The Devil who devoured Snow White

298  Maybe next time?

"Looks like everything is going according to our plan."

Si Guanlin was sitting in the backseat of the car as his eyes were locked at his phone screen. He was staring at the photo that was sent to him by one of his men.

"You mean your plan," Xue Lihua mumbled.

Since she was sitting beside Si Guanlin, he was able to hear her small mumble. He chuckled in amusement. "Well, of course." He grabbed the black queen chess piece from his pocket. "She's doing exactly what I wanted."

"Are you not worried? With your brother with her, it will be harder for you to meet and control her. She's a double-edged sword, Si Guanlin," she reminded him. "Especially now. You wanted your brother to fall for her and be his weakness but with his protection, it's different."

"I know." He stared at the chess piece in his hand. The side of his lips curled up into a bloodcurdling smile. "But that's why it's fun, Xiao Hua. It's better to do things right than do things quickly. The more they love each other, the better and the easier it is to break him, don't you think so? Let them have their fun for now."

"..." Xue Lihua had been with Si Guanlin for years ever since she became a member of Yong Liwei's group. Despite the years she had spent together with this sick bastard, she still couldn't guess what's going on in his mind.

…

Tian Ruyi's Apartment Building.

"Thanks for dropping me," she said softly as she flashed him a small smile.

They were both standing beside the car that was parked on the side of the road.

"From tomorrow onwards, I will have some of my best men follow you around," Si Hongqi informed her. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You mean 'stalk' me, right?" She chuckled in reply. She was already warned about Si Guanlin earlier so having some bodyguards following her in secret should be fine.

Si Guanlin flashed her a small smile. "I have to make sure my girlfriend is well protected."

She flushed at what he said. "I-I never said yes to dating you!" She pouted.

"But you like me, right?" He asked with an amused brow raised.

"T-that doesn't mean that I will date you. You said that you're willing to take things slow so…" She paused. Tian Ruyi averted her eyes from him. "I want to know you better before we date."

"Very well, let's take things slow."

She turned to him in surprise. Blinking a few times. She didn't expect him to agree that easily… but now that she thought of it, guess he really meant his words.

"I'll start by courting you," he declared.

Once again, her eyes widened in disbelief. "E-eh?"

"You don't expect us to continue our friendship now that we know that we have feelings for each other, right?" He grabbed her hand. "We basically have mutual  understanding right now."

"I guess so…" She muttered, her eyes landing on their hands. Her heart was beating erratically just from his touch. "If we're going to do this then… I want you to be honest with me, okay? Just like how we are as friends."

Si Hongqi nodded in agreement. "It goes to both of us."

Tian Ruyi smiled back at him. "Then if I'm going to be honest with you… You might find me annoying that you'll end up disliking me instead."

"I'm sure I'll be able to handle that. You're not the only honest person I know." He chuckled. "Anyway, how about inviting me to your place right now?"

"Maybe next time?" It was not like she minded having him in her place. Tian Ruyi was in a rather good mood after what happened earlier and at the same time, she was relieved. It was just… they were going to be alone in her place. She just told him that she wanted to take things slowly but if she was to be with him, alone, she feared that she might end up doing something the opposite of what she just told him.

"Alright."

She sighed in relief when she heard his reply. "Thank you, Si Hongqi."

Si Hongqi's gaze softened. He could clearly see how uneasy she was so he decided to give her space in the meantime. Things were getting fast for them and it was only right to pause and give her time to take in what was happening with them.

"Later then." He patted her head before he got in the car.

As Tian Ruyi watched him leave, she couldn't help but feel a bit regretful for rejecting him to her place but at the same time, she knew that it was the only right thing to do.

"Seriously… Ruyi. What's wrong with you? The guy you like finally confessed to you so why are you so reluctant to date him?" She mumbled as she entered the building.

Arriving at the floor where her room was located, she headed straight to her place.

Upon entering, she heard the sound of the television coming from the living room. She began to sweat coldly as her heart began to pound hard as she became frantic.

Who would be inside her place? Could it be one of Si Guanlin's men? Or maybe… the man himself?

She quickly grabbed the pepper spray bottle from her bag as she quietly took a step forward. Upon reaching the end, she peeked from the side of the wall only to see Bai Jingye sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

Phew. She sighed in relief. She forgot that Bai Jingye actually has spare keys to her place. Keeping the spray bottle back in her bag, she left the corner. "Jingye, you should have told me that you were coming!"

The man on the sofa turned his gaze to her. He blinked a few times as he replied. "I did."

"Eh?"

She took her phone from her pocket and checked it. She did receive a message from him but she forgot about it when she got all excited from the gifts she received earlier that day. "Ah, I forgot."