The Cage Of The Past

Monday.

After 9 p.m., some of the restaurant customers were gone, and Xiaoxi Chen was ready to get off work. At this time, she received a message.

The two simple words are so overbearing and full of authority: "Come tonight!"

She looked at her wristwatch, it was already past 9:30 pm. She then called the driver to pick her up. She was very silent along the way, the driver was very silent too. She wanted to ask a question but she feels shy to initiate a conversation.

When she arrived, the light in the entire house was on. It seems that the man had arrived earlier than her.

She takes a deep breath and pushes the door in. Rouzhen Gu is wearing a mask and sitting at the white sofa in the living room while smoking. There are a lot of cigarette buŧŧs in the ashtray on the coffee table in front of him.

He is holding the cigarette with his slender fingers. He turned his head with a fox mask on his face when he heard someone walked in the door. He exudes a special charm.

Xiaoxi Chen was afraid and the tension builds inside her whole senses. She is just standing in the doorway without moving nor speak any words. She knows the reason why this man asked her to come.

He looked up and his voice was deliberately low. "Have you eaten?"

Xiaoxi Chen shook her head.

"Go to the kitchen and cook, I haven't eaten too!" He said.

She swallowed hard and walked slowly towards the kitchen room.

"Check the kitchen's refrigerator, all the ingredients were there!" He stood up and walked toward the french window after he talked. He was looking at the night view in the mountains were his villa located. The cold night brings mist in the window.

Xiaoxi Chen looked suspiciously at the man's figure. Suddenly she felt so familiar. This is the first time she sees the man's back appearance. She thought that the figure seems like Rouzhen Gu but she's confused with the voice coming from him. She is a little stunned and shaking her head with her weird thoughts. Recently, her mind is full of Rouzhen Gu's image, she felt wronged and a little crazy. Why she's thinking about him at this moment?

Xiaoxi Chen put her personal belongings on the sofa and said, "What do you want to eat? What is the food you want me to prepare?"

"Anything! I will eat it, as long as you cook it! I am not a picky person!" He answered him while looking far away.

She heard a sudden tiredness of his voice. She went back to the kitchen which was located at the right-wing of the house. She looked back at him again. She wanted to ask him again but she's uncertain if he will be going to talk again.

Finally, she decided to ask, "Sir, I want to know what did you mean by what you've told me last time. You said you let me accompany my child, can--- can-- can I tell him that I am his mom?" she stuttered.

He suddenly turned around and his hidden eyes behind the mask fell into her beautiful face. "Yes!"

Her heart is beating rapidly, how is this possible? He let their son recognize her? An overwhelming feeling came up and it was difficult for her to control her emotions. A sweet smile filled in her pretty face and with a happy mood, she said, "Thank you! I will cook now!"

Rouzhen Gu looked at her back, he felt how happy she is right now when she heard his answer. He wanted to run towards her and hug her. He didn't know how to uncover his mask, and after that, what would be her exact reaction? Currently, he is facing oppression from his father after he refused to marry Amy Wood. He only wanted to marry Xiaoxi but with the rejection, he initiated against his father's order, everything becomes hard for him to take Xiaoxi as his wife.

Tension builds in his heart and he smokes violently. He has never been so worried about something for the past five years, although he was looking for her, he never thinks the result after he unmasked himself in front of her.

"Sir, let's have a cup of coffee!" Xiaoxi Chen saw a newly-purchased coffee in the kitchen, and she brews a cup of coffee and quickly brings it near him. She noticed his strange behavior so she thought something is bothering his mind.

She is so happy at this moment that she'll be going to see her son soon. Her mood becomes light and she quickly cooked four dishes and a bowl of chicken soup. She did prepare the table then called him, "Sir, you can have your dinner now!"

Although she said it with a faint tone she's showing no longer hostile as before, but Rouzhen Gu's mind was bothered.

Looking at her small face, he frowned behind his mask, "Okay. Sit down and let's eat!"

He strode over and put the cigarette buŧŧ in the ashtray then went to wash his hands. Xiaoxi observes the way he moved. While he is in the kitchen sink washing his hands, she felt familiar again.

