Sixteen years later…

Tang Qiu Wen was swirling his cup of whiskey gently after he completed the transfer of funds transaction as he patiently waited for confirmation to his impending question as a return of favor while watching the night lights of the city of Wai Tao from the window panel of his family house.

"Which city is Xue Ting in?"

It was an important answer he needed to affirm his decision of returning to his hometown and finally helped out with the family business because the person he had been looking for all this while was always close to home. If it wasn't for his grandma who had been pestering him to return due to his grandpa's weak health, he would have ventured on to own a new business or sign up for another college's art course to find the person he promised his childhood best friend, James Chen Xin Xin before he passed away, that he would find her. Five years ago, Qiu Wen pestered Liew Wen Kang, the same person who owed him the favor this time, desperately with the exact location of his sister, Liew Xue Ting but to no avail.

Qiu Wen's reflection reminded him of the times when he used to have James' well-built reflection by his side at moments like this. Unfortunately, James left too young.

James was guilty of causing her heartbreak and leaving her over petty arguments. Unfortunately, he never get to apologise to Xue Ting as he passed away while jay-walking a busy street to approach a lady whom later Qiu Wen learned was mistaken for Xue Ting but instead he was hit by a truck that couldn't stop on time. James made Qiu Wen promise not to give up on finding Xue Ting and if he does, James told him he should never let go of her again. A part of Qiu Wen always wondered if James knew his feelings for her.

Qiu Wen never told James that he was guilty of having the same feelings as his ex-girlfriend. It made it worse when he was the last person to have seen her that night, sixteen years ago right after a one-night stand and an unexplainable abrupt departure by Xue Ting.

He had been bothered by the possibility of her leaving that way. He felt that he should at least get a proper explanation from her. That's the reason he had never let go of the hope of searching for her after all these years.

In order to not miss out on meeting her again, he decided to fund Wen Kang's financially troubled agriculture business and be part of it as a shareholder. It was an offer Wen Kang couldn't resist as he always wanted to expand the business but was running low on funds.

Xue Ting was the loveable girl whom all of them had watched growing up by their side since her infant days. Neither of the boys could resist falling for her. No one knew where exactly was Xue Ting and not even her family members. She has not been visiting them although she called occasionally.

Qiu Wen found it hard to believe that Xue Ting barely made any contacts as he thinks Wen Kang was holding back details. He had been living in those memories while indulging in getting multiple degrees in universities just to escape from the responsibility of attending to his brother's business which their mother was very proud of.

Qiu Wen's brother, Xavier Tang Qiu Yeh had been doing so well and he knew it was always his dream to strive in his career as his mother despise poverty. Qiu Yeh was the gem of the family. However, Mrs. Tang had always hoped for Qiu Wen to come back and take over together with Qiu Yeh as she doted more on Qiu Wen than Qiu Yeh regardless of what Qiu Yeh had achieved.

Despite having been back due to giving in to his grandma's coaxing, Qiu Wen also knew about his mother's hidden agenda. Mrs. Tang had not given up on fixing him into a corporate marriage with a close acquaintance of the real estate industry tycoon's notorious daughter, Francesca.

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Francesca had a princess symptom which no one could blame her as she was the only daughter in a family which was lucky to strike gold in the real estate industry and everyone dotes on her. She always gets everything she wanted and she rarely took no for an answer. So it was the same in her career as a sales and marketing director in her father's company.

The vibration on his mobile shook him back into reality.

"Cravine." The text read.

As simple as it looked, the text had shown many hidden details over the years that had been a mystery. He vowed to solve them one step at a time as after all he was close to the ending.

He didn't bother to reply to any acknowledgment as it was a mutual understanding between both Wen Kang and Qiu Wen that the deal was sealed. Qiu Wen downed the last sip of whiskey and tightened his grip on the cup as he hyped his fighting spirit to ensure tomorrow's board of directors meeting head up north although he wished he could leave for Cravine almost immediately to start his search for the love of his life.

