Rowoon's POV

At Shenzhen Branch of M.IT Company.

I was glancing at my watch and saw the time was shown at 2.30 PM. We already finished with the sampling and now Hyeyoon was still compiling the data on her laptop. We were still at the Shenzhen Branch. Both of us sat in the cafeteria and quickly started to process the data after lunchtime.

I saw she was still busy typing on her laptop and I couldn't focus on mine. I stole a few glances toward her serious expression and diverted in between my laptop screen and her pretty face. There was a frown on her face. What's wrong?

I tried to peek at her laptop screen to check on what was going on, and Hyeyoon was seen checking her note and sketch before proceeded to type again.

"Is there anything wrong?" I asked her and she just raised her face slightly to check on me.

She shook her head. "Nothing, just do a double-check. I'm almost done," she answered shortly and back again with her laptop. Looking at her now focus expression and position had reminded me of her sketch that I still have in my drawer. I wasn't aware at that time that she took me as the model of her sketch because I knew, whenever I was busy with my laptop, I could be very careless with my surroundings and completely ignored everything but my things.

Just like this time, I could see why Hyeyoon was mesmerized by the view back then when I was too focused on my laptop. Like how I felt now, really enjoying the view in front of me and indeed, the view was unbelievably beautiful to see.

I was too mesmerized by my deep thinking and was jolted when Hyeyoon called my name and handed me his External Drive.

"Here, I've finished my data, you can compile this with yours then," she gave me the drive and I took it as I stored back my sanity before I could be seen as dumb while daydreaming in front of her.

"Okay," I was copying the data and massaging my temple upon waiting for the transfer to finish. Didn't realize that Hyeyoon was staring at me and looking at my expression.

"Are you tired?" her soft voice was stunned me for a split second before I raised my face to look at her intense gaze at me. She showed concern yet her gaze still felt a bit cold as last night.

I blinked a few times then shook my head. "No, I'm fine," in fact, I was literally fine. But the uncomfortable awkwardness between me and Hyeyoon was somewhat disturbing me. I didn't like the feeling of being this awkward around her. Yet I had no idea how to fix that. I was afraid that I might offend her more or made her more uncomfortable around me, making things even more awkward.

She was seen leaning her back to the backrest and crossing her arms, waiting for me to finish my part. I quickly checked on her work and it was already pretty good. I combined her slide to my slide and as I was done with mine, and hers was already looked good. The data combining was done pretty fast.

I ejected her drive and gave it back to her. "Is it done?" I was about to shut down my laptop when she sounded while taking her drive from me.

I stared at her and nodded. "Yes," I closed the laptop lid and started to gathered my belongings as she followed to get her stuff. I checked the time and it was still 3.00 PM. We finished quite early today; we still have more time before the video conference at 7 PM local time. "What do you want for dinner, Hyeyoon?" I started to ask her as we now walked to the lobby.

I saw the driver from afar and he immediately got up to get the car ready. Our car was seen already standby in front of the lobby.

Hyeyoon was seen contemplating when we got into the car. She realized I was anticipating her answer and she finally answered, "I have no idea, actually. I'm good with anything, though," she replied eventually.

And this was the hardest part. When the girl said she had no idea, then I have to think harder all by myself. Hyeyoon literally made everything hard on me since yesterday. She became so quiet and her facial expression changed completely. She wasn't even responded to my lame jokes and I did have to make things up to her.

Without prolonging the conversation, I told the driver to go and the car slowly sped through the Shenzhen traffic. I was looking blankly outside when my phone vibrated. I saw my secretary's name on the display and picked up her call.

"Yes?" I sounded.

"Sir, I have to inform you that the Video Conference with the General Manager is delayed for two hours, Mr. Park suddenly had another urgent meeting with the Beijing HQ, Sir," she added that she got the information from the General Manager's secretary.

"Okay, then," I told her. "Thanks," I said shortly before hanging up the call. I put my phone back into my suit pocket when I realized that Hyeyoon was waiting for me to share the information.

"The Video Conference is delayed for another two hours, so it will be at 9 PM," I informed her and she just nodded slightly and muttered a low okay.

The car entered the Nanshan District and there was a traffic jam out of sudden.

"Ah, I forgot today is the scheduled culture festival," the driver stated. He sounded panic and now we were completely stuck inside the traffic and couldn't make a u-turn.

"What culture festival?" Hyeyoon asked the driver.

"It's a Chinese National Culture, Ma'am. It's a dance performance of China Dragon and Phoenix at Splendid China Folk Villages," the driver enthusiastically started to explain about to culture festival which Hyeyoon seemed interested to hear. She responded with equal excitement and the look on her eyes changed. It was getting brighter again.

