Hope.
‘Gu Zai, I had a dream and you were in it,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Was it a good dream?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Yes,’ Zhen Zhen said.
Zhen Zhen wanted to say to Yue Gu Zai that she loved him, but her body was tired and she fell asleep.
‘Thank you Mr Luo Fan,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘Mr Yue, it was you who helped Mrs Yue wake up,’ Luo Fan said.
‘Phil, you should rest,’ William Hill said. ‘I’ll take care of everything while you rest.’
The men left the bedroom. Yue Gu Zai hugged Zhen Zhen and he slept soundly.
In the morning, Zhen Zhen woke up after a peaceful sleep. She stroked Yue Gu Zai’s beautiful face. She knew when Zhen Wu grew up, Zhen Wu would look like the adult Yue Gu Zai.
Yue Gu Zai opened his eyes when he felt Zhen Zhen’s fingers touched his lips.
‘Zhen Zhen, what are you thinking about?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
Zhen Zhen shyly buried her head in Yue Gu Zai’s chest.
‘I think I love you,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Zhen Zhen, can you say it again?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Say what?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘Say what you said before,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘I think I love you,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Zhen Zhen, I can’t hear you,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘I said, I love you!’ Zhen Zhen said.
Yue Gu Zai smiled. He was happy to hear Zhen Zhen say that she loved him.
‘You tricked me,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘You heard me the first time.’
‘Zhen Zhen, I think the whole house heard you,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
Outside the bedroom, William Hill chased everyone away to give Yue Gu Zai and Zhen Zhen privacy.
‘What about you?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘What about me?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Aren’t you supposed to say something like… I love you, I’ll take care of you and be good to you for the rest of your life?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘Why do I need to say all those things?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
Zhen Zhen nodded her head. On TV she saw couples declare their undying love, but it didn’t mean every couple had to do the same. She thought she lost to Yue Gu Zai. She didn’t need to embarrass herself if he didn’t say he loved her.
On the second day after Zhen Zhen woke up, Yue Gu Zai wanted to take care of Zhen Zhen and he asked William Hill to help him with his workload.
William Hill helped Yue Gu Zai. But he was still heartbroken to hear Zhen Zhen declare that she loved Yue Gu Zai.
‘William Hill,’ Helen called.
Helen kissed William Hill’s cheek and she hugged him like a koala.
William Hill snapped out of his thoughts and untangled himself from Helen.
‘Helen, what are you doing here?’ William Hill asked.
‘To see you,’ Helen said.
‘Your hair…’ William Hill said.
William Hill was angry Helen dyed her hair black.
‘Does it look good?’ Helen asked.
‘Why are you this foolish?’ William Hill asked. ‘Dying your hair black isn’t going to change anything except your hair color.’
‘I’m not foolish,’ Helen said. ‘You like gentle women with black hair. Can’t you understand I changed myself because I love you?’
‘Helen, I only see you as a…’ William Hill said.
‘Sister, sister, sister,’ Helen said and cried. ‘I don’t want to be your sister. I want to be your wife. You don’t need to love me. I only want to be by your side.’
‘Helen, I don’t want to string you along,’ William Hill said. ‘I can only love you like you’re my little sister.’
Helen took a step back.
‘William Hill, who do you want to fool?’ Helen asked. ‘You love big sister Zhen Zhen. Even I can see you love her. You wouldn’t have risked your life in Las Vegas if you didn’t love her. If I can see it, Phil can see it too. You are the one who needs to wake up. You’re in love with your friend’s wife. Big sister Zhen Zhen loves Phil. They won’t ever give you a chance to separate them.’
‘My feelings are my feelings,’ William Hill said. ‘It has nothing to do with you.’
‘You’re right,’ Helen said. ‘Your feelings has nothing to do with me.’
Helen turned around and she ran out of the room.
William Hill knew Helen spoke the truth. He shouldn’t stay somewhere he didn’t belong and be a third wheel.
‘Aren’t you going to chase after her?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘I was walking past and I overheard your conversation with Helen. If you’re not going to chase after her then I will.’
