Chapter 52 - Past and Future

Song Luli received a phone call from Su Xiang the next morning.

"Luli," she said.

"Yes, Xiang? Is everything all right?" Song Luli responded, concerned.

"Hm, yes. Can I see you?" Su Xiang asked her.

"Yes. I'll send you my address," Song Luli said.

"All right, see you later."

Song Luli ended the call, providing Su Xiang with the address through text messaging. She had the day off and wasn't sure how to spend her free time outside the office. But seeing as her cousin would come over, she felt refreshed.

Su Xiang stopped by four hours later while Song Luli arranged her clothes in Long Jie's closet. At the door, Song Luli hugged her tightly. "It felt so long," Su Xiangannounced by greeting. "You forgot about your family already."

Song Luli grinned. "It goes both ways," she said.

Su Xiang smirked, walking down the foyer of the house. "You're right. Everyone's been so busy. I spend most hours in the hospital or sleeping; I occasionally see your sister with that hot foreign guy," she teased.

Song Luli laughed. "Please don't tell me you have flirted with him," she said.

Su Xiang gave her a side-eyed glance, almost as if she had considered it. "It may have come to mind. But no, as much as Meiling denies it, she's hot for that man."

Song Luli gave out a short laugh.

Su Xiang glanced around at the entire house in awe. "This house is huge for two people," she commented, glancing towards Song Luli. "Unless...?"

Song Luli shook her head, guiding Su Xiang to the inner courtyard for some tea. "Long Jie and I, aren't thinking about children right now," Song Luli said.

Su Xiang wore modest clothing--a white turtleneck with an extended collar, and black dress pants.

"But have you..." Su Xiang began but was cut off by Song Luli's narrowed eyes.

"All right. I won't ask," she said. "But, where is Long Jie?"

"He's working," Song Luli responded. "But if you stay long enough, you may see him."

"Perfect," Su Xiang said with a smile.

Song Luli led Su Xiang to sit somewhere comfortably, as she ran to the kitchen to grab some light snacks. When she returned, Song Luli poured them some tea before sitting next to her on the couch.

"How's Su Chen?" Song Luli asked her.

Su Xiang took a sip of her tea, clearing her throat. Without meeting her cousin's eye, she said, "He's engaged."

"What?" Song Luli questioned, not registering the new information well. "To who?"

"Some woman, Yu Haoran," Su Xiang replied bitterly.

The name sounded familiar to Song Luli, but she couldn't pinpoint a specific memory that would help her.

"It doesn't seem like Su Chen to settle for anyone," Song Luli continued.

Su Xiang frowned. She thought for a moment, as she couldn't help but ask, "If you didn't need Long Jie's support, would you still have gone through the arranged marriage?"

Song Luli didn't expect that question. She didn't feel as if Su Xiang's question was intrusive, but she was more taken aback at the fact that she hadn't asked this for herself.

"No," she found herself saying. "I wouldn't haven't have married Long Jie because if I didn't need him, I wouldn't have allowed myself to be opened to the match."

Su Xiang smiled grimly, weighing her words.

Su Chen didn't need to marry anyone for the benefits of his job and company. He ran Sun Group well on his own. So why did he make such an abrupt decision?

Su Xiang felt as the air she gave off had gone cold and tense, so she asked about Long Jie.

"He's doing well," Song Luli answered.

"And how is he with you?" Su Xiang asked curiously and genuinely.

Song Luli released a breath. "He..." Song Luli began before she smiled, facing her cousin. "He treats me well," she admitted.

Su Xiang smiled back, "I'm glad to hear."

Su Xiang caught up with Song Luli, though she did most of the talking.

Hours passed when Song Luli heard Long Jie come home. Both her and Su Xiang rushed to the foyer when they stumbled upon Han Ru.

Su Xiang's face had gone cold, and her expression soured. "Han Ru?" she questioned distastefully.

Han Ru's expression remained calm. It was Long Jie that asked, "You two know each other?"

Su Xiang nodded shortly. "I went to the same school as him."

Long Jie's brows creased, wondering what was going on between them. He wondered if Han Ru fooled around with Su Xiang at school, after all, she was their age.

Su Xiang didn't say anything more before Long Jie greeted her politely. The four of them went to the dining table to eat. Han Ru spoke to Long Jie about business the entire time as she kept her eyes locked on Long Jie's friend. She was going to leave earlier, but knowing that Han Ru was in the house, she didn't want to leave until he left first.

When Han Ru finally left, she managed to get some time alone with Song Luli. "Han Ru is a friend of Long Jie?" she asked, rolling her eyes. "Does he know about what he did to you years ago?"

Song Luli was elbows deep into washing the dishes, when she responded, "Long Jie doesn't know."

"Why not?" Su Xiang asked her.

"There's no point. Why would I ruin Long Jie's friendship over something that happened in the past? What Han Ru did, doesn't affect my future with Long Jie."

Su Xiang pouted. "Han Ru is a bully. He gets what he wants and discards it as if it's nothing when he's finished."

Song Luli scoffed. "I don't give a fuck about what Han Ru wants anymore," she began while facing her cousin. "I won't give him shit when I have Long Jie."

Su Xiang smiled. "Good," she said softly. Su Xiang was glad that Song Luli had grown to have a backbone. She knew about her intense feelings for Han Ru in the past. And Su Xiang was delighted to know that Song Luli was not naive enough to fall for the same person that hurt her. It seemed as if her cousin is captivated by a certain someone else, and what she was sure of, was that Long Jie was good to her.

Su Xiang stuck around for another hour before parting with Long Jie and Song Luli, and heading home, thinking about what she felt about Su Chen.

Song Luli prepared to do some work before bed. Long Jie had swept in next to her In the study room. He lifted some of her hair, kissing the nape of her neck. "Are you coming to bed?" he asked her.

Song Luli titled her head, facing up at him. "Yes," she began. "You don't have to stay up for me. I will be working late."

"All right," Long Jie replied, heading to sleep.

It was midnight when Song Luli turned up in his room. Long Jie was still awake, scrolling on a tablet. He normally slept early because he's a morning person. Did he wait up for her?

Song Luli dove under the blankets, and Long Jie inched towards her until he embraced her in his arms, releasing a breath. Song Luli's heart sped up that it nearly felt as if it was going to burst.

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