Xiaoting's POV

We arrived at Hainan but Y/n was still ignoring me since this morning. Also earlier when I was about to get our luggage at the trunk, she let Zhou Shiyu carry hers.

"Home sweet home" Her mom opened their family rest house door. There are things inside because her father stays here most of the time. At the corner of my eye, I saw Y/n go straight up to her room, her maid following her. I tailed them and as I reached the room, the first thing I saw was the picture frame I put when we were younger. I suddenly remembered the paper ring behind it. I'm still not sure if Y/n was the one who gave me that.

"Where are you going, miss?" I heard Shiyu ask Y/n who's about to exit the room. "Taking a walk, you can come if you want"

"Sure" The both of them left the room, leaving me there. I can feel my heart drop as Y/n chose to walk around with Shiyu than me. Is she really that angry? I did that just to show she's taken. I still don't trust Shiyu around her.

I set my bags on Y/n's bed then went to check on the picture frame. It's a bit dusty since it was left for years. The photo inside was shot by my friend during our high school yearbook photo shoot. Y/n was the photographer and since she doesn't have any photos yet, I asked my friend to take a picture of us. This was also published in our yearbook but I don't think the fans saw it yet.

(It's so cruel my phone doesn't have a 🦌 face emoji)

I take off the photo then the flattened paper ring fell into my lap. I tried to reconstruct it but I saw inks on the paper. Did she write something inside?

I decided to unfold the small heart in the middle and indeed, something is written inside.

"I don't know if you'll see this or not but if you found out about this, please take care of me until we're grown-ups. Stay by my side forever."

My lips automatically curved into a smile, her love gesture is always the best. Sometimes she uses her smartness to imply something to me. Sometimes she would sneak some things such as flowers with different colors and then tell me "do you know what's the meaning of red rose?" Things like that. I'm amused she knows a lot of things I didn't know. She memorized all the meanings of flowers and how to speak through codes. She cant take me out of dates, but she gives me a lot of presents.

"Y/n?" I heard her mother ask but was met by me. "Where is that girl, Ting?"

"Went out for a walk... is she free to go put now, mom?" Y/n isn't allowed to go out of their houses before, so I'm guessing some things changed. "A bit... when Shiyu's around her, it's fine" But if it's me? Is it still fine?

"You can also take her out now, but always remember the restricted places" Oh, I guess it's fine with me too. Restricted places meant Zhejiang, Macau, and Beijing. Most of her father's company competitors are located there. Maybe Y/n is a bit free now because the last time they saw her was when she was 7, her face never changed but I think those people worn recognize her anymore or forget about her.

"Is there any change in Y/n? She's very moody lately" Mom, she changed because I cheat on her.

"Not really, mom. Maybe she's on her period"

"No, no, she's very secretive and much quieter lately. Remember before, when she's locked at home, she would go out to the gardens but now, she's locking herself in her room." She did that? "She's into producing music now, mom. And she studies a lot of tracks. She got less time to go out... you know Y/n, study person"

"Hmm... I'm glad she got someone to talk to besides you now, Shiyu seems like doing her work good" Ah, I can't bare hearing Shiyu's name. Why does it look like she's Y/n's new girlfriend or something...

"I'm going out to follow them, mom"

"Sure... stay close" I dashed out of the room then ran outside. I can't see them anywhere, maybe they went off so far now. I fished for my phone in my pocket but I left it at home. How can I contact her...

I walked close to the beach then to this familiar store nearby, operated by a friend I met when we first stayed here.

"Ooh, Shen Xiaoting?" The girl cashier greeted me with her cutie smile. Her cat sitting on the counter. "Ye Shuqi, long time no see"

I met Ye Shuqi while finding some stores beside the beach before. I wasn't familiar with the area so I looked for a person who looks nice to guide me around. Then I stumbled upon this girl who was sitting outside of a store. She looks innocent so I pushed myself to go talk to her.

"What can I get you? This is the first time a celebrity visited my store"

"Strawberry milk is fine, get me 3. And when I'm here, don't label me as an artist. Label me as a friend of yours" she nodded then went to grab boxes of the things I ordered. "How's business? Your store grew big"

"Been pretty good. The stores nearby closed because of the pandemic so I was the only one left" She then checked behind me, seems like she was looking for someone. "Y/n's not home?" She knows I'm friends with Y/n. Just close friends. I remember the time she called Y/n cute in front of me. In front of Y/n's girlfriend?! Y/n's popular because of her looks but she doesn't talk to people so they rely on me, making me pass their messages. Even some people at school, they call for me just to give Y/n their letters.

"Y/n's with someone right now, just walking around..."

"Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Lucky" she gave me the milk boxes then petted her cat. "No, it's not girlfriend, just manager"

"So Y/n is single?"

