Granting You A Second Life

Yuèliàng Restaurant 18:45 pm

He Minzhe: "Song how did you get little 4th to tell you were Li Xiuying's date was?"

Qin Song: "I just asked him of course. I'm his favorite older brother." Actually he had scared little 4th by telling him how the man on the blind date may end up falling for Li Xiuying. This would result in her dating him, eventually marrying him, having her own children all of which means that she wouldn't be spending any more time with little 4th.

Shen Qiu: "Yeah right. Bribery or threats?"

Qin Song took a sip of his drink to avoid answering the question.

He Minzhe: "I asked the waited before we came. The blind date is with the guy from table 17. Which is at our 10 O'clock." He then discretely indicated to the table.

Shen Qiu and Qin Song both turned to the side to look. They both frowned.

Shen Qiu: "Which one is it? There are two guys. Are they both going on a blind date?"

Qin Song frown deepened as he glared at the table.

Table 17 - 19:01 pm

Chong Honghui was sitting at a table with his friend, Zhōu Shàoqiáng. Chong Honghui was wearing a fitted stylishly patterned blazer paired with a white shirt that had a Chinese collar. He wore a pair of tapered black trousers and black smart casual shoes. He exuded luxury.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng was wearing a very flamboyant floral printed shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His left arm was full of tattoos. He paired his shirt with a pair of deep blue chino's and deep blue casual shoes. He should have looked garish but his aura somehow dampened the loudness of his wardrobe choice. Zhōu Shàoqiáng was laid back but anyone who met him could instantly tell there was more to him than met the surface.

Chong Honghui was annoyed: "It's 7:01 pm she's late. She can't even follow simple instructions."

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Honghui would you relax? It's a women's prerogative to be a little late."

Chong Honghui: "Time is money and my time is worth more than most. Plus the fact that she's late could indicate that either she's bad at time keeping or she can't tell the time."

Zhōu Shàoqiáng sighed: "Why did you even agree to this blind date?"

Chong Honghui: "Long story short Ren Daiyu is the daughter of my father's best friend. So I basically grew up with her. My parents think that I'll end up with Ren Daiyu like some fairy tale. I'm just going on this date to humor my parents. After tonight they'll hopefully stop trying to get us together." Since he returned from the US his mother had made it her life mission to pair him with Ren Daiyu.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Why don't you just tell your parents about Jia Kuai Hua?"

Chong Honghui: "Do you think I would go along with this farce if I could just introduce HuaHua? I'm only meeting Ren Daiyu today to appease my parents so when they do meet HuaHua they won't treat her like she's second best." People always hated the unknown. Chong Honghui knew that if he didn't try or at least pretend to try with Ren Daiyu his parents would always compare any woman he brought home to her. They would constantly wander 'what if it had worked out between Daiyu and Honghui'? or 'Daiyu would never have done this and that'.

However, after tonight he could bring the woman that he actually liked to meet his parents. He could bring his HuaHua.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Let's order some dri..."

Zhōu Shàoqiáng stopped mid-sentence as he happened to glance upon two beautiful women walking through the door.

One woman was wearing a mauve evening gown that had a single long slit that went up to her mid-t.h.i.g.h. It was an unusual colour that could age you prem.a.t.u.r.ely but on this woman it made her fair skin glow. She wore simple silver necklace and simple silver earrings. Her hair was in a messy bun.

Although Zhōu Shàoqiáng found this woman in mauve to be beautiful he found the woman next to her to be intriguing. She was significantly shorter even with her high heels. She wore a black evening gown that fitted her like a glove. From where he was seated he could see that the back of the gown had black floral lace so very little skin was exposed. Her hair was in large waves that framed her face.

Although the woman wasn't as beautiful as her taller friend her face was still pretty. Her eyes were large and expressive and looked like they were hiding a multitude of secrets.

What Zhōu Shàoqiáng was attracted to most about the woman was her demeanour. Like him she seemed nonchalant but he could tell by the distance the waiter retained and the lack of eye contact that she unnerved people.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng subconsciously muttered under his breath: "Maybe I've finally met my match."

Chong Honghui's attention was also on the two women who were being lead to their table by a waiter.

Ren Daiyu and Li Xiuying finally reached the table.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng stood up and pulled out Li Xiuying's chair for her. She was a little confused by this random mans action but she sat down.

Li Xiuying:"Thanks."

Chong Honghui begrudgingly followed Zhōu Shàoqiáng example and pulled out Ren Daiyu's chair.

As soon as they were all seated Chong Honghui decided to give these two women a piece of his mind.

Chong Honghui: "Daiyu you're late but at least you know how to dress appropriate. I have an image to maintain and I can't risk you tainting it."

Ren Daiyu frowned and was about to speak when Chong Honghui continued.

Chong Honghui: "And I see you brought a friend along as well, what did you think this was a party?"

Ren Daiyu: "Firstly we're not friends so do not call me by my first name so casual Mr. Chong. Secondly, even though your appearance is sub-par my reputation is such that meeting one insignificant man will not affect it. Thirdly, so what if I brought a friend to make this horrible evening bearable? Who is the man next to you, you're spirit guide?"

Chong Honghui was fuming: "How dare you talk to me like that?!"

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Okay. I think we all need to calm down. Miss Ren I apologize for Honghui on his behalf he has had a very trying day and may say things he doesn't mean. Let's all try and get through this evening as amicably as possible."

Chong Honghui loosed the collar around his neck and called over a waitress to order a drink. He clearly needed alcohol to get through this night.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Perhaps we should introduce ourselves. I'm Honghui's friend, Zhōu Shàoqiáng. I worked with him in US."

Ren Daiyu: "I'm sure Mr Chong has already told you about me but I'm Ren Daiyu. This is my friend Li Xiuying she's a doctor."

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "It's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you both. Shall we order drinks?"

Ren Daiyu picked up drinks menu and was about to open it when she was interrupted.

Chong Honghui spoke dismissively: "I've already ordered drinks for everyone. I'm sure my tastes are superior anyway."

Li Xiuying looked at Chong Honghui as if he was a puzzle she was trying to decipher. She questioned 'How could there be someone more annoying than Qin Song?'

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Dr Li are you a medical doctor?"

Li Xiuying turned her attention back to the man in a floral shirt. She nodded once.

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "What are you hoping to specialize in?"

Ren Daiyu smiled a little when she heard Zhōu Shàoqiáng question. What was left for YingYing to specialize in?

Li Xiuying: "Undecided." She didn't want to reel off her CV.

A waitress soon came over with the drinks order. She placed to glasses of wine in front of the women and two dry martinis' in front of the men.

Li Xiuying moved the glass of wine further away from her. She didn't really enjoy drinking. She didn't like the taste and because she was always getting random emergency calls she couldn't afford it wasn't always appropriate to drink. Also, she was a light weight and couldn't hold her alcohol. She would probably pass out after a large glass of wine.

Chong Honghui saw Li Xiuying's action:" Excuse me Miss Li is there something wrong with the drink I chose?"

Li Xiuying: "Yes."

Chong Honghui:" Well what's the problem? Do you know the year of this wine?! This wine is a ..."

Li Xiuying cut him short: "I don't drink."

Zhōu Shàoqiáng: "Why don't we have a look at the menu?"

Chong Honghui: "There's no point. I already pre-ordered our dishes they would have been out by 7:15 but because someone was late they have been delayed to 7:35"

Zhōu Shàoqiáng sighed internally. What the hell was wrong with Chong Honghui?