Express Delivery to the Heart. Part 2.

The hum of the shipping scanner filled Mei Ling's small office as she sorted through the morning's packages. It was an automatic routine: receive, check, label. But her hands came to a sudden halt when one of the packages caught her attention.

It was medium-sized, wrapped in white paper adorned with red hearts. Different from the others. Something inside her stirred with discomfort. It was too eye-catching, too personal.

Frowning, she looked down at the destination label.

Jian Wei.

Her stomach twisted.

She glanced at the sender's name, and her chest filled with a feeling that ranged from surprise to pure anger.

Sofía Rodríguez – Madrid, Spain.

Mei Ling felt a surge of rage in her veins.

The office disappeared. The hum of the scanner, the voices of customers, the murmur of her coworkers. Only that name existed.

Sofía.

Who was this woman? Confusion and anger overtook her. She had never heard that name before. And yet, there it was, written on the package with an air of intimacy. How could it be possible that Jian Wei was receiving a package from a stranger?

Was there something he was hiding from her? The rage grew like a wave. Why would someone unknown send him a package with hearts? And what did it all mean?

Her breathing quickened, and the grip on the package tightened to the point of crumpling the wrapping. Something didn't add up. Mei Ling felt like something was happening and she couldn't understand what it was.

"Mei Ling?" Yuki's voice, her colleague, came from a distance. "Are you okay?"

No. She was not okay.

Without answering, she grabbed the package with excessive force and slammed it onto the table with a loud thud. Some customers turned to look at her, but she didn't care.

Her mind was racing.

Jian Wei had told her that he had no contact with anyone from his past, that there were no important women in his life. But what was this?

Why was Sofía sending him a package with hearts?

The thought burned like fire in her chest.

Without hesitation, she took out her phone and dialed Jian Wei's number.

He answered on the second ring.

"Love? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?!" Mei Ling felt her voice tremble between anger and desperation. "I just received a package for you! A package from Sofía. From Spain!"

A tense silence took over the line.

"Sofía?" Jian Wei sounded confused. "Who is Sofía?"

"That's exactly what I want to know!" Mei Ling gritted her teeth, feeling the rage tighten around her throat. "Tell me right now what this means!"

"Mei Ling, calm down, please. I didn't know she-"

"Don't tell me to calm down!" she yelled, not caring where she was. "You said you had no contact with anyone from your past! You never mentioned anyone named Sofía!"

The murmurs in the office died down. Everyone was watching her.

She didn't care.

"Love, listen to me-"

"I don't want to listen to you! I'm coming over right now! And you better have an explanation that doesn't make me want to slap you."

She hung up without waiting for a response.

Mei Ling grabbed the package and stormed out of the office.

The drive to Jian Wei's company was a blur. Each heartbeat pounded hard in her temples.

When she arrived, the guards let her in without asking. They already knew her. They knew she was Jian Wei's girlfriend. But at that moment, Mei Ling didn't feel like his girlfriend. She felt like a fool.

A fool who had been deceived.

The elevator seemed to move too slowly. Mei Ling clenched her fists, feeling impatience gnawing at her.

When the doors opened to Jian Wei's floor, she burst in like a storm.

"Jian Wei!" she shouted angrily, holding the package high as if it were evidence of a crime.

Jian Wei came out of his office, frowning. His expression was a mix of surprise and concern.

"Mei Ling, what-?"

"Explain to me what this means!" she yelled, throwing the package onto his desk.

The employees fell silent. Some exchanged furtive glances, but Mei Ling didn't pay attention to them.

She only saw Jian Wei.

He looked down at the package, and his face tightened.

"Mei Ling, what-?"

"Don't act surprised!" she interrupted him, her voice vibrating with rage. "Why is Sofía sending you this?!"

Jian Wei took a breath.

"I have no idea. I didn't know she had sent me anything."

"How do you expect me to believe you?!" her eyes filled with tears of fury. "What else are you hiding from me, Jian Wei?!"

He reached out toward her, but Mei Ling slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

Jian Wei frowned.

"Okay. Let's open it together."

Mei Ling blinked, bewildered.

"What?"

"If you don't trust me, then open the package right now," he said firmly. "Let's see what's inside."

Mei Ling hesitated. Every fiber of her being screamed at her not to do it.

But she also wanted answers.

With trembling hands, she tore open the wrapping.

Inside was a red velvet box.

On top, a handwritten note.

"To Jian Wei, with love. I will never forget what we shared. Always yours, Sofía."

Mei Ling's world collapsed in an instant.

She couldn't breathe. Her vision blurred.

And then, without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped Jian Wei.

The sound echoed in the office.

A collective gasp was heard from the employees.

Jian Wei stared at her in shock.

But Mei Ling said nothing.

She simply turned around and walked out of the office, her eyes full of tears and her heart in pieces.

