Chapter 298 - No More A Single Man
When Nuying told everyone about Chen\'s tragic past love life, Ziying did not believe it and thought it was rubbish. She had always placed Chen in the \'fuckboy\' category who just flirted and hooked up with women. This is also one of the reasons why she did not believe the whole \'tragic love story\' she had heard about him. But now when she had been proved wrong, she felt extremely guilty and also sad.
Gritting her teeth, she groaned in frustration. She hated the feeling but more than that, she hated for thinking so lowly of him and not believing what Nuying had told her.
After composing and assuring herself that she would apologize to him after the reunion, she stepped out of the washroom.
…..
Reunion venue.
Sitting near the bar, Chen ordered himself a drink while he patiently waited for Ziying to arrive.
"Chen?"
Looking in the direction someone had just called him from, he smiled when he saw his ex-girlfriend, Lara Biston along with her husband, George Matirus.
Placing her hand in her chest, Lara gasped, "Oh my God, it\'s really you. I thought you wouldn\'t come."
"I managed to squeeze some time from my schedule," Chen answered in a very casual tone while his eyes kept scanning the entire hall.
"What are you looking for?" Lara inquired.
"Honey, I am sure Mr Chen is looking for his better half, his wife," Geogre remarked.
"Oh no honey, Chen isn\'t married yet."
"That is a pity, why not?"
Before Chen could say anything, Ziying arrived. "I am so sorry, I was stuck in the ladies room." Wrapping her hand around his arm, she smiled at him. "I hope you did not miss me."
Completely taken aback and startled by the sudden romantic change in Ziying\'s behavior, Chen gulped in nervousness wondering if she had slipped and ended up hitting her head somewhere.
"Oh so you did not come alone," Lara remarked.
Looking at Lara, George smiled, "See I told you, how can a handsome and successful man like Mr.Chen not have a girlfriend?"
"Actually she isn\'t—"
Tightening her grip around his arms, Ziying quickly stated, "I am not his girlfriend—well, at least not anymore. We got engaged last week."
Chen almost choked on his drink and started coughing vigorously, The woman beside him had suddenly turned so bold and dangerous, what was he supposed to say or do?
Gently patting his back, she frowned, "Drink slowly, the bar is not going anywhere. Do you want some water, honey?"
The small emphasis on the word \'Honey\' did not go unnoticed by him. Lost in the web of her beautiful eyes, he could only nod his head.
"Okay, I\'ll be right back."
After Ziying left, Lara asked Chen. "When did you get engaged? I never heard anything about your engagement."
"It was a small function with only close friends and family," he answered.
Just then Ziying came back with a glass of water. "Here, drink this."
Looking at her empty ring finger, Lara raised her brows. "An engagement without a ring?"
Looking at her hand, Ziying sighed "Ah I must have left it on the sink while washing my hand, what a pity. I wanted to flaunt my beautiful ring here but well—"
Wrapping his arms around her waist, Chen smiled, "It\'s okay honey, let me flaunt you in front of my friends and classmates today."
Ziying couldn\'t help but blush when he gently caressed her waist. His face was just inches away from hers and she could feel his warm breath against her skin.
"When is the big day?" George asked.
"We haven\'t decided that yet but I was thinking maybe around Christmas, what do you think babe?" Chen inquired.
"T-That sounds great." Fixing his tie, she smiled, "Date doesn\'t matter as long as the person I am marrying is you."
His breathing hitched and his heart skipped several beats when she looked at him in a very intimate way. Gently caressing her cheek with his thumb, he smiled, "Me too."
"Where are you both staying?"
The sudden question forced them to break their intense eye contact. Awkwardly clearing his throat, Chen answered, "Holdman hotel."
"Wow what a coincidence, even we are staying in that hotel. Which room number?" George inquired.
"352," Ziying answered.
"We are in 353. Oh my God, I didn\'t even know we were room neighbors. We should catch up for breakfast tomorrow, what do you guys think?"
