Love Me Harder, Mr. Fu - Chapter 60

Waves come crashing to grey sullen shores. Powerful and strong, it breathes and roars. Cascading and caressing each grain of sand, A warm embrace between sea and land~

After munching on the snacks they brought, Evelyn suggests playing volleyball. Shi Lian is tired but Evelyn drags her to the court ignoring her protests snd curses. Atian laughs under his breath seeing the girls.

“Shoot! We are three. At least we need one player more” Evelyn whines. They should at least have two players in each team but they are lacking one. They look around thinking about calling a random person to play with them but they are hesitant to not bother them as well.

As they are looking around, a voice comes from behind Atian, “May I join?” The three of them turn their head to where the voice had come and they are surprised to see the owner. Evelyn makes an amused face while Atian doesn’t want him here at all. And Shi Lian is shocked. ‘What the hell is he doing here?’ she thinks, blinking her eyes in disbelief.

“No” Shi Lian answer, looking straight at him. Atian smiles, agreeing with Shi Lian. Evelyn tugs her shirt as to why she said no.

“Why not? We need a player and he voluntarily asking so why not?” Evelyn whispers close to her ears. She doesn’t have any clue what happened between them. All she wants is to play and enjoy.

“Because I don’t like him and do not wish to see him” she bit out.

“Shi, we came to enjoy. C’mon, please…please please” Evelyn begs her like a child but Shi Lian has decided already not t agree.

“Mr. Fu, apologies but we are fine” Atian gives him the biggest smile he has ever given, making Zichen snort.

“Wait” Evelyn interjects. “You can join, there’s no harm.”

Shi Lian makes a face of disbelief. She told her she doesn’t want him here but then too Evelyn did not listen to her. “Why would you do that?” she whisper-yells.

“Chill. Just keep your issues aside and play. He will be gone after that” she says, trying to cheer her up but it didn’t do an effect on Shi Lian.

Zichen gave her a small smile and stride towards them. Atian face looks like he is pissed off. Not on Zichen alone but Evelyn as well.

“Shi, do you agree?” Atian asks gently. He didn’t want to lose any chances to get Zichen out of here even he has to brainwash someone.

She hesitates for a moment but then she gives up sighing, “Yes, fine. He can play.”

**

3 hours ago,

“Sir, do we have to work on weekends?” Rong, his manager asks, standing beside the desk. Work is Zichen’s lifeline, fuel, and sometimes his distraction from life.

“Managing a company is not a child’s play, is it Rong?” Zichen says, looking at the document in his hand. There isn’t much work for him to do but he needed a distraction and staying in the company is a good one. After the fight, Zichen’s mood has been worse. People are now more scared of him. Rong sighs as the staff complained about the increase in workload but what could he possibly say? That their boss fought with the girl he likes and now venting his anger on them?

“You don’t have to punish us because of Miss Shi” Rong mutters, looking sideways.

“Sure you got a mouth” Zichen comments, cocking his eyebrow at his manager. What he said is true indeed. It’s all because of Shi Lian that he is in a bad mood and more because of his stupidness.

“Sir, I don’t know what happened between them. it’s not my place either but all I would suggest is that clear whatever is eating you. The staff has been complaining about the workload and if it keeps on like this they might riot!”

Zichen didn’t respond. It’s indeed messed up now but he has no idea how to solve it. what he should do to make things up? For two days, his mood has been gloomy and there are dark circles under his eyes. He accepts that he went too far that day. He shouldn’t have done that but there’s no use in thinking. What’s done is already done and now the only thing is to make up.

“What should I do?” Zichen asks, his voice is barely a whisper.

Rong looks at him with surprised eyes.

With a smile on his face, Rong advises, “An Apology. It’s the simplest way to make things up. Sir, talk with her listen to her and say sorry about your actions. That’s it.”

Zichen ponders on his advice. He rarely apologized to anyone. Saying sorry is not something he does every day. He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Make an appointment with Miss Mo then.”

“Sir, it’s weekend and Miss Mo is not working today. Sir why don’t you ring her?” he informs.

Ziche rings her but her phone says it’s switched off. He tries again but it gives the same response. “Her phone is switched off.” Something in his heart makes him uneasy. He doesn’t feel right why her phone is switched off. “Find out what she is doing” he orders Rong who nods and exits out of the office.

A while later, Rong enters inside and informs him, “Sir, Miss Mo is at the beach with two of her friends.”

“Who are her friends?” Zichen inquires. He doesn’t know much about her friends even after checking her background.

“Um…I do not know that. Sorry sir”

His mind takes him straight to the thought of Atian. He was close to her so perhaps he must one of the friends. He shot up from his seat, taking his blazer from the hanger he tells his manager, “Arrange the car. We will be going to the beach.”

**

Present

A sense of relief filled in his when he saw Shi Lian, laughing and relaxing. She looks beautiful when she laughs. But when he saw him, Hu Atian his face falls. He thanks the other girl who must be her best friend for letting him play with them. he needs to talk to Shi Lian and clear things out.

“Boys vs Girls?” Evelyn implores, loud enough for them to hear.

Both the men look at each other, the moment their eyes met they look away, making a disgusted face. they hate each other, sure they do.

“What are you doing here?” Atian hisses, only for Zichen to hear. To that Zichen smirks, taking a step closer to answer.

“To enjoy and to see my girlfriend”

“Then why the hell are you with us?” Atian scowls, bringing his arms before his chest.

“The Same answer” Zichen smirks and turns his head in the girls’ direction to give a response. “you sure you will win?”

Evelyn makes an amusing sound, “A challenge, huh? We accept!” Shi Lian rolls her eyes ignoring him as much as she could. She told Evelyn that she doesn’t feel like playing but her best friend heard nothing and forced her to play. “You cannot step back just because of him. It’s not your style. Buckle up, girl!” she advises her and Shi Lian agrees as she has no other choices.

The game starts with Evelyn’s serving. Although the boys weren’t on good terms and would be glad to stay from each other they are a team so need to play. Atian passes it back with a strong bounce which the girls couldn’t defend. The boys score one point for their first win. This time the boys serve first and the game continues. The four were having fun and for a moment they forgot about their hatred or whatever grudges they had towards each other.

The boys won with two scores beating the girls. Huffing, Evelyn throws the ball at them saying, “I am done! I out of power!” with that she walks to the spot and lays down as she controls her breathing.

“Let’s head back then,” Atian says, looking at Shi Lian. She nods and they start walking towards where Evelyn is.

As Shi Lian is striding, her ponytail bounces as she walks and suddenly a hand grabs her wrist. She turns her head to see Zichen. Her eyes meet his and her heart starts beating rapidly than it already was. His skin is cool because of the sweat and the touch on his wrist is electric. As she glances at his face, she blushes because this man looks tempting. strands of hair fall before his eyes, sweat glistening on his skin as his chest rises. He looks younger in a T-shirt and shorts and…hot, her subconscious pokes.

“I need to talk to you,” he says in his deep voice as he tries to catch his breath.

“No, I don’t want to talk to you” she snaps coming to reality. She flinches her arm from his grip and continues walking. But then he catches her and pulls her back to him.

“Please. Just five minutes” he begs and she feels the sincerity in his tone. Should she trust him? What should she do?