The Girl Who Restarted Time

“Professor Lu, you are right. I truly have neglected my wife. When Qiqi was diagnosed with the disease, I devoted myself entirely to him. Even though I knew that my wife was very tired looking after Qiqi, I only felt that I was no better and we did not spend much time on communication before marriage.” Professor Li nodded silently.

“One person’s effort is not enough to nurture a happy family. Professor Li, you must have suffered a great deal of hardship all these years. Even if your wife was suffering from depression, she still loved you from the bottom of her heart,” Lu Jia’er said.

“How I hope that she still loves me. We have had so many arguments over the last six months. We’ve even blurted out ‘divorce’ many times during those arguments. But no matter how much we argue, I still love her,” a glimpse of light flash through Professor Li’s eyes.

“Do you know why she wants a divorce?” Lu Jia’er asked.

“She doesn’t want kids but my mom… Sigh… That’s a long story.” Professor Li heaved a great sigh.

“It’s true that the reason she wants to divorce you is due to your mother and not because of you,” Lu Jia’er said.

“I know.” Professor Li responded.

“The words that your mom said broke her heart. Because of Qiqi, she experienced mild depression. However, it turned severe after hearing your mom’s words.” Lu Jia’er said.

“What was it about?” Professor Li asked.

“She told your wife that if she doesn’t want more kids, she would make sure you married another woman.” Lu Jia’er answered.

“She never told me about this. My mom seemed to always speak peacefully with my wife. Could there have possibly been a misunderstanding?” Professor Li flew into a great panic after he heard Lu Jiaer as though it was his first time hearing it.

Looking at Professor Li ‘s shocked expression, it was true that this In-law relationship did not involve fighting openly, but instead within nuanced words and micro-aggressions.

“I shouldn’t have told you all this as it might ruin your family relationship. However, as this is the key to your wife’s depression, I felt that I had a responsibility to tell you.” Lu Jiaer said.

“My mom actually said this to Guo Yan?” Professor Li could not get past this detail he heard just now.

“Perhaps your mom had discussed divorce with your wife.” Lu Jiaer gave an apologetic smile.

Professor Li was stunned again. Lu Jia’er’s voice was indifferent, as if telling a joke.

“I will check with her.” Professor Li could not get over it yet.

However, Lu Jiaer was being earnest even though it sounded like a joke. Although Guo Yan did not tell Lu Jia’er, but she knew the details very well.

Lu Jia’er picked up her coffee, took a sip, and caught a glimpse of the clock.

“Professor Lu, thank you very much for your time. I am sorry I disturbed you even when you are on vacation,” said Professor Li when he saw this as he regained his consciousness.

“Don’t mention it. We are colleagues,” a faint smile hung on her lips.

“Are you free tonight? Would you do us the honour of dining with us?” Professor Li asked.

“I have a date with Ace.” Lu Jiaer said, as she rejected him politely.

“Alright, I will treat you next time.” Professor Li said.

“Professor Li, don’t stand on ceremony. This is something related to my profession. It’s not a big deal. In fact, I am more than happy to help you,” Lu Jiaer said.

“No, our whole family owes you a debt of gratitude.” Professor Li said.

Lu Jia’er truly did not know how to handle these never ending civilities.

“It’s time for dinner, let’s go home,” said Lu Jiaer.

Lu Jia’er and Professor Li walked out the coffee shop and left for the hotel.

“Professor Li, how long have you been working with ace?” Lu Jia’er asked on the way back.

“It’s been three and a half years,” Professor Li answered.

“Three and a half years? In other words, you joined only after Ace moved the company back to China?” Lu Jia’er asked.

“Yes, you’re right.” Professor Li nodded.

“Since you have been working with Ace for years, do you happen to know any of his hobby or anything he likes in particular?” Lu Jia’er probed further.

Hearing Lu Jia’er, Professor Li thought that LuJia’er was interested in Ace’s past and wanted to know more about him.

“I am not aware of his hobbies, but he is a workaholic and extremely charismatic when he has his head buried in his work. He is very assertive, energetic and ambitious. He treats everyone equally well regardless of whether they are high achievers or average performers in the workplace. As a man, I truly admire him. Both of you are a perfect match and both of you have good sense for falling for each other.

Professor Li was full of praise for Ace and he was ernest. However, that was not what Lu Jia’er wanted to know. All she wanted to know was whether the persons who worked with him all year round had picked up on his “strange behaviour”.

However, Lu Jia’er could gauge Jìn Xiangdong’s personality and the way he conducted himself with Professor Li.

A faint smile hung on Lu Jia’er’s lips, she did not inquire further. Since the rest did not notice, Jìn Xiangdong was truly insidious and dangerous. He was a master in disguising his true colors. His words ‘uncover his body’ had titillated her curiosity.

As the saying goes, properly loving yourself was the beginning of a lifelong romance, while finding someone who loved you with all their heart was the beginning of the romance of two persons.

