REUNITED

The days went by in the blink of an eye. It is already Friday!!!

Liu Yang happily gathers her things to call it a day. Today is the day they agreed to have dinner with her friends and she is really excited.

Except for Xu Wan Li who is also working in Yinyang Publishing, she hasn't met Yu Mei and Li Jun for a long time. They have been busy with their respective work, and she missed them a lot. They must take this rare opportunity to gather as a group since they might be busy again in the future.

On her way out of the office, Wan Li sent her a message, saying he is already waiting for her downstairs. Liu Yang half-jogged towards the elevator, seeing the door is already closing.

Luckily, the person inside saw her and stopped the door from closing. She enters and thanked the person, bowing without even looking who it was. Lifting her head up, Liu Yang paused and gulps a mouthful of saliva realizing it is Qiao Lan and curses internally. Whenever she saw him, Wan Li's words came ringing inside her head. It's irritating to the point that talking to Qiao Lan is uncomfortable.

This must be the most excruciating elevator ride Liu Yang had to endure in her entire life.

'Damn you, Li!'

"After you, Editor."

"Oh."

Liu Yang returns to her senses hearing Qiao Lan's voice. It turns out they already arrived on the first floor of the building.

"Yes, thank you."

She walks on ahead, quickening her pace to escape from the uncomfortable feeling of being around Qiao Lan.

"You looked flushed and tensed. What happened?" Wan Li eyes her when she entered the car. "Oh, I see," he says, his head nodding as soon as he saw Qiao Lan exiting the building.

"Just go."

"You know, the way that you're behaving right now screams, 'he's not my type'. You don't have to be obvious about it."

Wan Li starts the engine and left the building. Liu Yang heaves a sigh of relief watching Qiao Lan is nowhere out of sight.

"Shut up. This is entirely your fault. You spouting nonsense made me conscious of his every move."

Wan Li grimaced, not taking his eyes on the road. "Or you're just assuming, Sis."

"Excuse you?! Me? You were the one who fed me with the idea that he has this 'thing' for me."

"Yeah, yeah. So, he is not your type?"

Liu Yang laughed when he still hasn't given up on that idea. "That's not the point, okay? I just don't see him in that light."

"Bottomline – he is not your type."

"Shut the hell up! You know, you should stop pushing things where it doesn't belong."

Wan Li gasps and can not retort what she had said. "Oh my god, ma'am, I am deeply sorry. Yep, shutting my mouth now."

The car stops in front of a luxurious restaurant where a valet greets them and takes Wan Li's car key.

"I didn't even imagine I could eat in this restaurant one day," Liu Yang said, looking at the beautiful structural building in amazement.

"Yu Mei was the one who chose the place."

"As expected of our Young Miss Yu."

"Period to that, sister."

Inside, their jaws dropped at the beautiful and intricate interior as they graced the hallway. They walk with their arms linked, ushered towards their private room.

The beautiful ornaments and vases displayed are definitely priceless, Liu Yang thought. It looks like they are antiques.

Even if they both have stable jobs, eating in a luxurious restaurant like this one is far from possible. There are other restaurants with affordable prices but not par to this one. Well, Wan Li can afford such a fancy restaurant since he is also from a well-off family.

The attendant opens the door for them with a smile. Inside, a man in a white blazer and khaki slacks is already sitting in front of the round table with the menu in hand. He beamed when he saw the two entering the room.

"Jun!" Liu Yang gasps and ran toward him.

Li Jun's face brightened and hugs Liu Yang back, spinning her around.

Liu Yang squealed and slaps Li Jun's chest while giggling. "How was Paris?"

"Hmm~ so, so," Li Jun casually replies, making the both of them laugh.

"Sister, that was an unexpected answer coming from you. Weren't you excited for this trip when you were leaving?" Wan Li quizzed while kissing Li Jun on both cheeks.

Li Jun shrugged, his smile fades and his face turn forlorn. "It's a long story. Let's talk about it later."

"Talk about what later?"

All their heads turn hearing the voice coming from the entrance. They squealed in unison, seeing Yu Mei looking beautiful in her black dress. They immediately left their seats to give her a hug.

"I really miss all of you," Yu Mei kisses all of them on their cheeks. She even accidentally kissed Liu Yang on the lips, shocking them both.

"Okay, enough of that. I'm really starving!" Wan Li is the first to break free from the hug, pulling a chair for himself while the others followed.

Picking up the menu on the table, Liu Yang frowns seeing the prices of each meal.

"Do they serve gold bars here? These food selections are far too expensive. We can buy them outside at a reasonable price, though. Don't you think?" she comments, casually skimming through the contents. She furls her lips and mumbles, "Fuck capitalism."

Her voice was still audible and everyone heard it, earning her a laugh while agreeing to what she had said at the same time.

"No worries, this daughter of a capitalist will provide you with everything," Yu Mei says while waving her card in front of their faces.

"Hmmm, then I'll have…"

Wan Li starts ordering more after hearing Yu Mei while the other two follow suit. They are not going to let this moment slip. This is a rare opportunity and they did not know when they will have the chance to leech off Yu Mei again.

When their food arrived, Wan Li is the first one to dig in. He was not kidding when he said he is starving.

"Oh, you said that your boyfriend is coming tonight?" Li Jun asks in the middle of their meal. "We finally get to meet him after all this time," he clasps his hands together.

"En. But he'll only be here for a brief moment and greet you guys. He said they also have a family dinner tonight," Yu Mei replies, her eyes sparkling with joy and excitement.

It is the first her friends are going to meet her boyfriend of three years. They are dying to meet him the first time she told them she already has a boyfriend. Of course, she always postpones the meeting for safety purposes.

"Ughh! Stop it, we're eating," Wan Li acts as if he is puking on his food watching Yu Mei being lovestruck and all.

"Shut up, you, old maid!" Li Jun berates him, rolling his eyes and grimacing at him.

"Excuse you? You're barking at the wrong tree! I may not have a boyfriend but I will never be an old maid. It's just a label, honey" He sighs and adds, "We all know who is."

Liu Yang had been minding on her food the whole time, not butting in the conversation; although she could clearly hear what they are talking about, she gave them no mind. When she felt piercing gazes at her, she slowed down from eating and looked at her friends.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" she questions with her mouth full.

She could tell they are holding their laughter. Glaring at them, she kicks Li Jun's foot under the table.

"Ouch! What the fuck! Why me?! It was Wan Li!"

"You started it!" Wan Li sticks his tongue out.

Li Jun gently massages his foot, side-eyeing Yu Mei and Wan Li who are laughing at his misfortune. Liu Yang also joins in the laughter, making Li Jun pout in fury.

A knock interrupts their fun.

"Oh, that must be him!" Yu Mei clasps her hands together in glee and runs to the door.

"Look at her wagging her tail." Wan Li mutters.

"That right there is a woman in love, dear sisters," Li Jun seconded, shaking his head while watching her back.