Proposal for Love

Jia Wen's hands busily flipped through the documents on his desk. His sharp eyes scanned rows of numbers and letters, immersing himself in work. After hours of distraction, with Shen Han's face haunting his thoughts, Jia Wen finally regained focus. He silently wished for no interruptions this time.

Unfortunately, that wish didn't last. His phone buzzed. A quick glance revealed a text from his mother. At least it wasn't a call, Jia Wen thought. With a flick of his fingers, he opened the message.

It was an invitation for dinner. Not a bad idea. It had been a while since they spent time together. Jia Wen quickly typed a reply, agreeing to his mother's suggestion.

As the workday drew to a close, Jia Wen prepared to leave the office. He stepped out of his office and bumped into Yuan Qi, who was also getting ready to leave. Jia Wen decided to exchange a few words with him.

"Hey," Jia Wen greeted.

Yuan Qi, busy locking up his desk drawer, replied, "Hey, Boss. Heading out already?"

"Yeah," Jia Wen nodded. "My mom invited me for dinner at home."

"What a shame. I was just about to ask if you wanted to hit the bar." Yuan Qi grinned while putting on his jacket.

Jia Wen quickly shut his eyes, cursing how bad the timing was on all of this. He had already promised to join his mother for dinner, and it wasn't wise to cancel. Still, he couldn't help but wonder why Yuan Qi suddenly wanted to go to the bar—a spot they only went to when the stress was getting to them.

"Is something bothering you?" Jia Wen asked.

"Not me." Yuan Qi pointed at Jia Wen. "You're the one with problems."

"Me?" Jia Wen pointed at himself, confused. "What do you mean I have problems? I'm fine."

"Really? What about Shen Han?"

No matter how much time passed, hearing Shen Han's name always made Jia Wen's chest tighten. The mere thought of how he had nearly destroyed his life was enough to sour his mood.

The bar wasn't really Jia Wen's go-to for relaxing.

But after his relationship with Shen Han had fallen apart, he'd gone there a lot to blow off some steam. Yuan Qi, ever loyal, always accompanied him. Without meaning to, the bar had turned into his spot to get away from problems.

Just remembering those times left a bitter taste in Jia Wen's mouth. His expression darkened, and Yuan Qi's laughter only made it worse.

"See? I knew you were stressing over Shen Han," Yuan Qi teased.

"And you think I'll drown myself in alcohol over him again?" Jia Wen shot back.

"Why not? You've done it before, haven't you?" Yuan Qi replied with a shrug.

The last thing Jia Wen needed was to relive his past mistakes. Without another word, he decided to leave before Yuan Qi could provoke him further.

"Enjoy your dinner," Yuan Qi called after him. While the sentiment was genuine, Jia Wen couldn't shake the unease it left him with.

Driving at a steady pace, Jia Wen navigated the bustling streets. On a whim, he stopped at his favorite bakery to pick up a cake for his parents. He was hoping it would help make their night better.

When Jia Wen arrived home, his mother was waiting for him in the living room. She beamed at the sight of the cake he brought and ushered him to the dining table.

The spread of dishes on the table filled Jia Wen with nostalgia. It reminded him of the days he lived with his parents before moving out on his own a year ago. Though he didn't regret his decision, there were moments he wished to return.

"Jia Wen, you're here!" His father greeted warmly, arms wide open.

"Hi, Father." Jia Wen embraced his father tightly.

They sat down together. "How's the company?" his father asked.

"Good, of course." Jia Wen replied with a small smile.

Running his own company had given Jia Wen a newfound appreciation for the burdens his father had carried. It also brought them closer than ever before.

But as he assured his father of the company's stability, Jia Wen knew he was lying. Honestly, Shen Han's presence still hanging around made everything feel off. Yet, his father didn't need to know that. Some things were better left unsaid.

Not long after, his mom sat down with them, and they started eating, chatting casually between bites. Jia Wen cherished these rare moments, especially since he often dined alone these days.

"Jia Wen, do you remember Xue Ying?" his father suddenly asked.

Jia Wen blinked in confusion, glancing at his mother, who gave his father a light slap on the arm.

"Wu Xue Ying who?" Jia Wen asked.

"Xue Ying, the daughter of Wu Corp owner," his father clarified.

Jia Wen kinda remembered Wu Corp—a major company in town. Most entrepreneurs had heard of it. But the name Xue Ying didn't ring a bell.

"You met her at my birthday party last year. She was wearing a pink dress," his father added, trying to jog Jia Wen's memory.

No matter how hard Jia Wen tried to recall, the name and description didn't bring anything to mind. "Let's just say I remember her. Why do you ask?"

"She's beautiful and intelligent, Jia Wen," his father praised.

Jia Wen thought all women were beautiful and intelligent in their own way, so he simply nodded.

"What do you think about me arranging a marriage between you two?" his father asked cautiously, though the question still startled Jia Wen.

Dropping his utensils, Jia Wen stared at his father in disbelief. "An arranged marriage? Are you serious?"

"Of course."

"Father, please don't do this to me. Do I seem so pathetic that you need to arrange my marriage?"

"What's wrong with it? Don't tell me you still haven't gotten over Shen Han?" his father asked sharply.

Jia Wen let out a bitter laugh. "Dad, I'm sick of hearing his name. How could you think I haven't moved on?"

"Good. Then you should—"

"Just because I've moved on doesn't mean I want to be forced into another relationship," Jia Wen interrupted firmly.

"I'm not interested in being with anyone right now," he added.

"For how long, Jia Wen? It's been three years."

Love was the last thing on Jia Wen's mind. His company was his top priority.

Thanks to Shen Han, Jia Wen no longer believed in love. His betrayal had left scars that made him wary of ever opening his heart again.

"Father, I hope we won't discuss this matter any further," Jia Wen said calmly. Picking up his utensils, he resumed eating, though the once-delicious food now tasted bland.

Love, arranged marriages, or anything of the sort—Jia Wen didn't need them.