236 A Yuan for your thoughts

She couldn't possibly say NO.

She nodded her head and asked him to wait while she got ready. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared intently at her reflection, as if seeking guidance.

Wei sat down on the comfy chair next to her bed and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Jia Li's behaviour during the past fortnight had been perplexing. First she had refused to let him travel to London, then she had started to avoid his calls.

He had been worried that something had gone wrong with her and decided to surprise her by landing at her doorstep, this morning. He had breathed a relieved sigh when she had opened the door to him few moments ago, looking normal.

"This has gone on for too long. I had promised myself not to procrastinate but I am doing it again. I need to tell her, want her to know how I feel, how I have been feeling for all these years. Dad is right. Gotta man up and say it to her face," he had pumped himself before flying down to London, the previous day.

Wei had thought hard about how to approach the whole situation. He had landed on Saturday and spent the entire evening planning everything before coming to Jia Li's residence on Sunday morning.

Now sitting and waiting for her to emerge from the washroom, he could feel his guts tremble.

"This is embarrassing. I was known as the Casanova of Shanghai, not too long ago in the past. If any of them saw me today, they would laugh at me. Why the hell am I so nervous? It's not as if I am telling her about my feelings for the first time. I am simply bringing them out in the open," he told himself.

Jia Li stepped out, dressed in a plain lemon coloured knee length dress and zero make-up. She had braided her hair in a simple plait, which fell well below her shoulders. Wearing mute gold gladiators on her feet, she smiled and told him that she was ready to go.

"You resemble a vibrant buttercup," Wei told her, placed his hand behind her back and walked out of the tiny flat.

Jia Li was unusually quiet while heading towards the tube station. They had decided to go to Camden Town, as per Wei's suggestion. The place was slightly far but was famous for its Sunday market and delicious, varied food options. Cheerful road side stalls added to the charm of this quaint little place.

"A Yuan for your thoughts," he joked, referring to the Chinese currency.

She gave him a smile in return and shook her head, "nothing, just a little tired, I guess."

"Of course, you are. After all, being a Boss lady isn't easy, right? Don't let Earthly Matters ground you into the Earth with the extra work load," he continued with his word play.

He was feeling really nervous and her silence wasn't helping the matters.

She looked at him, the precious man with a warm, generous heart and a beautiful face. She was so grateful to God for having sent him into her life.

"Uh, why are you looking at me like that? Is there anything stuck on my face?" he asked, self-consciously.

Her intense gaze was unnerving him, more so under the current circumstances.

"Thank you… thank you for being all that you have, all that you have done for me, all these years," she spoke in a soft voice.

"Uh huh, what prompted the thanks suddenly?" he asked warily.

"Nothing, just counting my blessings and appreciating the good things in my life. Very often we take those people for granted who have done the most for us. They are the ones who keep us going, even in our darkest time," she replied with a tiny smile.

Wei looked at her in concern, "all through these days, there has been something off about you. I thought that I was over imagining it but now I am sure that I wasn't. What is wrong, Jia Li? Tell me and I will beat up whoever it is that has put you in this melancholic mood."

She placed her hand over his and said, "I am learning how to stand on my own two feet. Don't tempt me to use you as a crutch anymore, please. I am gaining this attitude after a really tough lesson. I don't want to lose it."

Afterlistening to her words. Wei pondered over the wisdom of his plan, this morning. He was sorely tempted to cancel it. After all, there was no hurry.

No!

He wasn't going to be swayed by the procrastinator inside him, not today. There will always be some issue or the other, holding him back. But he was determined that he wasn't going to shy away from showing his true intensions towards the woman he loved!