Malice

For a split second, a flash of pure malice crossed Zhao Mei's eyes. It was so sudden and unexpected, it sent shivers down her spine.

As quickly as it had appeared, it vanished and she returned her attention to her adoring fans.

Liling frowned, her mind racing. Why had Zhao Mei looked at her like that? Had she imagined it?

She looked back down at her phone trying to suppress the bad feeling that had taken root. She had been getting a lot of them lately, she hoped she was just being paranoid.

Li Hao replied that he would be at the car park in around 10 minutes, and that was all she needed to leave.

She glanced at Shen Ru interacting with their other colleagues and decided it would be best to slip away unnoticed. She would text her later.

Before leaving she took one last glance at Zhao Mei. She was still at the centre, now talking to a group of executives. She watched them interact. The starlet's polished facade was firmly in place, but Liling couldn't forget what she had seen.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something more sinister was lurking beneath the surface.

Zhao Mei's eyes met hers once more, and for a brief moment, Liling thought she saw a flicker of recognition as if she knew exactly what she was thinking. But Zhao Mei's smile never wavered.

******************************

~Li Hao's Office

Li Hao leaned back in his chair, flexing his wrist as he glanced at the clock on the wall. He had just finished the last of his paperwork for the day. 

Just as he stood up to leave, there was a knock on his door. Before he could answer, Zhao Mei's head popped in, her face alight with a big, cheerful smile.

She had just managed to sneak away from her manager and she was happy she was getting to see Li Hao after so long.

"Brother Hao" she exclaimed, inviting herself into his office. "I'm so happy I caught you before you left."

Li Hao managed a polite smile, though inwardly he felt exasperated. "Zhao Mei, what are you doing here?"

"What do you mean what am I doing here, I'm here to see you ", with her bright smile still plastered on, she attached herself to his arm.

He raised a brow at her bold move but refrained from saying anything.

"I was thinking," Zhao Mei began, her voice filled with excitement, "we should have dinner together. You know, to celebrate my coming back. What do you say?"

Li Hao shook his head, maintaining his calm demeanour. "I appreciate the offer, but I have somewhere else to be this evening."

Her smile faltered, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes. "Somewhere else? But I'm finally back after so long, I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to catch up. Don't you think I'm important enough for a dinner?"

Li Hao sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not about importance, Zhao Mei. I already have plans that I can't change."

Her demeanour shifted, stubborn and insistent. "But I want to have dinner with you. Can't you just rearrange your plans? Just this once?"

Li Hao's expression grew colder, his patience wearing thin. "I'm sorry, but no. I can't change my plans."

Zhao Mei's face darkened, her voice lowering to a threatening tone. "Are you sure you want Grandma to hear about how you're treating me? She wouldn't be happy to know you're ignoring me"

Li Hao's eyes narrowed. "Zhao Mei, my plans are none of your concern. If you feel the need to involve my grandmother, that's your choice. But it won't change anything. Now, I need to leave."

Without waiting for her response, he walked past Zhao Mei, ignoring her indignant expression. He felt a sense of relief as he left his office and made his way to the company's car park.

As he approached his car, he saw Liling standing beside it, her usual stoic face on. 

"Liling," he greeted her. "Sorry to keep you waiting"

She shook her head. "It's fine. Let's just get going now"

Li Hao unlocked the car, and they both got in, the familiar silence enveloping them.

The drive to the registry was quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. For Li Hao, the encounter with Zhao Mei was already fading into the background, overshadowed by the importance of the moment.

They arrived and stepped out of the car.

She looked at the imposing building, her eyes calm.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

"Ready," she replied, voice unwavering.