Roses.
Qiao Tan Yuan sat in her office reviewing the last couple of reports she had left before her departure date.
‘Beautiful red roses for a beautiful woman,’ Quan Zheng Hao said.
Qiao Tan Yuan looked up, and was annoyed to see Quan Zheng Hao.
‘Get rid of it,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I hate roses.’
Quan Zheng Hao sat opposite Qiao Tan Yuan, and put the red roses on her desk.
‘Do you hate roses or the giver?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked.
‘What’s the difference?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘There’s a significant difference,’ Quan Zheng Hao said. ‘If you hate roses, I can replace them with your favorite flowers. If you hate the giver, my heart would be devastated.’
‘I hate the giver,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘No matter what you give me, I’ll hate it. Are you satisfied?’
‘Unsatisfied,’ Quan Zheng Hao said. ‘Why can’t you see my sincerity? Besides, you owe me.’
‘What do I owe you?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Have you forgotten you ditched me at the party to run off with another man?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked. ‘Don’t you think you’re too much?’
Too much? Qiao Tan Yuan put the report down.
‘I didn’t promise to go to the party with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘True, but you agreed to be my dance partner,’ Quan Zheng Hao said. ‘Don’t you think you’re too much by leaving me in the middle of our dance?’
‘What do you want?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Eat a meal with me as an apology,’ Quan Zheng Hao said.
‘After work I need to go home to be with my daughter so I don’t have time to eat with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Then I’ll come home with you and meet your daughter too,’ Quan Zheng Hao said.
‘My daughter is scared of strangers,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘She only likes seeing people she is familiar with.’
Quan Zheng Hao laughed. ‘Tan Yuan, you’re an interesting woman. I’m going to marry you.’
‘A pity I won’t marry you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Why not?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked. ‘Is it because of your jealous ex-husband? The way he looked at me at the party was like he wanted to kill me. Why is he still clinging onto you?’
‘Quan Zheng Hao!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Leave my office!’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, don’t wait for roses to wilt,’ Quan Zheng Hao said. ‘You need to appreciate roses when they’re fresh. You shouldn’t let go of your chance to be with me, because you won’t find a better man than me.’
Qiao Tan Yuan wanted to vomit.
‘Have you heard of the saying modesty accompanies profit and arrogance precedes destruction?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Aren’t I allowed to be confident?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked.
‘Yes you can be confident,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Ask yourself who you are. You’re the heir of Quan’s company. You had a fall out with your father, because your father had found a fiance for you. You don’t want your father to control your work and private life. So you want to spread your wings, and start a company on your own without your father’s money, which is why you looked for investors for Zheng Quan’s company. You thought if you collaborate with Qiao’s company, your father will stop underestimating you.’
‘How did you find out about my family?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked.
‘Do you think I’m a fool?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Do you think one million dollars is petty cash? Would you carelessly give a stranger one million dollars? Do you think I would give you one million dollars without investigating who you are? Do you think getting Qiao Jie drunk to sign a contract then you can force me to do your bidding?’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Quan Zheng Hao. ‘You agreed to collaborate with me because of my old man. I thought you believed in my abilities. But you knew my old man would save me if I failed, and Qiao’s company would recoup any losses from my old man.’
‘Why else would I want to collaborate with you?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘You using dirty tactics to trap Qiao Jie is enough to deter me form collaborating with you. But I believe Mr Quan Senior wouldn’t let his son drown so I…’
‘Enough!’ Quan Zheng Hao said. ‘Qiao Tan Yuan, you’re a cruel woman.’
‘Cruel?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘If I was you, I would trap Qiao Jie too. But it doesn’t mean I can forgive you for using my little brother. Yes, we’re the same type of people who would do anything to get what they want. It’s because we’re the same type, which is why I won’t fall for you.’
Qiao Tan Yuan looked at Quan Zheng Hao’s distraught face, and decided to soften the blow.
‘In the past I used many dirty tactics to get what I want,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘But now I know some things are unattainable regardless of how many tactics I use.’
Qiao Tan Yuan thought about everything she did to hang onto Gu Jiao Wu. In the end, she realised it was useless to hang onto Gu Jiao Wu because he didn’t belong to her.
Quan Zheng Hao realised he underestimated Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, you didn’t hesitate to be cold blooded toward me,’ Quan Zheng Hao said.
