'Eh?' Bai Yulin didn't remember how long she was there looking for the milk.
She then rushed over to the other side but Ji Haishan wasn't at the same place anymore. Bai Yulin's heart dropped when she didn't see him.
She turned around to look for him but he was nowhere in sight! She even went past some customers to retrace her steps back. Then, her phone rang.
Bai Yulin saw it was Ji Haishan and she took the call in a flash. She could hear his frantic voice, asking "Where are you?!"
"I- I'm here at the milk section." she told him. Her chest was beating erratically and she couldn't calm down.
It seemed as if two minutes had passed by. No, she was sure it had long been gone. She was too careless. She didn't stick by Ji Haishan's side. She lost him.
'The penalty.. oh no.. it's my fault..' Bai Yulin bit on her lower lip to get rid of her guilt. She felt unpleasant with herself and she was disappointed.
As she was wallowing in her own thoughts, her hand was grabbed from behind. Her eyes widened at the sudden familiar warmth. Bai Yulin turned behind her and saw Ji Haishan. His face couldn't be seen from the hoody but she guessed he might be angry.
"Hey, come." Ji Haishan beckoned Bai Yulin softly, contrary to what she thought his reaction would be. He even tightened his grip on her hand.
"Y- You're not angry?"
Ji Haishan pulled her beside him and asked matter of factly "Why should I? It's good that you're safe. I was worried."
A sense of deep warmth fell onto Bai Yulin's body as if she was awaken by a gentle lullaby. Ji Haishan wasn't angry at all! He was worried about her instead.
"You just recovered. I was afraid that you suddenly felt dizzy somewhere." Ji Haishan explained.
"I'm sorry.." Bai Yulin pursed her lips, not wanting to show her real expression. She was sure that her face was ugly, with a stupid smile and watery eyes, or even a running nose.
"What are you sorry about? Come, we still have time. Let's look for your instant noodles and snacks!" Ji Haishan noticed Bai Yulin's change of mood and he didn't like it.
He wanted her to have fun and be herself. So he baited her with her favorite junk food. Why waste time with such ridiculous rules if they could just continue shopping?
Bai Yulin's face turned slightly normal after he mentioned her favorite food. He then dragged her towards another aisle to look for some snacks and ice cream. They held hands together for the whole time after that.
They went from another section to another one. Bai Yulin stuck together with Ji Haishan all the time. He didn't want to lose sight of her the second time. Even if it was for the briefest second, he didn't want to.
*
When they finished everything on the list, it had been less than three hours. They took exactly 2 hours and 51 minutes. Just nine minutes before the time limit.
As they loaded the stuff inside the trunk, Bai Yulin's mood was already better. They talked about random things as they passed the plastic bags. The atmosphere between them was like that kind of lovers buying their couple items together.
The bodyguards closest to them saw their exchange and they also couldn't help but feel amazed for 'Bai Yulin'. They initially thought that she was just an ordinary woman with beauty but no brain. In fact, she was very smart and quick-witted.
They also noticed how their young master was becoming softer and softer as time passed by. He didn't wear his usual tight-lip smile which didn't reach his eyes. He also laughed often. He changed his dressing styles and was looking happier.
To be honest between themselves, they preferred their young master to be like this than the previous him.
Because 'Ji Haishan' looked truly alive.
He wasn't that boring man who loved to work. He didn't pursue overtime any longer. And he wasn't grumpy with his employees. Even his assistant Gao Li Bai was becoming more spirited with his job while Ji Haishan wasn't in the company.
It was because 'Ji Haishan' didn't press him for results anymore. He valued the process now.
Little did everyone know that the way Bai Yulin and Ji Haishan did things wasn't the same. The change in bodies required a change in roles.
"Done!" Bai Yulin passed one last bag to Ji Haishan.
He put it among another bags and then closed the trunk. Then they boarded the car as it drove away. Ji Haishan finally pushed down the hoody covering his head and face as he breathed in contentment.
"This is fun." he said suddenly.
Bai Yulin glanced at him and also smiled. She then teased "I guess this young master has never been to the supermarket before."
Ji Haishan chuckled and then he crossed his arms. His answer totally caught her by surprise.
"I've been to the supermarket before.. with my dad."
Bai Yulin didn't expect that and she later asked carefully "How often did you go.. with him?"
"Most of my childhood years." he said.
There was a fond smile on his face as he continued "I remember one time when I got separated with my dad. I was seven at that time. It was crazy. My dad ran over every space to look for me."
Ji Haishan laughed as he added "When he found me, he carried me in his arms without letting go until we arrived home. I complained a lot since I was already seven years old. I didn't want to be carried by an adult."
"Must be embarrassing." Bai Yulin chuckled and he nodded.
And then silence wrapped the surrounding. Ji Haishan and Bai Yulin turned mute without anything to add. When it became unbearable for Bai Yulin, she finally wanted to speak but was cut off when Ji Haishan leaned on her shoulder.
He put his small cute head on her broad shoulder as he sighed in relief.
"I'm glad I could remember it well." he said out of the blue, making Bai Yulin wonder what it was about. But his next sentence finally made sense.
"I'm glad that I didn't forget about my past with my dad."
Bai Yulin looked at the front and avoided stealing a glance over Ji Haishan's face. She knew he wouldn't want her to look at him.
"Usually, people tend to forget past memories when they grow older. Especially such old memories when they were still too young." he said to himself, feeling the need to explain.
Ji Haishan didn't get why it was so easy for him to open up about his father with Bai Yulin. This woman was his anomaly. She could ask him about anything in the world and he would answer with everything that he had.
Everyone within the Ji family knew that the topic of Ji Haishan's father was off limits. The patriarch himself had warned other relatives to be mindful of their words.
And ever since that incident 10 years ago.. Ji Haishan's mouth was sealed completely. He couldn't tolerate any questions regarding his father. He was very sensitive about it- except for this woman called Bai Yulin who was sitting here beside him.