Chapter 389
So. Alarieka had flourished since leaving him. Found herself a handsome male friend. Even clinched the National Exam Top Scorer title.
He reached for the remote. As Alarieka laughed at something the boy said, he switched off the television.
Loosening his tie, he removed his glasses and exhaled slowly.
He’d been wrong. Terribly wrong, assuming Alarieka would struggle without the Argent family–without him.
Against all expectations, she’d thrived. Apparently even found a boyfriend. Someone who seemed, well–matched.
Kieran closed his eyes, pressing his fingertips to his throbbing temples.
But Alarieka was no longer his concern.
Alarieka had been enjoying quite pleasant days lately. After the National College Entrance Examination results came out, she allowed herself several days of relaxation. Moreover, Lorelai Cowan’s condition had improved significantly over the past few months, and doctors suggested taking her out for walks. So Alarieka took Jaylene, Tamika, Lorelai, and Shiyao on a trip around the cities near the capital.
Honestly, Alaricka couldn’t fathom why Shiyao had tagged along. She’d assumed he’d remain as elusive as ever, vanishing without notice.
Shiyao scowled: “Got a problem with me coming along?”
Intelligence Hits Rock Bottom
Alarieka tsked.
The group found themselves at an amusement park in a city near the capital. Summer break meant sweltering heat and endless lines snaking from every ride. Sick of roasting under the blazing sun after a few attractions, they’d retreated to a gazebo for shade.
Alaricka dabbed her forehead with a tissue, eyes narrowing at two familiar figures in the distance. She pressed her lips thin. “You’ve been gone ages. Why haven’t you dealt with them? Not only are they still around–they followed us here.”
The stifling heat, the suffocating crowds, the lack of AC–it all clung to her skin like a second layer, fraying her nerves. Her tone was sharp.
A sudden cool breeze hit her face. She blinked. Shi Yao stood beside her, holding a small handheld fan aimed directly at her forehead, cutting through the stickiness.
Alarieka’s gaze flickered up to meet his. A teasing glint danced in his eyes as he wiggled the fan. “Just bought it. Knew you were melting."
She hesitated, noticing the fine sweat beading his own temples.
He snorted, grabbed her wrist, and shoved the fan into her palm before she could refuse. “Take it. If you pass out from heatstroke, I’d have to carry you back. And let’s be real-” He smirked. “I’m delicate and soft. Couldn’t manage it.”
Alarieka rolled her eyes.
Shi Yao crossed his arms, nodding toward the two men. “Relax. They won’t come closer.”
She leaned into the fan’s breeze, eyes shut. “Handled?”
“Not exactly.”
“Hmm?”
A low chuckle escaped him. “They can’t catch me. All they can do is watch.”
Curiosity got the better of her. “Debt collectors? Or did you piss someone off enough to send hitmen?”
He scowled. “Is that really what you think of me?”
She hummed noncommittally. “Who knows?”
His expression darkened. “Give the fan back.”
She spun around, turning her back to him. “Too late. You forced it on me. Finders keepers.”
Annoyance flashed across his face, but his eyes softened with helpless resignation.
His gaze drifted elsewhere.
The heat had kept Jaylene’s grandma resting at the hotel, leaving just Alarieka, Jaylene, Shi Yao, and the others out today. While he and Alarieka hid in the gazebo, Jaylene had dragged Nie Guanyu and Tamika into the endless ice cream line nearby. They were still visible in the distance, stuck in the queue with no sign of returning soon.
Other visitors shared the gazebo, but the surrounding noise swallowed all conversation. For now, they were effectively alone.