‘So what?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘I truly don’t like you. Why would I hesitate?’
Qiao Tan Yuan had no patience left to care about Quan Zheng Hao’s state of mind.
‘Leave my office,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, I’m going to make Zheng Quan’s company a success,’ Quan Zheng Hao said.
‘Is that so?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘OK, I’ll wait for that day to come.’
Qiao Tan Yuan thought Quan Zheng Hao’s redeeming trait was his determination to succeed on his own.
Quan Zheng Hao left, but another unwanted guest entered Qiao Tan Yuan’s office.
‘What are you doing here?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Gu Jiao Wu glared at the red roses on Qiao Tan Yuan’s desk.
‘Do you like red roses?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan glanced at the red roses that she didn’t have enough time to ask Miss Chen to get rid of them for her.
‘I hate roses,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘You’re lying,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu remembered Qiao Tan Yuan loved to use rose fragrant shampoos.
‘Hating roses is my business,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You’re not welcome at Qiao’s company.’
Gu Jiao Wu sat opposite Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, we need to talk,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I said everything last night,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘There’s nothing else I want to talk to you about.’
‘I thought you rejected me because you want to be with the little white rabbit but now I know I was wrong,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘You are a cruel woman, you know how to knock a person down.’
Gu Jiao Wu had investigated Quan Zheng Hao, and knew who Quan Zheng Hao’s father was. But he was surprised Qiao Tan Yuan would use Quan Zheng Hao’s father’s status against Quan Zheng Hao.
‘I should thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I learned how to be cruel from you.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, you make me suspect you’re not the same woman who told me she loved me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘The Qiao Tan Yuan who loved you is dead,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She looked directly at Gu Jiao Wu’s eyes. ‘You don’t remember everything you said and did to the dead Qiao Tan Yuan. But I can clearly remember every word you said.’
‘I admit I was a bad husband to you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘But I wasn’t the only one at fault.’
Qiao Tan Yuan laughed coldly.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, you finally admit you’re partly to blame for our failed marriage,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘If you know marrying me was a mistake then what are you doing here? Isn’t it best if you and I move on with our separate lives?’
‘I didn’t deny I was I wrong…’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘You didn’t,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I was wrong too. I shouldn’t have drugged you, and used my parents to force you to marry me. Now I know the consequences of my mistakes. There’s no reason left for you to be here.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Gu Jiao Wu said and stood.
Qiao Tan Yuan thought Gu Jiao Wu would leave out of anger. But he pulled her up from her seat, and hugged her.
Gu Jiao Wu thought Qiao Tan Yuan looked beautiful in her red outfit under a white jacket. But he hated the way she looked at him like she didn’t love him anymore.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, I don’t know what to say to make you believe me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Can you forget about the past? Can you stop thinking about who was wrong or right? I’m asking you to give us a real chance to start over again.’
‘No,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Four years ago, I loved you and asked you to give us a chance. I begged you during our three year marriage to give us a chance. You didn’t give us a chance. What right do you have to ask me to give us a chance?’
‘Are you getting back at me for rejecting you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘You can say what you want,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘But I still won’t agree to give us a chance.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, what will it take for you to believe me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I’ll believe you if you stay far away from me and not appear in front of me anymore,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘No!’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know how Qiao Tan Yuan could expect him to be separated from her after he realised how much he cared about her.
Qiao Tan Yuan pushed Gu Jiao Wu’s chest.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, if you kiss me again, I won’t forgive you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Why?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘I know you love me, and want to be with me.’
‘I don’t love you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I hate you kissing me, and I don’t want to be with you.’
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know how to reason with Qiao Tan Yuan. He held her waist, and kissed her lips.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want to be seduced by Gu Jiao Wu’s lies anymore. She kicked his leg, he let go of her and moved a step back.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, you kicked me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘So what if I kicked you?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. She stepped back from Gu Jiao Wu, and adjusted her clothes. ‘Gu Jiao Wu, I’m not your personal prost.i.tute. I’m not going to let you toy with me anymore.’
‘Toy with you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Is that what you really think? Because I can feel you like me kissing you and…’
‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want to hear Gu Jiao Wu’s brazen words.
