Spring lovers: We who are inseperable

It was the season of fall or autumn, which depicted the slow decline of the year towards winter, slow lingering death for the height of summer into the cold and dark. 

Just like it said, the atmosphere was getting colder day by day. The leaves started to fall from the trees creating a lovely scene for some. 

There was a chill in the overnight air, but with a lingering warmth accompanied by cold winds, reminding that the winter was approaching. 

There was an absence of birdsong, leaves dropping off, and the sound of whistling winds. 

The dry leaves that fall crunched beneath the people's feet and warm air appeared when they talked or breathed. 

There was a faint, dry yet the sharp and prickly smell of frost accumulated on the trees or the bushes nearby.

Even though it was getting dark, people were still on the streets, some with their partners or some by themselves. 

Scarves, woollies, large coats, sweaters were the trend. Jackets were more often for men, whereas, for women, the fashion seemed to be in boots a lot more in cardigans. 

Though the thing common was people wrapped up warmly but not so tightly. 

Whether restaurants or stalls, the food centers were all filled up with warm and steamy delicacies, inviting people to taste. Some caught by the fragrance were forced to stop on their tracks.

All in all, the autumn and its cold winds did not hinder the people from getting out of their houses and enjoy the weather, making the hustle and bustle of the city on its peak. 

Somewhere in the middle of the city, stood a building, high and proud, leaving every person passing by in awe.

From the building were coming out people, sometimes at once, or sometimes one by one. 

They were none other than its employees that were getting off work, off from their daily work. Some in haste to go for a night out, while some to go home and engulfed by sleep.

As the people came out of the building, the lights in it became dim and dimmer. 

But it's top floor was bright as ever where a man in his late twenties sat while his eyes on the desktop. 

Looking like the most handsome person, no less than an international model, the man did not for even a minute averted his eyes from his work. 

KNOCK 

KNOCK 

The door opened, and a young man of almost as same as his age entered the room. Keeping some files at the side of the table, he said, "C.E.O. Li, it is quite late. All the employees have left already. Will you-,"

The man was cut off by Li Wei and he said, "Hmm, you can go now."

Mu Shufen sighed, it has been a year since that incident happened, and his boss had changed entirely after that.

He would often indulge himself in loads of work.

Every night, leaving the company late, or even staying here all night, had become a daily routine for him. 

He had become more aloof and cold.

The employees were often scolded and even fired for small mistakes.

Even looking in his eyes would give them chills, let alone talking to him. 

"Then I will take my leave," said Mu Shufen as he bowed and left the room. 

The office had again become silent; the only sounds that can be heard were clock ticking and typing on the keyboard. 

One minute...two minutes….three minutes....one hour…..

Like this, how two hours got away, Li Wei had no track of it. All this time, he stood there like a statue. 

Suddenly, the typing sound stopped. Li Wei got up from his seat and proceeded towards the big glass window. 

Even if it were the night, it would not be right to call it dark.

No, it was not dark; instead, the invisible lights at the day were showing their utmost shining.

The Advertisements, signs, and posters hung from almost every building in a dazzling array of colors. 

From the depth of the human-made wonders that we call as buildings, cars honking, people shouting from building to building, and blaring music could be heard from seemingly miles away, it would have been a nuisance to listen to all of it for more than a moment, if not for the sound blocked by the glass. 

"It has been a year," mumbled Li Wei with his cold and pale lips. 

After a pause, he said, "A year but still feels like yesterday." 

In his eyes was a pain, and the air around him was sad.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, the eyes were emotionless, as if he had put a shield that obstructed everyone to know what was going in those eyes. 

Turning around, Li Wei took his coat and phone and left the room. 

…..

Li Mansion 

"He is not picking up my phone again," said Liu Roulan as she pouted and sat in front of Li Qiang, who was reading a document, on the sofa in the hall.

Feeling the space beside him slump, he looked towards Liu Roulan, who was sat beside him. 

"What happened?" he asked while his eyes on the document.

"He is not picking up my phone," Liu Roulan whined. 

"He must be in a meeting," mumbled Li Qiang. 

Listening to this, Liu Roulan came towards Li Qiang and snatched the document that he was reading. 

"Wha-," said Li Qiang as he came to his senses after his wife's surprise attack. 

"Look there," said Liu Roulan while gesturing towards the wall clock. 

"It's midnight; which meeting is held at this time?" said Liu Roulan with an annoyed face. 

Noticing this, Li Qiang clicked his tongue. 

"Then he must be driving home," said Li Qiang. 

Liu Roulan sighed and picked up her phone to try the call again, but Li Qiang held her hand said, "Why are you calling him to tell me?" 

Liu Roulan said, "I have set a meeting for him with the daughter of a friend, so I wanted to ask him to go there."

"You mean a blind date," said Li Qiang with a raised eyebrow. 

"T-That," Liu Roulan shuttered. 

Li Qiang sighed and took the phone from her hand. He kept it aside. 

"You know he still hadn't recovered from the incident one year ago," he said. 

"I know, but how will he recover if he shuts himself away from everyone?" said Liu Roulan with a low voice. 

"I get your point, dear, but he loved her. It won't be easy to move on, please understand," said Li Qiang with a sorrowful voice. 

"I also know!" said Liu Roulan with a raised voice. 

"I also know how much he was hurt after that incident. Not only did he but b-but we were also hurt. But I can't bear to see him like this, h-he," Liu Roulan did not say anything as she burst out into tears. 

Li Qiang did not say anything. 

After a pause, Liu Roulan continued, "I also mourned a year ago, we all did! I also miss her. Among all of us, I wanted them to be one the most, and yet y-you-,"

"I-I am sorry. Please don't cry, honey," said Li Qiang as he rubbed her back. 

It was true that they were heartbroken in listening to that incident. Li Qiang clearly remembered the day a year ago. 

...….

A year ago,

"Its secretary Mu," said Liu Roulan as she picked up Li Qiang's ringing phone. 

"Hello secretary Mu, Qiang is in the bath-," speaking Liu Roulan suddenly stopped. 

"Wha-,"

"What happened?" said Li Qiang as he came out from the bathroom. 

Liu Roulan turned towards Li Qiang with a teared face. Her tears were falling, but her expression was that of shock. 

"W-What, Why are you crying?" said Li Qiang as he rushed towards his wife. 

Liu Roulan did not say anything. She looked as if she was in a dilemma. 

On seeing that she was not answering, Li Qiang took the phone and said, "Hello, Mu Shufen? What is wrong?"

What he heard after that came as a shock to him. 

"O-Okay, we are coming," said Li Qiang as he disconnected the call and keeping his phone aside before he could say anything, Liu Roulan slumped onto the floor. 

"Let's go, Roulan. Get a hold of yourself! We need to leave," said Li Qiang with a raised voice, which startled Liu Roulan.

"Y-Yes," she said, whipping her tears and getting up. 

....

[Present]

"Come here," he said as he pulled his wife into a hug. 

Liu Roulan, when felt the warmth of Li Qiang, started to cry, even more, clenching her husband's t-shirt, to the point that it was drenched wet.

But Li Qiang was least bothered about this. His main concern was her wife. 

After ten minutes, the crying finally stopped. 

"It's okay. Lets g-," Li Qiang was surprised to see his wife asleep. Patting her head, he let her sleep peacefully.