Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

30 MINUTES EARLIER...

"Isn't it just pretty out here?" Suyin asked while still cleaving to his arm. 

"Hmm."

Suyin had been doing most of the talking, actually, she did all the talking while he only gave her an indifferent shrug, 'Hmm', 'Uhm', 'Ok', 'Yeah'.

It was quite frustrating because she wanted to raise the most important issue but didn't know how to go about it now.

"You know, Titanic is my favourite movie." She said as they both moved back from the rails to a chair. 

"Although the end was quite pitiful, I enjoyed the movie. I loved the idea of traveling on a large ship like this and meeting new people while also having fun." 

"So I don't really mind if this ship is going to sink, so far I have my Romeo here with me. But do not worry, I will save you and refuse your jacket when you offer." She said with a bright smile. 

'Stupid!' Liang thought as he looked at her. Although Suyin was pretty, intelligent and industrious, she was a talkative and wasn't so smart when it didn't have to do with her business and she was clingy. He wondered why she was still all over him when he wasn't actively or passively showing any interest in her. 

"Also, I have always wanted to get married on an Island or at least, an official engagement. What do you think?"

"Okay." 

"Great! I don't know if your parents has told you about it yet, but we're considering having our engagement party in the island. Maybe on Christmas night? We have a lot of guests here so we'll have a full party."

"You do not mind the fact that your friends and other family members are not around?" He asked. This was the longest words he had spoken to her ever so she got really excited. 

"No. Truthfully, I don't really have much friends. Just a few acquaintances so I really do not mind. And I'm not close with other family members so it really doesn't matter." She brushed it off with a shrug. 

There was a little pause before he spoke again, "Did you try to consider the fact that I have friends and family who aren't here?" He asked with glazed eyes. 

She was a bit flustered because she could tell he was accusing her of making decisions without considering him. Before she could think of something to say to appease him, they got an interruption which made a sigh in relief. 

"There you are!"

It was Yan Shen who approached them. 

"Good morning." He greeted his sister and Liang before looking at his sister in particular, "Why aren't you taking your calls? Father asked for us to meet him."

"Oh really? But I'm having a date." She said with a sad pout. 

"Maybe I'll let him know and we'll meet him later?" 

"Thanks big brother. Don't know what I'll ever do without you." 

"I know." 

He was about to leave when she called. "Have you met Li Heya today?" 

Liang's body involuntarily tensed up at the mention of her name and his ears also perked up.

"I haven't." Shen shook his head. 

"I wanted to see her last night but was told by her sister in law that she is sick. I also went there this morning but met her brother at the door instead. He repeated the same thing but he kept giving me this hostile look that made me uncomfortable so I left. Maybe you should check on her later?" 

"Really?" Shen asked, sounding worried. "Did they tell you what was wrong with her?" 

"Something about being sea sick. They assured me it isn't serious but I cannot stop being worried."

"Thank you for informing me. I'll just go meet Father and head to her room. Enjoy your date." He said to his sister before looking at Liang. "I am sorry for the intrusion."

"Maybe you should go with your brother now. There is something I need to take care of so I need to leave now." Liang said before standing up. 

"Oh..." Suyin sounded disappointed but she managed to smile and nodded. "Then we'll meet each other later. Take care."

Zhu Liang had already walked away. He wanted to get to his room and just remain there for a while but he didn't know what happened to him and he found himself in front of the door he believed was Heya's room. 

When she opened the door, he saw a disheveled Heya standing there, looking at him with a shocked face, but he also noticed how pale she looked.

Honestly, he didn't care about getting caught there even though he wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. So when she pulled him inside and they were standing in the same space, he did what he had always wanted to do– hug her, until the knock on the door brought him back to his senses and he realised the gravity of getting caught inside her room by her relatives when everyone knew about his relationship with Suyin.

"Heya? It's your mother, please open the door."

Heya began to panic. 