‘Am I wrong?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked and pulled her back into his embrace.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, it’s true I like you kissing me,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘But any other man can satisfy me not just you.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘If you’re not lying then why did you reject Quan Zheng Hao, and why didn’t you marry Shen Cheng?’
Gu Jiao Wu received news Shen Cheng returned from an overseas trip. If Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t love him then she would be with Shen Cheng or Quan Zheng Hao.
‘I wouldn’t hate Quan Zheng Hao’s kisses,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘But I don’t want to mislead Quan Zheng Hao that I want to be with Quan Zheng Hao. As for Shen Cheng, you and I know how much his family means to him. Shen Cheng’s parents opposed me marrying Shen Cheng. Do you think Shen Cheng is the type of person who will turn his back on his family?’
Gu Jiao Wu tucked Qiao Tan Yuan’s loose hair strands behind her ears.
‘Didn’t you say you’ll be going home after work?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Um,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu let Qiao Tan Yuan go, she grabbed her bag and walked to the elevators. She acted like she didn’t see him following her. When they were inside an elevator, he hugged her again and whispered sweet lies in her ear.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, you can like another man touching you but I hate another man touching you,’ Gu Jiao Wu whispered. He kissed Qiao Tan Yuan’s lips tenderly. ‘Now you’re the only woman I’m touching, and the only woman I want to touch.’
Qiao Tan Yuan blushed. She wondered why no one else was inside the elevator except for her and Gu Jiao Wu. She put her hands on his chest, and felt his heart racing like her heart.
‘You don’t need to tell me who you like…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu thought Qiao Tan Yuan was being an adorable child sulking, and temporally upset with him. His tongue entered her mouth, and tasted her sweet mouth.
The elevator pinged, and the elevator doors opened. Gu Jiao Wu squeezed Qiao Tan Yuan’s bottom, held her hand and walked her outside. She avoided eye contact with people in the lobby, because she didn’t want anyone to see her flushed face.
Qiao Tan Yuan’s embarra.s.sment faded when she realised she was sitting in Gu Jiao Wu’s car. He was holding her hand, and driving.
‘I’ll wait for you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Who wants you to wait?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Stop sulking like a child and believe me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘There’s a place I want to show you.’
‘I don’t want to go there,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I need to go home, and be with Xiao Bao. Let go of my hand, and concentrate on driving.’
‘OK,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu smiled, and let go of Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand. She didn’t want his smile to affect her, she looked out the window. But she kept thinking about what he said before. She didn’t know why she was happy to believe he only wanted to touch her.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t drive Qiao Tan Yuan far. He stopped in front of an apartment complex she recognised. When she got out of the car, she b.u.mped into the same real estate agent she met last time.
‘Mrs Quan, why are you here on your own?’ the agent asked.
By the time Gu Jiao Wu locked his car, and caught up to Qiao Tan Yuan, he heard what the agent said and looked like he wanted to kill someone.
‘I’m sorry,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said to the agent. ‘I’m not Mrs Quan. You can call me Miss Qiao.’
‘Miss Qiao, have you made a decision?’ the agent asked.
‘I…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘I’ve made my decision to take her here,’ Gu Jiao Wu said to the agent. ‘You can go back to work. You don’t need to follow us.’
‘Gu Jiao Wu…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu held Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand, and led her to the top of the apartment complex.
‘You said you wanted to live on the thirty-second or the thirty-third floor,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I bought both floors for you. I contracted a construction company to join the two floors together. After it’s renovated, you can furnish everything here.’
‘You… I didn’t say I wanted to buy this place,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘I know you want to live here,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘It has a city view, and a good childcare centre for Xiao Bao. I looked at the private schools nearby too. The private schools are suitable schools to educate Xiao Bao.’
‘I don’t want to live here and I didn’t plan to buy this place,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, I promised my mum if I return to the city I wouldn’t move out,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Do you understand why I broke my promise to live here with you?’
Qiao Tan Yuan understood Gu Jiao Wu’s gesture to compromise, but it was too late.
‘I understand,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Then why won’t you believe me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘I brought you here, because I want to show you I’m serious about us. Qiao Tan Yuan, can we start again?’
Qiao Tan Yuan was speechless for a while. She pulled her hand out of Gu Jiao Wu’s hand, and turned around to walk to the front door. He hugged her from behind hand, and his firm voice immobilized her.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, I love you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
End of Chapter Eighty-Six