Chapter 334 – In The Midst Of Flames
According to Ai Mi, she was in low spirits because her mom told her she had to immediately return to America once she finishes filming. It’s mainly because she still has numerous commercials and one concert still waiting for her.
“I thought I would get some time to rest, I haven’t even been able to experience winter or summer breaks.”
Ai Mi complained.
“She said I would be forgotten by the fans if I don’t make an appearance back home… who cares about those disgusting fans who rush onto the stage to touch my feet, I wish I was forgotten by them.”
I still haven’t calmed down, so my words inevitably carried some sarcasm which blamed Ai ShuQiao:
“Don’t tell me your mom said it’s because she loves you?”
Ai Mi was angered to the point she laughed. She ordered me to turn on the lights, then she threw her lighter on top of her dresser and stopped burning money for fun.
“Love? Don’t make me laugh.” Ai Mi said with a maturity that transcended her age, “There’s no such thing as love between two people, there’s only necessity. You’re either needed or not needed.”
“My mom made me like this because she needs me. I listen to my mom because I need her help to solve my problems.”
“I don’t even need to mention those so-called fans. They say they love me, but they probably already raped me a numerous amount of times in their minds.”
“…. Even Obama, he only follows me because he needs me to feed him.”
I couldn’t stand that she felt there was no love between people. It’s probably because she was influenced by Ai ShuQiao after staying with her for too long.
“What about Peng TouSi?” I asked, “Didn’t he take a bullet for you?”
Ai Mi hesitated a bit, “He… he doesn’t love me either. He only wants to repay my mother for saving his life and they are in a mutual relationship where they take advantage of each other.”
If that’s what you think, then you’re greatly mistaken. Peng TouSi watched you grow up and might be closer to you than your real mother (The only reason I didn’t mention father is because Peng TouSi is a catcher).
I thought it was dangerous having this outlook in life and I had to demolish her misconceptions.
Thus I took a step forward with stirred up emotions. Ai Mi sat on her stool and looked at me strangely because she didn’t know what I wanted to do to her.
“Then… what about me? Do you think I got close to you to use you?”
Ai Mi thought for a bit, “Pretty much.”
“Pretty much…”
“You…” Ai Mi said as she began to sway her two bare feet, “Although you might not desire money, but your motives for getting close to me aren’t pure.”
I was a bit upset, “What’s my motive?”
Ai Mi began giggling liked I was an idiot.
“Do you even need to ask? If you don’t have an interest in money, then you’re aiming for my body!”
Ai Mi placed her left hand on her soft and pink neck, then she traced her finger down her body, past her breasts, her abdomen, her waist, her navel, and displayed the perfect curves of her body.
“Manservant, you’re actually just a lolicon.”
“You probably fantasize about raping me like my other fans.”
“But I’m used to it since you’re not the only one who has improper thoughts about me…”
“I’m generous and allowed you to fantasize about me. Try to win my favor in the future when staying near me.”
“So, we achieved a perfected relationship of needed and being needed…”
It wasn’t my imagination that Ai Mi seemed a bit hurt when she said the last sentence.
“You’re wrong.” I said seriously, “I didn’t get near you because I need you. You also shouldn’t think everyone has improper thoughts about you because you look good…”
“I’m not wrong.” Ai Mi stubbornly retorted, “Do you think those damn lolicons would like me if I was ugly? Do you think they would push my songs to 11th place on the Billboard Hot 100? Did you know I want to puke every time I hear myself sing those childish songs?”
“I’m not the same as them…” I couldn’t come up with a good argument on the spot.
“Excuses…” our argument provoked the negative feelings she was trying to suppress. She suddenly leaped off the stool and picked up the lighter from her dresser.
Since the light was now open. I noticed the lighter in Ai Mi’s hand was coated with a luxurious metallic gold cover, it might even be pure gold.
Ai Mi raised the gold lighter near her own face.
It was as if there were shooting stars passing through her blue eyes as the flames flickered.
She stood barefooted on the ashes of the burnt money and said with an expectant tone:
“No one will like me if I use this lighter to burn my face.”
“What… are you doing.”
