"who are... You?" LinYing asked, still in his arms. She looked confused while staring at the glowing face before her.
"You...." ShenMing didn't know what to say first. He was short of words while trying to think as to why LinYing was asking him that question. He was certain he knew who she was. Who wouldn't remember their nemesis?
But it didn't seem as if it was the case for her. At least that was what he believed.
"Don't you think..." LinYing continued "it's inappropriate to hold me like this in public... like that..." she gestured to his shirt and he too looked down at it.
He jerked back to reality as he instantly let go of her. He grabbed his shirt to button up while she fell down hard on the floor.
He looked at her "You..." He was still short of words.
LinYing struggled up to his feet as she stared at him "Sir. Don't you know it's rude of you to chase someone down the hallway like that without even knowing who I am. If there's nothing, I'll be taking my leave" She said as she turned to leave.
"Hey!" ShenMing still had thoughts running through his head as he called to her. But she didn't even bother stopping. LinYing continued leaving.
He was confused. He knew that face. And he was sure he did. But why was she like that? Did she really not know him? Or did he get the wrong person. Someone who looked like her.
Before he knew it, she was already out of sight. And then YuFen came running towards him. "What are you doing here?"
He looked at her "Hey... I think I saw egghead. I am sure I saw her..."
"What rubbish are you talking... She is out of the country, so what do you mean?" YuFen glared at him with a serious expression.
"I'm sure... I'm sure I did. I'm sure it's her..." he stated while looking at the exit. His shirt already buttoned up.
"Come to my office now, you wanted to talk right? Let's go there, it's not appropriate here" She insisted as she took him away.
****
Both sat opposite each other in YuFen's office. Hands crossed while they glared coldly at each other.
"Mr Hong said you don't want to renew your contract. Why is that?" She questioned.
"I'm sure that lady is Egghead. She came out from your office. So why are you playing dumb?"
Both were on different pages.
"Answer my question" YuFen demanded.
"No, you answer mine first" He demanded.
YuFen sighed "ShenMing, We're already in our 30s, so let's not play around anymore. Stop bickering with me and renew your contract already" She stated.
"Tell me when she came back from the US, and why? What's she doing here?" ShenMing was still demanding from the other side.
YuFen Casually rolled her eyes "How many times do I tell you that it's not her. That's not LinYing"
"She looked like her. Exactly. So who could she be? Her lookalike?" He questioned.
"I don't know and I'm not really interested now. What I want is to know why you haven't renewed your contract. And I want you to work towards it" she stated.
He leaned on his seat with a long sigh while staring at her. "I won't be renewing it"
She gasped "Why? Why's that? What's wrong now?" She demanded "You keep doing this every time. What's wrong now?"
He folded his hands "I'm bored"
"You always say that"
"I'm being for real this time. I'm really bored" He expressed.
She sighed "How can you say that you.." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "What... What do you want this time around?"
He hesitated, staring into YuFen's eyes. As though he was thinking about something for awhile, he smiled and said "I actually need something, then I'll consider" He expressed.
"What's it?" She was anxious to know.
He hesitated, leaning backwards with his hands crossed "Tell me who that lady is... Tell me who she is and I'll consider"
"What?"
He leaned forward "I'm sure that lady I saw was egghead. So you can't tell me otherwise. The same eyes... Same nose... The expression... Everything. And I'm sure... It's her" he stared at YuFen.
YuFen paused for awhile "You still remember all her expressions and features...." he gave him a suspicious glare.
"Don't overthink it" He snapped "Just tell me who she is and I'll think about what you've said"
YuFen stared at him for awhile. She took was in thought as she slowly leaned back while staring at him. "I've already told you. She's not the one, so don't even bother. She's some client I had this morning and I was done attending to her so she left. You're just seeing things" She insisted.
"Then I don't think we have anything else to discuss. Since you don't want to tell me the truth, I won't be considering renewing it then" he got up to his feet. "I have somewhere to be, so I'll take my leave"
"Hey! Hey you! Where are you going.....! Come back here...hey!"
It was already too late. He had left the office.
*******
That evening, LinYing had stayed over at The hospital where her mum was admitted in. She sat on the seat besides her mum's sick bed. Watching her sleep while also thinking about what happened that day.
