"I got the file this morning only to find this. This is insane" she fumes. Shi Lian is one of those bosses that do not get angry often at their staff or scold them for no specific reason but thinking now, she gets the feeling that she has been lenient to them.

"Prepare a meeting. Now," she orders er secretary.

Fang Xiao nods. "Yes, I will do it right away"

"Inform the shareholders, directors, and other the authorities as well. I need to talk things out."

Maybe being the cool boss is not working. She needs to show them that they cannot take her lightly.

After the meeting, Shi Lian is on her way to her office, passing the foyer when she gets a text from Zichen. Her mood instantly changes and the stupid grin she had in the morning returns.

It's only been 12 hours or so and she already misses him. She wants to meet but she can't. For the August collection, she has less time in her hand. Due to the sudden decline of resources, she isn't sure what to do. She thought earlier to make the collection grander than her previous one but with fewer resources available she is kind of worried.

Keeping her phone inside her pant pocket, she continues going to her office.

"You have lunch with Mr. Ming," Fang Xiao informs her, a smile playing on her face. Shi Lian has been rejecting his offer again and again for the sixth time but then he is not giving up.

Shi Lian sighs in annoyance, "Cancel it, please. Again." Shi Lian presses on the last word which makes Fang Xiao chuckle.

She then hands her the documents and leaves the office, going to her desk situated in front of Shi Lian's office.

Too much work. She sighs, exhausted from the meeting. A room full of people, all their eyes on her, and questions one after another is too stressful.

She checks her phone again to see if Evelyn has replied to her message. Still not seen. Knowing Evelyn, it's odd to see that she hasn't replied in such a long time. Is she busy? Did something happen? She even tried calling her yesterday night but her phone was switched off.

As she scrolls the chatbox, she realizes she hasn't opened Atian's message yet.

HEY.

HOW ARE YOU? : )

ARE U BUSY?

The text says. It is sent four months ago. She feels slightly guilty for ignoring him.

She texts him quickly and to her surprise, he is online.

He texts back:

YOU ON VACATION? ; )

She smiles and types:

SORRY FOR NOT REPLYING. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.

Atian types back:

NOT HURT. SO HOW ARE YOU?"

Shi Lian chats with him for a while and she realizes it isn't awkward as she thought. She had this imagination that having any conversation with Atian may be awkward since they were in a relationship.

She got to know that Atian's older brother is returning back and for that they are having a party. Atian insists on her coming but she isn't quite sure if she should. He says he had already sent an invitation card to her house and that she has to come anyhow.

Turning off her phone, she gets back to work. There isn't a day where her workload is less.

**

"Father isn't home yet?" Shi Lian asks her mother when she returns home.

"He will be back next week," Sha Sha tells her.

"Oh and Mom, have you received the invitation—"

Her mother, hyped, cuts her midsentence and informs her, "Yes yes. How do you know?"

"Atian told me. I talked to him."

Sha Sha smiles, remembering Atian's older brother's memories. "I remember he used to be shy and rarely talk to me but whenever he did he was so polite. He used to adore you like you elder brother."

Shi Lian smiles as well because what her mother says it's true. She used to go to him for advice and he always made sure to comfort her whenever she felt upset.

"Are you going?" Sha Sha asks, a little hesitant. Shi Lian hasn't forgiven Atian's mother but she has no grudges towards Atian's older brother.

"Of course," she says, "We should prepare a gift!"

Sha Sha likes the idea and both of them decide what to take.

Dressing up is one hell of a task for her. As a fashion designer she can't believe she is having trouble choosing clothes. She picks out a dark purple shimmering lace dress with ruffled sleeves and a slit which exposes her leg. Maybe this is too much. She thinks to herself but she is already getting so fuck it. She changes into the attire and do her make up and hair. She decides to do nothing with her hair, just slight curls at the ends and some hair spray.

Damn, the dress looks too good and Shi Lian too feels the color suits her. She should try more clothes on this color.

Looking at herself one last time in the mirror, she leaves her room and go find her mother if she is ready or not.

Sha Sha usually gets ready in minimum 15 minutes time and it's Shi Lian who takes the most time to get ready.

She finds her room empty so she guesses she must be downstairs, all ready for sure.

As she expects, she is downstairs looking charming as always. "Early as always, huh?" Shi Lian grins, taking one step at a time carefully.

"Yes" her mother smiles. Her red dress is perfectly suiting her body and her skin tone. With the jewelry and the purse in her hand, she appears regal.

"Shall we go?" Shi Lian grins, holding her mother's hand. The gift will be arriving shortly to the place itself.

Shi Lian only hopes that this night ends well. She do not want any drama. As she reaches the front porch, her phone pings. She brings her phone up and sees a message from Evelyn.

NOT WELL. DEVASTATED.

Shi Lian scrutinizes. She is confused by her text. She text back asking her to tell her in detail but she isn't online. Her text makes her worry. Evelyn is devastated? Evelyn is anything but not broken.