Hello my lovely readers! You have been generous with your feedback and thoughts these past few days and I simply love it. It seems that Jia Li, our FL, loves it too. Which is why, she waged a war in my head yesterday. After some of you wrote that you want a happy life for Jia Li, she also came and demanded the same from me...argued about life being sooooooo unjust, harsh etc...Phew!
Well, to cut a long story short, she didn't let go of me till I gave in to her demands. So today is the last day that she is going to be sad. Tomorrow onwards is a new chapter in her life. Do let me know what you think of the plot going forward. And as always, keep voting and keep reading:))
Chapter - What's next?
Jia Li digested all the information and its implications without showing a flicker of emotions.
"So what do you intend to do next?" she asked.
"Go back home and find some hot women to take my mind off the misery. Take one day at a time…I can't think beyond this right now," he uttered attempting humour and failing.
She gave him an empathetic smile.
"I wish you peace and strength. My only advice would be to not close yourself to new meaningful possibilities while you engage in err…therapeutic activities," she extended her hand.
"And I hope you smile someday, not the one that you are bestowing upon me right now but the kind which comes with inner happiness," he shook hands and they parted ways.
She reached home tired. The emotions seemed to have been wrung out of her. Her mobile rang and it flashed her Li Jie's number. Fighting the impulse to ignore the call, she picked it up injecting false enthusiasm once again in her voice. By the time she wrapped it up, her nerves had settled. She had managed to lie convincingly yet again, assuring her friend that she was fine. She felt guilty for making people around her, worry so much about her.
Before going to bed, her only thought was that she needed to stay indoor for a couple of days lest she would find herself face-to-face with Ethan and Chu. Knowing her, it would be a matter of time before Jia Li's lie about travelling out of China gets exposed to her friends. She wasn't up to the interrogation or the emotional scolding which would follow.
"I should have enquired about Chu's travel plans before I bid farewell to Wang Wei," she thought drowsily.
Next morning found her sitting at her favourite window again watching life go past. The doorbell rang, emitting a frown from her.
"Hi gorgeous, you left me stranded amongst strangers," Ethan addressed a shocked Jia Li at the doorstep.
"How, what are you doing here?" she spluttered.
"Hi Jia Li, fancy seeing you here while all of your near and dear ones are under the impression that you are in Africa on some extended work trip!" quipped Chu sarcastically as she emerged from Ethan's shadow.
A worried looking Wang Wei walked up and offered a weak smile as an answer to Jia Li's accusing eyes.
"Have you been well these past few days?" asked Chu, seating herself comfortably on the sofa and motioned the men to do the same.
"Uh, yes, I am doing good. I hadn't taken a holiday in some time now, just wanted a break from the routine…" she stopped herself forcefully from offering justification and looked at them questioningly instead.
Interpreting it, Chu replied with her trademark candour, "dad and I had a falling out just after the wedding. He seemed to get the impression that I was being unduly close to Ethan. So I corrected him and gave the exact extent of my relation with him. Apparently that didn't go down well with him, no surprise there. So I left home to show Ethan a slice of China. I wanted him to see my hometown. Bumped into Wang Wei unexpectedly yesterday in the morning and then again at night. Imagine my surprise when he told me that he was here to discuss some project with you."
Jia Li raised her eyebrows only to find Wang Wei's pleading ones, asking her to help out.