"Is there no other way for me to not take responsibility for this business of yours?" Qiu Wen asked in an agitated voice as he paced in front of Qiu Yeh in his room before the meeting the next day in Qiu Yeh's office. Qiu Wen was desperately finding ways even to the last minute to not stay in Wai Tao.

Cravine, felt so near but yet so far.

"Brother, it took me a long time to convince our mother that a branch would be more suitable for you to start off rather than directly at a high post in the headquarters. So, yes there are no other ways." Qiu Yeh explained.

Qiu Wen groaned in frustration as he covered his face in his palms." Qiu Wen, I don't like you joining the company either but… "

"Then stop her!" Qiu Wen yelled. "You're the director of the entire company! This is all your dreams, not mine! How is it that you can't stop her?"

Being calm as always, Qiu Yeh was very collected and would not let a situation go out of control within his capabilities. However, with the threats from his mother and his career at stake, he had to do a wake call on his brother.

"She will freeze all assets! How do you expect a company to run with limited assets and frozen status? Can you stop being selfish and stepped up to take on this opportunity? All I ask of you is to run the branch in Cravine City that's it! That would stop the capital and assets from being frozen. I do not care what your performance would be like. Just do not create any trouble!" Qiu Yeh was fuming at Qiu Wen's selfishness as he snapped at him which took Qiu Wen by surprise as Qiu Yeh was known as someone who rarely lost his temper.

However, it was something else that caught Qiu Wen's attention.

"Wait a minute, where did you say the branch was again?" The name of the city rang a loud bell behind his head.

"Cravine City. Why?" Qiu Yeh repeated as he recalled a school trip where Qiu Wen went and had an accident. It was also involving his high school crush, Xue Ting. Cravine was exactly where it all happened.

"Deal…" Qiu Wen agreed as he said softly while pondering on the coincidence and weighing his options.

Qiu Wen had been escaping from his responsibilities with excuses of taking multiple degrees from art to business management and lastly, his masters in business administration just to find Xue Ting. These were all Xue Ting's dreams back then. She loved art so much that he fell for her at first sight when she painted a starry night on top of a hill. She used to dream of running her own business of selling her art or even being a curator in the art gallery.

Although James turned out to be a couple with Xue Ting, Qiu Wen knew better that, loving someone had many ways and one of them was to see the person you love to be happy.

Words cannot express how much Qiu Wen missed her and now, knowing he was another step closer to finding her.

"What? Could you make it clear what you're dealing with?" Qiu Yeh asked as he noticed his brother had zoned out.

"Yo, Ryan!" He knocked on the table which startled Qiu Wen who used Ryan as his English name.

"Yes?!" Qiu Wen yelled out of agitation.

"I said yes. I will take on as the manager of the new branch in Cravine City." He changed his tone when he realised it was Qiu Yeh whom he had been speaking with.

"Director." Qiu Yeh corrected as Qiu Wen nodded.

Qiu Yeh seemed convinced as he calmed himself but the thought of their mother's potential in shifting both brothers' plans triggered him to think of a backup plan.

"Fine, fair enough. In case… Just in case things turn sour with mother, find ways to discreetly transfer your assets out while you can. If you get what I mean…" Qiu Yeh raised an eyebrow as Qiu Wen nodded again.

Both brothers knew if things turned sour between them and their mother their assets would be frozen. However, Qiu Wen's mind was focusing on all the possibilities of meeting Xue Ting as quickly as he could.

Qiu Yeh on the other hand has other businesses which he had hidden from their mother and had business partners running them for him under their name but the ultimate beneficial owner would be himself. Having said so, their mother has also been pestering Qiu Wen for marriage to Francesca again.

"Perhaps, your betrothal is not a bad idea. You should let her marry you to the tycoon's notorious daughter and transfer your assets away to your allies there once you form them. Once you think you have enough, divorces are very common these days too." Qiu Yeh smirked as Qiu Wen was left pondering even further on his suggestion.

Despite so, his desire to find Xue Ting as his priority was still burning so he decided to shift to Cravine during the night to start his search.