AU. Meteor Garden 2018. What if they went their separate ways in London? Would the red string of Fate still bring them together?

Gotta bitter taste in my mouth just thinking about you.,,

Daoming Si threw back the whiskey shortly after Ximen filled his glass. He pressed the cool glass to his forehead hoping the remaining ice would provide some relief. Days like these were the worst. He swore he had seen Shancai at the grand opening of a new restaurant the Daoming Group had recently invested in. He knew he couldn't have been lucky enough to come across that opportunity again. It only made the decision to leave her in London much harder to bear. Would he really never see her again? Two years had passed since that fateful night, and it got harder to remember her smile. Her laugh.

The fearsome Daoming Si was truly a pathetic man. His thoughts were interrupted when Ximen exchanged his whiskey glass for a shot glass. Ximen knew this wasn't a time for words, but a time for drinks. "You get three shots to ride this angst that you are bringing to the group, and then you're done. You missed your "Once in a Lifetime" moment with Shancai, but don't throw away the chance to have that moment with someone else. You need to come back to the living." He turned to Meizuo and Lei, "Bottoms up, boys" and took a shot of tequila.

Si took the first shot of tequila hesitantly before taking the remaining two shots Ximen had left on the coffee table in front of him. Tequila was the only liquor that he had difficulty drinking after London two years ago. It used to be one of his favorite liquors, but like many things in his life it turned bittersweet. He took a deep breath as he thought about Dong Shancai. He can still hear her laughter as they were eating Hot Pot together. How beautiful she looked even though she had just spent the last couple of minutes crying as they reminisced over their heated arguments. He remembered withholding the urge to kiss those tears away.

He wondered what she was doing at this moment, or if she thought of him the way he did of her. He remembered how he felt when he saw her in that white dress on the beach. The first time he shared a kiss with her. He didn't know it yet, but in that moment she had ruined him for anyone else. He could smell the ocean salt on their skin, and her big doe eyes looking at him for some kind of explanation as they separated. If only he knew to be kinder to her, to selfishly take all her time, and make sure she had happier memories of them together.

Is she happier now? That thought was sobering enough. Si stood up, and walked over to the bottle of Tequila Ximen left at the bar. He looked over to see that the guys were immersed in their own conversation. They knew Si well enough to give him space during these moments. He grabbed Ximen's stash of Tequila, and headed for the door. The crisp December air brushed against his warm face, and his despair rose. Well, at least he got away with this bottle of Tequila. He began to walk aimlessly, and after about thirty minutes found himself at the park where he had stood in the rain waiting for their first date.

He walked up the stairs before finally planting himself on one of the stone ledges. He unscrewed the cap of the bottle, and began to drink. He could feel his cheeks warm up, and the brisk cold of winter didn't seem nearly as bad as when he walked over. He chuckled as he looked around the empty park. He was a mess. He thought he had moved forward from all these feelings. He was the successful Director of the Daoming Group, but he was an empty shell of a man. He closed his eyes trying to escape from the reality that was his current life. He could still vividly smell the rain drops as he stubbornly waited for her to show up, and go on a date with him. He was way too proud to seek shelter elsewhere and just allowed it to pour down on him instead. He could still hear the sound of his name echoing from her lips, "Daoming Si."

He felt a soft tapping sound on his shoulder, "Daoming Si?" a feminine voice said. The woman's voice sounded garbled to him as he was pulled back into reality. The soft tapping turned into a pinch, "Hey are you okay?!" He grabbed the wrist of the person pestering him. "Look I'm not bothering anyone, so go away." He opened his eyes to see big doe eyes looking right back at him. "Shancai?" He croaked, letting go of her wrist.

Shancai stumbled back as he released her from his hold, the touch of his hand burning an invisible mark onto her skin. She almost didn't recognize him as she walked down the familiar path. Surely this wasn't the same man she had seen earlier this evening entertaining the upper class of Shanghai. This Daoming Si was more hollow, and it tugged on her heart strings. She wasn't even sure what really brought her in this direction. After college, she moved to the opposite side of the City in an attempt to stay clear of the hauntings of her love life. Yet...by some karmic intervention she found herself here in front of him again.

"Shancai...forgive me for leaving you." His slightly slurred words interrupting her thoughts. She turned back towards him taking in the sight of him. His suit was in disarray. His cheeks flushed from intoxication. His lips...she caught herself being drawn into him again. Damn this man. She sighed as she pulled out her phone to call a cab.

"Your drunk Daoming Si. Can you at least tell me where you live? A cab is coming to pick you up." She couldn't look him in the eye. She would have to be diplomatic about the matter, and just part ways from here. She glanced over to see his slumped form, he had fallen asleep. So much luck for parting ways. Her cab pulled up, and the driver finding Shancai in her current predicament kindly helped her get Daoming Si into the backseat.

"Where to Miss?" The cab driver said pressing the start button on the meter. She hesitantly glanced at Daoming Si and provided the driver an address.