It has been over a week since his date at the restaurant and Qi Long still couldn't get in touch with Zhang Xiao. When he saw that she wasn't at the table, his natural assumption was that she went to the restroom. But he waited for about thirty minutes and she still hasn't come back. Worried that something might have happened, he asked a waitress to go in and check but she came back to report that there was no one there. He tried calling her phone but it went straight to voicemail. So he sat and waited, waited until it was time for the restaurant to close. Since then, he kept trying to call her, leaving both voice and text messages. But she never answered. Qi Long doesn't know what happened. From his point of view, the date went perfectly.

"Don't worry about it too much," Yuan Hong consoled over drinks, "She's just probably mad at you for leaving her alone and is punishing you for it."

"But isn't this too much?" Qi Long asked, "Even if she was mad, some of that anger should have dispensed by now. She should at least answer my calls and let me explain."

"You know how these modern girls are," Yuan Hong answered, "They like to play hot and cold. She's probably doing this to lure you in. And from the looks of things, it's working."

Qi Long shook his head, "She's not that type of girl."

"How do you know? You only met her two times now."

"I just know," Qi Long replied, drowning the rest of his drink.

"What?" he asked, noticing that Yuan Hong was just staring at him, smiling.

"You've fallen hard, haven't you?" Yuan Hong asked, amused.

Qi Long glared at him, "You still dared to talk? If it wasn't for you stalking our date, I wouldn't be in this predicament."

"Hey," Yuan Hong protested, "You don't know if that was the reason. Maybe she did really hate Western foods."

Qi Long didn't answer, only signaling to the bartender to refill his drink.

"Look," Yuan Hong said, "If it bothers you this much, why don't you go and see her in person? You know where she works, right?"

"I don't want to stalk her."

"It's not stalking," Yuan Hong replied, "She was the one who told you her workplace. Besides, you don't know if she had gotten sick or was in an accident. Even if it's just out of some friendly concern, shouldn't you go and find out what happened?"

Qi Long looked at him, somewhat persuaded, "You do have a point," he said contemplatively.

It had been over a week since her date at the restaurant and Zhang Xiao still haven't answered Qi Long's calls. She knew it was unfair, and that he was probably confused and perhaps even a little angry by now, but she couldn't help it. When she saw Thirteenth prince at that restaurant, so many emotions washed over her that it was actually hard to breathe. She just had to get away and so she did. Zhang Xiao didn't know what to think. Part of her was glad to see him but another part of her was also scared. Not only Thirteenth prince was here but he was also acquainted with Qi Long. Not just acquainted but was quite close with. Though she was standing at a distance away, the comfortable air around the two was palpable. It was something she had witness many times in her life as Ruoxi.

What does this mean then? If Thirteenth prince was here, then the other princes must be too. Do they all know each other? She was both surprised and glad when Qi Long told her he had no siblings. She thought that this was a sign that the same tragedy would not occur again, but was she wrong? Without these questions answered, Zhang Xiao doesn't have the confidence to meet him again. Of course she could have made up some excuse but somehow, she doesn't want to lie to him. It was as if that promise they made lifetimes ago bind her still. So, until she figured out what to do, her best strategy was to avoid him, however long that may last.

"Zhang Xiao."

Zhang Xiao looked up, startled once again as her office came into view.

"Your phone is ringing, aren't you going to answer?" Xiu Wen asked.

For a moment, Zhang Xiao thought she meant her cell phone, which she was sure she had turned off. Then she realized that it was actually her office phone that was ringing.

Smiling sheepishly at Xiu Wen, she picked up the phone, "Hello?"

"Hello? Miss Zhang?" It was Xinye, the receptionist.

"Yes?"

"A gentleman is waiting for you here in the lobby."

"A gentleman?" Zhang Xiao repeated, "Is he a client?"

"No. He said he's a friend of yours," Xinye's voice dropped conspiratorially, "He's quite a handsome one."

Zhang Xiao's heart faltered. Could it be Qi Long? She had forgotten that she told him where she worked. If she said she was busy now, would he leave? Unlikely. He would probably wait until she would see him. But what could she say? "I ran away because I got freaked out at seeing the reincarnation of my best friend and your brother?"

"Miss Zhang?" Xinye called.

Zhang Xiao closed her eyes, "Tell him I'll be right there."

Whether she was ready or not, she owed him an answer.

Qi Long felt nervous and bit silly as he arrived in front of Zhang Xiao's office. He doesn't know how she would react seeing him here, but his cousin was right, no matter what, he needed to get an answer.

