Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

Heya looked at Liang in confusion, not knowing what he meant or why he wanted her to say she didn't regret her decision. 

"What... do you mean?" She managed to ask and took a step backwards and he took another step towards her. If she remained they, he was going to bump into her and the last thing she needed was another body contact from him.

His eyes looked sad so he looked away from her. It was crazy how he couldn't control his emotions when it came to her. 

"You broke up with me, Li Heya. I didn't want that, but you were so firm with your decision. I am really hoping you do not regret it. I hope after leaving me, you had a good life."

"I hope you met a better man who loved you and gave you all the attention you deserved, I hope you are happy and didn't miss me at all. I really hoped you lived like that instead of regretting that decision you made that changed our lives."

"So tell you didn't regret it because I'll really hate you if we wasted 5 years because of a decision you regret."

Heya was shocked. His words sounded like he was mocking her but she knew he wasn't. She regretted it every single day, she didn't have a good life after leaving him, she met assholes instead, who either bothered her about losing weight, or tried to use her to get to her brother, she missed him so much, she wasn't happy without him. 

A tear dropped from her eye so she quickly turned around to clean it off and also hide her face from him. 

It didn't matter anyway. She wasn't a bad person. She didn't know how Suyin and Liang's relationship was like, but she knew Suyin liked him a lot. She didn't want to be a homewrecker or boyfriend snatcher. Maybe this was karma paying her back for breaking up with the only guy who treated her like a human being. But she couldn't hurt anyone now because she wanted to be selfish. She let him go and now he belonged to someone else, there was no turning back for her now. 

"I need to freshen up and meet my parents, so you should leave before they return." She managed to tell him in a strangled voice without turning around. 

Was it true that he liked her that much? He had a woman who was very pretty and nice, why was he still after her like this? He wasn't over her yet? But why? 

"Li Heya..."

"Please..." She turned around to look at him. She noticed he was about to touch her so she stepped back. 

"This is wrong. It doesn't matter what my answer is, this– you being here, is wrong! I don't want anyone to see you in here and misunderstand. Besides, Suyin stays just next door.... so please..."

Suyin was probably the first stranger to treat her nicely despite not knowing the family she was from. Heya didn't have friends. The only one she had now, she couldn't ruin their friendship. 

"How–"

"Just leave—"

"...Is your health?" He continued despite her efforts to send him away. "I heard you were sick?" It seemed he had moved from the previous topic and now he sounded concerned. 

She was slightly embarrassed but also grateful he had dropped that topic. "I am fine. I had a medicine for the cold so I'm good." 

He nodded and turned towards the door. 

"If you need anything..." He took out his card and dropped it on her dressing table. "Call me. I'll be sure to help." 

Heya didn't say a word about it. She followed to the door and unlocked it. "Please, do not come in here again." She said as she opened the door. 

Her heart literally stopped when she saw Yan Shen standing there with his fist in the air, about to knock on the door.

Yan Shen's hand froze mid air as he looked at the two of them. He looked surprised to see them together while Heya wanted the ground to open and swallow her up. He had seen them last night and now this morning. This was all because of Liang's carelessness!

"What.. are you doing here?" Shen asked Liang. 

Thinking fast, Heya answered, "He thought this was his fiancee's room. Why do you all keep coming here? Haha!" She said with a nervous laugh before opening the door wide to let Liang out. 

Shen looked at her and then back at Liang who wasn't answering just like last night. 

"We also had a little talk since he was already inside my room." Heya rushed to add. "I will think about singing during your official engagement, Mr. Zhu." She said while smiling at Liang. 

"Really? You'll really sing?" Shen asked Heya before looking at Liang beside him.

"You must have told her Suyin wanted her to sing right?" Shen asked Liang which surprised Heya. 

What? Suyin wanted her to sing for them during their engagement party? She had just made up that lie as an alibi for Liang's presence inside her room but they were already planning on it? And Liang was aware? Was her brother, Muchen aware of this? He had been the one to inform her about the engagement party they were probably going to have at the island but he didn't say anything about her singing for them! 

"Where is Suyin?" Liang asked instead. 

"She's with our mother so you can just meet them in the room opposite the library." 

Liang nodded. He gave Heya one last look before he walked away. 

Heya sighed in relief when she realised everything went well and Shen bought her lies. 

"You look.... nice?" Shen said as he looked at her disheveled appearance. Heya had forgotten about it and cringed. 

"I heard you were sick." 

"I am good now." Heya still sounded tensed so he assumed it was because she was still sick. 

"Maybe we can hang out later when you feel better?" He asked with a hopeful smile.

********

"How do you feel now?" Hoy asked Joreen who was lying on his bed with a duvet covering her body except her head. 

She had just finished having a hot coffee and the room was warm but she was still cold. Thankfully, she felt better compared to how she felt a little while back. 

"I'm good. I'm sorry for making you worry." She said sincerely. 

"Then you should stop making me worry about you. I feel like any second I look away from you, you get yourself into trouble."

"I'm sick. Don't berate me." 

"You should sleep. You'll be better once you wake up." He said and left the chair he was sitting on to help tuck the duvet around her properly. 

"I'll find Reen and let her know you're in here." 

"Thank you." She said sincerely. "You are the best man in my life after my father." She managed to give him a small smile of gratitude. 

Hoy's mind was occupied. He had been thinking about the same thing for a long time but he felt he was probably just overthinking so he didn't bother to raise the issue. 

"I'll leave now. And do not worry, I won't meet Aishu." He didn't know why he added that, but it just slipped out of his mouth. Joreen didn't bother to hide the fact that she was delighted. She smiled and nodded. 

He left the room, still thinking about everything and only returned to his senses when he heard two familiar voices. He looked up and saw Reen and Cixi who were discussing about something but stopped when they saw him.

"There you are!" Cixi said and hurried to stand in front of him. He bowed to greet her and she acknowledged it before she asked, "Have you by chance seen Joreen?" 

"Yes. She is inside my room."

Cixi's imagination ran wild, "INSIDE YOUR— room?" She eventually lowered her voice when Reen elbowed her side gently. 

"I was just out to look for Reen. She's with their room's key and her phone isn't going through." He said to Cixi before turning to look at Reen. 

"Sorry, I think I left my phone inside the room. How is Joreen?" 

"She had a hot tea and is resting now. She'll be fine soon. You can both see her now if you want to." He offered. 

"Yes please,." Cixi said before following him. 

Once they got inside his room, they saw Joreen who was almost dozing off, open her eyes to look at them groggily. 

"Mum?" She sat up and looked at the two women who sat beside her on the bed. 

"How do you feel now?" Reen asked. 

"I'm sure you won't run out like that again after learning your lesson today." Cixi said before looking at Hoy. 

"Thank you for taking care of her. She'll return to her room now."

He nodded politely and watched the three women leave his room. 

"I'll see you later." Joreen said to him just before he closed the door. 

"What am I going to do?" He asked himself. He was still confused about the whole thing but something kept telling him that there was going to be a problem soon if he didn't handle all this as soon as possible.

He remembered he had planned to speak with Sara so he picked up his phone and dialed her number.