"Alright, I am done, I'll leave." Zhan said, "Let me drop two of you too."
"Sure," they said.
Cheng was a lawyer like his father and grandfather, while Yanli was the owner of a successful restaurant chain. I was proud of my cousins and their success, they too had worked hard.
And as for me, I was a tech guy.
I started a start-up after I graduated and invented a security software that blew up, and now I am the CEO of one of the fastest-growing software companies, Neonex.
My uncle, aunt, and Grandma played a big role, they encouraged me and even invested in my project, it was a huge risk, but they were ready to take that risk because of me.
I owe them a large part of my success.
"Good morning, sir"
"Good morning, Ziyi, so what do we have today?"
"A lot of meetings and paperwork, and a lot of papers that need your signature, you have lunch with your grandmother"
"Oh my god, that's a lot, let's get to work."
"Absolutely."
~~
"Why didn't you come to family dinner yesterday kiddo?" My grandmother asked as she sat in my office.
"I had a few meetings to attend and I was exhausted and honestly I didn't want to argue with Grandpa."
"Oh my boy, look what I brought, your favorite chicken Caesar salad and soup."
"Oh my, I love you, grandma," I said as I started to eat salad and soup.
"I have asked Yanli to help you pick a gift for your grandpa and it's better you let her help you this time."
"You are breaking my heart, Grandma, were my gifts that bad?"
"No, they were lovely, but they were not what your grandfather wanted."
"I get it."
"Also, Tulip will be there at the party too."
Oh fuck here we go again with the matchmaking again, these old people just can't stop themselves from meddling in young people's lives, can they?
"Grandma."
"She is a good person, Zhan."
"I know."
"Zhan, I am worried about you, you have achieved so much already, don't you think it's time you settled down? I am not forcing you to get married, but at least date someone, I have never seen you date anyone or get into a serious relationship."
Because I don't want to, I don't want to waste someone else's time or my time, because I know that no one would ever replace Yibo, it would be unfair to other people. I don't want to fall in love again or look for the right person, I was already in love and I had already found my person, he was just not by my side yet.
"I don't want to grandma. I am already-"
"In Love, I know, but Zhan, are you sure this person you love, loves you back? If he does, then where is he? Why did he leave you? Why isn't he back yet Is he even alive-"
"Grandma stop," I said in a cold voice, just the thought that my Yibo might be dead made my heart clench and gave me shivers.
She stopped speaking and I sighed, my appetite died.
"Grandma, just trust me, I will take care of my life, but I don't want to marry yet."
"Then at least go on blind dates, how about Jessie he..."
"Oh god, grandma please top."
"Fine, I won't say anything else."
"Thank you," I said and we ate our lunch, talking about random topics.
But what she said stuck with me.
I looked at my ring again, Yibo, do you remember your promise, will you really come back to me? Do you even remember me? Are you still single or are you taken? I would be heartbroken if you are not single.
How much more are you going to make me wait? It's getting harder and harder, you know.
I sighed and shook my head, I should focus on work.
~~
After the work of the day was complete, it was time to go shopping with Cheng and Yanli.
We went to a clothes shop, then to the wine shop, and to many other boring places, it was seriously getting boring now, and I was going to fall asleep.
We were still at the mall and I decided to step away to get some fresh air and let Cheng and Yanli do all the shopping.
"Xiao Zhan... I didn't expect to see you here." A woman walked up to me, and I stared at her, she looked familiar.
"Do I know you?"
"No you don't," she spoke.
I stared at her and realized that she looked somewhat like my mother, "Who are you?"
"My name is Sarah and I am your cousin from your mother's side, your mother was my mother's sister."
"Woah." Well, that explained the similar facial features like my mum.
"I didn't expect to see you here, you know."
"Hello."
"You know what would you like to catch up on coffee?" she said, "I mean, I would like to learn about you and you can learn about your mother's side, and don't worry, my family is well off and we are not going to ask you to give us money or anything."
I smiled, "Well, I guess then we could meet."
"Here is my card, send me a message, let's meet on Sunday.
"Sure."
"See you."
"See you."
With that, she was gone.
Yanli and Cheng came back a few minutes later with the perfect gift for my grandfather.
"A bonsai?" I spoke as I looked at the bonsai tree in front of me, it was cute.
"Yes, isn't it good?" Yanli spoke.
"Yeah, I guess so." I spoke, "So if we are done, let's go back home, I really want to sleep now."
"Sure let's go."