Zhen Zhen took a taxi to the nightclub. She found An Mei drinking wine in a private room.
‘An Mei, did Helen come here to see you?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘You have guts to look for Helen,’ An Mei said.
‘It’s a misunderstanding,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘I want to take Helen home to clear the misunderstanding.’
‘There’s no misunderstanding,’ An Mei said. ‘Stop acting innocent. I hate women like you who lead other people on.’
‘How can I apologise for something I didn’t do?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. The important thing right now is for me to find Helen.’
‘Do you think I’ll let you leave this easily?’ An Mei asked.
‘An Mei, where’s the new girl you wanted to recommend?’ Chen asked.
‘Big sister Chen, this is the new girl,’ An Mei said.
‘I like this girl,’ Chen said.
An Mei walked out of the room, and she locked the door.
Helen came back to a VIP room from vomiting in the toilet.
‘Big sister An Mei, where did you go?’ Helen asked.
‘To avenge you,’ An Mei said.
‘What do you mean?’ Helen asked.
An Mei explained to Helen why she locked Zhen Zhen in a room with Chen.
‘An Mei, you better pray nothing happened to big sister Zhen Zhen,’ Helen said. ‘Give me the key before this nightclub burns down.’
‘Are you serious?’ An Mei asked.
‘Deadly serious,’ Helen said.
Helen snatched the key from An Mei’s hand and she ran to the private room where Zhen Zhen was locked.
In the private room, Zhen Zhen couldn’t believe how fat Chen was. Chen’s saliva was all over her face, because Chen tried to kiss her lips. She couldn’t stand the alcohol stench on Chen’s body.
Hua Di Wu kicked the door of the private room open.
‘Miss Chen, what are you doing with my woman?’ Hua Di Wu asked.
‘I’m sorry,’ Chen said. ‘I didn’t know she was your woman.’
Zhen Zhen was relieved Chen’s fat body didn’t put pressure on her body anymore, and she slowly stood.
‘Do you think I’ll let you run off like this?’ Hua Di Wu asked.
‘I’m sorry,’ Chen said.
Chen offered Hua Di Wu a couple of purple euro notes.
‘Do you think money is enough for kissing my woman?’ Hua Di Wu asked. ‘Guards, take Miss Chen outside and don’t let her come back here again.’
‘Thank you big sister Hua,’ Zhen Zhen said.
Hua Di Wu held Zhen Zhen’s chin.
‘If you want to thank me,’ Hua Di Wu said. ‘You can thank me with a kiss.’
Yue Gu Zai and William Hill arrived at the private room at the same time as Helen. Yue Gu Zai saw Hua Di Wu was about to kiss Zhen Zhen’s lips, and he wanted to skin Hua Di Wu.
Zhen Zhen didn’t see Yue Gu Zai and the others. She only wanted Hua Di Wu to let go of her chin.
‘I’m not someone who commits adultery,’ Zhen Zhen said.
Hua Di Wu could see Yue Gu Zai from the corner of her eyes.
‘Don’t worry,’ Hua Di Wu said. ‘Your husband won’t find out.’
In one stride, Yue Gu Zai held a knife on the side of Hua Di Wu’s neck.
‘If you have the guts then kiss my wife,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘Gu Zai,’ Zhen Zhen called.
Hua Di Wu wisely let Zhen Zhen go. She believed Yue Gu Zai would have skinned her if she kissed Zhen Zhen’s lips.
Yue Gu Zai hugged Zhen Zhen.
‘Zhen Zhen, your body is still weak,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Why did you run here?’
‘Gu Zai, I’m OK,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Let’s go home,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘Gu Zai, wait,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Helen, come home with us.’
‘We can talk in their home,’ William Hill said.
Helen followed Yue Gu Zai, Zhen Zhen and William Hill back to headquarters.
An Mei didn’t know why Helen and Hua Di Wu were scared of Yue Gu Zai.
