Chương 96: The Japan Trip (8)

Xiu Ling was rather shocked that Joann would catch such a small detail and the surprise was obvious on her face. After some hesitation, she prevaricated, "Joann, what do you mean? Nothing has changed on this front."

Joann laughed but not in a mean-spirited way. "Xiu Ling, we have been friends for how many years already? You really think I wouldn't know when you're acting dumb?" Joann tutted before continuing, "Instead of letting you run me around in circles, I'll just have to be straightforward and ask you the question directly, do you like Lin Kang?"

Xiu Ling choked on the cake in her mouth and as she hacked up a storm, Joann quickly handed her a glass of wine to wash the food down. While Xiu Ling chugged the liquid down, Joann looked at her best friend and she smiled knowingly. 'To think that she would react in such a manner from an innocent question like that...'

After Xiu Ling recovered, she answered perhaps a little bit too forcefully, "Of course, I like Lin Kang. He's my husband, why would I marry him if I don't like him?"

Joann looked at Xiu Ling deliberately and she said, "Come on, that is not why you married him and let's not pretend that it is. Let's not kid ourselves."

Joann paused to let the words that were left unsaid sink in. Both Xiu Ling and Joann knew the marriage was entirely based around Lin Xi. Without the little man, Lin Kang wouldn't have asked Xiu Ling to sign the contractual marriage.

Then, Joann said something that Xiu Ling had been having a hard time coming to terms with, "Obviously, you like the guy."

'Do I though?' Xiu Ling asked herself. 'Yes, I find the man less repulsive than before and I don't mind spending time in the man's company. I believe he is a good father and a trustworthy man whom Lin Xi can depend on in the future... but does that mean I like him? In other words, I like him in the capacity of Lin Xi's father but does that mean I like him as a romantic partner? Are the two even interchangeable?'

Xiu Ling thought back to the incident that happened at the public pool several weeks ago during Lin Xi's swimming class. She remembered how shy she felt when Lin Kang reached out to hold her to stop her from tripping. She remembered clearly the hastened heart rate due to their close proximity.

That was a feeling that she had not experienced in her marriage before. Did that mean anything? Did that mean what Joann was saying? She was starting to develop feelings for Lin Kang?

Xiu Ling was deep in thought but she wouldn't be for long because Joann proclaimed something that came as a complete shock to her, "And obviously the man likes you too."

Xiu Ling reared her head at Joann and gasped, "What?!"

"Please tell me you're kidding... How can you not see that?!" Joann rolled her eyes in humor. This was a classic case of the things being clearer when viewed from the outside. Joann did find it cute that the two involved were completely clueless of their affection for each other, it was like a love story pulled right out of fiction.

"No... You must be mistaken." Xiu Ling still refused to believe it.

Joann sighed. "Xiu Ling, take a look around you. The man has gifted you a luxury trip for two to Japan, first class plane tickets, an impressive accommodation and a limitless credit card. How big of a sign do you need?"

"But those are just gifts from his business clients. He's re-gifting them to us because he has no use for them and we just so happen to be a convenient way to dispose of them," Xiu Ling argued.

Joann scoffed with incredulity. "Don't tell me you really buy into all that horse poop?! The Xiu Ling that I know is more astute than this. Perhaps what they say is true, love does make one dumb."

"Who said I'm in love?! I'm not in love, you're in love!" Xiu Ling fired back instantly. In that moment, it felt like they were back in their dorm room, talking about boys.

Joann snickered in amusement as she raised her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Maybe I'm wrong but... you know I'm right."

Did she really like Lin Kang and did Lin Kang really like her? It sounded like a simple question but matters of the heart were rarely that easily solved. If they were, so many romance webnovels that went into hundreds and even thousands of chapters could probably be completed in less than ten chapters. In any case, Joann had given Xiu Ling plenty of things to think about that night.

After a few minutes of silence for both of the ladies to formulate their thoughts, Joann leaned forward towards Xiu Ling and uttered in a serious tone, "Xiu Ling, I hope you figure it out soon, what is it that your heart is telling you. No matter what you decide, know that I am always in full support of you. Of course, I hope for the best but as a dear friend, I have to warn you that a tiger doesn't lose its stripes that easily or sometimes, not at all. I'll need you to promise me that you'll be careful and always put yourself first."

There were many things clouding up Xiu Ling's mind then but one thing that she was certain of was her best friend's concern towards her. "Thank you, Joann and I will."

In any case, Xiu Ling found Joann's warning to be overly cautious. Call it naivete or faith, Xiu Ling chose to believe in the good in people. She believed, when given a chance, people had the capability of turning over a new leaf, to be a better version of themselves. However, something would happen in the near future to challenge this particular way of thinking of hers.

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