Li-Jie drove to a secluded house, far from the bustling city, a place he had never taken anyone else. As they arrived, Mei-Yin's frustration boiled over. The moment they stepped out of the car, she turned on him.
"What is this place?" she yelled, her voice echoing in the silence. "Why did you bring me here? This is absurd!"
Li-Jie remained silent, his face a mask of calm. Mei-Yin looked around and realized they were in the middle of nowhere, with no easy way to leave. Defeated by the situation, she stormed into the house, unwilling to spend another moment outside in the cold.
Inside, the house was pristine and luxurious, yet it felt empty and cold. Li-Jie followed her, his footsteps measured. "There's an urgent work matter we need to address," he said, his tone as icy as ever.
Mei-Yin glared at him. "You dragged me out of a dinner to the middle of nowhere for work? You couldn't discuss this in the office tomorrow?"
Ignoring her outburst, Li-Jie led her to a study where documents were spread out on the desk. They worked in tense silence, but Mei-Yin could feel her anger simmering beneath the surface.
When they finally finished, Li-Jie turned to her. "There's a room prepared for you here. You can stay the night."
Her eyes flashed with fury. "I'm not staying here. You need to tell me why you brought me here, Li-Jie. This isn't about work, and you know it."
His expression remained cold, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "This is about work, Mei-Yin. The company needs this resolved immediately."
"Stop lying!" she shouted. "This isn't about the company. This is about you. What do you want from me?"
Li-Jie's jaw tightened. "I needed to get you alone, away from distractions, to focus."
"Focus?" she repeated, incredulous. "This has nothing to do with work. If you can't be honest with me, then there's no point in any of this."
She turned to leave but paused, realizing she had no idea how to get back to the city from this remote location. She clenched her fists, feeling trapped and furious. "You owe me an explanation, Li-Jie."
He stood there, silent and unmoving. The tension between them was palpable, an electric charge in the air. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured. "I brought you here because I needed to talk to you without any interruptions. I needed you to see how much you mean to me, how much I've come to rely on your presence."
Mei-Yin's anger wavered for a moment, replaced by confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I didn't realize it until you started pulling away," he admitted, his voice softening slightly. "I need you, Mei-Yin. Not just for your work, but for everything you bring into my life."
She stared at him, her mind racing. The cold, unfeeling Li-Jie was finally showing a crack in his armor. But could she trust him? After everything she had been through, was this just another manipulation?
"You can't just drag me out here and expect me to believe you," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "You need to prove it."
He stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. "I will. Just give me a chance to show you that I'm serious."
Before she could respond, Li-Jie cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. It was a kiss filled with all the passion and frustration that had been building between them. Mei-Yin's initial shock gave way to a mix of anger and longing. She pushed him away, her eyes blazing.
"This changes nothing," she said, her voice shaking. "You can't just kiss me and expect everything to be okay."
Li-Jie looked at her, his expression one of deep regret. "I know. But it's a start. Please, let me prove to you that I'm serious."
Mei-Yin Still having feelings for him but still unsure of if he can be trusted " I don't know, I need time to think"
"Please take your time" he said as he placed his hands on her face, kissed her forehead and hugged her.