”Okay, let’s go and eat, or else your husband would skin me alive!” Su Bei said the moment the client left Yan Mei’s office.

Su Bei looked at her friend’s tired eyes and she couldn’t help but feel distressed. Yan Mei chuckled when she heard Su Bei.

”Yeah, now that you have reminded me. I need to send him a picture that I’m eating.” Yan Mei said with a helpless smile.

”Oh, so hubby is worried about you, huh?” Su Bei said teasingly.

Yan Mei shrugged, “Would you like to go to that new western restaurant across the streets? I heard their food is really good.”

Yan Mei knew her friend was a big foodie like her.

”Really?” Su Bei’s eyes sparkled. She has always wanted to visit that restaurant that everyone was talking about, but she knew better. Even though her pay was very good, she had spent half of it on her mother’s drugs. So, she can’t afford to eat at that restaurant.

”Yeah.” Yan Mei replied curtly.

Su Bei squealed excitedly, “Let’s go then.”

Yan Mei nodded and picked her purse, leaving the office with Su Bei trailing behind her.

As soon as they reached the restaurant, a host greeted them politely.

Yan Mei nodded, and Su Bei smiled softly at the host.

”Table for two”. Su Bei said as she glanced around the restaurant.

The waiter nodded and led them to a table at the corner that overlooked the streets from the floor to ceiling window.

”A waiter will come and take your orders soon. Please wait.” The host said with a smile and left.

”Hello, I’m Evan. Your waiter. Here is the menu and welcome to Tulip restaurant.”

The waiter said and flashed Su Bei a smile, showing his perfect white teeth. Yan Mei narrowed her eyes as a trace of amusement flashed through them.

”Can I get you something?” He asked with his gaze still on Su Bei.

”A glass of apple juice would be fine.” Yan Mei said flatly.

”Same here.” Su Bei said smiling at him.

”Alright, I would be back with your drinks.” The waiter’s lips twisted into a smile and left.

Soon he came back to their table with two glasses of apple juice.

”Here are your drinks.” He said as he placed one in front of Su Bei and the other in front of Yan Mei.

”Thank you.” Su Bei said.

”It’s a pleasure to serve two beautiful women. So, what would you be having?” Evan asked.

Yan Mei glanced at the menu and selected the most expensive meal on the menu.

”I will get the same.” Su Bei said smiling as she handed back the menu.

”Alright,” Evan said as he took the menu and left to help the other table.

”It seems you have found yourself a charmer.” Yan Mei commented as she made a sip on her juice.

”Huh?” Su Bei asked with a confusion frowned on her face.

”The waiter didn’t you see he was flirting with you?” Yan Mei asked as she stared at her friend.

”He was?”

Yan Mei heaved a sigh when she heard her friend. No wonder she was still single at this age.

”Yes, he was. I’m no longer surprised that you’re still single.”

Su Bei chuckled and glanced at the waiter who was taking another table’s order.

”He is cute but not my type.” Su Bei said as she shrugged her shoulders.

”Oh, so who is your type?” Yan Mei asked as her lips curved into a slight smile.

”Leng-” Su Bei blurted out, but she stopped midway when she realized what she has said.

Yan Mei raised her brows, “So you like him?” Yan Mei asked eagerly, eyeing her closely.

Su Bei bit her lips and reluctantly nodded her head. She looked at Yan Mei and found a mischievous smile on her lips.

”You know, he is single, right?” Yan Mei asked as she shook her head helplessly.

Su Bei’s eyes lit up, “Really?” She inquired with an unknown emotion in her eyes. Yan Mei couldn’t pinpoint what she saw.

”Yes, if you want, I can set you guys up.”

Su Bei fidgeted but shook her head.

”I think he wouldn’t like a girl like me.”

Yan Mei frowned, “Why are you saying that?”

Su Bei shrugged. Yan Mei looked at her friend but said nothing. Her phone shook in her purse when she removed it. She saw a message from Lei Zhao.

Lei Zhao: Wifey, don’t tell me you forgot to eat lunch.

Yan Mei sighed and quickly replied.

Yan Mei: No, I’m currently at a restaurant with Su Bei.

