Chapter 30

When Yang Chen arrived at Yu Lie International, he saw Liu Mingyu waiting in front of the building.

Yu Lie being one of China's top 10 companies in fashion and cosmetics was also known for having many beautiful employees. So of course, there would be many lonely city men walking around in circles, outside the building hoping to hook onto one of the women inside. The only problem is, those who succeed are next to nothing.

Liu Mingyu who was waiting for Yang Chen had already been approached by at least 3 men in the span of five minutes. She, of course, declined every single one of them.

Even though Liu Mingyu's clothing appearance looked to be quite reserved this didn't stop these men. Just as another man was about to approach Liu Mingyu, Yang Chen had arrived next to her.

"Sorry for being late, did you wait long?" Yang Chen said.

Liu Mingyu revealed a slight smile as she saw Yang Chen, "No, I just finished work so I didn't wait long."

The man that was about to approach Liu Mingyu, couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Turns out, she has a boyfriend, just my luck." The man said as he went back to his fellow brothers to wait for their next prey. Too bad for them, none of them won't succeed anytime soon.

Liu Mingyu couldn't help but slightly blush. She then coughed to clear the awkwardness, "Ready to go?"

Yang Chen lightly chuckled, before he asked, "Where to?"

Liu Mingyu thought for a second, "There's this new restaurant that just opened up. Want to go there?"

Yang Chen wasn't picky about where he went to eat, as long as the food was good then he would have no problems. He then nodded toward Liu Mingyu and they both headed to his car.

Along the drive, they both had small talk, but it wasn't awkward or anything. Liu Mingyu had become more lively after their encounter last time.

After some time, they made it to their destination. While they were walking toward the restaurant, there was a young woman giving flyers to the passerby.

The woman saw Yang Chen and Liu Mingyu and gave them a flyer with a smile.

"Mr.boyfriend you should totally take your girlfriend to this place."

Liu Mingyu blushed and wanted to correct the lady, "Err... He's not my boy..."

The woman didn't hear Liu Mingyu as she had already left to give more flyers to other people.

Liu Mingyu sighed before she looked over Yang Chen's shoulder to see the flyer. It turns out it was a flyer for a batting game near the park.

"You ever played this?" Asked Liu Mingyu.

"...Nope." Yang Chen honestly never tried a batting game before. He found it to look quite fun.

"It looks fun, too bad I'm too old already, hehe..." Liu Mingyu gave a self deprecated laugh.

Yang Chen didn't laugh and said to her, "I don't think age matters in this game. As long as you have fun is what matters. Well, that's what it says in the flyer anyway."

Liu Mingyu felt a little warmth on her c.h.e.s.t, "You're probably right...or the flyers right."

They both laughed lightly before they continued their way to the restaurant.

When they made it to the place it wasn't anything super fancy, but it actually looked quite nice and modern. The restaurant also had tables and chairs outside the place for those who didn't want to eat inside.

Liu Mingyu and Yang Chen decided they would eat outside so the sat found a place to sit. Very shortly a waiter arrived to take their order.

As they were waiting for their food, Liu Mingyu suddenly saw someone that looked very familiar walking inside the restaurant. She then got up from her seat to get a better look.

"What's wrong?" Yang Chen asked puzzled before he looked at the direction she was looking at.

It was a woman that had interrupted their meal last time, Wang Yue. She was dressed up in a pink dress and white heels while having makeup on. People could tell she was dressed up for a lover.

Liu Mingyu noticed Wang Yue, but she wasn't focusing on her. The one she was staring at was the person she was clinging her arm to. It was a tall man with a rather big build while wearing an Armani suit.

Liu Mingyu's beautiful face became a little pale and her breaths quickened.

"Qiqi darling, this place looks a little shabby don't you think." Wang Yue asked with a blissful smile.

"This place just opened up recently so I wanted to see if was anything worth coming here for." The man responded as be rubbed Wang Yue's chin.

Wang Yue's face became bashful before she swept his hand away.

Just as they were about to become even more intimate, Wang Yue noticed Liu Mingyu standing at one of the tables outside.