Taking a deep breath, he entered the building. As he walked over to the front desk, he found it empty. Did the receptionist go somewhere? How was he supposed to find Zhang Xiao now? Just as he was trying to think of what to do, he noticed a familiar figure off in the corner. It was Zhang Xiao. Not believing his luck, Qi Long walked toward her when he realized that she wasn't alone. She was talking with a man, a man who was holding very tightly onto her hand.

"Xiao Xiao."

"Huang Di, what are you doing here?" Zhang Xiao asked, trying to take back her hand.

It was lucky that Xinye had to go somewhere else. Zhang Xiao doesn't know what kind of rumors would spread if the friendly but gossiping receptionist had witness this scene.

Huang Di tightened his grip, "You wouldn't return my calls, or answered any of my messages. What do you expect me to do?"

Zhang Xiao sighed. When she saw her ex-boyfriend instead of the expected Qi Long, she had felt both relieved and disappointed. But right now, it seemed like she was caught in the same old predicament.

"We already broke up, Huang Di," Zhang Xiao answered patiently, "You shouldn't be doing anything at all."

"I know I was wrong," Huang Di said urgently, "I shouldn't have cheated on you with Xiao Mei. But I've changed, Xiao Xiao. Since your accident, I've realized how much I loved you, needed you. I broke things off with Xiao Mei. I really have changed."

"I know," Zhang Xiao replied wearily.

Even her own mother had spoken up for him, stating how he visited Zhang Xiao every day while she was unconscious in the hospital, how he called numerous doctors to try and find better treatments, how he comforted her parents while barely holding on himself.

"I know all of what you've done," she continued, "And I'm grateful but…"

"But what?" Huang Di asked, "I don't understand. The obstacle to our relationship is now gone. Why can't we be together?"

"Because I've changed too," Zhang Xiao replied, "Can't you see, Huang Di? I'm not the same person I was before the accident. Everything changed for me. The things in past that I wanted, I no longer do."

Huang Di shook his head, frustrated, "I don't understand. You were just asleep, Xiao Xiao. How could you just wake up and be a different person?"

Zhang Xiao let out a soft laugh, "I don't understand either. But it doesn't change the fact that it did happen."

"What you're saying," Huang Di said, looking deep in her eyes, "is that you don't want me anymore."

"I'm sorry." she whispered, apologetic but resolute.

Silence descended upon them as Huang Di slowly let go of her hand.

Zhang Xiao looked down, "I'm sorry." she repeated.

Huang Di shook his head, "No. It's my fault. I should have treasured you while we were together."

She had nothing to say to that.

"Could we still be friends?" Huang Di asked quietly, "I can't imagine not having you in my life, Xiao Xiao."

Zhang Xiao smiled weakly, "Sure. Of course."

"Does that mean you'll answer my calls now?"

Zhang Xiao laughed, "Yes, I supposed so."

Huang Di smiled at her, "I'll let you get back to work then."

He watched as she walked away, longing still deep in his eyes. Huang Di doesn't understand what Zhang Xiao meant when she said she had become someone else, but, no matter who she was, it doesn't change the fact that he loves her. He would get to know her and wooed her, and make her fall in love him again, make her want him again. Heaven had almost took her away from him once, and Huang Di would be damned if he let it happened the second time.

"Ge, calm down." Yuan Hong said, taking the drink out of his cousin's hand.

They were at a bar near the office, where Qi Long had been drowning shots like they were water.

"Give it back." Qi Long demanded.

Yuan Hong sighed, "Would you calm down? You don't really know what happened."

"They were holding hands!" Qi Long growled, "And I heard he called her Xiao Xiao. What else do I need to know?"

He tried to reach for the drink but Yuan Hong held it out of reach.

"Have it occur to you," Yuan Hong asked slowly, ignoring his cousin's glare, "that he might be her brother?"

Qi Long paused at that.

"You said she have an older brother right?"

Qi Long nodded.

"So maybe that's him." Yuan Hong stated.

"But…they looked nothing alike." Qi Long grumbled.

It was Yuan Hong's turn to glare.

"C'mon," he said exasperatedly, "Let's get you home and sobered up."

As he helped his cousin to the car, Yuan Hong couldn't help but wondered what kind of girl this Zhang Xiao was. Was she playing hard to get or just plain playing? Was she as serious about his cousin as he was about her? Or was she the kind of girls who just like to make guys fall in love with them? He needed to know the answers to these questions, Yuan Hong decided, and there's no one better to get them than he himself.