Chapter 125 - 125 Not going

This Miss Yi, she's so demanding. I think I might be pricing myself out of this job next time.

"It should be at five," I reiterate, for the third consecutive day.

"Lovely, I look forward to it." She says.

"Great, see you then." I hang up and blow out a long, calming breath of air.

What was I thinking about ending my Friday on a new client, and a difficult one at that?

I can't wait for the day to end so I can crawl into my bed where I don't have to see, speak or interact with anyone.

As five o'clock strikes, I shut down my computer and leave the office to head for my appointment place of Miss Yi.

I arrive at a stunning townhouse at Xu City on time, and MissYi answers the door immediately. I'm completely stunned. Her voice doesn't match her appearance in the slightest. She's very attractive, with long black hair, peach eyes and smooth milk skin, and she is wearing a lovely flowery dress.

She smiles.

"You must be designers. Please, come in." She directs me through to a horrendous seventies throwback kitchen.

"Miss , my portfolio." I hand her my file, and she takes it keenly.

She has a really warm smile. Maybe I got her all wrong.

" Please, call me Yi Yi. I've heard a lot about your work, Miss Bei." she says as she flicks through the file.

"From Deng Tai, especially." She exclaims.

"Oh, you have?" I sound surprised, but I'm not.

"Yes, of course! Everyone's talking about it. You did an amazing job. Would you like a drink?"

"A tea would be good, thank you." I says.

She smiles and sets about making drinks.

"Please, have a sit,"

I take a seat and pull out my client briefing folder, making a note of her name and address at the top.

"So, what can I help you with, Miss Yi Yi?" I start the protocol.

She laughs and waves the teaspoon around in the general direction of the room.

"Need you to ask? It's hideous, isn't it?" she exclaims, returning to tea making.

Yes, actually, it is, but I'm not about to gasp in horror at the brown and yellow arrangement with faux brick walls.

She continues,

"Obviously, I'm looking for some ideas to transform this monstrosity. I was thinking of knocking through and making it a large family room. Here, I'll show you." She hands me a coffee and signals for me to follow her through to the next room.

The decor is equally as grim as the kitchen. She seems quite young, mid-thirties, perhaps so I'm guessing she's not long moved in.

This place doesn't look like it has been touched with a paintbrush in forty years.

After an hour of discussions, I'm confident that I know what Yi Yi is trying to achieve. She has good vision.

She walks me to the front door.

"Alright, I will draft a few designs in line with your budget and ideas, and get them to you with a schedule of my fees," I tell her as I'm leaving.

"Is there anything, in particular, I should allow for?" I added.

"No, not at all. Obviously, I want all the basic luxuries you would expect to find in a kitchen." She puts her hand out and I take it politely.

"A wine fridge." She laughs.

"Absolutely." I smile tightly, the mention of alcohol making my blood run cold.

" I'll be in touch, Miss Yi." I bid.

"Yi Yi, please!" she shakes her head.

"I'm looking forward to it, Wei Lin," She says brightly.

"Of course, Yi Yi," I leave her, relieved that I've fulfilled all necessary pleasantries, for now, anyway until I meet my brother tomorrow.

I drag myself down the street towards SiSi apartment, hoping she's not home so I can retreat to my room before she resumes mission sothhing me.

"MIss Bei!"

I stop and see Kevin hanging out of his car window as he cruises slowly beside me.

"Hey, what's up?" I say on a strained smile as I carry on walking.

" Wei Lin, please don't join your evil friend in the piss me off the club. I might be forced to move out." He parks up and gets out of his Porsche, meeting me on the pavement outside the apartment building.

He looks his usual laidback self, with ridiculously baggy shorts, Amani t-shirt and his curly hair a disheveled mess.

"I'm sorry. Have you moved in permanently now?" I ask on an arched brow.

Kevin has his own swanky apartment on Zhongshan Park with much more room, but with SiSi workshop on the second floor of her apartment, she insists on him staying at hers.

"No, I haven't. But SiSi said you would be home by six. I was hoping to catch you." He suddenly looks all nervous which is making me feel extremely uncomfortable.

"So?" I ask.

He offers a little smile, but it doesn't reach his dimple.

"Not good. I need you to come with me." he says quietly.

"To where?" I scowl at his sudden request.

Why is he acting so shifty? This is not like at all. He is usually so carefree and unapologetic.

"To Feng Teng place." He confessed.

Kevin see the look of horror on my face because he steps towards me with a pleading expression.

Just the mention of his name already sends me into a panic.

Why does he want me to go to Feng Teng place?

After our last meeting, you would have to drag me there kicking and screaming.

There is no chance in Hell I'm returning to that place; not ever.

"Sorry, I don't think so." I take a step back, shaking my head.

My body has started shaking too.

He sighs and scuffs his trainers on the pavement.

" Wei Lin, sorry but I'm getting worried over him. He's not answering his phone and no one has heard from him. I don't know what else to do. I know you don't want to talk about him, but it's been almost five days. I've been to Deng Tai Penthouse, but the concierge refuses to let us up. He'll only let you. SiSi said you know him. Can't you just get us up there? I just need to know if he's okay." He pleads.

"No. I'm sorry, I can't." I croak.

"Please, I'm worried he's done something stupid. Please." He begging.

My throat starts to close up and Kevin starts walking towards me with his hands outstretched.

I didn't realise I was moving backwards.

"Kevin, please don't. I really can't do that. He won't want to see me and I don't want to see him too." I reject his pleading.

He grabs my hands to halt my retreat, pulling me into his chest and holding me tight against him.

"Sorry. Wei Lin, I wouldn't ask, I really wouldn't, but I need to get up there and check on him." He says in force.

My shoulders droop, defeated in his embrace, and a quiet sob escapes, just when I thought there were no tears left.

"I really can't see him, Please don't force me." I tears up.

"Hey, hey," He pulls back and looks at me.

"Just get us past the concierge. That's all I'm asking." He wipes away a stray tear and smiles pleadingly.

"I'm not going in." I affirm, my stomach a knot of panic at the thought of seeing him again.

But what if he has done something stupid.

"You just get us up to his penthouse." He persuades.

I nod and wipe away the rolling tears.

"Thank you," He tugs me towards his Porsche.

"Get in. Jun Jie and Yu are meeting us there." He opens the passenger door and directs me into the car.

With Junjie and Yu meeting us there, he must have assumed I would agree. I can't blame this guy for being so optimistic.

I climb in and let Kevin drive me to Feng Teng Penthouse.

A place I had sworn that I would never return to again.