Qi Shuai could take as much of Yi Lan's curses as much as she wanted to give him. But hearing her call some other man more capable than him in taking care of her, made his hackle rise.
His jaws got clenched tight along with his grip on the shopping bag packet. "He is not your boyfriend, Yi Lan! Stop playing around now!" he said, getting all nettled.
Feng Yi Lan was stunned for a moment. Not because she thought that she has got caught red-handed rather because she could not believe that anyone could get this confident of other's decisions and life.
When she recovered from that moment of shock, a rumble of laughter filled the room that almost made the woman's eyes tear up. "Like really, Director Qi? I never knew that you had an interest in predicting other relationsh.i.p.s. Interesting … I am really impressed. But can you tell me on what grounds are you telling me that he is not my boyfriend? I mean you would definitely have some reasons to say something like that, right?���
Shuai looked at her for some moment. He did not voice any words out rather kept on looking at her. Exactly how much he had broken her to bring such a change to her personality. Though her exterior looked, all the same, he could see the damage inside her eyes that she has suffered internally.
The Yi Lan whom he had known was a sweet, cheerful girl who always had a sharp tongue but that sharpness has never intended to harm anyone. Her phrases had always been sarcastic but her sarcasm has never brought any piercing pain to anyone's heart, let alone if the person was him. It has always aimed for people's cheerful waves of laughter.
Did his rejection turn her like this?
No, he never intended to bring pain to her. He had only had the best for her in his mind. Though he knew that his decision would hurt her but never knew that his words from that day would break her beautiful shell like this.
He was not sure if her shell was too delicate or was his words from that day too harsh for its bearing.
Whatever reason it was, it brought the same consequences out. Changed her into something that she was not. She was not guilty of showing this piercing cruelty to him. It was him! He was to be blamed for cruelty she was showing to him now. Because this cruelty has never been her.
Since it was him causing the harm then he will mend and compensate for the things too.
After confirming everything internally, he said. His tone had some guilt but also had some unwavering confidence that he was holding not only for himself but for her too. Once she held the candle of hope for both of them, now it was his turn to do the same.
The craziness of hard-headedness that once she had for him. Now it was his chance to go all crazy for her.
He held self-doubt because that was not something he holds in the personality when in front of her. The people don't lie when they say that one changes when they are in love.
"You cannot date that guy from before. He is not a right one for you" He said firmly but his eyes simply could not match with hers while saying it. Somewhere in he knew that he cannot be sure of such a thing as maybe … just maybe he was the incapable one, not the other man he was talking about. But even if he was one, then too he would not lose hope. There is always a scope of improvement.
"Huh? Not the right match for me. Whoa! That was the last thing I was expecting you to say, Director Qi!" Yi Lan suddenly said, bursting a thick chuckle of mockery out. Then giving a slight nod of some unknown understanding she added on, "Okay! Since you have already drawn conclusions saying that Su Fai is not right for me. Care to give one good reason for me to accept that. If the reason seemed good to agree, then I would try to think about it. Please note properly, 'will think about it' "
She said, getting on her little haughty attitude up. Her eyes staring deep at the man, demanding him to explain. Though she was holding a strong exterior at this moment, she knew herself the best. Her condition was no better. She was a true mess inside. Her tough heart was already writhing in her c.h.e.s.t, stomach knotted in response to the emotional turmoil, she was feeling inside.
Not knowing what else he could give as reasons, Qi Shuai simply said, "He is not capable of taking care of you. What else are you searching for?"
The woman raised her brows at him and the man knew what she was demanding with that expression. "Look at yourself, Yi Lan. Isn't this because of him? Your ankle was just sprained but due to his carelessness and lack of sense of responsibility, it turned out to become a hairline fracture. Only if he had been quick to notice your pain and the heels you were wearing, would this have been avoided"
He said and Yi Lan's fingers curled to fist the bed cover beneath her. She could not deny his words. But Su Fai was not at the bad stand either. Her leg did worsen due to his carelessness but then why did he require to be careful around her.
This boyfriend-girlfriend thing was a story he has created out for fun. She was not his girlfriend for whom he would be attentive with all his might.
She thought. "I – It was not his fault. He was just too panicked to notice such things for me. Panic often worsens the situation, I think you know this thing better, Director Qi", she said trying to defend her friend but the man bit back instantly.
"Panic sure is a common thing. But it's capable of bringing dangerous hazards to one's life. Yes, you are right, no one can know this better than me! That's why I said he is not capable of you. If he cannot control his panic around you, then how do you think he can take proper care of you in the future".
Unintentionally, Yi Lan had made him remember something that he has always forced himself to forget. The woman bit her tongue to hold back the regret she felt inside her.