Xiao Shan sat on the window sill, her legs dangling dangerously two floors above the ground, while she looked up to the night sky. It was a cloudless night and the moon was only in a silver sliver. The neighborhood had gone to sleep since it was past midnight. No lights lit any of the houses except for the street lamps. It was a total darkness, yet she couldn’t sleep.

For one, the conversation she had with her parents earlier today kept replaying in her mind. Her prayers had been miraculously answered; a chance to be with Lu Han. Try she might to deny it, she loves Lu Han. From the day he handed the handkerchief to her at the wedding to the very moment now; her heart yearned for him every day, possibly more than Ann if love can be measured.

But the now turned soft sobbing from the room next door was pulling her back. That was also the second reason she couldn’t get an eye shut. How could she when her elder sister is suffering. Her gain would be her sister’s loss. Not just that, her gain would also mean Lu Han’s loss. Those two were clearly meant for each other.

She fiddled with her phone, contemplating if she should give Lu Han a call. She couldn’t choose; conscience versus heart.

A message arrived in her inbox, lighting her phone screen. Picking it up, she unlocked it to read it:

Are you awake?

She replied: Yes.

Another message: Can we talk?

She swung her legs back into her room. It’s time to decide.

Lu Han raised his heavy head from the cool bar table when he felt someone nudged him by the shoulder. Blinking several times to focus, he saw Xiao Shan already seated beside him. She pulled the glass of whiskey from his hand and pushed it back to the waiter at the bar. Ignoring the pounding in his head, he grinned foolishly at her.

“Hey, you’re here.” There weren’t many customers left in the bar at this hour, only the occasional late party-goers and drunks like Lu Han.

“How much have you drank?” Her question was simple but he didn’t answer. Instead, he waved the bartender forward for another. She pulled his hand down impatiently and turned to glare at the man behind the counter. “You’re drunk.”

“I don’t think so…” Lu Han replied in a sing-song voice. “It still hurts here.” He patted his chest. “And I still remember that I shouted at my parents for the first time today.”

Xiao Shan sighed. “It’s not going to end this way.”

“You don’t know that,” he argued. “My parents are pretty hell bent about it. Apparently, they think Ann would be an embarrassment to the family too. Can you believe that? My own parents think my girlfriend is an embarrassment.” He laughed stupidly but choked at his own emotions.

He looked up, his droopy eyes found Xiao Shan. Grabbing her hands, he quickly continued, “I’m sorry, Xiao Shan. You’re a great girl, and I know you’re going to be a great wife. But I…”

“But you don’t love me,” she finished his sentence. He didn’t respond to that. “You love Ann and you want to be with her.”

Lu Han nodded his head dumbly, almost too drunk and tired now to actually hold the conversation. Taking this opportunity, she probed more, “How much do you love her? Will you do anything for her?”

“I will do everything and more for Ann.”

“Will you die?” He looked up again. By now, his vision had started to blur so he couldn’t see the girl in front of him clearly anymore. He couldn’t see how she was biting her lips, trying real hard to control her voice from breaking when she speaks; how she pulled her hands away from his, hoping he didn’t realize she was in actuality, trembling. He didn’t see the tears that had fallen.

“If you do not have Ann in your life anymore, will you die?”

He nodded again. And his head fell back onto the counter, his consciousness slowly fading out while her last words rang in the back of his head. “And I will not be enough for you…”

The bartender watched the guy passed out cold on the bar top and the girl continued to talk to him as if he was still listening. He didn’t know what the hell is the guy’s problem but one thing’s is for sure, the girl’s problem appears to be worst that the guy. He didn’t look like he would die even if he just claimed that he would. The girl, on the other hand, looked like she would.

Carefully putting away the glasses that he has been cleaning, he leaned forward and asked the girl kindly, “Are you alright?”

Xiao Shan turned to look at the stranger that approached her. Quickly wiping those tears away, she nodded her head. “I’m fine. Can you please send this guy to a nearby hotel? I’ll pay you for it.”

The waiter shrugged. “Ok but are you sure you don’t want to send him home or something?”

“No. He must have had a fight with his parents. It’s better to let him rest at a nearby hotel.” She got up from the chair and draped her coat over Lu Han’s shoulders. Taking some cash from her wallet, she placed them on the counter. “This should cover everything. Please make sure he’s alright.”

“He’s your boyfriend or something?” the guy asked again, taking the money and slipped them into his back pocket. He walked out of the counter and signaled another colleague to take over. “Let me get my jacket and I’ll carry him to get a cab.”

“He’s just a friend,” she answered softly. Looking down at Lu Han and carefully brushing his hair aside to reveal his face, she whispered to him, “Sleep, Lu Han. Everything will be alright soon. I will never let you die.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another quick update~ I had this one sortly after I updated the previous chapter so I figure might as well put it up. Hope everyone enjoys reading it. We're finally entering all the drama.. ^^

I would love to heard everyone's comments, and don't forget to subcribe and upvote if you love the story.