Qian Meigui picked up the phone call. "h.e.l.lo?" she answered.
"Mei. How are you doing?" Zhong Liu asked her gently.
Qian Meigui loosed a deep breath. "Mhm. I"m doing well," she said. "How are you?"
"I"m at work, but I wanted to take the time to check in on you."
Qian Meigui"s lips parted. If she were to compare men, Zhong Liu was someone she wanted to give a chance to give her everything to him. But Song Sheng was someone that was in the back of her mind, that was persistent, that enveloped her thoughts even when she tried to fight it.
"Thank you," she began gently. "Can I see you later?" she asked.
Zhong Liu was surprised, but he responded coolly, "I get off at work around 5 p.m., I can pick you up from your home afterwards?" he asked.
"Mhm. See you then," Qian Meigui responded.
Qian Meigui continued to study and complete a.s.signments. It was the afternoon when she arrived home. At the time, Song Ren and the others had woken up from their rendezvous last night.
The twins seemed to be cheerful, but Song Ren was closed off, but they all knew why.
Qian Meigui patted her on the shoulder before going up the stairs, changing. She then waited until he picked her up. To kill time, Qian Meigui searched through her Weibo.
Again, Song Sheng was a topic netizens discussed. He was the eldest Son of the Song family; a former scientist; an executive of Song Entertainment; an up-and-coming star. He was everything that not many could not accomplish, and yet he managed it. But like her, some of his fans wondered why he left Song Pharmaceuticals. Even she did not have the full answer.
Qian Meigui decided to walk to the large balcony that overlooked the front yard, at the other private houses beyond. The sky was still bright, soon to mark the orange hues of the setting sun. She held her arms together, remembering the time she spent with Song Sheng.
In the past, whenever she would stay up late with him while he was studying or working on a.s.signments, he would find to spend time to do things with her afterwards. They would go to the cinema late at night, without telling the others, sneaking out of the house. They would go to restaurants and eat until they were full. Qian Meigui smiled as she reminisced the past. A cold breeze flew by her, swaying her hair.
From a distance, she saw Zhong Liu"s car pull up on the long driveway. Qian Meigui left, walking towards the pavement, meeting him halfway. Zhong Liu smiled and let her into the pa.s.senger seat. "Where do you want to go?" he asked. "Somewhere nearby," she said.
They went to a nearby family restaurant, sitting at a small table, ordering food. They both made minimal conversations about their day. Afterwards, they decided to take a stroll around the neighbourhood.
She then caught sight of a river with the city beyond. Zhong Liu held kept his hands in his pockets. The wind caressed their hair and clothing, trees sighing in the distance. Qian Meigui"s felt heavy and complicated in her heart. She turned to face Zhong Liu with a sad smile, as the wind blew between the strands of her hair, like dancing shadows.
"Zhong Liu," she called out. Zhong Liu turned to face her. "Thank you," she began genuinely. "For being such a good friend to me all these years."
Zhong Liu stepped forward, nodding his head, waiting for her to finish. "I don"t deserve your friends.h.i.+p or support for pursuing my career. But I should tell you something because you need to know," she said.
Before Zhong Liu could respond, Qian Meigui blurted out, "I"m in love with someone else."
Qian Meigui felt like a weight had been lifted. She thought it, she imagined it, Qian Meigui wanted to say out loud that she loves Song Sheng; that she would wait for him, no matter the time or distance.
"It"s not fair to you if we continue this thing between us when I love someone else," she finished.
Zhong Liu nodded, understanding. "You love him that fiercely?" he asked her.
"Yes," she breathed. "As much as it pains me too. He"s an idiot who doesn"t understand the cues of women, but he"s also there for me. Always. And perhaps he"s afraid of what would come between us if we"re together, but I"m willing to take the risk for him. But only for him."
Zhong Liu did not understand much of what she was saying, but he believed her. "I understand," he said as he took a step forward.
Qian Meigui had a troubled expression.
He sighed before saying, "I hope he treats you well," he started, "But if he ever crosses the line, let me know," he warned. Qian Meigui chuckled, despite her gloomy mood.
"Thank you, Zhong Liu," she said.
Zhong Liu smiled at her. "Can we still be friends?" he asked. Qian Meigui"s lips parted. She felt like she didn"t deserve his friends.h.i.+p. "Yes," she finally said to him with a sad smile.
Qian Meigui then walked pa.s.sed him, crossing her arms together. Without saying good-bye, she began to walk home. They never went anywhere far, so she continued to make her way.
Qian Meigui let the wind bite her skin from the chill. But she felt awakened. The night was dark, but she glanced up at the moon, hoping that it would be worth waiting for him. But she wouldn"t make it easy for him either.
As she continued to walk home, she received a phone call. Puzzled, she reached out her phone and answered quickly. "h.e.l.lo?" she asked.
"Mei," a deep voice called out. It was the same voice that always compelled her to freeze, to remain rooted on the spot, no matter where she was.
"Sheng," she said.
"Are you better now?" he asked her.
"Mhm. Better now," Qian Meigui said, smiling gently to herself.
"Good."
"Is there anything else?" she asked him.
Silence.
After a few moments, he said, "No. I just wanted to hear your voice," Song Sheng said deeply. Qian Meigui froze. She was at a loss for words.
"Sheng!" she exclaimed over the phone. Qian Meigui flushed, and she was glad he didn"t see it. Song Sheng chuckled, "When can I see you next?" he asked her.
"You"re the one that always busy," she pouted.
"Mhm," Song Sheng began, "Can I see you tomorrow?" he asked.
Qian Meigui stilled, "Yes," she breathed. Qian Meigui hung up the call, breathing out some fresh air, walking along the sidewalks that lead her home.