THE CEO's LOVE 147 AN INTRUDER

"And what may that be?"

"Don't get too close to Xiujun." He expected her reaction to be of shock but she simply smiled. 

"You don't have to worry, he's a nice..."

"No..." He isn't! He then kissed her hands. "Good night." He watched her get in the elevator, and when it seemed like she was already home, he drove away.

*

The next day, Xueyan stretched on yawned lazily on the bed. Slowly she opened her sleepy eyes, the room was so bright as sun was streaming in through the open window. 

Xueyan then turned around and was surprised to see Mei Han at the door, her hands folded and she was resting against the door.

"Hello, my first lady. Are you up?" Mei Han said with a very mocking tone. And it dawned on Xueyan, with palpitating heart she turned to have a look at the clock.

It was ten in the morning.

"Whaaat‽" She sprang up from the bed and ran into the bathroom.

"Yes, what‽ You didn't even drink last night,"

"Why didn't you wake me?" Xueyan asked from the bathroom.

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself," Mei Han quickly went to pick out cloth for Xueyan. "Plan an excuse to give the director, because I don't have any."

It didn't take up to five minutes, when Xueyan came out with some foam in her ear.

"You should take your time, I already called the director, I told him you were having a running stomach."

Xueyan, "..." You should have told me that earlier. She shook her head and started applying lotion on her skin.

"That Dai Jingyao, is he a good person?" Mei Han questioned.

"Why?"

"Uhm... Just curious."

"Is Zhaolin a good person?" Xueyan asked.

"Yes, yes. He's a very good man! Don't you know that too?"

"Then Jingyao is too,"

"Oh! You're right! He associates with good people." It now made sense to Mei Han.

"Are you suddenly interested in him?" Xueyan teased.

"Hahaha. Wake up," 

"He's not good enough for you?" Xueyan stopped to stare at the younger lady.

"I didn't say that,"

"Then?"

Mei Han scratched her head. "He... He's too good for me,"

"Get that silly idea out of your head. You're the woman, you should learn to put yourself above." 

She got ready and they left.

The instant they both arrived, they were greeted by Fangxi sneering comment. "Oh, and here comes the queen. She totally forgot about her subjects," 

Yin Anhao laughed.

Xueyan didn't have time to spare the two, instead she went straight to apologise to the director.

"It's alright. You've been here all these while. A little bit of rest wouldn't be bad."

Xueyan nodded.

"Go get changed, you're now a palace guard."

In the changing room, Deng Yue was there too. "Look who's here,"

Xueyan didn't spare her a look, so she continued.

"You really can't shame the shameless," she sniggered at Xueyan.

The statement offended Mei Han, "What do you mean by that?"

"Just shut up, I wasn't talking to you." Deng Yue fired at Mei Han. "Now, Xueyan, tell me, what is your mission?"

When Xueyan said nothing, Deng Yue took a very bold step, put a hand on Xueyan's shoulder and turned her around, but was shocked by the end result. A resounding slap was sent her way.

The employees around them gasped in shock.

Even Deng Yue couldn't believe it. "What was that for,"

"To remind you to mind your business everyday you wake up." Xueyan warned sternly.

The slap was never planned, so Deng Yue was a bit shaken. But she was braver than her friends so she continued. She went to stand in front of Xueyan. "Xueyan, you should know by now I'm not someone you can easily slap and get away."

"And you should know that I'll slap you, over and over again!"

Deng Yue flicked her hand into the air and some of the employees held Mei Han still. "And you think I'd stand and watch? Without retaliating?"

"Retaliate? You mean by aiming for an innocent person?" Xueyan's jaw clenched and unclenched. 

The door opened to reveal a smiling Fangxi, Anhao, Cui Yao and Qingnuan.

Xueyan chortled. "Now I get it,"

"Oh, you do?" Yin Anhao giggled. "It's great you do."

Cui Yao looked round the container which was used as changing room. "It's so hot in here."

"Doesn't matter, we will be leaving soon." Qingnuan tried to console her friend. "It's truly her, Xueyan? You now joined the entertainment industry?"

