**********

CHAPTER 298

"Please, do have a seat," Li Jing gestured for him to sit down and followed after him.

"Thanks."

"Now, what can I offer you? You need to have a choice Tang Zixin, seeing as you would be traveling and we cannot go out tomorrow."

"Hahha… Funny girl. Okay, I would take you up on your offer. Can I get a glass of water please?"

"Just that?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Alright. Please come." Immediately she opened her mouth to say those words, one of the maids on standby rushed over to her and respectfully bowed her head.

"You called."

"Yes." Li Jing did not say anything more and beckoned on the young girl to move closer before whispering her order in her ears.

"I understand, Young Mistress."

"Good."

The young girl took her leave, disappearing straight into the kitchen. Tang Zixin did not utter a word, he knew Li Jing was up to something, so he decided to just sit and watch.

He checked his watch and saw that he still had almost an hour before his plane took off.

'Forty-five minutes more. I can spend twenty minutes with her before I leave.' Tang Zixin thought inwardly. 'I wonder what she plans her. I cannot decipher her through that charming innocent smile of hers. Tsk looks like Ye Cheng did instill some traits in her. Naughty CEO!'

"Now, do you mind telling me exactly what is wrong with the company? I may be of help you know," Li Jing tried to cajole him into speaking up and telling her the truth.

'Tsk, she would need years of learning before she can get me to say things when I do not want to.' Tang Zixin thought again.

"It is nothing to concern yourself with Li Jing, I would handle it just fine. I wouldn't have gone if it was something that needed my input. So rest assured. Everything would be alright."

"Evasive are we? Okay, if you do not want to talk about it, who am I to pry." Her smile widened like a harmless flower just being okay, shining and decorating the garden even though deep within, it burns by the sun.

In her case, however, the sun burning her was her worry. They had come too close for her not to be worried over him. If it was Ye Cheng, however, she would have done worse, probably kiss him to ease his troubled heart.

"Do not be like this, Li Jing. You already have a lot going on for you. I never came here to compound your problems. I wanted you to take a break so that I could see that smiling face."

"Flatterer."

"Why do you feel I flatter you? Haven't we grown to the stage where you know I do not flatter but say the truth?"

"I love you, Li Jing and I do not want anything to change between us.' Tang Zixin thought to himself.

He was so tempted to say those words to her but held himself back.

He still was not sure until now if he could take her heart and make her love him. This was because whenever she was with him, she looked at him with a certain joy and admiration.

The look in her eyes never mirrored what she gave to Ye Cheng whenever she was with him. He has had the opportunity of being with her and Ye Cheng and he knows, he could tell clearly that she had a special spot for Ye Cheng in her heart.

While her look for him showed some care for a friend, Ye Cheng's own showed similarly but a whole lot deeper. Like a certain kind of longing and want, a desire yet to be tapped from.

A small smile spread across his lips as he analyzed her carefully. She was sometimes comfortable when she was with him, especially in speech, and other times when it looked like they were progressing, she became a bit uncomfortable.

'Wild lamb, what goes on in that small head of yours? Can I make you love me? Is what Mrs. Lin Huilang said true? Are you not with Ye Cheng? If so, can I make a move?' Tang Zixin thought again.

"I know. I was kidding with the flattering," Li Jing added. She did not want him feeling bad for any reason, definitely not because of her.

Unknown to her, her silence and choosing to be on the fence while she waits for destiny to play out was already hurting him. Ever since his parents died, all he had was his grandmother and he dedicated his time and energy to making the company be where it is now.

He never had time for girls especially those who were out for themselves and wanted to use you to climb and all.

He wanted love, just like his dad and mum's but then, he got too busy to even search for it but when his grandmother mentioned Li Jing to him that she was helping him, he decided to do a background check on her.

It was from then he had his eyes on her and found her to be an interesting little lamb who knew nothing and was too naïve for the world they were living in.

Regardless he never made a move or talk to her till the passing away of his grandmother. All this while, he had more or less been stalking her but told himself he was only keeping an eye on her just to ensure his grandmother was safe.

And now… that interest he had in her further grew slowly to him crushing on her to love her.

"Okay. Once more I am so sorry for canceling and I would love to make it up to you. What say you, we go out next weekend?"

"Umm…"

"Trust me, I promise you this time, I would ensure that you are not disappointed. My apologies for killing your expectations. I would ensure that I round up things before Friday and arrive on Friday then we can take the weekend to have fun."

"Then you can dress simply again," Li Jing added for him.

"Yeah, and you can smile more to relieve your stress."