Her fixation on Wang Haoran grew stronger every time he pushed her away.

While looking at venues for the upcoming wedding, Li Mei frowned when she noticed a bar next to the place she was interested in. It reminded her of the night before she confronted Wang Haoran. That bar was where she made the worst decision of her life. It was where the real father of her unborn child slept with her that night.

+++++

The unborn child inside Li Mei is not Wang Haoran's.

She got drunk and slept with another man the night before she confronted him. She intended to speak with him privately, but she became overwhelmed by her hectic schedule. As a new hire, Li Mei has been burdened with numerous miscellaneous tasks assigned by her colleagues.

Weeks passed, stretching into a month.

Finally, after a month had elapsed, she managed to establish a stable schedule and devise a plan to approach Wang Haoran. Like a determined stalker, Li Mei looked into Wang Haoran's schedule, finding it hard yet somewhat easier due to her current employment within his company.

After several days of preparation, she finally seized the opportunity to be alone with Wang Haoran. There was a secluded tea house near their company—an old, spacious courtyard house nestled amidst a blend of modern-style buildings on one side, a mid-sized park on the other, and a surrounding bamboo forest.

It became a habit for Liu Leah and Wang Haoran to relax here in between their busy schedule during working hours.

Taking a day off, Li Mei waited anxiously in the tea house, psyching herself up for the encounter. Between a flurry of what-ifs swirling in her mind, she alternated between sips of tea and small sips of wine. Stationing herself on the second floor, she had a clear view of the entrance across the expansive courtyard.

Li Mei finally caught sight of Wang Haoran and Liu Leah as they entered, her gaze fixated on them until they disappeared from view. In that fleeting moment, she noticed something important.

This Wang Haoran was different. His demeanor in the presence of Liu Leah contrasted greatly with the Wang Haoran she knew—her Wang Haoran. She saw and knew all his expressions, ranging from the ones he had shown since their high school days to the day they parted ways during university.

The Wang Haoran conversing with Liu Leah wore a smile radiating contentment, his laughter resonating with genuine happiness, and his body language exuded a sense of carefree ease.

On the other hand, the Wang Haoran with Li Mei wore a smile but seemed strained. The Wang Haoran with Li Mei was in love but burdened with worries. The Wang Haoran with Li Mei was not alone but he was not relaxed.

…

As Li Mei pondered the disparity between the past and present versions of Wang Haoran, a wave of devastation washed over her. Brushing her cheeks, she noticed moisture and questioned herself, "Why is my face wet?" The realization hit her as she responded, "Oh, I'm crying." With a heavy heart, she retreated into a state of mental and emotional numbness.

Li Mei was in a state of denial. 

She rose to her feet and began to walk aimlessly, her mind struggling to deny the painful truth she had witnessed. As she wandered, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly stumbled in front of a bar. With a blank expression, she gazed ahead until a hand extended towards her. Unconsciously, she reached out and grasped it, only to realize that the person offering assistance bore a striking resemblance to Wang Haoran.

With the man's help, Li Mei stood up, her gaze fixed on him with a mixture of confusion and sadness.

"Are you alright, miss?" the man in the gray suit asked with a concerned voice. Without waiting for a reply, he continued, "Would you like to come inside and have a chat?"

Offering himself as her companion for the night, the man extended a gentle invitation. Li Mei once again lost in her thoughts, absentmindedly nodded and followed him inside. With a reassuring grip on her hand, the man guided her to a private room on the second floor and offered her a seat.

"Have a seat, miss," he said softly, a gentle smile appeared on his lips. Li Mei nodded and followed, feeling somewhat mesmerized by the similarity the man bore to Wang Haoran. "Thank you," she murmured, then glanced around the room.

They were now in a space enclosed by transparent glass walls, designed, it seemed, to block the clamor of the electronic music and the revelry from the dance floor below. "So, this is a soundproof room," she thought to herself, noting the quietness in the room.

Half of the second floor was occupied by these transparent glass rooms, offering secluded spaces in contrast to the lively atmosphere of the bar. The other half consisted of an open area adorned with multiple lounges.

Li Mei glanced around the room she was in. It contained only one small table, flanked by several chairs on one side. However, on the other side, there was a cozy lounge chair paired with a low table, offering a more relaxed seating option.

As Li Mei surveyed the room, the man signaled for a waiter and placed an order. Returning to his seat opposite her, he then offered the menu to Li Mei. She selected items she was familiar with and handed the menu back to the man, who passed it to the waiter.

As they were waiting for their order, the man initiated introductions.

"My name is Bu Jinyan," he began. "I work here as a security guard, but today is my day off. I'm just here to drop something off for my manager."

Bu Jinyan spoke with genuine warmth, patiently waiting for Li Mei to absorb the information and ask any questions she had. He had only come to fulfill a favor for his manager and was planning to leave when he noticed a woman stumbling in front of him. Concerned for her well-being, he couldn't simply leave her alone, sensing she might be at risk of an accident.

With good intentions, Bu Jinyan extended his hand to offer assistance. The woman looked up, and he observed as her lifeless eyes suddenly sparked after meeting his gaze. This got him interested in her immediately. She grabbed his hand tightly. Awaken by the tight grab, he helped her to stand up.

He found himself impulsively drawn and decided to entertain her without thinking. As he gazed into her watery hazel eyes and soft red lips, a strange sensation stirred in his gut. "I wonder what expression she would show in those eyes if those lips were bitten," he mused subconsciously.

Bu Jinyan felt a chill run down his spine as he caught himself entertaining inappropriate thoughts about a vulnerable woman in distress. "F*ck! Stop thinking nonsense, Jinyan," he scolded himself, cursing under his breath.

“Ahem–”

He cleared his throat, partly forcing and partly asking the woman to join him inside the bar. Acting on impulse once more, he took her hand and led her inside. "I'm just helping her. We're only going to talk," he reassured himself, trying to convince himself of his good intentions. "Look at her. She might get into an accident if I leave her alone."

After assisting the woman into her chair, Bu Jinyan took the initiative to place their order, sensing her continued disorientation. Once he had successfully helped her make her selection, he turned his attention back to her and introduced himself.

It took Li Mei a few minutes to compose herself and properly assess the man in front of her. "Too similar," she thought, noticing the striking resemblance between him and Wang Haoran. The carefree smile he directed at her echoed the one Wang Haoran had shown Liu Leah earlier. Despite her initial unease, Li Mei felt her body relaxing as she prepared to introduce herself to Bu Jinyan.

"I'm Li Mei. You can call me Mei," she replied softly, mustering a weak smile.

Knock! Knock!

Before either of them could say a word, a knock sounded at the door. Both Bu Jinyan and Li Mei turned their attention towards the source of the sound. Bu Jinyan rose from his seat and approached the door, opening it for the waiter who was carrying a tray laden with drinks and food. With a courteous gesture, he assisted the waiter in setting up the table, expressing his gratitude before dismissing him and closing the door.

As Bu Jinyan was about to take his seat, he heard Li Mei pose a question. "Why are you wearing a suit?" she inquired.

"My brother, Bu Jinnan, is the head of security at a nearby company," Bu Jinyan explained. "He insisted that I come for a job interview, claiming the pay was higher. He even threatened to tell our parents about an incident where I was almost stabbed last week if I didn't come."

As he settled back into his seat, Bu Jinyan's expression softened as he reflected on his burly brother and their loving parents.