"At the Omperio café," Eveyln tells, "and you have to meet me. No matter what. "

Shi Lian sighs. Well, she cannot say no now. "Alright. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

Hanging up, she closes her laptop and shoves it inside the bag. Since her schedule is clear and there's nothing important to do, she can go and meet her. She thought she would go early and have a good sleep but looks like she can't. She chooses files she needs to work on and shoves them inside the bag, and leaves the other on the desk. The empty coffee cup remains on the desk beside the pile of documents.

Checking once more, she gives a final nod, and carrying the bag, she leaves the office. Fang Xiao gets up from her swat seeing Shi Lian come out of the office.

"Miss Shi Lian, are you going?" she asks.

"Yes. I am leaving early today. If anyone asks, tell them to meet me tomorrow" she says, fixing her dress top. Fang Xiao nods and bows as she leaves.

Outside the company, the cool windy weather brings a smile to her face. The half lazy evening makes her want to do nothing.

Getting inside the car, she tells the driver to take her to the given address— Omperio café.

"It will hardly take ten minutes" the driver informs when Shi Lian asks about the duration. She nods, glad that it's near her company.

Shi Lian absently checks her phone, telling herself only to go on the webserver and not to think of Zichen. A ting sadness hits her when no notifications came from him. Ignoring that feeling, she checks the server. She isn't much interested as she thinks that half of the articles are fake or made up.

Scrolling down, she doesn't find anything to her taste. She stops and clicks on the picture where she, Mr. Ming, and Zichen are photographed. This has to be when they went for dinner.

The article says she and Ming had some affair going on while Zichen has a fiancé. What bunch bullshit. She turns off her phone, pissed off by the articles.

Now to think, she is doing much better than she thought. She thought she will be depressed all day, will be locked up in her room but she handles herself well. But the emptiness inside her is making her choke. She used to think if there is any couple who never fights, never cheats, never lies to each other? As she grew up, she gets her answer. No, there isn't. And that is because to balance the sweetness, bitterness is needed. Likewise, in a relationship fights are common.

What's the use of thinking now? She and Zichen are not together now, well according to her thinking.

The car stops and Shi Lian comes to know that she has reached her destination. Stepping out of the car, she tells the driver to wait for her while she goes.

She thinks of keeping her bag in the car since it won't take her much time.

The café is simple, surrounded by arts and spray paints. Artistic. She pushes the door and enters. Cool air hits her face, giving her shivers. The ambiance of the café is bright and colorful.

She scans for Evelyn and her eyes stop when she sees her sitting in the middle row. Evelyn notices her and her face lights up. She waves towards her as she approaches.

"How did you come to know this place?" Shi Lian asks, taking a seat opposite Evelyn.

Evelyn grins, her nose proudly up, "There's nothing I can't know."

Shi Lian rolls her eyes. "Geez" she laughs and she feels less heavy now.

"So what's the plan?" she asks.

Evelyn smiles wickedly and Shi Lian can't help but worry. Her best friend smiles like that when she is thinking of doing something badass.

"What are you up to?" Shi Lian asks, suspicious.

"Geez. I haven't seen you for so long. I missed you, Shi. And you know within fifteen days I'll be gone, far far away from you" she says dramatically.

Shi Lian still isn't believing her. "Yes and?"

Evelyn's eyes dances with excitement. "We are going to Club! To have a party!" she squeals, unable to hide her excitement. Party and Eveyln, yes, that's the combination.

Shi Lian's eyebrows rise in surprise. "What? Where and why..? "

Evelyn asks, still smiling, "Oh c'mon. Don't say you can't. I already bought two tickets."

Shi Lian has no mood. "Sorry Eve... But—"

"No no no" Evelyn shakes her head, determined to persuade Shi Lian. "You are coming!"

Shi Lian widens their eyes to stop Evelyn from being too loud. "You know... today has been the worst day...I am exhausted" she says.

But Evelyn isn't going to buy that. "Then it's greater even! It will help you relax, Shi. Trust me. Whenever my mood is worse, clubbing helps me a lot."

"You and I are different souls." Shi Lian states as a matter of fact. From her perspective, it will give her more headaches than she is carrying already.

"Babe, you will feel good. Like real good" she urges, taking her hand in her, requesting.

Shi Lian sighs. She is unable to decide what to do. While she is still deciding, Evelyn gets up, holds her hand, and leads her out of the café with s stupid grin on her face. "Eve! Wait up! I haven't decided yet."

"You can't say no to me" she teases moving forward.

Shi Lian smiles a little. She is annoyed yet she cannot help when her best friend is just there the weird one.

Evelyn takes her to where her car is parked. Forcing her inside the car, she shuts the door and goes to the driver's seat. "Glad my Mom agreed to let me drive," she says, making a face while she adjusts her seatbelt. Shi Lian chuckles remembering how Evelyn used to fast drive without caring who is in front of her.

"Ready?" she asks, her brown eyes and her cheeks glows.

Having no other choice, she shrugs, smiling, "I guess so." The car starts and it took off to the main road, on its way to its spot.

**

"Will you stop? I'm saying this is the only way, the right and legal way" Junjie tells him. After knowing that Shi Lian isn't at the company, they are wondering where she is. She isn't picking his calls sd well.

Junjie has been driving the car for a half-hour with no destination. "She must be at her house?"

"No. The location shows she is... " Zichen says, zooming the screen of the map, "she is at Omperio café."

"Café? What she is doing there? Meeting a new guy?" Junjie jokes but gets a look from Zichen in return.

"Let's go there," Zichen says, looking straight at the road. Fuck Junjie and his ideas. Now he cannot help but think if she is with another guy. His hand twitches snd her legs start shaking, the more he thinks.

He needs to calm himself until he reaches there and faces her.

Junjie stops the car, reaching the café. It is almost night, the café is lightened up with lights and neon signs. "Woah. I never about this place" he says satisfied with the place.

Zichen ignores him and heads straight inside the café. His heart is beating so hard it might pop out anytime. Junjie follows him as well.

Entering inside, he scans the hall but cannot finds her. He tells his friend to look for her but he too cannot find her.

"She isn't here," Junjie says, scanning the whole Hall.

"Where could she be then?" he mutters.

"Check the location again. "

Zichen looks at the screen and now it isn't showing here. It is in a different direction as if she is heading somewhere. It's moving faster.

They both exit the café, leaving the people inside surprised and their mouths wide open.

"The location shows to some Trink Club?" he says, surprised and in disbelief. Why would she go there? "The location stopped. Yeah, Trink club, it is" he repeats, dread creeping inside him.

"That's one of the popular clubs out here. Woah, she sure is living her life" Junjie comments, stroking his chin, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Start the car" demands Zichen, striding to his seat. Junjie sighs, shaking his head. Sometimes he thinks he is his secretary.

"Coming" saying, he gets inside the car. He starts the car and they set to searching Shi Lian.