After a quarter of an hour, the group left for Yu Garden, which was to be their first destination. Located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai at Huangpu Qu, it was a charming botanical garden. Built in 1579, it stood in contrast to the modern buildings of Shanghai which rose around it.
Tang had managed to arrange a luxury bus for everyone to travel together. Mei Zhen was intent on impressing her friends with her knowledge about the city. She also made sure to hold onto Tang tightly.
After the first couple of minutes, the Moganshan gang tuned her out and went to occupy the last seats of the bus. By silent communication amongst them, Jia Li ended up occupying the window seat and Ethan came and sat beside her. Animated chatter and laughter marked the better part of journey. All of them attempted to educate the 'foreigner' about the history of the city and were challenged by others to prove their claims. They finally reached the place and were accosted by a horde of guides promising them insights and detailed narration.
"I think we should hire a guide. We shall be able to prove whose version was the correct one," said Li Jie.
"Why don't you go ahead with everyone, Mei Zhen? I just need to make a couple of calls. I shall join in as soon as I finish," Tang told her with an apologetic smile.
He cursed himself the minute Mei Zhen went ahead. He wasn't being fair to her! Few hours ago, he had sworn to stay away from Jia Li as much as possible. And here he was, making excuses to his fiancée to keep an eye on his girl and that man who was stuck to her like a leech. Not that she seemed to be minding it. What the hell was wrong with her? For that matter, what was wrong with everyone else also? Why had his friends and sister turned a blind eye to Ethan's blatant overtures towards Jia Li?
"Or am I overreacting? She is old enough to know what is good or bad for her. If she wants to have some fun outside her marriage, who am I to stop her? But why did she give me such a huge lecture on being faithful this morning? How dare she judge me when her own actions don't correspond to her words?"
He stared at Jia Li with these conflicting thoughts churning in his head. By the time he realized, his feet had somehow transported him right next to the lady in his thoughts.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Groom? I thought you would be busy showing the bridge and the ponds to your pretty cousins in-law," Li Jie quipped.
"Put your brains to use where they are needed. I don't need directions from you," he snarled back.
Jia Li was taken aback at his hostile behaviour, "what is wrong with you, Tang? I have never seen you this rude or angry ever. You know that he was only kidding."
Ethan was standing in close proximity to Jia Li, close enough for their bodies to touch sideways. Tang's insides burnt up just seeing this.
He nearly shouted, "don't YOU know what is wrong? I think you would have remembered that I can't tolerate hypocrite people."
She was thoroughly confused and a little hurt by his barb, which she assumed was meant for her.
"I don't know what are you referring to but even if you are upset about something, it doesn't give you the right to speak with anyone like this, especially to your closest friends," she tried to reason with him.