[A/N: Don't forget about 5 chapters = 6000 votes ^_^ FIGHTING!!!]
Mo Yuan's mood wasn't good since morning. It was because of yesterday's incident.
Yesterday, in the evening, Mo Yuan went to Tang Yujin's house to talk about an assignment when Han Sheng Ming barged into Tang Yujin's study room and loudly said, "Xiao Yujin, I won't allow you to take my baby Luo Luo!"
He halted seeing Mo Yuan in the study room and covered his mouth immediately. But, it was too late.
Mo Yuan was quick to catch. He furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "What do you mean by Xiao Yujin taking Ah Luo?"
He was doubting since morning that something wasn't right between Han Sheng Ming and Tang Yujin. Although Tang Yujin looked normal, Han Sheng Ming wasn't as cheerful as before.
Even Han Luo skipped her lunch with them. She even avoided going to school with them and had Noah to take her to the school. She even made Noah take her back home.
Neither did she meet Mo Yuan, nor Tang Yujin. She couldn't face either of them.
Mo Yuan called her during the break but her cell phone was off.
At first, he thought that it was because she was embarrassed about their kisses and touches and he thought of giving her some time to clear her head. That's why he didn't bother her anymore.
On the other hand, Tang Yujin and Han Sheng Ming knew the reason why she was avoiding them. So, they kept quiet.
Three of them didn't mention Han Luo even once.
And now that Han Sheng Ming blurted out something, Mo Yuan directly questioned him, "What do you mean by Xiao Yujin taking Ah Luo?"
Han Sheng Ming became awkward and didn't speak.
Tang Yujin smiled softly and told him, "Xiao Ming, we are friends. Though it's the matter between the Han Family and the Tang Family, Mo Yuan has the right to know."
In his point of view, Mo Yuan needed to know for two reasons. The first one was because Mo Yuan was their friend and the second one was because Mo Yuan liked Han Luo. If their marriage became official, Mo Yuan wouldn't be able to chase after Han Luo anymore.
It was clear that the second reason was the main cause why Tang Yujin wanted Mo Yuan to know.
Han Sheng Ming took a deep breath and described, "Elder Tang sent a marriage proposal to my daddy regarding little Luo Luo's marriage with Xiao Yujin. Man! I can't believe it. She will turn fifteen this year, so why ask for her hand in marriage?"
He seemed frustrated and angry at the same time.
Mo Yuan froze. He didn't expect that the old geezer would make such a quick move. His mother was enduring till Han Luo became eighteen but that old fashioned Elder Tang sent a marriage proposal when Han Luo was only fourteen.
Tang Yujin calmly explained, "It's the tradition of our Tang Family to be engaged at the age of sixteen."
Han Sheng Ming was furious. "What the hell is wrong with you? How can you agree with it? Don't you want to marry someone you like? What if you fall for someone else after getting engaged to little Luo Luo? And, who gets engaged at sixteen these days? This is the 21st century, not the eighteenth or nineteenth century."
Tang Yujin stayed calm even after being attacked by his friend's anger. He coolly said, "Xiao Ming, this is our family tradition and I have no interest in breaking it or disobeying my grandfather. Moreover, we are talking about little Luo here. How can I ever mistreat her? Getting engaged together means we are promising to be with each other or the rest of our lives. A wedding is just a ceremony to keep the promise. I will never fall for any woman. You can rest assured."
"…" Han Sheng Ming gaped at his friend.
"What do you mean by mistreating her? I didn't agree to give her to you. Don't get the wrong idea. You are a good childhood friend of mine and I know you are a good man, but I won't hand over my little Luo Luo to anyone," he declared.
Mo Yuan was silent all this time. He suddenly asked, "What did Ah Luo say?"
"What can she say? Do you think she is mature enough to think about it? Moreover, she is afraid of Elder Tang. I swear if she wants to get married just because she is too scared to refuse, I will not let the engagement happen," Han Sheng Ming threatened.
Just like a storm he suddenly appeared, Han Sheng Ming left like that.
Mo Yuan gazed at Tang Yujin. "That was a strategic move but not witty enough. You should have waited four years," he commented.
Tang Yujin smiled at him and stated, "I'm sure that you would make the move then. I had to be faster."
Mo Yuan clenched his fists and remarked, "She is too young to understand marriage, Xiao Yujin."
"Why don't we let little Luo decide if she wants to be with me or not?" Tang Yujin suggested. He was as calm as water.
Mo Yuan frowned and coldly questioned his friend, "Do you think she will after you kept your distance from her?"
Tang Yujin said nothing and only smiled in return.
"Don't tell me you did this on purpose?" Mo Yuan's pupils constricted when the sudden realization hit him.
Tang Yujin commented, "Sometimes, we should step back a little to move two steps forward."
Mo Yuan stood up and protested with an icy glare, "Ah Luo isn't someone you can scheme. If you truly cherish her, you should have tried to win her heart, not shoving her away. Do you know how much you hurt her because of your action? Just because she doesn't show it, doesn't mean she cannot feel pain. Xiao Yujin, let me ask you, have you ever tried to know her?"
Tang Yujin paused. He couldn't answer.
When he opened his mouth, Mo Yuan didn't wait for his answer.. He turned around and left.