Chapter 102 - Don’t Delude Yourself

Ying Yue was very excited about her new relationship with Yan Xiaojun. She thought of him as an ideal person who didn't seem too interested in her lifestyle and never interfered in her work. Little did she know, that he had absolutely no interest in her anymore.

Upon returning, she nursed herself back to health and then got busy with her contract with Yan Xiaojun. As a token of her gratitude to Yan Xiaojun, she started working from his office. She thought that she would be able to meet him whenever she liked. So during her lunch or tea breaks she would casually go to Yan Xiaojun's office to spend time with him.

The first time she did that, Yan Xiaojun was caught off guard and couldn't do anything. He quietly ate his lunch with her, and Ying Yue was encouraged.

She went back to work, instructing her team in the implementation of the design. Although she wasn't needed after the instructions, as the team was very efficient, she stayed back in order to catch Yan Xiaojun for when he would step out.

Yan Xiaojun did step out of the office and found her looking at him. Ying Yue jumped to her feet and came toward him with a huge smile on her face. But he continued to walk and only nodded slightly at her leaving the office in a hurry. Ying Yue watched his back in silent bewilderment.

It became very apparent that he was avoiding her when whenever she tried to join him for lunch or tea, and he would excuse himself. Ying Yue's hopes crashed and she became furious. She remembered the way he used to behave around her and cajole her with expensive gifts, when she was Yang Xinyu's girlfriend.

But now he did a complete one-eighty degree turn and she was baffled by his behavior. She wanted to talk to him about continuing their relationship, as she was really interested in him. However, Yan Xiaojun's interest in her had already dwindled.

One day when Yan Xiaojun came out of his office, she confronted him.

"Ah Xiaojun, how are you today?" she asked.

"I'm good," he replied shortly as he tried to leave.

Ying Yue immediately stepped in front of him to stop him, "What's wrong Yan Xiaojun? I am your woman and you hardly talk to me," she said.

"My woman? Who on earth gave you that authority?" he asked stunned at her bold declaration in front of his employees.

"Well, we went to Sofia together. Why would I go anywhere with you unless I accepted you as my man?" she asked in an exasperated manner.

"Don't delude yourself, Ying Yue! You went with me to get this job. We are even," he said and stepping around her, finally marched out.

Ying Yue's mouth dropped open but words failed to come. She felt so insulted in front of the employees that her eyes turned red with tears of humiliation.

She picked her purse from where she had dropped it, and rushed out of the office. Her team watched her leave piteously, while Yan Xiaojun's office employees laughed mockingly at her back.

On her way home Ying Yue was infuriated. 'Yan Xiaojun, it doesn't matter if you don't like me. I like you and I will make sure that you pay attention to me as your woman. How dare you reject me?'

Almost three weeks passed as Yan Xiaojun avoided Ying Yue. He hoped that she would finish her work at the office quickly, while Ying Yue kept delaying it. Finally he asked his secretary to remind her of the time clause in the contract she had signed when she started.

Ying Yue was enraged when the secretary came to remind her about the time frame within which she had to complete the job. Though she shouted at him to mind his own business, she knew that the there were ten other sites where she had to install the mural paintings. She certainly had to stick to the deadline stated in the contract. She thought that Yan Xiaojun would be lenient, but his attitude remained cold toward her no matter how hard she tried.

Yan Xiaojun would often call his friends to one of his upscale restaurants or pubs and spend the evening with them. It was one such Sunday night when he had called his friends and was having beer with them in his restaurant in the downtown. The restaurant had tinted fiberglass façade. Sitting near the window he was watching the daily humdrum of activities outside. His friends were joking as to how he had avoided Ying Yue and now he was on a prowl to get a new girl for him. Yan Xiaojun joked with them.

While he was at it he saw a beautiful young girl passing by the restaurant along with a group of five girls. His attention was drawn to her lovely youth. She came near the glass wall and saw her reflection to adjust her hair and dress. She pinned her hair up in a messy bun. His friends laughed at her and said, "How about we get her for you?"

Yan Xiaojun chuckled at her and waved his hand to his friend, "Nah! She looks like a high school student. I like women who have matured like wine!"

***

Four months had passed and Ying Yue's job was near completion. It had been a long time since she had seen Yan Xiaojun. She decided to take a break from her work and be with Yan Xiaojun. She was sure that she would be able to reignite the passion they once shared. She often wondered about Yang Xinyu but never had the inclination to call him. She wanted to focus on Yan Xiaojun, the person who was avoiding her.

She thought of throwing a thank you party for Yan Xiaojun which she would make her intentions clear. She decided that she would call a number of guests and confess her love for him.