Zhi Xun felt most comfortable about waking up in the morning with her body entangled against him. She felt her crotch slightly twitch as if anticipating gratification from him. Somehow, she didn't want this sweet moment to end. She closed her eyes and continued to enjoy her dream.
He opened one eye and peeked at her lovingly. He didn't know when her habit of sleeping in the nude started, but it was really seductive. He liked how she liked to push her body against him as she slept, with her attractive little hills pointed and slightly aroused.
"Wake up, little sleepyhead Xiao Xun," he beckoned. He had been calling her in that manner when they were together. In his heart, nothing had changed between them. The deepness of his love and the way he saw her and treated her would always stay the same. She would always be his Xiao Xun.
She stirred, moaned and groaned about being woken up on a Saturday morning. "I don't want to. I don't want to go back to being Huo Zhi Xun and you going back to being Gao Tian Yu."
"I have a job later this afternoon," he said.
"Do you have to? I want you all for myself today," she said, rubbing an eye.
"We have tomorrow, you know."
She gave a humph and pulled him closer to her. "You're not getting off until I say so."
"I said that I would do as you wished."
She buckled her legs around his waist. The proximity of their private parts was arousing the beast within them. "Xiao Xun..." he said, holding back his desire, "Let's just stay in bed a while longer. I'll hold you tight." She nodded. Her skin had felt soft in his embrace, and he could feel the heat emitting from her body against his already warm body.
"Xiao Xun," he said, "I just wish that we could turn back time, and you would be mine all over again." It appeared that she had fallen asleep, as she didn't respond. "I just want to take care of you, and protect you from all the pain, danger and worries that you were going through in the past. I was so stupid then. Let me be your umbrella, Xiao Xun. I'll definitely make it up to you for the years that we've lost."
Though she didn't reply him, a tear trickled down her cheek and wet her pillow, invisible to him. Thoughts convulsed in her mind, but she remained silent. Three and a half years of loneliness and pain, could it be redeemed in just a matter of a few months. It had been one month since the wild party, and in the two weeks of them being in N City he had already done a lot to prove his worth to her. He had been taking good care of her and placed her needs over his own.
One day when she had been suffering from a severe migraine which had triggered from her bad choices of outside food, he had quickly ran to fetch some paracetamol from the first aid kit. It was that the first aid kit had been placed in a storage room that also held a box containing many of his old belongings. He had unintentionally knocked over the box in his flurry and came to know that she had been keeping many of his old stuff, as well as the souvenirs he had bought her, the movie stubs from their old dates and even their Instax photos. She had waited for him all along.
Of course, Zhi Xun didn't want to admit that part of her that was yearning for him. She would constantly show that she owned him and act tough. She was masking her emotions and affections.
"What if I buy your time?" she asked abruptly. "Is it too much if I want your services today?"
"Xiao Xun, you know that I can't take your money," he replied. "I've already hurt you too much." In time, she would know that all the jobs he had taken, would be all for her.
Hours later, she soaked herself inside the jacuzzi bathtub with Tian Yu, hearing his soft murmurs in her ear. Sweet as the moments were, they weren't enough to repair the trust that had been broken in their relationship, and mend her already shattered heart. She had been so betrayed that she lost all trust in everyone. He didn't give up, and would continue fighting for her, and waiting. And in two months time, he wanted to give her what he had promised her - a comfortable life.
"I have to go," he said. "I have to reach the customer's place at four, and it's already 3:15." She nodded. Just for how much longer would he be engaged in these tedious, laborious jobs which carried some amount of risk? Since the ladder fall incident, she had been afraid of allowing him to return to work. He took a number of different jobs, mostly covering for technicians or unskilled workers who couldn't make it for the day for some excusable reasons. On some nights, he would work as a part-time bartender, and whenever he could, he would check on his parents' overseas companies, to see if his moneymaking schemes and efforts for the last three years had paid off. As his father normally partnered with overseas locals of reputable backgrounds, he had done all he could to ensure the reliability of his partners and associates. In Indonesia, he had forged a friendship and working relationship with Wen Yuwen and her now-wealthy godmother. Of course, she had just been an aspiring news reporter and social worker when she had met him in Bali, but a few business tips he had shared with her Indonesian godmother had helped her earnings to increase by sixfold. In the end, they had became business associates and good friends. Though Yuwen had liked him at first, it didn't take her long to understand, especially with her high IQ, that he was waiting for the person he had left behind in N City. He had described Zhi Xun as someone who was loyal, sweet and full of energy, and resembled Yuwen in a way. With his encouragement, she too had found true love, and news had it that they were to wed soon. He was happy for her.