Lei Zhao: Oh, alright, enjoy your meal. I will call you at night.

A soft smile tugged at Yan Mei’s lips as she replied.

Yan Mei: Hmm.

”So, who are you chatting with? You look like a teenager chatting with her crush.” Su Bei commented as she took a sip of her drink.

”Oh, it’s Lei Zhao. He is asking if I had eaten.”

Su Bei rolled her eyes, “I should have known looking at the love-struck look on your face.”

Yan Mei smiled softly.

”I think that guy is madly in love with you, Yan Mei!” Su Bei remarked as she sipped her drink.

Yan Mei nodded.

”Yeah.” Yan Mei uttered firmly.

Su Bei chuckled, “Look at you, I thought you would never fall in love! I’m happy for you.”

Su Bei said with a smile.

”Cheers to more happiness.” She said as she lifted her glass to Yan Mei.

”Cheers.” Yan Mei replied with a smile as she lifted her glass to Su Bei before taking a sip

Twenty minutes later, the waiter brought their food. This time Su Bei ignored him since she didn’t want to give the poor guy lost hope.

A trace of loss passed through the waiter’s eyes, but he left, saying nothing.

Su Bei stared at the mouth-watering food and took a picture before she eating. Yan Mei shook her head helplessly and waited for Su Bei to snap the food. She also took a picture and sent it to Lei Zhao, but he didn’t reply. Maybe he was busy.

——–

Once Yan Mei got home, she took a shower and stayed in the living room to pass the time. Her hair was still wet, and she was only wearing a bathrobe. She lazily swirled the wineglass in her hand and pick the remote control, turning the television on. She flicked on the channels, but nothing interested her. She massaged her temple as she sat in a daze.

Suddenly her phone rang, snapping her out of her stupor.

”Wifey.” Lei Zhao’s husky voice sounded the moment she picked up the call which made her miss him more.

”Hmm.” She replied softly.

Lei Zhao frowned when he heard her, “Are you okay?” he asked with concern laced in his voice.

”Yes, I-I just miss you.” She complained bitterly.

”I took a bath alone and there is no one to help me dry my hair.”

Lei Zhao chuckled huskily, “So you miss me because I’m not there to help you dry your hair?”

”It’s part of the reasons why I miss you.” Yan Mei murmured, puffing her cheeks slightly.

”Oh, I see. How was work?”

Yan Mei smiled, “Good. What are you doing right now?” She inquired.

”I’m in bed.” Lei Zhao replied.

Yan Mei’s thoughts went off when she heard him, she wished she there, lying on his chest while listening to his heartbeat.

”Oh, thinking about me? Yan Mei asked as she took a sip of her wine to calm her pounding heart.

”Yeah. I was there to help you bath.” He said with a hint of humor in his voice.

Yan Mei couldn’t but blush. Clearing her throat, she changed the subject.

”I want to stay with my grandfather before you come back.” Yan Mei mumbled.

”Oh okay. That’s good. Then I don’t have to worry about you staying alone at the house.”

”Hmm.” A silence occurred as they listened to each other’s breath on the phone.

”Sleep Wifey, because if I was there you wouldn’t be sleeping.” Lei Zhao said as he chuckled lightly.

”Rogue!” Yan Mei snapped at him.

Lei Zhao chortle.

”Sleep Wifey, you would go to work tomorrow morning.” Lei Zhao coaxed her.

”Hmm.” She whispered, but Lei Zhao still heard her breathing on the other side of the phone.

”Hang up the phone first.” Lei Zhao said helplessly.

”No, you do.” She retorted.

Another silence occurred without none of them saying anything or planning to hung up the call.

Lei Zhao heaved a sigh, “Goodnight Wifey. I’m hanging up or we will be on the phone the whole night.”

”Hmm.” Yan Mei replied.

”Dream about me.” Lei Zhao said teasingly.

”You too. Come back soon.” She breathed.

”I will.” Lei Zhao uttered and finally hang up the call.

Yan Mei stared at the phone in a daze before sighing. She placed the wine on the table and walked to the bedroom to dry her hair. She knew Lei Zhao would get worried if she catches a cold.