Chen Linyun had sent a message to a group chat called "Neighbors" in WeChat. After a few seconds, his phone was notified repeatedly for the replies of the other members of the group chat.The conversation went something like this.
Chen Linyun : "Hey guys, what"s up?"
Xue Guangxi : "Hey, Teacher Chen!"
Xue Jinxu : "Miss you." ????? (Her message was followed by three kissing emojis and two winking emojis)
Mo Wenbin : "Hey, Jinxu what"s all this dog food early in the morning? This is a group chat! A group chat! Go do your own private chat."
Xue Jinxu : "When will you be back, my dear?"
Chen Linyun : "I"ll visit soon. Let"s have a get-together."
Xue Guangxi : "Awesome!! When will it be? I"ll block my schedule."
Xue Guangxi : "Can I bring a plus one?"
Mo Wenbin : "That"s right, bring that cute girl Wanwan again and let Linyun meet her."
Xue Guangxi : "Uhh, not her. Another."
Xue Guangxi : "Uhh, Xu-jie, I"ll be back late tonight."
Xue Jinxu : "Hey Linyun, I only want you for myself~~ Don"t want to share~~~"
Xue Jinxu : "Guangxi, Okay just bring Butler Lee with you."
Chen Linyun : "I"ll let you guys know when it"s finalized."
Mo Wenbin : "Ok that"s it. I"m outta here. So much dog food!"
Xue Guangxi : "Xu-jie, please share Teacher Chen for a bit! See you soon Teacher!"
Chen Linyun : "See you all soon."
After the group chat Chen Linyun gave Jinxu a call.
"What"s with Guangxi?" He said.
"Hey! Why are you asking about Guangxi? Why don"t you ask about me first?" She complained. It was cute.
Chen Linyun gently laughed. "How are you? Is it some sort of jealousy I"m sensing? It"s your own brother!"
"Well, I"m fine, but I"m slighted. You"re opening sentence is not about me, not asking about me, but about Guangxi. How can I take that?"
He let out a little laugh again. She was acting out so cute. If she was only within his reach, he would have pinched her cheek ever so gently.
"Guangxi"s fine. He"s doing well at work, and all. The position of Marketing Director really suits his personality well. He"s enjoying it, with all the partying and networking and events. He"s a party animal."
"He"s also enjoying his life at the university. As much as possible we are trying to make it normal, similar to the other kids."
"That"s good to hear. But, seems to me that he"s changing girlfriends quite so easily. Is he okay in that aspect?" Chen Linyun was worrying that somehow Guangxi was traumatized with what happened in the past.
"Well, yeah. He"s quite the collector type… I already talked to him about it. He said he did not pursue the girls himself. Instead the girls literally threw themselves to him." She rolled her eyes. "I told him he does not need to reciprocate or entertain. Turns out he could not say no either." She rolled her eyes again while shaking her head. "I let him be, since he"s young and all. The relations.h.i.+ps do not seem serious anyway."
"Nowhere near the first one." She thought. She felt her heart hurt a little, like it was pinched.
"How are you taking it? You"re fine with the setup?" Chen Linyun asked. Worry crept within him as he recalled how this very woman had reacted the first time Guangxi had a girlfriend. She had been in hysterics.
"Couldn"t do anything about it. I"m okay, I guess. It"s fleeting anyway. He"s at the prime of his youth, and he"s a player too. He"s not serious. I"m quite more worried about the girls."
"Sometimes I want to hit him hard on the head to bring some sense back to him. But I know it won"t work on him. I also could not do it to him…" She sighed.
"Enough with Guangxi. When will you be back? Let me see you first before the gathering."
Chen Linyun let Guangxi"s matter go. He could not possibly let his woman get slighted again.
"I didn"t know you were the possessive type." He was totally, totally fascinated.
"Well, I"m possessive and quite territorial. Just so you know."
"Cute." He could not help but smile. He sighed. He longed to be with her, to be by her side, 24/7. But right now it was not possible.
The founding of his company was going quite smoothly. He had been coordinating with government agencies for its registration, and also discussing with local governments and business partners. He had been travelling all around China. He had been to Yunnan, Hubei, Hainan and Fujian in these six months.
"Well, I will be visiting in a week or two, probably one Sat.u.r.day."
"Roger that." She was busy multi-tasking at her end of the call. She was reviewing folders piled up her desk and was also checking some emails on her laptop. In about any minute now, her secretary Miss Yan would call her for an important meeting.
"Hey Linyun, Linyun. In a short while, I will need to get going. I"m just waiting for my secretary"s call. Just letting you know alright?"
"How have you been lately? How"s your company"s development?" Xue Jinxu asked about him.
"Well, all the initial arrangements were almost complete. We"re starting the simulation soon. The results will be available after a while. Depends on the farming cycle."
"Farming? Are you into farming now? Is that your business?" Xue Jinxu was astonished by this revelation.
Chen Linyun laughed gently at her reaction. It was full of incredulity. "No, no. But my business is highly related to it."
At this point, Miss Yan entered her room to call her for her next meeting.
"Alright Chen Linyun. Got to go now." Xue Jinxu said hurriedly.
"Okay. See you soon. Miss you. Bye." Chen Linyun bid farewell.
"Miss you. Love you. Bye." Xue Jinxu retorted hurriedly before ending the call.
Chen Linyun"s mouth gaped open. He was frozen in place. "Did I hear it right?"
In her haste, she had said, "Miss you. Love you. Bye." Five words. But what caught his attention were the third and fourth words.
He called her again and again, but she did not pick up her phone. "Right, she has a meeting." He could only wait for a little longer to make her say it again soon.