"How long will you talk to that thug?" Danish's sudden appearance silenced that young man's mouth.
"Could you please wait a minute?"
"I am not your driver!" Danish snarled; he didn't give Luna a chance to ask what that young man was trying to say. Avoiding the confrontation with him, she obediently went with Danish without looking back.
They were trapped in their own thoughts on their way home. Danish maximized all his focus on the road ahead while Luna stayed in the back seat quietly. Her head was filled with that man's unfinished statement about the person who hired him to do bad things to her. Her abduction asserted that her safety was at stake.
Danish jumped out of the car and slammed the car's door strongly as soon as the engine was off. He didn't even bother with her in the car. Luna could only gasp her shock and then proceeded to the house after tidying her cloth and hair.
Happiness radiated Grandma Li's visage when Luna and Danish strode across the living room. That old woman hastily checked Luna out to make sure that nothing happened to her. She sighed in relief when she found no scars or bruises on Luna's skin. Luna hid the bruises on her wrist perfectly under her sleeve.
"Where have you been? Why do you return at this hour? How is your dinner?" she inquired upon Danish's leaving. She was stunned as telling her the truth would only induce anxiety in her heart. But, lying wasn't her specialty, either. "Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?"
"The dinner… It's great. I like the menu and the place. The restaurant is cozy with good service." Her trembling mouth ranted whatever in her mind while her eyes avoided Grandma Li's gaze.
Pressing her guilt, she bit her lower lips and cursed herself in her heart for what she did. She didn't mean it but with no option to choose, she had to lie to that kind woman.
"Glad that you are happy. Now you can go back to your room and rest." Grandma Li tapped her shoulder softly and carefully. "Good night?" She bid goodbye. Luna responded the same way.
Getting upstairs, Luna took her walk to Danish's room instead of hers. That man owed an explanation for what occurred to her today. What was it his intention to bring her to that area?
Her knocks drummed the door impatiently. The rush of impatient steps inside smashed the tiles. The creak from the opening door caused the throbs in Luna's chest.
"What are you doing here?" His sour expression was the first thing she met. He then averted his sight to the other side as though looking at her would infect him with a serious disease.
"Why did you do that to me?".
"What? So you want to blame me for the incident you experienced today? I shouldn't have come and saved you!" He almost shut the door but with all her might, she managed to restrain it.
"You must know the risk you have to bear if I tell Grandma Li what I went through today."
"So, you use my grandma to threaten me? You use my Grandma's kindness to save your name. What a wicked girl!" Listening to his defensive words, Luna felt defeated. Not only could this man conquer her heart but he also knew how to debate her words.
"Why is it hard for you to confess your wrong?"
"Now you're acting like you are an innocent one."
"What?"
"You can go or the maids will spot you here and think that you are trying to seduce me."
Enduring all annoyance that had taken over her, Luna went back to her room with her hands clenching in anger.
She regretted that she was once in love with that ruthless man. An urge to withdraw from the arranged marriage grew stronger in her heart now. But, what about grandma Li? Her care and compassion was not something she should betray. She was in a dilemma.
***
A young man in tattered cloth stood under the radar of Grandma Li's eyes in the living room. His sight was planted on the floor in surrender. Grandma Li didn't take her eyes off him even a split second. Her action affirmed like she was interrogating him for his big crime.
Luna who just descended the stairs rushed toward them in uneasiness. She was responsible for his presence since it was her who invited that young man to come.
"Grandma…."
"Do you know this man? He said that you have invited him to this house" Driven by her guilt, Luna nodded her head slowly. "Who is he? What is your relationship with him?"
"He is Xiou Feng, a friend of mine." Luna paused, formulating what she had to say next. "His sister is seriously sick and he has not even a single penny to take her to the hospital. I hope you would kindly aid him. I am begging for your help, Grandma. I will pay for it later." Grandma Li inhaled before making a decision.
"Alright I'll help him. But, I am doing this because of your request."
"Thank you Grandma, I promise I'll pay for it."
"No...what are you talking about? You are a part of this family. You have the same right as others." She went upstairs and returned with a check in her hand. Receiving the check from Grandma Li, Xiou Feng's hand trembled and his pupil dilated. His palm rubbed his eyes over and over, not believing in what he just saw.
"Thank you so much for your kindness, Madam. I vow to pay you with my whole life." He bowed in joy many times.
"You don't have to do that. You can go now and bring your sister to the hospital."
"May God bless your life, Madam and you too, Miss. It is such a blessing to know you. I don't know how to pay you for what you do to me and my sister. I regret what I … "
"Xiou Feng, you should go before it's too late. Your sister needs medical treatment as soon as possible." Luna briskly cut his sentence before he talked too much about that kidnap.
Xiou Feng obeyed her. Luna sent him to the gate. Once again, that young man bowed deeply in front of her; she felt uncomfortable with that.
The tears trickled down on his cheek. Her kindness touched his heart, he reasoned when Luna asked why.
"It is so embarrassing to cry before you,"he said blatantly, "but, ...that girl," with his height of a few inches taller than Luna, his sight could pass over her head. He looked like recalling something or someone. "What is the relationship between that girl and this family?" he murmured.
Luna followed his gaze; Danish was in a conversation with Ana Wang, his girlfriend. He was seen stroking her hair compassionately.
"She is his girlfriend," Luna sadly answered his inquiry.
"What? But, she is the one who hired me to kill you."