Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire-Chapter 122: Strawberries

YIREN’S POV

"Do you need anything else?"

I shake my head, my throat so sore that saying even a single word hurts. Even after they have treated me with high flow oxygen, the aftermath of smoke inhalation lingers.

The hot coffee splashes on my hand due to the constant shaking that even the three blankets on my shoulders are not helping.

"Turn the heat to maximum," Meimei orders the driver, scooting closer and rubbing my shoulder. I look outside the window at the countless ambulances and doctors tending to the injured. The smoke and fire have cleared, it’s time to face what’s fallen and destroyed.

Calling Jianyu was the correct thing to do. Now I’m understanding why these brothers are called a force to be reckoned with. He bring the ambulances, firefighters, and informed every hospital within 100km radius to be ready for burn victims.

Apparently, no emergency services showed up on my or Levi’s call because they were bribed. Once the situation was under control, Meimei was quick to hack the surveillance of the fire department—those morons didn’t budge from their seats after the call was made and were eating pizza, laughing. I hope they all burn in hell.

Suyin is in ministry, she said she’ll take care of this matter and would make sure the city gets rid of such people.

Though I don’t need a name behind this ’accident’... It’s Yifan. And I’m still clueless why he’s after me. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but let me give you a name already... Y.I.F.A.N.

"Ma’am, the clothes," Meimei’s assistant brings me a set of new clothes as mine are wet. The driver steps out to give me privacy as I change.

Once done, we get out to inspect...

My people. Injured. Scalded. Wounded.

A small part of me says it’s not my fault, but it’s not true. I should have been careful and taken fire safety precautions to keep my people from harm’s way. Fire extinguishers are important, yet I had only three on the site as big as this.

I missed this important point.

I see a woman wince as the doctor sprays ointment on the burn on her arm. Our gazes meet, and she presses a small child close to her chest with the other hand, the fear in her eyes crystal clear.

"No casualties are registered, Yiren. It’s a good thing," Meimei squeezes my shoulder.

Yeah, lucky me. Or I’d have never come out of this guilt. Though three got serious burns for which they are being taken to the hospital. I look at the house, which is just a dark structure now. How will I face Suyin? She trusted me so much and literally handed me a dream of hers. I’m not a good entrepreneur. Can never be. Who was I trying to fool? Look what happened.

"The fire was intentional. Our initial assessment says the use of gasoline. It was brought in these boxes and used smartly when everyone were having lunch," the forensic expert says.

"Yiren, do you recognize these boxes?" Xion turns the half-burned wooden box with his foot.

"Strawberries. An employee brought five boxes today. I distributed half from a box to the kids here, and took the other half to Jianyu’s office," for his kids, "Are the kids okay?"

"They are. Don’t worry. The strawberries were fine," Meimei says. But still, it scares me thinking about the worst.

"You didn’t check all the boxes?" Jianyu asks.

I shake my head. They share a look as Xion says, "Only the first box had real strawberries. It was the perfect trap to trick the security guard at the property into letting him bring all the boxes inside. Looks like nobody bothered to check the other boxes."

I look around, searching for that man—

"Don’t bother. You won’t find him here. He must have crossed ocean by now," Jianyu says.

We only leave the place once every worker is taken care of. The site is sealed for further investigation and legal formalities, including insurance claims if only I could claim any as the case is not accidental.

"Come home with us," Meimei says. I know she’s being nice and polite, and I shouldn’t be infringing on the couple’s privacy, but I’d be less stressed if I had company tonight. I really need it tonight to stop myself from breaking. In Jun’s absence, I don’t want to go back to the empty house.

"If it’s not a trouble—" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"It’s not a trouble at all," Jianyu interrupts. "And we are not saying this as a formality. We mean it when we say you are part of this family."

I feel embarrassed being caught by Jianyu so easily.

"Did Jun reached?" Meimei asks Jianyu.

"Not yet. Turbulence delay. It’ll take him another 6 hours or so," he says.

"Please don’t tell anything to him," I add. He’s already got his hands full, and I don’t want to add to it with my trouble.

"Why? He should—"

I interrupt Meimei, "Please... My dreams are burned down to ashes, but he still has his dream within his grasp. Let him chase them without an additional burden of my problems."

"You are not a burden." Meimei hugs me, "Trust me, Yiren, you are not. If anything, you are an inseparable part of his life. The person he loves most. And love is the anchor that keeps you grounded when the storms of life threaten to pull you under. It’s what makes you stand tall and face each challenge head-on."

My nose sting, the emotions coming back in waves, hitting me.

Love.

But I cannot embrace it.

Because my love will only break him and bring him immense pain.

It will turn him into a lifeless person...

I can’t love him. Neither can I let him love me.

Meimei gave me one of the guest rooms in her house but I asked if I can share the room with Yuyu and Lan.

She was understanding enough to let me...

"Ah Yiren, I don’t know why, but something tells me you should read this diary once."

I looked at a thick worn diary with pages coming out of it, "What’s it?"

"That you have to find out. Just know it has Jun in it as well."

My hands instinctively go for it.

"Goodnight."

I place the diary on the table, and pick Bear who was restlessly rubbing himself on my leg. "Hey,"

He ducks in my arms. He is upset because he can read his hooman’s emotions.

So I settle with him on the bed and the day’s events came unfolding in front of me again, the exhaustion and tears breaking free.

I hug Bear close to my heart, the only bridge between Jun and me, and let my emotions out.