27 27_

Ji Ye Qiu was standing in front of his bungalow when he received another call. He was just about to go in but he retraced his steps.

As he picked up the phone, his smile turned sinister.

"I want you to get information about his current condition." he said as he took out a cigarette and lighted it up.

He then continued "He has never taken days off before so this is our chance. That accident must have caused some fatal injuries after all."

Ji Ye Qiu took a drag from the cigarette as he listened to the other side. Then gradually, his eyes showed a very dark glint the same as those villainous characters.

"I'm taking back what's supposed to be mine, Lu Haishan. So don't blame me for this." he said as soon as he hung up the call.

The man then tossed the cigarette on the ground as he stepped on it. He seemed to think of the cigarette as Ji Haishan and his lips slowly curved up into a devil's smirk.

*

The atmosphere inside one of the premium unit condos of Secret Sanctuary was in utter silence. The two people needed some time to cool off their heads.

And after they calmed down, Ji Haishan cleared his throat to signal for attention. Bai Yulin looked at him and awkwardly smiled like nothing happened.

Why did it seem as if they just did something irreversible and were branded as sinners..?

"Well.. um." Bai Yulin wanted to excuse herself to disappear without a trace but she saw Ji Haishan pick up the recipe book from the floor.

Her earlier intention diminished in an instant. She stared at him as he picked up several more recipe books that were scattered due to their impact just now.

Then, Ji Haishan carefully placed them back in the bottom row of the bookshelf. He counted them and was satisfied when none was missing.

The face he was making right now was one that made Bai Yulin choke without ever drinking water.

He was expressionless.

Yes, his face showed nothing. Just bland eyes, colorless gaze.

"Ji Haishan.." Bai Yulin wanted to say something. Anything would do. But she didn't know why he was suddenly like that.

Was she really acting out of line when she touched those books?

Ji Haishan didn't look at her as he said "No need to apologize. You can do whatever you want with everything inside this house, including these books."

Bai Yulin wasn't convinced with his words but she kept her silence. Rather than that, she felt most troubled by the fact that he wasn't planning on telling her anything.

Was she so useless?

Was she undependable?

Or he just didn't trust her enough to share what was on his mind?

'Trust..' Bai Yulin smiled wryly at this thought. Of course, he wouldn't trust her.

They just met in less than a week.

They changed bodies after just dancing together one time.

Their car crashed against each other.

Their meeting was basically the worst there was out there. Even fate wasn't on their side as it was turned into a game.

Ji Haishan still didn't turn to face Bai Yulin and if he did- he would see her grief-stricken face. So it worked well for Bai Yulin.

But he did something that was out of her expectation. He began telling her a part of the story.

"The author of these recipe books.. he's my dad." he started.

Bai Yulin was surprised. She didn't expect that at all because the surname written was different.

Even though Ji Haishan didn't look at Bai Yulin in the face, he could still guess her reaction. So he said "That's right. I'm not originally a Ji. My name was Lu Haishan."

Bai Yulin stared at his back which was facing her. She couldn't gouge his expression but she knew it wasn't good.

So when he told her about how her food brought back memories.. maybe that had something to do with his father?

His father was a chef..

For some unknown reason, Bai Yulin was sure that Ji Haishan's father was no longer in this world. That was why he was acting this way, melancholic and sad.

Bai Yulin didn't know what got to her but when she blinked her eyes to open again- she was already hugging him from behind.

Ji Haishan's original body was huge, just like a healthy man. His shoulder was broad and he was taller than Bai Yulin. So, when she hugged him, he fit right within her arms. Safe, and enclosed.

Ji Haishan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. At one point, he felt ridiculed because he was now nothing but an emotionally unstable woman. But at a different perspective- he felt like he was saved. As if no one other than Bai Yulin could provide this sensation to him.

So he didn't show resistance. He just let her embrace him as much as she wanted.

This time, the silence wasn't piercing anymore. It was no longer awkward. In fact, it was a comfortable silence. It was soothing.

Time was ticking slowly and their heartbeat accelerated. Ji Haishan didn't know whether it was his or her heartbeat that kept on pounding within their chest. They were glued to each other as his back was facing her.

He couldn't see her face and neither could she see his. And they stood still like that for a long time.

Suddenly, paper particles appeared in front of their eyes and the doll popped up in the air.

*Good day, party A and party B!*

Both Ji Haishan and Bai Yulin were too surprised from the sudden appearance of the third party and they instinctively cursed out loud.

"Ah f*ck!"

"Shit!"

The two of them pushed each other as far away as they could and they didn't dare to look at the other in the eye. Their heart was about to explode but they acted as if nothing happened.

The doll stared at the two and it smiled meaningfully. Then it began talking.

*Congratulations to party A for completing the second task! Now party B is back to health!* it jumped in excitement.

*And because this task is completed following all of the conditions, there's no penalty issued for you!* the doll laughed heartily.

Ji Haishan cleared his throat and Bai Yulin nodded vigorously. They both were blushing very hard. The two of them looked like they were just caught in an adulterous affair.

*Now we'll proceed with the third task! This task is a special task to train party B so that she won't have a fever again for the next time! This task is also necessary in order to build chemistry between two parties!*