Cynical Romantics - Chapter 12 A Name That Was Almost Forgotten

Two days later…

Mr and Mrs. Song have returned to America after they dropped by to speak about the pressing matter of inheritance, and the house was quiet again.

Returning to school was one week away and Qian Meigui needed to prepare for school. She wanted to go to the shops, but she did not want to go alone so she sought out someone to go with her.

Qian Mei knocked on the bedroom doors of the third level and there was no answer. She did not hear any noise and the house seemed to be empty. She checked the kitchen, the bathrooms, the game room, and every place close and far. She then finally asked Mrs. Li who was cooking, “Do you know where any of my sisters are?”

Miss Li then responded, “Miss Ren is with her fianc, while Miss Jinyi is with Jun. They all went out.”

Qian Mei felt upset, but Miss Li noticed and said, “Although Master Sheng is in the Sun room.”

Qian Mei then smiled. She had forgotten that Song Sheng was still on leave from the company. But she had not spoken to Sheng properly since they escaped the banquet nights ago.

Qian Meigui walked to the sunroom where there was a view of transparent sliding doors. A large tree they had in their backyard shaded the room, but sunlight managed to peak through various places.

Song Sheng was drawing intensely. His back faced her, and his right hand was mark with pencil shading, as he appeared to be drawing someone. From the shape of the face it seemed to be a woman, but it was incomplete. Qian Mei could not tell if it was person or just a random sketch. He seemed to be engrossed, as he did not notice her walk in.

Qian Mei then cleared her throat, “Sheng,” she called out. Song Sheng abruptly closed the book and turned around. “Mei, what are you doing here?” he asked irritated. It frightened her a bit.

“I wanted someone to come with me to do some shopping,” she said nervously.

“What about the others, can’t they go with you?” he asked impatiently.

“Ren, Jinyi and Jun are all out. If you can’t come, that’s fine. I will go with the butler.”

Song Sheng glanced at the view outside the sunroom doors before he sighed. “I will take you. Give me a few moments.” he said hopelessly.

Qian Meigui smiled brightly. She then ran to her room and changed into floral dress before meeting Song Sheng in the garage.

Song Sheng barely looked at her, before entering the driver’s seat. She wondered if he was avoiding her. Did he feel weird from her confession at the airport, about how she missed him? Qian Meigui quickly dismissed the idea, fearing that she was overthinking.

Song Sheng and Qian Mei maintained silence throughout the car ride, neither saying a word. Song Sheng seemed to be disturbed, though Qian Mei did not know why. He looked like he was neither in a good or bad mood, he was expressionless.

Qian Mei decided to take his phone and turned on Bluetooth. She then began playing on his playlists, and it was songs that she liked too, so she began to sing to the lyrics of the song. Since she was not particularly good at singing, she purposely tried to make a fool of herself.

Song Sheng barely looked affected, and Qian Mei felt like giving up until she changed the song. When the song changed, Qian Mei noticed that Song Sheng was trying hard to supress his laughter. She then looked at him and said, “Don’t hold back. Sing with me.”

Song Sheng began to sing with Qian Mei, out of tune, but full of joy. It seemed as if they were their old selves again. The air around them softened, until they arrived in Shanghai Times Square.

Before they left the car, Song Sheng who was wearing all black again, tossed on a leather jacket over, making him look more defined and frosty. His eyes appeared more golden in contrast to his stark black hair and clothing. Qian Mei eyed away before he could catch her staring.

Song Sheng handed his keys over to the valet, before walking side by side with Qian Meigui into the mall. Song Sheng towered over her, as he was a little over six feet tall, when she was five foot and a half.

They began to cruise through stores. Since Qian Mei knew her size, she did not try any clothes and each time Song Sheng insisted on paying for her. Qian Mei knew he earned money from selling his Art, but she did not know how he would have so much. Chairman Song was quick to cut any money he earned from the company. But he swiped his cards anyways, without hesitation.

At the end, Song Sheng had to help her carry her shopping bags. She bought many clothes and supplies for the new school term, since it was her last term of Senior Secondary School.

As they walk through the halls of the mall, Qian Meigui heard someone call out her name. A name she had almost forgotten.

“Qian Meigui?”

Qian Mei froze. She had not heard that name in years. She turned around to see the familiar face of a boy she knew. It was her childhood friend, Zheng Minzhe.

She felt stunned and overwhelmed. She never parted with anyone properly when the Song family took her to live with them. She left her home, her school, and all her friends behind. Huan Minzhe was her best friend and she never told him where she would go, or who she would be living with.

“Zheng Minzhe?” she asked. The boy smiled. He then said, “It’s good to see you are doing well Qian Qian.” Qian Meigui smiled faintly, “and you’ve grown taller.” Huan Minzhe grew, though he still had the same boyish face from when she had remembered him at fifeteen.

“What are you here in Huangpu?” She asked with curiosity. They were both from Baoshan district. He then responded, “I have moved here with my family. I did not expect that I would run into you.”

Qian Mei’s eye’s widened, “Zheng Fan and your parents?” Zheng Min nodded with a kind and warm smile. Zheng Min then glanced at Song Sheng, who stood behind them not saying a word, eyes locked on his phone.

Qian Mei wondered. Does she introduce him as her brother? It’s hard to explain to him that his family adopted her.

She then said, “This is Song Sheng, he’smy friend. His family takes care of me.” Afraid that Song Sheng would protest, she continued, “He attended with me to do some light shopping.”

Song Sheng then stretched out to shake Zheng Minzhe’s hand, “Hello, I am Song Sheng, it is nice to meet a friend of Xiao Mei.” Zheng Minzhe shook his hand, looking at him curiously. Qian Mei then said, “Song Sheng and I must be going,” Qian Meigui held onto one of Song Sheng’s hands that carried shopping bags, and said, “Send your family, my regards. It was nice to see you.”

She then walked away with Song Sheng. It seemed that she walked absent-mindedly, as she had forgotten she still held onto Song Sheng’s hand until they’ve reached the parking garage.

Qian Mei flushed when she remembered and pulled away. “Sorry,” she apologized. She was overwhelmed to see someone from her past, the past that she had left behind. And she had forgotten that she was holding his hand as she dragged him away with her.

“It’s no bother,” Song Sheng began. “That was the first person who recognized you, wasn’t it?” Qian Mei nodded. She was use to being Song Mei, and it suddenly felt odd to be called Qian Meigui. She didn’t know how to feel. For a second, she felt relief having her identity back, for not being Song Sheng’s sisterbut she owed the Song family too much, they were her new family. Although they would never replace her parent’s, she considered them as her family.

It was too much to explain to Zheng Min, so she did not wait for him to ask questions. She was afraid to hear what he thought.

When Qian Mei arrived home she went straight to her room with her shopping bags and laid flat on her bed.

Song Sheng came in shortly to drop off more of her bags, and said “Don’t beat yourself too hard.”

Qian Meigui glanced at him with wet eyes, and said, “I hate myself.”

Song Sheng approached her and ruffled her hair, and said, “Don’t worry. There will be a chance to see him again, and then maybe you will be ready to tell your friend everything. It was overwhelming for you.”

Qian Mei appreciated that Song Sheng was there for her, and he always had the right words to say.

Qian Meigui reached out to embrace him, and she said, “thank you.”

Song Sheng stood back after, and said, “Don’t mention it.” He then left the room and closed the door. Song Sheng felt it was hopeless. She looked adorable, and he wanted to do more to help her, but he had to keep his distance.