"From my perspectives publicly embarrassing such a reputable figure like her might do you more harm than good. Everyone likes her, so the public will definitely rise against you if you stand up against her in public. To defeat her, we have to make elaborate plans," Pei Yan suggested calmly.

"You are right. We have to make plans. Plans that nobody will suspect us as the culprit." Zhao Liying agreed when she realised that Pei Yan was right. "A month is enough to throw her out of our lives, never to rise again," Zhao Liying said with an evil grin on her face.

​​

"Yeah, a month is enough to make preparations," Pei Yan supported. They continued talking for a long time. Zhao Liying left after they came up with their first plan.

Three days rowed by within the blink of an eye. Shiyi who just received a text message asking him to meet her in a coffee shop close to his office was so reluctant to do just like the text message instructed.

"She has never called to set up such an appointment with me before. Is she in trouble?" Shiyi thought, tapping the pen in his hand on the table repeatedly.

"Maybe she needs my help. It is appropriate I see her or else she will feel so humiliated and hurt," Shiyi thought. He instantly stood up, grabbed his car keys and headed downstairs. On his way to the venue of his meeting, he brainstormed the reason the lady suddenly wanted to meet him separately, but no matter how hard he brainstormed he couldn't come up with any valid reason why she suddenly wanted to meet him.

When he got to the cafe, even from where he parked his car he sighted her sitting down close to the glass wall. Just by mere looking at her from afar, he could tell how nervous she was.

"Is she alright?" Shiyi remarked as he walked to the entrance of the cafe. The cafe was on the first floor while the ground floor was a restaurant. He quickly made his way to the first floor to see her.

"Oh, you are here!" Wen Min exclaimed awkwardly when Shiyi got to where she was sitting down. No matter how hard she tried to compose herself, Shiyi could read uneasiness all over her. Unlike her usual bold self, she was fidgeting, and this baffled Shiyi.

"It was only right that I come after receiving your message," Shiyi said, sitting down in a seat opposite hers. He stared at her silently for over two minutes. He studied how she keeps playing with her nails. The thing he found so unbelievable and suspicious was the fact that she avoided staring at him.

"Let's place our order," Wen Min said, picking up the menu. Even as she speaks, one could tell how nervous she is.

"What is wrong? You are acting so weird. You look uneasy," Shiyi ignored her words. He stares at her keenly.

"I'm... I am...," Wen Min stammered. She did not know how to relay what she had in mind to him. She was afraid he would start avoiding her or worst of all hate her more than he has already done.

"You are what? I can't decipher what you are trying to say, so speak eloquently," Shiyi said. His voice sounded serious. One could tell through his voice that he was in a hurry to hear whatever message she wanted to pass to him and leave instantly.

"I am...," Wen Min paused. She still couldn't stare directly at him. "I haven't eaten throughout today, so let's grab a bite first. I will tell you what I have to do after we have eaten," Wen Min informed, beckoning a server to come to take their order.

"Do you know how weird and suspicious you are acting? You are making me anxious," Shiyi spoke his mind, staring at the lady's indifferent attitude. She continued placing her orders, pretending as if she did not hear all he had just said.

Wen Min ordered a cup of coffee and a strawberry flavoured cake to compliment her coffee. Despite her nervousness, she ate elegantly. Shiyi, who only ordered a cup of coffee, watched her eat. From the first day he met, he knew she was an exquisite lady. Although her kindness can never be compared to his beloved Yang Zi's kindness, he knew that she was an amiable lady.

Just if she wasn't the cousin of his love rival, he would have made her his best friend, but too bad she had to be related to the man who snatched his beloved Zi Er from him. This undeniable truth makes him like her less.

"You have finished eating so start talking?" Shiyi ordered, checking his wristwatch to show her he didn't have time to waste on her.

"I know you might stop talking to me ever again after listening to what I have to tell you, but despite knowing this, I don't want to deceive you or myself about how I truly feel. I want to tell you how I feel so I won't have any regrets," Wen Min said, exhaling deeply to calm her tensed nerves.

Shiyi just stared at her, confused to see her acting so serious.

"Young Master Luo, I want to officially make my feelings known to you. I like you very much. From the first time I set my eyes on you, I have already fallen in love with you, but I didn't dare to tell you how I feel," Wen Min said. For the first time since she stepped foot into the cafe, she mustered up the courage to stare at him. She wanted to see what his expression was.

"I know what must be going through your mind. You think I am a shameless, overconfident and an uncultured lady. One who doesn't have any sense of pride or dignity," Wen Min said, trying to sound firm. "I know I am shameless to tell you this when I am aware of your undying love for Yang Zi, but you can't blame me for falling so deeply in love with you, right?" Wen Min asked, staring at Shiyi's calm expression. At that instant, she wished she could read his mind to know what he thinks of her.

"We can't tell our heart whom to love. You fell in love with your best friend because of this same reason, and I also fell in love with you too because of this reason. If I could tell my heart how to behave, I would have hidden these feelings forever, but we both know that is not possible," Wen Min said. Both of them were very alike, they both fell stupidly in love with those whom they know will never reciprocate their love.

"I know you truly love Yang Zi and I am Ok with it. I am not telling you how I feel to make you love me or do otherwise. I told you this because I wanted to lift that burden off my shoulders. Letting you know how I feel will make me have peace of mind. That is why I confess my feelings to you. You don't have to let how I feel burden you," Wen Min said, wiping the tears that were attempting to fall from her eyes.

How I wish I was half as bold as she is now, then I wouldn't have lost my first love to another man. I just wish I didn't let my fears control me. Then maybe Zi Er would have been mine.

Shiyi thought dejectedly, his gaze on the emotional woman before him. He really envied her boldness. Despite knowing that he might cut off his friendship with her, she still said how she feels. This was a trait he didn't possess, and he liked her for being honest with him.

"You...,"

"Permit me to use the restroom," Wen Min who could no longer hold back the flood of emotion rushed towards the direction of the restroom.

Inside the restroom, Wen Min locked herself up in one of the stalls and burst out in tears.

"Why are you crying? I thought you told him earlier that you are Ok with him being in love with your best friend, so why are you acting like you didn't expect this outcome from him?" Wen Min said in between her tears.

"What did you expect, that he will accept you? You know that is not possible. You are not up to his standard. He doesn't care about you or how you feel so get your emotions straight," Wen Min reprimanded herself, her tears refused to stop flowing. She continued crying for a long time. She did not care that others might hear her. All that was on her mind was to let her feelings all out. She did not want to cry in his presence.

"Hey, are you Ok?" Shiyi asked when she resurfaced. Although there was no sign of tears on her face, he could tell from the redness of her eyes that she just finished crying. He felt bad learning that a lady just wept because of him.

"Hmmm..," Wen Min exclaimed, shaking her head affirmatively.

"About what you said earlier. I...,"