The sun shined high up in the blue sky, and a cool breeze swept through the trees and the crowd. On every street, people were breaking out their spring clothes after the cold season, dresses and t-shirts were seen everywhere.
Xu Yingyue was excited for spring as well, since it was one of her two favorite seasons, the other one was autumn of course.
Too bad that there wasn't any excitement left after coming home from a business trip aboard, as she found the door to her condo to be opened.
She was shocked as she entered her home, it was a mess. Furniture, papers, and plates were sprawled across the room as if a tornado passed through.
She was still in shock when the phone rang loudly in her disordered condo. She grabbed the phone tightly, and somehow swiped to answer the phone without looking at who called her.
"…Xu Yingyue?" A familiar male voice rang through her ears, after a minute of silence with neither of them speaking.
"Hmm…?" She was still dazed and could only answer half-heartedly.
As if the male expected her to answer in such a way. "Let's meet, I have something I would like to talk to you."
The man was met with silence, he didn't know what to do. He didn't hang up either and waited for her response.
Xu Yingyue finally got over her shock and then looked at the screen of the phone to see who called had called her. She found out it was Lin Xian, which made her feel incredulous due their angst break up. They hadn't spoken much since then.
"…What did you say before?" She tried to maintain her calm, even though she felt her life was just as fucked up as the condo in front of her.
"I have something I would like to talk to you about, we can meet when you're free."
Xu Yingyue didn't know what to think of this, she didn't even know what he wanted to talk about, let alone meeting up seemed like it was not the best of ideas.
Seeing as there was no response again. "I want you to give me a chance- no give us a chance again!" Lin Xian persuaded her.
This left Xu Yingyue even more confused as memories of the relationship they once had passed through her mind. From the time they met, to the times they spent together, to the ending of their relationship seemed like a dog blood drama the more she thought about it. It had been four years since their break up and she wasn't as emotionally unstable as she was before. There might still be a chance for them, and she still felt something for him, rather it was still love or mere nostalgic memory she still wanted to see if their love story could have a second chance.
"How about in two hours near the coffee shop at the corner of Lotus Petal Mall?" She asked.
Lin Xian was surprised that Xu Yingyue even agreed to meet. "Alright, let's meet in two hours. See you then."
"Mhm. See you then."
~
She called the condo security to report the breaking and entering, the security guard called the police. The police officer told her that they would do an investigation.
Officer Jiang asked "Miss Xu, do you have any enemies?"
Officer Jiang looked to be about mid 20s with his sharp eyes looking at her, Xu Yingyue felt that he was good at his job even though he was a bit cold and always have a stoic expression. He was a tall man so, she felt tiny in comparison to him.
"I don't think so." Xu Yingyue answered.
"You should write down a list of those who you work with, some people who you found suspicious when you worked with, and any ex-boyfriends. We will check where they were during the three days you were away on the business trip." He told her.
Officer Jiang asked her to look through the condo to see if there was anything that was missing and if there was, it would be noted as breaking and entering, including theft.
Xu Yingyue went through the whole condo checking anything that was valuable enough to be robbed, but she only found that some of her cheap jewelry and decor were missing.
Officer Jiang looked solemn as he saw that there was robbery, but it wasn't anything that was worth the breaking and entering considering he saw that there were much more expensive jewelry and objects around this woman's condo to be stolen than those inexpensive pieces. He kept this in mind and called his partner who was at the police station doing some desk work.
After an hour, Officer Jiang left with some finger prints and a list of people who she interacted with. Xu Yingyue felt exhausted but she went to her car and called the hotel near her workplace to stay for a few days, till the police let her into the condo again. She didn't bother packing many clothes since she was on a business trip previously, so she grabbed some new clothes and shoes then left to meet Lin Xian.
~
Xu Yingyue arrived at the aesthetically pleasing coffee shop. This had always been her favorite coffee shop, and was the one she always went to. She ordered her favorite, Iced Americano and a lemon meringue pie to go along with it.
When she sat down with her food and coffee, she finally felt her stiff body slowly relax from the tension. It was not what she expected when she came home from the airport this morning.
She didn't expect that her home would be broken into, and that her ex-boyfriend who she hadn't talked to for years would return and want to reconcile.
Xu Yingyue was left in disbelief that the last 3 hours really happened and that she was sitting in a cafe waiting for her ex. Her previous relationship with Lin Xian was legit like a drama re-enactment. There was so much angst and dog blood being thrown around everywhere, she wondered how did it even happen.
All their friends thought they weren't right for each other and needless to say, she agreed now that she thought how their relationship was toxic for both of them. Many misunderstandings were caused and there were things that they both omit to say to each other.
