I love someone else

Wang Lian took a sip of the coffee.

''I like you. I want to marry you,'' Jia Li spoke after a brief pause. ''It's possible that this proposal may seem very odd to you, but I've wanted to discuss this with you since some time. I'm not flirting with you—whatever I've written on the card is what I really feel for you''.

Wang Lian let her complete her words. He had put down the cup of coffee.

''But I don not want to marry you''. He spoke frankly.

''Why?''

''Is it necessary to answer this?'' he asked.

''No, not really, but what's the harm in saying so?''

''Why do you want to marry me?'' he queried in response.

''Because you're different''.

Wang Lian sighed deeply.

''You're not like other men. You have a stature; you're cultured, well-groomed''.

''I'm not like that''.

''Prove it,'' she was challenging him.

''I can but I won't,'' he said taking another sip of coffee. ''Every man is better than Wang Lian''.

''In what way?''

''In every way…''

''I don't accept that''.