I was amazed at what I'd seen and didn't realize that we almost reached the entrance and the source of the traffic.

"Do you want to stop by and take a look at the village?" the driver offered. Hyeyoon seemed to hesitate and she was about to shook her head when I sounded.

"Yes, please. Can you take us there, please?" I told the driver to pulled over and he excitedly did as I said and pulled over to the village's entrance.

"What are you doing?" Hyeyoon whispered to me and I returned her question with a faint smile.

"We can take a look for a moment, you seemed very excited to see the festival," I explained. "We still have more time, so you can take your time and enjoy the sightseeing," I glanced at my watch and added, "I think an hour and a half is enough?"

We reached the parking lot and the driver stopped the car.

Hyeyoon wandered her sight to see the crowd and her eyes started glistened with excitement upon seeing the brief view of the village.

I clicked open the door beside me and looked at Hyeyoon, "I will take a walk for a moment, do you wanna come?" I asked her gently and the girl finally nodded, making me sighed in relief when I saw her followed me out of the car.

* * *

It felt like ages walking side by side with her like this. I couldn't remember when the last time we ever walked sightseeing together. I think the last time was at the Han River, that one night in summer. But at that time, I could still lay my arm around her shoulder to give her warmth, and this girl would linger her arms around my waist and giggling all our way strolling the river-view.

This time, she was seen keeping her distance from me while wandering her sight over the villages. I couldn't help to bit my lips bitterly upon seeing the total difference between the two events.

Splendid China Folk Villages was quite a crowd today, probably because of the culture festival. A group of visitors passed by our way and I had to grab Hyeyoon by her shoulder to remind her that she was nearly blocking their way; she didn't even realize her surrounding as she was too mesmerized by the sight.

Hyeyoon looked at me and I slowly pulled my hand away from her shoulder, "watch your way," I told her shortly. My tone unconsciously came out a bit cold. I cleared my throat and continued to stroll the pathway with her still beside me.

There was still an awkwardness between us. I couldn't read what inside her mind as I saw her now busy taking pictures with her phone and completely ignored my existence. I was thinking to make things got better between us, at least not this awkward. That was the reason why I tried to bring her here, to make her mood got better, hopefully.

"Do you want to take a picture there?" I broke the silence and pointed her to the Potala Palace up the hill.

She halted from her track and turned around to look at me then followed in the direction I pointed. Her eyes widened upon seeing the modeling for Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, a dzong fortress in the city of Lhasa, Tibet.

"Whoa," she exclaimed and nodded while smiling brightly. I couldn't help a smile upon seeing her childish-like side. The side that unexpectedly remained the same. She immediately posed in front of the miniature and I took her picture with my phone.

"You can take a picture together, young man, I can help you taking the picture," there was a sudden voice behind me, I turned around and saw an elder woman stood right behind me.

I shook my head tried to object to her offer, "Oh, I think I'm fine—,"

"Ah, come on," she cut off and reached her hand for me to give my phone, "you'll never know when you'll get this chance again once she's back into her man's arm. Now, go there, I'll take a picture of you two," she encouraged me again and I frowned upon hearing her statement.

Still stunned, I walked slowly toward Hyeyoon and the latter just looked as confused as me. Her rounded eyes stared at me with a big question plastered clearly on her face.

I shrugged in response and just stood beside her as the elder woman said.

"Good! Now get a bit closer, will you? You're too distancing! It's not like you guys are in a fight, right?" she shouted while both Hyeyoon and me exchanging glances in awkward. I saw Hyeyoon was a bit restless and I took the courage to step a bit closer to her side.

I looked at the elder woman and saw her unsatisfied expression. I rolled my eyes and let out a soft sigh. "Sorry," I sounded lowly just for Hyeyoon to hear, the girl raised her face a bit to stare at me then back again facing the front, "this will be quick, to end it fast," I whispered and I reached out to grab her shoulder and pulled her body to my torso.

Hyeyoon was jumped out a little bit and I could feel her body tensed. I lingered my arm around her back and rested my hand on her upper arm. I forced a smile and hissed at the girl to do the same. Though she was clearly being reluctant, Hyeyoon did it anyway.

"That's it! Perfect!" the elder woman shouted again and finally counted to three and took the picture a few times.

Just like holding up my breath for a long time, I finally let the air out of my lungs when she was done taking pictures.

I walked to her and saw she was approaching. "It came out great!" she handed my phone back and I bowed in thankful.

"Thank you," Hyeyoon said it for me.