*Ding*
Her phone sent a notification of Lin Xian's text.
Lin Xian: "I'll there in a minute."
Xu Yingyue: "Alright, I'm already sitting, so order first then come and find me." She messaged back.
She focused on eating her pie while still thinking through their relationship. She stopped when she heard the chair across from her moved. She looked up and saw Lin Xian who smiled at her.
Lin Xian sat on the chair with his order of Iced Americano and a slice of carrot cake. He still looked as handsome as he was when he was young, except his features had matured more. His personality also seemed to be much steadier and less moody. He wore a black suit, with a white collared shirt, and a navy tie. He looked professional but very hot in her opinion. He could be the male lead of a CEO romance novel that are in trend right now. All he needs is to have a cold stoic expression and possessiveness that goes beyond the heavens.
Just as Xu Yingyue was checking Lin Xian out, he was also doing the same. He thought that Xu Yingyue was still just as beautiful as he remembered, but now she looks like an independent woman who can take charge of the business world. Her burgundy suit suited her, her eyes were mesmerizing and he could hardly make himself look away.
"Hello." She said. She took a slip of her coffee while still examining him as if to see that he was sincere.
"It's been a long time since we met." He smiled at the woman in front of him. He remembered their previous relationship, even though it was short and destructive, he truly did feel something for her, and he always felt regret for not having a proper relationship with her.
"Why did you want to reconcile? Isn't this a bit too random? Don't tell me you woke up one day and decided that you wanted a second chance at our relationship?" Xu Yingyue asked in a joking manner but her eyes showed that she was serious of her first question.
Lin Xian raised his eyebrow. He didn't expect she would be this straightforward but then again people do change.
"It wasn't merely a random thought, I thought of our relationship throughout the years and of you as well. It felt like I couldn't let go what could've been instead of what did happen." He replied honestly.
Xu Yingyue looked at the man in front of her and thought what he said was right. Their previous relationship started off on a bad note and ended in tragic chaos where both of them were trying to outdo each other in how to insult and hurt each other. She did think how their relationship could've been if they didn't have the baggage they both had when they started their relationship.
"Hmm… What you said was pretty convincing." She smiled at him.
Both of them seemed to have a tacit understanding that they should forget about their past relationship and start getting to know each other better like it was their first relationship.
"Are you sure our friends won't have a heart attack when they find out we are back together again?" She teased.
Lin Xian grinned at her teasing and in his heart he felt relieved that she gave him- no them a second chance. "They can have a heart attack all they want, as long as you are committed to our new relationship, nobody else matters but us."
Xu Yingyue stared at that handsome face of his and wondered if it was that easy to get a second chance. In novels, it was always an obstacle to have a second chance and there would be a lot of love-hate moments. She snickered at her own wild imagination of her second chance love story.
Lin Xian's lips twitched at her in amusement as her mind was going through a decade of angst love story. "How about we give each other an introduction since it's been so long since we talked and know each other?"
Xu Yingyue snapped out of her day dreaming. "Oh sure. Let me start first then! I own a Manhua Studio and I've been too busy to date so I haven't gotten married yet. I like to read novels and watch foreign TV shows."
"I am the CEO of Lin Financial Corporation as you know. There hasn't been any woman that I was interested in so I haven't gotten married but my whole family has been torturing me by reminding me that I should get married. I enjoy running and hiking. "
They looked at each other and then they both started laughing.
"Are you sure I'm the woman who can hold your interest, Mr. CEO?" She took a bite of his carrot cake in a teasing tone.
"It seems like nothing has changed." He muttered softly.
She barely heard what he said and she agreed as well. It didn't feel as awkward as it should've been. Maybe the heaven has given them a second chance to have the love story that they were supposed to have.
"So, how is your company doing?" She changed the topic to a more casual one.
"It's doing pretty well. We've been trying to expand to another industry other than investment and real estate."
"Oh. That's sounds more than pretty well. How's your big brother doing?" She asked knowing that Lin Xian actually has a great relationship with his big brother.
Lin Xian looked at her through the whole conversation. "He's doing as well as he can get. That loner has been in his loft painting day and night every day. He can barely survive since he only eats after his inspiration fades and he just hired an assistant for all his meals and business transactions. I do worry about him but I'm already busy as it is, so it's harder to visit him."
Xu Yingyue could imagine Lin Ming with his obsession with paintings. "Hmm… Now that we are dating again, you can tell him I said hello. I've heard of his paintings being held in art galleries allover Huaxia."
"Enough about him. Are you over working? Why are you so pale?" He asked her in concern.
Xu Yingyue was momentarily dazed at the sudden question because she didn't know how to say it.