I CHOOSE...
As he watched her feed the dogs, he could not help but remember the first time they met. She had given him quite a chase, and for the next few hours, made him feel like the most gullible man alive.
A small smile made his lips quirk as he once again recalled the image of her crying and asking him to buy some milk for the poor doggie. And he fell for it hook, line and sinker.
When she turned around and saw him, his smile vanished as he noted the emotions switch in her face.
"Mei Zuo!" she had said, and surprise was in her face, replaced by frustration, then what seemed to be fury, then stark coldness.
He was shocked by her next actions. Dropping the empty KFC bucket on the pavement, she strode straight to him and delivered a strong hard slap on his right cheek. He reeled from the impact of the slap that his face was turned on the side, his hand instantly reaching up to touch it.
When Mei Zuo returned his eyes on her, she had a cold look on her face.
"Why did you do it?" she said in a frosty voice. "Why did you call it off?"
It took Mei Zuo a while to realize Aisha was referring to his wedding. "Aisha..."
"Are you out of your mind?" she said, her voice a notch higher, tinged with desperation. "Do you have any idea what this is doing to people around you? What it could do to everyone around you?"
"I had to do it." This is hurting him. Terribly.
Weakly she sighed in frustration. "What did you expect to accomplish by doing this, Mei Zuo?"
When he could not answer her, she stepped back, her eyes boring into him. "Don't make me feel guilty for something I do not want to happen," she said.
She spun on her heels and ran away from him.
He was left there, standing, looking so lost and confused.
A few feet behind, unseen by both him and Aisha, stood Xiao Qiao, shock written all over her face. When Mei Zuo turned around, he froze.
"Xiao Qiao..." He looked down, feeling like he just committed the worst crime ever.
Xiao Qiao slowly moved forward, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "So...that was it?" she asked.
Mei Zuo did not actually feel moving, but slowly he got down and sat down on the ground, burying his head on his hands. Xiao Qiao stood over him, wanting to understand...
Shancai looked at her husband, waiting for him to speak after she had told him everything. At the other end of the couch sat Li Fong, the silent listener. The lawyer merely gave her a small smile as she looked at him for any clue as to what she should do.
Dao Ming Si cleared his throat. "This is so typical of her."
'Her' happens to be Dao Ming Feng, his mother.
Shancai had received the call from her mother a couple of hours ago and she wasted no time. She left her Skylark office and paid Mr. Li a brief visit. An hour later she walked out with the information that she had managed to coax out of the landlord.
And she went straight to Dao Ming Si to let him know of his mother's plan.
Li Fong cleared his throat. "She must have been really pissed about losing Alar to you."
"She's taking it personal," Dao Ming Si agreed. He turned to look at Shancai. "Did Mr. Li tell you anything else?"
Shancai shook her head. "All he said was that Roger approached him and he expressed the Dao Ming Corporation's interest in acquiring his property, with everything else in it."
"How long is the lease Mama Dong and Shage took on the lot?"
"The lease ends in five months. They have not renewed it yet; neither did they add a renewal option in the contract when they first drew it."
"Complicated," Li Fong chirped and Dao Ming Si threw him a dirty look.
"You're not helping," he mouthed.
The lawyer lifted his hands. He turned to Shancai, serious again. "What other establishments occupy the block?"
"Aside from Sombrero, there's a medium-scale shopping center and a bakery, both of which are owned by Mr. Li."
Li Fong glanced at Dao Ming Si, shaking his head. "That's the deader. It would have been OK if the other establishments were owned by other citizens, then we can refute the sale. But the landlord owns them, so it is in his own discretion if he sells the whole thing."
Dao Ming Si thought for a moment. He looked at Shancai. She was looking at him right now with something akin to desperation in her eyes. They did not seem to even notice the lawyer excuse himself to go to the men's room.
He had quite an idea what she must be thinking right now. Once again, Dao Ming Feng is trying to take something close to home from her. Once before his mother had her thrown out of the house she had been living in.
And she is doing it again, with Sombrero.
He sighed, a decision now made up. He stood up and walked towards his wife, getting down on his knees in front of her, wanting only to out her at ease.
"There's only one way to go about this..."
"A Si is right," Dao Ming Cheng replied after listening to Li Fong's report over the speaker phone in his New York office. "This is exactly something A Feng would do."
Li Fong's breath became heavier. "Your son and his wife are in quite a dilemma right now. I think only you can help them."
Dao Ming Cheng's right brow went up. "Me?"
"They could easily buy the property, but I think they have qualms about spending the money. I was thinking you could help them out."
Dao Ming Cheng chose his words. "Li Fong, let me make this clear. If it involved something about my family, then I would do it. But this is about Shancai and her family. I will let them deal with it on their own."
