Very Innocent

When Hyson said those words, his eyes were constantly on Shui Xian's face. Both men were silently waiting to see some kind of reaction from the other but both didn't get anything except for silence. This lack of response gave Hyson a headache.

"You don't look surprised," Hyson pointed out when he saw the calmness on Shui Xian's face.

"There was nothing surprising about what you just said," replied Shui Xian.

"Huh?"

"I'd be more surprised if you said you don't love her," Shui Xian elaborated which left Hyson stunned for a moment. "Maybe you don't realize it but you make that love very obvious."

"Then why did you even wanted to ask me that question?" inquired Hyson.

Shui Xian shrugged his shoulders saying, "I just wanted to hear it from you." The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly as he added, "Besides, you spent 15 years with her even when you both are not related in any way. That definitely means love played a role in that. But that also means that the nature of that love is very different."

Hyson feigned a shocked look, "Are you a mind reader as well? How do you know this?" He sighed out as he went on, "It's true that I love her. Who wouldn't?" He smiled to himself as he continued, "But you're also right. I love her like one would love family. She is that important in my life."

He took a pause as he recalled something and chuckled, "Actually, when I turned 19, I did ask her out." Shui Xian lifted his brows in question. "I was bored of seeing everyone around me dating, so I asked her out. Do you wanna know how that conversation went?"

Shui Xian couldn't help smiling as he said, "As much I know her by now, it definitely didn't go the same route you wanted it to."

"It definitely didn't!"

~~~

"Elle!"

"Hm?"

"Go out with me?" Hyson continued to look at her face as she slurped on the noodles in her bowl.

Her movements didn't even stop for a second as she asked, "Okay. Let's go out. Where do you want to go? I'll take you."

Hyson facepalmed himself before trying again, "No, I mean let's go on a date."

"What date?" she asked further. "You definitely have to give me the date in advance so that I can check with my new assistant, Cloe if I'm free on the specific date or not."

A low growl escaped from his throat as he glared at her, "Are you doing it on purpose?"

She finally looked up from her bowl, "What did I do on purpose?"

Looking into her innocent eyes, he took a deep breath and decided to give this bizarre idea one last chance. "I meant that we should... You and me, we should be in a relationship."

She continued to look at his face intently and finally said, "Aren't we already in a relationship?"

Hyson was left gaping at her in confusion. When did they get into a relationship? How come only he didn't know about it?

Seeing his confusion, she continued, "You said you're my best friend. Doesn't that also fall under the category of a relationship?"

Hyson's face twitched at her words and he had the urge to smack her face yet again. That's when he realized, no matter how bored he was, he really didn't want to even think about dating her. People who start dating would want to kiss each other, all he wanted to do was strangle her!

After he calmed down, he laughed out heartily and said, "Right. We have a good relationship. Let's not complicate it any more."

~~~

Shui Xian pursed his lips together as he listened to Hyson, trying to hold back his laughter.

"In her categories of relationships, I only fit in the space for best friend. She can't understand the complication of relationships. For her, there is only space for one person in the category of a life partner. And you already filled it."

Shui Xian nodded his head as he said, "My wife loves to read books but why do I feel like reading her would be even more interesting?"

"She is the most difficult and yet the most interesting person in my life," Hyson told him. "Whenever I feel down, I really just have to give her a call and everything becomes better."

Those words reminded Shui Xian of the text Raelle showed him that Hyson had sent. Apparently, he wasn't joking when he said that his day would get better just looking at Raelle's picture.

"Your friendship is enviable," said Shui Xian honestly. "It's already hard enough to stay in contact with people you met in high school and you both managed to keep this friendship even though you stayed thousand of miles away from each other."

Hyson smiled cheekily, "Aren't we just amazing?" Shui Xian pressed his lips together but nodded his head in response. "I also think we are really awesome. This friendship is the second thing I'm most proud of in my life." He looked at Shui Xian and added, "And before you ask, my mum is still in the first place. She is the one I'm most proud to have."

"Aren't you proud of what you managed to achieve in your life?" asked Shui Xian curiously.

"Why should I be proud of that? Isn't it enough that my mum and my best friend are proud of what I achieved in my life?" He took a brief pause to add, "Although my emotionless friend doesn't say it, she has a way to show how much she's been proud of me. And trust me, it isn't that easy to impress her."

"I knew you'd be an interesting person when I learned that you're my wife's best friend. I just never thought you'd be this interesting. You and my wife really emit the same kind of energy."

Hyson's brow quirked up, "Really? I think we are really different though."

Shui Xian shook his head in reply, "Not really. Even if the exterior is different, you both have the same kind of a heart; very innocent."