Running away from hurt

After breakfast, Ray as usual follow his grandma on her charity route again, this time after dropping rice at the temple they had visited a few orphanage and old folks home. He enjoys just being there talking to the people and just feeling thankful and blessed spending time listening to them while they hand over the usual contribution to the keepers there. It gave him more ideas onto how to drive more collective effort from the community to support such noble cause.

And while the week ended fulfillingly he had also finalised his story to be blended into the MV script that his elder brother wanted to review post his discussion with grandpa and uncle Li.

Yi Ren on the other hand had plan for several sessions into Ray's schedule for them to meet up and rehearse the dance he had plan for him and his team.

Both Ray's brother were out for an evening drink at the usual bar a week later

"You read his script?" Ta Ge asked the second brother.

"Mnnn"

"It's beautifully written, he has the skills for it but he wrote this while he was away...we thought he was mourning and depressed but seems like he found some motivation to be able to write something like this ..."

"Yi Ren was with him then?" Ta Ge probe further...

"What's Yi Ren's role in this?He was there to keep him company, nothing more." Er Ge responded

"You need to keep him away from Kay. Ta Ge's statement causing Er Ge to look up.

"I don't want Yi Ren in this....either that or let's halt the production...I can see that Kay is somehow disturbed by Yi Ren's presence in the management planning meeting the other day"

Ta Ge hunch was probably right, Yi Ren was somehow exerting his ideas against Ray's and they couldn't seem to align with each other. Yet from the meeting room, Ta Ge got a glimpse into this whole situation.

Ray stormed back to his room followed by Yi Ren. They were fresh from the initial planning meeting.

"Ray why are you being so stubborn? We agreed that we will compromise and you will take my lead on choreographing the dance while I am fine with you dictating most of the script flow"

Ray was tight lip and was adamant he had his way around how he wants this done while Yi Ren has his own reasons to manage that it turns out according to how Uncle Li wants it.

"I don't think you need to be involved, you can manage without being involved, I can manage the dance with your team" Ray said calmly "you can choreograph but you don't have to be involved directly" He said walking towards the window and staring out with his back facing Yi Ren.

At this Yi Ren strike forward, raging angrily at what Ray said, he forcefully swing Ray around was about to raise his voice upon Ray flipping around but he stopped....

There was a brief moment of silent, he stopped, those eyes of Ray...it looked hurt, deeply hurt...

His rage mellow down and instead, a deep concerned swept over him, this familiar look .....what was bothering Ray to have such a sudden change of expression from the angry tone at the meeting to what he is seeing now.

"What is it?" Yi Ren asked, Yi Ren can't seem to keep his emotion intact ...this familiar concern it always knocked into him and that sad eyes .....why is it back, he thought, the same look when Ray was emotionally lifeless when he met him on the plane..

"What is it Ray?"

Ray snapped out of it realising Yi Ren was tracing his actions. "What is what?...you got my point?" He snapped into his serious tone again and walk away heading off from his room and down to the lobby with Yi Ren after him.

"Give me your keys" he told his driver. He was walking towards where the car was parked while Yi Ren was calling out for him

"Stop for a bit, I want to talk to you! Ray! You hear me?!"

Ray ignored and got into the car and sped off. Yi Ren took his bike which was parked nearby and followed.

"No bargaining with me young man! You failed the first time so I'm letting Yi Ren manage this and you have no right to stand here to bargain with me. I'm giving face to your grandpa so you should quietly just follow what we want you to do since I'm doing this on the pretence of helping your grandpa out. Such a lucky boy to have so many people looking after you....first it was Jon was it ? I'm still keen to find out more....and now it's " he stopped before divulging his discussion with Yi Ren.

"Uncle Li! I told you there is nothing and why are you still picking on it....?!"

"Because I loss millions! That's why, you young boys think running a business is like on water ? I could have recover it but I let it go ...oh well at least i am compensated now"

Ray look up "what do you mean? Uncle Li....are we all just a commercial number to you?"

"Well wake up to the business world boy, who makes the money, he gets on the pedestal. I'd advice you to start acting like an adult, get this done so I'm satisfied with what your grandpa has sold to me - your future commercial value for me to help to market on behalf of his company, don't bring anymore trouble to your family!"

At that Ray stormed out of Uncle Li's office. He understood on one hand but the facts hit straight...this is how it is. Replaying back he was just upset with the conversation. Who was Uncle Li to even dictate, who is he to even mention Jon's name, who is he to even tear up his heart again. Who! And why is Yi Ren even stepping in, who is Yi Ren to even negotiate with Uncle Li! What backings does he have.....so the times together that they had, did Yi Ren use Ray to get close to his family and Uncle Li...

Ray was furious just replaying back the whole conversation and he stepped on his accelerated on to the highway just upset with this whole episode.

It was a mix of anger ...angry at himself, not being able to control and contain the situation putting his family in this state, upset at the word 'trouble to family' that was hurled at him, disappointed as he always was a perfectionist deep inside. Sad that Jon's name came up unwarranted for and disappointed at what had became of the trust and faith he had with Yi Ren as his companion those days...and the emotions just made it even harder to swallow..."grow up!" How many times he'd heard it.

"I am, I am growing up"...he won't let Uncle Li's words undermine and demotivate him since grandpa and everyone is backing him up to do it his way but their ask is to manage the delicate sensitivity with Old Man Li.

Little did Ray realised as he was deep in his thoughts, he exceeded the speed limit driving on the highway with a motorist trailing him behind.