Kan had just finished his shoot, and Miao was busy packing up his things.
She let out a long sigh. Even now, she still couldn't forget what had happened earlier.
Their faces had been ridiculously close.
Miao shook her head.
"Why are you even thinking about that, Miao? Seriously..." she muttered to herself.
As she picked up Kan's jacket, a folded piece of paper suddenly slipped out of one of the pockets and fell to the floor.
"Huh? What's this?"
Curious, she bent down and picked it up. Unfolding the paper, she read the words written on it.
"Dear Dada, Baby will always love you."
Miao blinked. "Whose baby?"
"Are you done?"
Startled, she immediately turned toward the door.
Kan was standing there.
"Y-You startled me," she said, placing a hand over her chest.
His gaze landed on the paper in her hand. "What are you holding?"
He quickly walked over and took the note from her.
The moment he saw the familiar handwriting, he froze.
Ran must have slipped it into his jacket pocket without him noticing.
"I-I accidentally read it," Miao explained hurriedly. "It fell out, so I picked it up."
Kan folded the note and slipped it back into his pocket.
"Can you keep this a secret?" he asked.
"Eh?"
"Forget what you saw, and don't tell anyone about it."
Miao nodded, though curiosity was already eating away at her.
"Okay, but... who's that baby? Your girlfriend?"
Kan stared at her for a moment.
"It's better if you don't know," he replied. "Just keep quiet about it."
Without another word, he walked out first.
Miao pouted.
"Psh... I'm not some gossip girl."
Grabbing the bag, she followed him out.
.
.
.
At School...
"Yah! My Dada is handsome! Lots of girls like him, but Dada only loves me!"
Xing Ran proudly declared this to her classmate, Rylan.
Rylan was the person Ran talked to the most at school. She wasn't naturally friendly, but Rylan had a habit of teasing her until, somehow, they became friends.
"Hah! I don't believe you," Rylan scoffed. "My uncle is way more handsome. If you saw him, you'd totally drool."
"No! My Dada is more handsome! Your uncle is ugly!"
"If your Dada is really handsome, then show me a picture."
Ran crossed her arms.
"But Dada doesn't let me show his pictures to other people."
"That's because he's ugly! Hahaha!" Rylan teased.
Ran's face immediately darkened.
"My Dada is handsome! Why don't you show me a picture of your uncle? I bet he's ugly too!"
"Blah, blah, blah. Your Dada is ugly! Hahaha!"
Ran's eyes turned red.
"Dada is handsome!" she shouted.
Then she burst into tears.
The teacher quickly approached them. "What's going on here?"
"Teacher..." Ran sobbed. "H-He said my Dada is ugly! Huhuhu!"
Rylan only laughed.
The teacher sighed. "Kids, I told you not to fight with each other, right? Rylan, go apologize to Ran."
"Hmph. Fine," Rylan scratched his head. "Sorryyyy."
Ran rolled her eyes. "Your uncle is ugly," she whispered under her breath before sticking out her tongue. "Bleh!"
The teacher could only shake her head helplessly.
.
.
.....
Meanwhile in the Philippines...
Xander sat quietly in the park, taking a deep breath.
How was he supposed to tell Rael about the engagement?
He stared at the photo of them on his phone.
He sighed. "I already lost Miao before. I don't want to lose Rael too," he whispered.
If only there were something he could do...
"Hi, love!"
Xander looked up and saw Rael waving at him. He immediately stood up as she approached.
"What are you doing here?" Rael asked. "I thought your grandfather was coming home today."
Instead of answering, Xander pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you, love..."
Rael was surprised but smiled as she hugged him back. "I love you more, love."
After a moment, Xander reluctantly let go.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked.
"Not really," Rael replied. "I was bored at home, so I decided to take a walk. Then I saw you sitting here. But wait..."
She looked at him carefully. "Why do you seem so sad? Did something happen?"
Xander forced a smile. "Nothing. I'm just happy to see you."
Then he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Rael smiled. "I just finished eating. Why don't we walk around for a while instead?"
"Alright."
The two of them strolled around the park hand in hand.
As they walked, Xander couldn't stop looking at her.
He couldn't afford to lose her.
He truly loved Rael.
But then his grandfather's words echoed inside his head.
You will do what your mother said! Power is more important than feelings! Don't be stupid!
His chest tightened.
His grandfather was the scariest person he knew.
"Love?" Rael called softly.
Xander snapped out of his thoughts. "Hm?"
"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked worriedly.
Xander squeezed her hand. "I'm fine, love. I just want to spend today with you."
Rael smiled warmly. "Then let's make the most of it."
.
.
.....
Several days passed.
Miao was currently cleaning Kan's condo.
"That man is seriously too lazy!" she grumbled while picking up the clutter scattered around the living room.
"All he does is lock himself in his room and talk to someone on the phone all day. I don't care if he has a girlfriend or not, but come on! I'm his assistant, not his maid!"
She huffed.
"Psh."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Huh?"
Miao paused.
"Is Manager Song here already?"
She quickly walked to the door and opened it.
Standing outside was a young woman.
She was stunningly beautiful and dressed in expensive-looking clothes.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"
Miao blinked.
Wait.
Shouldn't she be the one asking that?
"Uhm... may I know who you are?" she asked politely.
The woman looked her up and down.
What the heck?
"Where's my brother?" the woman asked.
Brother?
"B-Brother? Who?" Miao asked in confusion.
"Tsk. Excuse me."
Without waiting for permission, the woman walked straight inside.
"Yah! Idiot! Where are you?"
"M-Miss! I don't even know who you are! It's—"
"What the hell is all that noise?!"
Kan's irritated voice echoed from the hallway as he stepped out of his room.
However, the moment he saw the woman, he froze.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Stupid!" the woman snapped.
She immediately smacked him with her handbag.
"I thought you were going to visit Ran! Do you know she cried all day because you didn't come?"
"Ouch!" Kan rubbed his arm. "That hurts, bitch!"
The woman rolled her eyes.
Miao awkwardly cleared her throat.
Please acknowledge my existence...
Kan turned to her. "She's my sister, Nyx."
"Oh..." she was surprised.
Nyx looked at Miao curiously. "And who is she?"
"She's Miao, my new personal assistant," Kan replied.
Nyx's eyes widened. "Your assistant?"
She burst out laughing. "Wow. Someone actually had the courage to become your assistant despite your horrible attitude?"
"Huh?" Miao blinked.
"Nyx!" Kan snapped. "Can you shut your mouth for once?"
"Whatever," Nyx waved him off.
Then she turned back to him. "But seriously, when are you visiting Ran? I'm already exhausted from all her crying and whining."
Kan sighed. "I'm sorry I couldn't come last Saturday. I had an emergency shoot."
"Psh. You could've at least called her beforehand. She waited for you the whole day." Nyx said.
"I know, I know," Kan scratched the back of his head. "I'll visit her today, okay?"
Nyx rolled her eyes once again.
Meanwhile, Miao quietly listened from the side.
Who is this Ran?
And why is Nyx so angry?
Is she Kan's girlfriend?
Suddenly, Nyx's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
"It's Baomu."
Nyx immediately answered.
"Hello?... What happened?... Huh?... WHAT?!"
Her face instantly changed.
Kan frowned. "What happened?"
Nyx lowered the phone. "Xing Ran got into a fight with one of her classmates."
"What?!" Kan's expression darkened.
He immediately turned to Miao. "Get the car keys!"
Miao didn't dare ask questions. "Y-Yes!"
She quickly grabbed the keys and followed them out.
The three of them rushed out of the condo.
But as Miao ran after them, she couldn't help wondering—
Why am I being dragged into this too?!