The Ex

The weather was beautiful outside. It was a sunny day with a slight overcast but the bright blue sky shone beautifully between the off-white clouds.

As Kang Jun and AnLing walked out of Hotel Helios a warm breeze blew past them. Feeling the initial blow, AnLing lifted her hand up blocking the wind slightly as it hit her face, but it had already dealt her some damage to her hair.

Suddenly a 'snap' sound could be heard causing AnLing to wince.

Her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall.

Both AnLing and Kang Jun bent down to pick up the hair elastic but Kang Jun reached it first and then handed it to her, but when he realized that it had snapped, he frowned.

AnLing ran her hands through her wavy hair and sighed.

If she was superstitious she would count this as an omen.

"I'll buy you a new one." Kang Jun looked at her with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

AnLing smiled slightly.

"It's not a big deal, it barely cost 10 yuan…"

AnLing might have said that, but, in truth, she actually didn't remember how much it had cost because she had bought it back in high school. It had come in a pack of ten and she wore each and every one of them until they had broken or had gotten lost.

This one was her last one.

"It doesn't matter. I'll do it anyways." Kang Jun said to her. He wasn't accepting no for an answer.

He stared at her for a bit with an expression AnLing couldn't quite understand. It was as if his eyes blocked his true emotions by a thin layer of darkness.

She gave him confused look.

AnLing: "Why?"

It wasn't like he had broken it on purpose. It wasn't even his fault, it was the stupid wind and the age of her elastic. So, why was he acting that way?

Little did she know what thoughts that passed through his mind.

When the elastic had snapped letting her hair free, Kang Jun thought she looked really beautiful. Even on the night, she had been intoxicated, AnLing's hair was more or less tied up so a large part of him didn't want others to see her like that.

"Because I said so." the man muttered childishly.

AnLing stood frozen for a moment. She couldn't believe her ears. This man was so strange; making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. Though a part of her wasn't shocked. In the less-than-two weeks she'd spent with him, she understood that with Kang Jun, one must expect the unexpected.

Kang Jun turned around and began to walk to his car slowly so he could give AnLing ample time to catch up to him.

He didn't look back.

He wanted to see whether she would follow him or not. He leaned towards not.

AnLing was a strange girl like that.

If it was any other woman, he would have probably figured her intentions out in a heartbeat but how could he figure out the intentions of someone who had none?

Kang Jun was tempted to look back but he didn't. Even if they parted ways there, he would see her tonight and if not tonight he would see her tomorrow, even if she decided to cancel their date.

Those were the perks of living right next door.

Walking away, Kang Jun felt contented.

Probability was on his side and he was in full control.

That is until he felt something soft press up against his back.

Kang Jun turned his head slightly to look. Once he saw AnLing ducking behind him, a look of bewilderment momentarily appeared on his face, before he masked it with coldness.

This was completely unexpected.

He could feel her warm touch on his back and side, as she tugged on his suit slightly. She pressed up against him in a certain way that caused a rush of blood. The man couldn't believe how quick his senses reacted to her touch.

Out of all the things he had expected her to do, this was not one of them. A part of him wanted to smirk but once he realized her palling face, he frowned.

"What's wrong?"

Kang Jun's voice was full of concern but AnLing didn't register it for a moment. She was concentrated on something else.

Out in the distance, a man had exited an Audi R8 Coupe, wearing a well fitted beige suit. He was good-looking, nowhere close to Kang Jun standards, but there was no way in hell AnLing could forget his face.

It was Yize.

The general manager of the hotel walked out of the building and met the man. He shook his hand with a wide smile.

'You've sure moved up in life…' AnLing felt herself frown.

She had seen him here just a week ago, yet why was he here again?

AnLing began to rethink living in Hotel Helios...

She stared ahead at Yize who was walking over. Kang Jun followed her eyes towards Yize and frowned even more.

Kang Jun: "Someone you know?"

AnLing wasn't sure what to say at first, but she felt like Kang Jun wouldn't let it go so she lowered her voice and said, "Someone I knew from high school."

An inexplicable expression appeared on his face. He turned to look at Yize who was walking towards them with an ice cold glare.

Kang Jun wasn't stupid. He had done his research and he knew who the man was before he even asked the question. He knew that AnLing wouldn't admit that he was her ex but still, he felt slightly hurt.

Though he himself knew he had no right, it didn't stop the dull pain growing in his heart. He hated the feeling but he knew how to get rid of it.

Suddenly, Kang Jun turned his body to face AnLing. He towered above her, forcing all of her attention to fall onto him. Seeing him up close, AnLing felt like something was different about him but she couldn't understand what.

The fact that she had indirectly caused his heart to ache never crossed her mind.

Kang Jun: "You want to avoid him right?"

AnLing shook her head, yes.

"I'll need your permission, then." A smirk appeared on Kang Jun's face.

