Chapter 97 - Determination

Two days after Christmas, everyone was still having fun. People made new friends, tried new things and some got to fall in love. It was perfect for some but for some others, it was not. 

"There is no way in hell I am going to be wearing a bikini out there!" Joreen declared in horror as she looked at the pant and bra on the bed. 

"Come on, don't you want to seduce uncle Hoy?" Reen asked while wiggling her brows playfully. 

"I won't wear that! I won't expose my body just because I want to get his attention." 

"Okay! You don't have to be so vicious about it darling. I was only messing with you. Of course I know you won't be comfortable wearing this." Reen threw her a jean short and sports bra. "This is fine?" 

Joreen caught them and after one look, she shrugged. 

They both changed into similar outfits before leaving the room. They hadn't done much the previous day so they agreed to go swimming today. Even though Joreen didn't know how to, Reen had promised to teach her today. 

"Where is your ankle bracelet?" Reen asked when she noticed it was not around her ankle. 

"You don't expect me to wear it everywhere do you? Besides..." 

She went closer to Reen and whispered in her ear, "He said he's going to go jewelry shopping for me when we return so I can wear the really expensive ones once in a while." 

"Oh my! I am so jealous." Reen said with twinkling eyes. "You are going to share with me right?" 

Joeen humphed, "If you are nice to me." 

When they entered the living room, Reen yelled, "We are going to swim. See you all later." 

Their eyes went to the dining table when someone spoke from there,

"Aren't you two looking too beautiful for swimming?" Minde asked with a playful smile. "Or by chance... you are hoping to find a suitor there?" 

The girls saw the three men sitting around the dining— Li Muchen, Li Minde and Li Hoy. 

While Li Minde was looking at them with a smile, Muchen looked nonchalant while Hoy wasn't looking at either of them.

"I want to teach Jo how to swim." 

"You didn't have to say that." Joreen whispered at her sister, showing her displeasure in her tone.

"Oh! Jo doesn't know how to swim?" Minde asked. 

"The sea isn't the best place to learn." Muchen advised. "Maybe you can wait until we return? If you need a professional coach, I know one." 

"What? I am a professional!" Reen said, feigning anger. 

"Of course you are! Don't just drown Jo." 

"Uncle, I can take care of myself. You do not need to worry about me." 

"Don't get inside the water." Hoy said calmly, finally looking at her. "It's dangerous, and you'll also get really cold."

"That's correct!" Minde nodded in agreement. "You don't want to fall sick during your 18th birthday party right? That's going to be messed up." 

Reen draped a hand around Joreen's shoulder and hugged her side. "I'll make sure she doesn't get sick. That's why I am her big sister." 

Joreen rolled her eyes before bowing politely to the uncles. "Thanks for looking out for me, but I'll be fine."

"Of course! You are a big girl now." Minde said with a big smile. "You are a grown woman. No need treating you like a child. Go have fun!" 

Hoy glared at his older brother after the two girls left. 

"What? I was just stating facts." Minde said with a shrug. "But... is it okay for them to leave alone? They looked really...." Minde tried to find the right words but stopped there. "I just hope there are no perverts around." 

Muchen turned to look at Hoy who looked like he was seriously thinking about something. 

"Don't you wish to go swimming?" Muchen asked him. 

********

Joreen watched in envy as Reen kept swimming back and forth with some others. If only she knew how to swim. 

She had been too busy with her acting career that she hadn't gotten enough time to learn how to swim. Reen had always promised to teach her whenever they had the opportunity, but sometimes when the opportunity came, she couldn't because she hadn't prepared her hair for it and wanted to protect her hair from getting wet and nappy.

So far, four people have approached her while she sat there. Thankfully, they got the hint that she didn't want their company and they made it easy for her by leaving. One had even offered her a drink as he was leaving and even though she had told him she didnt want to have it, he kept insisting until she accepted it. Immediately he turned, she emptied the glass on the sand. She had always learnt not to take drinks from people, especially strangers.

