Chapter 233: Gone With The Wind
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Shao Yan put the oranges in her hands into the bag that Li Xiqing was holding; she stayed quiet as she listened to him retelling his story. Her heart was beating uneasily the whole time. Story about betrayals and affairs had never sat well with her. Love and commitment have always been hailed as the ultimate reason people choose to stay together. But she could not figure out how fragile relationships are.
He tied the plastic bag and put it in the cart, "I chose to trust her but soon, I found myself hearing this not only from one person. Two or three friends would text me and ask to meet up because they all thought I was travelling with her."
"Friends from LA or Chicago, and even from London. They told me the same thing that Viv was spotted walking with a guy."
Shao Yan paused on her track, she said softly, "Did you confront her about this?"
Li Xiqing also paused his steps and turned to the side to look at her, "I was planning to but then..." and then he scoffed in disgust, "I saw them with my own eyes."
....
San Francisco, Financial District
It was a bright, sunny day under the breezy California spring weather. Two men were seen exiting from a tall, fancy building behind them; both had magnificent, confident smiles on their faces.
One man was wearing an all navy blue striped suit; he was walking next to another guy dressed in a lighter color. The other guy was looking less formal, with white shirt, dark blue jeans, and dark brown leather sport jacket.
The man in a navy suit reached out his hand to shake the other guy's hand, "Well, Daniel, when I am visiting New York next month, we should go to the famous sushi chef you told me about!"
"Caleb," Li Xiqing returned his handshake, "Of course! Vivian and I will be happy to be your host."
The two gentlemen continue to walk towards the cable car station.
"Are we seriously going to the pier now?" Caleb asked Daniel as the two of them waited for the cable car to arrive.
Li Xiqing folded his arms in front of his chest, "Of course, the winery by the pier is pretty tasty," he looked up at watched the clouds dancing in the blue sky, "and this is the perfect weather to kick back and celebrate the deal."
Caleb slapped his hand on Daniel's shoulder, "You sure know how to enjoy life, man!" And then he roared in laughter.
Daniel shrugged and a smirk escaped the corner of his lips,, "We have been working on this deal for the past six months, I think we both deserve that pat in the back."
Just as he finished saying that, the cable car stopped in front of them. The two men stepped on the carriage and got in. Caleb handed over some cash to the attendant who was greeting them by the door.
"Then, this is the more reason we should open a bottle!" Caleb said before he stepped further inside the car.
....
San Francisco, Pier area
"So let me repeat your order," a woman who was standing by their table was holding onto a tablet while she keyed in their orders.
"Truffle oil cheese fries, smoked sea-salt mixed nuts as well as a bottle of year 2000 Pierre Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon. Are those all, Sir?"
Caleb nodded as he handed the menu in his hand to the server, "Yes, thank you."
She received the booklet from Caleb and Daniel and then swiftly walked away.
"So," Caleb said as he lighted up his cigar, "when is the big day?" He was holding a small wooden cigar box in his hands. He made a gesture of offering the box to Daniel; who politely raised his hand to reject the offer.
"No, I'm fine. Thanks though," Li Xiqing said, "well, Viv loves the fall. So we are thinking somewhere in September or October."
Caleb raised his eyebrows in surprise, "That's in six months! Are you guys rushing because there's a bun on the way?"
"Haha! No!" Li Xiqing laughed as he picked up a tall glass of water and took a sip, "I just thought the timing is right, and that we can go on honeymoon during the winter holidays. It's going to be perfect!"
The two best friends continued to chat about the wedding plans while they're waiting for the fries and wine to come.
A short moment later, the food and drink were served. Caleb raised up his wine glass as he said excitedly, "Well, man! Congratulations! Let me raise my glass to cheer on your many years of torture."
"I would say how stupid you are for getting tied down, but hey! Maybe I am the stupid one!" He burst in laughs again.
While he was laughing, Li Xiqing clinked his own wine glass to him, "Thanks, man! When you finally find the one, you will know why I did this."
