Chapter 13：Latte (2/2)

Qian Meigui was surprised. She clenched her fingers together and said, ”as good as it can be.”

”that's good to hear,” he responded gravely.

Song Sheng proceeded to set the pieces for Draughts. Impatiently, she asked, ”why did you call me out here?”

He took a deep breathe, ”to catch up,” he said.

”Is this your way of catching up?”

Song Sheng glanced at her, a bit of surprise flashed across his eyes, wide and astonished. It was rare that she would speak up for herself, but she spent so much time with Song Ren; it practically embedded in her mind.

”You barely kept in contact for the last two years and now that you've returned, you act as if it meant nothing to you.”

She continued, ”I mean, you came back and won't even visit.”

”I told you—” he began.

”Song Ren does not hate you. And neither do the others,” she spoke confidently.

Song Sheng frowned. ”Jinyi and Jun miss you terribly, and you will miss out unless you straighten up,” she said breathlessly, choked up from her words and emotions.

Qian Meigui felt like crying but she held back her hot tears. ”Otherwise, you will lose me; you will lose everyone,” she claimed.

Even after holding back, some of her salty tears escaped. Qian Meigui did not notice Song Sheng rising to sit next to her. He hesitated, but he pulled her into a tight embrace. He used soothing words to calm her down, but she cried relentlessly.

”I'm sorry,” he began. His heart ached. ”I'll visit; I'll come home more often,” he said, promised.

Qian Meigui valued family and did not want them to grow apart. She had lost one and would not lose another.

After she calmed down, Song Sheng used his thumb to wipe her tears away. He continued to use soothing words that would reassure her.

”Don't leave like that again,” she said.

”I won't,” he assured her with a soothing voice. Their faces were close together. She almost got lost from his magnetic touch. But she quickly looked away once their breathing deepened.

They decided to end the night early so Song Sheng dropped off her off home. He told her that he would visit them tomorrow morning since it was already late in the evening.

Song Sheng drove to a dark and simple apartment. He did not have much furniture because he lived alone. Song Sheng walked towards the balcony and took a drag from his new pack of cigarettes. It had been two years, and he had to see her again.

When he left the country, he hoped that he would forget about the things he felt towards her.

Song Sheng took more drags of smoke. He felt like something was wrong with him. Qian Meigui had grown to be more dignified and independent. She also was more beautiful, but he did not like to think about it.

Song Sheng blew the smoke into the fresh air and wondered what the hell he was doing.