Crashing into an Old Flame
Chapter 177: Maxim’s hometown

Chapter 177: Maxim’s hometown

Diana was about to refuse him without a second thought.

She did not have the mood to entertain anyone. She just wanted to sit in an isolated corner and drink to her heart’s content.

But when she remembered that she had decided to mingle around with new people, she changed her mind.

She cleared her throat, ’’Sure.’’

The man smiled amicably before taking a seat beside her, ’’You dance really well. You had everyone’s attention back on the dance floor.’’

’’You are exaggerating it,’’ Diana looked around the place. The vibes were high like some virus, a good one. And there were many guys and girls who seemed way too engrossed in each other to notice anyone, let alone her.

Some singles were making out with random people in the dark corners of the place. The sight sent a blotch of red rising on her cheeks.

How do they do it in public places?

’Exactly how you do it in the changing room of a shopping mall,’ a voice in her head spoke up, making her cheeks redder.

Diana patted her cheeks as she grabbed the glass and downed the whiskey, feeling the burn in her throat. Don’t think evil. Don’t think evil. Don’t think evil—

Her thoughts were interrupted when the man next to her spoke up again, ’’That’s because you were too busy in your own company that you failed to notice the attention on you.’’

She looked at him.

’’But when I looked at you...’’ the man hesitated to speak.

’’Hmm?"

’’I felt like we have met somewhere before. You feel familiar to me,’’ he said, looking at her keenly.

Diana observed his face when she heard his words.

The man looked to be somewhere around in his early 30s, he was fairly handsome with his dark hair and dark eyes.

’Not as dark as his hair. Not as dark as his eyes,’ the voice in her head mocked.

Not again!

Diana downed another shot of whiskey, ’’Then, where have we met before?"

She started looking through her memories, trying to think of any possible encounters with him. Maybe he did see her somewhere? After all, there had been many high-profile events organized by the Chens in the past.

She did not have any recollection of him though.

A few seats away from them, Alex was quietly observing the scene. He recognized the girl as Maxim’s assistant as soon as she stepped inside the place.

Initially, he thought he was looking at the wrong person because back in the hospital, he had seen her in dark coats and boring outfits.

The playful aura around her was quite a contrast to the professional one she wore when she dissed him over the cigarette at the hospital.

But her distinct features left no room for any doubts. She was indeed that assistant.

He had been observing her for some time out of curiosity.

So, when he saw the man approaching her and flirting with her by saying that she looked familiar, he had expected her to roll her eyes at him.

But unexpectedly, she turned out to be so dumb that she did not even seem to realize that the man was flirting with her.

Alex was going to sit aside and enjoy the show, but when he thought about how his grandfather acted as if he was familiar with her, he pushed himself to his feet and approached her.

When he went close to them, Alex heard the man speak, ’’We have met before... probably in my dreams. You seem so my type that I wonder if I ended up manifesting you.’’

Alex stifled his laughter when he saw Diana’s face cracking at the now obvious attempt at flirting. She seemed to have finally read the situation.

’’You...’’ she speechlessly glanced at the man sitting next to her.

’’Hey honey, I have been looking for you,’’ Alex approached her.

Diana was dumbfounded when she raised her head and found him standing behind her with his hand placed on her shoulder.

She flinched slightly, pushing his hand away almost immediately.

Alex was speechless. He was helping her out but she had the nerve to act that way.

The man who was flirting with her a moment ago assumed that she had a partner. Looking disgruntled, he stood up and left.

’’Hands off,’’ Diana narrowed her eyes when Alex raised his hand again.

’’That’s a way to thank your savior,’’ Alex sat on the barstool where the man was sitting earlier, ’’Unless you were enjoying those sappy pickup lines.’’

Diana cringed inwardly when she heard that. The man looked like a serious person so when he told her that she looked familiar, she took his words seriously without a doubt. Moreover, nobody had made such moves on her before or thrown pickup lines like this, so she never considered it as a possibility until he made it obvious.

’’If you were enjoying it and I interrupted your good time, let me call him back for you,’’ Alex made the move as if he was about to stand up.

Diana’s eyes widened in panic, ’’No.’’

He smiled in victory and sat back down on the barstool.

’’You didn’t have to call me honey,’’ Diana squinted.

’’You ungrateful woman, I pulled you out of that situation.’’

’’Eh, thanks,’’ she speechlessly nodded. Whatever. If not for him, she would have resorted to running away to get rid of that awkward situation.

’’What are you doing here...’’ Diana trailed off when she noticed his swollen face.

Initially, she was distracted enough to not see the way his face seemed to have been beaten black and blue.

