“But I don't understand Xu Bo,” Huang Li was telling him, “Why don't you just tell your parents the truth instead of making up such a terrible story?”
Her friend took a long drag of his cigarette and studied her face, “I can't, alright? Don't let me down Li, I'm counting on you. Remember, you'll be lonely on that ship without me, I'm your best friend.”
Huang Li looked down at her hands thoughtfully. Maybe she could make new friends, although she'd always been a bit of a loner, constantly the odd one out when it came to fashion and boys too. She despised lies but desperately wanted to help Xu Bo, he was the only person whom she'd ever really cared about besides her parents and they were now long gone.
“Alright,” she finally relented, “I'll do it. Tell me what I need to know.”
Gregory, w
