When she opened her eyes again, there was a silhouette of a man on the other end of the fountain beyond the water. He seemed to be staring at her, watching her even while her eyes were closed.When she opened her eyes, the man started walking around the circ.u.mference of the fountain towards her, approaching her. He stopped at a close proximity in front of her.
"It"s such a great opportunity to b.u.mp into you here. I call it serendipity. It"s our fate to meet in front of this wonderful fountain, Juliet."
"Mr. Zhu!" She winced at his superfluous, and overly romanticized words, but kept on her face a politically acceptable smiling expression. "What a pleasant surprise."
"What brought you here?"
"As a matter of fact, I am headed to your office." He admitted.
"May I know the purpose of your visit?" Xue Jinxu could sense that it might go towards the direction she"s would not want to delve with.
"I simply wanted to see you."
Xue Jinxu rolled her eyes. "Okay! Here we go again!"
Zhu Li Qiang seated himself beside her around the fountain. He seemed to be nervous, but nevertheless trying his best to look cool in front of her.
"Juliet, I hope you can think about it. I really believe that I"m the perfect match for you."
She smiled politely. "As I"ve said before, Mr Zhu…" She started to reject him. "I"m already not available."
He sighed. "What"s with the young Master s.h.i.+ that you cannot let go of the engagement? I believe we are of equal footing. Plus, our families have the same business. Imagine the nation"s first and second s.h.i.+pping companies combine its forces."
"Just to clear things out, I"m not after your company. I"m simply after you. I… uhm, I like you." He said awkwardly. He grabbed his hand that was on her lap.
She was taken by surprise. She sprung to her feet.
"Mr Zhu!" She took her hand back.
"I apologize for my behavior, Miss Xue Jinxu. Think about it. For now we are compet.i.tors, but how nice it would be if we can have collaborations in the future."
"Please allow me to be closer to you too. Let"s get to know each other. How about that, my Juliet?" He was gazing at her eyes, wooing her. He grabbed her hand again. Without breaking their stares, he kissed the back of her hand. Then, he used his thumb to gently rub it, soothingly.
Xue Jinxu was drowning in his stare. It"s as if he"s hypnotizing her.
But she had just made her resolve earlier. No matter how likeable this person is, she had chosen already.
"I"m not your Juliet, Mr Zhu." She smiled slightly, courteously. "You"re not Romeo, either. I think future collaborations are possible without going to such extent as combining our two families. I hope you are open for that."
"Of course, of course! We can explore that option. However…" He trailed off, not heeding her advice. "I won"t stop until you have not tied the knot. It"s never too late. You can always change your mind. I"m just here."
His gaze was suffocating, but it had the same effect on her as was Chen Linyun"s gazes. It made her get drawn to the man.
She had to snap out of it.
She shook her head briskly.
"Mr. Zhu Li Qiang. I suggest that you cut it here while the bud"s still young."
"Nope, I won"t hamper the growth of our love"s bud. Who knows, it will bloom into the most beautiful flower that has ever existed in this entire world."
"Our love?" Xue Jinxu flinched at his words. He"s too delusional.
"I suggest you redirect your warm advances to some other eligible woman out there. I am so sure the recipient will be over the moon." She smiled awkwardly, her smile beginning to be twisted as their banterings continue. She could not hold on for any longer.
"Nope. I"m only interested in you, Xue Jinxu. Only you. I"m perfect for you, as you"re perfect for me. We complement each other."
He was staring at her again, making her forget her name.
"Oh my G.o.d, this is bad. The man actually has an effect on me. Chen Linyun…"
"It"s not possible. Somebody special has already captured my heart. No one else besides him is more fitting to me. I"ve already chosen."
She stared back, staring him down.
He felt the power behind her gaze. It was threatening, as if saying "Back off, don"t try to destroy what we currently have." Or "You don"t have a chance, go away." It was something on those lines.
He broke out into cold sweat. He was not ready to face rejection whatsoever. He also had a go-getter personality, just like Xue Jinxu, although he"s the idealistic diplomatic sort. In old times, he"s comparable to a chivalrous honorable knight.
"I thought you"re against the betrothal with the the Young Master s.h.i.+?" He probed, not really quitting in his pursuit of her hand. "Unless…" He trailed off realizing something.
Xue Jinxu was gazing on the floor, and was keeping her gaze there. Her brows furrowed ever so slightly that it was not noticeable.
"Is there someone else besides the Young Master s.h.i.+?" His voice was shaky, trying to find out the reason of his rejection.
"There is." She said curtly. Her brows furrowed deeper. She was still staring on the ground. She did not know why she had to explain to this person matters such as this. But she realized that it would be better for him to know so that he could stop wooing her right then and there.
Zhi Li Qiang"s countenance fell as his heart sank to the bottom of the sea. He clutched his heart.
"Am I really too late?" There was deep hurt in his raspy voice.
Xue Jinxu lifted her gaze from the floor to look at him. She felt the urge to comfort him, seeing his hurt countenance. "No, Xue Jinxu, stop right there. Let him bleed, he won"t die from it. This is necessary."
"Yes. Indeed you are. I"m sorry Zhu Li Qiang."
"We can maintain a healthy business relations.h.i.+p though. I hope this will not affect possibility of future collaborations. Looking forward to it."
She extended her hand to him for a handshake.
He took it, but he also used it to pull her to a hug.
"But I love you." He said with too much hurt. He hugged her tightly, resorting to this method as he"s becoming desperate.
She forcefully pushed him hard on the chest using all her body"s energy focused on her hands. "You have to stop now Zhu Li Qiang. Don"t worry, you"ll be able to cope up. I wish you well." She smiled politely at him. "I"ll get going first."
The man stayed right at his spot in front of the fountain, clutching his deeply wounded heart.