Chapter 366
Upon recognizing her, Victor’s face visibly darkened. He might have even glared before swiftly turning back, jabbing his key into the lock with renewed urgency.
Alarieka shut the main gate behind her and called, “Hey!” at Victor’s retreating back.
Victor pushed his door open, one foot already crossing the threshold when he reluctantly shot her a sidelong glance. “Spit it out,” he snapped, scowling.
Alarieka found it amusing. According to his ID, he was twenty-two—four years older than her—yet he seemed far more immature.
She rummaged in her pocket, fingers closing around a thin, rigid card. Before she could pull it out, Victor’s impatient voice cut through: “If you’ve got nothing to say, I’m going in.”
“Wait.” She withdrew her hand, holding up the ID card. “See this? Recognize it?”
Victor turned fully, squinting at the object before his expression soured further. “Are you wasting my time?” He made to enter his apartment.
Alarieka lowered her arm, speaking deliberately. “What? Don’t want your ID back?”
Victor froze mid-step. He didn’t turn around immediately, nor did he speak.
Thinking he hadn’t heard, Alarieka repeated louder: “You listening? I said this is your ID.” She began making her way up the stairs.
Abruptly, Victor whirled around, glaring. “Why do you have my ID?” he demanded, voice tight with irritation.
Alarieka closed the distance, meeting his gaze directly. “Just reminding you—I took you to the hospital last night. Without me, who knows what state you’d be in right now?” She held his stare, willing him to grasp her implication.
All she wanted was for Victor to remember he still owed her for the medical fees. It wasn’t much, but every penny counted—it was her money. Besides, this cringy teenager had publicly “rejected” her at the hospital, humiliating her. She was damn well getting her money back.
Clearly though, Victor missed her point entirely. Not only that, but his face became a spectacle—emotions flickering across his features in rapid succession. One moment flushed with shame, the next burning with anger, then twisting in frustration before settling into pure annoyance. Without a doubt, Alarieka knew Victor’s mind had wandered somewhere else entirely—some bizarre place.
Alarieka had witnessed the terrifying level of overthinking from this cringy teenager back at the hospital, thanks to all those baffling remarks Shi Yao made—things like “I’ll never agree to this.” So Alarieka figured she should give Shi Yao a heads-up before he dropped another bombshell.
Just as she opened her mouth, Shi Yao scowled darker. “Don’t even think about it.”
Alarieka: ?
Alright then. Clearly, this cringy teenager’s thoughts had spiraled way beyond her reach. Alarieka sighed, squeezing her eyes shut before reopening them. She drew a deep breath. “Are you oka-”
Before she could finish, Shi Yao cut in stiffly: “I won’t do it. Stop dreaming.”
Under the flickering hallway lights, Alarieka watched Shi Yao’s eyes lock onto her face. His gaze kept darting back, scanning her features before jerking away—only to return moments later for another sweep. She saw the tips of his ears flush crimson, the redness spreading visibly.
Time to cut the crap.
“What I meant was, you still owe-”
Shi Yao suddenly bristled like a cornered cat. “Don’t expect me to pay you back with my body! Yeah, you helped me and took me to the hospital. I owe you. But that doesn’t give you the right to steal my ID or use it for… whatever shady thing you’re plotting!”
Alarieka: ?
What shady thing? Since when?
Screaming internally: I took your ID to pay your medical bills! What did you think I wanted?!
Chapter 367