....
'Just finished my meeting. We closed the deal. What are you doing?' - sent 12.08 PM
'Just finished my lunch with the client. You?' - received 14.12 PM
'About to celebrate with Caleb. Anything you want from SF?' - sent 14.13 PM
'Viv?' - sent 15.03 PM
'No, nothing, babe. Just remember to not go to the Pier because they are closed for renovation work.' - received 16.45 PM
....
Li Xiqing looked up from his phone and glanced at Caleb, "I think we should change our route home? Viv told me there are renovation works at the Pier...." And right after he said that, Li Xiqing paused, and creased his forehead. He looked down at his phone in his hands as he tilted his head; thinking.
Caleb, who just got back from the restroom, was still standing next to the table. He stretched his neck and looked around the restaurant.
This wine and cheese restaurant was located by the pier in the touristiest place in San Francisco. Caleb had been here multiple times and he knew the quality of the drinks and the food were acceptable to the standard. And this was the reason why he always brought his guests over here.
After looking around the surroundings a couple of times, he said, "I don't think so," and then he looked back at Li Xiqing, "they would have closed the road on the way in, if there are renovation works around this area."
"Yeah.. Uh.." Li Xiqing nodded absentmindedly, "I have settled the tab, by the way."
Caleb looked at him in surprise, "What? It was supposed to be my treat! We are celebrating here."
Li Xiqing pushed the chair back as he stood up, "No worries, man. As you said we are celebrating, so this is on me. It's fine."
They started to walk to the exit to take a taxi ride back to the office.
They started to talk about the wine and dining scene in San Francisco and how it compared to New York City when Caleb, who was looking at the front, looked distracted when answering Daniel's questions.
Li Xiqing turned his head to see what Caleb was looking at.
A woman in a bright blue sleeveless sundress was walking next to a man in a white polo shirt and dark blue jeans. A slight breeze blew past them and the woman started to shiver a little. Her long, wavy hair was dancing along the gentle wind around her.
The two of them stopped on their tracks before the man slowly took off his jacket. He then moved behind the woman and draped his jacket around her shoulder. He gently grabbed a lock of her hair and slipped them out from behind the jacket. She tilted her head slightly as she gave him a big smile.
The man returned her smile before his arm wrapped around her waist and planted a soft kiss on the side of her head, near the temple area. The woman closed her eyelids as she received the kiss. The man looked in adoration at the angelic looking face in front of him. He could not resist himself at her charming smile when he slowly lowered his head and then kissed the corner of her lips.
Looking confused at the scene in front of him; Li Xiqing felt his heart drop and his anger slowly rise.
".... Dan, that... isn't that Vivian?"
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Shao Yan put the oranges in her hands into the bag that Li Xiqing was holding; she stayed quiet as she listened to him retelling his story. Her heart was beating uneasily the whole time. Story about betrayals and affairs had never sat well with her. Love and commitment have always been hailed as the ultimate reason people choose to stay together. But she could not figure out how fragile relationships are.
He tied the plastic bag and put it in the cart, "I chose to trust her but soon, I found myself hearing this not only from one person. Two or three friends would text me and ask to meet up because they all thought I was travelling with her."
"Friends from LA or Chicago, and even from London. They told me the same thing that Viv was spotted walking with a guy."
Shao Yan paused on her track, she said softly, "Did you confront her about this?"
Li Xiqing also paused his steps and turned to the side to look at her, "I was planning to but then..." and then he scoffed in disgust, "I saw them with my own eyes."
....
San Francisco, Financial District
It was a bright, sunny day under the breezy California spring weather. Two men were seen exiting from a tall, fancy building behind them; both had magnificent, confident smiles on their faces.
One man was wearing an all navy blue striped suit; he was walking next to another guy dressed in a lighter color. The other guy was looking less formal, with white shirt, dark blue jeans, and dark brown leather sport jacket.
