Phone Call to Li Qiang

"Hello, Xiao Ling. How can I help you?" Li Qiang's voice sounded horse through the phone. Wang Yi Ling cleared her throat. Chen Yi smirked.

"Bro Li Qiang, can I talk to you for few minutes?" she asked, nervously.

"Hmm, speak," Li Qiang said nonchalantly. Wang Yi Ling took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment before she got the determination written on her face. She was indeed determined to help her sister, start with Li Qiang.

Chen Yi who had sat idly, studied intently her expression at the moment and felt amused. It was so rare for him to see Wang Yi Ling with that kind of expression. His mouth twitched. She never knew how she had affected his life since the day he met her together with his twin sister. Even more now, with Wang Yi Ling sat right across of him in her sexy sleepwear, really stirred his inner desire. A desire to possess and protect her. A desire to love her.

It was considered his luck the other day when he took initiative to intimately hold her hand. Could it be because she trusts him enough to let him to hold hand? Because there was a time he witnessed how Wang Yi Ling brought down one of her course mate that had crossed line by trying to hug her.

"Bro Li Qiang, I've heard that you wanted to break up with Sis Mei, is it true?" upon hearing Wang Yi Ling's words rang between them, Chen Yi snapped from his thought. He watched her intently. His left hand supported his tilted head while another playing the mug.

"Hmm," Li Qiang hummed.

"But the two of you have been together for years! Bro Li Qiang, please consider the fact that the two of havae been going through the ups and downs but why is it now you wanted to leave?" Wang Yi Ling blurted each word clear and loud. Her tone was serious. She had completely ignored Chen Yi across her.

"Xiao Ling, I think you know exactly the reason I have to make this decision," he paused. "I love Yi Mei, I want to marry her, to provide for her, but this can only be done if the two of us truly living together like other married couple. You tell me what's the point to get married only to be parted away from each other? Why not just stay single forever?" he muttered, clearly devastated.

"But Bro Li…."

"Xiao Ling, listen. I did this because I don't want to drive wedge between your mother and Yi Mei. It is better if we cut off this relationship before it becomes a huge issue in the future. This is the best for Yi Mei and me. Although I love her with all my heart, but with the interference from your mother, I don't think it will work out well," this was the first time I heard Li Qiang to say something that long.

"Bro Li Qiang, now you listen to me. I might way too young from you and maybe you will say that this is not my right to anything regarding this, but please hear me out, you won't lose out anyway," there was silent between them. Wang Yi Ling took a deep breath before slowly exhaled them.

"If you really love Yi Mei, then, don't break up! Prove it to mom that you are worth Yi Mei's love. As for mom, she will not forever to be so stubborn and someday she will relent to you two. Have faith, will you?" Silent fell between them again. Wang Yi Ling suddenly felt so anxious while waiting for the response from the other side. She looked at Chen Yi while biting her lower lip, nervous. Chen Yi maintained his poker face although deep within him there was turmoil.

"I… Alright Xiao Ling. I'll think about it again. And you're right though, I don't think it is the best to end a five-year relationship just because of a mere opposition from the elders. It just that I hope, no – profoundly hope that mom will grant us her blessing. I really can't live without Yi Mei by my side," he finally said. The suffocating feeling that she felt a moment ago dissipated into thin air.

"That's right! OK then Bro Li Qiang, don't worry. I'll pray hard for both of you and that mom will relent to you two should the two of you persist. On my end, I will try to talk to her too. I think that's all for now. Bye!" she ended the phone call and heaving a sigh. Relieved.

She glanced over at Chen Yi who had listened to her conversation. Ai… She forgot that he was there.

"Good morning Chen Yi!" she casually said and drank her coffee in one go. Chen Yi chuckled. He was wondering how come she could change her personality in a blink of eye.

"A very good morning to you too," he said. It's her turn to chuckle. What kind of banter he was trying to have today, she thought.

"What bring you here today? And it's early morning at that," she asked while tilting her head to one side. Taking the chance to study him.

"For you," he casually said. Wang Yi Ling raised her eyebrow. Her curiosity definitely ignited upon listening to his remark. Come for me? Hmm… interesting. Very interesting. She thought to herself.

Chen Yi took another sip of coffee. He didn't understand his own urge to tell her that he was soon leaving to further his studies as well as to have his internship abroad too. Part of him telling him that it was worthless to tell her, but part of him urged him to tell her and confess his love to her. Only then he will be at ease regardless of the outcome. He was currently battling inside. He suddenly felt so frustrated for the first time.

After what seemed like ages, he finally spoke.

"I'm going off," he said. There was yearning in his eyes and how much he wished Wang Yi Ling can read them.

"Uh? Going off? Where to?" Wang Yi Ling was clearly taken aback. Why so sudden?

"Further my studies, of course!" he said and chuckled.

"Oh…" she stared at him blankly. She didn't know why suddenly felt something was not quite right at the moment. She blinked her eyes and stared at the man in front of her. His features, boyish smile plastered on his face made him look youthful but charming in a way, which could cause the heart to flutter wildly.

"Yi Ling, there's something that I think I need to let you know," Uh… it sounded weird by minutes. She gulped down her saliva and waited for him to say his next line.

Chen Yi stood and walked closer to her. Wang Yi Ling stared nervously at him. He then turned her stool, facing him directly. He placed both his hands on the counter top behind her, totally trapping her in between his arms.

Her heart beating fast, her face blushed with these sudden gestures from Chen Yi. Ever since the day Chen Yi holding her hand for the first time in public, she did feel something indescribable.