Meanwhile, at Four Seasons Hotel, Hangzhou City;
Hyerin arrived at the infinity pool with a composed posture and peaceful thoughts, having just finished her spa and massage treatment, and was here for a swim at this infinity pool, which seemed like it stretched seamlessly into the skyline.
She adjusted the strap of her one-piece swimsuit and stepped forward to dive into it, only to halt in her tracks.
There, floating lazily in the water on a pool lounger, was the man from the Gym.
The same fellow who troubled her thoughts at the gym.
And here he was once again in the same space as her, lying back on a floater with his eyes closed; his toned chest and abs were visible for everyone to see.
Hye-rin felt a sudden hesitation.
She had come here to enjoy a quiet swim for a cool down, but now... should she even go in?
A small and irrational thought crept into her mind as no other person was in the swimming pool apart from this same fellow once again, and she wasn't the type to think that it was fate or something. "Is he here because of me? The coincidences are too much."
Theories popped up in her head automatically to fulfill the logic.
He hadn't spoken to her at the gym, perhaps because of the staff. Maybe he had been waiting for a more private setting to make his move.
After all, she was a celebrity herself, a known face throughout the country.
Hyerin glanced at him again, observing his relaxed form. But he looked too at ease, too indifferent for someone with ulterior motives. That only irritated her a bit.
Hesitating a few more seconds, Hyerin stepped into the water in the end, letting the cool sensation wash over her.
The two of them remained in their own worlds for a while. Hyerin swam at a leisurely pace, occasionally glancing his way as if to wonder why he wasn't approaching her yet, while Tianzhu remained undisturbed, drifting weightlessly.
The only sound between them was the occasional ripple of water.
Then, a sharp buzz broke the silence. Without checking the caller ID, he answered with a smile. "Hey, my baby."
Hyerin, who had been floating a few meters away, paused. She narrowed her eyes, glancing at him. "Hmm?"
His tone appeared to be quite affectionate and warm, completely different from the stoic aura he had carried so far.
Meanwhile, Tianzhu continued speaking. "Mm. I told you… You shouldn't stay up so late, watching those silly sitcoms. I don't even know why you are obsessed with those things. Anyway, did you eat breakfast yet? You were out of the shower already? When did you wake up?"
"Girlfriend?" Hyerin couldn't help but contemplate. "No wonder he wasn't interested in me. I mean who would igno…" Then a sudden thought appeared in her head, widening her eyes. "Wait. What if it is just an act?"
She had also seen it before. Some men deliberately make it seem like they were taken. And then they make it seem like they were going through rough patches, giving a hint that they were breaking up.
It's a psychological tactic. Not that common in the east, but it's still there, nevertheless. Men who appeared unavailable were often desirable to women who were successful but lonely. After all, if someone was already claimed, didn't that mean he was worth having?
And some single women, strange as it may appear, are attracted to those traits and would want to snatch such men when those men seem like they are about to become available.
She glanced at him once more, watching as he listened attentively to the voice on the other end of the line.
Was it real? Or was he just playing the game better than most? Or perhaps he was waiting for her to approach him or something? Her thoughts were filled with curiosity.
And the best way to be known is to see to what end he will try acting this way. No matter what, she should never approach him on her own, no matter how much curiosity she has. Or so she decided.
However, contrary to her expectation, after finishing his call, Tianzhu stretched briefly, and then with the same quiet indifference he had maintained all morning, got up from the floater and put on his t-shirt that lay below his head earlier.
Hyerin, who had been subtly observing him, expected at least a glance in her direction, a smirk, a comment, just anything.
But he walked past her without hesitation.
No lingering stare. No playful remark. No acknowledgment that she even existed.
Her grip on the pool's edge tightened slightly. "Seriously? C'mon…" Her ego was hurt quite a bit by the disregard, and she couldn't help but stare at his back sharply. "Is he gay or what… How dare he just ignore me, not even spare a glance at me? Me… Hyerin, the one who won the Nation's Crush Award two years in a row…
Back in his suite, the room was now filled with the faint scent of perfume. Vera was already dressed, standing in front of the mirror as she carefully adjusted her white turtleneck sweater.
She turned at the sound of the door opening. "Uncle!" she chirped. "I thought you were at Mom's house. Where were you earlier?"
Tianzhu picked up the towel on the floor and tossed it onto a nearby chair. "At the pool. Anyway, don't throw things around. Look at the clothes on your bed. It is so much of a mess."
"I'll do it later." Vera wrinkled her nose. As an afterthought, she added. "It would be nice if Theo had been with us. He would have done everything in a jiffy."
"Veraaa… He is your brother, not a butler." Tianzhu narrowed his eyes, walking to his bed, which was placed a few feet away from hers.
"Well, he always tries to put me down, you know." Vera sighed, dropping her head down, but then making a serious face as she continued in a deep tone as if she was imitating him. "Vera, you are a lady; you should know how to do laundry. Vera, how are you ever going to become an idol if you just focus on the guitar? Vera, your arms are too thin to fight. Vera, don't just eat salads. Eat meat. Vera, don't embarrass me in front of my friends. Act like a lady, you are not 10 anymore. Vera, you are a wolf, so act like one. Don't make those puppy eyes. Vera…"
"I get it…" Tianzhu was forced to interrupt her as she kept on mimicking her brother's words. "But, you know, Theo. He was just being overprotective because he thinks I was a bit too lenient on you, and you might pick up bad habits. That's all."
"Yeah, whatever…" As the adolescent sat down with her shoulders drooping, Tianzhu looked at her. "Anyways, young lady, you have fifteen minutes. I'll go to shower, and by the time I return dressed up, I should see the bed empty and your clothes in your bag or neatly folded in the wardrobe. Or else, you are staying back at the hotel. And I go shopping alone."
She pouted, crossing her arms. "What? That's not fair."