‘An Mei, you’re lucky nothing happened to Zhen Zhen,’ Hua Di Wu said. ‘Her husband is Yue Gu Zai. He’s the leader of Ni Sheng. He loves his wife and son. Anyone who dares to touch his wife and son will receive a sad ending. You’re also lucky Zhen Zhen isn’t the type of person who holds grudges. She won’t tell her husband what you did to her today otherwise you won’t be standing for long. From today, there is nothing between us.’
In the backyard at headquarters, Helen apologised to Zhen Zhen.
‘I’m sorry big sister Zhen Zhen,’ Helen said.
‘It’s not your fault,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Thank you,’ Helen said. ‘Big sister Zhen Zhen, I’m going to give up on William Hill. I’m not the woman he loves.’
‘Helen do you know why a person waits for another person?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘Because no one can predict the future. Everything changes every second. If there is hope, don’t give up. If you love William Hill, as long as you’re not hurting anyone, you don’t have to give up on him.’
Helen quietly listened to Zhen Zhen.
‘William Hill is attracted to Mandarin women because his mum is Mandarin,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Would you be happy if he loves you because you changed everything about you to suit his tastes?’
Helen shook her head.
‘In William Hill’s eyes, you’re someone who is important to him,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘If you’re not important to him, he would have let you lock yourself in your bedroom. You need to give him time to see that he does love you.’
‘Big sister Zhen Zhen, do you believe he loves me?’ Helen asked.
‘Where is your confidence?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
Helen held Zhen Zhen’s hand and she smiled.
‘Thank you big sister Zhen Zhen,’ Helen said.
Helen walked inside headquarters, and Yue Gu Zai walked to the bench Zhen Zhen sat on.
‘Zhen Zhen, do you really believe William Hill loves Helen?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Why not?’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Helen has many loveable traits. There’s hope William Hill will love her one day.’
Yue Gu Zai helped Zhen Zhen stand.
‘It’s cold outside,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Let’s go back inside. In two days we’ll fly home.’
‘I miss our son,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘What’s good about our son?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
***
End of Chapter Fifty-Six
Hope.
‘Gu Zai, I had a dream and you were in it,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Was it a good dream?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Yes,’ Zhen Zhen said.
Zhen Zhen wanted to say to Yue Gu Zai that she loved him, but her body was tired and she fell asleep.
‘Thank you Mr Luo Fan,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘Mr Yue, it was you who helped Mrs Yue wake up,’ Luo Fan said.
‘Phil, you should rest,’ William Hill said. ‘I’ll take care of everything while you rest.’
The men left the bedroom. Yue Gu Zai hugged Zhen Zhen and he slept soundly.
In the morning, Zhen Zhen woke up after a peaceful sleep. She stroked Yue Gu Zai’s beautiful face. She knew when Zhen Wu grew up, Zhen Wu would look like the adult Yue Gu Zai.
Yue Gu Zai opened his eyes when he felt Zhen Zhen’s fingers touched his lips.
‘Zhen Zhen, what are you thinking about?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
Zhen Zhen shyly buried her head in Yue Gu Zai’s chest.
‘I think I love you,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Zhen Zhen, can you say it again?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Say what?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘Say what you said before,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘I think I love you,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Zhen Zhen, I can’t hear you,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘I said, I love you!’ Zhen Zhen said.
Yue Gu Zai smiled. He was happy to hear Zhen Zhen say that she loved him.
‘You tricked me,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘You heard me the first time.’
‘Zhen Zhen, I think the whole house heard you,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
Outside the bedroom, William Hill chased everyone away to give Yue Gu Zai and Zhen Zhen privacy.
‘What about you?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘What about me?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Aren’t you supposed to say something like… I love you, I’ll take care of you and be good to you for the rest of your life?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘Why do I need to say all those things?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
Zhen Zhen nodded her head. On TV she saw couples declare their undying love, but it didn’t mean every couple had to do the same. She thought she lost to Yue Gu Zai. She didn’t need to embarrass herself if he didn’t say he loved her.
On the second day after Zhen Zhen woke up, Yue Gu Zai wanted to take care of Zhen Zhen and he asked William Hill to help him with his workload.
William Hill helped Yue Gu Zai. But he was still heartbroken to hear Zhen Zhen declare that she loved Yue Gu Zai.
