After Ian made that empty observation, he even glanced at Amber, and his meaning couldn’t have been more clear. ‘Why haven’t I seen you do something like this in the name of love?’
Amber was rendered speechless.
But Ian seemed to take her silence as an indication that she didn’t understand what he had said. So, he elaborated, saying, “Daren usually acts like a wallflower, but I was surprised that he almost started a fight with me because of you!”
This was an exaggeration, Daren wasn’t really about to fight anyone. Rather, he was just proclaiming his “priority.”
Amber facepalmed. “That wasn’t me!”
“Someone pretending to be you is still you.”
Amber couldn’t even respond, because Ian’s words weren’t wrong-from Daren’s point of view, someone pretending to be her might as well be her.
Additionally, Ruby and she were even twins. Not only did that fool take her name, but he also imitated her speech patterns and mannerisms and talked about her hobbies and interests.
Of course, those who knew Amber well would still be somewhat doubtful as to whether it was truly Amber talking. After all, Amber wouldn’t have such a sly and crafty undertone even if she were making a joke, but Daren didn’t know her well at all.
After he discovered that ‘icey’ taught at a medical school and found out when her classes were, he’d go over daily just to secretly watch his “sweetheart.” And from what he knew of Amber, she was intelligent, talented, and even humorous. Just like ‘icey’, right?
Amber looked at Ian. She could tell that Ian thought highly of his little brother, but for some reason, he truly wasn’t mad even when his little brother was being “teased.” Instead, he was merely confused about how “love” could make someone change so much.
She started getting slightly choked up, and only after quite a while did she ask, “When you said that you’d give me to him if it was actually me messaging him, was that for real?”
Ian straightforwardly responded, “Yes.”
Amber stared blankly at him.
“But you weren’t the person who responded, correct?”
Amber ground her teeth in frustration. “And what if it were?”
Ian didn’t even think before answering. “Then I’d give you to him!”
Amber clenched her teeth, preparing to beat him to death, but then Ian said, “Of course, I’d beat you up first before doing so.”
How … savage!
But what was even more savage was that Amber was a little pleased by his savage response. She relaxed her jaw, and looked at him expectantly. “So in the end, is it because you’d be jealous?”
“No,” Ian sharply countered. “It’s just that in that situation, I feel like no matter who you end up with, it’ll be troublesome for my brother and me.”
… It was so reasonable that Amber had no response.
She could only accept his explanation for why he had been prepared to give her up, and in the process, she also had an epiphany that it was unrealistic to hope for this guy to unlock his emotions through jealousy.
There was no fast way to absolve his mental condition. Thus, she stopped talking about these little things, and instead directly said, “Ian, let’s fight.”
Ian evidently misunderstood what she meant by “fight” as he immediately agreed with an “Alright.” He started taking his clothes off when he paused and said, “Let’s take a bath first.”
Amber was shocked. “!!!”
She abruptly stopped him, her forehead lined with black streaks. “Not this sort of fight.” She grabbed his hand and raised it to her face. “Will you slap me twice?”
Ian raised his eyebrows.
Amber’s face was serious. “Hit me hard. It’d be ideal if you left some sort of mark or something.”
Ian was really confused now. “Why?”
Amber replied, “My brother was too rash and reckless this time, so I have to give him a harsh lesson. Otherwise, he won’t understand just how big of a mistake he made this time.”
“So, because he bullied my younger brother, you want me to bully his older sister?”
Amber thought for a little before nodding.
Ian retrieved his hand and his expression turned similarly severe. “I don’t hit women.” But as he said this, he leaned closer and bit her face. “But I can bite you.”
Amber’s face was then bitten until it was swollen red all over.
***
Ruby was staying next door. Currently, he was scrolling through his chat records with Daren. This fellow wasn’t reflecting on his actions, but was rather searching for a loophole in the logs and a way to get off of the hook.
Then, just as he thought that he might have seen something promising, he heard a sudden “Peng!” come from next door. It was muted, almost as if something had smashed onto the floor. He was so shocked that he jumped up.
His sister was next door, and for something like this to be happening now. He quickly jumped off of the bed. When he opened the front door, he saw Ian step out of Amber’s apartment. His gaze was even frostier than usual, and his departure forceful.
Ruby was shocked.
‘Were they fighting?’
When Ian saw Ruby, he didn’t even look at him as he slammed the door behind him with a loud “Bang!” and then stomped off furiously into the night.
This scene gace Ruby a bad feeling. He leaped over towards the other apartment and scanned his fingerprint, only to find that it was invalid. He hurriedly entered his code, found that it too was invalid, and so could only resort to slamming on the door while shouting, “Amber! Amber! Are you alright?”
Amber calmly opened the door, her cheeks were red, her eyes watery, but her expression remained exceptionally calm.
“God, he hit you?!” Ruby was furious, and he rolled up his sleeves, about to rush out after Ian.
“He didn’t hit me.” Amber called her brother back, her tone still cold.
Ruby resentfully replied, “You’re even going to cover for him?” He pointed at her face. Right now, he felt like his blood was burning and his heart was pounding madly, as if the skin under his finger was about to erupt. Honestly, he was so mad that his eyes were even about to turn red. “If he’s not the one who hit you, then who else could have done it? You?!”