The man in a navy suit reached out his hand to shake the other guy's hand, "Well, Daniel, when I am visiting New York next month, we should go to the famous sushi chef you told me about!"
"Caleb," Li Xiqing returned his handshake, "Of course! Vivian and I will be happy to be your host."
The two gentlemen continue to walk towards the cable car station.
"Are we seriously going to the pier now?" Caleb asked Daniel as the two of them waited for the cable car to arrive.
Li Xiqing folded his arms in front of his chest, "Of course, the winery by the pier is pretty tasty," he looked up at watched the clouds dancing in the blue sky, "and this is the perfect weather to kick back and celebrate the deal."
Caleb slapped his hand on Daniel's shoulder, "You sure know how to enjoy life, man!" And then he roared in laughter.
Daniel shrugged and a smirk escaped the corner of his lips,, "We have been working on this deal for the past six months, I think we both deserve that pat in the back."
Just as he finished saying that, the cable car stopped in front of them. The two men stepped on the carriage and got in. Caleb handed over some cash to the attendant who was greeting them by the door.
"Then, this is the more reason we should open a bottle!" Caleb said before he stepped further inside the car.
....
San Francisco, Pier area
"So let me repeat your order," a woman who was standing by their table was holding onto a tablet while she keyed in their orders.
"Truffle oil cheese fries, smoked sea-salt mixed nuts as well as a bottle of year 2000 Pierre Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon. Are those all, Sir?"
Caleb nodded as he handed the menu in his hand to the server, "Yes, thank you."
She received the booklet from Caleb and Daniel and then swiftly walked away.
"So," Caleb said as he lighted up his cigar, "when is the big day?" He was holding a small wooden cigar box in his hands. He made a gesture of offering the box to Daniel; who politely raised his hand to reject the offer.
"No, I'm fine. Thanks though," Li Xiqing said, "well, Viv loves the fall. So we are thinking somewhere in September or October."
Caleb raised his eyebrows in surprise, "That's in six months! Are you guys rushing because there's a bun on the way?"
"Haha! No!" Li Xiqing laughed as he picked up a tall glass of water and took a sip, "I just thought the timing is right, and that we can go on honeymoon during the winter holidays. It's going to be perfect!"
The two best friends continued to chat about the wedding plans while they're waiting for the fries and wine to come.
A short moment later, the food and drink were served. Caleb raised up his wine glass as he said excitedly, "Well, man! Congratulations! Let me raise my glass to cheer on your many years of torture."
"I would say how stupid you are for getting tied down, but hey! Maybe I am the stupid one!" He burst in laughs again.
While he was laughing, Li Xiqing clinked his own wine glass to him, "Thanks, man! When you finally find the one, you will know why I did this."
....
'Just finished my meeting. We closed the deal. What are you doing?' - sent 12.08 PM
'Just finished my lunch with the client. You?' - received 14.12 PM
'About to celebrate with Caleb. Anything you want from SF?' - sent 14.13 PM
'Viv?' - sent 15.03 PM
'No, nothing, babe. Just remember to not go to the Pier because they are closed for renovation work.' - received 16.45 PM
....
Li Xiqing looked up from his phone and glanced at Caleb, "I think we should change our route home? Viv told me there are renovation works at the Pier...." And right after he said that, Li Xiqing paused, and creased his forehead. He looked down at his phone in his hands as he tilted his head; thinking.
Caleb, who just got back from the restroom, was still standing next to the table. He stretched his neck and looked around the restaurant.
This wine and cheese restaurant was located by the pier in the touristiest place in San Francisco. Caleb had been here multiple times and he knew the quality of the drinks and the food were acceptable to the standard. And this was the reason why he always brought his guests over here.
After looking around the surroundings a couple of times, he said, "I don't think so," and then he looked back at Li Xiqing, "they would have closed the road on the way in, if there are renovation works around this area."
"Yeah.. Uh.." Li Xiqing nodded absentmindedly, "I have settled the tab, by the way."
