Chapter 36 - Giving His Best

"President Long, the meeting with Xin cooperation is scheduled for lunch as you said."

Xin Zhenyi had her Secretary approached Long Jie's assistant and she made sure he came personally. Little did she knew, it was all arranged by the devil himself. Six months ago, Air-China came to Long Groups with a very appealing offer but something came one after another and the deal did not proceed. A few days back, the board members of LG suggested that they should continue the deal but just then the Xin cooperation emerged. Xin Zhenyi was interested in the deal but Long Jie was interested in her.

It had been five days since he last saw her. Not that he was counting. Absolutely, he was not counting at all. Neither did she contacted his secretary. 'Stubborn woman ' Long Jie called her in his mind.

Tossing the pen onto his desk, he picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Gu Tian, make a reservation at the Lotus for lunch."

"Sure, President Long"

The meeting was just an excuse by Long Jie for spending time with her. He screwed up last time but this time he would make sure the meeting would not end up with them at each other's throats. 'I would be dammed if I gave her another reason to avoid me' Long Jie said to himself.

It was not that Long Jie liked her or anything like that. It was just that they were getting married and it was necessary to know each other. Right? This was the explanation Long Jie was giving himself without realizing how deep he already was.

She was not a very likable character even though she had a face that could outshine even fairies. But the woman was far from being a fairy. She was a devil incarnated in human flesh.

The telephone rang and interrupted his train of thoughts.

"President Long, you have a phone call."

He sighed and pressed the intercom. "Who is it?"

"It's me ," said a velvet masculine voice from the other side.

Tossing the pen onto his desk, he picked up the phone and straightened his back as a habit while talking to this very person. "Brother, It's been a long time ."

"Of course. How are you, Ah Jie ?"

Long Jie smiled inwardly as he could still imagine the other person talking to him with a warm smile gracing his face, even though he had not seen him for years. The man was the epitome of elegance and refinement with his regal temperament, just like a king that he actually was.

"I'm well. And you brother?"

"Pretty good. Although my little brother had not even bothered to share the good news."

Good news? He frowned as if to understand what he was implying. Then it hit him. His marriage.

It was impossible to hide something from the other person. If Long Jie described Xin Zhenyi as a devil in human flesh then the other person was like an immortal ascended from Heaven. He was not deliberately hiding his marriage from him. It was just that the idea never crossed his mind. He owed him his life and if one day he would ask Long Jie for something there was no way he was going to refuse him. He took him out of the darkness and showed him the way out when he had no one. He helped him when his mother left him to fate. 'Kismet ' she had said and everyone just accepted but not him.

"The reason I didn't tell you is that it does cross my mind. But there is no way I won't ask you to attend my wedding even if you won't attend." Long Jie said. He had not met him for a long time. He invited him many times but he denied and it wouldn't be surprising for Long Jie if he refused to attend his wedding too. He was an enigma one could never understand.

"Ah? So you finally forgot this brother?"

"I can never and you know it ."

" Can or Will?" he asked.

"I can never forget you brother"

"Haha, you haven't changed a bit ,Ah Jie. I wonder what your fiance will think of it."

"My wife is not into me, brother. I will be surprised If she will really care for the people I care about. Moreover, it's not that you will meet her."

"She is not your wife yet, little brother."

"She will be, just a matter of time."

"Possessive already?"

"Nah! just claiming what's mine."

He gave out a small chuckle and Long Jie could imagine him shaking his head at him like he used to do when he was just fifteen. Somethings never changed.

"I am very much looking forward to your marriage little brother. It is going to be one hell of a ride but an interesting one. That wife of yours is an odd one. I had heard many things about her and hopefully will be seeing too ."

"You had met her?"

Long Jie wouldn't be surprised if he said yes because if his wife was an odd creature then the other one was the oddest. After all, behind his calm and refined facade lied a man who enjoyed chaos very much like him and her.

"Not yet."

"Then come to my wedding Brother. You can meet her there"

He laughed." You didn't even send me an invitation how can I come without one?"

Invitation. How could he send him? The man had no permanent place to reside. Once Long Jie asked him if he had home. He laughed and questioned what exactly it was.

"I am inviting you now brother and I am very much looking forward to meet you."

"Take care of your self Ah Jie and the woman you are marrying too. They are odd creatures. They say something but expect something else. Be patient and I know you will give your best to this marriage and you should. I have taught you many things little brother it may not be one of them but don't repeat the mistake your parents committed because if you do, there may be one more Ah- Jie and that one may not get a big brother to guide. So, choose your path carefully."

"Goodbye, Ah-Jie and listen to your heart once in a while." He didn't even give Long Jie the chance to answer him back.

Tut. Tut. Tut.

He sighed.

."How am I supposed to give this marriage a chance when she hated my very existence?" he said to himself.