Loving With My Mind

Li Qiaolian was having her afternoon tea as she sat on a rattan chair at the veranda just outside her room.

Han Mufeng suddenly appeared from their room. He was still adjusting his suit as he walked.

"Dear, are you sure you don't wanna come along?" he asked his wife.

She looked back at him with a gentle smile. "Sorry, Dear. I don't think I can today."

"Not feeling strong enough to handle them today?" he teased.

Her smile widened. "You can say that. Besides, I'm not that familiar with that uncle of yours. He won't bother to ask for me."

Han Mufeng chuckled. "Alright. Don't forget to eat on time."

With that, he kissed his wife on the forehead and went back into the room and out the door.

Li Qiaolian sipped on her sencha tea.

Suddenly, her mobile phone rang.

She picked it up from the wooden coffee table.

She frowned as she saw the unknown number. Only a handful of people would know her personal number. Unless one is influential enough, her contact is hard to obtain.

She took a deep breath as she swiped to pick up the call.

"Lian-lian..." a deep, smooth voice was heard when she did not utter a word. The person on the other line can hear her breathing anyway.

"I know you're there." the person kept speaking. "You picked up the phone. That means Mufeng is not with you."

Her eyes widened, and her hand which was holding the phone trembled.

The voice chuckled. "Hey Lian-lian, why did you not invite me to our daughter's wedding? I could've walked her down the aisle..." There was a tinge of regret in the voice.

"I told you she is not yours!" she seethed.

The voice guffawed. "Lian-lian, we both know that you were pregnant before Mufeng could even touch you on your wedding day...and that the baby is mine."

"She is not!" Li Qiaolian was shouting as she bolted from her seat. Anger rose to her face, coloring it red.

The voice kept laughing. "Alright, alright...I'll forgive you for not sending me an invitation. Hmmm...I wonder how my son-in-law is like...I should pay him a visit sometimes."

"No! You can't...don't..." Li Qiaolian was about to cry.

"My Dear Qiaolian...don't cry. I won't harm him. Oh, I gotta go. My brother will be here any minute. You don't want him hearing your voice from my phone right?" He made it sound like they were having a tryst.

"You're a monster!" Her tears fell down as she bursted in anger.

"Li Qiaolian...you love this monster. Remember that." He hung up the call.

Li Qiaolian slumped back onto the rattan chair and cried.

It was her biggest mistake to be involved with that man. She will forever regret her impulsive decision.

Truth was, she was indeed in love with him a long time ago. She really gave herself to that man.

However, Han Yixin is truly her daughter with Han Mufeng, and she has evidence to prove it.

Li Qiaolian shut her eyes as tears flowed down her cheeks.

Memories came flooding her mind.

...

She looked at the young Han Muzhen. He glanced at her then looked away. He was quite a snob.

The young Li Qiaolian in her high school uniform looked down to hide her giggle.

Then at the school gate after their graduation ceremony, a confession took place.

.

"Han Muzhen, I...I like you!" Li Qiaolian looked up to him. "But...I guess this is goodbye!" She gave him a weak smile. She was about to cry, but ran off to hide it from him.

.

The next memory was in university. Li Qiaolian ran along the hallway with a stack of books, magazines and papers. Her professor was waiting for her to discuss designs for the interschool design competition.

As she turned the corner, she bumped into someone and fell backward on her bottom. The papers and books flew around with the impact.

"Are you alright?" A deep voice was accompanied by a hand lent to help.

She took the hand and got up, massaging her b.u.t.t.o.c.k.s.

As the piece of paper blocking the view fell, she saw a familiar face.

"Han...Han Muzhen? Didn't you go to M University?"

He cleared his throat. "I enrolled here."

"Oh..." she did not take it to heart. It was just a coincidence.

She started picking up her things. "Sorry for bumping into you." She bowed with her apology, ready to take off.

"Wait!" Han Muzhen stopped her by the shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"Uhm...to the 6th floor." She gave a subtle smile. "Well, see you!"

"Let...let me carry those." he offered. It was only the second floor. This building had no elevators.

She was so shy in handing over most of the things and kept some to carry herself.

"Let's go."

On her senior year in university, her parents told her about her engagement to the son of the Han household. She was elated as she and Han Muzhen just officially began dating.

During lunch at the Han estate, her eyes widened and turned to Han Muzhen when her parents announced her engagement.

"So, Qiaolian, this is your fiancé, Han Mufeng." They gestured at the older guy with glasses.

Han Mufeng was already working in the Han Hotel when his brother was still in university.

.

"Hey, look at me. I will resolve this. I will ask for your hand in marriage. I will take my brother's place. You have to believe me." Han Muzhen promised her when he met her again in the university.

Li Qiaolian just nodded, doubting if they could really do something about it.

.

At the night of their graduation ball, Han Muzhen drove her home.

She waited for his car to go before heading back into the dormitory.

Suddenly, her mouth was covered by cloth and her vision turned black.

The following morning, she woke up on an unfamiliar bed. She felt that someone is sleeping next to her.

Cold sweat ran through her back. Her face contorted in horror when she saw his face.

It was her fiancé, Han Mufeng.