Behind them, the general manager and Yize spoke amicably as they walked closer and closer to where Kang Jun and AnLing stood. Their voices became more and more clear to her ears. She hadn't heard Yize's voice in a while but her heart didn't react to it in the slightest.

AnLing looked passed Kang Jun towards the man she used to love and waited to see what her hearts reaction would be. When she found out he was getting married she was angry and unhappy and a part of her wondered if that was due to her lingering love for him, but as she gazed at him now, she didn't think that that was it anymore...

Seeing AnLing distracted by her ex, Kang Jun felt a darkness appear in his heart grow. It quickly became apparent on his face.

Was she hung up on her ex? He wondered but he didn't say a word. He just continued to look at AnLing painfully.

Once the general manager had led Yize close, the man as if feeling a dark presence turned to look for its source.

Seeing Yize turn his head, AnLing's heart jumped out of her chest. She really didn't want to have to interact with him.

What if his wife to be was at the hotel? What if someone found out that she was the woman that Yize had previously date? She could be ripped apart by those who knew them. They would believe that she had come back to the country to stop Yize from getting married.

Even if that wasn't remotely true, the people from their entourage would believe the lies because of the coincidental time she'd returned.

AnLing buried her head into Kang Jun's chest.

He might not have shown it but Kang Jun was in complete shock. He looked down to the girl who clung onto his suit.

He froze.

"You can do whatever you want." AnLing started.

Hearing those words, Kang Jun felt his brakes disintegrate into nothingness.

"as long as—" She continued but before AnLing was able to finish her sentence, Kang Jun had ripped her face out of his chest so to wrap his arms around her in his embrace.

His long arms pressed her close to his body as if they were one and he pulled her chin up, so her face would face his.

She felt his hot breath on her lips as he hovered centimetres away from her. Their noses touched softly, sending a strange warmth through her body.

AnLing could barely take the stimulation. Her face and body heated up to a point where she could swear that steam was escaping her. She bit her lip, as she gazed deeply into Kang Jun's dark eyes. There was no way she could avoid his piercing gaze.

It stirred her insides.

She couldn't help but want his lips to close in.

To kiss her deeply and violently like she believed he could.

"Don't worry." The man's voice was deep.

'I won't do anything bad to you.' AnLing completed his sentence in her mind.

Because she was pressed so close to him she could feel the vibration as he spoke. The sensation was pure bliss, and it caused every part of her body to react.

She trembled in his embrace.

The inner romantic in her melted.

The moment was perfection but she began to want more.

AnLing felt her heart beat harder and harder against her ribcage. It was all she could hear and all she could feel.

But was it really her heart? The thought didn't cross her mind.

Yize, meanwhile, caught a glimpse of the couple and coughed. He felt as if he was being served dog food and this couple was the most intimate he had ever seen two people be. He stared at them with disdain for a moment and then his face began to twist strangely.

He looked at both of their figures as the girl seemed to sink into the man.

Seeing the way the girls wavy hair flowed as the wind blew, a complicated feeling appeared in his heart.

She looked familiar.

She looked like AnLing...

"President Kang…" The General Manager said in complete shock.

Yize turned to look at the General Manager and then he looked back to Kang Jun with pure shock. "President Kang?" Yize had almost stuttered.

He looked at the man and the girl who seemed to be kissing.

This was 'The' President Kang. Yize couldn't believe it.

Kang Jun had always been an elusive figure. He never had any interest in women or men alike. People had assumed him to be an asexual germaphobe but this... this would completely destroy those rumors.

Suddenly, Kang Jun let go of AnLing's chin and then pulled her closer to him, hidding her face in his chest before turning slightly.

Seeing this, Yize stretched out his hand and flashed his most eye-catching business smile.

"Hi. I'm Yang Yize, it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, President Kang."

He looked at Yize's extended hand with the indifference of a king. He didn't bother making a move, all he did was examine every part of Yize before giving the man a sharp glare.

"Do you not have eyes? I'm busy." Kang Jun's voice struck like lightning causing Yize's face to turn as white as a ghost but he didn't retract his hand.

'This was her ex?' Kang Jun wanted to laugh.

Between them an awkward silence set in. One which Kang Jun was a professional at creating. It caused Yize to completely freeze in place.

The General Manager who had been standing there the whole time felt his blood run cold.

"I-I apologize President Kang." He bowed to Kang Jun.

Seeing this, Yize wasn't sure what to do, but when he felt the man's glare pierce through him, he lowered his hand and bowed slightly.

"Yes… I'm very sorry to bother you. Please continue whatever you were doing." Yize was uncomfortable but he still tried to steal a glance a the girl as he left.

Seeing that, Kang Jun's glare grew more ravenous. It screamed, 'don't look. For my eyes only.' and Yize had no other choice but to comply.

Yize: "If you'll excuse me,"

He averted his gave and held his breath until he was out of Kang Jun's sights. The man left with his tail between his legs, leaving Kang Jun the victor.

The winner... was there ever any doubt?!