Leave

Chen Zhiyi cleared his throat.

This snapped He Zifeng from his thoughts.

"Well...I'm not sure where she is right now, but I believe my daughter would come around. It might've been just a misunderstanding." Chen Zhiyi was embarrassed as to how his new family treated the He family's Young Master. Whatever happened with this young man and his daughter, he could not offend such good business partner.

"Don't worry, Uncle Chen. I will try to get in touch with her soon. When I see her, I will make sure she is safe." He Zifeng was determined.

With nothing else to discuss, He Zifeng bid the elder goodbye and drove back to the city.

He Zifeng tapped on the steering wheel wondering if he caused Chen Kaori to leave.

It was Christmas eve so there was minimal traffic. His driving skills kept his car steady as his mind wandered for answers to his questions.

.

Chen Kaori's drowning incident that summer hit him hard.

During his last year in middle school, he was thankful that he lived in the city. He tried to avoid her messages and always kept his answers short and indifferent when she called.

He was conflicted back then. He always picked up her calls, because he missed her voice, but he did not know what to say. He thought that keeping their relationship platonic will keep her from harm.

That plan of keeping distance was ruined when Chen Kaori moved to the city on their first year in high school.

He Zifeng was both delighted and mortified.

Chen Kaori's parents just had a divorce and her mother moved back to City O. Chen Kaori was offered to move there as well, but she was head over heels for He Zifeng that she would not leave the country. She somehow guilt-tripped her father to send her to City S to study.

He Zifeng's parents were delighted to have her around, but Chen Zhiyi still had pride and bought his daughter her own apartment. It did not, however, kept Chen Kaori from visiting the He family home most days of the week.

He Zifeng was walking on eggshells since the enrollment day when the both of them visited their high school for the first time.

"Oh, a couple?" the staff at the admissions gave them a smile as they handed their forms in.

This statement terrified He Zifeng. "No! We're...not."

Chen Kaori, who was shy at first, immediately felt awkward.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean...I...you guys don't look like siblings. I thought..." the staff felt embarrassed.

"We..." Chen Kaori was lost for words.

"We're friends. Are you really a staff here? Why assume such thing? We're in high school!" He Zifeng sounded pissed off.

"Uh...we'll be going then. Thanks!" Chen Kaori grabbed their papers on one hand and He Zifeng's arm with the other. She dragged him away before he burst out from anger.

"Chen Kaori, stop dragging me!" He Zifeng freed himself from her grasp when they were far enough.

Chen Kaori stopped on her tracks then pouted as she looked at him. "I'm hungry."

He Zifeng sighed then looked around. There were all sorts of restaurants around the campus.

"There!" he pointed at a seafood place.

Chen Kaori's face lit up when the spicy crawfish dish was placed on their table. She immediately put on the plastic gloves and started peeling them.

He Zifeng watched her pull onto every head.

"Eh...do you want some?" Chen Kaori asked him.

Before he could even answer, she placed a peeled piece on his bowl of rice.

He gave a faint smile and ate the food she gave him with some rice.

As he chewed, he kept staring at her and noticed that she had yet to eat anything. She just kept peeling them.

"You...you should eat some while you peel."

Chen Kaori shook her head. "If I do that and finish what I peeled, my appetite won't be the same if I start peeling again."

...

Just like that, the current He Zifeng questioned his situation.

Chen Kaori never leaves anything halfway done.

So why did she choose to leave him like that?