All For You

AiLin stopped by the cafe in time. She looked at her watch that was a simple leather strap and found that she was rather early by ten minutes. It was much better than being late, she thought to herself and as she looked into the cafe, finding that Li ZiChen wasn't there first, she thought that he might come late. After all after scrolling through internet with her new phone, she found out that Li ZiChen was not only born wealthy but had paved his way by working his company to climb into the leaderboard of the industry's backbone. 

She found it amazing but considering the fact that he is crafty enough to plan out convincing her to become his ally since she was in prison, she didn't doubt his working talent. 

As she was about to take a seat at the chair near the window, a sound of squeal and swoon took her attention. 

She turned her head, finding the group of high school girls who were taking a picture of a man sitting alone in the bench of the Waterfront Park. The man's face was rather gentle. As he stared at the tall thick tree that was known to live for five hundred years old, his gaze was as soft as a look that one would give to their lover. AiLin found herself mesmerized by the gaze and felt a little shudder on the back of her neck as she recalled how in high school this was also her favorite place, a memorable park. 

She would often come to the park whenever she felt stressed out or the pain of being "punished" by her mother was far too much for her to bear. Eventually she would find herself sitting in the same bench that Li ZiChen had sat on, staring aimlessly at the tree that had lived for five hundred years and wondering if there would be a time in the future where this misery she carries would become better. 

Then... 

Then there was a hand that would always reached out in her memories. That hand would lift her face, lift her heart, and lift her spirit. Although she could barely remember him as the memories with that boy would always hurt her heart to the point that she couldn't breathe, she would always recall that wide smile spread over his lips, the dimples that would crease his cheeks, his eyes that turned as warm as the sunshine. 

He would soothe her pain, talk to her for hours, and accompany her. 

Only because of him that she could withstand all her sufferings. 

Because of him... but she was the one who broke him. 

"Miss? Are you going to sit there?" A girl called up to her. 

AiLin saw that she was holding hand with her boyfriend and realized how she had been standing in front of the table while staring at Li ZiChen's back in the park for a full on ten minutes. Turning around, she found that the entire cafe was full. 

"No, I'll be leaving, go on," AiLin offered the table and went to finish her order. 

Li ZiChen continued to stare at the tree when he felt a pat on his shoulder. He turned back to look at AiLin which immediately brought a smile to his lips. He looked at her hand that was holding a cup of cold and hot coffee. 

AiLin gave him the hot coffee and sat down, "I thought you would be late." 

"Because I'm busy?" Li ZiChen retorted with a question. "Don't worry, even if I am late, I would be here to see you." 

AiLin didn't expect such flirtatious words but he seemed serious that she couldn't think he was being flirty. Maybe he meant that he would spare all his time if it was for his ultimate revenge. 

Yes, it should be. 

AiLin looked at the tree, "I thought the tree would be cut down. It's almost the six hundred years old right?" 

Li ZiChen stared at her face and mused, "It wasn't about to be cut down, the government had brought the tree cutters to cut the tree. Six years ago the tree was too old and everyone fear that it would fall down because of its thinning trunk."

"Really?" AiLin was surprised, "Then why is it still here?" 

"A company bought over the entire park. They didn't want the tree to be cut down," answered Li ZiChen as he crossed his arms. 

"A company buying a park from a government? Crazy," muttered AiLin, "How much money do they need to spend for it?" 

"A lot. That's for certain but sometimes money isn't more important than memories does it?" Li ZiChen seemed to have chuckled while seeing her face as she narrowed her eyes and thought to herself that money is still more important. She never met a money that betrayed her. 

But still...

"I'm glad that it wasn't cut down," said AiLin as she stared at the tree in front of her, "Memories... it really isn't so bad." 

Li ZiChen continued to read her face, "You seem to know Waterfront park well. It's the first place you asked me to meet at when there are other places." 

"I'm quite familiar with this place and I wanted to see if this tree is still here," answered AiLin. She didn't know why even though she had came here to talk seriously to Li ZiChen, he managed to make her feel lighthearted instead. 

"Then I'm glad that you're happy to see the tree," Li ZiChen turned away. It wasn't the money that was difficult for him to buy this park. In all reality, it was the right to acquire the property that was difficult as there was a certain someone who seemed to be dead set into destroying this park. Someone.. powerful. 

"What company saved this tree?" AiLin asked again. She then laughed, "Maybe one day I'll send a thank you letter to them."

"Wrathflower," answered Li ZiChen. "Do you know that there is a flower known to be so blood red that they call it wrathflower? That flower is also the same symbol used for the company's logo and the name of their own company." 

"Ah, no wonder I feel familiar with it," AiLin muttered to herself. She had heard this fact before during high school but by… who? From who did she heard this from? Snapping from her own ponder she then added, "Isn't that company an alcohol company?" 

"Yes, you know about it?" Li ZiChen inquired. 

"I heard from Yu HanYu! We met in the party last nig— what are you doing? Isn't it hot?!" AiLin was startled when she saw Li ZiChen squeezing the cup coffee so hard that it burst out all its burning brown liquid all over his palms!