Mei Ling walked quickly down the streets, her breathing erratic and her heart racing. The images of the package, the note written by Sofía, all of it replayed over and over in her mind. Why hadn't Jian Wei told her anything about this woman? The anger consumed her from the inside.

She didn't notice the sound of footsteps behind her until, as she turned a corner, Jian Wei caught up with her.

"Mei Ling!" he exclaimed, breathing heavily. He had run after her, not caring about anything else.

Mei Ling didn't stop. She didn't want to look at him. The fury was so intense it hurt her chest. She wasn't willing to hear his explanations. But Jian Wei grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop.

"Let me go!" Mei Ling shouted, pulling away from his grip.

"No!" Jian Wei looked at her desperately. "Mei Ling, please! You have to listen to me."

"Listen to you?" Mei Ling turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger. "For what? So you can keep lying to me? So you can tell me this doesn't mean anything?"

"It's not what you think." Jian Wei seemed as frustrated as she was. "Please, let me explain."

"What are you going to explain?" Mei Ling looked at him in disbelief. "Why is a woman you don't even know sending you a package with hearts and writing to you as if you were more than just an acquaintance?"

Jian Wei's blood froze for a moment. There was no way Mei Ling could understand what had really happened without him explaining everything, though he knew it wouldn't be easy.

"Tell me right now who she is!" Mei Ling raised her voice, her words trembling with rage.

"Mei Ling, listen to me..." Jian Wei took a deep breath. "Sofía is someone from my past, but not what you think."

Mei Ling stared at him, not wanting to hear any more excuses.

"Your past!" she laughed bitterly. "Is that all you have to say? That she's part of your past?" The sarcasm in her voice was evident. "Don't you realize what you're telling me? This isn't just a 'past.' This is something recent. She's still writing to you, still sending you packages... and you're telling me nothing happened!"

Jian Wei felt his chest tighten. He couldn't lose her, he couldn't let this confusion take away what he had worked so hard to keep.

"Mei Ling, listen carefully. Sofía doesn't mean anything to me. When I was in Spain, I met a lot of people, and she was one of them. We shared some moments, yes, but that was it. There was no love, no nothing. She insisted a lot, but I always made it clear that I wasn't interested."

"Then why does she keep sending you things?" Mei Ling interrupted him, her eyes filled with tears of fury. "Why is she sending you a package with such... personal notes?"

Jian Wei stepped closer, looking at Mei Ling with a pain he couldn't hide.

"Because she didn't understand that I wanted nothing to do with her," he sighed, searching for the right words. "She sent me that package to 'remind me' of what we supposedly shared, but I swear to you, Mei Ling, nothing happened. None of what she believes."

Mei Ling stared at him, disbelief in her eyes. She didn't know whether to believe his words, but something in his tone seemed sincere.

"Then why didn't you ever tell me about it?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Jian Wei looked down, ashamed.

"I never thought I'd have to talk about her," his voice was low, almost inaudible. "I thought that if I left it all in the past, it would be better. I didn't know she'd come back like this, especially not with such a strange package."

Mei Ling watched him in silence, her emotions a tangled mess. The pain she felt was still there, but Jian Wei's explanations seemed genuine.

"I don't know if I can believe everything you're telling me..." she whispered, looking down. "But... what do you want me to do, Jian Wei? Forget about this?"

Jian Wei took a step closer to her, the desperation and pain reflected in his face.

"I'm just asking for a chance," he extended his hand, hoping Mei Ling would take it. "Believe me, please. There's nothing between Sofía and me beyond what I've told you. What I really want, what I've always wanted, is to be with you."

The silence between them became heavy. Mei Ling looked at his outstretched hand, and for a moment, she hesitated. Could she trust him after all this?

Finally, she took his hand. She didn't know what would happen next, but she was willing to listen.

"I promise you, Mei Ling," Jian Wei looked into her eyes, his voice firm. "There's nothing between Sofía and me. And I don't want to lose you."

Mei Ling didn't say anything more. She just stood there, in silence, holding his hand while the cold wind brushed against their faces.

The atmosphere in Jian Wei's apartment was thick. Mei Ling felt like the air was heavy, as if every word Jian Wei spoke, every explanation, increased the pressure in her chest. Despite the sincerity he had tried to convey, something still didn't fit in her mind. There was something else he wasn't telling her.

"How can you be so sure she doesn't mean anything to you?" Mei Ling asked with a sigh, her voice full of frustration and a trace of doubt.

Jian Wei ran his hand through his hair, searching for the right words to express himself.

"I swear to you, Mei Ling. Nothing else happened between us," his tone was firm, but his gaze showed that, even he, wasn't completely sure how to convince her.

The conversation had been going in circles for hours. None of Jian Wei's words were able to dissipate the doubts in Mei Ling's mind. What if there was really something more between them? What if Sofía was lying to tear them apart?

