The gala ended at 11 pm.

Blare and Ace were the last ones who remained in the mansion.

Ace's parents bid them goodbye and Blare used her remaining energy to express her "enthusiastic" gratitude.

She regretted replying to his awkward question.

Blare was very exhausted because she kept standing, walking and chatting. Together with Ace who doesn't look tired at all.

When she was starting to feel weary, she respectfully proposed to go home. The man only smiled in response. Remembering it again, Blare gritted her teeth to suppress her anger.

Blare entered Ace's car and leaned her body on the car seat. The dress that costs for a million pounds no longer matters. She started loathing the expensive dress and swore to never wear it again. She was already uncomfortable, especially on her high heels.

Ace entered the driver's seat and looked at Blare's tired and uncomfortable state. She was also frowning.

The man's lips curved up. "Tired?"

Blare looked at him in the corner of her eyes. Seeing his smile, Blare furrowed her eyebrows visibly.

But one has to admire a person who can still be calm after being annoyed. 

'He's the boss. I have a high-paying salary. My business will open up in a year. Endure, endure...'

Blare repeated these words to calm herself. She must not allow her emotions to come out carelessly.

She was lucky to be alive when she suddenly shouted at the crown prince - Wang Jianyi - to leave her alone. That action and words can make her head roll out of her body. Yet the crown price luckily spared her life. 

Blare expected a punishment but it never came. So it can only be counted as luck and that the crown prince has a bit of a soft heart.

Although it was not her emotion, she realized the importance of controlling it.

But this time, mistakes must not be repeated.

"I am indeed tired." she sighs softly and placed her attention outside.

She heard the man chuckled and turned the car on.

_____________

The car arrived outside the building of Blare's apartment.

Blare opened the car's door and as she steps her foot out, she winced in pain.

"Ah! Ouch.." Blare furrowed her eyebrows and lifted the hems of her dress. She saw her feet swelling and reddening. Blare felt her legs were out of energy, so she tried to lift her legs up to exercise. 

She was able to lift it up, but it was shaking uncontrollably.

Ace got out of the car and turned to Blare's side. He kneeled and scanned her feet which earned an alarmed look from Blare.

Blare hurriedly took her high heels off and said, "I'm okay, Sir"

The side of the big toe on her right foot is bleeding slightly but she still placed her naked feet in the cold ground.

She stood up weakly and closed the car door. Her fitted dress contributed to Blare's difficulty in walking. Instead of walking straight, she was limping instead.

Ace frowned on the sight. In the end, the woman refused to ask for help. He couldn't take it anymore and carried Blare in princess style.

"What the--"

"Move too much and I'll drop you" Ace firmly said.

Blare restrained herself to scream, 'Then don't carry me!!'

"Please, Sir, I am fine." She told him helplessly.

Ace stared at the woman in her arms. "So stubborn," he mumbled and walked towards the building, still carrying her.

"Sir Ace!" Blare was turning red from embarrassment. No one has ever held Blare like a princess, so the situation made her uncomfortable.

Despite her plea, Ace still looked unbothered and refused to put her down.

Unfortunately, the landlady saw her being carried. The old woman smiled cheekily at the sight and Blare covered her face. She was so embarrassed.

When they entered the elevator, Blare irritatedly clicked the number 6, indicating the 6th floor.

'I take it back, this one is forceful as well! Not even listening to me!' 

As if Ace heard her, he whispered, enough for Blare to hear it.

"Rely on me"

The tone of his voice carried a tinge of disappointment and sadness.

His words made Blare felt a sense of deja vu. Then she remembered Zhao Kang's words to Fang Chunhua.

"Rely on me Chunhua... Rely on me more."

"I can't" Blare blurted out instinctively. Ace looked at her with widened eyes.

"I can never rely on anyone... I won't rely on anyone." She added while looking directly at his eyes.

One's gaze was determined, while the other was unhappy.

Ace wanted to say something, but he didn't know what words to utter. In the end, the man never let her go and Blare also did not retort.

Ace reached her apartment door while still carrying her. Ace still didn't put her down and before she could say something, Ace cut her off,

"Stop being stubborn. Your injured feet can't walk"

Blare shut her mouth and took her key in her handbag. She opened the door with the key. Ace walked inside while still carrying her. He directly walks towards the reception room and let her sit down on the chair.

Blare sighed in relief, she was starting to think that's she's too heavy, added to the fact that she's being carried like a princess.

She was expecting him to leave but Ace stayed and was looking around. Until he found the medicine kit above the refrigerator.

Blare gaped at the sight. His boss was personally treating her injured feet!

Feeling embarrassed, she said, "Sir, I can treat it myself."

"It's fine, consider this as an apology for making you stand for hours"

Blare could say nothing to that. It was true that she was mentally cursing him because he kept socializing and Blare was forced to stay at his side to remain gracious.

"Thank you" she sincerely said.

"Hm," he replied.

Blare watched Ace's clean-cut hair. In his every movement, his hair would always sway, giving the impression that his hair was soft. 

Blare's hair wasn't silky, so she adores anyone who was naturally born with it.

Blare had always admired what she wants.

All this time, Ace can feel her stare. When he was done treating the wounds on her feet, he looked up. There, he saw her eyes with admiration. The same expression Blare had when she saw the CEO’s office.

Blare flinched when the man looked up. She quickly looked away and mumbled "Sorry"

"What are you admiring?" Ace said teasingly.

".... Your hair, it looks soft" Blare honestly responded.

"You can touch it," He said, his eyes unknowingly softened and lips curving up.

Blare looked at him and when she saw his softened expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you so kind to me?"

Even if the Ace made her stay for hours, he still treated her injured foot. When he escorted back home after buying her the rose gold dress, he stayed until she reached the apartment building.

Blare knows that Ace never accompanied a woman. The guests that she interacted with made that obvious. She was always targeted, thinking that they could make some connections to Ace by entertaining her. 

The good actions that he had done still outweigh today's event that made her blood boil.