"You…" she said abruptly. "I--- I think I know you!"

His body was stiffened then he turned his head. Then he swept over her little face with some confusion trying to verify if she's able to recognize him. He did not say any words.

Xiaoxi Chen was nervous the moment he looked at her behind the masked. She only saw his eyes movement and she quickly bowed her head then said, "I think, I mistook you for someone. Hurry up and let's eat!"

Then she turned and walked towards his chair to give him a bowl of rice. She heard he breathe hard and her heart is beating faster. The sounds of flowing water from the kitchen sink added more nervous into her mind. She was annoyed with her thought because a sudden image of Rouzhen Gu appeared in her mind. Why does she think of Rouzhen Gu inadvertently?

She opened her mouth after she sits in front of him, "Mr can I--!

"Eat!" He wanted to speak to her after dinner.

"Did you feel convenient wearing the mask while eating?" She is a bit worried seeing him having the masked on.

He never said any words, he took the chopsticks in his hand then began to eat silently and ignoring her presence. He just eats all the food she cooked.

She didn't dare to speak and her heart tightened. She saw that he managed to eat properly with the masked. She saw the way he moved, it was very elegant when he eats. There was no sound, even when he took the soup into his mouth.

Xiaoxi Chen thought that this man is very superior and live a good life. After all, he was very generous and paid 7.5 million for her to become a surrogate mother of his son. He must not be an ordinary person.

Both of them eat quietly but occasionally she threw a secret glance at him. Suddenly their chopsticks touch each other when she tried to pick food, she quickly retreats out of nervous. His eyes were deeper when he looked at her. She didn't dare to look at him because the moment she'll do it, she felt she was falling into the bottom of the abyss and she can't climb up again, her mind goes wild.

The eyes behind the mask made her think of another pair of eyes she used to know. No, she doesn't want to think about Rouzhen because she had refused him several times. She told him that she is not a qualified woman to be his wife. Right now, all she wants is to see and hold her son after this man in front of her said she will see her son soon and be with him as his mother.

Xiaoxi Chen began to stare at him again, the deep eyes behind the fox mask seem so familiar. The way he looked at her made her trembled. Why does she think that this man somewhat looks like Rouzhen? Was it she thought about him inadvertently or was the two men have similarities? She was really confused, no way that this fox mask man is Rouzhen.

The bright light reflected in her fair-skin with a translucent color resonates with a unique and pure beauty that makes him feel crazy.

Rouzhen Gu looked at her face seriously. "If you will be with me without any title for a lifetime, can you accept it?" suddenly he asked.

She frowned, Rouzhen Gu's face appeared again in her mind. The words he said lingering in her mind, "Be my woman!"

At this moment her smile becomes bitter, biting her red lips and whispered. "I will accept it. Whatever your condition for the sake of my son! I will accept it!"

"Look at me, just look at me!" He doesn't like the way she responds to him. Her eyes floating in nothingness. He thought that Xiaoxi is a woman that bears a strong personality behind her innocent look. A woman that demands absolute power and could control his mind the way she answered him.

"I won't allow you to think of other men. Think about it before you accept because there's no way you can run away once you've decided," The overbearing tone lingering around Xiaoxi Chen's mind. She heard his words.

She just nodded.

"Even if you can see my face, you won't regret it? Can you?" he asked her.

Her heart suddenly panicked. If she promised him, no matter how he looks like she could no longer leave him nor think of another man. How can she tell him that right now she can't forget the man she fell in love with. Right now her whole mind is thinking about Rouzhen Gu. It turned out that she will betray him, a big self-deception that she needs to hide for the sake of her son.

Rouzhen's face flash in Xiaoxi's mind. She knew that he had left a deep mark in her heart and she had been deceiving herself.

"I…" she paused.

"Think it several times, you rest first. Upstairs there is a guest room where you can stay tonight!" After saying his words, he stood up and went upstairs.

Xiaoxi Chen thought he would not let her go tonight because they always get laid every time they meet but today he does not seem to be in a good mood.