In the middle of the tense silence that had settled between them, the sound of a phone interrupted the stillness. Jian Wei's phone.

Mei Ling stared at it, watching how his face tensed when he saw the name on the screen. Sofía. The woman who had left him breathless by sending him that package. The woman who had put everything he thought he knew in jeopardy.

"Aren't you going to answer?" Mei Ling asked, her voice laced with challenge as she narrowed her eyes.

Jian Wei hesitated, but in the end, he picked up the phone with a tense expression. He knew it was inevitable. Answering the call meant taking a step toward the truth, but it could also make things worse.

"Don't worry, Mei Ling. I have nothing to hide," he said, trying to sound calm, but the worry was evident in his voice.

"Put it on speaker!" Mei Ling demanded immediately, crossing her arms. She wasn't going to let Jian Wei try to hide anything more.

With a sigh, Jian Wei complied and activated the speakerphone, feeling the pressure of the situation. The tone of the call shifted immediately. Sofía's voice echoed through the speaker, clear and confident, as if she were in her own home.

"Hello, Jian Wei!" her voice was soft, melodic, and at the same time warm and familiar. "I was waiting for your call, did you get my package?"

Mei Ling tensed instantly. That voice. The tone so relaxed, so close. How could she speak to him like that? What was the truth? Her anger surged again like a tidal wave.

Jian Wei rubbed his forehead as if trying to calm himself before speaking.

"Sofía... yes, the package arrived," he replied, trying to sound indifferent, but the discomfort was palpable. "Mei Ling and I are talking about all of this."

Sofía's response came quickly, almost as if she were enjoying the situation.

"Ah, sure, sure. I totally understand," Sofía let out a small laugh, as if what she was saying was a joke. "Can't talk? I just wanted to send you something to remind you of the good times, you know? Like we used to..."

Mei Ling gritted her teeth. What did she mean by "the good times"? Every word from Sofía seemed like another nail in the coffin of her trust. Why did she have to be so charming, so confident?

"You know what, Sofía?" Mei Ling couldn't take it anymore, and almost without thinking, she interrupted the conversation. Her voice, filled with fury, cut through the air like a dagger. "What do you think this is? Why are you playing with Jian Wei's emotions? Why do you keep interfering in our lives?"

Sofía, on the other end of the line, didn't seem surprised at all. On the contrary. Her tone remained calm, as if she had expected this type of confrontation.

"Mei Ling, darling, I'm not playing with anyone," Sofía said sweetly, as if calming a child. "I'm just being kind, sending a little reminder of everything I lived with Jian Wei. You don't have to worry, there's nothing between us."

Mei Ling felt a knot in her stomach. How could she be so... charming? Her words sounded so sincere, but something in her tone was excessively self-assured.

"That's what you say, but..." Mei Ling took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Then why do you insist on doing all this, Sofía? Why can't you let Jian Wei move on with his life?"

Sofía's voice grew even softer, as if she were playing with Mei Ling's nerves.

"Oh, darling, don't worry. Jian Wei will always be a special part of my life, and from time to time, I like to remind him of how great we had it together," The certainty in her voice was unsettling. "It's nothing personal."

That's what triggered Mei Ling's fury.

"No!" she shouted, hate and desperation reflected in her gaze. "You're making all this up! You're the one trying to tear us apart!"

Sofía's laugh echoed on the other end of the line, soft and full of satisfaction. She seemed to be enjoying every word Mei Ling said.

"Mei Ling, darling, if you want to live in the lie, that's fine. But you can't stop what happened in the past from being part of our story," The coldness in her tone became evident. "Jian Wei and I shared things that you'll never understand."

Mei Ling gritted her teeth, her heart pounding. Every word from Sofía was tearing her apart even more, but something inside her told her that something wasn't right.

"Jian Wei..." she said, her voice trembling, looking at the man beside her. "Tell me it's not true. Tell me there's nothing between you two."

Jian Wei, looking at Mei Ling, opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, Sofía intervened again.

"Jian Wei, you know you can always count on me for anything you need," Sofía's voice softened, almost possessive. "And if you ever feel lonely, I'll be here. Don't forget that."

Mei Ling felt her hands start to shake. The sound of the call hanging in the air was unbearable. Why couldn't Sofía disappear from their lives?

Finally, Jian Wei ended the call with a sharp gesture, but the damage had already been done. The atmosphere between them was heavier than ever. The silence was filled with doubts and fear.

"I don't want her to get involved in our lives again, Jian Wei," Mei Ling murmured, her voice broken, looking at the man standing before her. "Tell me everything you've said is true."

Jian Wei looked into her eyes, his throat tight with tension.

"I swear to you, Mei Ling. There's nothing between us. But..." he sighed. "I don't know how to convince you."