"Yan Yan, let's start adjusting to this whole concept of living together, alright."

He added more, "I will not hold you down, or control you. You can still do whatever you want, meet whoever you want."

He put down the clean plate in his hands on the drying rack at the side of the sink "All I'm asking is our commitment to each other. I am going to be really busy. You are definitely busy too."

Li Xiqing wiped his hand with a kitchen towel, and then he walked over and stand in front of her. He gently held her hand and pulled her up from her seat "Let me tell you something" he squeezed her hand lightly and smiled.

Together, they walked to the living room. Li Xiqing sat down first, and then he pulled her to sit on his lap.

He wrapped both arms around her waist and leaned his chin on her shoulder. He spoke in a low voice, and his breath was tickling her cheek.

Shao Yan squirmed, but his arms tightened around her, she heard him said, "My parents, many many years ago, they were almost divorced."

Shao Yan was surprised at this revelation, she went totally still in his embrace.

All this time they were in a relations.h.i.+p, both of them had never talked about families or the past. Both of them had a tacit understanding of only focusing on the present and worked together to build the future.

However, it seemed that things started to change ever since she opened up to him and told him about Liwei. It seemed that this man was now ready to welcome her to his world.

Shao Yan gradually relaxed, she leaned back into his embrace, listening to his story.

"Both of my parents were doctors. They are living in country U now. And my dad just retired last year, actually." Shao Yan could hear Li Xiqing was smiling as he said this.

"My mom is only taking care of her existing patients, she is no longer accepting any new patient because she is planning to retire soon to accompany my dad." He leaned back, and slowly told her his story.

"When I was in Junior High, they had a huge fight." he paused, "My sister and I stayed inside the room while they were throwing things at each other downstairs." he sounded so dejected and sullen, that Shao Yan could feel that her heart p.r.i.c.ked.

Initially, Shao Yan had both of her hands rested on her lap while leaning onto his embrace. But she slowly brought her arms to cover over his that were still wrapped around her waist.

"The reason was because my mom suspected my dad to have an affair with one of his patient."

Shao Yan sharply inhaled. Li Xiqing looked at her and patted her hands, "Don't worry. Later on we found out that the whole thing was only a misunderstanding." He gently smiled at her, and rubbed her hair. She gradually relaxed again and returned his smile.

"They fought a lot because they seldom saw each other, they didn't know what each other had been up to anymore. Distance is so powerful, It can transform two intimate people into strangers."

"They already had Mandy and I sat down together to discuss about divorce and what would come after it. They also told us that they were attending marriage counseling." his voice suddenly went softer, a sullen mood blanketed over him in an instant.

Shao Yan's heart felt painful for him. He was still so young then, she wondered how he had felt during that time.

He lightly shrugged, "They were both so busy, but they still attended the counseling sessions religiously" Li Xiqing softly sighed. Shao Yan slightly turned her head around to check on him.

He gave her a gentle smile "And that worked out. Although they had to spend three years of counseling before finally the dark clouds left our family, but it all eventually worked out."

He stared at her face. Her soft features were trying to give him comfort. But he thought he saw a look of pity. And he did not want that.

He slid his hand under her knee and slightly picked her up and turned her to the side. His left arm was resting on her waist, while his right palm was holding her head, bringing her to lean into his embrace; cradling her "Let me hold you for a while."

Both of them stayed quiet and just listened to each other's presence and warmth.

"What I'm trying to say here is, I don't want excuses of 'work' or 'busy' or 'no time' were to be the reason of us growing apart." he enunciated every word slowly for her.

"That is also why I said that all I need from you is your commitment to this relations.h.i.+p."

He ran his hand over her hair, she could hear his warm, husky voice over her head, "Yan Yan, as long as we both have our heart set on making this work, no matter how busy we are, we will still be in love for a very long time."

Shao Yan paused and slightly lifted her face to look up at him. She realized something.

This man, had been through a h.e.l.l of marriage life, by looking at what his parents had gone through. He had to learn it the hard way so he would not take anything for granted.

Ever.

Whilst she and Liwei, they just grew more and more apart from each other; no one wanted to fight for it anymore, until they finally separated. She, of all people, should also understand this. That she should not take anything for granted.

Shao Yan lifted her hand and put it on his chest. She stared deeply into his eyes and slowly said, "I want to make this work, Xiqing. Trust me. I will listen to you."

It was really not fair for him to be fighting alone on this relations.h.i.+p. She had to take a fair part in it too. And she would make it work this time.

Together.