Aiden Thompson walked into the house, holding a bouquet of flowers and a cake, and saw Shichen Li. With a somewhat appeasing tone, he called out, "Mr. Li."
Shichen Li glanced at the flowers and cake in his hands, his expression turning serious. He nodded but didn't say much in return.
Aiden Thompson noticed the tension and asked, "Where's Grace?"
"She's on the phone in her room," Shichen Li replied. "Actually, it's good you're here. I wanted to talk to you for a moment."
"Alright." Aiden Thompson naturally set the cake down on the dining table.
Shichen Li said, "Let's step outside. Bring the flowers and cake with you."
Aiden Thompson sensed something was off, but he didn't ask questions. He complied, carrying the flowers and cake as he followed Shichen Li outside.
The two of them walked to a bench in the garden downstairs and sat down. Aiden Thompson placed the flowers and cake beside him. Throughout the walk, Shichen Li's face had been grim, as if he was preparing for something serious.
Shichen Li spoke, struggling a little, "I've been thinking about this for a while. I don't think you and Grace are quite right for each other."
"Mr. Li..."
Shichen Li raised his hand to stop him. "Just hear me out. There are a few reasons why I'm saying this. First, there's an age gap between you two. Grace is 31 now, and she's a bit older than you. Second, I know your family owns a big company, but Grace's mom and I are both just regular people. I'm not sure your parents would be on board with the relationship, and honestly, Grace deserves someone who fits with her life—someone who can support her, not just emotionally, but also in terms of lifestyle."
Aiden Thompson tried to explain, "Mr. Li, I'm doing everything I can to get my parents to accept Grace. I promise, I'm not going to make her wait forever."
"Whether they accept it or not, the truth is, it's a big leap for Grace. She's done well for herself—she has her own business in New York, and you're out in Los Angeles. It's a long-distance relationship, and that's hard for anyone."
Aiden Thompson nodded, feeling the weight of Shichen Li's words. He could see the reasoning, but it didn't make the truth any easier to hear.
"I understand where you're coming from, Mr. Li, but I really love Grace," Aiden said. "I want to be there for her, no matter what it takes. I don't think love is something we should throw away over practical concerns."
Shichen Li sighed. "Love is important, yes. But it's not everything. I'm just saying, compatibility matters. Over time, things fade. What starts as love can turn into something different. You're young, Aiden, and you've got a lot going for you. You won't have trouble finding someone else. But Grace... she's older now, and it's harder for her to find someone who's right for her. I just want the best for her. Someone who's ready to settle down and build a life together."
Aiden Thompson felt a lump in his throat. He hadn't really considered how much pressure this would put on Grace. In that moment, he understood how much her family worried about her future.
After talking with Shichen Li, Aiden got back into his car. The red roses and cake were sitting on the passenger seat.
The soft glow of the streetlights outside illuminated the flowers through the glass.
He didn't start the car. Instead, he just sat there, feeling overwhelmed.
He had always been confident in telling Grace not to give up on him, but now he saw the situation from her perspective.
She must've felt just as conflicted when she first heard about his parents' objections.
Aiden had always believed that one day his parents would come around, but now he wasn't sure if they would ever truly accept her without making her feel out of place.
He could offer her an uncertain future.
But Tom Wilson? He could offer her security and stability.
Grace Li finished her call with the project team and walked out of her room, only to find that Tom Wilson had already left.
Huiyun Liang was in the living room, vacuuming the floor.
"Mom, has Tom left?" Grace asked.
"Yeah, he's gone," Huiyun Liang replied.
"Where's Dad?"
Huiyun Liang hesitated for a moment. She decided not to mention that Aiden Thompson had come by. "He went downstairs for a walk."
Grace didn't think much of it. She walked over to the water dispenser in the kitchenette and poured herself a glass of water. After Huiyun Liang finished vacuuming, she pulled Grace over to the sofa. "Honey, I really like that young man who came today. His family background is similar to ours, and you two are even starting a business together. I think he's a good match for you."
Grace smiled but shook her head. "Mom, Tom and I are just business partners and friends. Plus, you know I've got a boyfriend."
"Don't be so quick to brush it off," Huiyun Liang said, looking at her daughter seriously. "I'm just thinking about your future. Yes, the wealthy guy is nice, but have you considered if you really have a future with him? People like that usually stick to their own circle. You've worked hard to get where you are—your own car, your own house. You shouldn't have to rely on someone else."
Grace sniffed a little and took a sip of water to clear her throat. "Mom, I can handle my own life. I know what I want."
"You're 31 now, and he's 26. I'm not saying he won't wait, but in a few years, will his family still be okay with it? Don't you worry about that?"
Grace could feel the headache coming on from hearing her mom's concerns. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm feeling a bit dizzy, so I'm going to rest for a bit."
"Did you take your medicine?"
"I'll take it later." Grace put down her glass and went into her room. She set the glass on the nightstand, leaned against the headboard, and grabbed her phone. It was already 9:30 p.m., and Aiden still hadn't sent her a birthday message.
He probably forgot, she thought. The lunar birthday changes every year, and you have to check the calendar. He's busy running Silverstone Group, so it's normal if he forgot.
Grace tried to comfort herself, but she couldn't stop hoping for a surprise.
She lay down on the bed, occasionally glancing at her phone, checking WhatsApp to see if he had messaged her.
How silly she was, like a teenager waiting for a text from her crush.
It had been over four months since she and Aiden had been "apart." In that time, they had only met a few times, but it was already more than she had expected. At first, she thought they wouldn't see each other again for another three years.
If it really were three years, maybe by then, they'd have faded away.
Time has a way of making people forget, and it can dull feelings too.
The way she was waiting for a message, phone in hand, reminded her of times when she waited for Daniel Chou's messages—feeling so small, like she was waiting for someone's mercy.
Now, her heart was filled with anticipation. Every time she opened the app, her heart raced.
As the minutes passed, Grace felt more and more tired, her head still spinning, but sleep wouldn't come.
She finally put her phone down, closed her eyes, and tried to rest. But when she remembered to check her phone again, there was still no new message.
It was already 11:25 p.m.
He really didn't remember, she thought.
That's okay. The lunar birthday is hard to keep track of.
She even forgets her own parents' birthdays sometimes.
She opened the chat window with Aiden and saw the "typing" indicator at the top.
Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly sat up, alert.
She backed out of the chat window and waited for him to send the message.
After a while, there was still no new message. Grace clicked back in and saw the "typing" indicator still going.
What's going on? Is he still typing? Or maybe trying to figure out what to say?
Finally, she received his message, just a simple line: Grace Li, happy birthday.
Though it was short, Grace felt a warmth spread through her chest. He hadn't forgotten after all.
Grace Li: Just get off work?
Aiden Thompson: Just got home.
Grace Li: It's getting late. Get some rest.
Aiden Thompson: You too.
After that brief exchange, Grace finally put her phone down, feeling content. Then, almost instinctively, she picked it up again and quickly posted something on her Instagram story, a little birthday update, before finally drifting into a deep sleep.