Then when I closed the door, I sat down on the floor and started thinking about my memories with Yuan Yuan and thinking about how I ended up coming onto this path. I had never thought things would turn out like this. But today, when Pa asked me to go on a blind date with someone, I had to go there. As a daughter, I need to obey my father's decision. At least I have to meet that person, even if I say no after meeting him. But at least I need to think about Pa now. He only has me with him. I can't abandon him like that.
After all, whatever he did was indeed very wrong, but whatever he did was also his way of showing me his love and protecting me. I know it was too selfish, but he is my Pa. All his life he has given me whatever he had, and now today when he is asking me for something, I can't deny him. I really can't.
Then I opened my phone and saw his photos, and I felt a little relieved in my chaotic life. At least I got some relief from all this stress. Thinking about him is the best thing in my life... the best ever.
Then I stood up from the floor where I was sitting.
Almost an hour later, I came outside my room and saw that the whole house was empty. It was pretty sure that Pa had already left for his office.
Then I headed out of the house and suddenly a notification came on my WeChat. Pa had sent me the address of the café where I needed to go.
I took a bus and reached that café after almost thirty minutes.
The moment I entered the café, I saw the same boy who accompanied Pa when he fainted yesterday night. He was the one who took care of him.
But what is he doing here?
While I was processing all these thoughts in my mind, he came and put his hand forward toward me and said,
"We don't need to introduce ourselves to each other. We already did that in our last meeting, so we won't waste our time doing it again. Just come and have a seat."
I got a little confused, but somehow I walked there and sat down.
"So, I am Mr. Zhao's friend's son, and I am also a doctor... I mean I am working as an intern right now. And what about you? Do you want to tell me something about yourself?" he asked me.
I got a little shocked by his question, but I replied,
"You already know that I am Pa's daughter. There is nothing more than that to tell about myself."
I said it in a very cold tone.
He laughed a little and said,
"Miss Zhao, I think you are really not interested in me because answering me like this is definitely a sign that you don't like me much."
"There is nothing like not liking you much. I am not even thinking about you. That's the thing I am thinking."
I said.
He smiled and said,
"Miss Zhao, you are pretty fast at saying things directly on my face. But don't you think you are being a little harsh with me? Isn't it unfair? At least you can give a chance to some other people too and then make the best choice among them. If you don't even explore anything, then how will you be able to make the best decision for your life? After all, your whole life depends on this decision."
I smiled and said,
"If thinking about options is really something to think about, then sorry, I am not going to think about it. That's your way of thinking. For me, if someone looks for second, third, or more options, it only means their first choice wasn't enough for them or they were never really sure about it."
Then I looked into his eyes and asked,
"And tell me... when did love ever happen between two people by seeing the pros and cons of each other?"
He went silent.
After a few moments, he said,
"Miss Zhao... your boyfriend is really very lucky to have you. You made me speechless. Your love for him is eternal and even beyond that. And now I understand that there is absolutely no chance for me here."
He smiled softly.
"So I won't go further, Miss Zhao. But it was really nice meeting you. You are such a good and humble person. I really envy your boyfriend. But if I had a chance, then definitely I would have made you fall for me."
He stood up from the table.
I looked at him and said,
"Don't you think you have a lot of expectations from yourself? Or maybe you're thinking too much about yourself?"
Then I smiled slightly.
"Sorry... in this life and in every life, no matter how many lives come, in every world I will always be his girl only."
He smiled and said,
"Miss Zhao, you are too much into your boyfriend now. It really keeps me wondering who that lucky boyfriend of yours is. But really, no hard feelings. I came here to try my luck on this blind date to meet Uncle Zhao's daughter, but instead I met a boy's girlfriend... an ideal girlfriend if I say it simply."
"I'm sorry because Pa had expectations from this blind date. Sorry for wasting your time."
I said.
He smiled.
"No issues."
Then before leaving, he extended his hand for a handshake and I shook his hand.
Then he left.
But suddenly, when I was alone there in the café, I came back to my seat to pick up my bag from the table where we were sitting.
Suddenly...
Everything around me went silent.
A vibrating sound started echoing loudly inside both of my ears.
My legs got numb.
My vision started becoming blurry.
Everyone in the café became blurred in front of my eyes.
The vibrating sound in my ears became louder and louder with every passing second.
And then...
I collapsed.
My eyes closed.
But for a few seconds, even after closing my eyes, I could still feel the surroundings around me.
And I felt him.
I felt like he came and caught me before I could hit the floor.
His presence...
I could feel it.
I don't know whether I was hallucinating or something else, but I felt him around me.
Then I slowly opened my eyes.
The very first thing I saw was the road outside where people were walking here and there.
Then I moved my head toward the left side...
And there I saw him.
Sitting on the driver's seat.
Looking straight at the road while holding the steering wheel with one hand.
I gathered whatever little energy I had left and asked,
"Yuan... how did you come here? I mean when we talked last night you were in Shanghai doing your drama shooting, then how did you—"
But he cut me off in the middle and said,
"Forget me. First tell me this... how did you end up like this?"
I got confused.
I really didn't understand where he was heading.
"Do you enjoy making me scared like this? Do you even have any idea what I was feeling when you collapsed there alone in that café?"
His voice was trembling.
"First tell me... what were you doing there alone?"
He asked.
"Are you craving pastries or something? Is that why you went there all alone?"
Then his eyes started becoming red.
"I was just thinking... what if I got a few seconds late? Do you have any idea how badly you could have hit the ground?"
Tears started forming in his eyes.
Those tears looked like they themselves were afraid to fall, like carrying them was the most precious thing he could ever do.
Then I looked at him and said...