"Pay for it."
That was all he said, and then he just stood there, arms folded, watching me like he had already decided how this was going to end.
For a moment I thought he was joking. But the look on his face… that cold, unreadable stare… told me he wasn't.
I laughed awkwardly. "You… want me to pay for that?"
He didn't answer.
The cashier looked between us as though waiting for me to hand her a gold card. The people standing nearby had started whispering, and even though I couldn't understand them, I could feel the judgment in their tone.
I pulled my phone out, desperate. "Okay, fine… let me call my mom." I tapped her number, pressed it to my ear, praying she would pick up. One ring. Two. Three. Nothing.
"Come on, Mom…" I muttered, pacing nervously. My hands were shaking.
He leaned lazily on the counter, his voice calm. "What's wrong? Couldn't afford it?"
I looked at him sharply. "I said I'll call my mom. Just…just give me a minute."
"She's not answering," he said, glancing at my phone. "You're wasting time."
The cashier was staring at me now like I had grown horns. Her lips twitched, and she murmured something to the other worker that made them both giggle.
I wanted to disappear.
He sighed, checking his wristwatch. "Unbelievable. You cause trouble, and you don't even have the money to fix it."
"I didn't mean to pour that juice on you," I said through clenched teeth. "You pushed me first."
He smirked faintly. "Blaming me won't change the bill."
My cheeks burned. "You're insane. No sane person pays that much for a piece of fabric."
Before he could answer, I heard my name being shouted across the store.
"Cesca! Francesca!"
I turned around, and relief washed over me. My mom was running toward me, slightly out of breath, her bag swinging by her side.
"Mom!" I cried, my voice cracking. "Thank God…"
"What's going on?" she asked, eyes darting between me and the man beside me. "Why did you leave without telling me? I've been calling you!"
I pointed at him, my words spilling too fast. "He…he dragged me here, said I should pay for his stupid shirt!!"
But then, something changed in her face. The moment she looked properly at him, all the color drained from her cheeks.
"Young Master Qin?" she said, almost whispering.
I frowned. "Mom, you know him?"
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "I…I've seen him before. On TV. In the company reports…" She stepped closer and bowed her head slightly, her tone nervous. "I'm so sorry, sir. Please, forgive my daughter. She didn't know who you were."
"Mom! Why are you apologizing?" I whispered, tugging her arm.
She shot me a look that said be quiet. Then to him, she said again, "Please, Young Master Qin, she's just a child. She doesn't understand…"
He turned his eyes on me, and I could feel the air between us grow cold. "Your daughter poured juice on me in front of everyone," he said. "And you think a simple sorry is enough?"
Mom's face fell. "Please, she's new here. It won't happen again."
He sighed quietly, then said something to the cashier in Chinese…"我来付账 (I'll pay for it)."
The cashier nodded immediately, relieved, and started packaging the shirt. Mr Han appeared from nowhere and took the box carefully.
Mom tried to smile. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much."
He ignored her gratitude, still looking at me. "Your daughter should learn to think before she acts."
"She will, sir," Mom said quickly, lowering her head again.
I bit my lip, swallowing the words burning on my tongue. Every instinct in me screamed to defend myself, to tell him he was a bully… but one look at my mom's pleading face shut me up.
He slipped his hands into his pockets. "Next time, tell her not to pick fights she can't finish."
My mom bowed again, murmuring something I couldn't even hear.
Then he turned to go. "Youre going to pay for this," he said to me,over his shoulder, voice low, deliberate. "One way or another."
And then he walked out, the automatic doors closing behind him.
The entire mall felt silent after that. I stood frozen, my heart pounding so loud I could hear it.
"Mom," I whispered, "what just happened?"
She exhaled shakily and grabbed my wrist. "Let's go."
"But…"
"Now, Cesca."
We left the store in silence. People still stared as we passed, whispering. I didn't look up once.
Outside, the air hit my face like cold glass. We walked for a while before Mom finally spoke.
"Do you have any idea who that was?"
I frowned. "Some spoiled rich jerk with anger issues?"
She shot me a tired look. "That man could buy a whole country if he wanted. He's the heir to Qin Enterprises…one of the biggest companies in Asia. You have no idea how powerful his family is."
I groaned softly. "And I'm supposed to care why?"
"Because, Francesca," she said, gripping my hand tighter, "people like that don't forget things. You embarrassed him in public. He might not forgive that easily."
I stayed quiet, staring out the window of the bus as we rode home.
I wanted to believe it was over, that I'd never see h
is cold, perfect face again.
But somewhere deep down, something told me… Qin Kai wasn't done with me yet.