The Tender Flower {Meteor Garden 2018}

Chapter 50

Meiza

One month later

"Fang Meiza. My condolences. I'm very sorry for your losses," Hu Zhen bowed when I walked in to the office I had been summoned to.

"Thank you," I replied. I hated it when people referred to me as Fang. I was a mother and had a husband that loved me dearly... but not anymore. "Where is Gao?"

"He said he'll be here in five minutes," Hu Zhong answered. I hadn't noticed him standing by the window that overlooked Shanghai. I tensed up. I was trying to figure out why Gao would call for a meeting with me and Hu Zhen in the first place but after seeing Zhong there, a deep uneasiness grew in my stomach.

"What is this all about?" I asked with some authority because I needed to know that what was about to happen wasn't really about to happen.

"Something that will benefit EVERYONE!" Gao walked in with his hands in the air, a grin on his face like he had just won all the riches in the world. "Sit sit!"

I sat down on one of the chairs, afraid of what was about to happen. Hu Zhong sat on the chair beside me and he looked at me with a great deal of sympathy. I frowned.

Gao poured some drinks for us but I immediately refused. I needed to remain clear-headed in order to know what was going on.

"A toast to our new family," Gao cheered, clinking his glass with Hu Zhen. Hu Zhong seemingly hesitated before clinking his glass with Gao's.

My body stiffened at his words. I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe - all the air in my lungs had somehow vanished.

"N-new family?" I repeated, staring into Gao's eyes. My mind hardly ever processed anything these days so I needed to know what people truly meant without beating around the bush.

"Meiza, when you were born I had already made a deal with Hu Zhen that you would marry Hu Zhong when you were eighteen. I thought it would be a good time for us to mend our friendship and become partners. Which is why I reinforced our deal and agreed to have you marry Hu Zhong before the end of next month. Why waste anytime?" Gao explained, smiling at Hu Zhen.

If my heart could break anymore it would have but at this point, I was done with everything. I didn't see a point in my life anymore. Everything seemed blurry and out of reach and I was too weak to push myself up and go for it.

After weeks of trying to convince the police to look more into the accident and find out if it was a murder, my body was exhausted.

Every damn day seemed like a struggle to survive.

"Okay. Thank you for informing me. I look forward to this deal. Please excuse me," I forced a smile as I spoke. My words were meaningless and I had no ounce of care for my wellbeing anymore.

I bowed before exiting the office, walking slowly as if I was in a daze. A daze that I wished I could wake up from.

"Meiza!"

I stopped walking and turned around to see who called my name. Hu Zhong came rushing towards me.

He was handsome, I'll admit, but there was someone in my heart he would never be able to match up to.

"Just so you know, I don't agree with this marriage. I think it's way too soon and not fair to you. I'll call it off because I don't want you to-"

"Forget it, Hu Zhong. Whatever I try to do against my father will always end up badly for me. I don't care anymore. I've given up. Let him do what he wants with my life. There's nothing in it for me anyways," I interrupted him.