She glared at her and sneered "Uhh...if I knew Yu Lie's new Department Head Liu was here, I wouldn't have come. Qiqi let's go already, this place is already crawling with whores."

Liu Mingyu ignored her and said to the man beside her, "Qi Kai...how long have you been in Zhong Hai for?"

"For over year." Qi Kai responded with a relaxed smile.

Liu Mingyu's eyes slowly started to turn red, "Then...what about the...promise?"

"Haha...you still are believing in that silly promise. Liu Mingyu you're silly to think that. Although we were quite close back in college, I don't think it was enough to keep a long term promise. I mean we've only held hands before and that's it and you expect our relationship to stay the same after all those years...pfttt..." Qi Kai laughed.

Wang Yue understanding they were both acquainted, revealed a playful smile, and said with disdain, "So your clients aren't enough for you huh? You're now trying to steal my boyfriend...how pathetic"

Liu Mingyu painfully closed her eyes before she opened them again and revealed a beautiful smile.

"Who says I want your filthy boyfriend? I'm not you who's a public transport bus, besides my boyfriend is right here."

Liu Mingyu then ran up to Yang Chen who was standing and clung onto his arm, making her huge b.r.e.a.s.t squish up against his arm.

"Right...Yang Chen?"

Yang Chen was a bit surprised by her sudden action and looked her straight at her eyes. He could see that her eyes were filled with sorrow. Yang Chen didn't push her away since he didn't want to make her feel any worse.

Yang Chen then revealed a bright smile, "Of course!"

Liu Mingyu seeing his bright smile was riddled with guilt. She wanted to cry so badly right now but kept up her act.

Wang Yue glared furiously at Liu Mingyu, "You...Screw you!"

Qi Kai couldn't help but look at Liu Mingyu in disdain, "And you were bitching about a silly promise when you have a boyfriend right here."

Liu Mingyu turned indifferent toward his words, "You're right. Truly a silly promise." She then looked at Yang Chen and said gently.

"Yang Chen we should go."

Yang Chen nodded while smiling. As they were leaving, Yang Chen 'accidentally' bumped Qi Kai on the shoulder, making his stumble on the floor.

Qi Kai then got up and pointed at Yang Chen furiously.

"Hey?!"

Yang Chen turned around and looked at him.

"What?"

"..." Qi Kai looked directly into Yang Chen's eyes and started shivering slightly. He couldn't say anything as he lowered his shaking arm.

Yang Chen didn't want to keep wasting time so he left with Liu Mingyu.

"Qiqi! You're just going to let him get away like that?!" Wang Yue said angrily.

"Shut up." Qi Kai said softly.

"What?! Speak louder!"

"I said shut up, you s.l.u.t!" Qi Kai shouted, making Wang Yue dumbstruck.

Qi Kai couldn't forget the look in Yang Chen's eyes. He couldn't help but shiver once more.

---------

(With Yang Chen)

When they both left the restaurant and gotten some distance away, Liu Mingyu removed herself from Yang Chen's arm.

"I'm...really sorry." Liu Mingyu eyes were starting to turn red once more as she apologized to him, but she refused to cry.

Yang Chen stared at her before he suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, you want to go try out the batting game from the flyer earlier? It's quite close to here actually, we could just walk there."

Liu Mingyu was confused as to why, Yang Chen wanted to go here now when it was already dark outside, but she didn't refuse. She wanted to repay him after what happened so she nodded.

They walked there in silence while Liu Mingyu was string absentmindedly in front of her.

When they got to the batting game, there were no people since it was already late evening. Yang Chen purchased 15 baseballs since it was quite cheap.

"Have you ever played before?" Yang Chen asked as he got two bats.

Liu Mingyu shook her head.

Yang Chen stepped inside the batting cage and positioned himself to hit the ball. His stance was that of an amateur but Yang Chen didn't care as he waited for the machine to pitch him the ball.

"Me neither."

*Whoosh*

The ball came at extremely fast speed toward Yang Chen. He gripped the bat and swung at the ball.

*Clang*

The ball hit the red center of the target!

