MORNING TALKS

"Meixiu, are you planning to leave so early again and you don't want to say it to me?"

Meixiu looked back to her husband and saw his enraged expressions again. That fire in his eyes, she can see the anger in them. He is very different from what he seems like on screens. A certified flirt, both on cam or off cam but he sure is domestic when his fans are around. But if he's alone with Meixiu, he'll become a beast that's ready to eat her a his prey.

"I've prepared your breakfast so it's not a problem. Mom will be bringing a lot of prospect business partners today, who can help us with the marketing. So I can't be late."

"You are three and a half hours early. Close the door and do not plan to leave without me letting you."

And that command sent shivers down her spine. He is acting too aggressive again. It is the same as to Meixiu's father's aggressiveness and authority. Their voices, which purposely modulate on its own just to scare her is always effective. Their fiery eyes, their breaths of fire, all of those scary expressions bring nothing but fear, terror and pain. And so she closed the door and went back to their couch to where she sleeps every night, including last night.

"Do you know why am I so furious right now?", Chaoxiang moped to reach her direction.

"Did I offend you in any way?"

"I have this fan, who acts like a fan, who sends me letters but is not willing to see me."

"Oh..."

And Meixiu hit her knee on the the table after she heard Chaoxiang ranting about that fan. Could it be her? Is he referring to his own wife? That's when Meixiu remembered she never replied to his message last night, his invitation for his fan signing and she awkwardly chuckled both in pain and in guilt.

"You're such an idiot when you walk.", Chaoxiang said and she once again chuckled and sat down on the couch.

"What do you mean that person doesn't want to see you?"

"I'm hitting up about 300 DMs a day, just to message my fans for I am trying to get in touch with them. Whenever I message them, they will instantly reply. Some are even so obscure and weird. Some message me about me being in their dreams. Some told me they are thinking about me before they sleep. And she! She even seemed mad that I messaged her."

"She? So you know it's a girl?"

"Don't try to act jealous. It's not like I'm going to marry her."

"That's not what I meant. Well maybe she's still shocked that you messaged her. Or maybe she's having a hard time."

"How about you?"

"What do you mean? What about me?"

And Meixiu's heart started pounding the moment she heard those words. Is he actually trying to let her bite the hook? Is he playing a game with her? Does he know she is that fan already?

"Are you following my socials?"

"I don't.", she firmly said.

"What if I messaged you, not as your husband but as Zhao Chaoxiang? How would you feel?"

"If only he knows I am so nervous the first time he messaged me. If only he knows how I badly want to reply. If only he knows how much I want to talk to him and tell him how much his music changed my life. I would be glad to but the guilt is too much to take.", Meixiu lowered her head and she played with her fingers, saying those words to herself.

"How can I be happy if I'm not a fan?", she answered.

"Yeah you're right. That's why I don't like messaging you. You aren't feeling grateful with my presence."

"Yeah you aren't messaging me enough. You call me every time though."

And she stood up and bowed her head. Chaoxiang is just looking at her. And she's right. He comes to her office, he calls her when she's not around as if he misses her. And Chaoxiang can explain all that. He is just scared the Yang Sora and Ruomei will once again meddle with his issue with Meixiu. He's tired of all the threats and all the warnings. If only he could set free from this set up, he would.

"Thank you for coming last night. Thank you for being there with me."

"I only did that for I don't want to be blamed if something happened to you."

"I understand people. Maybe most of the time they don't care but at least they help. And you helped me last night so thank you."

"Are you leaving now? I told you unless I let you..."

"You're acting like you'll miss me if I leave your apartment."

"No! Okay you may leave."

"Thank you."

Hearing that order, Meixiu immediately left the apartment and skedaddled to her car. Left in the house is Chaoxiang who is still wondering about that day Meixiu had a breakdown in front of him. She said someone will take her away, that they are coming back to ruin her. And Chaoxiang also noticed that since that night Meixiu called him and said her car overheated, she drastically changed. She became self-centered, she's trying to protect herself from someone.

"And who might that be? What is exactly her issue?"