Thankfully, Heya was able to take Sara's mind off any naughty thoughts about Muchen. How was she going to face him now? Instead of shunning him, she had been worried about Heya seeing them instead. She shook her head to ward off any naughty thoughts and focused on Heya instead.

"How do you feel?" Sara asked when she saw her panting heavily.

"I feel okay. I needed this" Heya said before helping herself sit up on the floor.

"You're sure you're okay?" Sara asked. She's been noticing Heya was more determined today.

Heya sighed deeply and said nothing for a while. "What.. do you think about life, living?" Heya asked finally.

Sara wrinkled her brow, wondering where this question was coming from all of a sudden.

She sat on the floor beside Heya and handed her a bottle of water. "Life is.... Life" Sara said.

"You know..." Heya rested her back on the wall "I really do feel like there is nothing in this life. It's just a fleeting moment. Transient."

They were both quiet for a while, pondering on the issue before Sara broke the silence.

"We were all born to...die"

Heya looked at her in confusion when she heard her speak.

"We all die. It doesn't matter when, where or how. We just live the life, hoping that we achieve a lot before we die. Hoping that in between our birth and death, we find our excitement in this boring life and have no regrets before we die. We all live for that moment. The moment when we close our eyes forever." Sara suddenly remembered what she had said to her aunt. 'Forever is an illusion' Then, she came to a new realisation.

"I think... There is only one forever...and that is, death."

Heya looked at her with a sad expression and glistening eyes. "You know, I read the news about that little town in Country V being controlled by terrorists. The lives lost, the broken homes... I was able to get a clearer picture of what you were telling me at the time when I newly met you. It made me begin to think about my life again. What if we were suddenly attacked and killed one day? I really.. don't wish to die with regrets." She sniffled back tears. "I have been living a really useless life all these years. If I die today, I'll never forgive myself."

"You can start afresh. Find your excitement!" Sara held her hands in encouragement. "You have to redefine your life now. Because, it's your life!"

Heya smiled sadly at her. "I am not sure I'll be able to stand up against my grandmother though."

"Your grandmother?" Sara gave her a confused look.

"I guess big bro didn't tell you anything then."

Sara shook her head.

"You can ask him. But Sara..." Heya held her hands firmly. "You have to be really careful."

Sara wondered why everyone was telling her to be careful. She was beginning to have a bad feeling about this. Since Heya wasn't saying anything else, she didn't bother to press on and just agreed to be careful.

Heya's mood turned lively again when she asked. "Where's the bag you were carrying? Thought you brought something?"

"Oh.. Yes. I brought fried rice for you and Mr Li. He's with the bag"

"Fried rice?" Heya looked at her in surprise. "Big bro doesn't eat fried rice"

"What?" Sara's eyes bulged out. "He didn't say so"

"There are a lot of things he cannot eat. He has a very sensitive stomach"

**

Sara paced around his study's door, contemplating whether to knock or not. She was already dressed in her normal clothes and Heya had left her to go upstairs, reminding her to 'find her excitement'

She took a deep breath and tried to knock again but to her surprise, the door opened to reveal Muchen in a plain tee and short with his hair, slightly messy.

"Hi!" She said nervously. Trying not to look at his eyes.

He smiled at her before ushering her in.

"You must be tired" He sat beside her on the large couch after organising his desk.

"I am used to it" She said, trying not to think about their proximity.

"You look uncomfortable" He pointed out.

"I... I am fine.." Without looking at him, she replied. "Did you eat the fried rice?"

He nodded. "Why?"

"Why would you do that when you don't eat it? Is that why you have that drug on your table?" She pointed at the drug she had seen on his desk when she entered. Guessing it must have been for his gastric problems.

He looked at her in amusement. "You're acting like a nagging wife."

Sara sighed "But seriously, you should have told me. What if something bad had happened?"

"I enjoyed it." He grinned at her "I am beginning to have a double mind about my wife learning how to cook." He winked at her.

"How inconsistent!" Sara grumbled which caused him to laugh.

"How's your belly? Does it hurt?" She asked as she unconsciously placed her hands on his stomach.

Muchen tried not to laugh. He was eagerly waiting for her reaction when she realised what she was doing. "It doesn't hurt."

Sara met his eyes then she saw his eyes drop to her hand. She flinched when she saw she had been rubbing his belly. Muchen couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed.

"You are done working out" He informed her as he tried to loose her ponytail but Sara stood up abruptly. It was time to finally put him in his place. Yes! Go Sara!

Muchen saw the fierce look in her eyes and was excited to know what she was going to whine about this time.

"Mr Li. There are a lot of things you should stop doing!" She glared at him and placed both hands on her waist like someone ready for a quarrel.

"Go on" He nodded at her. Trying to hide his amusement.

"First, you can't just yank off my hairband anytime you want."

"Okay" He urged her to continue.

"You can't just..you know..that.." She swallowed hard, finding it difficult to say it out.

"That?" He feigned confusion. "What's that?"

"You know..ki..ss..me whenever you want"

He gave a long "oooh" and urged her to go on.

"And what happened in the gym earlier..." Her face turned red. "You can't do that again!"

He paused to watch her rant on before he pulled her arm, causing her to fall on top of him.

Their face was so close that Sara found it difficult to concentrate or rethink what had just happened. "Why?" He asked in that usual sexy tone that Sara didn't want to hear at the moment.

Her eyes fell on his red lips and she swallowed hard.

He moved a hand to her waist and held her firmly to him. Half of his body was lying on the couch while the other half was being supported by the couch's soft end. So Sara was practically lying on top of him, with her chest pressed to his.

Why did she have to come here, daring him even?

"You were saying something" He reminded softly.

"I..." She hiccuped.

He gave a sinister smile before he uttered a low growl "You like it when I do all of that. You are just being careful. Cause earlier..." He whispered in her ear "you were..turned on"

Sara's eyes bulged wider when she heard him speak. When she felt his breath on her neck "I...was..not" She denied.

He brought his face closer to hers again, so they were looking at each other.

"You were...so was I..."

Sara thought closing her eyes might save her from all of these. But she couldn't as she just stared at his lips.

"If you want me to do it, you can ask me" Muchen teased when he noticed.

Sara closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Aunt Cixi. You told me to tease him back. This was your idea, not mine' she reminded herself before opening her eyes to see Muchen still staring intently at her. 'Aunt..it's your fault. It's your fault'

Muchen kept wondering what she was mumbling about.

She didn't know when her hands moved to caress his face while her lips fell on his.

"Sara... Have you found your excitement?" She remembered Heya asking her.

"Well, maybe..."