Caleb looked at him in surprise, "What? It was supposed to be my treat! We are celebrating here."
Li Xiqing pushed the chair back as he stood up, "No worries, man. As you said we are celebrating, so this is on me. It's fine."
They started to walk to the exit to take a taxi ride back to the office.
They started to talk about the wine and dining scene in San Francisco and how it compared to New York City when Caleb, who was looking at the front, looked distracted when answering Daniel's questions.
Li Xiqing turned his head to see what Caleb was looking at.
A woman in a bright blue sleeveless sundress was walking next to a man in a white polo shirt and dark blue jeans. A slight breeze blew past them and the woman started to shiver a little. Her long, wavy hair was dancing along the gentle wind around her.
The two of them stopped on their tracks before the man slowly took off his jacket. He then moved behind the woman and draped his jacket around her shoulder. He gently grabbed a lock of her hair and slipped them out from behind the jacket. She tilted her head slightly as she gave him a big smile.
The man returned her smile before his arm wrapped around her waist and planted a soft kiss on the side of her head, near the temple area. The woman closed her eyelids as she received the kiss. The man looked in adoration at the angelic looking face in front of him. He could not resist himself at her charming smile when he slowly lowered his head and then kissed the corner of her lips.
Looking confused at the scene in front of him; Li Xiqing felt his heart drop and his anger slowly rise.
".... Dan, that... isn't that Vivian?"
Shao Yan put the oranges in her hands into the bag that Li Xiqing was holding; she stayed quiet as she listened to him retelling his story. Her heart was beating uneasily the whole time. Story about betrayals and affairs had never sat well with her. Love and commitment have always been hailed as the ultimate reason people choose to stay together. But she could not figure out how fragile relationships are.He tied the plastic bag and put it in the cart, "I chose to trust her but soon, I found myself hearing this not only from one person. Two or three friends would text me and ask to meet up because they all thought I was travelling with her.""Friends from LA or Chicago, and even from London. They told me the same thing that Viv was spotted walking with a guy."Shao Yan paused on her track, she said softly, "Did you confront her about this?"Li Xiqing also paused his steps and turned to the side to look at her, "I was planning to but then..." and then he scoffed in disgust, "I saw them with my own eyes."....San Francisco, Financial DistrictIt was a bright, sunny day under the breezy California spring weather. Two men were seen exiting from a tall, fancy building behind them; both had magnificent, confident smiles on their faces.One man was wearing an all navy blue striped suit; he was walking next to another guy dressed in a lighter color. The other guy was looking less formal, with white shirt, dark blue jeans, and dark brown leather sport jacket.The man in a navy suit reached out his hand to shake the other guy's hand, "Well, Daniel, when I am visiting New York next month, we should go to the famous sushi chef you told me about!""Caleb," Li Xiqing returned his handshake, "Of course! Vivian and I will be happy to be your host."The two gentlemen continue to walk towards the cable car station."Are we seriously going to the pier now?" Caleb asked Daniel as the two of them waited for the cable car to arrive.Li Xiqing folded his arms in front of his chest, "Of course, the winery by the pier is pretty tasty," he looked up at watched the clouds dancing in the blue sky, "and this is the perfect weather to kick back and celebrate the deal."Caleb slapped his hand on Daniel's shoulder, "You sure know how to enjoy life, man!" And then he roared in laughter.Daniel shrugged and a smirk escaped the corner of his lips,, "We have been working on this deal for the past six months, I think we both deserve that pat in the back."Just as he finished saying that, the cable car stopped in front of them. The two men stepped on the carriage and got in. Caleb handed over some cash to the attendant who was greeting them by the door."Then, this is the more reason we should open a bottle!" Caleb said before he stepped further inside the car.....San Francisco, Pier area"So let me repeat your order," a woman who was standing by their table was holding onto a tablet while she keyed in their orders."Truffle oil