Love Began with the First Meeting

There was always someone whom you have loved too much to give up on. And that, was how love always worked and succeeded. Wing chatted merrily with Mr. Song.

They were friends who shared all kinds of topics and discussed anything under the sun. Despite the huge age difference, there never seemed to be any generation gap between them.

Seeing Wing's smile, Weston also beamed heartily. He was a good listener who seldom talked, but when he did, it was always on point.

As the conversation of the two went on smoothly, Brian sat beside them, with legs crossed, and looked at them coldly. Being worldly-wise, Mr. Song knew what Brian actually came for. He could easily expose his motive but he didn't and instead, he decided to play innocent. But Brian was too patient to jump the gun. He took his time and didn't mind waiting. After all, Wing seemed to be having fun.

With his long slim fingers, he held up the saucer with the cup. The green leaves smelt fresh from the cup; the aroma was enticing yet reassuring and comforting.

Brian stared at the cup in his hand-the greenish leaves floated around. Together with its aroma, the drink was simply irresistible. He put on a light smile, put down the cup and stood up. As everyone looked at him, he explained, "I'll just get some fresh air outside." Ignoring their confused look, he strode out.

"Childlike!" Mr. Song commented as he grimaced, looking quite cute with his expression.

Wing laughed before answering, "Brian said he came here for business, or he would not have come in the first place."

"Well, I know why he came here. "Mr. Song was too sophisticated to not be able to see through him. He looked at Brian's figure and winced slightly.

"Grandfather, I'll get some fresh air as well," Hannah said coyly while her eyes lit up.

Mr. Song laughed his consent. He knew why Hannah was eager to go out. That laugh made Hannah blush. Hastily, she turned around and walked out.

Wing and Weston turned to their side to watch Hannah's willowy figure, then exchanged their looks but they just shrugged it off and acted cool and normal. "Huh, indeed, my granddaughter is courteous, but when she is in love, all her heart is hung on the guy," Mr. Song said.

Wing chuckled at his words, then added, "She is a fine lady. I'm sure she will bring an excellent man back. She won't desert you."

"Alas, she..." Mr. Song's eyes turned deep and then, he continued, "She has made up her mind. I am not able to dissuade her. But never mind, she is happy. That's what matters."

"Mr. Song," Weston chipped in, "If something's doomed to fail, you'd better nip it in the bud. For sure you could tell if that someone is not the right guy for Hannah."

"Ha ha..." Mr. Song laughed while waving his hand and added, "Ah, she is an independent young woman. I have no control over her. Besides, the poor girl had her parents died early. If she loves someone so much, of course I'll do anything in my power to fulfill her wish." His aggressive tone had made his position pretty clear. After all, he used to be such a powerful man of A City. He was used to having everything going his way.

Yet what he didn't realize was that his time had already passed. It was Brian who was calling the shots now. Even if he was able to stand up to Brian as an equal, he was by no means able to let Brian back down. Brian was too arrogant and stubborn a man to be bossed around.

*

Brian stood in the corridor with hands in his pockets. He looked detached and emotionless, and his eyes were deep and focused on the streams of rain outside. Gradually, deep down he began to feel bleak.

All he could think about was how Molly had turned a cold shoulder on him and resisted him despite everything. He had planned to let her go once the business of the Dragon Island had been settled. Yet, the slightest idea of her leaving him made his heart ache.

His eyes turned cold and desperate. He pressed his lips and squinted before regaining his poise. His face looked all good and normal, yet his heart remained devastatingly torn-apart.

All the while, Hannah was standing in the distance and gazing at his aloof figure affectionately. She loved him. From the moment that she laid her eyes on him, she knew he was the one.

When she heard from her grandfather that Wing would be coming today, she had a hunch that Brian would tag along. And yes, there he was. As she was brewing the tea for them and noticed his bulky figure approaching, she intentionally smeared something on the tea cup. It was a strong aphrodisiac. And the only remedy was a wild sexual intercourse. It was transparent and odorless, just like water, and indiscernible.

He wasn't supposed to notice a thing. Yet when he was about to take a sip, he stopped and put the cup down.

You could only imagine how disappointed Hannah was. Yet she managed to maintain calm. Switching to a bashful look, she moved forward to Brian.

"Mr. Brian Long," she said as she stood beside Brian and looked outside, her voice all normal, "The rain wrecks the sophora flowers."

Brian didn't answer, he had no intention of having any small talk. Instead, he turned his sight to the locust tree. Then his eyes fell on the white flowers which were all torn to the ground due to the heavy raindrops, forming a white carpet on the grassland. Brian sank into a distant memory. He remembered a locust tree under which Molly and Spark hugged each other. The petals withered as if mourning their entangled and miserable lives. Alas, Molly and Spark loved each other, yet the odds were against them and they couldn't be together. Ironically, she didn't love Brian, yet she was bound to him.

The white petals reminded Brian of Molly. Ah, he missed her so much. He couldn't wait to see her as if they had been apart for centuries.

He sneered, drew back his look, turned around and walked to the exit direction of the corridor.

"Mr. Brian Long,"

Hannah called softly. Brian stopped in his tracks, slightly slanted his head and said coldly, "I know what you're up to and what you've done. Don't do it again. You won't be able to afford the consequences." Turning his back, he added, "Take my words seriously. I never joke with anyone outside of my friends. So you'd better smart up and behave yourself." His voice was hellish. "Neither you nor Mr. Song is my friend." He made his threat pretty clear.

Stupefied, Hannah was speechless; she just stood still and watched Brian's figure disappearing in her sight. It wasn't until she heard the loud pitter-patter did she came back to herself.

Pissed-off, she bit her lips, gritted her teeth, and said to herself, "I don't want to be your friend anyway. I want to be your wife." Her fury and disappointment made her chest heave up and down. She pondered, 'You married Molly simply because she mothered your child. If I have your baby, then..."

Hannah got it all planned out. Her eyes were cunning and scheming. She would do everything to get what she wanted.

*

Molly stood in front of the window, gazing outside and grasping the ring tightly in her hand. Her grasp was too strong that the ring's sharp edge cut her flesh and blood was coming out of it. Yet she had no idea of any of this. She just gaped outside, her mind at a loss.

Rainy days tend to make people sentimental, reflecting and reminiscing. She used to be too busy to enjoy watching the rain or be sentimental. Yet now, she seemed too soaked in sorrow and memories. And these memories kept on haunting and enslaving her. She wanted to forget them all. She wanted to escape. Yet every time she tried, she just got pulled back into the harsh reality hopelessly.

Slowly, Molly drew back her sight and blinked her deep dry eyes. She lifted her hand which was clasped too tightly, then unfolded it. The ring was already stained with her blood, which reminded her that she was weak and vulnerable.

'Molly, stop thinking about these things. Don't think about him any more. He would always be out of your league whether you marry him or not.'

As Molly argued to herself and her thoughts chaotically ran through her mind, the ring on her palm was suddenly grabbed by someone from her hand. Surprised, she opened her eyes wide and saw Fly. "Give it back to me," Molly said, her voice cold and ruthless, as she extended her bleeding hand forward.

Fly was quite shocked by Molly's cruel look. Intuitively, she planned to return the ring, but she was stopped by another woman beside her. She instantly put on a sneering look and refused, "No way."0000000