It's Late

Long Huojin knew that Xue Guangli was avoiding him, not physically, of course, but when they are together. She's quieter, more reserved. He thought that they were finally progressing, and now it seemed as if they had gone backward.

Long Huojin took a drag of smoke and tried not to feel bad about it. He knew that she kissed him out of curiosity. He had many women advance on him before, and he let some of them, but Xue Guangli was the only one that stirred desire, the need and want of having her.

He never let himself feel this way. He had suppressed it for years, which is partly why he had been mean to her for so long.

But he had been a fool, a big one, for not thinking of courting her sooner.

He reached up to touch his lips. The fact that Xue Guangli took the initiative to plant one on him gave him both peaceful and...wild dreams. He was willing to wait for her, but he figured that he needed to capture her heart before anyone else did.

...

For days now, Xue Guangli had met up with Long Huojin, but she barely exchanged words with him. She was conscious of their kiss; she was aware of them, overstepping when they shouldn't have.

It was still soon, too soon, since breaking off her engagement with Wang Weimin.

But she couldn't help but realize that she had moved on. Even when she saw Wang Weimin the other day with Zi Yingtai, she felt nothing.

It was true about what some say: In a toxic relationship, a person would leave their partner emotionally before they do physically.

Perhaps, she had slowly been falling out of love with Wang Weimin long before she had even left him.

Some part of her felt relief. She wanted to be over Wang Weimin. But was she ready for a new relationship? She wasn't sure.

But she knew that Long Huojin treated the kiss as a kiss, and nothing more. They were both adults, and indulging themselves in a casual hook-up wouldn't do anyone harm.

But from now on, she'll be careful around him.

'I want you,' he said to her. She couldn't help but flush at the thought helplessly. What did he mean by that?

Wracking her mind around it, she decided to overlook her company data. Summer-Autumn Designs was flourishing. Xue Guangli had discussed with her sisters about expanding their company, but they were still unfamiliar with the dynamics of business and corporate.

With Xue Teegan and Xue Liena, they decided to search more stores with their real estate agent who was sent by Yin Shou since he owned an agency.

After a long day, they all settled for two more locations. Xue Guangli realized that it meant she would see Long Huojin less because she would get busier, and he was already a busy man, too. The only time they could see each other were those brief ten minutes in the car after he picks her up from work. The thought made her feel a tinge of pain in her chest.

Xue Guangli began to write a letter to her father, to give it to Xue Teegan to pass on the words of encouragement. 'I believe you,' it said. She couldn't see him, not now. She felt like a fool; she should have believed Xue Teegan when she tried to convince her. Luckily, it was Long Houjin who made her think differently, to see a better perspective of her father. She only hoped they were right; she hoped that they could prove her wrong.

She began to think of Long Huojin.

He was a boy who grew up in a hostile environment; he rejected everyone and everything that came in his path because they rejected him first. Xue Guangli felt agitated with herself. Why didn't she notice his silent cry for help? She knew that at such a young age, a quiet boy, reserved and alone shouldn't have been normal.

The only time she saw him smile was when he teased her, and she was glad that even if it was directed at her, she had made a difference in his life. But still, he should have told her...he should have told her.

Xue Guangli rose from her bed, walking out of her room, descending the stairs. She saw her sister walk down the hall, stirring her coffee. "I'm going to see Long Huojin!" she said.

Xue Teegan turned a blind eye and smiled. She decided to call Yin Shou.

"Hello?" Yin Shou said groggily over the phone.

"Come over," Xue Teegan said with a flirtatious tone.

"..."

"Oh please," Xue Teegan began. "Don't tell me you have never been with a woman late at night before?"

Through gritted teeth, Yin Shou answered, "I'll be there in ten minutes."

When Yin Shou arrived, Xue Teegan greeted him with a roll of silk, by placing it heavily over his arms.

"What is this?" he asked.

"You're going to help me sow," she said. She wore a white shawl over her nightdress; her red-brown hair spilled over her pale shoulders.

Yin Shou clicked his tongue.

"Oh? Were you expecting something else?" Xue Teegan teased.

Yin Shou shook his head. "I know you Teegs. I quite expected something like this."

"So you say," she responded sweetly.

Xue Guangli drove to Long Huojin's house. It was late, very late. He opened the door and said, "It's late. What are you doing alone?" he asked.

Xue Guangli walked into the house, passed him. She let herself in, and she wasn't sure what compelled her to show up. But she felt like seeing him, to ease her worries. Things were beginning to get better between them, and she did not want the distance between them to stretch, not again.

"Can you tell me more about your family?" she asked.

It was selfish of her to ask, but she wanted to know. She wanted to understand him better.