Chapter 34 (2/2)

“Oh right! How’s your transfer paperwork coming along?” The thought suddenly sprang to Yun Jin’s mind when the conversation turned to the hospital. The hospital in which Yu Hua was working at had recently partnered a hospital in Dublin. Just this year, her application to be transferred to the sister hospital had been approved. If everything was on schedule, her paperwork should almost be completed but Yun Jin never once heard Yu Hua mentioning her imminent departure.

Mo Yu Hua hesitated “I don’t feel like leaving right now.”

She didn’t have to spell it out but Yun Jin understood.

“For his sake? … You best think it over.” Su Yun Jin despaired for her good friend. If she could reason, so could Mo Yu Hua. Perhaps that was the most upsetting part – she knew it was a fruitless attempt but she still went ahead with it anyway.

When they parted and both had boarded their respective cars, the smile on Yun Jin’s face slowly vanished. She gathered herself before heading for home.

As she was parking, she noticed that his car was already parked. Yun Jin felt a mixture of emotions at the sight. There is a saying that people always changed; as for him, his car was different now and even his lover had been replaced. He was no longer the Cheng Zheng she knew. He was no longer hers. At this thought, Yun Jin warned herself that in the coming days she had to control herself. No matter what happened, she must not let him see that she hurt.

When she pressed the lift b.u.t.ton, it was coincidentally on its descent. The door opened and someone walked out and met her straight on. Both parties halted in their footsteps.

He was ultimately first to react. He looked perfectly stunned, as though it really was the first time he had seen her in all those years “Yun Jin! What are you doing here?”

Yun Jin looked him squarely in the eye and laughed bitterly inside although she plastered on an equally surprised smile “I live here. And you?”

“What a coincidence! I just moved in last week. Wow, it really is quite something that we’ve actually become neighbours. The way the world works sure is strange.” He wore a half-smile that was both familiar and foreign, as though taunting her that he was no longer within reach.

“Yes indeed, what a surprise.” She echoed him.

“The roses are beautiful. Now that I’ve seen you with such a huge bouquet, it seems redundant to ask if you’ve been well. How come you’re alone? Where’s your admirer?” His two hands were jammed in his pockets and he appeared laidback and carefree as though he was asking a simple question and not prying into her love-life as he was doing.

“We just had a meal together. He’s not free today.” Yun Jin said, deliberately not setting his mistaken a.s.sumption straight.

“Oh …” It appeared to be a revelation to him. “It’s been some time since we’ve met. Have you been well?”

Yun Jin smiled lightly “By G.o.d’s grace I’m okay.”

“That’s good to know. I’ve always said that people have different interpretations of happiness.” Cheng Zheng said casually.

“That’s true. People will only know what true happiness is after they’ve been in unpleasant situations. It’s only when you’ve met the wrong person that you know who the right one is … I’m sorry. I’m sure you have something urgent to see to right now. Maybe we should continue this conversation another day.” Yun Jin wanted desperately to end this ridiculous conversation. Both of them still had memories of the past and this interaction was so superficial and their facades too false, it was beneath the both of them. If they were to continue, she didn’t know if she had it in her to keep up her lie.

“Yeah since we live so near each other, there’ll be plenty of chances to meet in the future.” The corners of his lips turned up.

Yun Jin adjusted her body to pa.s.s him and enter the lift. “See you another day then.”

She wished the elevator doors would shut faster so she could drop her superficial smile. But just as the doors were about to close, he stuck his hand in and made the doors part again. Yun jin wasn’t expecting that and she couldn’t help but take a small step back uneasily.

Cheng Zheng did not bat an eyelid as he looked in her eyes and smiled “I think we should at least exchange numbers. After all … we’re neighbours now. Tell me your number and I’ll give you a call.” He tried hard to appear natural to keep the mood light but his tone was hard and unyielding.

Yun Jin studied him thoughtfully before spouting a string of numbers which Cheng Zheng duly keyed into his handphone. True to his word, he gave her a call on the spot. His grin widened when he heard her phone ringing in her purse.

“You should also save my number. You never know, you might need my help one day.”

Yun Jin smiled but didn’t respond.

“Bye.” Cheng Zheng smiled before turning back once again. If this was the first time they met, Yun Jin would have thought his smile was exceptionally charming but now all Yun Jin felt was a lump in her throat.

The moment he turned his back on her, she felt a sudden surge of weariness. If this was how it would be in future days, it would be too tiring on everyone. It would be better to hack away at their false pretences now.

She quickly pressed the b.u.t.ton for the doors to open again and she yelled after him “Cheng Zheng!”

He stopped in his tracks although he didn’t turn back.

“Let’s stop this. It’s been four years and you still don’t know how to lie. Don’t you find out entire interaction a huge joke? Tell me, what do you want?” her voice sounded unusually formal and distant, something he was not familiar to.

He continued to keep his back to her as he replied slowly “I think you’re mistaken. I don’t want anything. I only moved here because my girlfriend likes the environment here. I don’t have any other intentions. You’re right, I did see you yesterday but since she was also present, and our past relations.h.i.+p is too hard to explain, I didn’t say h.e.l.lo. That’s all. Su Yun Jin, we don’t have to be friends but I’ve let go of the past. You don’t have to be so guarded around me.”

“I hope it is as you’ve said. I hope we can maintain neighbourly relations. Good night.”

The elevator began its ascent but Yun Jin’s heart was on a rapid descent.

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