The elder woman didn't reply, but staring at both of us rather intensely. She glanced at me at first then went to Hyeyoon, frowning her forehead. As if she was examining something.

A few seconds later, the woman let out a heavy breath and pursed her lips. "No matter how many times you two got separated, be it by the death or anything else, you'll end up being together again in your next life no matter what, anyway. So, don't waste your time," she turned to Hyeyoon as if the last statement was especially referring to her.

And Hyeyoon seemed to get more confused than before. I frowned and was now looking a bit skeptical to the elder woman. Was she a mental or what?

I was about to utter our excuse to leave when she suddenly shot a glare toward me. "You! You have to learn how to appreciate precious things that the universe had sent to you, rather than being so arrogant and prideful of yourself, it's useless, or else you'll lose your precious one repeatedly,"

The elder woman then threw her gaze blankly toward the palace as if she got her vision way far beyond. She sounded again, her voice cracked and sounded different from earlier, "you will remember on the actual purpose why you were brought together in the first place," she then pointed at me with her trembling hand, "and why did you build this palace for the love of your life centuries ago. Your fate hadn't ended here. The fate repeated again,"

Then her gaze turned normal in an instance. She stared at both of us and smiling mysteriously. "Have you guys check on your Ba Zi? If you haven't, go check it when you have time," she flashed another smile which made me uncomfortable.

"Uh, thank you. I think it's our time to get going," I quickly grabbed Hyeyoon's wrist and pulled her away from the weird woman. "Let's go, we still need to prepare for the video conference," I bowed to the elder woman and pulled Hyeyoon to leave the spot as fast as we could. "Are you done sightseeing, Hyeyoon? Do you mind if we go back to the hotel now?" my voice sounded in a rush and I couldn't help it. That woman sent weird vibes and I could feel my nape started to feel oddly very cold as if it was being blown with cold air.

"No, I'm good," Hyeyoon answered and she just silently following my long step back to the parking lot.

I could see the parking lot was near when Hyeyoon suddenly pulled out her wrist and I jolted from the loss. I turned around and saw Hyeyoon was frowning as she stared at me.

"What's wrong?" she finally asked. "What did the woman say to you before she took our picture?" Hyeyoon was being too detailed with her question that I couldn't even avoid not to answer her question with honesty.

I sighed and ran my finger through my hair anxiously. "Uh," I shut my eyes tightly to get a grip of myself before continued, I looked at her and she was still patiently waiting for my answer. I sighed and finally went on, "she was saying weird things, and nonsense, it's not important," I still avoided the actual answer and Hyeyoon knew I was hiding something.

I clicked my tongue in frustration and let out a heavy breath, "oh, Hyeyoon do you believe in fortunetelling or something like that? Like past life, reincarnation? You're not, are you?" I forced her to agree with my perspective. But Hyeyoon judged me by her stare and I scratched the back of my neck.

"I don't get it," she said in return.

"She tried to tell us her fortunetelling, didn't you get it a bit? Oh, she was telling me not to miss the chance to get closer to you before you're—," I halted.

Hyeyoon waited for me to continue but she saw me being hesitant. "I'm what?" she demanded.

I sighed. "Before you're back with Jang Kiyong, your boyfriend," I finally state everything. Now, it really meant nothing. What was the point of saying this to Hyeyoon, really? I shut my eyes tightly and slowly massaging my nape. "Forget what I said to you, Hyeyoon, I'm sorry, it's me concluding her statement like that, she wasn't actually saying that way," I apologized to her before she got mad at me again.

I was so hopeless right now. And it didn't look like me at all.

"Forget it," I shrugged it off and tried to back to normal again. "Let's go back to the Hotel," I walked past her who was still stunned on her spot. Walked slowly to the parking lot. 

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A/N :

Hello again. Long time no see everyone in here.

So, yes, it's been a month and a half, LOL yes I know. But, as I said, I won't neglect this story. And will try my best to finish it till complete.

This is the first part of the new conflict. Another new stage of story development. Oh, and you're free to do a little research on the unfamiliar terms I used here and the place I mentioned briefly in this chapter if you want to, it's highly encouraged.

But, if you'll hold back your curiosity and wait for me to explain it more in the next chapters then it's fine, too. Either way is good. 

I had to cut the chapter here and save the explanation for the next chapters. And it's already past midnight here, I'm getting sleepy. LOL

Kidding.

I was planning to put the updates on hold before I finished at least 2 or 3 more chapters but oh, I thought probably some of you wanted to read an update, so here, I post another update. Yeay...

:D

I'll take some sleep before continue writing the next chapter.
Hehe

See you again in the next chapters ~~