"But..." Li Fong sounded so surprised that the old man almost pictured the young lawyer looking all baffled with his phone stuck on his ear. "I thought you liked Shancai."
Dao Ming Cheng did not reply to this. He merely said, "Go back inside, Li Fong. Tell me how it goes." Then he ended the call with a contemplative look in his eyes.
"Are you sure?" Shancai asked, not quite believing what Dao Ming Si had just proposed. "I mean...that is a lot of money."
"But it is a good investment," he said. "I am quite sure of it. In fact, I am so sure that I don't feel like I have to run this by Xi Men to get his opinion. I know he will say the same thing."
Still dubious, Shancai said, "But...buy the entire block!" She shook her head, the enormity of what he was saying finally sinking in. "This isn't like a car that you just decide to purchase off a showroom!"
Dao Ming Si was smiling almost patronizingly that Shancai had a longing to punch him. But he held her hands in his and tried to make her understand.
"Don't you see? We buy the property, Sombrero won't have to pay any rent anymore, and instantly we'll get a shopping center and a bakery. How does that sound? It's like hitting three birds with one stone."
"But...won't your mother try to stop you?"
"She will try, but I am also as stubborn, remember?" He winked at her and she smiled, finally seeing a tiny ray of hope.
Dao Ming Si touched her cheek. "Don't forget. When we are together, nothing could go wrong."
When Li Fong returned and the proposal was posed before him, he was surprisingly elated, obviously pleased that they decided to try to bid for the property.
Dao Ming Si asked the lawyer, "What do you think are our chances against Ma?"
"Greater chances, that's for sure. You will be given priority, considering Sombrero, which you have an interest in, is a tenant in the property. Besides, don't worry," he said, pleased. "I'll work it all out."
Dao Ming Si and Shancai looked at each other, their eyes shining.
As time passes, things are getting bigger for them both. Their endeavors are doing very well...
...and all because they are doing it. TOGETHER.
Lying on her bed, the violin beside her, Aisha stared at the ceiling.
She never expected any of these to happen…or for things to go to such an extreme level.
She admits to having hoped to see Mei Zuo once she got back in Taipei, but the circumstances made it difficult. He happens to be the brother of Hua Ze Lei.
Why is he doing this? Could he possibly feel something for her?
And what about her? What exactly does she feel for Mei Zuo? After all, it’s been a long time...
And Hua Ze Lei...and Xiao Qiao...and everyone else.
She could pretend, of course. She could stay. She could go on as before.
But the image of Mei Zuo's mother, red-faced with anger, rose before her and she closed her eyes.
And it dawned on her.
As long as she stays involved with Lei, things are bound to go awry. And if she is not thinking of her own feelings, then she must think of others'.
Mei Zuo's...Xiao Qiao's...Hua Ze Lei's...everyone.
Her mind made up, she reached for the phone beside the bed and dialed a number in Tokyo.
After three short rings, Yuki's voice came on.
"Yuki, it's me, Aisha." Her voice was subdued, and she hoped Yuki would not notice it.
"Aisha!" her manager exclaimed in surprise. "Why did you call? Did something happen?"
"No, nothing," she replied. "I just...how are things there?"
"Quite hectic. You know it is quite difficult to promote a single without you, the artist, actually making the rounds, but surprisingly it is working out here. Your single is selling like hot cakes!"
"Great," she said, feigning enthusiasm.
But Yuki did not seem to notice as she went on. "I have already booked your schedule for the next three months after you got back here."
"Well, you could fix the schedule again, because I will be there soon. Like...tomorrow, at the earliest."
This time her manager paused. "What?"
"That's why I called, Yuki. I want you to fix my papers, book me a flight so I could go back there in Tokyo tomorrow or the day after. Would you do that?"
"Of course," Yuki said. "I would get right on it. I will have a couple of seats reserved for you - "
"One."
"Excuse me?"
"One seat, Yuki," she said softly. "One ticket, one-way. I am coming alone."
"What...Is something wrong, Aisha?"
"Everything's fine, Yuki."
"Then how come you are coming home alone?" Yuki demanded.
Aisha felt bad lying to her manager, who had been nothing but good to her. "Hua Ze Lei had some things to do out here in Taipei. So he'll follow later. Please, Yuki. I need details tonight so I could leave tomorrow."
She heard Yuki let out a sigh. "Alright. I'll call you later."
"Thanks. Bye."
Aisha laid the phone down and, in the silence of the room, whispered, "Forgive me, Hua Ze Lei. I have to do this, for you. For everyone."
She closed her eyes and a tear escaped, slipping down to the pillow, making a wet mark on the silk cloth.