My Naughty Fake Bride

Bai Min, who had been quiet through breakfast, strove to break the awkward silence quickly spreading and enveloping the breakfast party. 

'Didn't Han Jie know what she was doing? Why act too bashful?' Bai Min thought nervously. His gaze shifted to Han Jun, who did not seem to care at all, but he was supposed to look for Han Mei that day. 

Bai Min might have enjoyed his stay if Han Jun didn't try to make things awkward and annoying for him. He dreaded coming back from work in the evenings because of Han Jun, and he couldn't speak to Han Jie because he came in too late for him to catch her. 

Han Jun, who would be awake while Bai Min snuck in, would point it out with malicious glee. She was that kind of friend who teases you when you are down. 

'Why am I friends with her again?' He thought to himself silently. 

Quite frankly, Bai Min was planning to leave soon. "Ah sir, my house has been cleared up," He began clearly addressing Han Feng despite Han Jun's arrogant chin lift and nod for Bai Min to continue. 

While Han Jie looked at him then shook her head, as if asking him not to leave. Bai Min wanted to roll his eyes at these cousins. 

One did not have any hospitable blood in his system, and while the other would forget you when in front of her long time crush. 

He tried to ignore their reaction before speaking, "And I would like to thank you for your hospitality, sir, despite my irregular schedule." Bai Min finished barely biting back his irritation at Han Jun's smug grin. 

Han Feng nodded and waved Bai Min's thanks off as nothing. 

"It was nothing Bai Min, and it was good having a doctor on call." Han Feng said, smiling at Bai Min.

"Having a doctor on call?" Suzuki Kyou asked, finally removing his gaze from Han Jie. 

"Why yes," Han Feng began smiling at Suzuki Kyou. 

"My J-Mei has an eccentric body." Han Feng finished stumbling over Han Jie's name. 

Suzuki Kyou nodded, not commenting on his stutter. "He works in the hotel. He is always on call if he is needed." He said expressionlessly. 

Han Jun frowned slightly at his uncle. He glanced at Suzuki Kyou and wondered if the man really did miss or notice anything weird. 

"I would like to speak to Han Jie for a few minutes, please, before I take my leave." Bai Min said politely, glancing between Han Feng and Suzuki Kyou. 

Han Feng smiled his approval, and Suzuki Kyou barely acknowledged him. 

Han Jie stood up immediately, taking her cue from her father. She then stopped at the doorway before turning to look at Suzuki Kyou. 

"I would like to speak to you today as well, please?" She suddenly asked. 

"I still have some time before work, and we'll go for a drive." Suzuki Kyou said, with a slight smile. 

It was just a slight smile, but Han Jie was pleased to see it. She smiled back at him before turning around to speak with Bai Min.

***

Han Jie floated to her room. Or at least that was how she felt. Bai Min kept shooting her concerned glances as he walked beside her, seemingly ready for whatever Han Jie was going to do. 

Han Jie looked at Bai Min and smiled, noticing his worried. 

"Oh! Doctor Bai, why are you so serious?" Han Jie said teasingly in a sing-song voice. 

Bai Min shivered, knowing Han Jie had used that voice specifically to scare him. She knew the voice both irritated and scared him. 

He scowled and opened Han Jie's bedroom door, allowing her to go in first. 

She shot him a smile as she passed beside him. Bai Min rolled his eyes at her before entering the room and quietly shut the door behind himself. 

Han Jie strolled to her bed and sat down, pushing and shifting the sketchbook and pens to the side. She patted the space she had created for Bai Min and smiled at him. 

He eyed the space skeptically and decided to lean on the dresser instead. They stared at each other, warily for a while before Bai Min spoke. 

"We haven't talked in a while." Bai Min said softly. They have lived in the same suit for a few days, but he barely managed to talk to her or be with her except during breakfast. 

"Whose fault is it?" Han Jie asked, raising a brow at him. 

"You." Bai Min said and sighed, "And me. I'm sorry about that, Han Jie. Gosh! I feel like a creep for missing you." he finished with disgust. 

Han Jie smiled brightly at him. "Hehe. Are we having a heart to heart talk now?" Han Jie narrowed her eyes at Bai Min. "But I do miss you too. I also owe you some donuts, right?" 

He winced, "No, thank you." He refused immediately. Not all people like sweets like Han Jie. Even though he knew Han Jie detested gluten-free donuts, it was still available for sale for a reason. 

"Why were you avoiding me?" Han Jie suddenly asked with a pout. 

"I wasn't avoiding you, Han Jie." Bai Min said personally offended that she would think of such a thing. 

Even after years of college and all the embarrassing things Han Jie had done, Bai Min never avoided her. She was annoying most of the time, but it does not mean he did not want to be around her. 

So why would he start avoiding her now? 

"So, what were you doing?" Han Jie asked softly. 

"I was avoiding the situation." Bai Min said, walking towards Han Jie. He sat on the bed beside Han Jie and put his arm around her shoulders. 

"What situation?" Han Jie asked, leaning her head on Bai Min's shoulder. 

"Your cousin and my big boss." Bai Min said shortly. He was working in the hotel clinic because it was more lax. It was a position that did not allow seeing the big boss often. 

However, with his relationship with Han Jie, he ended up seeing Suzuki Kyou more than a handful already in a few days. 

"Oy, I understand. I noticed you two always glaring at each other." Han Jie said, almost cheerfully. "Ah, Kyou is really a scary boss?" 

"He started it." Bai Min said without any heat in his voice. "And yes, he is a scary boss. Is your editor not scary as well?" 

Being reminded by her editor, Han Jie glared at him, "What is between the two of you?" Han Jie whispered. 

"Absolutely nothing." Bai Min said quietly. 'Or sometimes I want it to be.' Bai Min thought. 

It was a weird thought. Though he sometimes sense Han Jun to be a closet gay, his preference was always the obedient once, and not the ones that are ready to growl than bite anytime. 

"Do you fight a lot when I am not around?" Han Jie asked with unhappiness. She never expected that her guest would be treated with unwelcome. Han Jie now did not feel guilty for causing Han Jun injury before. 

He shook his head as a response. Glaring at each other was not considered fighting, yet.

"Because we can't get along." Bai Min said, staring straight ahead. There were people that you really don't like even though you try to get to know them. That was probably how Han Jun sees him. 

They sat in silence for a while, each with their thoughts. 

"Why do you react that way to Suzuki Kyou?" Bai Min asked Han Jie to break the comfortable silence. 

"What way?" Han Jie asked, staring up at Bai Min, utterly confused. 

"You nose bleed any time you are together, why?" Bai Min said, looking concerned. 

Han Jie shook her head, slowly looking slightly less confused. 

"I did not have a nosebleed earlier. Don't say every time, okay." She said, exasperated. 

Bai Min had the urge to roll his eyes at this. "That is not what I mean." He said with a glare. Even though he did not go out with them yesterday, he was aware of how Han Jie's nosebleed on their way back to the hotel. 

"Eh… I don't know." She said, whispering. It would be good if Han Jie knew so she could avoid it. 

Bai Min looked down at Han Jie. 

"Do you think it has something to do with your comics?" Bai Min asked softly. 

***

Author's Note:

If you also have free time, please check out my other books, while waiting for the update: 

- Beneficial Union: Chasing A Rogue Wife

- Marriage Right's: Billionnaire's Forgotten Wife

- Baby Contract: Forced Deal with a Dragon 

- OtherThoughs (For Announcements and Oneshots)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you very much!