(Restaurant)

Zhen Yin looked at the exquisite necklace that was placed in a velvet box. Her eyes glowed in reaction.

"Please don’t reject this too. I have spent a hard time returning all the clothing, shoes and bags to the boutiques.", Dong Xian said.

"I am really sorry" she apologized "this is really beautiful"

Having a romantic dinner with Dong Xian is such a pleasure. Thus, there is no need for further gifts, even if this is her birthday.

From her reaction, Dong Xian knew she loved the necklace. He was pleased. It has depressed him a while for the apparel that has been returned by her.

Without any warning, Dong Xian stood up, picked up the necklace, walked to the back of Zhen Yin, and put on the necklace for her. "I knew this is suitable for you", he exclaimed at her beauty and his good judgment.

Zhen Yin touched the necklace, "Is it really beautiful?"

"Yes", he replied sincerely. The necklace really shone on her. The necklace has found it's rightful owner.

She couldn’t see it, "Can I take a look in the mirror?"

She is as cute as I thought she could be "Of course!" Dong Xian said cheerfully.

She took a look in the mirror. The necklace is really beautiful but "Thank you but this should be very

expensive …"

"Shall I present the receipt to you too?" he asked.

"No, this is not what I meant …" he has misinterpreted her words "I am afraid that you have spent too much ..." she attempted to explain.

She wants to save money for me? "I earned a lot, but I seldom get the chance to spend", he revealed.

"Did you come from a rich family?", she asked curiously.

"No, I can’t even afford burgers during my school days", he recalled his schooling days, the days where he had to work hard to foot the bills.

"You are commendable. How did you earn so much later?", she enquired.

How he earn? "Do you know that … America’s Wall Street is actually a battlefield ... it has always been a matter of life or death." The fittest survive, he thought.

"Everyone thinks that way?"

He recalled, "A robber visited the petrol kiosk I was working in once … "

"When you are still a student?" she asked "Did he carry a gun?"

"Yes, he pointed his gun at my forehead. Then, I realized there’s a gun under the cashier."

"Did you shoot him?", she asked. She may have shot the robber if she was in his shoes.

"No" he shook his head "I brought his gun nearer to my forehead. I told him I wanted to die."

"Goodness … Why?"

"I told him … I am very tired. I wanted to die. Please shoot me. I’ll shoot myself if he don’t shoot me", he recalled. He smiled. He cldn't feel the loneliness as she is beside him now.

Zhen Yin stared at him. Can his reactions be seen as 'normal'?

"In the end, the robber begged me not to die. He would be a murderer if I died. I used the similar spirit in the battles against westerners. I fought hard and earned a lot of money. At first, I needed the money for survival. Later, the aim has changed …" maybe it has become a figures game, 7-digit(?); 8-digit(?); Dong Xian thought "… Money has become the secondary objective. Earning has become the tool to happiness."

"You must be happy now?" He must be feeling happy as he is rich now.

"That was before I met you", he admitted.

"You mean … you have become unhappy because of me?", she was puzzled.

"No…" Dong Xian looked into her eyes "A silly fool who only knows how to earn money has opened his eyes to the world of love. Thus, he has become more greedy."

"Did you ever have any girlfriends?" this is unbelievable.

He smiled "No, never" he looked at her "How about Miss Zhen Yin?"

"There was someone I like …" Tai Jun floated into her mind "I have even proposed to him. I asked for his hand in marraige. After 3 years, I got his answer. He said …" she recalled sadly "we should remain as colleagues, as good friends ... In other words, I was rejected by him completely."

Although he didn’t comment, he knew she was referring to Tai Jun. From Tai Jun’s expression at Diamond Villa the other night, he thought otherwise. Even if there’s someone in Zhen Yin’s mind at the moment, he is not going to give up, unless Zhen Yin reject his advancements.

"That’s why I have changed my mind. I want to forget him" She has waited 3 years in vain, this should be enough "Even if it’s for a hundred times or a thousand times, I wish to forget him, but …"

"… but … ?" he asked.

"… but now …" tears flickered in her beautiful eyes "Every time I look at him now, my heartbeat would accelerate …" "Sorry, Mr Dong Xian, I think … I am not prepared to accept someone new now."

"Shadow ..." he looked at her "I think you are clouded by a shadow now"

He thought of Tai Jun. If he were Tai Jun, he will never leave Zhen Yin alone in the desert. He would never give her a chance to wave/meet another man.

Zhen Yin thought for a while and nodded "Maybe you are right" she raised her head to face him "Thus …"

Dong Xian interrupted, "If you need time, I’ll wait for you, no matter how long. Of course, … I do not wish to wait for too long" he captured her attention "Happy Birthday!"

Zhen Yin was touched by his words, "Thank … Thank you!" "Thank you, Dong Xian mister."

They tossed. They had champagne.