Rich

"Your… rich…" The words came out in a choke.

Kang Jun's eyebrows knitted. His face spoke volumes. Noticing that she had misspoken AnLing rephrased herself, but it didn't come out any better.

AnLing: "Like rich rich…"

Not knowing what exactly to answer her, Kang Jun leaned back in his seat and turned to look at her.

AnLing laid low on the seat staring into oblivion. She looked as if someone had given her a slap. Kang Jun did not understand why she had that type of reaction. It wasn't a normal one by any means.

Wasn't the girls own family rich?

"Is that a problem?" He asked in a low cold voice.

AnLing: "Yes."

Kang Jun: "Why?"

His voice was getting icier and icier by the minute but AnLing didn't notice. She was completely absorbed in her own meltdown.

AnLing: "I just can't."

"Can't what? Isn't your family also rich?" Kang Jun said, with a frown.

"We're from completely different tiers of rich." AnLing almost screamed. She began to play with the ring on her finger. Spinning it round and round until her finger began to feel a burning sensation.

Kang Jun cocked his head in confusion. He couldn't understand what was going on at all.

Were all girls this complicated?

Kang Jun: "And?"

'Mister Kang… please don't make me explain. I'm a plebeian compared to you. Even if you like me, your family won't like me and your fans will definitely want to kill me!'

AnLing: "It's just not possible,"

Kang Jun: "How?"

AnLing could feel her eyes tearing up. She couldn't understand how he couldn't understand the difference between them. She was sure that this was something that was unique to him.

Usually, in the sociality circles, there was a clear hierarchy that relied solely on money.

If AnLing, whose family was mostly new money, was seen with Kang Jun, who was the son of a family that was one of the oldest and richest, were seen together, she knew she would get insulted and ripped apart.

She needed to nip this in the bud.

AnLing cleared her throat and turned to look at Kang Jun in the eyes.

"I think it's best if we don't interact too much. Everyone might not know who you are but important people do and if they see me with you and then word spreads then…"

'I'm doomed.'

At first, Kang Jun waited for AnLing to finish her sentence but she never did. She didn't feel the need to. Kang Jun could fill in the blanks.

Feeling a silence wash over them, Kang Jun took the opportunity to speak. "So, you don't like me because I'm rich and famous?"

AnLing's face drained of blood.

"No! It's not about liking or not liking… You, well, you…" She couldn't find the perfect words. Under his gaze, she felt helpless. She didn't want to hurt his feelings but she couldn't possibly back off.

AnLing made the move to grab onto Kang Jun's arm but she stopped herself half way and then crossed her arms over her chest.

"I?" Kang Jun raised his eyebrow.

They looked into each others eyes for a moment.

AnLing sighed and shook her head. She would need to be super straightforward with him or else he would never understand.

"Mister Kang, please understand, you're like a god amongst men. No woman in this whole country wouldn't like you… but I just don't measure up to your toe. I can't just hang around you. I'll be killed."

"If you like me, keep liking me and I'll deal with the rest."Kang Jun's response was cool and crisp. He didn't like her talking bad about herself. "Don't sell yourself short."

Liking...

She liked him...?

AnLing tried to calm her beating heart. "I'm not. It's the truth! If anyone finds out—"

"No one will know." He cut her off. His gaze suddenly turning soft.

AnLing felt herself begin to float. She was falling for the man's sweet words but she needed to stop herself.

AnLing: "But I will?! I'll constantly be on edge and If someone finds out and they like you or they think I'm trash, I'll seriously be killed. Can't you imagine the rumors?"

"I won't let that happen." Kang Jun replied with sincerity.

AnLing groaned as her heart skipped a beat.

For the first time, AnLing realized not only that their conversation was going nowhere but also that if anyone had heard it they would think that it was a lovers quarrel or maybe a conversation between a mistress and a rich young master.

AnLing felt her stomach churn.

She didn't feel good at all. How had she gotten herself involved with such a troublesome person?

"Mister Kang, please. I think it's best to have a normal landlord and tenant relationship." AnLing said, holding back the strange feeling that began to grow every time the man spoke.