cheese fries, smoked sea-salt mixed nuts as well as a bottle of year 2000 Pierre Montagne Cabernet Sauvignon. Are those all, Sir?"Caleb nodded as he handed the menu in his hand to the server, "Yes, thank you."She received the booklet from Caleb and Daniel and then swiftly walked away."So," Caleb said as he lighted up his cigar, "when is the big day?" He was holding a small wooden cigar box in his hands. He made a gesture of offering the box to Daniel; who politely raised his hand to reject the offer."No, I'm fine. Thanks though," Li Xiqing said, "well, Viv loves the fall. So we are thinking somewhere in September or October."Caleb raised his eyebrows in surprise, "That's in six months! Are you guys rushing because there's a bun on the way?""Haha! No!" Li Xiqing laughed as he picked up a tall glass of water and took a sip, "I just thought the timing is right, and that we can go on honeymoon during the winter holidays. It's going to be perfect!"The two best friends continued to chat about the wedding plans while they're waiting for the fries and wine to come.A short moment later, the food and drink were served. Caleb raised up his wine glass as he said excitedly, "Well, man! Congratulations! Let me raise my glass to cheer on your many years of torture.""I would say how stupid you are for getting tied down, but hey! Maybe I am the stupid one!" He burst in laughs again.While he was laughing, Li Xiqing clinked his own wine glass to him, "Thanks, man! When you finally find the one, you will know why I did this."....'Just finished my meeting. We closed the deal. What are you doing?' - sent 12.08 PM'Just finished my lunch with the client. You?' - received 14.12 PM'About to celebrate with Caleb. Anything you want from SF?' - sent 14.13 PM'Viv?' - sent 15.03 PM'No, nothing, babe. Just remember to not go to the Pier because they are closed for renovation work.' - received 16.45 PM....Li Xiqing looked up from his phone and glanced at Caleb, "I think we should change our route home? Viv told me there are renovation works at the Pier...." And right after he said that, Li Xiqing paused, and creased his forehead. He looked down at his phone in his hands as he tilted his head; thinking.Caleb, who just got back from the restroom, was still standing next to the table. He stretched his neck and looked around the restaurant.This wine and cheese restaurant was located by the pier in the touristiest place in San Francisco. Caleb had been here multiple times and he knew the quality of the drinks and the food were acceptable to the standard. And this was the reason why he always brought his guests over here.After looking around the surroundings a couple of times, he said, "I don't think so," and then he looked back at Li Xiqing, "they would have closed the road on the way in, if there are renovation works around this area.""Yeah.. Uh.." Li Xiqing nodded absentmindedly, "I have settled the tab, by the way."Caleb looked at him in surprise, "What? It was supposed to be my treat! We are celebrating here."Li Xiqing pushed the chair back as he stood up, "No worries, man. As you said we are celebrating, so this is on me. It's fine."They started to walk to the exit to take a taxi ride back to the office.They started to talk about the wine and dining scene in San Francisco and how it compared to New York City when Caleb, who was looking at the front, looked distracted when answering Daniel's questions.Li Xiqing turned his head to see what Caleb was looking at.A woman in a bright blue sleeveless sundress was walking next to a man in a white polo shirt and dark blue jeans. A slight breeze blew past them and the woman started to shiver a little. Her long, wavy hair was dancing along the gentle wind around her.The two of them stopped on their tracks before the man slowly took off his jacket. He then moved behind the woman and draped his jacket around her shoulder. He gently grabbed a lock of her hair and slipped them out from behind the jacket. She tilted her head slightly as she gave him a big smile.The man returned her smile before his arm wrapped around her waist and planted a soft kiss on the side of her head, near the temple area. The woman closed her eyelids as she received the kiss. The man looked in adoration at the angelic looking face in front of him. He could not resist himself at her charming smile when he slowly lowered his head and then kissed the corner of her lips.Looking confused at the scene in front of him; Li Xiqing felt his heart drop and his anger slowly rise.".... Dan, that... isn't that Vivian?"
