The Mysterious Man

At Sky-High Apartments Next Morning;

"Ahhhh!" Zhao Mei groaned, holding her aching head.

"I'm not going to drink again." She cursed, "it feels awful. I'm feeling like shit!"

Just then, Li Roulan entered her room with a glass of water and medicine.

"Here, first take this medicine." Li Roulan said while handing the medicine. "It will help you with the hangover."

After eating her medicine, she looked at her bestie in a questioning gaze.

"So….." Zhao Mei started, "Ummmm...I…. did I do something last night?"

Her friend raised her brow and stared at her.

"You are making me feel guilty." Zhao Mei lowered her eyes and mumbled, "Just tell me already. What havoc I caused to receive such a gaze from you?"

"So, you really don't remember, what you did?" Li Roulan got closer to her.

Zhao Mei just shook her head left and right.

Li Roulan wanted to see if she was faking or really remembered nothing.

So she asked again. "Really….means really nothing? Not a tennie minnie thing?"

"You can ask many times but..." Zhao Mei put her hand on her heart, "I swear. I do not remember a thing, after going to the washroom."

"Everything is blank!"

"Hahahahaha...," Li Roulan suddenly started laughing as tears were ready to come out of her eyes.

"Oh! Dear Xiao Mei." She made a gesture of slicing her neck, "You're screwed!"

"What did you mean by screwed?" Zhao Mei panicked.

"Yesterday, you entered a private lounge and flirted with a handsome man." Li Roulan narrated everything that happened. "You have even thrown up on that handsome man!"

"Wha…What?"

Now she feel embarrassed. How stupid of her?

"Yes and, that handsome was, 'The Shen Xichen.'

She put her hands on shoulders of Zhao Mei and shook her hard. Then, burst out in fit of laughter. "Can you believe it? You have flirted and thrown upon, 'The Mysterious Shen Xichen'."

Now Zhao Mei was confused. Who was this Shen Xichen? In the novel, there was no mention of this name. However, maybe there was. Because she remember reading the novel only up to the demise of the evil adopted sister. She did not know the full story. There were few more chapters also. But it seems, the author of the novel has not updated the story for a very long time.

It was on hiatus. It means that the end was not decided when she transmigrated here. If she pass the engagement banquet peacefully, which was the start of her downfall. She may have a life where she can be herself.

This was the reason, she was not retaliating or fighting headstand with the female lead.

Call her a coward or whatever. But her life was most important. She will live an ordinary life with her family.

And for this new name, Shen Xichen or whatever. How can she know if his character is good or evil? If he is garnering so much attention. He must be some important character, who would have been introduced in later chapters. Then again, what has that got to do with herself.

Thinking about all this mess, she asked Li Roulan.

"Ummm…. Who is this Shen Xichen?"

"Ai…sh! Looks like you are really not updated," knocking lightly on Zhao Mei's

head. "His background is unknown. No one knows who he is? Why has he come to this city? But the way he spread his influence and control over the city, it seems he is here to rule."

"He's said to be very ruthless while doing business.

People shudder from his name.

But still, the aristocratic society looks down on him. Why because his lineage is unknown and he dared to barge into the high society like a tornado.

Although he is very handsome and his face is worth dying for. But no lady dared to approach him, due to his cold and ruthless aura. This much is only known about him."

This is very little information. How was she supposed to plan ahead?

Winking at Zhao Mei she teased her, "But my dear bestie, you have crossed that line. I think he was a good match for you."

"You, what nonsense are you spouting?" Zhao Mei started hitting her with the pillow.

Laughter was resonating throughout the room. Both girls were busy in their pillow fight. Suddenly, Zhao Mei's phone rang.

'Dear, do not forget. You have to present at tomorrow's engagement function.

The address is Xing Hotel at 6:00 P.M.'

Reading the message, she wanted to smash the phone right there.

"Who's the message it is?" Li Roulan asked while being exhausted from their intense pillow fight.

"It was Mom's," Zhao Mei replied with no emotion. "Reminder for tomorrow."

"Oh!" Li Roulan was lost for words.

She thought about how one can change so drastically. Before Zhao Li Ying's arrival, Lu Xiang seemed to love Xiao Mei. However, in just six months, he realized he loved Zhao Li Ying instead of Xiao Mei. Something seems fishy. But it was not her call to say anything about this matter if her bestie did not want to pursue it.

"Do not worry for me," smothering the wrinkles of Lanlan's face she said. "I know what I am doing. I will be going to join you abroad after I settle my things here."

"Really, you are ready," Li Roulan eyes lit up in excitement. "Yes, now we will be together. I was sad that only I had to go there. I was thinking of escaping from there if you had not agreed to it."

"Are you wanting me to get, scolding and beating from Uncle and Aunty, "playfully pulling Li Roulan ears Zhao Mei said.

" Ok...Ok, I understand," rescuing her pitiful ears from Xiao Mei's grasp.

"I will be going to City A tomorrow morning. You have to come to me, promise," showing her pinkie finger to Xiao Mei, she said.

"Yes, you have my word."

"Now, let's choose the most beautiful dress that you are going to wear tomorrow," dragging Zhao Mei towards the closet away from her bed.

"Nope. No. Not this one."

"Xiao Mei, you do not have any fantabulous dress. How are you going to slay tomorrow's evening?"

Pushing Li Roulan from her closet, "I do not need to slay. That is not my engagement party. Any normal party dress will do."

"Hai…sh! You are no fun," Li Roulan whined like a 3-years-old child.

Zhao Mei narrowed her eyes at Lanlan and she stopped whining. Knowing fully that her tactics will not be going to work on Xiao Mei, "Do whatever, you want. Heartless Xiao Mei." She humphed angrily while walking out of the room.

'Don't you know Lanlan, the decisions that we take today, will decide what our future will be? And whatever I'm doing is for peaceful future, where I don't have to live in constant fear. I want to be myself.' Zhao Mei thought to herself.

She then walked into her closet and opened the locker. In the locker laid some papers and cash. She thought that she would never have to use these things. But it seems like the story will flow just as it has been written.

I have to be prepared.

Please, God! She prayed.

Just keep everything good. No mishaps should happen. After all this, I will be free from this. Flee far away from this city.