Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire

JUNJIE

I’m both pissed and on edge. The day started fine and then went straight into chaos.

First, I wrecked my shoulder trying to assemble my car. When I unboxed the wheel set, two of them—each a solid 34 kg—came tumbling out. Instinct kicked in, and I blocked them with my shoulder, avoiding a direct hit to the chest but definitely bruising myself. Pain is one thing; feeling like an idiot is another. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Then, at the hospital, my phone went missing. Just gone. Poof! Probably stolen. Within minutes, the signal was dead. Whoever took it was skilled because even Meimei couldn’t trace it. They must have been after the solid gold casing. Ireine managed to get me a new phone and SIM with my original number, but Bruce’s wasn’t a VIP contact, so his number will take a few days to recover.

Now, the most nerve-wracking part: it’s almost midnight, and Yiren hasn’t shown up. The showcase ended hours ago, and her phone’s off. I try to reason with myself, but the thought of something happening to her gnaws at me. Where is she? Hope she’s safe.

I call Meimei, my worry bubbling over. "Sister Meimei, can you track Yiren’s phone? She hasn’t come home yet."

"Maybe she’s just out, Jun. Tracking her because she’s late seems—"

"You did it last time," My impatience barely concealed.

She sighs. "Last time was different, Jun. She’s busy with her startup. Maybe she went to dinner afterward."

"With who? I’m practically her only friend here. And we had plans—Disney movie and wine."

"Jun," she softens her tone, "She’s building a business. These early days are always demanding. She’s probably caught up with something."

I feel like tearing my hair out. "Fine. Don’t track her, then. Track Bear’s collar. That’s okay, right? I’m missing my baby!"

She chuckles, sensing the anxiety in my voice. "Alright, just to ease your mind. Stay on the line."

I pace around, restless, each second feeling like an hour. The painkillers are doing nothing at this time and I can’t take another before six hours, so I pour myself a whiskey, needing something to take the edge off. Yiren’s last incident is still fresh on my mind.

"It shows she’s on her way home, about 15-20 minutes max," Meimei’s voice finally breaks through. "Now relax, and let me get back to Jinayu, he is showing me bedroom eyes. Goodnight."

"When he doesn’t show bedroom eyes? But thank you. You’re a lifesaver. Love you."

Exactly sixteen minutes twenty three seconds later, Yiren walks through the door, murmuring softly to Bear, who’s cradled in her arms, looking utterly pitiful with a cone around his neck and a bandaged paw. I feel a wave of relief wash over me at the sight of her—but I remind myself, I’m supposed to be angry. Maybe it’s time for a curfew talk to keep her from coming home this late.

As soon as she sets Bear down, he wobbles over to me, whimpering, his little eyes filled with the kind of betrayal only a hurt puppy can convey.

"What happened?" I take him in my arms. His sad attempts at "talking" tug at me, and then I look up at Yiren, who’s watching with guilt written all over her face.

"I’m so sorry, he got hurt because of me," Her voice cracking, and a tear slips down her cheek.

"Is this why you got late?" I brush my thumb over her cheek to catch the tear, and she nods, which seems to break dam of emotions.

"Hey—" she steps into my arms, catching me off guard, but I ignore the pull in my sore shoulder. Suddenly, I’m holding two sniffling kids—one with a cone on his head, and one with red-rimmed eyes.

I feel like a daddy at this moment.

Oddly, it feels nice!

Both came to me for comfort after what seems like a rough day.

"I’m so sorry, Jun. I should’ve taken better care of him,"

"Hey, it’s fine. I know how mischievous this little guy can be."

"No! I—"

"Shh. He’s fine. This is all part of growing up. Will you cry every time your kids come home with bruised knees?"

She pulls back, her nose adorably red, "I’m never having kids."

Now, that’s news to me. The way she is around my kids, I bet she’d be a fantastic mom—strict, maybe, but with the kind of warmth they’d flock around her. "Why?"

I wait, but she just gives me a look, the kind that carries an ocean of things unsaid. There’s a longing there, maybe even sadness. I want to ask what’s going on in that head of hers, but she changes the subject so fast it nearly gives me whiplash.

"What happened here?" she points at the sling around my shoulder and pulls down my shirt down from collar to take a look. I wince.

"I’m fine."

"Whoa, Jun! This doesn’t look fine." Without a second thought, she starts undoing the rest of my buttons, peeling back the fabric to get a proper look. There’s nothing reserved about the way she moves, as if unbuttoning and checking me over is the most natural thing in the world. Like she is my real girlfriend.

And I can’t help but feel a little... charmed.

Her dainty fingers trail over my shoulder blades, tracing the muscles with a gentle touch. I wince, and she doesn’t miss a beat, pulling me with surprising determination to our bedroom, with her hand in mine. She takes Bear from my arms and settles him into his fluffy bed, right next to ours, before turning back to me, and helping me out off of the shirt.

"Lie down on your stomach."

I raise an eyebrow, amused. "Bossy, aren’t we?"

Her eyes narrow. "Didn’t ask for commentary, Juju. Just lie down on the bed."

Leaving no room for argument, she disappears into our shared closet, returning with a small wooden box. My curiosity spikes, but before I can ask, she arches a brow at me. "Still standing? Get on that godamn bed before I make you."

I can’t help the smirk as I drop onto the mattress, wondering where this side of her has been hiding. And why I’m so mushy from inside at her every command as if she owns me?

"What are you going to do?"

"Massage you."

I jumped back, "Excuse me?"

*******