*******
Chu Hua took his brief case to the room quietly. The last they had a fight, Li Lian did not talk to her before he left the house in the morning. She was afraid that he might changed his mind about the party just like his step mother YAN ZI predicted.
No way! She invited all her friends to this party. There was no way she would allow any thing to go wrong at the last minute.
"Do you want to take a shower first or should I get fo…"
"I ate at the office" he Interrupted. Li Lian started undressing. He removed his shirt and kept it on the bed.
"What suit are you wearing to the party ?" She said with a smile. Chu Hua wanted her husband to talk to her. She missed all his plays and annoying comments.
"I want to take a nap. Lock the door please" He said moving to the bedside. After the meeting with the investors , he became tired and exhausted.
"You are still mad at me my love. For how long will this continue?" Chu Hua asked. No response. It seemed she was talking to a dead person. Li Lian turned the Air conditioner on and laid down on the bed.
"Li Xian had a fight at school today. I went there and calm things down" she said, folding his clothes. "We are neglecting our only son, Li Lian. That is wrong."
No response. She went to where he laid and she found that Li Lian was fast asleep. Disappointed, she took the clothes and left the room.
Whenever, he was angry with her, he would stop talking to her. This irritated Chu Hua a lot. Li Lian was the talk of the City. The most wanted man among ladies. The women's dream man. This included both the old, young , married, single or divorcees.
She knew that if they got divorce today, any woman will be ready to settle down with him. Many a time, she heard them gossiping about her that she was too boring for Li Lian.
It was true that she , Chu Hua was older than her husband. She was thirty-five while Li Lian was twenty-eight. They got married when he was twenty which may sound strange to many ears. It's was a rush and an arranged marriage. Li Lian got married to her because his father elder Li asked him too. Of course, Lian agreed because he always listen to his father.
****
In the garden on a mat, two members of the family sat discussing. Li Qin , Li Lian's step sister asked one of the servant to get clothes ironed but…
"Give me reason why you haven't ironed my dress? Do you know it's the dress I am wearing for tonight's party?" She yelled at the servant, who was shaking already.
"Calm down Li Qin" her mother said, stroking her hair gently. Turning to the servant , she asked "why haven't you ironed her dress?"
"I was about to madam but.." the servant paused. She looked behind her. It's was obvious that she was scared of an unknown person.
"What happened?" Yan Zi asked. "Speak up."
"Young madam asked me to watch some clothes for her" The servant finally spoke .
"Li Qin face turned red. Chu Hua was at it again and she was not going to let go this time. Standing up from the mat, she picked her cat to go before Yan Mi stopped her.
"Don't go and cause more trouble Li Qin . I will get another servant to the work for you."
"No mother. I refused this time around". Turning back to the servant , she said "didn't you tell that you were running an errand for me?"
"I did madam but she insisted?" the servant answered.
"You see mother? Chu Hua is doing it on purpose. I am not going to hold back this ti.."
"You may leave" Yan Zi dismissed the servant.
"You shouldn't disgrace yourself in front of the servants. Do you understand?"
Li Xian nodded.
"Don't worry about ironing your clothes. I will do it for you" her mother said.
Her daughter's jaw dropped. This was not what she wanted. "Mother don't worry the servant will do it."
"Don't forget that she is Li Lian's wife. Respect her" Yan Zi Said leaving the garden.
Her mother was at it again. Supporting the dearest daughter in law of the family. To her she wished that they would have been divorce long time ago. Such a mad woman was not fit to be Li Lian's wife.
Chu Hua was not attractive nor beautiful. With problems that she had caused for her ever since she became the daughter in law of the house showed that Chu Hua was a good person, may be no one noticed it because they were too busy making money.
******
He was running when he saw a blue sea. The sight of water scared him even though he knew how to swim.
Li Lian could hear voices coming beneath the waters calling his name.
When he wanted to run away again, an angry looking octopus came out from the sea and held his leg, dragging him to the water.
"You !" It's spoke. "You broke my princess' heart , I won't forgive you today" the octopus laughed loud. It's voice echoed everywhere and Li Lian kept shouting for help but no one came.
"Help me please" he kept saying, with the hope that some one will save him from this sea monster.
"My love opened your eyes you are scaring me" he heard a voice. Li Lian felt a tap on his leg and he sprang up from the bed immediately.
It's was all a night mare. The angry looking octopus and the sea were all a dream.
Li Lian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It seemed so real that he got scared.
"Your night mare has come back master" Chu Hua said, pouring a water in to a glass. She gave it to Li Lian, who drank from it.
No response.
"Maybe we should visit a psychiatrist. He might help us find a solution" she said.
No response again. She was pissed off. This was no time to be keeping malice but Li Lian was being stubborn. Today was their anniversary not a trial day. So why was his face like a lonely sheep?