Xueyan rolled her eyes. "And you came to play?" If it was in the past, her heart would have left her by now. Her knees would have given out on her and her heartbeat would have accelerated to the highest level. But now? Yes, she was frightened at first, but it didn't they could easily bully her... No more!

"Oh, I heard. You've learnt to talk back, interesting." Qingnuan smiled. "It's good to know, you're no longer that mute girl."

"What is going on here?" Mei Han whom was lost asked.

"Oh, I remember you." Cui Yao said. "The stupid girl that works at the hotel... Don't tell me you're Xueyan's puppet to be following her about."

"Yes, I'm not as stupid as you though." Mei Han retorted with more harsher word. "Xueyan how do you know all of them?"

"From highschool," Xueyan looked so calm unlike what they had expected.

"And what are they here for?"

"You're talking too much, puppet." Qingnuan said angrily.

"To pay homage," the simple comment made everyone else's face contort, except Mei Han whom laughed hysterically.

"You must be crazy, Xueyan." Qingnuan hissed.

"I agree!" Yin Anhao really didn't understand Xueyan's courage. She wasn't like this in the past.

"Y'all must want entertainment." Xueyan stated. "Why don't we do this another day, some other place. Don't you agree, Fangxi?"

Fangxi scowled, but she understood what Xueyan meant. The director would be so mad to find out she had been delaying the shoot. Fangxi was about to say something but Cui Yao interrupted.

"Not so fast. Are you trying to play smart?" Cui Yao took two steps towards Xueyan. Making sure to put distance as the last time they met hadn't been easy. Xueyan had almost pushed her down. "What do you take us for? You think we came here to joke?"

"No?" Xueyan tilted her head. "You came to play then,"

Now Cui Yao's was about to lose it. She pointed straight at Xueyan. "I see you're trying to play smart."

Xueyan laughed. "You're so ridiculous, why did you come here then..." She paused then covered the space Cui Yao had put between them. "To bully me, perhaps?"

Cui Yao body stiffened, her arrogant manner when they met. Her arrogant attitude when they had dinner... Xueyan shouldn't be taken lightly. She concluded in her head, then took a step back. "Get to work then, we'll leave first."

"Just like that?" Mei Han was surprised. "You're a coward to have backed away so easily..."

"Mei Han!" Deng Yue screamed.

"We would still hear you if you spoke in a lower tone," Mei Han mocked.

What is Xueyan feeding this orphaned girl? Yin Anhao wondered.

This girl is becoming just as arrogant as Xueyan... This is not a good sign! Fangxi bit her index finger nervously. Her heart had leaped away when Xueyan took that step. But she didn't want it to show. 

Xueyan turned to glare at the girls holding Mei Han and they quickly let go. Another came forward, her eyes casted down. "This is your outfit."

"Director Ye needs to tighten the security here, a lot of unimportant people are beginning to barge in as they please." Mei Han sighed.

Cui Yao alongside Qingnuan left. "Yao, you just simply backed away." Qingnuan complained.

"Oh really?" Cui Yao was angered by Qingnuan's statement. "Stay they and wait until she does something stupid to me?"

"No way, we will outnumber her." Qingnuan didn't like the fact they were leaving without accomplishing anything.

Just then a figure passed them, the two girls looked like they had seen a ghost.

"Is that Xueyan twin?" The two chorused.

"I believe so," Cui Yao smirked. "So, it was all a show... We still have our foolish and silly Xueyan." This discovery delighted them. So Xueyan had a twin, then which one of them had been acting strong all these while?

A moment later, Xueyan's make-up and hair was done. She was dressed in a brown soldier clothing, the cloth looked own and worn out.

The camera zoomed in on her, a sword in her left hand as she went round the palace. Inspecting every nook and cranny. Noting down the easier exit, hidden routes that led outside the palace.

Since she had little or no knowledge about the palace, she found herself in the Emperor's palace but wasn't even aware.

There came a series of footsteps from behind her. "There's an intruder!"

And guards dressed in wine sorrounded her.

Chapter end