Li Jie shrugged his shoulders and replied, "if they did, it was a long time coming. But I don't think it has helped either one of them, if their reactions are anything to go by. I have always maintained that they should have given one another a fair chance to speak their minds out rather than go by their respective parents' versions or ill-formed a.s.sumptions."

Five years earlier

A frantic banging at his door woke Li Jie up and he opened his room door at the men's hostel in Beijing.

"What are you doing here at this hour, Jia Li? You know the dormitory in-charge doesn't approve of girls coming to this place at night…", he stopped mid-sentence seeing tears streaming down her face.

He made her sit down and fumbled around looking for a washed gla.s.s to give her water.

"Uncle Xie paid a visit to my parents today. He went there to explain to them how unsuitable their daughter was for his son. He also told them in no uncertain terms that any alliance between Tang and me without his consent would be catastrophic for me. To quote him – 'I would make her life h.e.l.l'. He was kind enough to offer my father any sort of help he might need in furthering his career as long as he abided by Uncle Xie's wishes."

Li Jie came and hugged her, "but you knew this was bound to happen. We have been expecting this and more for the longest time. You told me last week that Tang was going to speak with his father. Maybe he did speak and this is a reaction to that."

Jia Li shook her head morosely, "he told me that when he saw his father, his courage gave way and he could only tell him about his application to various companies for interns.h.i.+p. There was no mention of me or us or our future."

Thinking hard, Li Jie replied, "maybe he sensed that it wasn't the right time for the same. As it is, there is no tearing hurry. It's not like your parents are pressurising you to get married right away or his, for that matter."

"You don't understand. By doing this, Uncle Xie has ensured that my parents are never going to agree to our alliance. I have been summoned back home. I have not heard a word from Tang amidst all this. He is neither picking up his phone nor responding to my messages. I even called his dorm but I was informed that he is not there. What am I supposed to understand from this? Is he suddenly that busy?" she asked brokenly.

"I am going home tomorrow. I have no idea about what I am supposed to say to them. My father lives on his self-respect and because of me, he had to listen to all that garbage from Tang's dad. Mom told me that he hasn't eaten a single morsel ever since the event. I feel as if I have let him down. I was his pride, his biggest achievement", she cried.

An hour later, Li Jie dropped a trembling, exhausted Jia Li back to her place.

"If you want, I can come with you to Moganshan tomorrow. I haven't been home in a few months and I can easily take a break from the semester", he offered.

She gave him a wan smile, "it's better that I face this alone. If it gets too tough for me to handle, I promise to give you a shout."