Chapter 347 - The Meeting After Nine Years

*Flashback*

Han Huizhong asked his daughter-in-law, who was peeling an orange for him, "Are you sure this will work?"

Han Liqin nodded in excitement. "Dad, don't worry. Have faith in me. I am sure Zongying will like him. He is not like other men."

His face darkened. "Hey, my choices were just as good. It's my daughter who is too blind."

She sighed. "Why is Zongying so obsessed with that man? You still never told me who he was."

Han Huizhong banged his fist. "He is not worth it! The moment he hurt my daughter, I swore that that bastard's name would never be uttered here," his face was red and livid with anger, "It's because of him that she refuses to move on. What an idiot."

"Don't call your own daughter an idiot," she scolded him.

He snorted.

"I hope this time it works," Han Tian said as he just arrived for breakfast. "Zongying really needs to forget him."

Han Liqin smiled. "I am sure she will. It's time for Zongying to get her happiness. And my friend too."

Han Tian grumbled. "Don't be so happy, or I will get jealous. You always get so excited when you talk about your mysterious friend."

She grinned.

Han Huizhong sneered in disdain. "Eww. Go flirt somewhere else. You are making my mouth taste so sweet that it's disgusting."

"..."

"Surely, you would have been this sweet to Mom too."

"In the bedroom, my dear. And I wasn't sweet," he sneered, "I was a beast."

Han Liqin choked. Han Tian cleared his throat. "Too much information, Dad…"

Just then, Han Zongying stepped out, all dressed up. But contrary to her appearance, her mood wasn't that bright and sunny.

"Let's go, Liqin. Let's get this over with…"

Han Liqin complained. "Don't go with that mood. He is a really nice guy. You cannot have a good time together when you are grumpy like that."

"Is it my fault that you are all forcing me to do this? How many times have I said already that I am not interested in marriage?"

"You want to become a spinster now?" Han Huizhong narrowed his eyes. "When did that become your dream? Why wasn't I aware of that?"

Han Zongying gritted her teeth. "What? Have I become a burden for you now?"

"It's a burden more on you to live a life without a partner and companionship," he sharply said, "Do you think it's so easy to live like this?"

"Leave me alone! You don't need me to get a grandchild. You already have an heir, that is, Zhiyuan, who is playing in his crib right now."

Han Huizhong was furious. "You think I treat you as some child-bearing machine? I just want to see you get married and happy. Clearly, marriage was on your agenda years back."

She froze. 

"Things change…"

"And those things should keep on changing too. But your decision not to move on is an eyesore."

Han Tian sighed. "We are saying this for your own good, Zongying."

Her chest heaved up and down as she took angry breaths.

Han Liqin quickly got up. "Alright, alright. Don't fight anymore. Let's get going."

---

Han Zongying impatiently entered the restaurant, making Han Liqin sigh for the tenth time. 

"Don't be so negative, Zongying. Nobody is forcing you. I just really feel that you two will be a good match…"

Han Zongying shrugged. "Whatever."

"Though there is an important thing you should know about him. But he will tell you anyway. Then it's your decision."

"Then why don't you tell me that now so that I reject him already and leave from this damn meeting?"

"You… forget it. He is waiting for us."

They opened the door to the private room Han Liqin had booked. Han Zongying saw a man's back towards her, patiently waiting for them.

The man slowly turned.

And it was the moment when both remained frozen at their spot.

Han Zongying stared at An Guoting.

An Guoting stared at Han Zongying.

It was after almost nine years that they faced each other like this.

Han Liqin brightly smiled. "Guoting!" She held Zongying's hand and pulled her forward.

An Guoting snapped out of his stupor and looked at Han Liqin. "Liqin…"

"Hey. I hope we are not too late."

He slowly got up and faced them. "Liqin...you...said about the woman…"

"Yeah! She is the one I was talking about. My sister-in-law, Han Zongying, who I brought here to meet you."

He froze.

"Zongying, he is my good friend, An Guoting," she eagerly introduced him.

Han Zongying turned pale as she kept staring at him. All the memories flooded inside her. Their sweet relationship and that sour night that led to their breakup.

"We went to the same middle school and high school but then went to different universities. Then a few days back, we met again and I got to know that he is looking for someone. So I thought why not let you two meet? Maybe you two would hit it off?"

Silence.

"Haha wouldn't it be good for my friend and sister-in-law to marry? I will be such a cute cupid," she said to ease the atmosphere.

Han Liqin alternatively stared between them and found the air to be a little odd.

Maybe it's because it's their first meeting…

She cleared her throat. "Well I think that's enough for an introduction. Why don't you two spend some time together?"

Han Liqin was afraid that Han Zongying would storm off, so she quickly wanted to leave them alone so that they could at least talk to each other.

"The lunch is on me so order all you want. With that I remember that I have to go shopping. Bye!"

And she scurried away.

There was a long air of silence. They met after nine years. The last meeting and parting was still fresh in their meetings, and that familiar pain began to creep again.

After a long time, An Guoting took a deep breath and began to say, "It's a-"

"When did you break up with her?" She cut him off.

"What?"

Han Zongying smiled. "Don't pretend to be so innocent. Why would you come here if not for your breakup with He Lijuan?"

An Guoting stared at her.

"What happened? Did she throw you away? Or did you dump her for another rich woman?"