She had met ShenMing. The person she didn't wish to meet anytime soon. And she had met him in the most unpleasant way as possible. Remembering the scene of falling into his arms was more like a nightmare that she was sure would haunt her for long, LinYing knew her peace wasn't going to last too long.
He worked at the same company, and that was something she had come to discover. She knew he was a popular idol, but she had never imagined that he worked at the same company where YuFen was a CEO in. Come to think of it... She never cared to know.
Now she didn't think that accepting the job as the manager was a good idea anymore. Because actually working there would mean that she would have to see him everyday. And that was the last thing she wanted to happen!
"Oh gosh.." She ran a hand through her hair while thinking a way out of this mess that was coming, not knowing that she had woken up her mum who was now looking at her.
"Is there any problem?" Her mum asked in a low sick tone.
"Oh, mum. You're awake?" She leaned close to her mum.
Her mum let out a sick smile as she sighed softly "You should go and rest. Today must have been busy for you. So you don't have to look after me all night"
"Don't worry about me, I'm ok. Just rest" LinYing smiled while tucking her in well. She could see the look in her mum's eyes. Those eyes of pity she would always throw at LinYing. LinYing already knew them even if she didn't.
She felt sorry for her dear daughter and apologetic towards her. But she never had the perfect words to express them. But even without saying, LinYing knew those eyes more than anyone.
Not long, her dad walked in with a takeaway meal he had bought outside for his wife "You're awake? I brought this specially for you. Your favourite" He smiled while keeping it for her.
"You didn't have to.. it must be expensive...." Mrs Cheng said softly.
"Don't worry about that. It's healthy, so you need it" Mr Cheng insisted.
"Mum, don't always worry about the price of things that are good for you. It's not expensive as long as it's good for you" LinYing expressed. She hated the fact that her mum wouldn't take certain things just because they were expensive. And she felt bad about taking them.
She watched her father sit beside her mum while feeding her.
"You too should go and rest. I'll take care of her" Mr Cheng said after giving her some spoons.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine" LinYing insisted.
"Don't wory, I'm going to get some bonus at work... So I think that should be able to meet some stuff..." Mr Cheng said. He didn't feel too proud of it either.
LinYing felt sad as always. He had always told his father not to work and just stay at home and rest. But his father never would listen, he'd prefer working and getting the money. He wouldn't let his daughter do all the work.
LinYing had given up on trying to make him stop working. She sighed as she said "Don't worry about that. I find a job at a big company. And I'll be able to handle most things in no time"
Surprised, her parents stared at her. Concerned as well "At a big company? What's it? What do you do there?" His father questioned.
She shrugged "Nothing much. Just some managing job. I have a friend who is a CEO there... She got me the job..." She explained.
"YuFen?" Mrs Cheng knew YuFen well. Back when she'd always come back home with LinYing and even had sleepovers. She had already know her well enough to have taken her as her daughter back then.
LinYing nodded "Yeah"
Mrs Cheng hesitated "I thought you said... You didn't wish to meet her" She had once recommended she met her friend for help. But LinYing had refused the idea.
LinYing shrugged "Well, it just happened like that"
There was a long silence before Mrs Cheng said positively "As long as you're Okey with it. Then I have no problems"
LinYing didn't plan on telling them any further. She didn't bother telling them about meeting the person she never wanted to meet.. And how awkward it'd be for her to work there with the person there. She knew if she did they'd discouraged her from continuing. She didn't even plan on telling them
But curse her mouth! She had already told them about the job she was just considering rejecting because of ShenMing! And now she didn't think she could reject it. Because she knew she had already given them hope. So rejecting it was destroying the hope she had built for them.
"Have you seen your brother?" Mrs Cheng Looked at LinYing who sat there quietly for awhile.
She shocked her head in response "No, I haven't"
********
ShenMing had been strolling through the neighborhood streets for awhile now. In his red sports car. He was going back and forth around, seemingly unsure of where he was heading to and if it was correct.
It took a while before he finally parked somewhere Infront of a house and slowly rolled down the window. He lowered his sunglasses as well from his eyes while he stared at the person coming out from the house he had stopped before.
The familiar young man who came out of the house and now turned to look at the person parking Infront of the house. Their eyes met and at that moment, ShenMing knew he was in the right place.
He had met a familiar face, Cheng HaoRan, LinYing's Younger brother.