COMPLICATED

"Did you went to see a doctor?" Wan Li asked while patting her shoulder. He could feel Liu Yang's arms tightening around him.

Liu Yang shakes her head once again. "No. I…," she breaks free and leans her head on his shoulder. "Do I have to do it? Going to the doctor, I mean."

"You still don't want to?"

"Hmmm. I just don't like the idea."

Wan Li chuckles at her statement. He wanted to ask why but it seems a bit inappropriate. A loud sigh escapes out of his mouth. "Yang, I don't want to force you to go. Just don't strain yourself too much. And please, be calm when talking to Auntie. She is also trying her best."

Liu Yang sits up immediately when she heard what he said. "How did you know that?" confusion is written all over her face. "Is she--"

"Yeah," he cuts her off while staring back at her, "…we are communicating. Actually, it's not just me. Even Jun and Yu Mei, too."

"For how long?"

"A month after you ran from home."

That long?

"You may not know this, but after all these years, they are always right beside you, with us as their guise," Wan Li added.

Liu Yang bit her lip. This time, she no longer appreciates the amazing view in front of her. Her mind is clouded with the thoughts of her family.

Why do things have to be so complicated?

----

The two were silent on the way back. Wan Li just lets Liu Yang be and does not want to be pushy over the topic about her parents. He knows how muddle-headed Liu Yang is right now.

"I'm off," Wan Li quietly said when he arrived at his respective floor. She nods at him and smiles half-heartedly.

Liu Yang walks back in her office in a daze. What the hell did Wan Li just told her? It is so confusing. The fuck?!

*knock!* *knock!*

The knock on the door wakes her up from her thoughts. Startled, she randomly grabs a piece of paper nearby and pretends to be reading it.

"Yes?" she answered without glancing at who the person is. She does not want to be caught slacking by her juniors.

"Um, Editor, we informed Ms. Amy about revising her novel and she…"

Liu Yang pauses at what she is doing and looks up at the person in front of her. Turns out it is the agent – a female in her twenties.

The agent lowers her eyes to her feet when she saw Liu Yang frowning, but she does not know if she should be intimidated by it or…it's just her face looks cute, you cannot tell if she is really angry.

"She what?"

It was not intentional but Liu Yang's tone of voice sounded imposing that made the agent bow her head lower.

"S-she…was furious and told us she would be coming here tomorrow first thing in the morning. She said she wanted to talk to you personally." The agent said, her voice getting quieter as she continues to speak.

"Okay, thank you."

Liu Yang massages her neck as the agent left. Of course Ms. Amy would react that way. Who in the world would like to revise their novel when they thought it was already approved and is scheduled to be published in a few months?

Just thinking about meeting with the said author tomorrow, and the heavy workload makes Liu Yang's head throb.

Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!

That should be it! Bitter coffee is the only solution.

She needs coffee, that's it!

But luck is not really on her side. She thought it would energize her somehow but nada! Looking at the scribbled pages, she does not know if she is doing the right thing.

"Shit!" is all she could say when she realized the cup in her hand is already empty.

As empty as the file in front of her.

When the clock hits 5, Liu Yang tidies her desk and sets out. On the hall way, she once again saw Qiao Lan with the others waiting for the elevator. They bow at her, and in return, she nods back at them as a sign of recognition. In the corner of her eyes, she notices how Qiao Lan is stealing glances at her as they enter the elevator.

They are standing side by side and Liu Yang stops herself from scooting over as there are other people inside, and most of them are from their department.

The blurry reflection from elevator doors adds to her tension. Liu Yang casually glance in front of her and could outline Qiao Lan's frame. If the door is only clear, their eyes probably meet by now, is what she thought.

Remembering what Wan Li said a while ago, she almost rolled her eyes.

Feeling conscious, she takes her phone and randomly opens an app, while glancing at the elevator number from time to time.

Liu Yang heaves a sigh of relief when they arrive at the first floor. She takes big strides towards the revolving door, secretly turning her head back inside the building to see if Qiao Lan is behind her, when a car-honk startled her.

It was Wan Li.

The window rolls down and she saw him laughing like an idiot.

"You're an asshole, you know that?"

"Yup, thank you! Hop on!" Wan Li said while grinning.

Liu Yang pinches his waist.

"Ouch! Ouch! Stooop! It hurts like shit!"

"Ish! It's your fault," she lets go of him and puts on her seatbelt. "Let's go to 'ReadIt!' first."

"Oh, sure."

Before the car sets off, she looks outside to check once again for Qiao Lan around. Luckily, he is already gone.

She lets out a breath. Maybe she is just being paranoid. It's Wan Li's fault for spouting nonsense.

"Why are you being restless?" Wan Li asks.

Glancing at the side-view mirror, Liu Yang pouts, "Nothing."

"Oh yeah, is someone following you or something?"

She glares daggers at him. "You know it is kind of your fault."

"What did I do? I'm innocent."

"It's because of what you said that I'm conscious of Qiao Lan right now. Although, he really is that obvious, but you know, he creeps me out. He keeps on staring at me." She whined. Then, she adds, "And it's all your fault!"

Wan Li shrugs his shoulders, "Is it wrong to state facts now, honey? And why the hell do you think he is creepy?"

Liu Yang could only see his side-profile but she could still make out the proud smirk on his lips.

"Because he keeps on staring!"

"Just that? Just staring?"

Liu Yang's eyes widens, "What do you mean, 'just staring'? He keeps ON staring. It really is creepy!"

Wan Li laughs at her. "What the hell are you saying. Please, spare the man, he never did anything to you."

"Whatever!" Liu Yang turns her attention outside, she is getting tired of their conversation. "Anyway, why are we taking too long? The bookstore is just a block away from the publishing?"

"What the fuck? We are already here, your highness!" Wan Li exasperatedly parks the car. "Maybe you should have walked instead."

Liu Yang gives him the evil finger as an answer before hopping out of the car, leaving him fuming.

"Look who is back in the mood!"