96 The Japan Trip 8 (2/2)

”Please tell me you're kidding... How can you not see that?!” Joann rolled her eyes in humor. This was a classic case of the things being clearer when viewed from the outside. Joann did find it cute that the two involved were completely clueless of their affection for each other, it was like a love story pulled right out of fiction.

”No... You must be mistaken.” Xiu Ling still refused to believe it.

Joann sighed. ”Xiu Ling, take a look around you. The man has gifted you a luxury trip for two to Japan, first class plane tickets, an impressive accommodation and a limitless credit card. How big of a sign do you need?”

”But those are just gifts from his business clients. He's re-gifting them to us because he has no use for them and we just so happen to be a convenient way to dispose of them,” Xiu Ling argued.

Joann scoffed with incredulity. ”Don't tell me you really buy into all that horse poop?! The Xiu Ling that I know is more astute than this. Perhaps what they say is true, love does make one dumb.”

”Who said I'm in love?! I'm not in love, you're in love!” Xiu Ling fired back instantly. In that moment, it felt like they were back in their dorm room, talking about boys.

Joann snickered in amusement as she raised her hands in mock surrender. ”Fine, fine. Maybe I'm wrong but... you know I'm right.”

Did she really like Lin Kang and did Lin Kang really like her? It sounded like a simple question but matters of the heart were rarely that easily solved. If they were, so many romance webnovels that went into hundreds and even thousands of chapters could probably be completed in less than ten chapters. In any case, Joann had given Xiu Ling plenty of things to think about that night.

After a few minutes of silence for both of the ladies to formulate their thoughts, Joann leaned forward towards Xiu Ling and uttered in a serious tone, ”Xiu Ling, I hope you figure it out soon, what is it that your heart is telling you. No matter what you decide, know that I am always in full support of you. Of course, I hope for the best but as a dear friend, I have to warn you that a tiger doesn't lose its stripes that easily or sometimes, not at all. I'll need you to promise me that you'll be careful and always put yourself first.”

There were many things clouding up Xiu Ling's mind then but one thing that she was certain of was her best friend's concern towards her. ”Thank you, Joann and I will.”

In any case, Xiu Ling found Joann's warning to be overly cautious. Call it naivete or faith, Xiu Ling chose to believe in the good in people. She believed, when given a chance, people had the capability of turning over a new leaf, to be a better version of themselves. However, something would happen in the near future to challenge this particular way of thinking of hers.