"You shouldn't have come in here!" She whispered nervously to Liang. Maybe if she kept quiet, her mother would leave and return later. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.

"I won't leave this place until you open this door. In fact, I will invite all members of the family here if you do not open this door!"

"You should not threaten her like that. Heya, open the door. Your father wants to speak with you."

"Oh my God!" Heya whispered and used her hands to cover her mouth while her eyes were still wide. Her father was also outside? Why? Why did they choose to come now?!!

Meanwhile, the cause of her anxiety kept a straight face as if he wasn't bothered about getting caught.

She pulled him by his hand and led him further inside until they got to her bathroom.

"Stay here and do not make a noise no matter what. If you do, I will kill you!" She threatened before pushing him inside then she locked the door.

Zhu Liang was a bit surprised by the force she was using on him, but a little smile appeared on his face.

Heya's parents kept asking her to open the door while she hurried towards the mirror to check how she looked. She almost jumped back in shock when she saw her reflection. 

Her hair was messy and her eyes were swollen from all the tears last night. She also had ugly eye bags. In fact, she looked like a ghost. 

"Why did he have to come now!" She cried as she used her hands to brush her hair before keeping her voice down to go answer the door. 

When she opened the door, her parents were relieved but after looking at her for a second time, they looked horrified. 

"We were worried about you." Her mother said as she entered inside her room with her father following closely behind her. 

Heya was a nervous wreck. She didn't want them to mention anything about Zhu Liang while he was hiding inside her bathroom and could obviously hear them!

"Mum, Dad, why don't you both return while I shower and meet you outside later?" She suggested and prayed for them to agree. 

"Remember all your excuses in the past and when we agree, we do not see you? We won't fall for it anymore." Her mother said resolutely. 

"We really need to talk to you now." Her father said, shocking her even more. If her father was firm on this, there was nothing she could do about it.

"Then, can I at least bathe first and maybe—"

"If you come in contact with Zhu Liang, you should stay away from him." Her father interrupted, making her heart skip. 

"Yes. Your father is right. That jerk is engaged to another woman and is shameless enough to flaunt it around. I do not want you getting involved with him and getting your heart broken again. He is nit worth it. In fact, you should just act like you do not know him. I also think you should stay away from that Suyin girl—"

"You are going too far!" Her father stopped her mother from saying too much while Heya looked like she wanted to just die there. 

"Okay! I promise I'll do all that." She said and hoped they would leave. "I.. need to use the toilet so maybe we can continue later?" 

"Okay. But I wanted to tell you that you shouldn't do anything that would get you into trouble or make you unhappy. You should always decide properly before you do anything."

Heya didn't know what her father meant but she nodded. "I will. I promise I will."

"Then hurry with your shower and meet us outside. Okay?" 

"Yes. Sure!" Heya agreed with everything which made her mother suspicious but her father pulled her away from the room which made Heya deeply relieved but she remembered the person inside her room. 

"I just want to die now." Heya muttered as she locked the door and returned to the bathroom. When she opened it, she came face to face with Liang who was looking at her intensely with his deep eyes. 

He had obviously heard everything. 

"You should leave now before someone else comes here." 

"...."

"Please." She begged. "I do not want to get into trouble with anyone because of you." 

He didn't need to ask to know the 'anyone' was Suyin or maybe her brother?

"I just want to ask you a question..." He paused. "And I need an honest answer." 

"I don't care whatever question you—"

"Did you ever regret it?" He interrupted, his eyes never leaving hers as he took a step forward. 

"Breaking up with me, have you ever regretted it?" 

Heya stood still with her hands clenched beside her. She swallowed hard and looked away from him when she could no longer bear his hot gaze. 

"Look at me, Li Heya. You have to answer."

"I don't owe you any answers. And if you are expecting me to say yes, then you will be disappoin—"

"Actually..." He took another step closer. "I'd be really disappointed if you said YES." He paused while she turned to look at him. 

"I'd prefer your answer to be NO."