A Brief Encounter

Spring Valley

The next morning, Si Weimin received a message from Thomas Young,

[Bro, I left early because I need to go back to New Zealand. There was a special mission that I have to do. I also had to leave asap. That's why I didn't have the chance to tell you. Btw, I was about to tell you last night that there was no clue about Xu Jia Li's case. It was really tricky. Everything is a puzzle to us. I suggest not looking further. It's best if we end it right now. Better not to dive in murky water.]

Si Weimin didn't know why but he was becoming more restless the more he read about Thomas' message. For him, the message was suspicious. Though Thomas often come and goes as he pleased, he was never this irresponsible as to leave without telling him especially after Si Weimin told him to focus on Xu Jia Li's case.

What were more intriguing were the last three lines. Thomas would never say those statements. They had known each other for a long time and he knew how Thomas handled his mission.

Last night, he was sure that Thomas had something important to tell him. He was really curious on what happened after he asked him to settle the woman.

With a frown, he dialed a number on his phone. After the other line picked up, he spoke, "Look for Royal Night's cctv footages last night. I need it within the day."

"I'll do my best, boss."

After hanging up, he called Wang Guo, "Clear my schedule for today."

****

Marion Spa

Xu Jia Li took the day to go to Marion Spa since Lan Meixu kept telling her to use the accomodation that the company prepared for her. She also told her to unwind and relax before the shooting started.

After the call, she dialed Shen Linqin's number. She told her that she had some things to do and couldn't accompany her. She was actually wondering what made Shen Linqin busy. However, she had nothing important to do so she told Shen Linqin to take the day off.

Knowing that Shen Linqin was busy, she asked Zhen Nian to go with her,

"Nian-mei, I'll meet you at the spa."

"Okay. Li-jie. I'll get ready. Meet you there," Zhen Nian's excited voice filled Xu Jia Li's ears.

She laughed after hanging up.

She went inside her walk-in closet. She decided to wear a simple black dress under a light brown long coat jacket and a knee- length boots. She wore her hair in a bun. After looking at herself in the mirror, she wore her sunglasses and took her small black leather back pack.

She walked outside and rode her car. While she was driving, her phone rang. She took the ear piece before she answered,

"Hello?"

"Where are you, love?"

Hearing Si Weimin's voice, Xu Jia Li smiled as she replied, "I'm driving now, Mr. Arrogant Si. I'm going to Marion Spa with Zhen Nian."

"Oh, okay. Enjoy. I'll see you tonight."

Xu Jia Li was still smiling after the call ended. Since they became a couple, she was really over the moon. She couldn't explain the feeling but she knew one thing for sure – she would never let this feeling go.

She was in a good mood once she arrived in the basement parking of Marion Spa. Before she alighted her car, she called Zhen Nian,

"Nian- mei, I'm already here."

"Li-jie, I'm still trapped in the traffic. I think I'll be late for a bit longer. Can you wait for me inside?"

"Yeah. That's okay. Bye!"

Once she ended the call, she walked out of her car and went straight to the elevator. She smiled meekly at the other artists inside the elevator. Since Marion Spa was not as exclusive as Tranquil Garden Spa, it was more accessible to the upper class and other artists. It was also as luxurious as the latter but with a more friendly vibe.

She suddenly remembered her brief encounter with Zhou Bingbing at Tranquil Garden Spa. She still couldn't forget when she said that Si Weimin was her fiancé. It left a bitter taste on her. She was wondering why Zhou Bingbing deliberately said that.

Until now, she still couldn't figure out the real score between the two. However, since she was Si Weimin's girlfriend now, everything else didn't matter. What's important was they were happy.

Upon her way to the reception area, she was approached by a young and pretty girl. It was Gao Zia. She was taken aback when she kowtowed in front of her.

"Senior Xu, thank you for helping us exposed Qi Xenjin. You're really a goddess, Senior Xu. Du Meishi and I really owe you a lot. Tell us and we'll be of help to you, too."

Xu Jia Li felt a bit uneasy when she saw Gao Zia bowed 90 degrees especially when she heard her words.

"Senior Xu, what happened on the press conference help us to get back on our feet. Meishi is also here right now. "

"It's really okay. You don't owe me anything. You have done nothing wrong that's why karma works its way for you. The good is paid with good and the bad is paid with bad."

"Still… thank you…" Gao Zia had tears on her eyes as she looked straight in Xu Jia Li's eyes.

"Don't mention it," Xu Jia Li patted Gao Zia's shoulder before she bid goodbye.

"Bye, Senior Xu!"

When Gao Zia left, Xu Jia Li sighed. She felt bad for what they might have went through because of Qi Xenjin. She knew that everything had to come to an end. Whether good or bad, it was only a matter of time.

She always believed that one way or another, what you did would come back to you. It just happened that Qi Xenjin already reaped what she sowed.

Xu Jia Li gazed at the retreating form of the young girl. Then, she approached the receptionist. She smiled before she said, "My friend is on her way. I'll wait for her in the lobby."

"It's okay, Ms. Xu. We've received a call from Ms. Zhen Nian. She told us to make you wait in the lounge. Please sit down for a moment and I'll ask someone to assist you."

Xu Jia Li smiled as she sat on the couch and began typing on her phone,

[Mr. Arrogant Si, don't skip your lunch. <3 ]

While she played with her phone, a staff approached her,

"Miss Xu, this way, please."

Then, she was led to the lounge where she was offered her refreshments. Another staff gently asked her to remove her boots before she gave her a pair of soft slippers.

"Ms. Xu, you can change on your robe now."

"Ah okay, thank you." She smiled at the two staffs.

"If you need anything, just call us."

When the two left, Xu Jia Li immediately went to the changing room and wore her robe. Then, she sat on the couch as she sipped her cucumber lemon juice.

After a while, her phone rang, it was Zhen Nian, "Nian-mei."

"Li-jie, I think I'll be really really late. I'm so sorry. Something came up. I'll call you again, okay?"

"Yeah, I understand. Don't worry. I'll just go to the steam room first."

After hanging up, Xu Jia Li went outside the room and headed straight to the steam room. Since Marion Spa offered a lot of pampering services, one of them was their steam rooms.

Xu Jia Li entered inside and took body towel and face towel. When she finished wrapping herself in a towel, she went out of the changing room. On her way out, she heard someone called her name,

"Miss Xu?"