"Yeah, but she can't date at the moment. She's an idol"

"Ha~ I know, her looks attracted a lot of fans including me... her singing voice is also perfect, I want to meet her someday" Shuqi rested her chin on her palm in a dreamy way as she looked outside of the windows. "Oh, I guess faith heard me"

The store's doors opened making me turn around, I was met by Y/n's gaze as she pulled Shiyu to her side. I noticed she was holding Shiyu's hands making me scrunch my brows. "Hey, I thought you said she's single? She doesn't look like she is" Shuqi whispered to me.

"What are you doing here?" Y/n asked me with her cold voice. "Ooh, so this is how she speaks? Sexy" Shuqi mumbled behind me. "I bought Strawberry milk, want some?" I held up two boxes to her.

"No" Why is my heart aching right now? I can't handle her being angry at me. She went close to me, pulling Shiyu with her. She went to the counter then bought something. I noticed how Shuqi dreamily look at my fiancée like any other person does. One of my fears, when Y/n gets her freedom to go outside, many people will pay attention to her. Many admirers = many competitors.

I know I won her heart already but I messed it up. Who knows, someday she will meet someone new then leave me.

I know I should move fast on breaking up with Yurina but I'm afraid we'll lose our friendship. Fear #2, losing a friend. What's my fear #1? Losing Y/n.

Y/n turned around holding 2 boxes of chocolate milk in her hand, she gave the one to Shiyu then went outside of the store, passing my figure.

"Hey~ there's a bandage on her neck" I heard Shuqi giggled. "Even though she's not single anymore, it's fine, at least I know she's into girls"

"I better get going now, don't tell this to anyone, okay?" Shuqi held an okay sign then nodded. "What happens in the store, stays in the store"

I left Shuqi's then silently followed the two in Infront of me. I hate to see them holding each other's hands while mines are cold. The sky is turning blue and the street lights started to shine. I followed them for a few more minutes but I can't hold this scene anymore, I decided to go back to the rest house and put myself to sleep on Y/n's cold bed.

Y/n's POV

"Your operation is rescheduled tomorrow, " Mom told me. We were eating dinner with my dad and Shiyu, Xiaoting was sleeping. Shiyu went to get her earlier but she didn't budge so we let her sleep first.

"How's the walk? Did Xiaoting find the both of you? She went out to follow you two"

"She went to see a friend and we met there. I don't know if she followed us right after dad"

"Friend? Who?"

"That store owner beside the beach. The Ye Minimart owner"

"Ah... Ye Shuqi, she's a nice girl" I'm surprised mom knew the owner. I never went out of our rest house before so I never know the person around here. "I'm glad Xiaoting found a friend here... what about you, dear? Talked to any person on the island yet? Make sure they looked nice like Shuqi and not suspicious, aye?" Dad asked.

"Not yet, I'm satisfied with my friends. I met a lot in Shanghai so I guess they're fine"

"We're happy you got new friends now, but always be careful. Some might be fake to you. Don't give out gifts too much" my parents know I'm not the type of person who asks "hey, let's hang out", I'm a person who doesn't like to hang out a lot but gives gifts a lot. That's the only time where I spend most of my money, gifts.

"I haven't gifted them anything yet... well, except for Hikaru because she celebrated her birthday with us last March... and Yoon Jia, my late birthday present... and Dayeon unnie..."

"We know your members, we trust with you. It's fine to spend a lot for them but with your new friends, we don't know them yet..."

"Dad, then use your awesome hacking skill if they did something wrong to me"

"Ooh, good thinking. And, did you know that some of my white hacker staff are a fan of yours? They manage an account where they scare anti-fans away. They hack their location then scare your haters away"

"That's scary but cool at the same time. Can you teach me to do it too?" My dad held a thumbs up at me. "Of course, like your dad, I need to teach all the things you needed to do... and your sister here"

"Sister?" I turn beside me and I met Shiyu's gaze. Don't tell me my dad got-

"Last month, when you asked us to give you a sibling, we thought about adopting one of my scholars. Shiyu got no parents and she was one of my first batch scholars who did well academically. To give the both of you closure if she suits your attitude, we lied to you and told you she's your maid. We saw the both of you's bond so after a month of spending time together warmly, we finally adopted her as your sister... older one" ah, so that's why my mom hired a maid suspiciously.

"But her last name stays as Zhou?"

"Yes, she doesn't want to change it. At least it's a thing her parents left to her" Where are her parents anyway? I don't want to ask about it because it might be personal.

"Do you remember your aunt Song Rui? She married a man named Zhou Wan" Wait, aunt Rui? The one who died in an assassination. Shiyu is her daughter?

"Shiyu was their only daughter. That makes her your cousin." I got a living cousin on my father's side? That's nice to hear. I heard there's one more but their identification is private. "Wow, so I got 3 cousins that are still breathing"

"You got 5 actually..." dad butted in. "You'll meet them soon"

After dinner, I went to take a shower then dressed up into my banana pajamas. It's the only thing I brought in my luggage. And my laptop and camera. I opened the door just to see Xiaoting sleeping, facing the wall. She's still on her fit, maybe she slept out of tiredness.