"Of course, we don\'t mind, right honey?" When Chen nodded his head, Ziying smiled, "He is always ready if I am."
"Alright, we will see you guys later now. I have some fiancee flaunting to do." With his hands still wrapped around Ziying\'s waist, Chen smiled and walked away along with her.
Taking her to a corner, he suddenly pinned her against the wall. "What was that?"
Gasping in shock, she smacked his shoulder, "You scared me Chen, what is wrong with you?"
"Wait, shouldn\'t I be the one asking you that? I was a single man when I entered his venue but now I suddenly have a fiancee whom I want to get married around Christmas," he chuckled.
"Are you complaining?" she frowned. Pressing her finger on his chest, she snapped, "I just saved you from getting embarrassed from your ex and you—" Stopping midway, she bit her lower lip and lowered her head. "I-I am sorry, I didn\'t mean it that way."
"So you know about it already?" When she nodded her head, he sighed, "It\'s alright, it is something that can be hidden and moreover it\'s a part of my past so it doesn\'t matter."
Hesitating for a while, she curiously inquired, "Do you still love her?"
"No I don\'t, like I said before everything is in the past and it doesn\'t matter. Besides—" Inching closer, he smiled, "Why would I love someone else when I already have such a beautiful fiancee?"
Smacking his chest, she chuckled, "Stop fooling around, that was just an act to save your ass."
"How can I make that real?" he inquired.
Running her fingers through his collar, she smiled, "It isn\'t easy to win my heart let alone getting a chance to put a ring on my finger."
"Hmm that sounds challenging but don\'t worry, I am a very ambitious man but only if you give me a chance."
"Why don\'t you try knocking first? If I am interested, maybe I will open the door for you."
...
Jiang mansion.
"You look very happy today father." Pouring a cup of tea for grandpa Jiang who was in exceptionally good mood since yesterday evening, Ziyi inquired, "What happened?"
"Maybe he won a lottery or something," Weilong commented before sitting beside her.
"You can say that." Taking a deep breath, grandpa Jiang sighed, "This actually feels much better than winning a lottery."
Raising his brows, Weilong inquired, "What exactly happened? Share it with us, we also wanna be happy."
"Exactly," Ziyi chuckled.
Grinning from ear to ear, Grandpa Jiang asked, "Are you sure you both will be happy and not jealous when I tell you the reason behind my happiness?"
"Of course not, why would we be jealous of your happiness?"
"Don\'t go back in your words later." Beaming in excitement, grandpa Jiang proudly stated, "I met Ning yesterday."
Scrunching his brows, Weilong asked, "Where did you meet her?"
"I met her in her house."
"And then?" Ziyi nervously asked.
"She called me over for dinner and later, she asked me to come back whenever I want to see her." Taking out his phone, he shoved it right in the duo\'s face. "Look, she even gave me her number. She saved it herself and took mine too."
Keeping quiet for quite some time, Weilong inquired, "How is she now?"
"She is alright, Yichan is taking good care of her." Proudly lifting his chin up, grandpa Jiang stated, "And she also called me grandpa."
"That is nice, at least she forgave you," Ziyi sighed. The sadness in her voice was evident and full of grief and regret. Ziyi did not have the guts to face Ning because she knew she would break down as soon as Ning would appear in front of her. She knew Ning would not forgive her or Weilong for what they did in the past but she still had a little hope in her heart and she didn\'t want to lose it.
Maybe one day when she would manage to gather all the courage she has in heart and finally have the guts to face her daughter.
…..
Beiston city.
Outside room no:352
"Alright you both should rest early, we have a double breakfast date tomorrow," George stated.
"Of course, we won\'t forget," Ziying answered before unlocking the door.
When Lara and George kept standing outside the door smiling at them, Ziying had no other choice but to wrap her hands around Chen\'s arm.
"Alright, we will go in now." She then pulled Chen inside her room and locked the door.
…..