Chapter 140 - Hope She Is Okay

Everywhere she looks, she sees unfamiliar faces. Shi Lian scans the room for Atian but he is nowhere to be seen. 

Sha Sha offered to come with her to meet Hu Meng Yao but Shi Lian declined the offer. She isn't comfortable with her talking yet. 

She feels frustrated because there's no one except Atian that she knows here and she cannot find him. 

While looking for him, she bumps into someone, and accidentally some of the drink from the glass spills on her dress.

"Ah, shit" she mumbles checking her dress. She then looks up going to say sorry but stops when she sees the man. 

Her pupil dilates seeing the familiar yet unfamiliar man in front of her. He is dressed smartly in a navy blue suit and a black that complements his attire well. 

"Won?" she calls, her voice half sure and half unsure because she can be mistaken as well. The man raises his left eyebrow as if surprised. 

"Who are you?" he asks and she knew right then he is Hu Aiguo. 

She smiles and reaches out her hand for a formal handshake. "Guess I changed a lot. I am the girl who used to tease you but also look up to you."

For a second he does not understands what she means but he recovers and remembers her. "Shi Lian?" he still isn't sure if his guess is right. 

She nods, smiling, "Yes. That's me."

"Oh god," he keeps the drink from the stand just beside her and goes to hugs her. "God, I couldn't recognize you," he says. 

"Yeah," she says, her voice muffled as he hugs her tightly. She pats his shoulder softly letting him know to let her go. 

He withdraws immediately. "Oh sorry. " Shi Lian shakes her head, chuckling because it's been years but he is still the same. Awkward and cute. 

"You changed as well. I almost thought you are some kind of movie star" she teases making him chuckle. 

"You can compliment me in simple words, Shi," he says, laughing under his breath. For a moment she is back five years where she used to laugh with him snd Atian. How simple and blissful life was back then. 

"How are you?" she asks with genuine sincerity in her eyes. 

His smile fades a little, "I am alive, breathing. Been good. Working hard."

Typical answer from him. Shi Lian laughs under her breath shaking her head. 

He then asks her, his eyes soften, "What about you?"

She sighs, thinking what she should say. "Should I lie?"

"Your wish. You don't look that bad to lie" he teases. 

"I am good. Happy, genuinely. It was tough for me these past few years but now I am well. Managing a company is tiring but I am sure I am doing good."

He smiles, "I am happy for you." He then passes her a glass of champagne and she takes it with a gleeful smile. 

They talk for a while about the company and stuff and Shi Lian sees from the corner of her eyes Atian approaching towards their direction. 

She turns her head to her left and waves as he comes. Aiguo notices his approach as well. He glances at Shi Lian thinking if it is awkward for her or not. 

"Where were you? If not for her Won, I would be wondering till now" Shi Lian says, trying to tease him. 

"Was busy with some stuffs. So you both met, huh?" Atian asserts. Shi Lian and his elder brother nod, glancing at each other. 

Atian is truly happy to see both of them, smiling and laughing and that's what he wants. Seeing them happy makes him happy too. 

"So what were you doing out of China?" Shi Lian asks facing Aiguo. 

He answers, "Had more profit out of state and trust me our jewelry was loved by all" he articulates. 

Shi Lian nods understanding what he is saying. Her attention diverts to Atian who is looking in another direction, towards the front door sss if he is expecting someone. 

"Waiting for someone?" she asks. 

"I called Evelyn as well. She told me she will think about it."

Shi Lian, surprised, asks, "You did? Why didn't you told me?"

He shrugs. She then says, "I got her text which had me thinking. I think there's something wrong."

Atian scrutinizes, "What?"

"Haven't talked to her yet. I am worried about her. I just got the text before coming to your house."

"Who is Evelyn?" Aiguo asks having no idea what the two are talking about. 

"Good friend of ours," Atian says before Shi Lian can. 

Atian too tried reaching her but for the past few days, she is unreachable. What must have happened? Is she alright? Thousands of questions flood inside his mind and he starts worrying. Evelyn has been a great friend of his and for the first time after so long, he found someone with who he can talk and share things freely. 

Aiguo excuses himself and leaves to find his mother. 

Shi Lian too goes in another direction trying to call Evelyn. 

After a while, Sha Sha finds Shi Lian and tells her, "Have you met Aiguo?"

"Yes, mother. We met and had a nice talk" Shi Lian says with a smile on her face. In the middle of her conversation, her phone starts to ring. She excuses herself and looks at the screen. 

Her eyebrows knit together finding an unfamiliar number on her phone screen. She taps on the green icon and brings the phone close to her ear. "Hello?"

No answer. 

"Hello?" she says again. Maybe it is a wrong number. She is at the edge to cut the call when she voice speaks, "Do you want to know? Mo Shi Lian. "

"Who is this speaking?" she asks. She has never heard the voice nod is she aware of what the voice is saying.

"I know secrets. You want to know?" the voice speaks again in the same creepy way. 

It's not a wrong number. The person knows her that's why he said her full name. Just who is this? 

"What secrets and who are you?" she questions. 

She hears him sneering. "We have met. I know you but you don't know me."

"When did we meet?" Shi Lian can't help but get a little scared by this call. It's definitely a man as his voice says. 

"If you want to know, you shouldn't tell anyone about me," the man says, indirectly threatening her. Before Shi Lian can ask further questions, the man ends the call. 

What was that? Out of nowhere, a man calls her saying he knows secrets and that it is related to her. Is he the man she saw at her company? But how can he get her number? 

The more she thinks, the more she gets confused snd frustrated. Maybe someone is doing a prank on her. Turning off her phone, she goes back to her mother trying to keep her mind free.