"Xiaoting" I called but she never answered.

"Baobei, wake up" I shook her shoulders and she was ignoring me. I only ignored her because she was not explaining herself to me! Now she's the one who's ignoring me.

"I'm going to my operation, it's dangerous, I might die-"

"WHAT" She bolted up. "I'm just kidding" I chuckled, seeing her rolling her eyes then plopping back down. "Don't talk to me"

"I'm sorry... I'm never going to leave you"

"Go to Zhou Shiyu, don't sleep here"

"Aigoo, don't ignore me... she's just my sister"

"Sister my butt, every time you make someone your sister-"

"Mom and dad adopted her, she's now my sister. Shen. Are you jealous of her?" I laid down beside her, hugging her back as I buried my head onto her nape. "Adopted or not, it's just... feels weird to see you holding someone else's hands"

"Adopted or not, she's my cousin"

"Now she's your cousin? You're making things up"

"Only if you decided to eat with us earlier, you know these things" She rolled to my side then hugged me back, finally.

"I haven't eaten yet..." Her stomach grumbled that made the both of us chuckle in the silent air. Shiyu was staying in the other room so it was just the both of us

"Let's go eat outside, my treat. I don't want my neck to be your snack again"

"I'm sorry, I did that to show them that you're mine already"

"Understood, come on now. Let's walk on the shore"

She dragged me outside, forgetting she was in her pajamas. "It's already 10, I don't think a lot of people will go out here" Our slippers made contact with the sand, sea smell, and wave crashing to the sand is all we hear.

"Why are you so jealous of Zhouzhou?" She asked me. Why am I? "She's pretty, nice and she's with you all the time. Who's fiancee do you think will never get jealous of someone who follows their fiancée a lot? Especially when that person is the same age as them"

"You know, you always reason 'that girl is pretty' that's why you get jealous all the time. Shen Xiaoting, there are millions of colorful fishes in the sea but I chose you"

"So I'm a fish now?"

" fish 👍 "

"You have to give a meaning of my words"

"I'm not smart like you" she bumped her shoulders at me. "Tell me what does it mean"

"What I meant is there are a lot of pretty people in the world but I chose you. And... you shouldn't be jealous... I'm not Shen Xiaoting. You are" she raised an eyebrow at me. This girl doesn't think of a deeper meaning to the words I say. It's  not that deep tho,

"I'm not Shen Xiaoting, I'm not a c h e a t e r... here you go, I spelled it out to you"

"I'm sorry~ okay? I promise-"

"Don't promise me things" I'm afraid she might break it in the future so I'll stop hoping things from her. She broke one golden rule in a relationship, there's no way I can trust her fully now.

"Fine... still, I'm sorry" and I can't accept her apologies. "Hmm" I just nodded my head then pulled her closer to my side. Before when I was so angry at her, I told myself 'leave her, she doesn't want you anymore' but after a few days, she started pursuing me again, I changed my mind. She might be unloyal but let's see if her plan works.

"You know, you're cheating 2 times in a row"

"I don't consider Yurina as my girlfriend, she's just a best friend"

"With benefits"

"What? No! Please, let's stop talking about her tonight. It's supposedly just me, you and the sea tonight" I felt her hug my side as we walked in sync. "Let's buy some foods at Shuqi's"

"How did you meet her?" Xiaoting can be a social butterfly sometimes. Only to those who look nice. I'm glad she's making some friends out there except for Yurina.

"I wasn't familiar with this place before, remember, you were craving for Strawberry milk before. Your mom didn't allow you to go out so I secretly went outside to buy it for you"

"Oh, you did that? So that's why there's a milk box beside me when I woke up that time... thank you, baobei" I rubbed her shoulders, hearing her softly giggle makes up my day. "You're fast in changing moods today. Are you on your period?"

"Are you for real my fiancée? You don't know my schedule? No, I'm not on my period."

"Then why?"

"Why are you even asking that? If I'm angry, I'm allowed to be angry. You did something that changed my attitude, Miss Shen. Bare with it" we finally reached the store and made it to the counter where a sleeping Shuqi rest her head.

"Miss Ye, we're here to collect rent fee"

"Rent? Ah, it's the two celebrities" she wiped off her mouth then fixed her hair. She's different than the others. Sometimes if I met someone, they would panic and shout but Ye Shuqi's very calm.

"Where's the other girl?" That's the first thing she asked than the usual "what can I get you"

"My sister? She's at home" Her eyes widened. Did I say something wrong?

"Sister? I thought she was your girlfriend, oops-" she thought Shiyu was my what?

"No, she's my sister. This one is my girlfriend" I pulled Xiaoting closer to me. Her hair eventually fell in front of her face, I'm sure she's shy right now.

"Wait what ~ she introduced herself as your friend earlier but yeah, happy for the both of you~" Thankfully, Shuqi understood us.

"She's my fiancée, actually, but don't tell this to others okay? I know your location, your wifi password, and your cat's color"

"What happens in the store, stays in the store~"