Han Yixin and Zhao Mingzhe were startled by a ringing mobile phone. Through his embrace, she pushed herself to reach out towards the bedside table.
She was about to interrogate her husband, and someone just picked out the perfect timing to interrupt.
She tapped to answer the familiar yet unsaved number. "Hello!"
"Xin-xiiiinn!" a loud voice came shouting from the other end.
Han Yixin reflexively pulled the phone away from her ear.
When the shouting voice turned to silence, Han Yixin put the phone back on her ear and scolded, "Donna Yang, are you trying to turn me deaf?!"
Zhao Mingzhe was shocked. So his wife could act like this towards a person. 'Wait, Donna Yang? Sounds familiar...' he thought.
A hearty laugh was heard from the other end of the call. "Xin-xin! I'm back in City B!"
"What?!" Han Yixin broke free from her husband's embrace as she shoot up to stand. "When?!"
"Last night..." Another hearty laugh was heard. "So, can I abduct you later for lunch?"
"Uh...sure..." Han Yixin glanced at her husband. "Where d'ya wanna meet?"
Zhao Mingzhe was not worried since he heard a woman's voice, but he furrowed his brows when he realized he will be left out for lunch. He was actually looking forward to his wife's cooking after eating in different homes the day before.
Han Yixin nonchalantly informed him of her plans for the day. Then she went into her walk in closet and sighed.
She knew she will be going out with her friends.
Zhao Mingzhe overhauled her closet so all her things were brand new and in season. They are gonna freak out.
She could still remember how she met them.
.
Han Yixin kept a low profile throughout primary up to junior high school.
On her first day in high school, she had no empty table to eat alone in the cafeteria. Her high school had more students than her previous schools so tables are hard to come by.
As she held her food tray, she had a deep frown as her eyes kept darting, still continuing the search.
Suddenly, she saw someone waving an arm. It appears like the girl was looking at her, but she would not believe it easily.
She looked behind her, expecting another person.
However, no one was on the same direction as she was.
Suddenly, the girl who was waving at her shouted, "Han Yixin!"
Han Yixin was flabbergasted. She did not know anyone in this new school.
She hesitantly went over the table where the girl was seated.
When she was a step from them, she asked, "Uhm...do I know you?"
"Well, don't ya wanna know?" the girl with a short colored bob flashed a smile.
"Donna..." Sitting opposite her is a more low-key girl in a longer, darker hair, seemingly trying to scold her.
"I'm not doing anything, Lizhen." The girl named Donna looked back on Han Yixin. "I just...we would like to invite...oh, just sit with us!" Losing her patience in explaining, she grabbed Han Yixin by the shoulder and made her sit beside her.
"Yeah! Alright! I'm Donna Yang..." she held out her hand to shake.
Han Yixin initially frowned but shook her hand in the end.
"Woah...your hand is warm...are you running a fever?"
"Uh...no...my hands are naturally warmer than others'..." Han Yixin was still choosing her words.
"Oh, solar hands!" Donna Yang made a single clap. "Oh, by the way, this is Qin Lizhen." she pointed at the girl sitting opposite her.
Qin Lizhen smiled back then sipped her juice.
"She's less vocal than I am...but her father is the chairman of QS scents." Donna Yang continued to introduce.
"Donna!" Qin Lizhen scolded.
"What? I'm not telling lies!" Donna Yang turned to Han Yixin. "And you...heiress of the famous hotel chain aren't you?"
Han Yixin's eyes widened. "How...how did you..."
"Heh! My mother is a researcher in a big network, and my hobby is reading through her papers."
Han Yixin lowered her head. She had been successful in years for not grabbing attention. Just who is this girl?
"Hey, don't worry. I'm not gonna tip you off to get kidnapped or anything. I'm just curious why a girl of such background has never been popular in school. Are you that shy, Darlin?"
"Donna, not all people appreciate your sudden closeness..." Qin Lizhen butted in.
"See...the good student sticks with me. I'm harmless." Donna Yang winked at Han Yixin as she bit on a carrot stick.
"Yeah, yeah...you won't bite. Everybody gets it. Let's eat now before break is over." Qin Lizhen gave a soothing smile.
From then onwards, Han Yixin was never alone.
In other words, she let people into her world.
Donna Yang wanted, and had the right appeal to, enter the entertainment industry since then.
When they went shopping, she would always pick out combinations for Han Yixin.
"Xin-xin, try this skirt with that top." she said as she shoved the item into the fitting area.
"But this top already has a pair of pants which go with it..."
"Trust me...c'mon!" Donna Yang pushed her friend back into the fitting room.
"Hey, so persistent! You want to be an actress or a stylist?" Qin Lizhen scolded.
"An artist need to be stylish!"
"What, you're also grooming Xiao Xin to be an actress now?"
Donna Yang had a hearty laugh. Her laugh had always been contagious.
Their laughter stopped as Han Yixin went out from the fitting room.
"Oh...whaddya know..." Qin Lizhen whistled.
"Heh...told ya..."
.
Remembering their youth made her smile. Being with the two of them took her outside her comfort zone for sure, but ìt was quite an adventure without being too dangerous. She would have regretted missing out in any of them.
They only thing they failed at in introducing to her was a boyfriend.
She was just glad to have them at her wedding.
Of course, she doubts that her otherwise icy husband would remember her friends which he just met once.
Han Yixin sighed another time in her walk in closet, then took an unusual pair of clothing from the hangers.