I wanted to pounce forwards and snatch the lighter, but Ai Mi lit a flame and brought it closer to her chin threateningly.
“Worried?” She had a smile of ridicule. She looked excited as if she corrected a teacher’s mistake during class.
Her following words contained hints of sorrow.
“As expected, you’re the same as them… if I’m not a beautiful doll anymore, then you would immediately abandon me… I only have worth because I’m beautiful. If I wasn’t beautiful, then no one would need me…”
“That’s not true.” I yelled, “Hurry and put the lighter down.”
Ai Mi brought the lighter even closer. The strands of hair near her ears began to warp due to the heat.
“Are you worked up because you can’t bear to part with my face?”
Ai Mi began smiling happily as she saw me anxious expression.
“Ai Mi, put the lighter down.” I forced myself to calm down, “I don’t care what you think about others, but our relationship is not as simple as using each other and you will understand later.”
“Ha.” It was like Ai Mi heard the world’s best joke, “A mere manservant wants to establish… a relationship with me closer than my mom and Peng TouSi? If our relationship isn’t using each other, then what is it?”
Ai Mi furrowed her brows.
“Or are you trying to say you love me?”
“That’s right, I love you.” I blurted out.
Even though it’s only brotherly love, I don’t think it would lose to real love.
Ai Mi took a step back and the shooting stars in her eyes became even more chaotic.
I stepped over the ashes of the burnt money without letting her escape.
“I love you. It has nothing to do with your appearance.”
“Liar.” Ai Mi retreated to a corner of the room, “All those stalkers in American said they loved me, but they only want to take advantage of me.”
I spread out my hands to show I had no malicious intentions.
“Ai Mi, you may be half-right… we are in a relationship of necessity, but it’s not because I need you, but it’s if you need me, I’ll come running even if I have to tread through fire. My love doesn’t need any returns.”
“Nonsense, it’s becoming more and more unbelievable.” Ai Mi waved the lighter in her hands to prevent me from getting any closer, “If you love me, why did you accept the violent girl as your girlfriend.”
I didn’t hesitate and answered decisively:
“Xiao Qin is an outsider. She can’t interfere between us. Even if I was forced to get married to Xiao Qin, I would still love you.”
“…. if you… say it like that….”
Ai Mi didn’t know what to do. She dropped the lighter and tried to escape out the door.
She wasn’t fast enough, I reached out and hugged her from behind. I was gentle but resolute, otherwise, I would never be able to unburden her.
“Ai Mi, I swear that I’ll always protect you. It doesn’t matter how you change or how I change, and it doesn’t matter how the world changes… you’ve already been hurt enough and I won’t allow anyone else to hurt you anymore.”
Ai Mi struggled for a bit before giving up, but she could see tears running down my cheeks.
Men don’t cry easily, but I couldn’t control my tears. It continuously dripped down on to my sister’s flawless face.
Ai Mi stood there vacantly at a loss.
After a while, she lowered her head so I wouldn’t be able to see her expression. Then she reached out one of her small hands and clutched my large hand.
We stood for a while silently and at one point I almost felt that time had stopped.
Finally, Ai Mi’s ponytail’s began to quiver and I think I heard quiet sobs.
She pushed my arm away and went to the washroom.
I’m not sure why, but Ai Mi turned on all the taps in the bathroom and the sound of running water concealed everything else.
She only came out after half an hour after having washed her face and hair. Her ponytail was split apart and her new hairstyle made her seem a year older.
She didn’t speak to me and headed to the fridge on the side.
I began to review my prior words to see if I could have said any words that were easily mistaken. Then, I felt something cold on my neck and almost shrieked.
“What… is it?”
It turns out Ai Mi took out two cans of sugar-free iced coffee from the fridge. She sneaked up behind me and surprised me by pressing it against my neck.
Ai Mi’s mood got better after surprising me.
“I really looked down on you. I never expected you could make lies so pleasant.”
So she still didn’t believe me.
“You even said you loved me and would protect me forever. It was so corny I almost laughed when I heard it.”
After she ordered me to open her can of ice coffee, she walked to her dressing table and began to write something with a marker.
“Hmph, since you decided you’re my number one fan, I’ll give you a souvenir.”