Runaway Rich Guys Love Endeavour - Chapter 81：Secrets

The following morning, as promised, Ray dropped Ye-Jin off to her home. In addition, he asked her out for an official date.

He wanted to give her everything. He wasn’t planning to be stingy- like she accused him to be last night.

Before letting her get down from his car he pulled her in for a quick peck on the cheek.

Ye-Jin flushed in pleasure but confidently reciprocated the action. She too kissed him on the cheek before bidding him goodbye.

The same morning, Kai was sitting in front of the computer in his studio at the Wang entertainment. His eyes were bloodshot and there were deep dark circles under them.

It had been almost a month since he started to pull all-nighters for his upcoming solo album. His skin had become sallow and the guy had lost a lot of weight.

He sighed and pulled a long drag from his lit cigarette.

He wasn’t a smoker. It was during times like this when he suffered from a slump in the production did he indulge in the filter tip buddies.

But this time it was different. No matter how hard he tried, the result for the title track of his upcoming album was not up to his usual standard- i.e., ‘perfection’.

He pinched the space between his brows to rid himself of the headache which was catching up due to the lack of sleep.

Extinguishing the cigarette on the nearby ashtray he leaned back against his chair exhausted. This was going nowhere. He was slowly falling asleep when there was a knock on the door.

Ray: (grinning widely) are you free?

Ray didn’t wait for the invitation to be called in. He knocked once and pushed the door open to see his good friend sit up tiredly.

Ray: (raising a brow) wow, you look terrible…

Kai: (scoffing) still better than you.

Ray: (rolling his eyes) you can never reach my standard. So, you didn’t go home last night? How many days has it been this time?

Kai: (leaning back) a month-

Ray: (disapproving) Mel sure has lots of patience. I am amazed she lets you do this.

Kai: (kicking his leg) at least I’ve got a wife. Better than you, who has no luck in this area.

Ray: (grinning) Well, not anymore.

Kai: (sneering) don’t tell me you actually gathered the courage and confessed to Ye-Jin.

Ray: (not meeting his eyes) mhmm.

Kai: (doubtful) no way, you’re pretty timid when it comes to relationships. Tell me the truth, did she confess to you?

Ray: (waving his hand) don’t mind these little details. Wha’s important is that I have a girlfriend now.

Kai: (sorrowful) it’s your first-ever relationship and you let the girl propose to you! What am I going to do with you Ray?

Ray: (glaring) I kissed her in response so drop your act!

Kai: (shocked) YOU KISSED HER!? ON THE MOUTH??!

Kai’s shout startled Ray. He hadn’t expected Kai to lose his cool like that. But he can’t be blamed.

In the time he had come to know Ray, he was always the shy type. He wasn’t the type of person who would take the initiative. For him to kiss a girl as a response to her confession was definitely a huge thing for Kai. He had been worried for Ray for a long time.

Ray: (sneering) I think the guy in the basement didn’t hear you.

Kai: (sheepish) hee hee, don’t mind the little details.

Ray: don’t throw my words back to me.

Kai: ok ok fine. So how did this happen? Recently, I have no idea what you guys are all up to.

Ray: you’d know if you stop being cooped up in this place.

Kai: (nodding) I know I am the leader but everything should not be about me every time right? Let’s get back to you first. You’ll get many chances in the future to criticise me.

Ray thus narrated the happenings of the previous night to his friend. He cut out the parts with Liu Bo. If he could then he would erase some parts of his past.

Kai: (impressed) I am proud of you! All the coaching that I gave you is finally fruitful.

Ray: And you tell me that it should not be about you every time.

Kai: (shrugging) what can I say, I am your leader. So when are you going to tell her?

Ray: (confused) tell about?

Kai: About yourself.

Ray’s face fell at the mention of his past. He didn’t reply but Kai was also not the one to give up.

Kai: do you really think that she’s the one for you?

Ray: (resolute) I don’t think, I know that she’s the one.

Kai: (whistling) you lucky bastard! Not going off the topic, you should tell her before she gets to know from somewhere else. She needs to know what she’s getting into Ray.

Ray: (defeated) that part of my life, it’ll be better if I can forget it.

Kai: (nodding) I understand but she doesn’t deserve to be left in the dark Ray.

Ray: I know. Kai, I might soon go back with Bo.

Kai: (shocked) Ray! Are you being serious now? B-But w-why?

Ray: (sighing) that family needs me.

Kai: H-How l-long?

Ray: (rubbing his face) I don’t know, years maybe. (chuckling dryly) I actually didn’t want to tell anyone but now things are different. I have to consider a lot.

Kai: (patting his shoulder) everything will be fine. We are all with you.

Ray didn’t reply and a heavy silence hung in the room. Kai was usually pretty great with words but now he couldn’t even get a sentence out.

He was the only person who knew Ray’s secret. And at this moment he could feel the crushing weight of that secret on his shoulders.

Minutes passed before Ray cut through the think sombre mood with his words.

Ray: (smiling) you’re right Kai. Ye-Jin should be prepared for what is to come her way. She might hate me and even break up after just a day but I should tell her. After all who would want to be with a guy who is going to desert her soon?

Ray’s voice broke near the end. He swallowed hard and hung his head down to hide the tears threatening to spill.

The thought of separation from her was more painful than going back to see his family. He was torn between the two. Maybe she could help him decide.

Kai couldn’t do much other than pat his friends back in an attempt to console him.