep her from falling into trouble or into the hands of people that wanted to take advantage of her. It didn't help that she was still very naive since it could make her easily fall into their traps.

He expected her to take his words seriously, but he was surprised to see her smiling at him.

"You care about me that much eh?" She asked while smiling.

"I do." He admitted, surprising her greatly.

She had expected him to blow her off like he usually did but what had gotten into him that he was just answering everything?

"Cat got your tongue now?" He asked, a smirk playing at the corner of his lip.

"Wwwhatever!" She stuttered before searching her brain for something else to say in order to change the topic, "Oh! And you don't have to buy me things all the time."

"Why?"

"Just because." She answered with a shrug.

"Does he think I am his daughter?" She mumbled to herself but he obviously heard it.

"I will continue to buy you things as long as I find something I know you'll like. So do not worry your pretty head." He flashed her a smile that enchanted her and she could not help but stare until the smile quickly disappeared and he cleared his throat, bringing her back to reality.

Before either of them could say another word, his phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and frowned when he saw the caller,

"I'll take this. Excuse me." He stood up but kept looking at Joreen, "Do not wander around. I'll return soon." He added before walking away.

"Does he think I am a child?" She asked herself with a frown as she watched his figure move further away from her.

She sat down there for a few minutes and got bored when he still didn't return. She looked outside and the inquisitive part of her told her to go stroll around but she shook her head, remembering he had asked her to wait. Just like it happened in movies, maybe she would get into trouble if she disobeyed him and went outside, and then the viewers would call her stupid for not listening.

While looking outside, she saw something that made her eyes widen.

"Is that... Reen and Zichu?" She asked herself as she watched them walk side by side. Zichu looked really different and handsome. Reen said something that made the two of them laugh.

Seeing how happy they looked together, Joreen could not help but feel jealous.

She had been strolling like that with Hoy earlier, but it wasn't really fun since they were simply looking around for Mr Ping whom they didn't need by the way.

They hadn't been saying much to each other either. Maybe he was careful because of the scandal that broke out a few days ago?

She would have thought Li Hoy just didn't like to talk to anyone but lately, he spoke more words to her and she realised he wasn't that much of a taciturn person when he was around someone he was comfortable with. So maybe he was only being careful so rumours wouldn't spread around about them? But if they were always careful, would they ever progress?

She realised she was going ahead of herself because she didn't even know the kind of woman Li Hoy liked yet.

"Miss Luo?"

Joreen's attention moved away from the window to look behind her and she saw Mr Ping smiling at her.

"Mr Ping! We were looking all over for you."

"I'm sorry for stressing you out Miss Luo. You see, I had to take care of the business so I wouldn't have to worry Mr Li and you. So you can just have fun and be relaxed." He said with a big smile.

Joreen returned the smile even though it held some curiosity in it, "But Mr Li said there was no business."

His smile cracked and his eyes twitched, "P..ardon?"

"He said there was no business." She repeated.

"That snitch!" Mr Ping cussed silently. Now he was made to look like a fool when Hoy already told her the truth.

"Hahaha!" Not knowing what else to tell this little woman, he chose to laugh instead. "Why don't I see Mr Li around?"

"He went to take a call." She answered.

"Okay then. I will just excuse myself. Please have fun." He bowed slightly and was about to disappear when she stopped him.

"Is there something you need Miss Luo?" He asked when she called his name.

"Uhm.. Yes." She touched the back of her neck nervously and asked,

"What... kind of woman does Mr Li like?" She asked shyly. Even though Hoy was a very reserved person, being with Hoy for a long time and also since they were friends, she believed he was the best person to ask.

She could see how much Mr Ping was trying not to give her a full blown smile after she asked him.

"Hmmm.." He pretended to think before gesturing at her to take her seat then he took the opposite seat where Hoy had been sitting.

"Well, Mr Li is a very picky person so his type is very rare." He said with a serious expression. Anyone who saw him would think they were having a very serious business talk.

"Very picky?" She asked, slowly beginning to lose hope.

"Very picky." He agreed with a nod.

Joreen took out her phone, ready to make a list as he started listing it out.

"He likes girls that are petite. Not very tall ones."

She nodded and wrote it down.

"Girls with really pretty smiles."

"A very talented woman who is also successful or at least, strives to be."

"A little clumsy and stubborn. He doesn't like pushovers. Someone who can stand up for herself when the case arise, and can also depend on him."

"An empathetic and respectful woman."

"A very beautiful woman."

"Someone who is truthful and direct."

Joreen sighed in defeat before slapping her phone down on the table, "How is he ever going to find a woman who possesses all this, in the first place?!" She complained, almost getting angry at Hoy for being too picky.

Meanwhile, Mr Ping looked at her with disbelief written all over his face.