Present Day

"Jia Li, open the door . How much will you sleep?" shouted Xie Chu outside her door .

"Has fate conspired today not to let me have a moment of peace?" muttered Jia Li as she opened the lock .

Before she could say anything though, the bundle of energy called Chu grabbed her in a crus.h.i.+ng embrace, "I can't tell you how much I have missed you all these years . Wait a second…what is wrong? Have you been crying? I am just going to call brother Tang . "

She s.n.a.t.c.hed the phone from Chu's fingers lest she summoned the irritating man again .

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with me . I just seemed to have developed an eye allergy due to lack of sleep . It shall subside soon . Please don't stress and tell me how have you been . I am truly sorry that I haven't been able to catch up with you ever since I came here . Why don't you sit down and tell me about the exciting world of media?" she babbled .

"I got worried for a minute looking at your swollen red eyes . Do you have any idea how scary you are looking right now?" she teased .

Jia Li made a face and replied caustically, "thank you very much . That is all I needed to hear first thing in the morning . By the way, why are you up so early? The party got finished just a while ago . I thought everyone would want a snooze before the long day of activities . "

Chu fiddled with her phone and replied with a casual air, "actually, a friend of mine has just landed from New York . I had gone to receive him at the airport . Do you know he is one of the most reputed journalists in the field these days?"

Jia Li grinned as realization dawned upon her, "Oh, now I figured out the reason for this early morning love for me . All this while I kept wondering about your sudden urgency to meet me at dawn . First things first, show me his picture . "

Chu thought of carrying out the charade for a bit longer but caved in with a smile after a minute of thought . During her adolescent years, it had been Jia Li who had acted as her confidante . Tang had been abroad during that entire time . So Jia Li was the one always around to play the older sibling role .

"I think, no I am kind of sure that I am in love . Ethan is funny and kind and charming and intelligent and…" she prattled on, only to be interrupted by Jia Li dryly, "I think I get the point . So when do I get to meet this paragon of virtues?"

They sat chatting for the next half hour where Chu described all about Ethan, her work and aspirations .

"Can I ask you something?" she started tentatively .

At Jia Li's smiling nod, she said, "why did you and brother Tang not rebel against your families? I always believed that you guys were meant for each other . I am not challenging yours or his choice of current partners but don't you think your relations.h.i.+p was worth fighting for?"

Jia Li crossed her fingers behind her back and spoke her white lie, "I am quite content in my marriage and I think Tang looks to be extremely happy with his relations.h.i.+p . Let past remain where it belongs . At this moment, all other conversation or thoughts have no place . Why don't we concentrate upon the American instead? We don't want him falling for any of the other gorgeous Shanghai girls, right?"

Present Day Jia Li, open the door . How much will you sleep? shouted Xie Chu outside her door . Has fate conspired today not to let me have a moment of peace? muttered Jia Li as she opened the lock . Before she could say anything though, the bundle of energy called Chu grabbed her in a crus.h.i.+ng embrace, I cant tell you how much I have missed you all these years . Wait a second…what is wrong? Have you been crying? I am just going to call brother Tang . She s.n.a.t.c.hed the phone from Chus fingers lest she summoned the irritating man again . There is absolutely nothing wrong with me . I just seemed to have developed an eye allergy due to lack of sleep . It shall subside soon . Please dont stress and tell me how have you been . I am truly sorry that I havent been able to catch up with you ever since I came here . Why dont you sit down and tell me about the exciting world of media? she babbled . I got worried for a minute looking at your swollen red eyes . Do you have any idea how scary you are looking right now? she teased . Jia Li made a face and replied caustically, thank you very much . That is all I needed to hear first thing in the morning . By the way, why are you up so early? The party got finished just a while ago . I thought everyone would want a snooze before the long day of activities . Chu fiddled with her phone and replied with a casual air, actually, a friend of mine has just landed from New York . I had gone to receive him at the airport . Do you know he is one of the most reputed journalists in the field these days? Jia Li grinned as realization dawned upon her, Oh, now I figured out the reason for this early morning love for me . All this while I kept wondering about your sudden urgency to meet me at dawn . First things first, show me his picture . Chu thought of carrying out the charade for a bit longer but caved in with a smile after a minute of thought . During her adolescent years, it had been Jia Li who had acted as her confidante . Tang had been abroad during that entire time . So Jia Li was the one always around to play the older sibling role . I think, no I am kind of sure that I am in love . Ethan is funny and kind and charming and intelligent and… she prattled on, only to be interrupted by Jia Li dryly, I think I get the point . So when do I get to meet this paragon of virtues? They sat chatting for the next half hour where Chu described all about Ethan, her work and aspirations . Can I ask you something? she started tentatively . At Jia Lis smiling nod, she said, why did you and brother Tang not rebel against your families? I always believed that you guys were meant for each other . I am not challenging yours or his choice of current partners but dont you think your relations.h.i.+p was worth fighting for? Jia Li crossed her fingers behind her back and spoke her white lie, I am quite content in my marriage and I think Tang looks to be extremely happy with his relations.h.i.+p . Let past remain where it belongs . At this moment, all other conversation or thoughts have no place . Why dont we concentrate upon the American instead? We dont want him falling for any of the other gorgeous Shanghai girls, right?