Chapter 103 - The Wait

It had been two days since Jin Qing left and never returned home. 

Long Mei was beside herself, wondering where he was, what he was doing. She waited and distracted herself with videos and her hobbies until she was tired and had enough. 

In her flowy nightgown, in the middle of the night, she took the car and drove straight to Nikolai's house. There was no one else on the planet that'd he go to other than Nikolai. 

When she arrived, she knocked on the door loud enough to wake whoever was inside. Nikolai hastily opened the door, looking down at her with something like pity on his face. 

"He's not here," he told her. 

"Where is he?"

Niko sighed. "I haven't seen him at all." 

Long Mei could see the light peer from behind him. There were two empty glasses on the counter, which suggested Niko was not alone. She pushed past him, entering his domain uninvited. 

"Mei—" he called out, but Long Mei ignored him, looking for his company. She walked down the hall, stepped into the living room, and found someone she was not looking for. 

"Oh. I'm sorry," Long Mei said to the beautiful woman with dark hair and cat-like yellow-green eyes. 

"Hi," the woman responded as she stood abruptly. "Are you a friend of Niko?"

"Something of the sort," Long Mei responded. "I'm looking for my fiancé, Jin Qing." 

"Aleksei?" the woman responded. 

Long Mei looked at her. "You know Alek?" 

The cat woman responded. "Hmm. He's a friend of mine, the same way Niko is to him." 

"Nice to meet you," Long Mei muttered. She felt ashamed for barging in. "Sorry for the intrusion."

"Not at all," she replied. "But as for Alek. I have not seen him either." 

Nikolai sauntered over to join them. "Which means he does not want to be found," he added. 

Long Mei frowned. 

The beautiful woman grabbed one of her hands. "Ignore Niko. I'm sure you will find him. Alek shouldn't be away for too long. I promise." 

Long Mei smiled grimly. "Thank you…?"

"I'm Catlina," she responded. 

"Thank you, Catlina," Long Mei repeated. She then bowed her head slightly at Nikolai and made her way off. 

Jin Qing was not ready, but she'd wait. She'd wait for him. 

…

Two days turned into a week. 

Long Mei fell asleep on the couch when she felt a cool breeze caress her body. She was startled awake. 

Sitting before her in the dark was the man she was looking for. Waiting for. 

Her heart pounded in an unsettle beat. She turned on the lamp, and she jumped from the couch, wanting to reach for him. 

He put up a hand before she could touch him, freezing her mid-air. "Alek," she breathed. 

Jin Qing barely looked at her. "Niko and Cat told me you were looking for me." 

"Yes," she spoke softly, "I wanted to see you. I wanted to explain myself. I want you to hear me out." 

"So you could what? Manipulate me again?" He was angry. She supposed she deserved it. She had not been upfront of the truth, as she should have since the beginning. 

Long Mei swallowed. "You know it. You know, deep down, I did not manipulate you. That is why you are here. Where did you go?"

Jin Qing did not give her an answer. He only rubbed his temples. "I took some time to think about what happened. I went to Russia, and I was planning on not coming back. Part of me believes my father. The other part feels like he's doing what he's always good at—twisting people's words." 

"Yes," Long Mei affirmed. "I know. I know I do not have reasons for you to believe me. Those you care about have always manipulated you. But not this time. Not me."

"I will listen to every word you have to say," Jin Qing responded. "And then I will make my decision, but, for the love of God, please be honest, Mei."

Long Mei nodded, and she sunk to a seat beside him. She took a deep breath and then made her case. "When I woke up from my coma, I knew everyone would worry about me. I had lost my fiancé. I was nearly killed. I woke up damaged," she began. "I thought if I could find the person who did this to me, I would feel better. Suspecting you was easy. You had the motive, but part of me did not believe it." She swallowed. "I told myself it had to be you so my guilt could ease."

"Guilt?" he questioned. 

Long Mei's eyes met his. "I felt guilty for not caring about Jin Hu's death. I felt guilty for finding some relief in it. I felt guilty for wanting someone else instead."

His chest rose. 

"So, I told everyone I lost my memory. It was easy that way. I could get what I want, and then I'll tell everyone I gained it back." Her throat bobbed quickly. "My intention was not to hurt anyone." 

Jin Qing only stared at her. She could see the conflict in his eyes. He believed her words, but part of him was mistrustful. He had been betrayed many times over, and she did not blame him for giving her that same look. 

"As for Xia. Xia does want your power and influence on her side, but she never forced me to make you do it. I know you work for yourself, and that's why I never requested any favours or grants. And that's not a manipulation tactic. I genuinely would never force you to do something you don't want to do."

She could see him slowly relaxing. He pondered over her words. Her truth. "Why did you find relief in my brother's death? You were going to marry him."

"Forcibly," she explained. "It was his idea to elope. He had this idea that you'd take me from him, and he wanted to claim what was his." 

Jin Qing ran a hand across his jaw, fighting a smile. "What gave him that impression?" 

Long Mei smiled subtly. She took a deep breath. "I think it was the way he saw me looking at you. How you'd be in a room, and my gaze would immediately find you. How even as I pretended to hate you, you had all my attention. He noticed it, and he didn't like it." 

Jin Qing's chest rose and fell. "You're lying."

Long Mei fought a chuckle. She inched closer to him. "You know I am not." 

Jin Qing was breathing even harder now. 

"Did that make me unfaithful? Yes. I had fantasized about you taking me from him. How you'd feel like. I was miserable with him. I knew it was because of you." 

Long Mei did not realize how close they were. She could practically feel the heat of his body. He looked as if he was one word away from pouncing on her. She felt relieved. 

"Think about our little fights and banters. I looked forward to our arguments more than I looked forward to seeing my boyfriend. It was thrilling. It was exciting. I wanted you then, just as I want you now. I love you, Alek. So much—"

The words settled between their lips. Jin Qing pulled her against him, and he was kissing her like stars colliding. He was kissing her to make up for all the kisses they missed.. He kissed her like he loved her.