Ling Yue was used to this type of bully. Back then, she was often doused with types of liquids that were getting worse and worse everyday, ranging from plain water, juice, to former floor mops. Her footsteps increasingly took her away from there. She could still hear Bo Xilai's voice snapping at Mo Yini behind her. Ling Yue chose to take the stairs instead of the elevator. She needs to calm down. Ling Yue pats her own shoulder.
"Well done, no need to panic, you've doing well." she said to herself. But still, her breathing rushed and her hands were sweaty. After going through repeated incidents of bullying until she was nearly dead, Ling Yue tried her best to act normally so her brothers didn't find out and worry. She tried to change her timid and coward self into what she is now, sometimes ignorant and even shameless. She could still face it alone. As long as they didn't gang up.
Ling Yue grasped the banister and climbed slowly, humming little by little to divert her mind. She stopped on the fifth floor and re-entered the elevator to her room.
-----
He Luo looked at his cellphone for the umpteenth time. "Do I have to call her?" he repeatedly pressed the green button on his screen then switched so quickly to the red button. "I'd better call, anyway I have something to ask."
This time He Luo really pressed his cellphone to his ear until a dial tone was heard.
"Hello?"
"Oh hey, Yueyue! What are you doing?" Ling Yue who was tidying up the files on her computer looked at her cellphone screen once more.
"Brother Luo?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yeah, it's me. Are you busy?"
"No, what's up?" Ling Yue did not hear from him again after driving him drunk at the time.
"Do you have time? Can you meet briefly?" He Luo stared at the ceiling of his office.
"My office hour is over in an hour, how about after that?" Ling Yue looked at her watch.
"Good, see you in an hour. Gakota cafe?"
"Sure," Ling Yue answered, even though she didn't know where the cafe was.
An hour later Ling Yue entered a contemporary-style cafe three blocks from her office. She needs to find this cafe through the application and ask to be delivered there.
He Luo already sat in the corner of the cafe and waved when he saw her. "How are you?" He Luo gave her a short hug.
Ling Yue smiled, "Never better than today."
They chatted into small talk before He Luo could satisfy his curiosity. "So, I heard that I called you at that time. Is that true?" He Luo asked cautiously.
Ling Yue watched him then nodded. "I was surprised too, the voice was so unclear, but you introduced yourself so I knew that it was you, brother,"
He Luo's lips twitched. So that's true. But he didn't have Ling Yue's number before. He asked for Ling Yue's number to Ling Feng two days ago.
"By the way, is it true that your marriage was canceled?" Ling Yue asked quietly. Not sure whether He Luo will answer it or not.
He Luo was rather surprised. "Uhh yeah, it seems like my luck isn't good. She doesn't really love me," There was a sad tone that could not be covered in his voice. He Luo chased after his love since entering college, and managed to conquer it when they graduated. Ironically, only a month before his marriage, she came and broke their relationship. In his relationship years, He Luo always treated her like a queen. Whatever she wants, will be fulfilled by He Luo. Except for one, it seemed like her fiancé felt He Luo could not satisfy her lust. He Luo didn't go far apart from kissing her, although there were times when he almost broke the boundary he made himself. Just call him innocent. He Luo was like a teenager in love, holding hands made him nervous. He Luo dared to kiss her the first time during their third anniversary celebration. He Luo only needs to wait a few more weeks before they can consummate their marriage, yet his fiance couldn't wait any longer and had already done it with someone else, even to become pregnant. Because of his stupidity, He Luo willing to continue marry her and acknowledge the child. But that fiance refused and chose the other man.
He Luo stared at her. "Is it wrong to not touch a woman in their relationship?" he asked.
Ling Yue blinked and thought, "I don't think so, if the man didn't touch the girl despite they in a relationship, that means only two. He loved her so much that he waited for the right time, or he didn't want her at all."
He Luo listened and thought deeply. He so loved her. But that person was not. He gave a bitter smile.
"Do you want me to sue her? Well, for canceling and tarnishing He's family name," Ling Yue volunteered, feeling sorry. She once liked this man, although now there were no romantic spark for him anymore.