Even though Jin Xiangdong was dull and evil, he was actually a romantic person. The dinner he arranged was overwhelmed with girlish notions of romance.

Most of the hotels in Phi Phi Island were concentrated in the bustling business district of Tonsai Bay, while the rest of the area on the island was relatively primitive. Hence, most of the tourists had all three meals in the hotels’ restaurants.

However, Jin Xiangdong had actually taken Lu Jia’er to a secluded bay. When they reached the site, a square tent decorated with white scarf, came into sight. There were two chairs and a table inside the tent surrounded by fairy lights.

As dusk crept over the scenery, the table arrangement and the ocean in the background formed a romantic work of art.

“When did you secretly put all of this together?” Lu Jia’er smiled.

“What do you think of it?” asked Jin Xiangdong, the corners of his lips lifted.

“It’s perfect! It feels like something out of a drama.” Lu Jia’er complimented his work.

“Which drama?” Jin Xiangdong asked.

“It’s like a drama where the prince charming took Cinderella for a romantic dinner at a beautiful seaside,” Lu Jia’er answered.

“So, you are Cinderella?” Jin Xiangdong asked as he held her hands, walking them toward the tent.

“No, I am not Cinderella, I am Alice,” Lu Jia’er answered.

“Alice?”

“Yeah, I have started a journey like Alice in Wonderland after meeting you,” Lu Jia’er said.

After both of them reached the tent decorated with white scarf, Jin Xiangdong pulled out the chair for Lu Jia’er gently as he said, “So, am I the Mad Hatter?”

“There is no chemistry between the Mad Hatter and Alice though,” Lu Jia’er said.

“It doesn’t show on the surface, but they actually like each other deep in their hearts.” Jin Xiangdong had his own interpretation on the theory.

Sitting under the dazzling starry sky while a bright moon hung in the sky, she enjoyed the delicious seafood and the cold breeze as it brushed across her face. Hearing the sound of waves echo past her ears while looking at the man that she loved sitting before her, at this very moment, Lu Jia’er felt as if she were living in her dreams.

Despite that, all Lu Jia’er wanted to know was Jin Xiangdong’s secrets.

“I had a nightmare last night,” after devouring the huge, juicy lobster, Lu Jia’er spoke casually.

“Was it because of what I said?” Jin Xiangdong looked at her.

“Yeah.” Lu Jia’er nodded.

“Are you afraid?” Jin Xiangdong stared at her.

“Afraid of you or my nightmare?” Lu Jia’er asked.

“Me,” Jin Xiangdong answered.

“If I was afraid of you, I would not be here, having a romantic dinner with you.” Lu Jia’er smiled as she looked at him.

“You are such a brave woman,” a faint smile hung on Jin Xiangdong’s lips.

“I’m not brave. Perhaps, you are just like Spider-Man––having your body change after you were bitten by a certain creature.” Lu Jia’er said.

“There was a change in my body?” Hearing Lu Jia’er, Jin Xiangdong’s lips curved into a smile.

“To the best of my knowledge, only these two persons were actually possessed such an incredibly self healing power,” Lu Jiaer said.

“You truly have no other ideas?” Jin Xiangdong had a smile and reached out for the wine glass.

“No. But I do have something on my mind. After returning to China, I would knock you out and send you to the research institute,” seeing the smile on his face, Lu Jia’er could not help but answer playfully.

“That’s a good idea.” Little did Lu Jia’er expect that Jin Xiangdong would actually agree.

Lu Jia’er was rendered speechless. However, Jin Xiangdong was such a special person while Lu Jia’er did not seem to be an ordinary woman.

Both of them were meant to characters like Marvel cartoons and comics. Why would they even exist in real life?

“What are you thinking about?” seeing Lu Jia’er sink into contemplation, Jin Xiangdong asked.

“It’s nothing.” Lu Jia’er regained her consciousness and continued enjoying the mouth watering food before her eyes.

Jin Xiangdong stared at Lu Jia’er with a deep gaze. Perhaps, throughout the whole world, Lu Jia’er was the only one who was never afraid of him.

“Let’s watch the sunrise tomorrow,” Jin Xiangdong said.

“Watch the sunrise?” His words titillated Lu Jia’er’s interest.

“You don’t want to?” asked Jin Xiangdong.

“Of course I want. Ace, I never expected that you were such a romantic person.” Lu Jia’er nodded and gave Jin Xiangdong a smile.

“You don’t know me well enough, yet. You must put more effort in courting me.” Jin Xiangdong’s face darkened a few shades after hearing her words.

Slightly startled, Lu Jia’er was dumbfounded. The two of them were already a couple in the eyes of others, but Jin Xiangdong actually wanted her to continue courting him?

“Well, what about this romantic dinner?” Lu Jia’er mocked.

“It’s hush money,” Jin Xiangdong answered.