She took out her phone and began to scroll through for anything fun. When she couldn't find anything, she dropped her phone back and looked up when she saw Reen approaching. 

Reen plumped down on the chair beside her, spluttering the water from her body everywhere. 

"Eish! At least clean your body first!" Joreen complained. 

"There is no point when I'm returning back there. Ah! I feel so fresh. Why haven't I done this since we arrived?" 

"It's good to see you are having fun. I thought you were bored and wasn't enjoying this trip." 

"Are you kidding me!? What's here not to enjoy? Are you sure you don't want to try swimming? You don't have to go to the deep part. I'll guide you." 

"I think I'll stay here for now and enjoy the view. Besides, I don't want to catch a cold." 

"Wharever you say little sister." Reen pinched her cheek lightly.

"Take a picture of me. I need to upload something nice for my followers. It's been a while." 

"I'm busy." Joreen waved her off and picked up her phone again to scroll through. 

"Come on! It's just for five minutes! Please?"

"You are disturbing me. Go and swim or something." 

"Fine! You are so annoying." Reen hissed. "But can I at least use your phone for selfie? You know your camera is better." Reen cupped her face and gave her a puppy eyes while pouting adorably. 

Joreen sighed but handed her phone over to her sister. 

Reen wanted to click on the camera icon, but instead she opened the 'note'.

She wanted to go back when she saw a saved note there. Being the ever nosy older sister that she was, she opened it and read it in her head, 

'Petite girl, a girl with a pretty smile, a talented and successful woman or strives to be, a little clumsy and stubborn, doesn't like pushovers, someone who can stand up for herself, an empathetic and respectful woman, a very beautiful woman, someone who is truthful and direct.'

Reen snorted, "So now you just sit down and describe yourself on your phone? Are you that bored—" 

"Is that... uncle Hoy?" Joreen interrupted with wide eyes when she saw someone who had his physique. He was wearing a tank top which did well to reveal the things they couldn't see under the cooperate shirts he always wore. He wore a free short, a slipper and his hair was messy. He looked nothing like the cold CEO they were used to. 

"Oh my!" Reen gasped when she saw him. "Is he on a mission to seduce all the single ladies here?" Reen asked as she watched him slowly approach the sea side. It was as if he was walking in slow-mo.

When Joreen didn't say anything, Reen turned to look at her and noticed how focused she was on him. 

"Reen?" She finally called her sister in a low voice.

"What?"

"Li Hoy..." She turned to look at her older sister with determination in her eyes.

"I will get him." 

"Oooohhh!" Reen exclaimed but got serious and asked,

"When are you planning to do so? Because..." Reen used her chin to point towards his direction so she turned around to look again and was surprised to see he was no longer walking. He stood in a spot and in front of him, a girl was standing there. She couldn't see the girl's face but she knew for a fact that it was that Aishu girl. She still hasn't given up yet? 

"Where are you going to?" Reen asked when Joreen stood up abruptly.

She also stood up and held her hand. "We are in an open space. It would be easier for another rumour to start if someone takes a photo of you two." 

At this moment, what Changyu told her a few days ago, resounded in her head. She remembered the pros and cons of pursuing her feelings for him. 

"Be sincere with me Reen." Joreen turned to look at her older sister. She could only fight a battle which was worth fighting. 

"Do you... think he likes me... as a woman?" She asked quietly. 

Reen observed her for a moment before sighing, "Uhm... I think so."

"You said you wanted to be like aunt Changyu right?" Joreen asked again. 

Reen didn't know where she was heading to with her questions, but she nodded. 

"Then what do you think aunt Changyu would have done right now had she been in my shoe?"

Reen looked at her sister then looked at Hoy and Aishu's direction. She didn't say anything, but Joreen guessed her answer when Reen let go of her hand. 

Joreen smiled at her before she turned towards the direction of the two people.