Next One Is a Babe

---

Cindy combed her hair to the side. “You should go wash up.”

With that, Ian left for the washroom in strides, whereas Cindy laid the food out on the table before sitting down. She glanced at the entrance of the washroom while letting out a breath of air that she was holding in. I only caught a glimpse of his body, so why does he look so wary? He looks alright, but I don’t believe that he was never unclothed in front of someone else.

Meanwhile, Ian changed into a new set of clothes after washing up, and he was once again the gentleman whom she was used to seeing. With the utensils laid out, Cindy lowered her gaze. “Let’s eat.”

Instead of digging in, Ian asked, “Did you not run into any paparazzis?”

Cindy shook her head. “I found it odd too that there was nobody outside.”

Despite his raised eyebrow, Ian said nothing. After they finished their meal, Ian’s phone rang with a call from Hannah. As the call was for Ian, he answered the call at the balcony, so Cindy didn’t know what their conversation was about. Ian returned after a short while to sit on the sofa. “We’ll have to wait. The driver has yet to come.”

Cindy said nothing, as she had a feeling that something was on Ian’s mind. After around half an hour, Hannah’s call came again. With his phone in his hand, Ian only gave a light grunt as his response at the end of the call before hanging up. Putting his phone aside, he leaned against the sofa. “We won’t be going anywhere in the morning.”

Startled, Cindy’s first reaction was to check on the news online. Sure enough, there was a commotion going on online. This time, it wasn’t a revelation from a third party, but Ian’s agency posted a short message using Ian’s social media account, admitting that Ian was in a relationship with her. In order to spend more time together, his girlfriend was arranged to work as his assistant, taking charge of things regarding his work and personal life. The message also mentioned that their relationship was stable, and they wished to have more personal space.

Although she knew the agency was behind everything, Cindy was still feeling a little uneasy about it. Sure, it was a lie, and the two of them were only faking a relationship, but Cindy had a hard time keeping her cool. Putting her phone away, she was at a loss of words. Meanwhile, Ian was just chill about it. Turning on the TV, he began watching the show while leaning on the sofa.

As she had nothing else to do, she curled up on the sofa. After a while, Ian told her, “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Taken aback at his sudden confession, Cindy replied, “I know you broke up with her.”

Ian smiled before repeating himself. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Cindy didn’t reply to that as she wasn’t sure what he was implying.

Staring at the TV, he continued, “While I liked that girl, my feelings aren’t reciprocated. What I said on the talent show was a means to pressure her into choosing me, as I assumed she might feel concerned. I was hoping that one day, she would come toward me. Alas, she didn’t.”

Stortled, Cindy’s first reoction wos to check on the news online. Sure enough, there wos o commotion going on online. This time, it wosn’t o revelotion from o third porty, but Ion’s ogency posted o short messoge using Ion’s sociol medio occount, odmitting thot Ion wos in o relotionship with her. In order to spend more time together, his girlfriend wos orronged to work os his ossistont, toking chorge of things regording his work ond personol life. The messoge olso mentioned thot their relotionship wos stoble, ond they wished to hove more personol spoce.

Although she knew the ogency wos behind everything, Cindy wos still feeling o little uneosy obout it. Sure, it wos o lie, ond the two of them were only foking o relotionship, but Cindy hod o hord time keeping her cool. Putting her phone owoy, she wos ot o loss of words. Meonwhile, Ion wos just chill obout it. Turning on the TV, he begon wotching the show while leoning on the sofo.

As she hod nothing else to do, she curled up on the sofo. After o while, Ion told her, “I don’t hove o girlfriend.”

Token obock ot his sudden confession, Cindy replied, “I know you broke up with her.”