Back in his home, Wei was slowly pacing back and forth in his living room thinking about what happened. From his bag, he took out a small notebook.

In it, he had written his observations about Lihua since he met her the first time.

1. Song Lihua seemed really surprised when I arranged her thesis papers today. She was happy because she said I saved her job. I don't understand why she was happy for such a small thing - ?

She thought I was mute. Why?

2. She shook my hand and touched me. But I didn't feel like cutting her hands off as I always do to other women - ?

3. I called out her name for the job. But she seemed flustered and shocked instead of being happy. I don't know why.

4. She was hurt by some girls, but she didn't hurt them back. Weird. I would have killed them.

5. A bandage of five thousand Yuan is too expensive for her. Song Lihua is really poor.

6. Song Lihua doesn't know how to cook. She is pitiful.

7. She lives in a very small home. It has a tiny bedroom, a tiny kitchen, and a tiny bathroom. But she doesn't seem to mind. Why?

8. There was a potential threat to my life, but she fearlessly handled the water crisis on her own. Song Lihua is really brave.

9. I gave her a cheque, but she refused it. She said that a thank you was enough. I don't understand how it can be enough against millions of money?

10. Song Lihua asked to bring a modest car, but she thought it wasn't modest?

11. Song Lihua got angry when I talked about Song Jia. Why? I didn't say anything wrong. But she ran away.

This was what he had jotted down. Wei thought for a moment and held his pen.

12. I didn't like when that man touched her. I didn't like it at all. Why?

13. Song Lihua's lips were soft. I didn't want to part away. She smelled nice too. I felt something strange in my chest. What was it?

14. But she got angry again even though I followed his advice.

Conclusion until now : Song Lihua is a strange woman.

Wei pursed his lips. He didn't know what to do now. He did what his acquaintance told him, yet it didn't work.

So who should he ask next?

He didn't realize that it was already five-thirty AM and he hadn't slept the whole night. He always went for an early morning walk so he got ready. As soon as he stepped outside, he met Mrs. Zhang.

"Oh, it's you dear. Good morning. You are up early."

Wei wasn't the type to chit-chat so he didn't respond.

"Thank you so much for your help dear. If not for you, Lihua would have been in great trouble," she worriedly said.

"Hm."

"I tried to talk to her but she didn't let me. I will make her favorite food today, and she will be as good as ever. She seemed troubled when she stormed into her house. But I wonder, why it seemed as if she was angry about something?" She looked puzzled.

Wei paused.

He stared at her.

Mrs. Zhang asked, "Is there something on your mind, dear?"

Wei thought for a moment. There was no harm in having another opinion.

"I don't know why she is angry at me."

Mrs. Zhang was speechless. "Ah? Lihua is angry at you?"

He nodded.

"Song Lihua?"

"I know only one Lihua."

Mrs. Zhang was shocked. That girl who is head in heels in your love is angry at you?

"Why? I mean what happened?"

"Nothing happened out of the ordinary."

Then when she learned about their conversation, Mrs. Zhang looked at him, dumbfounded. "Of course she would be angry. Anyone would."

He tilted his head. "Why?"

"It's because you don't say things like that. Song Jia is her sister. She is her family who she loves a lot. If you say that she wouldn't ever return, then she will get hurt."

"I just said it as a possibility."

"But those words destroy someone's hope. She looks forward to meeting her sister every day and if you say something so contrasting, then it would hurt her feelings. Is there something that you look forward to?"

Wei was about to say that he had no such things to look forward to. He was always only busy with work, meetings, and his Mafia world. He had no wants or desires.

It had been only two days since he met Lihua, but her strange attitude towards the little things made him question these new somethings surging in his chest.

She behaved like some outlier in a graph.

This was why he didn't think twice before moving here where she lived because he wanted to observe her more.

And to observe her more meant that he looked forward to spending time with her. In a way, that gave him the hope to learn something new and interesting from her.

"...I do."

"Right? So if somebody says that what you really want cannot happen, then you will feel disappointed, right?"

When he thought of not meeting Lihua anymore, something indeed pricked him. At that moment, he faintly understood what Mrs. Zhang meant by hope.

Mrs. Zhang said, "Not just that. Song Jia is the only family Lihua has. That's why it affects her more."

"...I see."

She patted his shoulder. "I understand you might have said it unintentionally. It's alright. Just apologize to her everything will be fine once again."

"Apologize?"

This was something new to him.

"Yes. Say that you are genuinely sorry and didn't mean to hurt her. Lihua is a softy. She will forgive you in no time," she giggled.

---

The next morning, Lihua woke up in a terrible mood. There were dark circles under her eyes. She was unable to sleep.

She couldn't understand if she should feel giddy about her first kiss or feel furious at him for Song Jia's sake. Two very contrasting emotions took hold of her heart.

Lihua opened her phone and saw the message she had sent yesterday, but there was no response. Her shoulders slumped.

Sis, are you so busy? I really miss you…

Lihua showered, quickly got ready and headed outside for college. Just as she opened the door, she bumped into something hard.