111 Your shadow

Jia Li was embarrassed by his words and also by her own reaction. She should have known that he was joking.

"Now that we have cleared that bit, I also want to let you know that I am going to be your shadow for the next one hundred and sixty eight hours. I will eat with you, walk with you, sleep with…" he grinned at her reaction to his last words.

Chu responded before Jia Li could, "stop teasing her like this, brother Tang. You may be the shameless one but our parents and Jia Li aren't."

"Jia Li, you know big brother better than this. You need to hold yourself back from giving him such reactions else he will keep pulling you non-stop. You guys haven't really spent enough time together in the past few years. And, like you said, you are hardly there at home. So more often than not, Ethan and I will see you both here at the hotel for meals. But I am hoping that you would treat us to some home cooked meals as well sometimes. I also want to come spend some time at length at the institute. I was there for a very short while that day."

Jia Li was relieved and grateful for Chu and Ethan's presence. She didn't want to upset Tang but being in such close quarters with him all the time was a very BAD IDEA. She would simply have to ensure that she spends maximum time at work or in the company of these two for the next seven days.

Lost in her thoughts, she missed the wink which Tang directed towards Chu. Things seemed to be falling in place for him right now. He just hoped that these coming days were enough for him to earn Jia Li's forgiveness for his past deeds and to make her realise that they were made ONLY for each other.

Ethan was waiting for them as the three of them descended from the car at Jia Li's house. She had wanted to get some stuff before going to the institute and they all decided to come along. Mrs. & Mr. Xie were already on the way back to Shanghai.

"It still looks exactly the same!" exclaimed Tang, standing outside her house.

Fondest childhood memories came rushing to his mind.

He took Jia Li's hand in his own and pointed, "do you know how many times have I stood outside this gate after dropping you in the evening, waiting to see the light come on in your room? Sometimes I would get lucky and catch a glimpse of you as you would rush to the window sill first thing as you entered the room. I knew it was your favourite spot. But what you don't know is that it was mine as well because I could catch your smile before I headed back home. And that smile would keep me going till I saw you the next morning."

Jia Li felt a tightness in her throat. She looked up to see tears trickling down Tang's chin. She reached up to wipe his eyes.

"Let's go inside. It's really cold here," she told him but didn't attempt to pull her hand out of his grasp.

Ethan cleared his throat and said, "thank god! Weather effects finally caught up with the two of you. I thought that our lips would turn blue while you reminisced over the past."

Tang sent an apologetic smile over Jia Li's head towards his prospective brother in-law.

"Why don't you all sit. I will get some tea for everyone," Jia Li shrugged out of her coat and addressed them once they came in.

"I will come and help you," Tang said.

"Since when have you learnt how to brew tea?" she asked him archly.

"My darling girl, I am your humble assistant. I will prepare the tray, collect the saucers and cups and wait for you to pour the aromatic tea. Then I shall carry the tray to the living room," he said cheekily.

Jia Li's heart was ready to jump out of her mouth. When he narrated the anecdote about their childhood, she had nearly lost control over herself. The urge to wrap her arms around his midriff had been so strong that she had bitten her tongue to stop herself.

During all those years, she never knew that he would linger on outside her house post her going in. It was bittersweet. The tears which she saw on his face were precious. Had she stood there any longer, she would have done something stupid, like forget that he was someone else's husband.It was extremely important that she maintained her composure in front of him. At least one of them had to do it.

Shrugging her shoulders, she walked towards the kitchen.