******

CHAPTER 126

"I would have thought you would be calling or texting her by now so she knows you still exist. Yet you think of drinking first as though you lost her. That is the first step to accepting defeat."

"Okay, okay. I would call her. My head right now is a mess, Tai Hua."

"Relax and put a call through to her first."

Following Jun Tai Hua's advice, Luo Jinhai took his phone out of his pocket and dialled Li Jing's line.

On the other hand, Li Jing who was feeling down saw her phone ring and checked the caller only to find out that it was Luo Jinhai. Rather than answering, she turned the phone so the screen was facing the table and the ringing immediately stooped.

"She is not answering. Perhaps she is swamped with work." Luo Jinhai thought out loud, earning himself a stern look from Jun Tai Hua.

"Leave her a text message then."

Quickly, Luo Jinhai sent Li Jing a text message informing her he was back and would love to see her.

"There, I have sent it."

"Okay, now we can go get that drink to boost your spirit up."

'Okay man."

–––––

By the time message came into Li Jing's phone she was about outing a call through to Ye Cheng and find out what he was doing.

"Oh, Jinhai senpai sent a text message." Unlocking her phone, she read the message to herself before she went back and dialled Ye Cheng's number.

It rang for quite some time and after that, the depressed CEO answered the call.

"Hello." His voice came off low and draggy like someone who was almost dead or half asleep. Judging from his reply, Li Jing knew he was not good.

"Ye Cheng, it is I, Li Jing."

"Ohhh, Li Jing."

"Yes. Where are you?" She could hear some music playing in the background but it wasn't too loud to give one a cause for alarm but she was still worried nonetheless

"Somewhere far away."

"Are you drinking?" Li Jing could hear the sound of a cup been put down harshly and from her instincts, she knew he was drinking.

"Nothing to bother yourself with. I would be fine."

"Hey, wait. Ye Cheng tell me, what bar are you at?" Li Jing quickly asked before he cut the call.

"Tsk, you wouldn't listen, I am at Graywart Bar."

"Okay. "

"Do not come here, Li Jing. On no account should you…" The call went dead and Ye Cheng ignored it, letting his mood go back to the way it was before Li Jing's call.

Li Jing who could not help but fear the worst quickly picked her phone and bag then rushed out of her office.

She got to Graywart Bar within a few minutes and made her way to the entrance. It wasn't particularly classy as she would have expected but it was nonetheless for rich folks, just no the kind the overly rich visited.

She could understand his coming here today as he may not want to run into anyone he knew and here was just perfect.

The environment and the calmness in the bar were just right for Ye Cheng.

The music was not too loud, leaving you with the opportunity to think while drowning yourself in your bottles of alcoholic drinks.

Immediately Li Jing stepped foot inside, she scanned the big bar and soon found Ye Cheng sitting alone with some bottles of alcoholic drinks at his front.

Most were already empty, making Li Jing wonder just how much a guy could fill his stomach with all these harsh drinks.

Without further thought on the matter, Li Jing took a step in his direction and walked up to him.

Luckily for her, she wasn't at all dressed on in the perfect office outfit of suit, skirt and heels. Rather, she was dressed in a simple tucked in light green chiffon shirt and a knee-high black fitted skirt to match with a silver necklace pendant to match and a pair of silver heels and a black small bag.

She looked like a business lady, while still looking like a normal girl.

"Ye Cheng." She called out his name softly but it felt as though he did not hear her. "Ye Cheng," she called again, this time louder than the first.

It was at this time that he slowly lifted his head to look at her. His auburn brown hair looked dishevelled from his ceaseless roughing of it as he drank, his tie was loosened a bit and the top three buttons were left opened, showing a glimpse of his chiselled chest to anyone who looked closely.

"I told you not to come." Ye Cheng managed to voice out as he trailed his dark gaze over her curvy body before bringing them to land on her face.

"Are they worth it?" That was all Li Jing could say to him now. Where they really worth him drowning himself with drinks this way?

"Li Jing go back." He was not ready to talk about anything, whether they were worth it or not. All he wanted was to just be alone and think.

Think of where he had gone wrong, think of how well he was played, think of why he had not seen through their actions and think of why he opened his heart.

That was what had hurt him the most. The fact that he opened his heart to those two betrayals.

"I am not going anywhere, Ye Cheng. You need to grab a hold of yourself. This is not you. This is not the man I had come to admire."

"I am sorry to have disappointed you, Li Jing but this is me. Weak, frail, stupid, incapable of doing the right thing." He went on and on, continuing to blame himself for what happened.

"No, I refuse to believe that about you. I may not have known you for too long but one thing I know is that you are a fighter. You could have given up, Ye Cheng. You could have died after the accident at the harbour but you survive and hung unto to life when I found you."

"Exactly, Li Jing, you do not know me that well." Rather than look at her, he lowered his head as her words, though true, only made him feel worthless.

No matter how strong one was, he was very sensitive and should have noticed one or two things but he remained oblivious to everything going on around him until the accident.

~~~~~~

Sigh, poor Ye Cheng, I am sorry but get a grip of yourself already. Happy end of year guys. Leave me some votes and gifts... kisses.