While Tian Yu was out, Zhi Xun found herself walking towards the office where Tian Yu had rented for his business. She met with its new business owner Mr. Ye Qingti, and learnt how he had acquired it from Tian Yu. The business had meant so much to him. She considered investing into it, but investment hardly meant much to her when it was no longer in his hands. Despite how Mr. Ye's excellent acting skills, he could not hide the fact that it was not doing well.
"By the way, Miss Huo," the man called after her as she was leaving, "These items appear to be left behind by Mr. Gao. If you are able to reach him, perhaps you could do me a favour by returning them to him?" He produced a large cardboard box, which was nevertheless light to her. She felt an emotional attachment to the items in the box, and so she went to the nearby café to open the box.
Among the greeting and encouragement cards from her to him, his awards and some stationery, there had been a ring box. On the ring had been inscribed her name and his, and the box carried a message to her. "Xiao Xun, I know I can't tie you down with marriage at your young age, but this is a promise ring. I wish to give you my promise that by your 25th birthday, I will do all I can for you to enjoy a comfortable and blissful life with me. I've wanted to tell you this from the day I met you, but I was afraid I would scare you off."
Had he wanted to give her this three and a half years ago, before he left? Zhi Xun thought amidst the tears in her eyes. Perhaps he had not expected that he could not carry out his promise, and chose to leave her in the good hands of Su Mo.
"Xun Xun." She heard a female voice call her by her family nickname.
"Wen Wen?" she responded in surprise, hastily wiping away her tears and staring at the face of the girl that had just appeared. What bewildered her further had been the young man standing beside her.
"Zexi, this is my cousin, Xun Xun. Xun Xun, my fiancé Li Zexi."
The couple sat down beside her. "Wen Wen, what brings you to N City? Have you been living here for some time already?" She quickly invented a topic for them to talk about. "What do you think of life in the city?"
"I've been flying a lot for work," she said with a laugh. "But I'm actually here for my wedding arrangements with Zexi."
She saw that her cousin's stomach had a slightly rounded shape to it, and couldn't help but ask. "Are you..."
Yuwen smiled. "Yes. Five more months!"
"Congratulations," she said. Then she recalled the video incident in her mind and promptly asked. "Don't take me wrongly, I have something to ask." She turned to Zexi, "Is it possible that you could give us some time in private?"
"Why not," Zexi said politely. "I'll go to get some things next door." He excused himself. As soon as he was gone, Zhi Xun asked about the video that she had received from an unknown sender.
"Ah, the video. I believe there was a misunderstanding between the guy's sister and I." She played with a strand of her curly hair. "I was teaching the guy self-hypnosis to tackle his mental issues, and he locked the door to avoid being interrupted. I know we probably should have explained ourselves to her, but she ran away the next day. I've heard when he returned to N City, his sister kept avoiding him."
"Oh, I see." She heaved a sigh of relief.
"Do you know the guy, then? He seemed rather attractive, I did have a crush on him at one point but he made it very clear he has someone on his mind. But thanks to him, I met Zexi."
"Errr..." Zhi Xun stammered. "As a matter of fact, I do."
Yuwen didn't probe further. "I hope he does find his loved one, and they talk things through. Because you see, he collapsed in the club in Bali. He seemed a little depressed and agitated, and was drinking so much that it could have possibly caused his high blood pressure to trigger."
Horror spread across her face. "I didn't know..."
"As a social worker, I'm aware many people don't tell others they have such underlying medical conditions. But being his friend, I hope the best for him and his girlfriend. Since you know him, please send him my regards. And do take care of yourself." She looked towards the ring box that Zhi Xun was holding.
"Oh, it's not a wedding ring," she explained.
"I hope you have your big day someday. I'll send you my invitations soon. What's your number?"
She typed her number into Zhi Xun's phone and used it to call herself, and gave her a goodbye hug just before she left to look for Xezi.
Minutes later, Zhi Xun's phone rang. Someone had used Tian Yu's phone to call Zhi Xun informing him he had an accident, and she was sent into a panic.
"Please let him be alright," she prayed as she quickly dumped the box and her handbag into her car. She couldn't help but feel so worried that something had gone wrong with Tian Yu, as she drove her car in a frenzy to the hospital mentioned in the phone call. If something happened to him, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself. There was just so much she had to tell him.
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