Hi! I'm not sure whether anyone is still interested to follow this story but I just write this anyway! Hope you'll like this and it's about Mei Ling's Mom.

It's going to be the end of the year and I wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year in advance! So many bad things had happened this year (the airplane tragedies and Robin Williams's passing) and I do hope that next year will be a better year. What's your new year resolutions? I wanted to lose weight but I never do it. I love to eat!

Love yourself for who you are and be proud! Spread the love to others around and be happy. Be happy. That's my new year resolution. :)

Chapter 1 - Milestone

Money can bring happiness.

However, when I saw those magical digits on my bank statement, I wasn't happy.

Was I sad?

Angry?

Disgusted?

I wasn't very sure.

All I wanted was to make money to feed my family and myself. It's all about the survival of the fittest. All animals do it to make babies. I'm just doing it, well, virtually for the money. We're all the same!

I turned off my phone and tossed it away. I couldn't slam it against the desk. Breaking it would cost me a fortune. I really couldn't afford another mobile phone right now.

"My dear Xing Xing! Why are you're looking so mad? Who's that asshole? Tell me and I'll teach him a lesson for ya!"

I glanced up at the policeman standing high in front of me. His language somewhat didn't suit his dark noble uniform. He's tall but skinny, dashing but dark. No one's perfect but he's never my cup of tea.

"Why are you here? Where's Gong Zhu?"

He scratched his neck clumsily, smiling gleefully. One of his bad habits.

"My sister's taking care of our cat-"

"You're really honest, aren't you? Her cat died a few days ago!" I got up from the comfy chair and grabbed my purse, "If she's not coming, I'm going out."

All the while I was moving to the counter to pay for my drink, he was chattering all the way like no one's business. Unfortunately, his voice was very loud too. Was he trying to embarrass me? For the sake of protecting his good reputation as a public servant, I was trying very, very hard to ignore him.

"W-w-wait! Xing Xing, I didn't know that you knew! If I knew that she had told you, I wouldn't have lied to you! It's a bad news and I wouldn't want to make you sad!"

I started to feel beads of sweat rolling on my cheeks. It's so hot! Why isn't the bloody air-conditioner working?

With too much difficulty, I opened my small purse and that guy just kept talking, "Xing Xing, I'm so sorry! Can you speak to me? Don't ignore me!"

"Can you let me pay the tab first?" I yelled at him.

He turned silent. He paused, staring down at me with those startled hazel eyes before quickly reaching for his pocket.

"Don't take the coins out! Let me pay for you!"

"Can't I even afford a cup of tea? Wei! I told you not to pay for me, Dong Hai! Take back your money! I'm not that desperate!"

I snatched the cash from the lady cashier and slammed it against the counter. She looked puzzled and slightly afraid. For such a small café and a cheap drink, I must have caused quite a huge fuss there.

"Did I say that you're desperate? It's a gentleman's obligation to pay for the woman and I'm a nice gentleman!" Dong Hai puffed up his own chest.

"Since you're such a nice gentleman, why don't you pay for all the women here?"

I knew I was being too loud. I suddenly felt sorry for him.

"Are all our food and drinks on you? Thanks!"

"That's so sweet of you! We're going to help ourselves then!"

"Thank you very much, dear!"

"Huh? What's happening?" He looked around nervously. What had he eaten to have contributed to his slow mind? Terrible.

I placed my coins on the counter and hurriedly left the place. I was walking fast along the pathway, feeling hot sweat all over my face. I wouldn't want to be chased by that maniac and I wasn't going to turn back.

"MY DEAR XING XING! YOU KNOW I LIKE YOU! WHY ARE YOU REJECTING ME?"

I stopped in my path. I shouldn't have stopped but I did it.

I felt bad. I felt so horrible about myself. But I felt it's the best for him.

He wouldn't want to marry a bad woman like me.

When he was already in front of me, I mustered all my courage to face him. I looked at him in the eye and clinched my lips tight.

"I…" He was stifling an embarrassed smile, "I really like you. I'd heard some stories from Gong Zhu, about your mother and brother and your hardships. But it's going to be okay, Xing Xing."

He held my hands and squeezed them in his. I was staring hard at him.

"I can provide for your family. I can take care of you. I may not earn much now but if I work really hard to get promoted fast-"

"Did you pay for all the women in the café?"

"What?"

"I said," I swallowed, "Did you pay for their food and drinks?"

Dong Hai laughed like an innocent child, "I'm sorry I can't, haha. I'm carrying only fifty dollars-"

"You don't say sorry to me. You should say sorry to yourself. How could you even think of taking care of me and my family if you can't even pay for some cheap drinks?"

His expression changed. When he started to frown, I turned my face away. I couldn't bear to face the bitterness.

"My dear Xing Xing, I promise that I'm going to do better for our future-"

"I want to marry a freaking rich man!" I let go of his hands, "Not a good-for-nothing penniless cop!"

I walked away and I never looked back. He never came for me.

I guessed he had given up for good.

O O O

I glared at the clock on the wall. That dirty old man was always punctual. Why is he late this time?

Stupid men. I sighed and plopped against the cold luxurious bed. I stared at the beautiful pink ceiling, counting the number of cheerful flowers carved on the stone.

I couldn't stop thinking about Dong Hai. Stupid me.

Have I been too harsh on him?

I held a deep breath and let it all out. I hoped that the pain in his heart would be gone too.

I hoped that he would forget about me.

"Good evening. Miss Money, I presume?"

I immediately sat up on my bed at that unfamiliar voice. Did the automatic door open? How could I have not realised it?

I turned to that new presence in the room. He was a handsome young man, unsmiling. His eyes were so cold and piercing.

That man reminded me of a broken doll that I used to love so much. My useless brother had sold it to a recycle centre for some filthy coins.

"Who are you? Where's Mr. Bai?" I asked.

"Pleased to meet you. My father's currently away so he instructed me to accompany you."

Author's Note:

- Dong Hai: Eastern Sea (One of Super Junior members' name is Dong Hai and I really like his name). :)

- Milestone: I wrote this chapter while listening to BoA's Milestone. It's a pleasant song and I like it. Check it out!