(FLASHBACK)
"Liwei you arrived."
Caohing went on his way for a chest bump. Then he looked behind Liwei and saw a girl around 14 years old. He can tell the girl is younger than Liwei. She looks like someone who is uncomfortable or maybe shy, adjusting with the new atmosphere. She is still trying to figure things out between the siblings.
"Liwei, who's this girl?", Caohing's face brightened after seeing her.
Liwei just smiled, looking at his brother. Why does he feel so proud in introducing her? Is it because she is so good in singing? Is it because she amazes him? Is it because he is a fan of hers? Or is it because he admires her so much that he could imagine himself being with her in the future?
"She is a new member of our school choir. She is Wu Meixiu.", the young lady lend her hand to Liwei's older brother, Caohing.
"Every after class, she'll spend her vocal training with me.", Liwei continued, seeing his brother's eyes are still stuck with Meixiu.
Caohing accepted her hand and his long, thin fingers welcomed her soft palm. The flesh of youth intimidates him so much. He can tell there is a huge gap between his and the lady's age. He never felt his age is such a huge hindrance in communicating before so why is he bothered by it just now?
"Let's go practice Senior Liwei.", she said before she bowed herself in front of Caohing.
"Such a polite lady. Wu Meixiu? I'll remember that name.", Caohing said while keeping an eye to the lady Liwei just introduced.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Caohing threw Meixiu's photos on his drawer. He put his palm on his forehead and sighed so deep after the disappointment he is feeling against him. He doesn't know where the disappointment in coming from. Is it because he threw his chances away?
"She's 8 years younger yet I can't take her out of my mind. Seven years after I almost had the chance to sleep with her, I still can't get over her. Wu Meixiu, you are causing me a huge turmoil inside me.", he sighed and thrust his fist in his desk.
He then a certain number of knocks on his door. He laid back on his seat and said...
"Come in."
In as quick as seconds, his assistant is now coming. He looked puzzled, he doesn't know whether Caohing will like the information or not. Looking at his boss right now, he looks like he is disappointed with his disposition. He looks like desperate and hopeless.
"Wu Suyin followed you here Sir.", the assistant began talking.
"From Japan?", his assistant nodded and Caohing's face became bitter.
"Let her in.", he said.
He knows Suyin can't take the smell of cigar so he purposely lit and used it while she's approaching.
"Are you purposely drawing me away?", she coughed before and after talking.
"I told you I only want to see Meixiu."
"Is that so? Then why do you have to use me?"
"Once Meixiu is here, then your father is paid. But she's not here so you, Wu Suyin should pay on her behalf."
She is coughing aggressively with the cigar. "This guys is so insensitive. The only thing in his head is how to get Meixiu.", Suyin thought.
"If you want to get free from me and my shadow, surrender Meixiu instead. That's the easiest way. I'll free your family from all your debts for last years of your surviving state in the business world."
"Are you really that obsessed for my sister?"
"As much as you're obsessed with her husband. Don't wait for me to hurt Chaoxiang in order for me to get Meixiu."
"Stop this Caohing! You already had enough of our family!", she clenched her fists.
"How can it be enough when you're not giving Meixiu? You can give me everything and it'll be nothing. Meixiu is the only payment I need. So if she's not with you, leave."
He gestured his hand, pointing his index to the door, commanding her to go away. Suyin stood still in front of him for she still wants to say something. She ran her hand up and down her stomach, opened her mouth to slip a word.
Her brain knows the words she ought to say. But with this man's anger issues, it seems like she had swallowed her tongue back to her throat. She doesn't know how to explain how things turned up like this. And she isn't even sure how is he going to react after knowing what is going on to her right now.
"There's something I need to tell you."
"If it's not about Meixiu, I won't listen."
He looked at her from head to toe before he chuckled. He knows it's not about Meixiu. And Suyin knows it too. For so many years, he had been searching for this woman who tried to live a life away from him and his brother Liwei even if they are pretty close back then. Meixiu was so dogged in forgetting that night where Caohing almost took her in exchange for her father's debt.
"Leave.", he said and even opened the door for her.
(This actually happened at the very day Suyin arrived from Japan)