Chapter 48- The Proposal

Pursing her lips, An Fei's mind was running faster than she could catch up with. Now with a new set of terms and conditions attached to this whole issue, it gets more and more complicated.

Yes, she has formulated a plan, but now that her Grandfather has stepped in to ruin it, she can't help but to analyse the whole situation all over again.

"I need 10 mins. I'll be in my room. I'll be back after I have think this through. Wait here for me."

Without waiting for an answer or acknowledgement, she dashed out towards her room. Once she closed her door behind her. She looked at the screen in front of her.

"Pam, analyse everything for me again and put it up for me to see. Either in point form or in a mind map. Do something and I want to see it in front of me to analyse it again."

"I understand. Big sister, is this big enough for you?"

On the screen in less than 20 seconds, the mind map is up on the TV panel in front of her bed and the laptop monitor on the right shows everything written in point form for her to toggle through if she needed to.

Impressed, An Fei started to look it through again. Running all the data in her heard. Numbers, probability, possibility, efficiency, etc just flew pass her head. She took out a marker and started scribbling on the white board that she had at the side of her bed.

Pam was also impressed by what was presented in front of her. The way An Fei's mind was moving it is giving Pam a feeling of familiarity as Grandmother Shen used to do it this way too when things get complicated. Every once in a while Pam would also add in her analysis and An Fei would jolt it down too and a discussion started.

As the discussion grew more and more heated, Lawyer Fu, Grandfather Shen and Chen Xin werw all in the office engulfed in silence.

Each one of them is wondering what is happening in her bedroom that is taking her quite a while longer than she estimated.

Her Grandfather was afraid that she will find a way to wiggle out of the plans that he had given. He is now regretting that he did not put in his best argument and insisted that she followed. From his understanding, the nagging feeling of her finding a way out is getting higher and higher. It is making him very irritable as the minutes passed.

Lawyer Fu is very afraid that she will be rejecting the marriage proposal by Grandfather Shen and he cant proceed with his retirement planning as there will be more and more assignments from her that he might need to worry about.

"Time for me to push my successor to get ready soon. This young lady will drain me like her Grandmother when I just started my practice. Now that this old man had just given An Fei the marriage card, I'm sure more will be complicated from now on. I hope Pam is able to handle her. Anyway, things always work out for the Shen family and I trust Pam. May I have a smooth sailing career until my retirement. God, please bless me."

Thinking about the whole situation, Lawyer Fu don't have a very good feeling about this whole incident.

As for Chen Xin, he is having a very hard time pulling himself out from his mind and he is not sure what is happening. Everything is jumbled. Flashes of memories; images, sounds, recollections, emotions, everything was coming all at once since the silence.

His thoughts went from why he agreed to the marriage to why he can't marry An Fei. The conflict, the struggle and An.

"An" as he muttered the name, it gave him a little comfort and also some clarity. Then it came to him why he accepted the marriage proposal from Grandfather Shen.

An Fei reminded him of his An. The An that he has forgotten. The An that he wanted to protect. The An that he used to love.

<Flashback>

Chen Xin was having a discussion about their holiday getaway and An insisted on a location that he is not a great fan of.

"Xin, I'm telling you, we need to go there. The kids would love us and we can spend time together as well as do charity. Did you see the photos that was attached to the file Grandmother sent over?"

"An, I want to go there too. But this is our precious one week break before you fly to Country Z for college. Since you started learning the ropes of Shen Enterprise, we hardly have time together and now that we have a break, why must I share it with these kids? Why can't it just be you and me?"

"But Xin, have you seen them? The kids they look so sad. What if I die tomorrow and I never get to go? I will regret it won't I? Xin, please. There won't be any deaths if we dont go for the trip you want to. But these kids, they need love. Do you see them?"

Tugging on his sleeves is not working, she pressed herself against him and whispered into his ears.

"I will make time for the both of us there. We will still have our alone time no matter what and we will do anything that you want."

Turning him to face her, An looked into his eyes drawing out his love for her to the surface guiding him towards the answer that she is looking for.

"Fine. This time I'll go ahead with your plans. I don't think I can live with your regrets."

"Xin, you are the best." An kissed him and Chen Xin was feeling the kiss on his lips, the sweetness, the love, the happiness.