Liu Mingyu was shocked before he narrowed her eyes, "I thought you said you never played?"

"I haven't." Yang Chen then grabbed the other bat and gave it to Liu Mingyu.

"It's your turn."

"But...I've never played..."

"I've never played and I hit the center. I bet you can do the same." Yang Chen tried to encourage her.

"...Fine." Liu Mingyu reluctantly agreed.

Yang Chen then stepped out of the cage to give Liu Mingyu space.

Liu Mingyu positioned herself to hit the ball with a nervous expression.

*Woosh*

The ball came towards Liu Mingyu. Surprisingly it wasn't as fast as the one Yang Chen had hit which was quite weird but Liu Mingyu didn't notice this.

*Clang*

The ball hit the edge of the target. Liu Mingyu didn't know this but she started to breathe heavily. She didn't care that she didn't hit the center either.

Yang Chen smiled slightly, "Go again."

Liu Mingyu was feeling her pent up emotions slowly being released as she hit that ball. She then gripped the bat with more strength as she started clenching her teeth in anger.

*Whoosh*

*Clang*

"8 years...I wasted 8 years of my youth waiting for you to come back."

*Swoosh*

*Clang*

"Yes I'm a silly woman, so what?!"

*Swoosh*

*Clang*

"I could've been enjoying my life but I had to abide by a silly promise!"

Ball after ball, Liu Mingyu kept shouting in anger at the man she thought was going to come back to her.

When there were no more baseballs to hit, Liu Mingyu dropped her bat and sat on the ground breathing heavily. She was exhausted at this moment.

Yang Chen entered the batting cage and handed a cold drink to Liu Mingyu.

Liu Mingyu took a sip regaining a little of her energy.

"Thank you." Liu Mingyu said softly.

Yang Chen smiled and shook his head. He knew this woman was still depressed and heartbroken. He then sat on the ground, next to her, and looked up at the starry sky.

Liu Mingyu was in a daze as she stared at her drink. Suddenly her shoulders started shuddering and she couldn't contain her tears to herself any longer. She then cried her heart out for the next few minutes.

After Liu Mingyu was done crying, Yang Chen gave her some tissues.

"Thank you, again." Liu Mingyu sweetly spoke while sniffling.

"No problem. Liu Mingyu it's getting late so how about I take you home already." Yang Chen suggested to her.

"Mingyu...adress me as Mingyu. You're also right it is getting quite late so we should get going."

Yang Chen smiled and nodded, "Alright Mingyu."

Liu Mingyu revealed a beautiful smile before they both got up and headed towards Yang Chen's car.

The drive was spent in comfortable silence.

When they arrived, Liu Mingyu was hesitant for some reason. She then decided to just ask.

"Yang Chen do you...want to come in?"

Yang Chen stared at her. He, of course, knew what she was hinting at. He then smiled gently and shook his head, "Sorry but I can't, I have to get home."

Liu Mingyu forced a smile, "Yeah, you're right. I'm stupid for asking. Goodnight Yang Chen.

Liu Mingyu didn't give any chance for Yang Chen to respond as she quickly went inside her apartment.

Yang Chen sighed before he started his car and headed home.

-----

Yang Chen arrived back home and noticed the lights were still on. He found this weird since it was already late so he entered the house.

Yang Chen saw Ruoxi sleeping on the couch while wearing pink pajamas. He was slightly confused as to why she was sleeping on the couch so he shook her arm gently

"Ruoxi." Yang Chen said softly.

Ruoxi feeling slight movement opened her groggy eyes and saw Yang Chen's face. It took her a few seconds to realize what was happening.

"Yang Chen, you're back!"

Yang Chen felt warmth as he figured out that Ruoxi was waiting for him to come home.

Ruoxi madly blushed in embarrassment, realizing what she just said before she got up and headed upstairs.

Yang Chen smiled warmly and said, "In the future, I'll give you or Wang Ma a call if I end up coming late or staying out."

Ruoxi halted her steps but didn't turn around. She had a radiant smile on her lips.

"Good night, Yang Chen." She then quickly ran back to her room.

Yang Chen shook his head and smiled before heading to his room.