Jia Li nodded and said, "yes . Both Xie Tang and Zheng He are keen on walking that path . The government is also extremely supportive of the idea . If we manage to do this, maybe we could have more companies back home to follow in our footsteps . That would bring us one step closer to your dream as well, Hui . "

She was referring to the original thought process of Ying Hui upon which Earthly Matters had been formed upon .

"Sure, sounds good . Let's do it . We will develop a comprehensive plan and send it across . I will probably come down for a few factory visits prior to that, to understand the need and lacuna that currently exists," Hui told her .

"Great . I shall work out the itinerary with Camilla and do the needful," she said, automatically .

Hui laughed softly and replied, "you are forgetting . You don't work for Earthly Matters anymore . I will freeze upon the plan and inform you . "

Jia Li slapped her head and looked at him ruefully .

"I am going to take your leave now . Will text you the address where we are eating tonight . Hui, you will join us, right?" she asked Eric and Hui .

Hui said, "I am afraid that I'll have to take a rain check tonight . Got another client visit after this and have to dine with them . But you guys carry on . "

Eric gave a confused look to Hui but didn't say anything in front of Jia Li .

She bid warm farewells to both of them and left the office .

"Why did you lie to her? I thought you would have liked to spend the evening with her," Eric said the minute the office door shut .

"After an unbiased internal a.n.a.lysis, I have realised that by prolonged or frequent interaction with her, my ability to overcome this heartache diminishes . So, I want to cure myself completely before I face her again," he replied in all seriousness .

Jia Li stepped out of the office and started walking towards Hyde Park . She entered the luscious garden and brought out her phone . Before she could dial though, a hand came and encircled her waist from behind .

"Oh! You are here . I was just going to call you . Did you just arrive? What did the doctor say? You should have let me come with you . Also, if you had reached this place in time, you should have come in for the meeting," she was going on chattering .

"The doctor says that I am making excellent recovery and can hope to partic.i.p.ate in the Olympics next year . Since I finished with the appointment early, I decided to get some exercise . The long flight this morning, wasn't so good for my recovering limbs," he said, leaning against the heavy cane which he held in his hand .

With dedication and sheer grit, he had managed to shed the wheelchair finally . The doctors were hopeful that he would be able to walk and use his hand to their full extent real soon . They had planned a trip to London with a dual purpose of seeking another opinion on Tang's recovery and have a meeting with Hui .

"So, do you want to go for a stroll or should we find a bench to sit, now?" she asked him with a smile .

She was relieved to hear the doctor's prognosis though she would call him later to reconfirm . She didn't trust Tang to give her an accurate version .

"Let's go sit by the pond for a while . Walking till there should take care of my daily dose of steps," he said, referring to the lake situated on the other side of the vast garden .

She agreed and happily took off her shoes . There was a nip in the autumn air, balancing out the sun overhead .

They found a nice bench right in front of the lake . A lot of young kids were buzzing around, excited about the ducks quacking in the water . Everything was perfect!

Tang turned towards Jia Li who was gazing at the kids with a fond smile on her lips .

Bringing out a blue velvet box, he said, "Jia Li, I have been waiting impatiently for the day that I can go down on my knees and propose to you . But now, I simply can't wait any longer . So I hope you won't hold it against me, as I offer you my love via this ring, sitting next to you on a bench . I remember my heart going flip-flop the first time I saw these bewitching green eyes . You were busy s.n.a.t.c.hing the ball from my hand but I had ended up surrendering everything to you, alongwith it . I am sorry for pus.h.i.+ng you away, running away… well the list is endless . In the same breath, I want to say thank you for loving me selflessly . I simply can't imagine a world and my life without you in it . Lin Jia Li, will you marry me? I want you to bring my children to this world, help me become a tolerable human, decent husband and a perfect father . "

Jia Li was stunned . She hadn't expected this today .

But she recovered enough to extend her hand as he brought out the sparkling ring with trembling fingers .

A huge heart shaped emerald rested on a diamond studded band with two large diamonds holding it up on each side . Pus.h.i.+ng the ring on her slender finger, Tang raised the hand to his lips . Turning it inwards, he brought his warm lips to place a moist kiss on it .

"I love you, now and forever," he said .