Six months Later
Shanghai
"Tell the driver to prepare for Moganshan. We shall leave tomorrow and return on Sunday evening." Wei spoke in the intercom.
"Why the frequent trips to Moganshan? What's brewing there?" Tang leaned against the door to Wei's office.
"Uh…it's the opening of that English language institute. We had discussed it, right," he replied a touch nervously.
Tang acknowledged it with a nod, "ah, your pilot project. I wasn't aware that you were so serious about it. I am glad to know that it has managed to hold your interest. And Moganshan is a good choice to start the project. It has a lot of tourists visiting through the year due to its proximity to Shanghai. Lemme know if any help is needed at any time regarding the place. Oh, before I forget, I had come to invite you for an informal dinner at my place tomorrow night but you won't be around. Will see you when you get back."
Wei smiled wryly at the timing of events in his life. He knew that the dinner planned at the Xie mansion was a way to announce the upcoming engagement of Chu and Ethan. The project that he had envisioned to reach someone's heart was now a way to mend a couple of broken hearts, his and Jia Li's. In the past few months, he had seen her lose herself completely into the task. He was looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.
Moganshan
"I am so proud of you. The place looks promising and a lot of thought seems to have gone behind the execution", said Le, Deng Chung's wife.
Jia Li acknowledged the compliment with a smile but her attention was held by the little rascal whom she held in her arms.
"Don't be fooled by his angelic smiles. He can transform into an absolute brat in a span of two minutes", said Chung with a smile in his voice.
"You seem to have forgotten your own childhood. It was Li Jie and me who had to handle your tantrums", she complained.
"On that I will agree with her. You were quite a handful", Li Jie joined in with a laugh.
"Don't pay any attention to these two. They are born liars and will say anything to support each other's point," Chung directed this to his wife and Wang Wei who were enjoying the banter.
"Am so glad you guys could make it. You don't know how much that means to me," Jia Li said emotionally.
It had taken a couple of months and bucket full of courage for her to reach out to her two dearest friends. It had taken some time but her honest admission had won over the hurt eventually. Since then, the three of them had stayed in touch constantly. By unspoken agreement, no one had mentioned Tang or any news relating to him. It was Wei who had brought the news about Chu's engagement this evening. Though her heart went out to her new friend, she was really happy about Ethan and Chu finding a happy start to their story.
"Where are you lost? You are not already tired, right? Cos this is just the beginning," Wei spoke from behind her.
"You don't know her, that's why you said that. When she is quietest, that's the time she is recharging her batteries, gearing up for what's coming next", said Li Jie, coming up to them.
Wei envied them the close knit friendship. Ever since he had grown up, good looks and money had attracted only shallow acquaintances. He himself hadn't bothered to find anything meaningful up until Chu and that too didn't work out. Observing these guys for the past few months had created a longing in him for something more than casual flings or business based camaraderie.