Kang Jun: "Then what about Mingyu?"

"I'll figure something out." AnLing sighed.

'I promised him that I would so him again so I will.'

Thinking that Kang Jun had finally given up, AnLing's whole body relaxed.

"You know that you'll have to go through me to see him, right? You have no choice." Kang Jun wasn't giving AnLing and inch. He had just fully confirmed his feelings for her, there was no way that he was letting her go.

'You're not listening to me!' AnLing's heart whined.

With those words, AnLing, showed her frustration by massaging her temple not caring if it offended Kang Jun because she already knew it wouldn't.

Kang Jun fancied her and she could tell, but there was no way she would enter a relationship with him.

He might be the perfect man every girl wanted to marry but AnLing had long decided against having romantic relationships, mostly when it was with someone with such a troublesome background as Kang Jun.

AnLing didn't speak anymore. She just sat in the car staring blankly in front of her.

"I have to go." She said without looking at Kang Jun.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something to her but before he could, AnLing began to open the door and said.

"Please don't follow me."

' We're in a business district and I know for a fact that the Kang Corporation building is around here somewhere. If someone recognizes you around here it would be disastrous.' Kang Jun could almost hear her unspoken words, but a part of him didn't care. If he really wanted to, he would change after her but since she pleaded, Kang Jun had no real reason to retort, so as if he could read her mind, Kang Jun sighed.

"Fine."

AnLing got out of the car faster than an arachnophobe running from a spider. She breathed a sigh of relief when she arrived at the dry cleaners. The further she was from Kang Jun the better she felt.

AnLing planned to avoid him from now on, Kang Jun knew this, she supposed, but they both knew that it was almost impossible to do so.

They were neighbors and she was his tenant.

Even if he was trouble, AnLing was still thankful for the room and so she would pay him back in full before she even dreamed of leaving...

AnLing sighed.

As she waited for the dry cleaners to hand her the clothing, AnLing looked at her phone. The first thing she saw was a long message from Kang Jun.

King Kang: [I know you don't want to be seen with me in public, but texting is different. No one will know, and, for Mingyu's sake, I think it's best if we keep in contact amicably even if we don't meet much in public. Is that fine?]

AnLing began to type the words, 'I'm sorry but no.' but then, strangely, AnLing felt her heart squeeze.

In her mind, Kang Jun's message sounded like a kid saying 'I know you hate me but…'. Reading it like that AnLing began to feel like a bitch. She began to feel as if she'd been unnecessarily rude to him, even if she had her own reasons.

Sure, she had rules in place to make sure she steers clear from trouble but Kang Jun was how troublesome could he truly be? The articles had specifically expressed that he was very secretive. So who would find out?

Was she afraid for nothing?

Besides, Kang Jun was right... texting was okay. Even if someone got a hold of her phone they wouldn't be able to assume that King Kang is Kang Jun, the president of Kang Corporation.

It would be downright ridiculous if they did.

AnLing decided to delete her previous message and write a new one.

In the car, Kang Jun stared at his phone, patiently waiting for AnLing's reply. His hands tapped on the steering wheel impatiently.

Suddenly there was a knock at the window.

Kang Jun glared at it before putting the window down.

Outside there was a cop. The cop bent down to look at Kang Jun in the eyes and began to write a ticket.

"You can't park here."

Kang Jun leaned back in his chair, looking bored. Suddenly his phone buzzed. He looked towards it and quickly grabbed it.

The cop began scolding him.

"How much is the ticket?" Kang Jun said cutting off the mans train of thought.

The cop gave him the price verbally as he continued to write the ticket. Before he finished writing it, Kang Jun flashed the amount of money owed in front of the man's face.

So shocked at what had just happened, the cop grabbed onto the money. As soon as he did, Kang Jun rolled up the window and read AnLing's message. The cop did not leave.

AnLing: [I agree.]

It wasn't a long message at all, nor was it a heartfelt one either but Kang Jun felt his world brighten up just by reading it.

He let out a small laugh and then drove off leaving the cop completely confused, holding the fully written parking ticket and the money in his hands.