Chapter 6
1279 Words
Avani let out a skeptical "Hmm?" wondering if she misheard him.
What did he mean by that?
Manny noticed her confusion but offered no explanation.
"So, were you waiting for me?" Avani scrutinized him, trying to detect any hint of unusual emotion on his face.
"I heard you're a regular here, but I haven't seen you in the past few days, so I asked," he replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
"I've been busy."
Manny stared at her intently, as if he had something to say but hesitated to speak.
"Well, if there's nothing else, goodbye then."
Originally, Avani just wanted to indulge before her wedding, without intending to have any deeper involvement with him. Since he had rejected her, there was no need to waste time exchanging pleasantries with him.
Just as they fell into silence, another voice sounded nearby. "Got signal, what do you say?"
The more you don't want to see someone, the more likely you'll run into them.
Tonight, Avani believed in this saying.
As Jiang Xiaocheng approached the fountain, Avani quickly moved back in front of Manny, using him as a shield. "Can you do me a favor?"
Seeing another man suddenly appear in the garden, combined with Avani's reaction, Manny guessed that she was avoiding him, but still asked knowingly, "What do you need?"
"Give me your coat."
Manny complied, draping his coat over Avani's shoulders and tightening it. "Then what?"
Avani glanced in Jiang Xiaocheng's direction, estimating that he would arrive here in about ten seconds. She raised her head, looking at Manny seriously. "Hug me."
She knew it was strange to make such a request to someone she had only met twice, but when she remembered the kiss that night, she felt it wasn't a big deal.
Manny stood motionless, his lips slightly curved, amused by her request. "Why?"
Intentionally, he must be doing this on purpose!
Avani didn't have time to waste on him. Stepping forward, she reached out and embraced his back, resting her head on his broad chest.
"Acting services come with a hefty price tag," Manny reminded her, not pushing her away but giving her a heads-up.
You have to pay just to hug?
Avani felt incredulous, but she had no other choice right now, so she agreed. "As long as it can drive him away, I'll pay you for your trouble."
He made a meaningful "Oh~" sound, then leaned down and looked into her soft eyes, inevitably recalling what happened that night.
Her lips were so soft.
---Thud, thud, thud...
Avani listened to the man's strong heartbeat, feeling a little dazed. Her own heartbeat accelerated suddenly. She looked into his deep eyes awkwardly. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"I'm thinking whether to play the whole scene," he said.
"Do you mean...?" She seemed to guess his thoughts.
"Yeah."
Before she could say anything, Manny cupped her face with both hands and swiftly kissed her tempting lips.
"You...!"
Avani instinctively wanted to push away this rude guy, but when she thought that it was for Jiang Xiaocheng to see, her raised hand slowly dropped.
Perhaps tasting the sweetness of the kiss, he no longer stopped after a shallow taste but passionately kissed her lips, tangling with her small tongue.
As the tingling sensation permeated her heart, she not only couldn't resist but even reflexively responded.
As the kiss deepened, the air around them became thin. She almost forgot that this was just acting, until Jiang Xiaocheng walked to the fountain and called out her name in surprise. "Avani?"
Avani snapped out of it, but instead of immediately pushing Manny away, she mischievously bit his lip before turning her head to face Jiang Xiaocheng, pretending to be surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Don't you know I'm also an investor in this project!" Jiang Xiaocheng clenched his fists, glaring at Manny angrily. "Who is he?"
"I'm her..." Manny's boyfriend was still unspoken, but Avani boldly took his hand and introduced him to Jiang Xiaocheng. "He's my fiancé."
Fiancé? She sure knew how to tell a lie.
Manny looked at their linked hands thoughtfully.
"When did you get engaged? Why didn't you tell me?" Jiang Xiaocheng demanded.
He had heard rumors that Avani was about to get engaged to a wealthy young man, but he had refused to believe it. Now, faced with the reality, he seemed to have no choice but to believe it.
Seeing that Manny was still playing along, Avani secretly pinched his hand, hinting at him to keep up the act. Manny lived up to her expectations, adopting an arrogant posture and turning to Jiang Xiaocheng. "Whatever your past relationship was, she is now my fiancée. I don't have to report anything to you."
Although Jiang Xiaocheng was unwilling, he chose not to confront her newly arrived fiancé. He liked Avani very much, but when he saw them sweetly interacting, he knew he had no chance.
Because Avani had never been so proactive with him.
"I get it." Jiang Xiaocheng smiled helplessly, his tone filled with bitterness.
"Let's go." Avani said with a bit of a spoiled tone, shaking Manny's hand. "Darling."
"...Yeah."
The two left Jiang Xiaocheng behind and turned into a secluded alley. After walking for a while, Avani looked back and found no one behind them, so she immediately let go of Manny's hand.
She thought the story would end there, but unexpectedly, Manny suddenly said, "Are you dumping me now? Fiancée."
"What's wrong, haven't you acted enough yet? Or..." Avani smiled lightly, teasingly, "Do you want to be my real fiancé?"
Manny didn't respond, changing the subject. "Where are you going next?"
"Home."
Today is not a good day to go out, and this place is not suitable for staying long.
"So early?" Manny looked at his watch. It wasn't even nine o'clock yet, and it wasn't even the most lively time of the party.
"Don't want me to leave?" Avani suggested going for a drink.
She liked seeing him at a loss, a kind of innocence that most adult men didn't possess.
"No, I have other things to do later." Manny shook his head.
"Oh right, I forgot you still have to perform." Avani felt disappointed by his answer. "Then forget it."
After saying that, she walked alone in the direction of the exit, leaving him behind.
"Avani." Manny called after her.
She was about to ask him how he knew her name, but then remembered it was because of Jiang Xiaocheng.
If they never knew each other's names, they could be the perfect strangers, but now it seems impossible.
"Is there anything else?" Avani raised an eyebrow.
Manny pointed to the coat she was wearing.
"Sorry, I forgot." Avani realized, unwittingly becoming accustomed to his warmth.
"You should keep it on for now." He held her delicate wrist, stopping her from taking off the coat. "Give it back to me next time."
"But don't costumes need to be returned that night?" Avani questioned.
Manny didn't explain much, just said casually, "It's fine, no rush."
"Oh, then I'll have someone send it to Sky tomorrow." She didn't want to owe him anything, but it was indeed a bit cold at night.
"I won't be going to Sky anymore."
"You quit?"
"Mm."
"Then..."
Manny took out his phone and handed it to her. "Give me your contact information."
Avani hesitated for a moment, then entered her alternate number into his phone.
Although she had some thoughts about Manny, she was about to get engaged soon. She thought it was best not to complicate things further. Occasionally staying in touch was fine, but she couldn't let him into her life.
- Writer
