"Mi Er, why are you suddenly talking this way? Is something wrong?" Li Chen asked in a worried tone.

"Can I call you Big brother? I have always wanted to do this but, I never dared to ask you. The second reason was that we weren't a family yet, so I was afraid calling you that will make Sister Zi Er upset," Yang Mi said as she ignored Li Chen's question.

​​

"You can call me whatever you like, I won't get mad at you or scold you," Li Chen gave her the permission she wanted.

"I like you a lot Big Brother Li Chen. I have dreamed about us becoming a family...,"

"And we will be just that so don't worry, hmm," Li Chen assured. He could not guess why Yang Mi was suddenly saying all these words to him.

I guess Chen Chen does not know that Brother Feng killed my mummy. Anyways how would he know when the elders are trying their best to hide the truth from us? I wouldn't have learned the truth too if I did not unintentionally overhear mum talking to my godfather and godmother about this.

Yang Mi thought, her gaze focused on the ignorant Li Chen.

"Chen Chen, I have to leave now. I snuck out of the house to come to meet you when mum and godmother left the mansion. I need to reach home before they come back," Yang Mi said, as she stood up from the chair with her gift bag in her hand.

"Ohh... Ok," Li Chen said. His fallen expression showed that he did not want to part ways with her just yet.

"Let's go pay the bills so we can leave," Li Chen said, as he stood up from his chair too.

The two approached the counter and after paying their bills they left the restaurant.

"I will call you soon so we can hang out together again," Li Chen standing beside Yang Mi's car said.

"I will miss you. Take care," Yang Mi said as she hugged him.

"Me too. Take care," Li Chen said as he pulled out of her embrace. He opened the door of the car for her. After taking a last glance at his face, Yang Mi entered the car and her driver zoomed off almost immediately. Li Chen also left too.

Yang Zi did not go back to the mansion as early as Yang Mi thought she would. After settling all the official issues, she met up with Jin Xiaofei in a cafe. After finishing their snacks and the coffee the two sat down and chat.

"Xiaofei, I still hate you and your entire family for what your dad did but my desire to see Shui Shui happy is far greater than my hatred for you and your family," Yang Zi said meekly. After about a week, this was the first time Xiaofei has seen Yang Zi so relaxed while talking to him.

"Since I failed in love, I at least want to see my Shui Shui happy. She believes so much in true love and I don't want my hatred to serve as a stumbling block for her happiness," Yang Zi said seriously.

"What are you trying to say now, Zi Er?" Jin Xiaofei asked pretending as though he did not understand what she meant.

"I am saying I give you both my blessings. I wish you both happiness," Yang Zi said carefreely.

"Zi Er, thank you so much. This means a lot to me and Shui Shui," Jin Xiaofei said as he stretched and held her hand resting on the table.

"That I give you both my blessings does not mean I am gonna help you talk to her. Whether you can persuade her into accepting you again solely rests on you so don't expect anything more from me," Yang Zi said sternly.

"Your permission and blessing are enough. I wouldn't dare ask for more than that," Xiaofei replied hurriedly.

"That you are my cousin doesn't mean that you will go scot-free if you dare as much as try to break her heart," Yang Zi said, as she stood up and went across the table.

"I will murder you and bury your body where it can never be found if you dare hurt my best friend, got it," Yang Zi threatened fiercely.

"I will be careful with her heart, trust me," Xiaofei assured smiling.

"I don't trust men so, don't ever ask me of that because I can't trust you," Yang Zi said, as she carried her handbag and made to leave.

"Actually, it's not that I don't want to meet your younger sister. The problem is seeing her reminds me of my past. A past I am still struggling to forget. Remembering the past always fuelled my hatred for your dad. Tell her that she will have to wait for some time to be able to meet me," Yang Zi who had turned to leave said mellowly.

"This might take a year, two years or eternity so, tell her not to get her hopes high. As long as my hatred for your father remains, there is no way I can meet her with ease," Yang Zi said as she turned and walk away.

"Just the thought of you willing to meet her is well appreciated so, you don't have to worry Zi Er," Jin Xiaofei mumbled to himself as he stared at her departing back.

After she met with Jin Xiaofei, Yang Zi went back to the mansion to prepare. When she reached her room, she met Qing Shui and Shiyi arranging her clothes in a travelling bag.

She was surprised but she lent them a hand. After they finished everything, they had dinner. The atmosphere around the dining table was very friendly. Shiyi and Qing Shui put in a lot of efforts in making sure that Yang Zi was not sad.

The friends talked over a few drinks until deep into the night. They went to bed when they could no longer keep their eyes open.

Since none of them had to go to work the following day, they woke up in the afternoon. As usual, Yang Mi who normally went to bed before them woke up before them. Unlike the previous day, she ate her breakfast by herself.

When the three friends finally came downstairs after freshening up, they had their lunch and afterwards settled down for a long chat. They spent the day doing trivia things that held great significance for them.

After so many hours of catching up, they had a cup of coffee. Just then Qing Shui brought up a topic they were all trying to avoid.

"Zi Er, you are leaving tonight right but, how are you gonna do that with Li Yifeng's men keeping a close watch over you every single hour of the day?" Qing Shui asked in a worried tone.

"Don't worry about him because I have already arranged everything that will keep him and his men very busy. We will leave by 10:00 pm as scheduled so, chill," Yang Zi said grinning evilly.

"What are you planning to do?" Shiyi asked throwing Yang Zi a suspicious glance.

"It's a secret and a surprise. I assure you both that my surprise gift to Li Yifeng will keep him busy throughout the hour I want him to be busy," Yang Zi said an evil grin appearing on her face once again.

Since Auntie's death, I have wanted Zi Er to smile and now that she is finally smiling, I find her smile creepy.

Shiyi thought his gaze focused on the grinning Yang Zi.

The sitting room went quiet after Yang Zi finished talking.

"Zi Er, I just realised that you haven't told us where exactly you are going to so, how about telling us so we can visit you often?" Qing Shui finally broke off the silence. Even Shiyi who had the thought of asking her the same question paid rapid attention to what Yang Zi wanted to say.

"And that is the reason I won't tell you guys where I plan on staying. I need absolute space to heal so I don't want you guys to visit me...,"

"Zi Er, what are you trying to say? Are you saying that we visiting you brings you pain or is bothersome?" Qing Shui asked. Her displeased expression showed she wasn't ok with Yang Zi's decision.

"Shui Shui you know that is not what I mean. Staying around people close to me will constantly make me reminisce about the past and you know this is not good for my healing process. Also, if you both know where I plan on going Li Yifeng and Su Jin will stop at nothing to get the answers from the both of you. Even though asking you both politely won't work, I am certain they will resort to trickery just to get what they want," Yang Zi said seriously.

"You know I can't get back my old self if Yifeng keeps stalking me like he is doing, right?" Yang Zi added when she saw that her previous reply did not convince her friends.

"Shui Shui, no matter how long it takes I am gonna come back and I promise I am gonna be as strong as I was in the past," Yang Zi said confidently.