He said he will give her time to think before she decides. His tone is very gentle and considerate. Looking at him, there is a sense of familiarity again.

Xiaoxi Chen quickly cleans the table. After washing the dishes, she put up the bowl up the cupboard then she took her bag and went upstairs and entered the guest room.

The entire villa was so silent.

Xiaoxi Chen wasn't able to sleep. She thinks several times if she could consider being the man's mistress. What if he was married? How about Rouzhen, would she able to avoid him? All these questions making her feel dizzy.

Would she become the mask man mistress for her whole life? Accepting his offer means she will be his woman without any ȧssurance. She only becomes the mother of his son and stays with them. She knew that this fox mask man came from a wealthy family, the way he moved and talked. A bitter smile slips in her beautiful face.

She subconsciously flipped the phone she is holding, unable to notice that she dialed Rouzhen's number. Her mind was occupied with so many thoughts, suddenly a pleasant ringtone came from the other room. She quickly got into her senses, she misdialed Rouzhen's number at this moment. She heard the ringtones near her location, she was stunned, how could it be the same?

She immediately hangs up and re-dialed again to verify if the sounds are still around. The ringtones abruptly came again.

In the next room, Rouzhen Gu picked up his phone then he saw the caller's name is Xiaoxi Chen. He was shocked. He had taken off the mask at this moment.

Xiaoxi calls again and the phone rang again.

Her heart is beating rapidly and felt so nervous, why is it Rouzhen's ringtone is around the villa? She held her phone in her hand, quickly got out in bed and ran towards the sound but when she arrived at the door of the man's room, she heard the sound comes to an abrupt end. Looking down at the phone she's holding, her call has been rejected.

She doesn't care what would be the man's reaction, then directly open his door without knocking after she took a deep breath.

Time solidified at this moment, so quiet, her heart beating rapidly, her sight fell on the slender figure standing near the window, holding a phone in his hand without a mask on his face.

He slowly turned around after he heard the door opened. At this time, his ringtones rang again after Xiaoxi dialed his number.

Her eyes looked at his face and she was stunned. "It's you?!"

How could it be Rouzhen Gu?

Xiaoxi Chen couldn't believe it, shocked, sluggish and the feeling of being deceived keep coming in her mind.

He was calm and relieved. "Yes! It's me!"

How is this possible? She wanted to scream at him.

They looked at each other, a bad premonition came in.

They surrounded by silence, only the sound of breathing can be heard, she looked at him so resentful. "Rouzhen Gu, is it fun to play me like this?" she asked in a low voice.

She finally found her voice, she wanted to scream and hurt him physically. She wanted to cry but there are no tears, it turns out that everything was a deception. She realized that Rouzhen had played her, all the while he is the man behind the fox mask.

All the moment they went through together, their first meet, their first kissed at the bathroom. Rouzhen knew her personally but he deceived her.

Her memory evokes the previous scene, a lot of details were linked, and she finally knew why he only asked her name during the company interview. It turned out that he recognized her.

That's why she thought his gaze was so familiar, why they're having the same manner, why the fox mask man was smoker simply because they are the same person. At first, she thought that their similarities are only behind her mind but the truth revealed in front of her right now.

Xiaoxi Chen's mouth reveals an indifferent smile, it bears bitterness. She wanted to cry but tears didn't come out. Her heart was full of anger. "Is Han is my child?"

"Xiaoxi!" He stepped over.

"Stop!" she roared, her sharp voice shocked him.

"Yes!" His eyes looked at her face, and couldn't help but walk over and hold her shoulder. "Listen to me!"

She suppressed her emotions and looked at him. "Rouzhen, what do you want to say this time? You played me! Do you want to continue doing it?"

In her eyes, Rouzhen is like a dangerous panther, his poppy-like fatal charm deceived everyone. People adored and respected him but behind his handsome face is the heartless man. She was trapped by his charm and fell in love with him all of a sudden after he chased her several times. She can't deny her feelings for him but she will not let him know after she discovered his lies.

Five years ago he took her innocence.