Chapter 82 - Fate

"Why does fate have to be so cruel? Why can't fate just make her love me too? I do not want to love anyone other than Renxiang," Yi Minsheng asked.

"It can't do that because everyone's fate has already been decided and written on a stone," she answered and she lifted his head from her shoulder and held his head between her two palms.

"So brace yourself. Try very very hard to move on. As Bai Renxiang had told you, waste and spend your love on someone that deserves it. Everything will be okay if you just let it go," he advised.

"I doubt if I can get over my feelings. First love never dies you know that, right mum?" Yi Minsheng asked.

"I know but I think that statement has been corrected. It is first love takes time get over. It dies, honey," she gave him a quick loving kiss on his forehead, an habit she adapted since she gave birth to him.

"Rest well, son. You still have work tomorrow. Just try to let your feelings go since you still want to be her friend. I will support every decision you make," Mrs Yi assured while she walked towards the door preparing to leave him to his regular after work nap.

"Thanks for being my mum, mum. I love you so much," he said.

"I love you too. Oh, and remember. Time heals all wounds. Take a bath and get a quick nap. When you wake up, dinner will be prepared by then," Mrs Yi smiled warmly at her son before she left with the door shutting behind her.

Yi Minsheng sighed. What his mother and Bai Renxiang had said were true. But he could not get her out of his head. He loves Bai Renxiang but he was not crazy enough to force her into loving him because that will ruin all ties he had with her.

It is better to still be able to talk to her than to be hated and kicked out of her life. He stood up to take a bath. A nice warm bath will help him to relax.

************

Meanwhile, Bai Renxiang was having a hard time focusing at work. After Yi Minsheng had left, she hurriedly went into the restaurant as she was already late. She needs to explain her lateness to her boss and best friend.

"Rennie?" Bai Renxiang heard a familiar voice from behind her. She turned to the source to see her boss.

"Oh my God. Where have you been? What happened to you? When did you arrive? Are you having troubles at work?" Ning Xiaozhi asked with a voice full of concern.

"Nothing happened to me. I just got off from work and have been here for like two hours. Our big boss came to visit so we had lots of things to handle. There is no trouble at work," Bai Renxiang assured her.

"Are you sure? You seem absentminded today. Michael told me about how you got scolded by a customer because you unintentionally poured hot tea on him," Ning Xiaozhi said.

"I am fine. I just had a lot on my mind, that is all," Bai Renxiang said with an assuring smile. But Ning Xiaozhi saw through her lie.

"You know you can not hide anything from me. Come on, let us go to my office, then we will talk, okay?"

"But eaht about the customers. The-"

"If you continue like this, I am afraid there will be no customers to attend to. Do not worry anything else and follow me to the office" Ning Xiaozhi said with a straight face and alight teasing voice.

Bai Renxiang winced at Ning Xiaozhi's hurtful words. She could only shake her head and agreed to follow her to the office.

***

Inside the office.

Just as Bai Renxiang and Ning Xiaozhi set their plumb butt on their respective seats, Ning Xiaozhi fired.

"Alright, switch to best friend mode immediately," she said as she snapped her middle finger and thumb together, as if she is performing a magic spell or something. Bai Renxiang nodded to indicate that she had already switched.

"Good. Now start spilling. What happened to you? Why do you look so...lost and troubled?" Ning Xiaozhi probed.

Bai Renxiang lolled into the chair she sat on. She sighed as she massaged her temples.

"I do not know why I am so bothered. I just can't stop thinking about what he said," Bai Renxiang spoke vaguely.

"Okay now there is a 'he'? Whom are we talking about now Rennie? Do not keep me in the dark," Ning Xiaozhi asked in confusion.

"You remember the neighbour I have? The sweet Aunt and her son, who is my friend?" Bai Renxiang said as she sat up, ready to tell her best friend everything.

"Yeah, the shy and cute one. I remember you showing him to me when he came to the restaurant one day. So what about him?"

"Let me go over it again. The big boss of the company I work for came today. We had souch to do on the company and we got off from work late. Then he passed by and saw me and I accepted his offer to give me a ride here," she paused.

"Why did you stop? I am all ears," Ning Xiaozhi paid rapt attention to all she was saying.

"When we arrived, he told me that he has feelings for me. Like....loves me," Bai Renxiang summed everything up.

"WHAT?!! Are you serious? Oh my God. My baby has a suitor. I am so proud of you," Ning Xiaozhi rushed to give Bai Renxiang a hug.

"So what did you say? Oh tell me you said yes. Please tell me you said yes."

"I did not say yes."

"What? But why? He is a good guy based on my ratings."

"I know. But I do not love him. I can't love anyone, Xiaozhi. My jerk of an ex made sure of it. I can't fix my already shattered heart not to even talk of loving someone. So I turned him down.... politely."