Alex touched his face, upon realizing where her line of sight was, ’’A mad dog did this. I bet he was jealous of my handsomeness.’’

Diana tilted her head to the side, her lips twitching slightly. What dog? He obviously looked like he was punched. ’’Or probably he was annoyed by your narcissism.’’

"You..." Alex was speechless. People who knew Maxim supported him over himself. People who didn’t know that he was referring to Maxim as a mad dog still chose to pick the mad dog over him.

Just what kind of life was he living?

Looking at his depressing face, Diana felt like she went overboard, "Apologies, I am not in the right mood at the moment."

Alex shrugged, "Gin Martini. Olive," As the bartender left, he glanced at the assistant curiously, "You caused a ruckus at the hospital today. All the staff members were flocking near the display board to get a glimpse of the thing you posted in there yet instead of enjoying the show you started, you are sitting here."

Diana raised an eyebrow when she heard that. It seems that the favor she had asked from Grandpa Qin had taken effect.

Did Maxim see it too...?

Diana bit her bottom lips.

Alex quietly observed how her face went from sunflower to wilted flower. He was speechless for a while before he spoke up again, "You are getting drunk during working hours yet you had the nerve to reproach me for breaking rules by smoking that day."

"Way past working hours now," Diana glanced at her watch, "And I am on a day off. Moreover, I am not a doctor so my presence or absence can be easily covered unlike certain people," she gave him a pointed stare.

Alex choked on his drink. He could not handle one Maxim, it was frustrating enough. But even his assistant seemed like a baby dragon ready to spit fire at any given instance.

How intolerable!

"How do you know my grandfather?" He got to the point without beating around the bush.

Diana was stumped for words. How did he know that she knew his grandfather? No wonder he approached her. He was here to quench his curiosity.

"Old acquaintances," she said vaguely but under his probing gaze, she added, "For further information, contact your grandfather."

Alex glared at her.

Diana avoided him and continued with her drinks.

Suddenly, she was reminded about her conversation with Grandpa Qin yesterday, "You asked me one thing. Can I ask you something too?" Diana looked at him.

Alex squinted but he eventually nodded.

"Have you ever been to Avalon?" She observed his expression, looking for any signs of change but his face gave nothing away.

He shook his head, "Why do you ask?"

Diana sighed. It looked like he had no idea.

When Grandpa Qin unconsciously mentioned being in Avalon during her grandfather’s death, the first thought that crossed her mind was that it was Maxim’s hometown.

Avalon is a small town on Santa Catalina Island, Southern California. It was not exactly a famous tourist place or anything so if she had to believe that Grandpa Qin was vacationing there, it would be too much of a coincidence.

The nagging feeling in her heart that there was some link between the Qin Family and Maxim had gotten stronger.

"I am asking you something," Alex eyed her ever-changing expression.

Diana shook her head, "I was just asking..." she trailed off, "Can I ask you one more thing?"

"That’s two things then. Careful I might ask another question," Alex said provocatively.

Diana hesitated for a moment before she blurted a "Fine."

"Ask."

"I have heard rumors that you and War...Maxim don’t get along. Why is that?"

This time, she saw the shift in his expression. His face changed visibly at the mention of Maxim.

Just when she thought she would be getting some result out of this question, she heard him speak, "I can’t tolerate the sight of him. He acts high, mighty, and uncaring as if he is all so great," he looked at her, "Since we are getting along well, let me give you a piece of advice. Stay away from people like that. They are way too scheming and they would stop at nothing to get what they want."

Diana quietly glanced at him, "You sound like you hate him."

He looked at her, but he did not say anything else, not giving her any useful information.

Diana sighed. He was so wary and tight-lipped.

But was he just jealous of Maxim because of Grandpa Qin’s doting nature towards him? She could not help but wonder.

"My turn. How do you know my grandfather?" Alex raised a brow.

"He is my late grandfather’s best friend," Before he could ask anything else, she added, "No more questions."

He made a sound in his throat and picked up his glass to play with it.

Diana stared at her phone quietly, her fingers hovering over the display.

"Tsk. If you want to contact someone, do it. Why do you have to act like the main character of a rom-com?" Alex peeked at her like she was growing two horns on her head.

"_" Diana fell speechless.

After some time, she spoke up, "He doesn’t act like he is great."

"What?" Alex looked at her, bewildered. What was she talking about?

"Initially when you spoke about Maxim, I was not about to respond to your words. Everyone has their opinion but in the end, I can’t hold it in," Diana twirled the phone between her fingers as she glanced at the dance floor, "It is easy to judge someone you don’t know anything about."

"Heh~ You talk like you know him for decades," Alex mocked.

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