"My girl, alright let me grab a pair of scissors," he announced while rubbing the back of his head and carrying a cheeky expression.

"Xiran, do you even know how to do that?" Aselia questioned him seeing the jaded look he was giving her.

"No, but I can try. How difficult it could be?" This made Aselia laugh. She had to applaud him for trying to make the situation light and hide the fact he had no clue whatsoever.

"Sure, what can go wrong except they will become more haphazard," she pursed her lips to hide the smile that was trying to escape her.

"Hmm, I think I have a better idea. Let’s eat and I will take you somewhere. If you are not tired and do not want to rest," he asked.

"I am not tired at all," she wanted to see where he would take her.

The door knocked and Xiran gave permission to enter. Frila arrived with their food, the savoury smell filled the air inside the room and Aselia took in a deep breath.

"It smells nice, Frila. What did you bring me?" Asleia asked her with a smile while Frila placed the tray on the table.

"Beef tenderloin with mushroom sauce, stew, shepherd’s pie, and chocolate cake," Frila revealed with a smile seeing Aselia’s excited eyes wander over the food. She loved the food here it was always ten times tastier than what she ate back at the headquarters. Also, she had time to enjoy the food in a relaxed state, back at the headquarters she was always in a hurry or just grabbing something while on her way.

"Everything smells so delicious," Aselia’s mouth began to water.

"Aselia, you will eat this all and finish every last morsel," Xiran announced leading her to the table and she sighed while settling down on the chair.

He then addressed Frila: "We will be going out after lunch, ask Carios to get the other car prepared."

"Sure Señor, anything else?" Frila asked respectfully.

"No, that will be all. Thank you," Xiran replied and Frila slightly bowed and left.

"Xiran, eat with me," Aselia requested, offering him a spoon of hot pipping stew.

"Oh! Thank you," he gladly took what she offered, it was the first time she had fed him with her hands. So he quietly ate whatever she gave him, his heart tingled with joy for every morsel she fed him. It was always him who used to feed her, today the roles had reversed.

He observed how she relished every bit of food she ate and the hearty smile that played on her sanguine lips. She talked nonstop with him, filling him in on details of her missions and her daily life routine.

Now that he knew more about her, Aselia seemed more open and relaxed with him. She even listened to him and that was a huge step, this made Xiran happy.

After finishing the food Aselia said: "This was yummy, thank you for having everything prepared that I love to eat."

"This was nothing, my love," he chuckled. Aselia went to the washroom to get fresh and upon returning she flopped down on his lap before offering her neck to him and saying:

"Drink, you must be famished."

"Hmmm, I am famished. But not from here and not now. We are going out and I don’t want others to see marks on your neck," Xiran whispered in her ear, his eyes twinkling in mischief, making her blush. She understood the now part but didn’t understand what he meant by here. His eyes told her he was up to no good.

"What are you planning?" She inquired suspiciously.

"You will see, let’s go now," he effortlessly carried her in his arms and made his way to the door.

"Let me down, I want to walk," Aselia protested and he put her down with a chuckle before muttering:

"You never let me carry you, why?"

"Because it’s embarrassing to be carried when you can walk yourself and is not sick or something," Aselia answered while they headed for Xiran’s car.

"But I like carrying you in my arms," he pouted at her and she shoved him playfully before saying:

"Stop babying me you creepy old man," and he guffawed at her words making her smile too. His laughter resonated all around her and filled her with happiness.

Once inside his luxury steel blue car, Xiran instructed her to open the glove compartment and extract the two masks and beanies. Aselia retrieved the masks, she handed one to Xiran, and wore the other one, she did the same with beanies.

Now that they had hidden away from the world, they were set to head out. "Where are we going?"

Aselia finally asked while turning on the sound system to play some music.

"To Rivan’s office. He has great hairdressers as he deals with the fashion industry. So I have booked an appointment for you there," Aselia’s heart sank at his words. She was not ready to face Rivan, she was sure he wouldn’t be as forgiving as Xiran had been.

Although he was one person who remembered what happened that night and how she was rescued. She wasn’t sure he would feel very proud of how her life had turned out. Knowing how much he cared about Xiran, Aselia was sure that Rivan hated her now.

Seeing that Aselia had not spoken and was quietly staring outside, Xiran touched her shoulder and said:

"Don’t worry, he will get over it. He doesn’t know you as I do and I won’t let anyone say anything to you," Xiran tried to comfort her.

"That’s not what I am worried about Xiran. I understand his hate towards me after what I have done. What worries me is the fact that he might think he had made a mistake by saving my life all those years ago, and if he thinks it would have been better to just let me die."

Aselia confided in him the truths that have been bothering her and Xiran felt a jolt in his heart.