‘William Hill,’ Helen called.
Helen kissed William Hill’s cheek and she hugged him like a koala.
William Hill snapped out of his thoughts and untangled himself from Helen.
‘Helen, what are you doing here?’ William Hill asked.
‘To see you,’ Helen said.
‘Your hair…’ William Hill said.
William Hill was angry Helen dyed her hair black.
‘Does it look good?’ Helen asked.
‘Why are you this foolish?’ William Hill asked. ‘Dying your hair black isn’t going to change anything except your hair color.’
‘I’m not foolish,’ Helen said. ‘You like gentle women with black hair. Can’t you understand I changed myself because I love you?’
‘Helen, I only see you as a…’ William Hill said.
‘Sister, sister, sister,’ Helen said and cried. ‘I don’t want to be your sister. I want to be your wife. You don’t need to love me. I only want to be by your side.’
‘Helen, I don’t want to string you along,’ William Hill said. ‘I can only love you like you’re my little sister.’
Helen took a step back.
‘William Hill, who do you want to fool?’ Helen asked. ‘You love big sister Zhen Zhen. Even I can see you love her. You wouldn’t have risked your life in Las Vegas if you didn’t love her. If I can see it, Phil can see it too. You are the one who needs to wake up. You’re in love with your friend’s wife. Big sister Zhen Zhen loves Phil. They won’t ever give you a chance to separate them.’
‘My feelings are my feelings,’ William Hill said. ‘It has nothing to do with you.’
‘You’re right,’ Helen said. ‘Your feelings has nothing to do with me.’
Helen turned around and she ran out of the room.
William Hill knew Helen spoke the truth. He shouldn’t stay somewhere he didn’t belong and be a third wheel.
‘Aren’t you going to chase after her?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘I was walking past and I overheard your conversation with Helen. If you’re not going to chase after her then I will.’
Zhen Zhen took a taxi to the nightclub. She found An Mei drinking wine in a private room.
‘An Mei, did Helen come here to see you?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
‘You have guts to look for Helen,’ An Mei said.
‘It’s a misunderstanding,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘I want to take Helen home to clear the misunderstanding.’
‘There’s no misunderstanding,’ An Mei said. ‘Stop acting innocent. I hate women like you who lead other people on.’
‘How can I apologise for something I didn’t do?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. The important thing right now is for me to find Helen.’
‘Do you think I’ll let you leave this easily?’ An Mei asked.
‘An Mei, where’s the new girl you wanted to recommend?’ Chen asked.
‘Big sister Chen, this is the new girl,’ An Mei said.
‘I like this girl,’ Chen said.
An Mei walked out of the room, and she locked the door.
Helen came back to a VIP room from vomiting in the toilet.
‘Big sister An Mei, where did you go?’ Helen asked.
‘To avenge you,’ An Mei said.
‘What do you mean?’ Helen asked.
An Mei explained to Helen why she locked Zhen Zhen in a room with Chen.
‘An Mei, you better pray nothing happened to big sister Zhen Zhen,’ Helen said. ‘Give me the key before this nightclub burns down.’
‘Are you serious?’ An Mei asked.
‘Deadly serious,’ Helen said.
Helen snatched the key from An Mei’s hand and she ran to the private room where Zhen Zhen was locked.
In the private room, Zhen Zhen couldn’t believe how fat Chen was. Chen’s saliva was all over her face, because Chen tried to kiss her lips. She couldn’t stand the alcohol stench on Chen’s body.
Hua Di Wu kicked the door of the private room open.
‘Miss Chen, what are you doing with my woman?’ Hua Di Wu asked.
‘I’m sorry,’ Chen said. ‘I didn’t know she was your woman.’
Zhen Zhen was relieved Chen’s fat body didn’t put pressure on her body anymore, and she slowly stood.
‘Do you think I’ll let you run off like this?’ Hua Di Wu asked.
‘I’m sorry,’ Chen said.
Chen offered Hua Di Wu a couple of purple euro notes.
