Song: Zui Jin Hai Hao Ma (How are you lately?) - S.H.E

"Sometimes you need to step outside, clear your head and remind yourself of who you are. And where you wanna be. And sometimes you have to venture outside your world in order to find yourself. As for me, I'm happy right where I am. I only wanna be with you. xoxo... Gossip Girl" -Gossip Girl

***

I was truly grateful I wasn't drinking anything as I'm pretty sure I would have chocked. Imagine meeting your boyfriends mother who you thought was a love rival.

A thought occurs to me as I realize the crew had purposely tried to lead me astray with assumptions.

I turn and glare at them as they all collectively burst out laughing.

"Oh no, did they mess with you too?"

"Me too? Where they other girls?"

"The crew wards away girls that are interested in me by using Lily as a camouflage," Shang ye explains.

"That's the sparknotes version. Do you want to hear the fulls tory of how it all began?" Lily asks taking my hand in hers.

I nod intrigued.

I once had a secretary named Camilla,"

"Not Cabello," Drinkingwine adds to which I chuckle.

"Camilla was in love with Nanchen,"

"More like obsessed," Summerheat quips.

"Facts, she was bat shit crazy," Dancinglove says.

"Are you all going to let me finish my story?" Lily asks to which they all shut up. It was the first time I had ever seen them shut up so quickly. She really was Shang Ye's mom, the only other person who made them run with their tail between their legs. I guess, like mother like son.

"Nanchen can be extremely nice sometimes and that can be easily misconstrued,"S he says.

"I know,"

"Right?" She says to which we both giggle.

"When he first reached out to me I thought he was just being nice. I found it hard to believe he really liked me," I say.

"Well in Camilla's case she found it hard to believe he didn't also like her. She'd stalk him everywhere, online and offline. I didn't realize this was going on,"

"Nanchen started suspecting when the coincidences starting becoming a bit too frequent. Nanchen tried to keep it from me till he realized she had also installed camera's in his home," 

"It was already there for a month before Nanchen discovered it as he is always so busy with work."

"Did you call the cops?"

"Yes, she tried to hurt herself and also hurt Nanchen," She says her eyes getting watery. I instinctively turn to glance at Nanchen. That explains why he is so secretive. I would be too spooked to let anyone know me if I went through that. No wonder his friends fiercely protected his identity. Yet, he was famous online for his hobby. That would do nothing to ease his fears especially with the current fan culture and crazy fans out there.  

"Thankfully that's over and we can laugh about it now but it was pretty scary when it happened. My point is you are the first girl he has dated in a while who's sane. You're sane right?" she says to which we all break out in laughter.

"That's why she's always going above and beyond for him,"Drinkingwine explains.

"I guess you can say it's my way of compensating. I know it's technically not my fault but I can't help thinking that if i didn't hire her she'd never have met my son and none of the events that happened would have happened.

"It sucks but it's a learning experience," I say realizing telling her it's not her fault was not fitting since she already knew that.

"It is, we learn each day. Also, you can go eternity without knowing someone truly. Heck, sometimes i feel I don't know myself," i say to which she chuckles and wipes a tear from the side of her eye.

"Thank you. I've heard a lot about you Hannah. but I'm truly glad we finally met," She says smiling as she squeezes my hand and I squeeze hers back comfortingly.

"I need help with the fish," Shang Ye says coming to the living room. No one moves and I attempt to get up but Lily pulls me back up.

"Ignore him, he's trying to separate us. Tell me more about yourself, it's so hard to pry information from that bullheaded son of mine.

We spend time chatting and getting to know each other. Lily was a pretty amazing woman. She was successful in her own right and was a CFO of a Financial Equity firm. Yet, she was fun, humble and free making me further admire her. She was goals and everything I hoped to be one day when I grow up.

"I actually have a secret to tell you," She says when she's about to leave.

"You are the reason he started writing," She says and winks stepping out and leaving me perplexed.

I was the reason he started writing? How is that even possible? I assist the rest of the crew in cleaning up and hang out with them playing some games. After a while I glance around looking for Shang Ye.

He was alone in the balcony staring at the distance with a drink in his hand. I walk over and stand next to him.

"Your mom is pretty amazing," I say.

"She is," He replies and smiles.

"She also told me an interesting fact that has me confused,"

"Oh? What was that?" He asks turning and leaning his back against the rail as he focuses his attention on me.

"She said I was the reason you started writing,"

"However, I only met you a while back at Walmart. You were already famous then. M,aybe she was just tipsy?" I say to which he smirks.

"She's right,"

"What?" I say believing I'd misheard,"

"That wasn't the first time we met."

"It wasn't?" I say confused.

He nods, stating "The first time we met was at the hospital,"

"Hospital?!" I say even more confused now.

"You had family admitted in the clinic and I had come in to treat the wound I got from Camilla. I was seated in the waiting area and your laptop was wide open next to me. I noticed the words on it and somehow couldn't stop reading. It was a story you'd written on a girl whose entire village was burnt to death by the enemy kingdom,"

"Tales of times past?!" I say truly shocked. It was written about three years ago!

Shang Ye nods.

Why was I in the hospital three years ago?I couldn't remember, yet he remembered?

"You came up and quickly picked the laptop without saying a word to me. However I noticed the ID and looked it up. I then found the story on Wattpad and continued reading it. In a way, you can say my first story on Wattpad, Tales from the present was a sort of response to you."

"What?!" I say even more shocked.

"I was a silent supporter for a long while and hoped you'd read my response to your story one day. Tales of times past brought me some relief during a truly hard time in my life and I hoped you'd know that,"

"No way!" I say fully floored. I really couldn't believe what I was hearing. Shang Ye knew me all this while? He knew ME?!

Tales of times past was a book I wrote that had the least audience. I only had one dedicated reader who would always vote on it. However, the username from what I could recall was not Shang Ye's. Did he change his username? i couldn't remember the name of the suer to ask him about it now. I mentally remind myself to check once I get home and follow up with him.

"I fell in love with your story before I fell in love with you. However, yes my mother is right. Our first meeting was much earlier and you are the reason I started writing. You said it helped you get over the bad times and so I wanted to try and see if it would do the same for me too. Fast forward a few years later, I happen to stumble upon you in Walmart. Imagine my shock at seeing my idol in front of me,"

"Your idol? Me?!" I say in disbelief, he was my idol! Yet he here he was telling me that I was his idol? Was this prank? I'm tempted to look around for a hidden camera.

"Why are you so shocked? You're a pretty amazing author," he says.

"With less than 5,000 reads prior to meeting you," I reply.

"Not all gems can be found, however it doesn't mean the gem stops being a gem," He says to which I break out in a smile.

"So, that is how we met?" I say. He nods pulling me into his arms for a hug.

"That is how we met," He replies.

***

The END

Haha, I always wanted to end this book this way. I'm glad we finally got here. Thank you for taking time to come along this journey with me. I know the updates were irregular but I appreciate each of you for sticking with me. I shall once more drop my pen into the basket of love till we meet again.

-A

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