‘Do you think money is enough for kissing my woman?’ Hua Di Wu asked. ‘Guards, take Miss Chen outside and don’t let her come back here again.’
‘Thank you big sister Hua,’ Zhen Zhen said.
Hua Di Wu held Zhen Zhen’s chin.
‘If you want to thank me,’ Hua Di Wu said. ‘You can thank me with a kiss.’
Yue Gu Zai and William Hill arrived at the private room at the same time as Helen. Yue Gu Zai saw Hua Di Wu was about to kiss Zhen Zhen’s lips, and he wanted to skin Hua Di Wu.
Zhen Zhen didn’t see Yue Gu Zai and the others. She only wanted Hua Di Wu to let go of her chin.
‘I’m not someone who commits adultery,’ Zhen Zhen said.
Hua Di Wu could see Yue Gu Zai from the corner of her eyes.
‘Don’t worry,’ Hua Di Wu said. ‘Your husband won’t find out.’
In one stride, Yue Gu Zai held a knife on the side of Hua Di Wu’s neck.
‘If you have the guts then kiss my wife,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘Gu Zai,’ Zhen Zhen called.
Hua Di Wu wisely let Zhen Zhen go. She believed Yue Gu Zai would have skinned her if she kissed Zhen Zhen’s lips.
Yue Gu Zai hugged Zhen Zhen.
‘Zhen Zhen, your body is still weak,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Why did you run here?’
‘Gu Zai, I’m OK,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Let’s go home,’ Yue Gu Zai said.
‘Gu Zai, wait,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Helen, come home with us.’
‘We can talk in their home,’ William Hill said.
Helen followed Yue Gu Zai, Zhen Zhen and William Hill back to headquarters.
An Mei didn’t know why Helen and Hua Di Wu were scared of Yue Gu Zai.
‘An Mei, you’re lucky nothing happened to Zhen Zhen,’ Hua Di Wu said. ‘Her husband is Yue Gu Zai. He’s the leader of Ni Sheng. He loves his wife and son. Anyone who dares to touch his wife and son will receive a sad ending. You’re also lucky Zhen Zhen isn’t the type of person who holds grudges. She won’t tell her husband what you did to her today otherwise you won’t be standing for long. From today, there is nothing between us.’
In the backyard at headquarters, Helen apologised to Zhen Zhen.
‘I’m sorry big sister Zhen Zhen,’ Helen said.
‘It’s not your fault,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘Thank you,’ Helen said. ‘Big sister Zhen Zhen, I’m going to give up on William Hill. I’m not the woman he loves.’
‘Helen do you know why a person waits for another person?’ Zhen Zhen asked. ‘Because no one can predict the future. Everything changes every second. If there is hope, don’t give up. If you love William Hill, as long as you’re not hurting anyone, you don’t have to give up on him.’
Helen quietly listened to Zhen Zhen.
‘William Hill is attracted to Mandarin women because his mum is Mandarin,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Would you be happy if he loves you because you changed everything about you to suit his tastes?’
Helen shook her head.
‘In William Hill’s eyes, you’re someone who is important to him,’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘If you’re not important to him, he would have let you lock yourself in your bedroom. You need to give him time to see that he does love you.’
‘Big sister Zhen Zhen, do you believe he loves me?’ Helen asked.
‘Where is your confidence?’ Zhen Zhen asked.
Helen held Zhen Zhen’s hand and she smiled.
‘Thank you big sister Zhen Zhen,’ Helen said.
Helen walked inside headquarters, and Yue Gu Zai walked to the bench Zhen Zhen sat on.
‘Zhen Zhen, do you really believe William Hill loves Helen?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
‘Why not?’ Zhen Zhen said. ‘Helen has many loveable traits. There’s hope William Hill will love her one day.’
Yue Gu Zai helped Zhen Zhen stand.
‘It’s cold outside,’ Yue Gu Zai said. ‘Let’s go back inside. In two days we’ll fly home.’
‘I miss our son,’ Zhen Zhen said.
‘What’s good about our son?’ Yue Gu Zai asked.
***
End of Chapter Fifty-Six
